An RNA element in human interleukin 6 confers escape from degradation by the gammaherpesvirus SOX protein.

ABSTRACT: Several viruses express factors to silence host gene expression via widespread mRNA degradation. This phenotype is the result of the coordinated activity of the viral endonuclease SOX and the cellular RNA degradation enzyme Xrn1 during lytic Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. While most cellular transcripts are highly downregulated, a subset of host mRNA escapes turnover via unknown mechanisms. One of the most prominent escapees is the interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA, which accumulates robustly during KSHV lytic infection and is not subjected to SOX-induced degradation. Here we reveal that the IL-6 mRNA contains a dominant, cis-acting ∼100-nucleotide element within its 3' untranslated region (UTR) that renders it directly refractory to cleavage by SOX. This element specifi

SUBMITTER: Hutin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3624381 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature