Abstract
In eukaryotes, 21- to 24-nucleotide-long RNAs engage in sequence-specific interactions that inhibit gene expression by RNA silencing. This process has regulatory roles involving microRNAs and, in plants and insects, it also forms the basis of a defense mechanism directed by small interfering RNAs that derive from replicative or integrated viral genomes. We show that a cellular microRNA effectively restricts the accumulation of the retrovirus primate foamy virus type 1 (PFV-1) in human cells. PFV-1 also encodes a protein, Tas, that suppresses microRNA-directed functions in mammalian cells and displays cross-kingdom antisilencing activities. Therefore, through fortuitous recognition of foreign nucleic acids, cellular microRNAs have direct antiviral effects in addition to their regulatory functions.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antiviral Agents / physiology*
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Arabidopsis / genetics
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Cell Line
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Cricetinae
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Genes, Reporter
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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HeLa Cells
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Humans
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MicroRNAs / physiology*
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Protein Biosynthesis
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RNA Interference*
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RNA, Viral
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Retroviridae Proteins / genetics
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Retroviridae Proteins / metabolism
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Spumavirus / genetics*
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Spumavirus / physiology*
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
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Transfection
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Virus Replication
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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MicroRNAs
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense
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RNA, Viral
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Retroviridae Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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bel1 protein, Human foamy virus
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Green Fluorescent Proteins