August 18, 2010Open Access
Noncoding RNPs of Viral Origin
Key Result
Viral noncoding RNAs manipulate host-cell metabolism and immune responses to enhance the viral life cycle and combat host defenses.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Viruses producing noncoding RNAs
This review highlights the emerging understanding of how viral noncoding RNAs manipulate host-cell responses and enhance the viral life cycle.
Limitations
- Identifying the functions of viral ncRNAs has been extremely challenging.
- The in vivo relevance of some observations, such as putative adenovirus miRNAs, remains unresolved.
Abstract
Like their host cells, many viruses produce noncoding (nc)RNAs. These show diversity with respect to time of expression during viral infection, length and structure, protein-binding partners and relative abundance compared with their host-cell counterparts. Viruses, with their limited genomic capacity, presumably evolve or acquire ncRNAs only if they selectively enhance the viral life cycle or assist the virus in combating the host's response to infection. Despite much effort, identifying the functions of viral ncRNAs has been extremely challenging. Recent technical advances and enhanced understanding of host-cell ncRNAs promise accelerated insights into the RNA warfare mounted by this fascinating class of RNPs. Outline 1 VA RNAs: Multifunctional manipulators of adenovirus host-cell functions 2 EBERs: Abundant but enigmatic contributors to EBV latency 3 HSURs: Managing host microRNA functions during HVS latency 4 PAN RNA: A nuclear sink during the KSHV lytic cycle? 5 Viral microRNAs: Altering host-cell or fine-tuning viral gene expression? 6 Noncoding RNAs of other flavors