Biomaterial Database

Identification of human microRNA-like sequences embedded within the protein-encoding genes of the human immunodeficiency virus. 2013

Bryan Holland, and Jonathan Wong, and Meng Li, and Suraiya Rasheed

Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Proteomics Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, short (18-22 nts), non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of mRNAs. While numerous cellular microRNAs have been associated with the progression of various diseases including cancer, miRNAs associated with retroviruses have not been well characterized. Herein we report identification of microRNA-like sequences in coding regions of several HIV-1 genomes. RESULTS Based on our earlier proteomics and bioinformatics studies, we have identified 8 cellular miRNAs that are predicted to bind to the mRNAs of multiple proteins that are dysregulated during HIV-infection of CD4+ T-cells in vitro. In silico analysis of the full length and mature sequences of these 8 miRNAs and comparisons with all the genomic and subgenomic sequences of HIV-1 strains in global databases revealed that the first 18/18 sequences of the mature hsa-miR-195 sequence (including the short seed sequence), matched perfectly (100%), or with one nucleotide mismatch, within the envelope (env) genes of five HIV-1 genomes from Africa. In addition, we have identified 4 other miRNA-like sequences (hsa-miR-30d, hsa-miR-30e, hsa-miR-374a and hsa-miR-424) within the env and the gag-pol encoding regions of several HIV-1 strains, albeit with reduced homology. Mapping of the miRNA-homologues of env within HIV-1 genomes localized these sequence to the functionally significant variable regions of the env glycoprotein gp120 designated V1, V2, V4 and V5. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that microRNA-like sequences are embedded within the protein-encoding regions of several HIV-1 genomes. Given that the V1 to V5 regions of HIV-1 envelopes contain specific, well-characterized domains that are critical for immune responses, virus neutralization and disease progression, we propose that the newly discovered miRNA-like sequences within the HIV-1 genomes may have evolved to self-regulate survival of the virus in the host by evading innate immune responses and therefore influencing persistence, replication and/or pathogenicity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012367	RNA, Viral	Ribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses.	Viral RNA
D015497	HIV-1	The type species of LENTIVIRUS and the etiologic agent of AIDS. It is characterized by its cytopathic effect and affinity for the T4-lymphocyte.	Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-I,Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1,Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Human
D015699	HIV Envelope Protein gp120	External envelope protein of the human immunodeficiency virus which is encoded by the HIV env gene. It has a molecular weight of 120 kDa and contains numerous glycosylation sites. Gp120 binds to cells expressing CD4 cell-surface antigens, most notably T4-lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. Gp120 has been shown to interfere with the normal function of CD4 and is at least partly responsible for the cytopathic effect of HIV.	Envelope Glycoprotein gp120, HIV,HTLV-III gp120,env Protein gp120, HIV,gp120(HIV),HIV Envelope Glycoprotein gp120,gp120 Envelope Glycoprotein, HIV,HTLV III gp120,gp120, HTLV-III
D016679	Genome, Viral	The complete genetic complement contained in a DNA or RNA molecule in a virus.	Viral Genome,Genomes, Viral,Viral Genomes
D030561	Databases, Nucleic Acid	Databases containing information about NUCLEIC ACIDS such as BASE SEQUENCE; SNPS; NUCLEIC ACID CONFORMATION; and other properties. Information about the DNA fragments kept in a GENE LIBRARY or GENOMIC LIBRARY is often maintained in DNA databases.	DDBJ,DNA Data Bank of Japan,DNA Data Banks,DNA Databases,Databases, DNA,Databases, DNA Sequence,Databases, Nucleic Acid Sequence,Databases, RNA,Databases, RNA Sequence,EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database,GenBank,Nucleic Acid Databases,RNA Databases,DNA Databanks,DNA Sequence Databases,European Molecular Biology Laboratory Nucleotide Sequence Database,Nucleic Acid Sequence Databases,RNA Sequence Databases,Bank, DNA Data,Banks, DNA Data,DNA Data Bank,DNA Databank,DNA Database,DNA Sequence Database,Data Bank, DNA,Data Banks, DNA,Databank, DNA,Databanks, DNA,Database, DNA,Database, DNA Sequence,Database, Nucleic Acid,Database, RNA,Database, RNA Sequence,Nucleic Acid Database,RNA Database,RNA Sequence Database,Sequence Database, DNA,Sequence Database, RNA,Sequence Databases, DNA,Sequence Databases, RNA
D035683	MicroRNAs	Small double-stranded, non-protein coding RNAs, 21-25 nucleotides in length generated from single-stranded microRNA gene transcripts by the same RIBONUCLEASE III, Dicer, that produces small interfering RNAs (RNA, SMALL INTERFERING). They become part of the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX and repress the translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) of target RNA by binding to homologous 3'UTR region as an imperfect match. The small temporal RNAs (stRNAs), let-7 and lin-4, from C. elegans, are the first 2 miRNAs discovered, and are from a class of miRNAs involved in developmental timing.	RNA, Small Temporal,Small Temporal RNA,miRNA,stRNA,Micro RNA,MicroRNA,Primary MicroRNA,Primary miRNA,miRNAs,pre-miRNA,pri-miRNA,MicroRNA, Primary,RNA, Micro,Temporal RNA, Small,miRNA, Primary,pre miRNA,pri miRNA