Pyrosequencing of small non-coding RNAs in HIV-1 infected cells: evidence for the processing of a viral-cellular double-stranded RNA hybrid

Nucleic Acids Res. 2009 Oct;37(19):6575-86. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp707. Epub 2009 Sep 3.

Abstract

Small non-coding RNAs of 18-25 nt in length can regulate gene expression through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. To characterize small RNAs in HIV-1-infected cells, we performed linker-ligated cloning followed by high-throughput pyrosequencing. Here, we report the composition of small RNAs in HIV-1 productively infected MT4 T-cells. We identified several HIV-1 small RNA clones and a highly abundant small 18-nt RNA that is antisense to the HIV-1 primer-binding site (PBS). This 18-nt RNA apparently originated from the dsRNA hybrid formed by the HIV-1 PBS and the 3' end of the human cellular tRNAlys3. It was found to associate with the Ago2 protein, suggesting its possible function in the cellular RNAi machinery for targeting HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism*
  • RNA, Transfer, Lys / metabolism
  • RNA, Untranslated / chemistry*
  • RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Transfer, Lys
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • RNA, Viral