Virology
RNA Silencing
Category: RNA | Regulation
RNA Silencing and the Interplay Between Plants and Viruses
from Lourdes Fernández-Calvino, Livia Donaire and César Llave writing in Recent Advances in Plant Virology
In eukaryotes, RNA silencing controls gene expression to regulate development, genome stability and stress-induced responses. In plants, this process is also recognized as a major immune system targeted against plant viruses. Plant viruses stimulate RNA silencing responses though formation of viral RNA with double-stranded features that are subsequently processed into functional small RNAs (sRNAs). Recent studies highlight the complexity of the viral sRNA populations and their potential to associate with multiple silencing effector complexes. This fact has profound implications in the cross-talk interactions between plants and viruses since both virus genomes and host genes are putative targets of viral sRNAs. The concept of RNA silencing is an elegant natural antiviral mechanism in plants. Viral sRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression is important in the frame of compatible interactions between plants and viruses.
Further reading: Recent Advances in Plant Virology | Virology Publications | RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
from Lourdes Fernández-Calvino, Livia Donaire and César Llave writing in Recent Advances in Plant Virology
In eukaryotes, RNA silencing controls gene expression to regulate development, genome stability and stress-induced responses. In plants, this process is also recognized as a major immune system targeted against plant viruses. Plant viruses stimulate RNA silencing responses though formation of viral RNA with double-stranded features that are subsequently processed into functional small RNAs (sRNAs). Recent studies highlight the complexity of the viral sRNA populations and their potential to associate with multiple silencing effector complexes. This fact has profound implications in the cross-talk interactions between plants and viruses since both virus genomes and host genes are putative targets of viral sRNAs. The concept of RNA silencing is an elegant natural antiviral mechanism in plants. Viral sRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression is important in the frame of compatible interactions between plants and viruses.
Further reading: Recent Advances in Plant Virology | Virology Publications | RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression
Antiviral Role of RNA Interference
Category: Regulation
from Michelle L. Flenniken, Mark Kunitomi, Michel Tassetto and Raul Andino in Insect Virology
Insects, like all living organisms, have developed defence mechanisms to resist infection. RNA interference (RNAi), a nucleic acid-based, post-transcriptional gene regulation process has recently emerged as a central pathway to anti-viral defence in insects. In this chapter, we outline the role of RNAi in insect immunity and highlight research that led to its discovery as well as research aimed at understanding the mechanistic details of anti-viral RNAi and the counter-measures viruses employ to modulate this immunological mechanism. As our knowledge of the pathways and mechanisms involved in insect immunity expands, so do the opportunities to employ insects as model systems to examine the general principles and co-evolution of hosts and their pathogens.
Further reading: Insect Virology
Insects, like all living organisms, have developed defence mechanisms to resist infection. RNA interference (RNAi), a nucleic acid-based, post-transcriptional gene regulation process has recently emerged as a central pathway to anti-viral defence in insects. In this chapter, we outline the role of RNAi in insect immunity and highlight research that led to its discovery as well as research aimed at understanding the mechanistic details of anti-viral RNAi and the counter-measures viruses employ to modulate this immunological mechanism. As our knowledge of the pathways and mechanisms involved in insect immunity expands, so do the opportunities to employ insects as model systems to examine the general principles and co-evolution of hosts and their pathogens.
Further reading: Insect Virology