RNA interference and receptors

@article{,

title = {Identifying the important HIV-1 recombination breakpoints},

author = {J Archer and J W Pinney and J Fan and E Simon-Loriere and E J Arts and M Negroni and D L Robertson},

url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=18787691},

isbn = {18787691},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-01-01},

journal = {PLoS Comput Biol},

volume = {4},

number = {9},

pages = {e1000178},

abstract = {Recombinant HIV-1 genomes contribute significantly to the diversity of variants within the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is assumed that some of these mosaic genomes may have novel properties that have led to their prevalence, particularly in the case of the circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). In regions of the HIV-1 genome where recombination has a tendency to convey a selective advantage to the virus, we predict that the distribution of breakpoints--the identifiable boundaries that delimit the mosaic structure--will deviate from the underlying null distribution. To test this hypothesis, we generate a probabilistic model of HIV-1 copy-choice recombination and compare the predicted breakpoint distribution to the distribution from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Across much of the HIV-1 genome, we find that the observed frequencies of inter-subtype recombination are predicted accurately by our model. This observation strongly indicates that in these regions a probabilistic model, dependent on local sequence identity, is sufficient to explain breakpoint locations. In regions where there is a significant over- (either side of the env gene) or under- (short regions within gag, pol, and most of env) representation of breakpoints, we infer natural selection to be influencing the recombination pattern. The paucity of recombination breakpoints within most of the envelope gene indicates that recombinants generated in this region are less likely to be successful. The breakpoints at a higher frequency than predicted by our model are approximately at either side of env, indicating increased selection for these recombinants as a consequence of this region, or at least part of it, having a tendency to be recombined as an entire unit. Our findings thus provide the first clear indication of the existence of a specific portion of the genome that deviates from a probabilistic null model for recombination. This suggests that, despite the wide diversity of recombinant forms seen in the viral population, only a minority of recombination events appear to be of significance to the evolution of HIV-1.},

note = {1553-7358 (Electronic) 

Journal Article 

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't},

keywords = {Computational Biology Evolution, env  Genetic Variation  Genome, Genetic, Genetic  Models, Molecular  Genes, NEGRONI, Statistical  RNA, Unité ARN, Viral  HIV Infections/virology  HIV-1/*genetics  Humans  *Models, Viral/genetics  *Recombination},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Solution structure of the 3'-end of brome mosaic virus genomic RNAs. Conformational mimicry with canonical tRNAs},

author = {B Felden and C Florentz and R Giege and E Westhof},

url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=8289279},

isbn = {8289279},

year  = {1994},

date = {1994-01-01},

journal = {J Mol Biol},

volume = {235},

number = {2},

pages = {508-531},

abstract = {The conformation of the last 201 nucleotides located at the 3'-end of brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNAs was investigated in solution using different chemical and enzymatic probes. Bases were probed with dimethylsulfate (which methylates N-1 positions of A, N-3 positions of C and N-7 positions of G), a carbodiimide (which modifies N-1 positions of G and N-3 positions of U) and diethylpyrocarbonate (which modifies N-7 positions of A). Ribonucleases T1, U2 and S1 were used to map unpaired nucleotides and ribonuclease V1 to monitor paired bases or stacked nucleotides. Cleavage or modification sites were detected by gel electrophoresis either indirectly by analyzing DNA sequence patterns generated by primer extension with reverse transcriptase of the modified RNAs or by direct identification within the statistical cleavage patterns of the RNA. On the basis of these biochemical results, an atomic model was built by computer modeling and its stereochemistry refined. The deduced secondary structure of the RNA confirms data previously proposed by others but contains additional base-pairs (A27-U32, A28-G31, G41-A134, G64-C68, U80-A99, G81-A98, G88-U91, G100-U126, U104-U125, G162-G166 and A172-A191), one new tertiary long-range interaction (U103-U164) and a small triple helical conformation with (G41-A134)-A18 and (C42-G133)-A17 interactions. The new secondary structure also indicates the existence of a second pseudoknot involving pairing between residues A181 to A184 and residues U197 to U194, outside the domain conferring tyrosylation ability to BMV RNA. The main outcome from the model stems from its intricate folding, which allows a new assignment for the domains mimicking the anticodon- and D-loop regions of tRNA. Interestingly, the stem and loop region found structurally to be analogous to the anticodon arm of tRNA(Tyr) does not contain the tyrosine anticodon involved in the aminoacylation process. The structural analogies with canonical tRNA(Tyr) illustrate the functional mimicry existing between the BMV RNA structure and canonical tRNA(Tyr) that allows for their efficient aminoacylation by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. This structural model rationalizes mutagenic and footprinting data that have established the importance of specific regions of the viral RNA for recognition by its replicase, (ATP,CTP):tRNA nucleotidyl-transferase and yeast tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. The new fold has biological implications that can be used as a predictive tool for elaborating new experiments.},

note = {0022-2836 

Journal Article},

keywords = {Base Sequence  Bromovirus/*genetics  Computer Simulation  Models, FLORENTZ, Genetic  Models, Molecular  Molecular Sequence Data  Nucleic Acid Conformation  RNA, Non-U.S. Gov't, Transfer, Tyr/*chemistry  RNA, Unité ARN, Viral/*chemistry  Solutions  Support},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}