病毒编码的miRNA:基因表达新的调控因子

微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)是一类长约22个核苷酸的RNA,在数量、序列、结构、表达和功能上具有多样性。目前,通过生物信息学手段和分子克隆方法,已发现了3518种miRNA,在控制细胞的生长发育、分化、凋亡等过程中发挥着十分重要的作用。最近研究发现疱疹病毒、多瘤病毒、逆转录病毒的某些病毒基因组也能够编码miRNA,这些miRNA在调控病毒基因自身表达以及病毒与宿主相互作用方面可能起重要的作用。某些病毒甚至能够利用宿主体内的miRNA调控其自身表达。找出病毒可能编码的miRNA,探索其对病毒感染、复制、表达的作用,有助于病毒分子生物学的研究,也会为研发防治病毒的新方法和新途径提供新的思路。

Virus-Encoded microRNA: Novel Regulators of Gene Expression

microRNAs(miRNAs) are small (approximately 22 nt) RNAs that exhibit a diversity in sequence, structure,abudance and expression profile. Bioinformatic approaches and direct cloning methods have identified more than 3500 miRNAs from various species. miRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of genes involved in diverse processes such as development, differentiation and cellular growth control. Recently, many viral-encoded miRNAs have been discovered from three different viral families-herpesviruses, polyomaviruses and retroviruses. Virus-encoded miRNAs seem to evolve rapidly and regulate both the viral life cycle and the interaction between viruses and their hosts. Additionally, viral interactions with cellular miRNAs have also been identified. The detailed study on the virus-encoded miRNAs and the role they play in the progress of viral infection, replication and expression will be beneficial to better understand viral molecular biology,and also provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of virus.