Efficient RNA virus control in Drosophila requires the RNA methyltransferase Dnmt2 |
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Authors: | Zeljko Durdevic Katharina Hanna Beth Gold Sara Cherry Frank Lyko Matthias Schaefer |
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Institution: | 1. Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ‐ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, , Heidelberg, 69120 Germany;2. Department of Microbiology, Penn Genome Frontiers Institute, University of Pennsylvania, , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146 USA |
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Abstract: | Drosophila use small‐interfering RNA mechanisms to limit the amplification of viral genomes. However, it is unclear how small RNA interference components recognize and separate viral from cellular RNA. Dnmt2 enzymes are highly conserved RNA methyltransferases with substrate specificity towards cellular tRNAs. We report here that Dnmt2 is required for efficient innate immune responses in Drosophila. Dnmt2 mutant flies accumulate increasing levels of Drosophila C virus and show activated innate immune responses. Binding of Dnmt2 to DCV RNA suggests that Dnmt2 contributes to virus control directly, possibly by RNA methylation. These observations demonstrate a role for Dnmt2 in antiviral defence. |
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Keywords: | innate immunity DCV Dnmt2 RNA methylation |
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