Description:

The Department of Microbiology-Immunology Seminar Series

"Lessons from Viruses: Novel Roles for Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression"

Demian Cazalla, PhD / University of Utah

Description

Herpesvirus saimiri is an oncogenic herpesvirus that expresses seven Sm-class non-coding RNAs of unknown function called HSURs. We have found that one of these HSURs (HSUR2) base-pairs with mRNAs and recruits two cellular miRNAs to repress the expression of its target mRNAs. Using this mechanism, this virus can inhibit apoptosis in infected cells. These results reveal a new function for Sm-class RNAs as regulators of gene expression after pre-mRNA processing, and uncover a previously unrecognized strategy used by herpesviruses to rewire cellular pathways to escape apoptosis.