Noncoding RNPs of Viral Origin
- Joan Steitz,
- Sumit Borah,
- Demian Cazalla,
- Victor Fok,
- Robin Lytle,
- Rachel Mitton-Fry,
- Kasandra Riley and
- Tasleem Samji
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536-0812
- Correspondence: joan.steitz{at}yale.edu
SUMMARY
Like their host cells, many viruses produce noncoding (nc)RNAs. These show diversity with respect to time of expression during viral infection, length and structure, protein-binding partners and relative abundance compared with their host-cell counterparts. Viruses, with their limited genomic capacity, presumably evolve or acquire ncRNAs only if they selectively enhance the viral life cycle or assist the virus in combating the host’s response to infection. Despite much effort, identifying the functions of viral ncRNAs has been extremely challenging. Recent technical advances and enhanced understanding of host-cell ncRNAs promise accelerated insights into the RNA warfare mounted by this fascinating class of RNPs.
- Copyright © 2011 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved
