microRNA-142 guards against autoimmunity by controlling Treg cell homeostasis and function.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical in preventing aberrant immune responses. Posttranscriptional control of gene expression by microRNA (miRNA) has recently emerged as an essential genetic element for Treg cell function. Here, we report that mice with Treg cell-specific ablation of miR-142 (hereafter Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice) developed a fatal systemic autoimmune disorder due to a breakdown in peripheral T-cell tolerance. Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice displayed a significant decrease in the abundance and suppressive capacity of Treg cells. Expression profiling of miR-142-deficient Treg cells revealed an up-regulation of multiple genes in the interferon gamma (IFNγ) signaling network. We identified several of these IFNγ-associated genes as direct miR-142-3p targets and observed excessive IFNγ production and signaling in miR-142-deficient Treg cells. Ifng ablation rescued the Treg cell homeostatic defect and alleviated development of autoimmunity in Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice. Thus, our findings implicate miR-142 as an indispensable regulator of Treg cell homeostasis that exerts its function by attenuating IFNγ responses.

Identification of influenza A nucleoprotein body domain residues essential for viral RNA expression expose antiviral target.

BACKGROUND: Influenza A virus is controlled with yearly vaccination while emerging global pandemics are kept at bay with antiviral medications. Unfortunately, influenza A viruses have emerged resistance to approved influenza antivirals. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for novel antivirals to combat emerging influenza A viruses resistant to current treatments. Conserved viral proteins are ideal targets because conserved protein domains are present in most, if not all, influenza subtypes, and are presumed less prone to evolve viable resistant versions. The threat of an antiviral resistant influenza pandemic justifies our study to identify and characterize antiviral targets within influenza proteins that are highly conserved. Influenza A nucleoprotein (NP) is highly conserved and plays essential roles throughout the viral lifecycle, including viral RNA synthesis. METHODS: Using NP crystal structure, we targeted accessible amino acids for substitution. To characterize the NP proteins, reconstituted viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) were expressed in 293 T cells, RNA was isolated, and reverse transcription - quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to assess viral RNA expressed from reconstituted vRNPs. Location was confirmed using cellular fractionation and western blot, along with observation of NP-GFP fusion proteins. Nucleic acid binding, oligomerization, and vRNP formation, were each assessed with native gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Here we report characterization of an accessible and conserved five amino acid region within the NP body domain that plays a redundant but essential role in viral RNA synthesis. Our data demonstrate substitutions in this domain did not alter NP localization, oligomerization, or ability to bind nucleic acids, yet resulted in a defect in viral RNA expression. To define this region further, single and double amino acid substitutions were constructed and investigated. All NP single substitutions were functional, suggesting redundancy, yet different combinations of two amino acid substitutions resulted in a significant defect in RNA expression, confirming these accessible amino acids in the NP body domain play an important role in viral RNA synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: The identified conserved and accessible NP body domain represents a viable antiviral target to counter influenza replication and this research will contribute to the well-informed design of novel therapies to combat emerging influenza viruses.

Emerging antiviral resistant strains of influenza A and the potential therapeutic targets within the viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex.

Emerging antiviral resistant strains of influenza A virus are greatly limiting the therapies available to stop aggressive infections. Genome changes that confer resistance to the two classes of approved antivirals have been identified in circulating influenza A viruses. It is only a matter of time before the currently approved influenza A antivirals are rendered ineffective, emphasizing the need for additional influenza antiviral therapies. This review highlights the current state of antiviral resistance in circulating and highly pathogenic influenza A viruses and explores potential antiviral targets within the proteins of the influenza A virus ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex, drawing attention to the viral protein activities and interactions that play an indispensable role in the influenza life cycle. Investigation of small molecule inhibition, accelerated by the use of crystal structures of vRNP proteins, has provided important information about viral protein domains and interactions, and has revealed many promising antiviral drug candidates discussed in this review.

Harnessing Rift Valley fever virus NSs gene for cancer gene therapy.

One of the greatest challenges in the treatment of cancer is tumor heterogeneity which results in differential responses to chemotherapy and drugs that work through a single pathway. A therapeutic agent that targets cancer cells for death through multiple mechanisms could be advantageous as a broad inhibitor for many types of cancers and the heterogeneous alterations they possess. Several viral proteins have been exploited for antiproliferative and apoptotic effect in cancer cells by disrupting critical survival pathways. Here, we report the use of the non-structural protein on the S segment (NSs) gene from the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) to induce cancer cell death. NSs has immune evasion functions in the context of RVFV with many of these functions affecting proliferation pathways and DNA damage signaling, which could be leveraged against cancer cells. We find that expression of NSs in multiple cancer cell lines leads to a rapid decline in cell viability and induction of apoptosis. Interestingly, we observed reduced toxicity in normal cells suggesting cancer cells may be more susceptible to NSs-mediated cell death. To enhance specificity of NSs for use in hepatocellular carcinoma, we incorporated four miR-122 binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the NSs mRNA to achieve cell type specific expression. Observations presented here collectively suggest that delivery of the NSs gene may provide a unique therapeutic approach in a broad range of cancers.

Small molecule-mediated allosteric activation of the base excision repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase and its impact on mitochondrial function.

8-Oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) initiates base excision repair of the oxidative DNA damage product 8-oxoguanine. OGG1 is bifunctional; catalyzing glycosyl bond cleavage, followed by phosphodiester backbone incision via a ß-elimination apurinic lyase reaction. The product from the glycosylase reaction, 8-oxoguanine, and its analogues, 8-bromoguanine and 8-aminoguanine, trigger the rate-limiting AP lyase reaction. The precise activation mechanism remains unclear. The product-assisted catalysis hypothesis suggests that 8-oxoguanine and analogues bind at the product recognition (PR) pocket to enhance strand cleavage as catalytic bases. Alternatively, they may allosterically activate OGG1 by binding outside of the PR pocket to induce an active-site conformational change to accelerate apurinic lyase. Herein, steady-state kinetic analyses demonstrated random binding of substrate and activator. 9-Deazaguanine, which can't function as a substrate-competent base, activated OGG1, albeit with a lower Emax value than 8-bromoguanine and 8-aminoguanine. Random compound screening identified small molecules with Emax values similar to 8-bromoguanine. Paraquat-induced mitochondrial dysfunction was attenuated by several small molecule OGG1 activators; benefits included enhanced mitochondrial membrane and DNA integrity, less cytochrome c translocation, ATP preservation, and mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Our results support an allosteric mechanism of OGG1 and not product-assisted catalysis. OGG1 small molecule activators may improve mitochondrial function in oxidative stress-related diseases.

Molecular modeling of polymer-clay nanocomposite precursors: Lysine in montmorillonite interlayers.

The layered structure of clays with interlayer cations leads to unique chemical and mechanical properties, which have been capitalized on in the field of polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites. Hydrophilic silica surfaces can become organophilic with the inclusion of alkylammonium cations, which improve the wetting characteristics of the polymer matrix. In fact, the molecular level interactions of amino acids, either natural or non-natural, with clay surfaces are at the heart of fields of study as diverse as nanocomposites fabrication, drug delivery, bio-remediation of soils and catalysis of biological polymers, to name a few. The ubiquity of these systems and the potential uses to which they could be put suggests the necessity of a deeper understanding of the interplay of bonds, conformations, and configurations between the molecules and the hosts. The interactions of the amino acid lysine with sodium montmorillonite were studied using theoretical molecular modeling methods. The interlayer spacing of montmorillonite was increased by incorporating water molecules and allowing the system to evolve with molecular mechanics. Care was taken to retain the sodium cations in the interlayer. The initial amino acid conformation was obtained surrounding the molecule with numerous discrete water molecules and minimizing the system at the semi empirical level. The optimized amino acid was then placed in the interlayer space in a series of initial positions. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed and the final positions were analyzed. The results tended to indicate the preponderance of configurations which included surface-sodium-amino acid complexes with a variety of spatial arrangements. These results were compared with molecular dynamics calculations of similar systems from the literature.