External Guide Sequence Effectively Suppresses the Gene Expression and Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus 2.
Molecules
; 29(9)2024 Apr 29.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38731543
ABSTRACT
Ribonuclease P (RNase P) complexed with an external guide sequence (EGS) represents a promising nucleic acid-based gene targeting approach for gene expression knock-down and modulation. The RNase P-EGS strategy is unique as an EGS can be designed to basepair any mRNA sequence and recruit intracellular RNase P for hydrolysis of the target mRNA. In this study, we provide the first direct evidence that the RNase P-based approach effectively blocks the gene expression and replication of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), the causative agent of genital herpes. We constructed EGSs to target the mRNA encoding HSV-2 single-stranded DNA binding protein ICP8, which is essential for viral DNA genome replication and growth. In HSV-2 infected cells expressing a functional EGS, ICP8 levels were reduced by 85%, and viral growth decreased by 3000 folds. On the contrary, ICP8 expression and viral growth exhibited no substantial differences between cells expressing no EGS and those expressing a disabled EGS with mutations precluding RNase P recognition. The anti-ICP8 EGS is specific in targeting ICP8 because it only affects ICP8 expression but does not affect the expression of the other viral immediate-early and early genes examined. This study shows the effective and specific anti-HSV-2 activity of the RNase P-EGS approach and demonstrates the potential of EGS RNAs for anti-HSV-2 applications.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Replicação Viral
/
Regulação Viral da Expressão Gênica
/
Herpesvirus Humano 2
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article