Cross-species comparative analysis of Dicer proteins during Sindbis virus infection
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ABSTRACT: The role of RNA silencing as a defense mechanism against viruses remains to be formerly established in mammalian somatic cells. Here, we determined the antiviral properties of human and Drosophila Dicer proteins in a heterologous setup. We expressed human Dicer (hDicer) in Drosophila, and Drosophila Dicer-2 in human cells, and measured the impact on the response to Sindbis virus (SINV) infection. In flies, hDicer presents a low processing activity, but partially rescues a Dcr2 null mutation in flies. Expression of Dicer-2 in HEK293 cells allows the processing of SINV RNA into 21-nt-long small RNAs. Nevertheless, instead of conferring a protective effect against SINV, Dicer-2 expression increases viral replication in HEK293 cells. We present evidence that this effect is due to a competition with the interferon pathway. Our results therefore suggest that adding functionial RNA silencing machinery in IFN-competent differentiated mammalian cells can be detrimental for antiviral defense.
ORGANISM(S): Sindbis virus Homo sapiens Drosophila melanogaster
PROVIDER: GSE62934 | GEO | 2015/12/28
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA266231
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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