Cytomegalovirus microRNAs

Lauren Hook, Meaghan Hancock, Igor Landais, Robert Grabski, William Britt, Jay A. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

The discovery that animals, plants and DNA viruses encode microRNAs (miRNAs) has transformed our understanding of the regulation of gene expression. miRNAs are ubiquitous small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, generally by binding to sites within the 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts. To date, over 250 viral miRNAs have been identified primarily in members of the herpesvirus family. These viral miRNAs target both viral and cellular genes in order to regulate viral replication, the establishment and maintenance of viral latency, cell survival, and innate and adaptive immunity. This review will focus on our current knowledge of the targets and functions of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) miRNAs and their functional equivalents in other herpesviruses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)40-46
Number of pages7
JournalCurrent Opinion in Virology
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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