A folded viral noncoding RNA blocks host cell exoribonucleases through a conformationally dynamic RNA structure
Abstract
Folded RNA elements are essential for diverse biological processes. Recently discovered examples include viral xrRNAs, which co-opt the cellular RNA decay machinery within a novel noncoding RNA production pathway. Here we characterize an xrRNA with no apparent evolutionary link or sequence homology to those described previously. Our results show that xrRNAs are an authentic class of functional RNAs that have arisen independently in different contexts, suggesting that they may be widespread. The detailed 3D structure of one of these xrRNAs reveals that an underlying structural topology may be the key feature that confers exoribonuclease resistance to diverse xrRNAs.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1802429115
- Bibcode:
- 2018PNAS..115.6404S