Previous studies have shown that the interaction of RNA and protein plays an important role in the formation of HIV virus particles. HIV-1Gag is the main structural protein of HIV, with RNA binding sites (nucleocapsid domain, NC). By binding to HIVNA, Gag protein uses RNA as a scaffold and aggregates in large amounts on the host cell membrane, eventually forming a virus containing thousands of Gag. Further studies have shown that Gag can also non-specifically bind to other RNAs in cells (such as long endogenous RNA), and longer RNA strands support Gag polymerization, leading to the formation of larger virus particles. display. Based on this, Chen Kuangshi and colleagues found that the high expression of micrornA (a small non-coding RNA with a length of about 22 nucleotides) in the cell itself forces the microRNA to bind non-specifically to the HIV-1 Gag protein. We put forward a hypothesis, It will interfere with Gag and Gag proteins. The combination of strand RNA can inhibit the formation and spread of HIV virus particles.
By combining high-resolution fluorescence microscopy technology, cell biology and biochemical methods, Chen Kuangshi and his collaborators discovered that microRNA and Gag combine to form a microRNA-Gag complex. It has been confirmed that the body destroyed the Gag assembly platform and disabled the released virus particles. . The incorrectly assembled Gag platform cannot resist endocytosis, accumulates in the lysosome, and eventually degrades. Contrary to the general understanding of microRNA function (targeting specific mRNA and causing gene silencing) in previous studies, Chen Kuangshi et al. found that microRNA "forms non-specific" HIV virus particles. I found that I can stop it. It is expected that this new mechanism will provide new ideas for the treatment of diseases caused by AIDS and other retroviruses. Part of the work was completed at Peking University and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Qianka Huaka Talent Foundation.
Chen Kuangshi studied at the School of Engineering of Peking University in April 2013. He is an outstanding researcher in the School of Biomedical Engineering and the main author of this article. His research direction is on scientific issues related to cellular and molecular imaging. His current research interest is the research and development of RNA molecular probe technology, studying the effects of RNA-protein interactions on cell physiology and disease development, virus-host cell interactions and molecular medicine.