Retargeting target-directed microRNA-decay sites to highly expressed viral or cellular miRNAs

Jesus A. Ortega, Ziyan Liang, Junpeng Kenny Xu, Eva Gottwein*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pervasive regulators of gene expression, necessitating the development of tools to inhibit individual miRNAs for functional studies or therapeutic targeting. Specialized base-pairing configurations between a miRNA and an RNA target site can trigger the degradation of the targeting miRNA through target-directed miRNA decay (TDMD). Previous work has identified several natural sites that induce TDMD of specific miRNAs. We explored retargeting known TDMD sites for the inhibition of heterologous miRNAs, including several encoded by Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We focused particularly on miR-K11, a viral mimic of the oncogenic miRNA miR-155. miRNA pairing architectures based on the TDMD site in the long non-coding RNA Cyrano outperformed other retargeted sites. Cyrano-like inhibitors were specific for viral miR-K11 over cellular miR-155 and vice versa. Lentiviral delivery of a Cyrano-like miR-K11 inhibitor into KSHV-transformed primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells impaired their viability, showing that miR-K11 promotes KSHV-dependent PEL cell survival. Surprisingly, inactivation of ZSWIM8, a key mediator of TDMD, did not substantially affect miRNA inhibition by retargeted Cyrano-based inhibitors in 293T or PEL cells. Together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of retargeting natural TDMD sites to highly expressed viral or cellular miRNAs and further define features of effective encoded miRNA inhibitors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14171-14183
Number of pages13
JournalNucleic acids research
Volume52
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 11 2024

Funding

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)-funded Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease Training Program [T32-GM008061 supported J.A.O]; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)-funded Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award F31 Fellowship [F31 AI183996 to J.A.O.]; National Cancer Institute [R01 CA247619 and R01 CA285193 to E.G.].

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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