Quantifying the Stability of Human Cytomegalovirus RNA5.0

Abstract

HCMV is the largest of the human herpesviruses containing a DNA genome of approximately 240 kilobases encoding 225 open reading frames (ORFs). Its large and complex genome also encodes long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) which are known for not being translated, but rather function as RNA. In HCMV, one of the lncRNA, known as RNA5.0, is a stable intron that is believed to play an important role in viral pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that RNA5.0 is a nuclear localized stable intron that is transcribed by RNA polymerase II, and that it's also enriched with high adenine and thymine residues. The true role of RNA5.0 is still unknown. It could activate transcription, regulate gene silencing, or play a role in HCMV latency. To begin to understand why an intron that should be degraded within minutes is stable for hours, we are developing an assay to quantify the stability of these unusual lncRNA using transfected cultured 293T cells.Support or Funding InformationNIH MARC U*STAR recipient T34GM092711