In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR
COVID-19 pandemic is caused by betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The genome of this virus is composed of a single strand of RNA with 5′ and 3′-UTR flanking a region of protein-coding ORFs closely resembling cells’ mRNAs. MicroRNAs are endogenous post-transcriptional regulators that target mRNA to modulate...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/6094 |
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| author | María Asunción Barreda-Manso Manuel Nieto-Díaz Altea Soto Teresa Muñoz-Galdeano David Reigada Rodrigo M. Maza |
| author_facet | María Asunción Barreda-Manso Manuel Nieto-Díaz Altea Soto Teresa Muñoz-Galdeano David Reigada Rodrigo M. Maza |
| author_sort | María Asunción Barreda-Manso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | COVID-19 pandemic is caused by betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The genome of this virus is composed of a single strand of RNA with 5′ and 3′-UTR flanking a region of protein-coding ORFs closely resembling cells’ mRNAs. MicroRNAs are endogenous post-transcriptional regulators that target mRNA to modulate protein expression and mediate cellular functions, including antiviral defense. In the present study, we carried out a bioinformatics screening to search for endogenous human microRNAs targeting the 3′-UTR of SARS-CoV-2. Results from the computational techniques allowed us to identify 10 potential candidates. The capacity of 3 of them, together with hsa-miR-138-5p, to target the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR was validated in vitro by gene reporter assays. Available information indicates that two of these microRNAs, namely, hsa-miR-3941 and hsa-miR-138-5p, combine effective targeting of SARS-CoV-2 genome with complementary antiviral or protective effects in the host cells that make them potential candidates for therapeutic treatment of most, if not all, COVID-19 variants known to date. All information obtained while conducting the present analysis is available at Open Science Framework repository. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:41:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e1b9db6e640420986c63276f0c2dc1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:41:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e1b9db6e640420986c63276f0c2dc1c2023-11-21T22:55:30ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-06-012211609410.3390/ijms22116094In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTRMaría Asunción Barreda-Manso0Manuel Nieto-Díaz1Altea Soto2Teresa Muñoz-Galdeano3David Reigada4Rodrigo M. Maza5Molecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainMolecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainMolecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainMolecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainMolecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainMolecular Neuroprotection Group, Research Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, SpainCOVID-19 pandemic is caused by betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The genome of this virus is composed of a single strand of RNA with 5′ and 3′-UTR flanking a region of protein-coding ORFs closely resembling cells’ mRNAs. MicroRNAs are endogenous post-transcriptional regulators that target mRNA to modulate protein expression and mediate cellular functions, including antiviral defense. In the present study, we carried out a bioinformatics screening to search for endogenous human microRNAs targeting the 3′-UTR of SARS-CoV-2. Results from the computational techniques allowed us to identify 10 potential candidates. The capacity of 3 of them, together with hsa-miR-138-5p, to target the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR was validated in vitro by gene reporter assays. Available information indicates that two of these microRNAs, namely, hsa-miR-3941 and hsa-miR-138-5p, combine effective targeting of SARS-CoV-2 genome with complementary antiviral or protective effects in the host cells that make them potential candidates for therapeutic treatment of most, if not all, COVID-19 variants known to date. All information obtained while conducting the present analysis is available at Open Science Framework repository.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/6094SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTRhsa-miR-3941hsa-miR-138-5pantiviral defense |
| spellingShingle | María Asunción Barreda-Manso Manuel Nieto-Díaz Altea Soto Teresa Muñoz-Galdeano David Reigada Rodrigo M. Maza In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR International Journal of Molecular Sciences SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR hsa-miR-3941 hsa-miR-138-5p antiviral defense |
| title | In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR |
| title_full | In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR |
| title_fullStr | In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR |
| title_short | In Silico and In Vitro Analyses Validate Human MicroRNAs Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR |
| title_sort | in silico and in vitro analyses validate human micrornas targeting the sars cov 2 3 utr |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 3′-UTR hsa-miR-3941 hsa-miR-138-5p antiviral defense |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/6094 |
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