18 research outputs found
The hepatitis C viral nonstructural protein 5A stabilizes growth-regulatory human transcripts
Numerous mammalian proto-oncogene and other growth-regulatory transcripts are upregulated in malignancy due to abnormal mRNA stabilization. In hepatoma cells expressing a hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenomic replicon, we found that the viral nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A), a protein known to bind to viral RNA, also bound specifically to human cellular transcripts that encode regulators of cell growth and apoptosis, and this binding correlated with transcript stabilization. An important subset of human NS5A-target transcripts contained GU-rich elements, sequences known to destabilize mRNA. We found that NS5A bound to GU-rich elements in vitro and in cells. Mutation of the NS5A zinc finger abrogated its GU-rich element-binding and mRNA stabilizing activities. Overall, we identified a molecular mechanism whereby HCV manipulates host gene expression by stabilizing host transcripts in a manner that would promote growth and prevent death of virus-infected cells, allowing the virus to establish chronic infection and lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research
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Distribution of hand function by age in individuals with Rett syndrome
Abstract:
Objective:
We aimed to determine the longitudinal distribution of hand function skills in individuals with classic Rett syndrome (RTT), an X‐linked dominant neurodevelopmental disorder, and correlate with MECP2 variants.
Method:
We conducted a longitudinal study of 946 girls and young women with typical RTT seen between 2006 and 2021 in the US Natural History Study (NHS) featuring a structured clinical evaluation to assess the level of hand function skills. The specific focus of this study was to assess longitudinal variation of hand skills from age 2 through age 18 years in relation to specific MECP2 variant groups.
Results:
Following the initial regression period, hand function continues to decline across the age spectrum in individuals with RTT. Specific differences are noted with steeper declines in hand function among those with milder variants (Group A: R133C, R294X, R306C, and C‐terminal truncations) compared with groups composed of individuals with more severe variants.
Conclusions:
These temporal variations in hand use represent specific considerations that could influence the design of clinical trials that test therapies aiming to ameliorate specific functional limitations in individuals with RTT. Furthermore, the distinct impact of specific MECP2 variants on clinical severity, especially related to hand use, should be considered in such interventional trials