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Journal articles
The RNA silencing endonuclease Argonaute 2 mediates specific antiviral immunity in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract : Most organisms have evolved defense mechanisms to protect themselves from viruses and other pathogens. Arthropods lack the protein-based adaptive immune response found in vertebrates. Here we show that the central catalytic component of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the nuclease Argonaute 2 (Ago-2), is essential for antiviral defense in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Ago-2-defective flies are hypersensitive to infection with a major fruit fly pathogen, Drosophila C virus (DCV), and with Cricket Paralysis virus (CrPV). Increased mortality in ago-2 mutant flies was associated with a dramatic increase in viral RNA accumulation and virus titers. The physiological significance of this antiviral mechanism is underscored by our finding that DCV encodes a potent suppressor of RNA interference (RNAi). This suppressor binds long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and inhibits Dicer-2-mediated processing of dsRNA into short interfering RNA (siRNA), but does not bind short siRNAs or disrupt the microRNA (miRNA) pathway. Based on these results we propose that RNAi is a major antiviral immune defense mechanism in Drosophila.
Cited literature [43 references]
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01954329
Contributor : Brigitte Bidault <>
Submitted on : Thursday, December 13, 2018 - 3:45:39 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - 10:52:04 AM
Long-term archiving on: : Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 3:19:29 PM
Contributor : Brigitte Bidault <>
Submitted on : Thursday, December 13, 2018 - 3:45:39 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - 10:52:04 AM
Long-term archiving on: : Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 3:19:29 PM
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