A hypothetical new role for single-stranded DNA binding proteins in the immune system

Author:

Vijay Nagarjun,Chande Ajit

Abstract

AbstractThe breadth of the host range of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses is roughly comparable to the host range of double-stranded DNA viruses (dsDNA). Yet, general ssDNA sensing receptors that activate the immune system have not been unequivocally identified while numerous dsDNA sensing receptors are known. Here, we hypothesize that some of the Single-Stranded DNA Binding (SSB) proteins may act as receptors that detect single-stranded DNA from pathogens and activate the innate immune system. As the first test of our hypothesis, we checked whether human genes that are known to bind to ssDNA are potentially interferon-regulated. Out of the 102 human genes that are known to have ssDNA binding ability 23 genes show a more than two-fold increase in gene expression upon interferon treatment. Single-stranded DNA viruses are pathogens of not only animals but also of plants and protozoans. We used this information to further prioritize our candidate list to ssDNA binding genes that are common between the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and humans. Based on these strategies, we shortlist several promising candidate genes including the HMGB1 gene which could act as a ssDNA sensor that activates the immune system. Agreeably though we cannot establish a definitive role for these genes as ssDNA sensors of the immune system as yet, our preliminary analysis suggests the potential existence of ssDNA binding protein-like receptors (SLR’s) that are worth investigating further.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3