Inhibition of Virus DNA Replication by Artificial Zinc Finger Proteins

AUTOR(ES)

Sera, Takashi

FONTE

American Society for Microbiology

RESUMO

Prevention of virus infections is a major objective in agriculture and human health. One attractive approach to the prevention is inhibition of virus replication. To demonstrate this concept in vivo, an artificial zinc finger protein (AZP) targeting the replication origin of the Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV), a model DNA virus, was created. In vitro DNA binding assays indicated that the AZP efficiently blocked binding of the viral replication protein (Rep), which initiates virus replication, to the replication origin. All of the transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the AZP showed phenotypes strongly resistant to virus infection, and 84% of the transgenic plants showed no symptom. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that BSCTV replication was completely suppressed in the transgenic plants. Since the mechanism of viral DNA replication is well conserved among plants and mammals, this approach could be applied not only to agricultural crop protection but also to the prevention of virus infections in humans.

Documentos Relacionados

• Inhibition of bacterial DNA replication by zinc mobilization during nitrosative stress
• Inhibition of herpes simplex virus 1 gene expression by designer zinc-finger transcription factors
• Site-selective in vivo targeting of cytosine-5 DNA methylation by zinc-finger proteins
• Reduction in DNA-binding affinity of Cys2His2 zinc finger proteins by linker phosphorylation
• Irreversible Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus Replication in BSC-1 Cells by Zinc Ions