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Sequence complementarity between human noncoding RNAs and SARS-CoV-2 genes: What are the implications for human
Rossella Talotta1, Shervin Bahrami2, Magdalena Janina Laska2
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, AOU "Gaetano Martino", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Basis of Disease
|October 18, 2021
Summary
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA sequences show complementarity to human non-coding RNA (ncRNA). This interaction may disrupt ncRNA epigenetic control, potentially impacting human health and disease development.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a significant global health concern.
- Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play crucial roles in gene regulation and cellular processes.
- Understanding virus-host interactions at the molecular level is vital for disease pathogenesis research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential nucleotide sequence complementarity between the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome and human ncRNA genes.
- To identify specific human ncRNAs that interact with SARS-CoV-2 sequences.
- To explore the functional implications and disease associations of these interactions.
Main Methods:
- In silico retrieval of SARS-CoV-2 RNA sequences from NCBI.
- Interrogation of the Ensembl.org library for base-pair matches with human ncRNA genes.
- Bioinformatic screening of matched ncRNAs for functional activity and disease associations using GWAS databases.
Main Results:
- A total of 252 matches were identified between SARS-CoV-2 genes and human ncRNAs, predominantly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
- Matches occurred in ncRNA regulatory sites, with adjacent genes implicated in cancer, immunological, and neurological pathways.
- Polymorphic variants of identified ncRNAs were associated with neuropsychiatric and proliferative disorders.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2 genes exhibit Watson-Crick complementarity with human ncRNA sequences.
- This complementarity may disrupt the epigenetic control exerted by ncRNAs on target genes.
- Further research is needed to determine if these interactions contribute to long-term human disease development.
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