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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/8832
HUMAN RETROVIRUS CODON USAGE FROM TRNA POINT OF VIEW: THERAPEUTIC INSIGHTS
Author
Affilliation
Bahia State University. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Bahia Schoolof Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Bahia State University. Salvador, BA, Brasil
University of KwaZulu-Natal. Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies. Doris Duke Medical Research Institute. Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. College of Health Sciences. Durban, South Africa
Bahia Schoolof Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Bahia Schoolof Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Bahia State University. Salvador, BA, Brasil
University of KwaZulu-Natal. Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies. Doris Duke Medical Research Institute. Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. College of Health Sciences. Durban, South Africa
Bahia Schoolof Medicine and Public Health. Bahia Foundation for Science Development. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the balance between transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) supply and demand in retrovirus-infected cells, seeking the best targets for antiretroviral therapy based on the hypothetical tRNA Inhibition Therapy (TRIT). Codon usage and tRNA gene data were retrieved from public databases. Based on logistic principles, a therapeutic score (T-score) was calculated for all sense codons, in each retrovirus-host system. Codons that are critical for viral protein translation, but not as critical for the host, have the highest T-score values. Theoretically, inactivating the cognate tRNA species should imply a severe reduction of the elongation rate during viral mRNA translation. We developed a method to predict tRNA species critical for retroviral protein synthesis. Four of the best TRIT targets in HIV-1 and HIV-2 encode Large Hydrophobic Residues (LHR), which have a central role in protein folding. One of them, codon CUA, is also a TRIT target in both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. Therefore, a drug designed for inactivating or reducing the cytoplasmatic concentration of tRNA species with anticodon TAG could attenuate significantly both HIV and HTLV protein synthesis rates. Inversely, replacing codons ending in UA by synonymous codons should increase the expression, which is relevant for DNA vaccine design
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