Methods and compositions for the detection of host protein cleavage by group IV viral proteases
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsPatricia M. Legler, Elaine Morazzani, Pamela Glass
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Abstract
Proteases of Group IV (+)ssRNA viruses were found to act on a human sequences in addition to the viral sequences. The identity of the cleavable human sequences is disclosed. Detection of these sequences can act as a diagnostic of infection. It is contemplated that these findings could be employed to facilitate post-translational silencing at the level of protein (e.g., removal of existing proteins), thus serving as a protein analog to CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi/RISC, and further to enable sequence-specific silencing of host functions without the modification of the host genome.
Claims2
A method of post-translational silencing and transient loss of function of a target protein, consisting of:
- expressing a viral protease of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in a mammalian host cell within a living organism by infecting the organism via administering an attenuated VEEV virus encoding the viral protease,
- wherein the viral protease recognizes and cleaves a target protein sequence endogenous to the host, thereby causing transient loss of function of a target protein that comprises the target protein sequence, and
- halting protease activity by introducing a protease inhibitor to the host cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.