Creating a cell line suitable for investigation into the ADAR1 role in hepatitis C virus replication

Abstract

Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) perform the adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) type of editing. Out of the three human ADAR proteins, ADAR1 is responsible for the majority of A-to-I editing of dsRNA outside the brain. By introducing I into the RNA sequence, thereby altering the base pairing in the region, or by its sheer dsRNA binding activity, ADAR1 can influence miRNA processing, alternative splicing, nuclear export, degradation or protection of RNA molecules (as reviewed in 1). On top of the variety of effects ADAR1 can have on a particular RNA, ADAR1 editing itself has been shown to be influenced heavily by the cell type. In recent years, studies on particular ADAR1 effects have relied mainly on RNA-seq experiments and knock-down cell line assays.