Identification of RNase L-Dependent, 3′-End-Modified, Viral Small RNAs in Sindbis Virus-Infected Mammalian Cells

Abstract

In a continuous arms race, viruses have to deal with host antiviral responses in order to successfully establish an infection. In mammalian cells, the host defense mechanism relies on the recognition of viral RNAs, resulting in the activation of type I interferons (IFNs). In turn, the expression of many interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) is induced to inhibit viral replication. Here we report that the cytoplasmic, interferon-induced, cellular endoribonuclease RNase L is involved in the accumulation of a novel small RNA population of viral origin. These small RNAs are produced upon SINV infection of mammalian cells and are stabilized by a 3'-end modification. Altogether, our findings indicate that in our system RNA silencing is not active against Sindbis virus (SINV) and might open the way to a better understanding of the antiviral response mediated by a novel class of small RNAs.