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IPD9067 |
Identification of the host proteins binding to the CHIKV genomic RNA |
Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati |
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a crucial role in RNA regulation. The RBPs are involved in a variety of functions, including viral RNA stabilisation, translation regulation, and controlling the synthesis of the complementary replication intermediate RNA. In several alphaviruses, Sindbis virus, Ross River virus, and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), host RBPs are...
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a crucial role in RNA regulation. The RBPs are involved in a variety of functions, including viral RNA stabilisation, translation regulation, and controlling the synthesis of the complementary replication intermediate RNA. In several alphaviruses, Sindbis virus, Ross River virus, and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), host RBPs are the key replication regulators, thereby controlling the viral life cycle.
Though the coding region of alphaviruses exhibits sequence diversity, their non-coding regions are highly conserved at both sequence and structural levels. This conservation suggests that these sequences are crucial for the virus replication. Also, numerous reports have demonstrated that various RBPs bind to the conserved non-coding regions (NCRs) of the viral genome, thereby modulating its replication.
We, therefore, hypothesised that host RBPs binding to the conserved sequences within the NCRs of CHIKV may have a role in the viral replication. To validate the hypothesis, we used an RNA pull-down-based approach to identify the host proteins binding to the conserved RNAs specifically. To this end, biotinylated RNA, representing the conserved NCR sequence, was used as a bait to pull down the RBPs from the host cell lysates. The bound proteins were then eluted and analysed by mass spectrometry.
The identified RBPs were potential regulators of viral genome replication, providing insights into the host-virus interactions. Overall, this study aims to identify the host RBPs interacting with the CHIKV genome and understand their role in CHIKV replication.
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DBT-Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Haryana, Faridabad, India |
Bottom-up |
2026-01-14 |
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| 2 |
IPD7164 |
Delineating the role of human β-microseminoprotein in male reproduction |
Dr. Dhanashree Jagtap |
Background: Beta-microseminoprotein (MSMB, β-MSP) is a non-glycosylated, cysteine
rich protein secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostate. β-MSP is found in abundance in
human seminal plasma and is also present on the spermatozoa. It is introduced into the semen during ejaculation and found to be absent in post-capacitated spermatozoa. Its abundance...
Background: Beta-microseminoprotein (MSMB, β-MSP) is a non-glycosylated, cysteine
rich protein secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostate. β-MSP is found in abundance in
human seminal plasma and is also present on the spermatozoa. It is introduced into the semen during ejaculation and found to be absent in post-capacitated spermatozoa. Its abundance in semen along with the fact that it is present on the pre-capacitated spermatozoa suggests that it may have a function which has not yet been elucidated.
b) Novelty: Many functions have been attributed to β-MSP but its exact role in human
reproduction is unclear. The difference between β-MSP levels of fertile and infertile
individuals will be delineated. Identification and characterization of novel binding partners of
β-MSP on spermatozoa of fertile versus infertile men will be accomplished. The mechanism
by which β-MSP exerts its action will be elucidated. Sperm capacitation which is essential for successful fertilization is associated with modification of protein composition of spermatozoa. The mechanism by which β-MSP is lost during this process will be deciphered.
c) Objectives: To investigate the difference in β-MSP levels and identify its novel binding
partners in fertile.
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ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Bottom-up |
2026-02-21 |
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