The human cytomegalovirus non-coding Beta2.7 RNA as a novel therapeutic for Parkinson's disease – Translational research with no translation

•In this chapter we review the known functions of non-coding RNAs encoded within the HCMV genome. In particular, we focus on the functions of the viral Beta2.7 transcript which can protect mitochondrial complex I function during stress and, therefore, could be used as the basis for a novel therapeutic i for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders which involve mitochondrial dysfunction.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes abundant numbers of microRNAs (miRNAs) and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) whose functions are presently under intense investigation. In this chapter, we discuss the function of one of the more well characterised virus-encoded ncRNAs, derived from the viral major early gene (Beta2.7). This RNA plays an anti-apoptotic role during infection by directly interacting with mitochondrial complex I to help maintain high levels of ATP production and by preventing the stress induced re-localisation of retinoid/interferon-induced mortality-19 protein, GRIM-19. We then go on to describe how an 800 nucleotide sub-domain of the Beta2.7 transcript, p137, has been exploited in the development of a novel therapeutic for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.