APOBECs and Virus Restriction 2024

Dear Colleagues,

The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzymes, the catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC) family of enzymes, are responsible for the deamination of cytosine in single-stranded RNA and DNA. In humans, this family includes 11 members, including APOBEC1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3F, 3G, 3H, 4, and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). The functions of these enzymes range from the epigenetic modifications of DNA, including the removal of methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, to the mutagenesis of host and viral mRNAs. Current evidence suggests that both RNA and DNA viruses are mutagenized by APOBECs, leading to selection and altered pathogenicity. Although APOBECs are typically associated with the innate immune response to viral infections, AID is a primordial member of the family that controls the affinity maturation of antibodies as well as effector functions via class switch recombination. The viral manipulation of APOBECs is often observed in enzyme relocalization or degradation, and APOBEC antagonists include both virally specified RNAs and proteins. This Special Issue will address new insights into APOBEC inhibitors and their impact on viral selection as well as the immune response.

Prof. Dr. Jaquelin P. Dudley
Guest Editor

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• cytosine deamination
• methylcytosine
• epigenetics
• mutagenesis
• cancer
• APOBEC antagonists
• innate immunity
• adaptive immunity
• virus selection