Decoy complexes

RNA decoys from HCV stem-loop structures in NS5B coding region sequester replication complexes HCV (Zhang et al. 2005)... 

The sense approach, in which a short nucleic acid sequence mimicking the natural binding site of a DNA-or RNA-binding protein, has been essentially used for functional analysis of a target gene. The competition between the decoy and the natural binding site abolishes the formation of the authentic nucleic acid/protein complexes and thus inhibits the process mediated by this complex (Clusel et al., 1993). 

Bone resorption is a physiological process prevented by the osteoblast secreting osteoclast inhibition factor (OCIF), more commonly called osteoprotegerin (OPG). OCIF is a nonmembrane-bound decoy receptor that resembles ODAR and prevents ODF from binding to ODAR and therefore causing preosteoclasts to remain undifferentiated (Fig. 10.5). Bone resorption is related to the body s response to injury or infection, a complex series of events called inflammation. 

When the ODF/ODAR complex activates c-src to form a ruffled membrane, it also activates NFkB to activate the transcription factors that induce cathepsin K and acid phosphatase expression. Because ODF binds to ODAR/RANK, it is also known as the RANK ligand (RANKL). OCIF (OPG), the ODF decoy receptor, is RANK without its transmembrane and cytosolic domains. Thus OCIF = OPG and OPG ligand (OPGL) = RANKL = ODF. ODF, ODAR, and OCIF are related to TNFa or its receptor, TNFa family molecules (Table 10.1). 

Bohjanen, P. R., Liu, Y., GarciaBianco, M. A. (1997) TAR RNA decoys inhibit Tat-activated HIV-1 transcription after preinitiation complex formation. Nucleic Acids Res 25, 4481-4486. 

The activation of apoptosis via death receptors is a tightly regulated event. Soluble or membrane-bound decoy receptors can interfere with the death pathway by either scavenging the death ligand or by forming inactive mixed receptor complexes, thereby acting as dominant negative inhibitors. 

Structural Data on Protein-Ligand Complexes and Decoy Data Sets... 

DOCKGROUND http / / dockground.bioinformatics. ku.edu/index.shtml The DOCKGROUND resource implements a comprehensive database of cocrystalbzed (bound-bound) protein-protein complexes, unbound (experimental and simulated) protein-protein complexes, modeled protein-protein complexes and systematic sets of docking decoys... 

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