Virus-modified exosomes have been proposed for targeted nucleotide delivery to c
ID: 176968 • Letter: V
Question
Virus-modified exosomes have been proposed for targeted nucleotide delivery to cells as shown below:
A. Describe the molecular composition of virus-modified exosomes.
B. Compare the composition to a typical eukaryotic cell membrane and describe the function of the different molecules.
C. Describe what you deliver with this molecule and how it would function
Viral and cellula components selective inc ration Virus-modified exosomes "stuffed" with selected viral and/or cellular components MVB Virus-modified exosomes Cytoplasm EBVExplanation / Answer
A.
The virus-modified exosomes contain the composition of virus as well as cellular vesicle. Therefore, they contain enzymes, proteins and sites for attachment to cell and to various proteins (from vesicle part). Besides, they contain, viral protein and DNA/RNA (from viral part).
So, the molecular composition of virus-modified exosome is protein and nucleic acid inside the matrix, and protein and lipid in the exosomal membrane.
B.
A typical eukaryotic cell membrane contains phospholipids and proteins along with cholesterol and certain carbohydrate moieties attached to various parts of the membrane. The exosome membrane is also made up of phospholipid and protein. So, it can easily enter the eukaryotic cell.
The proteins inside the membrane act as either carrier or channel. They transport material in and out of the membrane and exosome. RNA of virus enters the exosome through these channels.
The phospholipids make up major part of the membrane and exosome. They constitute structural properties and polarity to the membrane/exosome. This polarity allows diffusion of small particles. It is the polarity which allows the vesicle to move out of the cell in form of exosome; which can be further modified to become virus-modified exosome.
C.
Viruses have extremely high target specificity. Therefore, there role in gene therapy has been considered to be important. Small DNA/RNA molecules can be packaged into viral vectors. These vectors are then introduced into exosome. The exosome enters the cell, and further moves into the nucleus.
Presently these virus-modified exosomes are mostly used for RNAi. Small interfering RNAs are packed into viral vectors. These siRNAs enter the genome of eukaryote and silence a particular diseased gene; hence prove to be helpful in gene therapy.
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