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Li D, Qiao H, Qiu W, Xu X, Liu T, Jiang Q, Liu R, Jiao Z, Zhang K, Bi L, Chen R, Kan Y. Identification and functional characterization of intermediate-size non-coding RNAs in maize. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:730. [PMID: 30286715 PMCID: PMC6172812 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5103-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of eukaryote genomes can be actively transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are functionally important in development and evolution. In the study of maize, an important crop for both humans and animals, aside from microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, few studies have been conducted on intermediate-size ncRNAs. RESULTS We constructed a homogenized cDNA library of 50-500 nt RNAs in the maize inbred line Chang 7-2. Sequencing revealed 169 ncRNAs, which contained 58 known and 111 novel ncRNAs (including 70 snoRNAs, 27 snRNAs, 13 unclassified ncRNAs and one tRNA). Forty of the novel ncRNAs were specific to the Panicoideae, and 24% of them are located on sense-strand of the 5' or 3' terminus of protein coding genes on chromosome. Target site analysis found that 22 snoRNAs can guide to 38 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridylation modification sites of ribosomal RNAs and small nuclear RNAs. Expression analysis showed that 43 ncRNAs exhibited significantly altered expression in different tissues or developmental stages of maize seedlings, eight ncRNAs had tissue-specific expression and five ncRNAs were strictly accumulated in the early stage of leaf development. Further analysis showed that 3 of the 5 stage-specific ncRNAs (Zm-3, Zm-18, and Zm-73) can be highly induced under drought and salt stress, while one snoRNA Zm-8 can be repressed under PEG-simulated drought condition. CONCLUSIONS We provided a genome-wide identification and functional analysis of ncRNAs with a size range of 50-500 nt in maize. 111 novel ncRNAs were cloned and 40 ncRNAs were determined to be specific to Panicoideae. 43 ncRNAs changed significantly during maize development, three ncRNAs can be strongly induced under drought and salt stress, suggesting their roles in maize stress response. This work set a foundation for further study of intermediate-size ncRNAs in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Huili Qiao
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Wujie Qiu
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Xin Xu
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Tiemei Liu
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Qianling Jiang
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Renyi Liu
- Center for Agroforestry Mega Data Science and FAFU-UCR Joint Center for Horticultural Biology and Metabolomics, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zhujin Jiao
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China
| | - Lijun Bi
- Bioinformatics Laboratory and National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Runsheng Chen
- Bioinformatics Laboratory and National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yunchao Kan
- China-UK-NYNU-RRes Joint Laboratory of insect biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Insect Biology in Funiu Mountain, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, China.
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Unravelling the Roles of Susceptibility Loci for Autoimmune Diseases in the Post-GWAS Era. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9080377. [PMID: 30060490 PMCID: PMC6115971 DOI: 10.3390/genes9080377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several hundred loci associated with autoimmune diseases, their mechanistic insights are still poorly understood. The human genome is more complex than single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are interrogated by GWAS arrays. Apart from SNPs, it also comprises genetic variations such as insertions-deletions, copy number variations, and somatic mosaicism. Although previous studies suggest that common copy number variations do not play a major role in autoimmune disease risk, it is possible that certain rare genetic variations with large effect sizes are relevant to autoimmunity. In addition, other layers of regulations such as gene-gene interactions, epigenetic-determinants, gene and environmental interactions also contribute to the heritability of autoimmune diseases. This review focuses on discussing why studying these elements may allow us to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the aetiology of complex autoimmune traits.
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The Nefarious Nexus of Noncoding RNAs in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19072072. [PMID: 30018188 PMCID: PMC6073630 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19072072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed enormous progress, and has seen the noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) turn from the so-called dark matter RNA to critical functional molecules, influencing most physiological processes in development and disease contexts. Many ncRNAs interact with each other and are part of networks that influence the cell transcriptome and proteome and consequently the outcome of biological processes. The regulatory circuits controlled by ncRNAs have become increasingly more relevant in cancer. Further understanding of these complex network interactions and how ncRNAs are regulated, is paving the way for the identification of better therapeutic strategies in cancer.
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54
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Tong J, Yang J, Lv H, Lv S, Zhang C, Chen ZJ. Dysfunction of pseudogene PGK1P2 is involved in preeclampsia by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of PGK1. Pregnancy Hypertens 2018; 13:37-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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55
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Sloop GD, Pop G, Weidman JJ, St Cyr JA. Apolipoprotein(a) is the Product of a Pseudogene: Implications for the Pathophysiology of Lipoprotein(a). Cureus 2018; 10:e2715. [PMID: 30079281 PMCID: PMC6067813 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.2715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] is an apolipoprotein unique to lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. Although it has no known function, Lp(a) is a risk factor for accelerated atherothrombosis. We hypothesize that LPA, the gene which encodes apo(a), is a heretofore unrecognized unprocessed pseudogene created by duplication of PLG, the gene which encodes plasminogen. Unprocessed pseudogenes are genes which were created by duplication of functional genes and subsequently lost function after acquiring various mutations. This hypothesis explains many of the unusual features of Lp(a) and apo(a). Also, this hypothesis has implications for the therapy of elevated Lp(a) and atherothrombosis theory. Because apo(a) is functionless, the diseases associated with elevated levels of Lp(a) are due to its impact on blood viscosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory D Sloop
- Pathology, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, USA
| | - Gheorghe Pop
- Cardiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Nijmegen, NLD
| | | | - John A St Cyr
- Research and Development, Jacqmar, Inc., Minneapolis, USA
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Simopoulos CMA, Weretilnyk EA, Golding GB. Prediction of plant lncRNA by ensemble machine learning classifiers. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:316. [PMID: 29720103 PMCID: PMC5930664 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In plants, long non-protein coding RNAs are believed to have essential roles in development and stress responses. However, relative to advances on discerning biological roles for long non-protein coding RNAs in animal systems, this RNA class in plants is largely understudied. With comparatively few validated plant long non-coding RNAs, research on this potentially critical class of RNA is hindered by a lack of appropriate prediction tools and databases. Supervised learning models trained on data sets of mostly non-validated, non-coding transcripts have been previously used to identify this enigmatic RNA class with applications largely focused on animal systems. Our approach uses a training set comprised only of empirically validated long non-protein coding RNAs from plant, animal, and viral sources to predict and rank candidate long non-protein coding gene products for future functional validation. Results Individual stochastic gradient boosting and random forest classifiers trained on only empirically validated long non-protein coding RNAs were constructed. In order to use the strengths of multiple classifiers, we combined multiple models into a single stacking meta-learner. This ensemble approach benefits from the diversity of several learners to effectively identify putative plant long non-coding RNAs from transcript sequence features. When the predicted genes identified by the ensemble classifier were compared to those listed in GreeNC, an established plant long non-coding RNA database, overlap for predicted genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and Eutrema salsugineum ranged from 51 to 83% with the highest agreement in Eutrema salsugineum. Most of the highest ranking predictions from Arabidopsis thaliana were annotated as potential natural antisense genes, pseudogenes, transposable elements, or simply computationally predicted hypothetical protein. Due to the nature of this tool, the model can be updated as new long non-protein coding transcripts are identified and functionally verified. Conclusions This ensemble classifier is an accurate tool that can be used to rank long non-protein coding RNA predictions for use in conjunction with gene expression studies. Selection of plant transcripts with a high potential for regulatory roles as long non-protein coding RNAs will advance research in the elucidation of long non-protein coding RNA function. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4665-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - G Brian Golding
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada.
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57
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Müller S, Agnihotri S, Shoger KE, Myers MI, Smith N, Chaparala S, Villanueva CR, Chattopadhyay A, Lee AV, Butterfield LH, Diaz A, Okada H, Pollack IF, Kohanbash G. Peptide vaccine immunotherapy biomarkers and response patterns in pediatric gliomas. JCI Insight 2018; 3:98791. [PMID: 29618666 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.98791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are the most common brain tumor affecting children. We recently reported an early phase clinical trial of a peptide-based vaccine, which elicited consistent antigen-specific T cell responses in pediatric LGG patients. Additionally, we observed radiologic responses of stable disease (SD), partial response (PR), and near-complete/complete response (CR) following therapy. To identify biomarkers of clinical response in peripheral blood, we performed RNA sequencing on PBMC samples collected at multiple time points. Patients who showed CR demonstrated elevated levels of T cell activation markers, accompanied by a cytotoxic T cell response shortly after treatment initiation. At week 34, patients with CR demonstrated both IFN signaling and Poly-IC:LC adjuvant response patterns. Patients with PR demonstrated a unique, late monocyte response signature. Interestingly, HLA-V expression, before or during therapy, and an early monocytic hematopoietic response were strongly associated with SD. Finally, low IDO1 and PD-L1 expression before treatment and early elevated levels of T cell activation markers were associated with prolonged progression-free survival. Overall, our data support the presence of unique peripheral immune patterns in LGG patients associated with different radiographic responses to our peptide vaccine immunotherapy. Future clinical trials, including our ongoing phase II LGG vaccine immunotherapy, should monitor these response patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Müller
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lisa H Butterfield
- Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Immunology and Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aaron Diaz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Espinola SM, Cancela MP, Brisolara Corrêa L, Zaha A. Evolutionary fates of universal stress protein paralogs in Platyhelminthes. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:10. [PMID: 29390964 PMCID: PMC5793430 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1129-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Universal stress proteins (USPs) are present in all domains of life. Their expression is upregulated in response to a large variety of stress conditions. The functional diversity found in this protein family, paired with the sequence degeneration of the characteristic ATP-binding motif, suggests a complex evolutionary pattern for the paralogous USP-encoding genes. In this work, we investigated the origin, genomic organization, expression patterns and evolutionary history of the USP gene family in species of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Results Our data showed a cluster organization, a lineage-specific distribution, and the presence of several pseudogenes among the USP gene copies identified. The absence of a well conserved -CCAATCA- motif in the promoter region was positively correlated with low or null levels of gene expression, and with amino acid changes within the ligand binding motifs. Despite evidence of the pseudogenization of various USP genes, we detected an important functional divergence at several residues, mostly located near sites that are critical for ligand interaction. Conclusions Our results provide a broad framework for the evolution of the USP gene family, based on the emergence of new paralogs that face very contrasting fates, including pseudogenization, subfunctionalization or neofunctionalization. This framework aims to explain the sequence and functional diversity of this gene family, providing a foundation for future studies in other taxa in which USPs occur. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1129-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Martin Espinola
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Martin Pablo Cancela
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lauís Brisolara Corrêa
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Arnaldo Zaha
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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59
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Ronchetti D, Agnelli L, Taiana E, Galletti S, Manzoni M, Todoerti K, Musto P, Strozzi F, Neri A. Distinct lncRNA transcriptional fingerprints characterize progressive stages of multiple myeloma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:14814-30. [PMID: 26895470 PMCID: PMC4924754 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many efforts have recently contributed to improve our knowledge of molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), the role and significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in plasma cells (PC) malignancies remains virtually absent. To this aim, we developed a custom annotation pipeline of microarray data investigating lncRNA expression in PCs from 20 monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance, 33 smoldering MM, 170 MM, and 36 extra-medullary MMs/plasma cell leukemia patients, and 9 healthy donors. Our study identified 31 lncRNAs deregulated in tumor samples compared to normal controls; among these, the upregulation of MALAT1 appeared associated in MM patients with molecular pathways involving cell cycle regulation, p53-mediated DNA damage response, and mRNA maturation processes. Furthermore, we found 21 lncRNAs whose expression were progressively deregulated trough the more aggressive stages of PC dyscrasia, suggesting a possible role in the progression of the disease. Finally, in the context of molecular heterogeneity of MM, we identified a transcriptional fingerprint in hyperdiploid patients, characterized by the upregulation of lncRNAs/pseudogenes related to ribosomal protein genes, known to be upregulated in this molecular group. Overall, the data provides an important resource for future studies on the functions of lncRNAs in the pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Ronchetti
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Agnelli
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Taiana
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Galletti
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Manzoni
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Laboratory of Pre-Clinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, Potenza, Italy
| | - Pellegrino Musto
- Laboratory of Pre-Clinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, Potenza, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Neri
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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Gonzalez TL, Sun T, Koeppel AF, Lee B, Wang ET, Farber CR, Rich SS, Sundheimer LW, Buttle RA, Chen YDI, Rotter JI, Turner SD, Williams J, Goodarzi MO, Pisarska MD. Sex differences in the late first trimester human placenta transcriptome. Biol Sex Differ 2018; 9:4. [PMID: 29335024 PMCID: PMC5769539 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-018-0165-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Development of the placenta during the late first trimester is critical to ensure normal growth and development of the fetus. Developmental differences in this window such as sex-specific variation are implicated in later placental disease states, yet gene expression at this time is poorly understood. Methods RNA-sequencing was performed to characterize the transcriptome of 39 first trimester human placentas using chorionic villi following genetic testing (17 females, 22 males). Gene enrichment analysis was performed to find enriched canonical pathways and gene ontologies in the first trimester. DESeq2 was used to find sexually dimorphic gene expression. Patient demographics were analyzed for sex differences in fetal weight at time of chorionic villus sampling and birth. Results RNA-sequencing analyses detected 14,250 expressed genes, with chromosome 19 contributing the greatest proportion (973/2852, 34.1% of chromosome 19 genes) and Y chromosome contributing the least (16/568, 2.8%). Several placenta-enriched genes as well as histone-coding genes were identified to be unique to the first trimester and common to both sexes. Further, we identified 58 genes with significantly different expression between males and females: 25 X-linked, 15 Y-linked, and 18 autosomal genes. Genes that escape X inactivation were highly represented (59.1%) among X-linked genes upregulated in females. Many genes differentially expressed by sex consisted of X/Y gene pairs, suggesting that dosage compensation plays a role in sex differences. These X/Y pairs had roles in parallel, ancient canonical pathways important for eukaryotic cell growth and survival: chromatin modification, transcription, splicing, and translation. Conclusions This study is the first characterization of the late first trimester placenta transcriptome, highlighting similarities and differences among the sexes in ongoing human pregnancies resulting in live births. Sexual dimorphism may contribute to pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth and birth weight, which was seen in our cohort, with males significantly heavier than females at birth. This transcriptome provides a basis for development of early diagnostic tests of placental function that can indicate overall pregnancy heath, fetal-maternal health, and long-term adult health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13293-018-0165-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania L Gonzalez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tianyanxin Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander F Koeppel
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Bora Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Erica T Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charles R Farber
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Stephen S Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lauren W Sundheimer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rae A Buttle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen D Turner
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark O Goodarzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margareta D Pisarska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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De Martino M, Palma G, Azzariti A, Arra C, Fusco A, Esposito F. The HMGA1 Pseudogene 7 Induces miR-483 and miR-675 Upregulation by Activating Egr1 through a ceRNA Mechanism. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8110330. [PMID: 29149041 PMCID: PMC5704243 DOI: 10.3390/genes8110330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have established that pseudogene mRNAs can work as competing endogenous RNAs and, when deregulated, play a key role in the onset of human neoplasias. Recently, we have isolated two HMGA1 pseudogenes, HMGA1P6 and HMGA1P7. These pseudogenes have a critical role in cancer progression, acting as micro RNA (miRNA) sponges for HMGA1 and other cancer-related genes. HMGA1 pseudogenes were found overexpressed in several human carcinomas, and their expression levels positively correlate with an advanced cancer stage and a poor prognosis. In order to investigate the molecular alterations following HMGA1 pseudogene 7 overexpression, we carried out miRNA sequencing analysis on HMGA1P7 overexpressing mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Intriguingly, the most upregulated miRNAs were miR-483 and miR-675 that have been described as key regulators in cancer progression. Here, we report that HMGA1P7 upregulates miR-483 and miR-675 through a competing endogenous RNA mechanism with Egr1, a transcriptional factor that positively regulates miR-483 and miR-675 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Martino
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia di Napoli, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Palma
- Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Fondazione Pascale, via Mariano Semmola, 52, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Amalia Azzariti
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Viale O. Flacco, 65, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Claudio Arra
- Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Fondazione Pascale, via Mariano Semmola, 52, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alfredo Fusco
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia di Napoli, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Francesco Esposito
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia di Napoli, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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Roncalli V, Christie AE, Sommer SA, Cieslak MC, Hartline DK, Lenz PH. A deep transcriptomic resource for the copepod crustacean Labidocera madurae: A potential indicator species for assessing near shore ecosystem health. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186794. [PMID: 29065152 PMCID: PMC5655441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems of many sub-tropical and tropical marine coastal environments have suffered significant degradation from anthropogenic sources. Research to inform management strategies that mitigate stressors and promote a healthy ecosystem has focused on the ecology and physiology of coral reefs and associated organisms. Few studies focus on the surrounding pelagic communities, which are equally important to ecosystem function. Zooplankton, often dominated by small crustaceans such as copepods, is an important food source for invertebrates and fishes, especially larval fishes. The reef-associated zooplankton includes a sub-neustonic copepod family that could serve as an indicator species for the community. Here, we describe the generation of a de novo transcriptome for one such copepod, Labidocera madurae, a pontellid from an intensively-studied coral reef ecosystem, Kāne'ohe Bay, Oahu, Hawai'i. The transcriptome was assembled using high-throughput sequence data obtained from whole organisms. It comprised 211,002 unique transcripts, including 72,391 with coding regions. It was assessed for quality and completeness using multiple workflows. Bench-marking-universal-single-copy-orthologs (BUSCO) analysis identified transcripts for 88% of expected eukaryotic core proteins. Targeted gene-discovery analyses included searches for transcripts coding full-length "giant" proteins (>4,000 amino acids), proteins and splice variants of voltage-gated sodium channels, and proteins involved in the circadian signaling pathway. Four different reference transcriptomes were generated and compared for the detection of differential gene expression between copepodites and adult females; 6,229 genes were consistently identified as differentially expressed between the two regardless of reference. Automated bioinformatics analyses and targeted manual gene curation suggest that the de novo assembled L. madurae transcriptome is of high quality and completeness. This transcriptome provides a new resource for assessing the global physiological status of a planktonic species inhabiting a coral reef ecosystem that is subjected to multiple anthropogenic stressors. The workflows provide a template for generating and assessing transcriptomes in other non-model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Roncalli
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Andrew E. Christie
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Stephanie A. Sommer
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Cieslak
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Daniel K. Hartline
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
| | - Petra H. Lenz
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States of America
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Dangwal S, Schimmel K, Foinquinos A, Xiao K, Thum T. Noncoding RNAs in Heart Failure. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2017; 243:423-445. [PMID: 27995387 DOI: 10.1007/164_2016_99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure is a major contributor to the healthcare burden and mortality worldwide. Current treatment strategies are able to slow down the transition of healthy heart into the failing one; nevertheless better understanding of the complex genetic regulation of maladaptive remodeling in the failing heart is essential for new drug discovery. Noncoding RNAs are key epigenetic regulators of cardiac gene expression and thus significantly influence cardiac homeostasis and functions.In this chapter we will discuss characteristics of noncoding RNAs, especially miRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs, and review recent evidences proving their profound involvement during different stages of heart failure progression. Several open questions still prevent the extensive use of noncoding RNA-modulating therapies in clinics; yet they are becoming an attractive target to define novel regulatory mechanisms in the heart. In-depth study of their interaction with gene networks will refine our current view of heart failure and revolutionize the drug development in coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Dangwal
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, IFBTx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina Schimmel
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, IFBTx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ariana Foinquinos
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, IFBTx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ke Xiao
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, IFBTx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, IFBTx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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64
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Habibi L, Salmani H. Pivotal Impacts of Retrotransposon Based Invasive RNAs on Evolution. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1957. [PMID: 29067016 PMCID: PMC5641331 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs have long been described as the mediators of gene expression; they play a vital role in the structure and function of cellular complexes. Although the role of RNAs in the prokaryotes is mainly confined to these basic functions, the effects of these molecules in regulating the gene expression and enzymatic activities have been discovered in eukaryotes. Recently, a high-resolution analysis of the DNA obtained from different organisms has revealed a fundamental impact of the RNAs in shaping the genomes, heterochromatin formation, and gene creation. Deep sequencing of the human genome revealed that about half of our DNA is comprised of repetitive sequences (remnants of transposable element movements) expanded mostly through RNA-mediated processes. ORF2 encoded by L1 retrotransposons is a cellular reverse transcriptase which is mainly responsible for RNA invasion of various transposable elements (L1s, Alus, and SVAs) and cellular mRNAs in to the genomic DNA. In addition to increasing retroelements copy number; genomic expansion in association with centromere, telomere, and heterochromatin formation as well as pseudogene creation are the evolutionary consequences of this RNA-based activity. Threatening DNA integrity by disrupting the genes and forming excessive double strand breaks is another effect of this invasion. Therefore, repressive mechanisms have been evolved to control the activities of these invasive intracellular RNAs. All these mechanisms now have essential roles in the complex cellular functions. Therefore, it can be concluded that without direct action of RNA networks in shaping the genome and in the development of different cellular mechanisms, the evolution of higher eukaryotes would not be possible.
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Differential Expression Profile of lncRNAs from Primary Human Hepatocytes Following DEET and Fipronil Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102104. [PMID: 28991164 PMCID: PMC5666786 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
While the synthesis and use of new chemical compounds is at an all-time high, the study of their potential impact on human health is quickly falling behind, and new methods are needed to assess their impact. We chose to examine the effects of two common environmental chemicals, the insect repellent N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and the insecticide fluocyanobenpyrazole (fipronil), on transcript levels of long non-protein coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in primary human hepatocytes using a global RNA-Seq approach. While lncRNAs are believed to play a critical role in numerous important biological processes, many still remain uncharacterized, and their functions and modes of action remain largely unclear, especially in relation to environmental chemicals. RNA-Seq showed that 100 µM DEET significantly increased transcript levels for 2 lncRNAs and lowered transcript levels for 18 lncRNAs, while fipronil at 10 µM increased transcript levels for 76 lncRNAs and decreased levels for 193 lncRNAs. A mixture of 100 µM DEET and 10 µM fipronil increased transcript levels for 75 lncRNAs and lowered transcript levels for 258 lncRNAs. This indicates a more-than-additive effect on lncRNA transcript expression when the two chemicals were presented in combination versus each chemical alone. Differentially expressed lncRNA genes were mapped to chromosomes, analyzed by proximity to neighboring protein-coding genes, and functionally characterized via gene ontology and molecular mapping algorithms. While further testing is required to assess the organismal impact of changes in transcript levels, this initial analysis links several of the dysregulated lncRNAs to processes and pathways critical to proper cellular function, such as the innate and adaptive immune response and the p53 signaling pathway.
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66
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De Quattro C, Pè ME, Bertolini E. Long noncoding RNAs in the model species Brachypodium distachyon. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11252. [PMID: 28900227 PMCID: PMC5595811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes are pervasively transcribed and only a small portion of the transcribed sequences belongs to protein coding genes. High-throughput sequencing technology contributed to consolidate this perspective, allowing the identification of numerous noncoding RNAs with key roles in biological processes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nt with limited phylogenetic conservation, expressed at low levels and characterized by tissue/organ specific expression profiles. Although a large set of lncRNAs has been identified, the functional roles of lncRNAs are only beginning to be recognized and the molecular mechanism of lncRNA-mediated gene regulation remains largely unexplored, particularly in plants where their annotation and characterization are still incomplete. Using public and proprietary poly-(A)+ RNA-seq data as well as a collection of full length ESTs from several organs, developmental stages and stress conditions in three Brachypodium distachyon inbred lines, we describe the identification and the main features of thousands lncRNAs. Here we provide a genome-wide characterization of lncRNAs, highlighting their intraspecies conservation and describing their expression patterns among several organs/tissues and stress conditions. This work represents a fundamental resource to deepen our knowledge on long noncoding RNAs in C3 cereals, allowing the Brachypodium community to exploit these results in future research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta De Quattro
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Enrico Pè
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Edoardo Bertolini
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA.
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67
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Transcriptomic Profiling in Human Decidua of Severe Preeclampsia Detected by RNA Sequencing. J Cell Biochem 2017; 119:607-615. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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68
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Quan Z, Zheng D, Qing H. Regulatory Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Central Nervous System and Associated Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:175. [PMID: 28713244 PMCID: PMC5491930 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating studies have revealed that the human genome encodes tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which participate in multiple biological networks modulating gene expression via transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic regulation. Strikingly, a large fraction of tissue-specific lncRNAs are expressed in the Central Nervous System (CNS) with precisely regulated temporal and spatial expression patterns. These brain-specific lncRNAs are also featured with the cell-type specificity, the highest signals of evolutionary conservation, and their preferential location adjacent to brain-expressed protein-coding genes. Mounting evidence has indicated dysregulation or mutations in lncRNA gene loci are associated with a variety of CNS-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and others. However, how lncRNAs contribute to these disorders remains to be further explored and studied. In this review article, we systematically and comprehensively summarize the current studies of lncRNAs, demonstrate the specificity of lncRNAs expressed in the brain, their functions during neural development and expression profiles in major cell types of the CNS, highlight the regulatory mechanisms of several studied lncRNAs that may play essential roles in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the current challenges and future perspectives of lncRNA studies involved in neurodegenerative and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Quan
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing, China
| | - Da Zheng
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing, China
| | - Hong Qing
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing, China
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69
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Transcriptional and Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation by Long Non-coding RNA. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2017; 15:177-186. [PMID: 28529100 PMCID: PMC5487525 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 579] [Impact Index Per Article: 82.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in genomics technology over recent years have led to the surprising discovery that the genome is far more pervasively transcribed than was previously appreciated. Much of the newly-discovered transcriptome appears to represent long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), a heterogeneous group of largely uncharacterised transcripts. Understanding the biological function of these molecules represents a major challenge and in this review we discuss some of the progress made to date. One major theme of lncRNA biology seems to be the existence of a network of interactions with microRNA (miRNA) pathways. lncRNA has been shown to act as both a source and an inhibitory regulator of miRNA. At the transcriptional level, a model is emerging whereby lncRNA bridges DNA and protein by binding to chromatin and serving as a scaffold for modifying protein complexes. Such a mechanism can bridge promoters to enhancers or enhancer-like non-coding genes by regulating chromatin looping, as well as conferring specificity on histone modifying complexes by directing them to specific loci.
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70
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Wucher V, Legeai F, Hédan B, Rizk G, Lagoutte L, Leeb T, Jagannathan V, Cadieu E, David A, Lohi H, Cirera S, Fredholm M, Botherel N, Leegwater PA, Le Béguec C, Fieten H, Johnson J, Alföldi J, André C, Lindblad-Toh K, Hitte C, Derrien T. FEELnc: a tool for long non-coding RNA annotation and its application to the dog transcriptome. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:e57. [PMID: 28053114 PMCID: PMC5416892 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) has become a standard for cataloguing and monitoring RNA populations. One of the main bottlenecks, however, is to correctly identify the different classes of RNAs among the plethora of reconstructed transcripts, particularly those that will be translated (mRNAs) from the class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here, we present FEELnc (FlExible Extraction of LncRNAs), an alignment-free program that accurately annotates lncRNAs based on a Random Forest model trained with general features such as multi k-mer frequencies and relaxed open reading frames. Benchmarking versus five state-of-the-art tools shows that FEELnc achieves similar or better classification performance on GENCODE and NONCODE data sets. The program also provides specific modules that enable the user to fine-tune classification accuracy, to formalize the annotation of lncRNA classes and to identify lncRNAs even in the absence of a training set of non-coding RNAs. We used FEELnc on a real data set comprising 20 canine RNA-seq samples produced by the European LUPA consortium to substantially expand the canine genome annotation to include 10 374 novel lncRNAs and 58 640 mRNA transcripts. FEELnc moves beyond conventional coding potential classifiers by providing a standardized and complete solution for annotating lncRNAs and is freely available at https://github.com/tderrien/FEELnc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Wucher
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Fabrice Legeai
- IGEPP, BIPAA, INRA, Campus Beaulieu, Le Rheu 35653, France
- Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique, Institut de Recherche en Informatique et Systèmes Aléatoires, Genscale, Campus Beaulieu, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Benoît Hédan
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Guillaume Rizk
- Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique, Institut de Recherche en Informatique et Systèmes Aléatoires, Genscale, Campus Beaulieu, Rennes 35042, France
| | - Lætitia Lagoutte
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Tosso Leeb
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland
| | - Vidhya Jagannathan
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland
| | - Edouard Cadieu
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Audrey David
- IGEPP, BIPAA, INRA, Campus Beaulieu, Le Rheu 35653, France
| | - Hannes Lohi
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 63, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- The Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Susanna Cirera
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1870, Denmark
| | - Merete Fredholm
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1870, Denmark
| | - Nadine Botherel
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Peter A.J. Leegwater
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584CM, the Netherlands
| | - Céline Le Béguec
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Hille Fieten
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584CM, the Netherlands
| | - Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jessica Alföldi
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Catherine André
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 23, Sweden
| | - Christophe Hitte
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
| | - Thomas Derrien
- Institut Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR6290, University Rennes1, Rennes, Cedex 35043, France
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71
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Prabhakar B, Zhong XB, Rasmussen TP. Exploiting Long Noncoding RNAs as Pharmacological Targets to Modulate Epigenetic Diseases. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 90:73-86. [PMID: 28356895 PMCID: PMC5369047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute the largest class of non-coding transcripts in the human genome. Results from next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics advances indicate that the human genome contains more non-coding RNA genes than protein-coding genes. Validated functions of lncRNAs suggest that they are master regulators of gene expression and often exert their influences via epigenetic mechanisms by modulating chromatin structure. Specific lncRNAs can regulate transcription in gene clusters. Since the functions of protein-coding genes in clusters are often tied to specific pathways, lncRNAs constitute attractive pharmacological targets. Here we review the current knowledge of lncRNA functions in human cells and their roles in disease processes. We also present forward-looking perspectives on how they might be manipulated pharmacologically for the treatment of a variety of human diseases, in which regulation of gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms plays a major role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindu Prabhakar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
| | - Xiao-bo Zhong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs/Farmington, CT
| | - Theodore P. Rasmussen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs/Farmington, CT,To whom all correspondence should be addressed: Theodore P. Rasmussen, Ph.D., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269; Tel: (860) 486-8339; Fax: (860) 486-5792;
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72
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Herter EK, Xu Landén N. Non-Coding RNAs: New Players in Skin Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2017; 6:93-107. [PMID: 28289554 PMCID: PMC5346954 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2016.0711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Significance: Wound healing is a basic physiological process that is utilized to keep the integrity of the skin. Impaired wound repair, such as chronic wounds and pathological scars, presents a major health and economic burden worldwide. To date, efficient targeted treatment for these wound disorders is still lacking, which is largely due to our limited understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying these diseases. Research driven around discovering new therapies for these complications is, therefore, an urgent need. Recent Advances: The vast majority of the human genome is transcribed to RNAs that lack protein-coding capacity. Intensive research in the recent decade has revealed that these non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) function as important regulators of cellular physiology and pathology, which makes them promising therapeutic and diagnostic entities. Critical Issues: A class of short ncRNAs, microRNAs, has been found to be indispensable for all the phases of skin wound healing and plays important roles in the pathogenesis of wound complications. The role of long ncRNAs (lncRNA) in skin wound healing remains largely unexplored. Recent studies revealed the essential role of lncRNAs in epidermal differentiation and stress response, indicating their potential importance for skin wound healing, which warrants future research. Future Directions: An investigation of ncRNAs will add new layers of complexity to our understanding of normal skin wound healing as well as to the pathogenesis of wound disorders. Development of ncRNA-based biomarkers and treatments is an interesting and important avenue for future research on wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva K. Herter
- Unit of Dermatology and Venereology, Molecular Dermatology Research Group, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ning Xu Landén
- Unit of Dermatology and Venereology, Molecular Dermatology Research Group, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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73
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An Y, Furber KL, Ji S. Pseudogenes regulate parental gene expression via ceRNA network. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 21:185-192. [PMID: 27561207 PMCID: PMC5192809 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) was first proposed by Salmena and colleagues. Evidence suggests that pseudogene RNAs can act as a 'sponge' through competitive binding of common miRNA, releasing or attenuating repression through sequestering miRNAs away from parental mRNA. In theory, ceRNAs refer to all transcripts such as mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, long non-coding RNA, pseudogene RNA and circular RNA, because all of them may become the targets of miRNA depending on spatiotemporal situation. As binding of miRNA to the target RNA is not 100% complementary, it is possible that one miRNA can bind to multiple target RNAs and vice versa. All RNAs crosstalk through competitively binding to miRNAvia miRNA response elements (MREs) contained within the RNA sequences, thus forming a complex regulatory network. The ratio of a subset of miRNAs to the corresponding number of MREs determines repression strength on a given mRNA translation or stability. An increase in pseudogene RNA level can sequester miRNA and release repression on the parental gene, leading to an increase in parental gene expression. A massive number of transcripts constitute a complicated network that regulates each other through this proposed mechanism, though some regulatory significance may be mild or even undetectable. It is possible that the regulation of gene and pseudogene expression occurring in this manor involves all RNAs bearing common MREs. In this review, we will primarily discuss how pseudogene transcripts regulate expression of parental genes via ceRNA network and biological significance of regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang An
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMedical SchoolHenan UniversityHenan ProvinceChina
| | - Kendra L. Furber
- College of Pharmacy and NutritionUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatchewanSKCanada
| | - Shaoping Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMedical SchoolHenan UniversityHenan ProvinceChina
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Jarroux J, Morillon A, Pinskaya M. History, Discovery, and Classification of lncRNAs. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1008:1-46. [PMID: 28815535 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5203-3_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 558] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The RNA World Hypothesis suggests that prebiotic life revolved around RNA instead of DNA and proteins. Although modern cells have changed significantly in 4 billion years, RNA has maintained its central role in cell biology. Since the discovery of DNA at the end of the nineteenth century, RNA has been extensively studied. Many discoveries such as housekeeping RNAs (rRNA, tRNA, etc.) supported the messenger RNA model that is the pillar of the central dogma of molecular biology, which was first devised in the late 1950s. Thirty years later, the first regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) were initially identified in bacteria and then in most eukaryotic organisms. A few long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) such as H19 and Xist were characterized in the pre-genomic era but remained exceptions until the early 2000s. Indeed, when the sequence of the human genome was published in 2001, studies showed that only about 1.2% encodes proteins, the rest being deemed "non-coding." It was later shown that the genome is pervasively transcribed into many ncRNAs, but their functionality remained controversial. Since then, regulatory lncRNAs have been characterized in many species and were shown to be involved in processes such as development and pathologies, revealing a new layer of regulation in eukaryotic cells. This newly found focus on lncRNAs, together with the advent of high-throughput sequencing, was accompanied by the rapid discovery of many novel transcripts which were further characterized and classified according to specific transcript traits.In this review, we will discuss the many discoveries that led to the study of lncRNAs, from Friedrich Miescher's "nuclein" in 1869 to the elucidation of the human genome and transcriptome in the early 2000s. We will then focus on the biological relevance during lncRNA evolution and describe their basic features as genes and transcripts. Finally, we will present a non-exhaustive catalogue of lncRNA classes, thus illustrating the vast complexity of eukaryotic transcriptomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Jarroux
- ncRNA, epigenetic and genome fluidity, Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR 3244, PSL Research University and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Antonin Morillon
- ncRNA, epigenetic and genome fluidity, Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR 3244, PSL Research University and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
| | - Marina Pinskaya
- ncRNA, epigenetic and genome fluidity, Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR 3244, PSL Research University and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
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75
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Dang Y, Loewen R, Parikh HA, Roy P, Loewen NA. Gene transfer to the outflow tract. Exp Eye Res 2016; 158:73-84. [PMID: 27131906 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Elevated intraocular pressure is the primary cause of open angle glaucoma. Outflow resistance exists within the trabecular meshwork but also at the level of Schlemm's canal and further downstream within the outflow system. Viral vectors allow to take advantage of naturally evolved, highly efficient mechanisms of gene transfer, a process that is termed transduction. They can be produced at biosafety level 2 in the lab using protocols that have evolved considerably over the last 15-20 years. Applied by an intracameral bolus, vectors follow conventional as well as uveoscleral outflow pathways. They may affect other structures in the anterior chamber depending on their transduction kinetics which can vary among species when using the same vector. Not all vectors can express long-term, a desirable feature to address the chronicity of glaucoma. Vectors that integrate into the genome of the target cell can achieve transgene function for the life of the transduced cell but are mutagenic by definition. The most prominent long-term expressing vector systems are based on lentiviruses that are derived from HIV, FIV, or EIAV. Safety considerations make non-primate lentiviral vector systems easier to work with as they are not derived from human pathogens. Non-integrating vectors are subject to degradation and attritional dilution during cell division. Lentiviral vectors have to integrate in order to express while adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) often persist as intracellular concatemers but may also integrate. Adeno- and herpes viral vectors do not integrate and earlier generation systems might be relatively immunogenic. Nonviral methods of gene transfer are termed transfection with few restrictions of transgene size and type but often a much less efficient gene transfer that is also short-lived. Traditional gene transfer delivers exons while some vectors (lentiviral, herpes and adenoviral) allow transfer of entire genes that include introns. Recent insights have highlighted the role of non-coding RNA, most prominently, siRNA, miRNA and lncRNA. SiRNA is highly specific, miRNA is less specific, while lncRNA uses highly complex mechanisms that involve secondary structures and intergenic, intronic, overlapping, antisense, and bidirectional location. Several promising preclinical studies have targeted the RhoA or the prostaglandin pathway or modified the extracellular matrix. TGF-β and glaucoma myocilin mutants have been transduced to elevate the intraocular pressure in glaucoma models. Cell based therapies have started to show first promise. Past approaches have focused on the trabecular meshwork and the inner wall of Schlemm's canal while new strategies are concerned with modification of outflow tract elements that are downstream of the trabecular meshwork.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalong Dang
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Ralitsa Loewen
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Hardik A Parikh
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA; New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Pritha Roy
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Nils A Loewen
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
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76
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Abstract
The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis proposes that transcripts with shared microRNA (miRNA) binding sites compete for post-transcriptional control. This hypothesis has gained substantial attention as a unifying function for long non-coding RNAs, pseudogene transcripts and circular RNAs, as well as an alternative function for messenger RNAs. Empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis is accumulating but not without attracting scepticism. Recent studies that model transcriptome-wide binding-site abundance suggest that physiological changes in expression of most individual transcripts will not compromise miRNA activity. In this Review, we critically evaluate the evidence for and against the ceRNA hypothesis to assess the impact of endogenous miRNA-sponge interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Thomson
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Australia, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Marcel E Dinger
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Australia, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia
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77
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Milligan MJ, Harvey E, Yu A, Morgan AL, Smith DL, Zhang E, Berengut J, Sivananthan J, Subramaniam R, Skoric A, Collins S, Damski C, Morris KV, Lipovich L. Global Intersection of Long Non-Coding RNAs with Processed and Unprocessed Pseudogenes in the Human Genome. Front Genet 2016; 7:26. [PMID: 27047535 PMCID: PMC4805607 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudogenes are abundant in the human genome and had long been thought of purely as nonfunctional gene fossils. Recent observations point to a role for pseudogenes in regulating genes transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally in human cells. To computationally interrogate the network space of integrated pseudogene and long non-coding RNA regulation in the human transcriptome, we developed and implemented an algorithm to identify all long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts that overlap the genomic spans, and specifically the exons, of any human pseudogenes in either sense or antisense orientation. As inputs to our algorithm, we imported three public repositories of pseudogenes: GENCODE v17 (processed and unprocessed, Ensembl 72); Retroposed Pseudogenes V5 (processed only), and Yale Pseudo60 (processed and unprocessed, Ensembl 60); two public lncRNA catalogs: Broad Institute, GENCODE v17; NCBI annotated piRNAs; and NHGRI clinical variants. The data sets were retrieved from the UCSC Genome Database using the UCSC Table Browser. We identified 2277 loci containing exon-to-exon overlaps between pseudogenes, both processed and unprocessed, and long non-coding RNA genes. Of these loci we identified 1167 with Genbank EST and full-length cDNA support providing direct evidence of transcription on one or both strands with exon-to-exon overlaps. The analysis converged on 313 pseudogene-lncRNA exon-to-exon overlaps that were bidirectionally supported by both full-length cDNAs and ESTs. In the process of identifying transcribed pseudogenes, we generated a comprehensive, positionally non-redundant encyclopedia of human pseudogenes, drawing upon multiple, and formerly disparate public pseudogene repositories. Collectively, these observations suggest that pseudogenes are pervasively transcribed on both strands and are common drivers of gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Milligan
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Erin Harvey
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Albert Yu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ashleigh L Morgan
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniela L Smith
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Eden Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathan Berengut
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jothini Sivananthan
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Radhini Subramaniam
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Skoric
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Scott Collins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Caio Damski
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Leonard Lipovich
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
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78
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Delihas N. Discovery and characterization of the first non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression, micF RNA: A historical perspective. World J Biol Chem 2015; 6:272-280. [PMID: 26629310 PMCID: PMC4657122 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v6.i4.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The first evidence that RNA can function as a regulator of gene expression came from experiments with prokaryotes in the 1980s. It was shown that Escherichia coli micF is an independent gene, has its own promoter, and encodes a small non-coding RNA that base pairs with and inhibits translation of a target messenger RNA in response to environmental stress conditions. The micF RNA was isolated, sequenced and shown to be a primary transcript. In vitro experiments showed binding to the target ompF mRNA. Secondary structure probing revealed an imperfect micF RNA/ompF RNA duplex interaction and the presence of a non-canonical base pair. Several transcription factors, including OmpR, regulate micF transcription in response to environmental factors. micF has also been found in other bacterial species, however, recently Gerhart Wagner and Jörg Vogel showed pleiotropic effects and found micF inhibits expression of multiple target mRNAs; importantly, one is the global regulatory gene lrp. In addition, micF RNA was found to interact with its targets in different ways; it either inhibits ribosome binding or induces degradation of the message. Thus the concept and initial experimental evidence that RNA can regulate gene expression was born with prokaryotes.
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79
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Jia Y, Chen L, Ma Y, Zhang J, Xu N, Liao DJ. To Know How a Gene Works, We Need to Redefine It First but then, More Importantly, to Let the Cell Itself Decide How to Transcribe and Process Its RNAs. Int J Biol Sci 2015; 11:1413-23. [PMID: 26681921 PMCID: PMC4671999 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent genomic and ribonomic research reveals that our genome produces a stupendous amount of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including antisense RNAs, and that many genes contain other gene(s) in their introns. Since ncRNAs either regulate the transcription, translation or stability of mRNAs or directly exert cellular functions, they should be regarded as the fourth category of RNAs, after ribosomal, messenger and transfer RNAs. These and other research advances challenge the current concept of gene and raise a question as to how we should redefine gene. We can either consider each tiny part of the classically-defined gene, such as each mRNA variant, as a “gene”, or, alternatively and oppositely, regard a whole genomic locus as a “gene” that may contain intron-embedded genes and produce different types of RNAs and proteins. Each of the two ways to redefine gene not only has its strengths and weaknesses but also has its particular concern on the methodology for the determination of the gene's function: Ectopic expression of complementary DNA (cDNA) in cells has in the past decades provided us with great deal of detail about the functions of individual mRNA variants, and will make the data less conflicting with each other if just a small part of a classically-defined gene is considered as a “gene”. On the other hand, genomic DNA (gDNA) will better help us in understanding the collective function of a genomic locus. In our opinion, we need to be more cautious in the use of cDNA and in the explanation of data resulting from cDNA, and, instead, should make delivery of gDNA into cells routine in determination of genes' functions, although this demands some technology renovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Jia
- 1. Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250101, P.R. China
| | - Lichan Chen
- 2. Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Yukui Ma
- 1. Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250101, P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhang
- 3. Center for Translational Medicine, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences Building, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Ningzhi Xu
- 4. Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
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80
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Heckel T, Schmucki R, Berrera M, Ringshandl S, Badi L, Steiner G, Ravon M, Küng E, Kuhn B, Kratochwil NA, Schmitt G, Kiialainen A, Nowaczyk C, Daff H, Khan AP, Lekolool I, Pelle R, Okoth E, Bishop R, Daubenberger C, Ebeling M, Certa U. Functional analysis and transcriptional output of the Göttingen minipig genome. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:932. [PMID: 26573612 PMCID: PMC4647470 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2119-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past decade the Göttingen minipig has gained increasing recognition as animal model in pharmaceutical and safety research because it recapitulates many aspects of human physiology and metabolism. Genome-based comparison of drug targets together with quantitative tissue expression analysis allows rational prediction of pharmacology and cross-reactivity of human drugs in animal models thereby improving drug attrition which is an important challenge in the process of drug development. RESULTS Here we present a new chromosome level based version of the Göttingen minipig genome together with a comparative transcriptional analysis of tissues with pharmaceutical relevance as basis for translational research. We relied on mapping and assembly of WGS (whole-genome-shotgun sequencing) derived reads to the reference genome of the Duroc pig and predict 19,228 human orthologous protein-coding genes. Genome-based prediction of the sequence of human drug targets enables the prediction of drug cross-reactivity based on conservation of binding sites. We further support the finding that the genome of Sus scrofa contains about ten-times less pseudogenized genes compared to other vertebrates. Among the functional human orthologs of these minipig pseudogenes we found HEPN1, a putative tumor suppressor gene. The genomes of Sus scrofa, the Tibetan boar, the African Bushpig, and the Warthog show sequence conservation of all inactivating HEPN1 mutations suggesting disruption before the evolutionary split of these pig species. We identify 133 Sus scrofa specific, conserved long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the minipig genome and show that these transcripts are highly conserved in the African pigs and the Tibetan boar suggesting functional significance. Using a new minipig specific microarray we show high conservation of gene expression signatures in 13 tissues with biomedical relevance between humans and adult minipigs. We underline this relationship for minipig and human liver where we could demonstrate similar expression levels for most phase I drug-metabolizing enzymes. Higher expression levels and metabolic activities were found for FMO1, AKR/CRs and for phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in minipig as compared to human. The variability of gene expression in equivalent human and minipig tissues is considerably higher in minipig organs, which is important for study design in case a human target belongs to this variable category in the minipig. The first analysis of gene expression in multiple tissues during development from young to adult shows that the majority of transcriptional programs are concluded four weeks after birth. This finding is in line with the advanced state of human postnatal organ development at comparative age categories and further supports the minipig as model for pediatric drug safety studies. CONCLUSIONS Genome based assessment of sequence conservation combined with gene expression data in several tissues improves the translational value of the minipig for human drug development. The genome and gene expression data presented here are important resources for researchers using the minipig as model for biomedical research or commercial breeding. Potential impact of our data for comparative genomics, translational research, and experimental medicine are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Heckel
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Roland Schmucki
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Berrera
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stephan Ringshandl
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Laura Badi
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Guido Steiner
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Morgane Ravon
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Erich Küng
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Nicole A Kratochwil
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Georg Schmitt
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Anna Kiialainen
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Corinne Nowaczyk
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hamina Daff
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Azinwi Phina Khan
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Isaac Lekolool
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Roger Pelle
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Edward Okoth
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Richard Bishop
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Claudia Daubenberger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstr. 57, CH 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Ebeling
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Ulrich Certa
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED), Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
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A ceRNA approach may unveil unexpected contributors to deletion syndromes, the model of 5q- syndrome. Oncoscience 2015; 2:872-9. [PMID: 26682279 PMCID: PMC4671954 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In genomic deletions, gene haploinsufficiency might directly configure a specific disease phenotype. Nevertheless, in some cases no functional association can be identified between haploinsufficient genes and the deletion-associated phenotype. Transcripts can act as microRNA sponges. The reduction of transcripts from the hemizygous region may increase the availability of specific microRNAs, which in turn may exert in-trans regulation of target genes outside the deleted region, eventually contributing to the phenotype. Here we prospect a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) approach for the identification of candidate genes target of epigenetic regulation in deletion syndromes. As a model, we analyzed the 5q- myelodysplastic syndrome. Genes in haploinsufficiency within the common 5q deleted region in CD34+ blasts were identified in silico. Using the miRWalk 2.0 platform, we predicted microRNAs whose availability, and thus activity, could be enhanced by the deletion, and performed a genomewide analysis of the genes outside the 5q deleted region that could be targeted by the predicted miRNAs. The analysis pointed to two genes with altered expression in 5q- transcriptome, which have never been related with 5q- before. The prospected approach allows investigating the global transcriptional effect of genomic deletions, possibly prompting discovery of unsuspected contributors in the deletion-associated phenotype. Moreover, it may help in functionally characterizing previously reported unexpected interactions.
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82
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Poliseno L, Marranci A, Pandolfi PP. Pseudogenes in Human Cancer. Front Med (Lausanne) 2015; 2:68. [PMID: 26442270 PMCID: PMC4585173 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2015.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the analysis of RNA sequencing data have shown that pseudogenes are highly specific markers of cell identity and can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Furthermore, genetically engineered mouse models have recently provided compelling support for a causal link between altered pseudogene expression and cancer. In this review, we discuss the most recent milestones reached in the pseudogene field and the use of pseudogenes as cancer classifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Poliseno
- Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy ; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pisa , Italy
| | - Andrea Marranci
- Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy ; University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pandolfi
- Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
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83
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Expansion of the HSFY gene family in pig lineages : HSFY expansion in suids. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:442. [PMID: 26055083 PMCID: PMC4460688 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1650-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amplified gene families on sex chromosomes can harbour genes with important biological functions, especially relating to fertility. The Y-linked heat shock transcription factor (HSFY) family has become amplified on the Y chromosome of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa), in an apparently independent event to an HSFY expansion on the Y chromosome of cattle (Bos taurus). Although the biological functions of HSFY genes are poorly understood, they appear to be involved in gametogenesis in a number of mammalian species, and, in cattle, HSFY gene copy number may correlate with levels of fertility. RESULTS We have investigated the HSFY family in domestic pig, and other suid species including warthog, bushpig, babirusa and peccaries. The domestic pig contains at least two amplified variants of HSFY, distinguished predominantly by presence or absence of a SINE within the intron. Both these variants are expressed in testis, and both are present in approximately 50 copies each in a single cluster on the short arm of the Y. The longer form has multiple nonsense mutations rendering it likely non-functional, but many of the shorter forms still have coding potential. Other suid species also have these two variants of HSFY, and estimates of copy number suggest the HSFY family may have amplified independently twice during suid evolution. CONCLUSIONS The HSFY genes have become amplified in multiple species lineages independently. HSFY is predominantly expressed in testis in domestic pig, a pattern conserved with cattle, in which HSFY may play a role in fertility. Further investigation of the potential associations of HSFY with fertility and testis development may be of agricultural interest.
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