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Cinar M, Martinez-Medina L, Puvvula P, Arakelyan A, Vardarajan B, Anthony N, Nagaraju G, Park D, Feng L, Sheff F, Mosunjac M, Saxe D, Flygare S, Alese O, Kaufman J, Lonial S, Sarmiento J, Lossos I, Vertino P, Lopez J, El-Rayes B, Bernal-Mizrachi L. Transposon DNA sequences facilitate the tissue-specific gene transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7539-7555. [PMID: 38783375 PMCID: PMC11260451 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The exchange of genes between cells is known to play an important physiological and pathological role in many organisms. We show that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) facilitates cell-specific gene transfer between human cancer cells and explain part of the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. As ctDNA migrates into the nucleus, genetic information is transferred. Cell targeting and ctDNA integration require ERVL, SINE or LINE DNA sequences. Chemically manufactured AluSp and MER11C sequences replicated multiple myeloma (MM) ctDNA cell targeting and integration. Additionally, we found that ctDNA may alter the treatment response of MM and pancreatic cancer models. This study shows that retrotransposon DNA sequences promote cancer gene transfer. However, because cell-free DNA has been detected in physiological and other pathological conditions, our findings have a broader impact than just cancer. Furthermore, the discovery that transposon DNA sequences mediate tissue-specific targeting will open up a new avenue for the delivery of genes and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munevver Cinar
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Arsen Arakelyan
- Bioinformatics group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Neil Anthony
- Integrated Cellular Imaging Core, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ganji P Nagaraju
- Division of hematology and oncology, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Dongkyoo Park
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lei Feng
- Kodikaz Therapeutic Solutions, Inc, New York, NY, USA
| | - Faith Sheff
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marina Mosunjac
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Debra Saxe
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven Flygare
- Department of Computational Biology/ Genetics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Olatunji B Alese
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jonathan L Kaufman
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sagar Lonial
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Juan M Sarmiento
- Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Izidore S Lossos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology and Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Paula M Vertino
- Department of Biomedical Genetics and the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jose A Lopez
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Division of Hematology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bassel El-Rayes
- Division of hematology and oncology, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leon Bernal-Mizrachi
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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2
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Ramirez P, Sun W, Kazempour Dehkordi S, Zare H, Fongang B, Bieniek KF, Frost B. Nanopore-based DNA long-read sequencing analysis of the aged human brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.578450. [PMID: 38370753 PMCID: PMC10871260 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.578450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Aging disrupts cellular processes such as DNA repair and epigenetic control, leading to a gradual buildup of genomic alterations that can have detrimental effects in post-mitotic cells. Genomic alterations in regions of the genome that are rich in repetitive sequences, often termed "dark loci," are difficult to resolve using traditional sequencing approaches. New long-read technologies offer promising avenues for exploration of previously inaccessible regions of the genome. Using nanopore-based long-read whole-genome sequencing of DNA extracted from aged 18 human brains, we identify previously unreported structural variants and methylation patterns within repetitive DNA, focusing on transposable elements ("jumping genes") as crucial sources of variation, particularly in dark loci. Our analyses reveal potential somatic insertion variants and provides DNA methylation frequencies for many retrotransposon families. We further demonstrate the utility of this technology for the study of these challenging genomic regions in brains affected by Alzheimer's disease and identify significant differences in DNA methylation in pathologically normal brains versus those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Highlighting the power of this approach, we discover specific polymorphic retrotransposons with altered DNA methylation patterns. These retrotransposon loci have the potential to contribute to pathology, warranting further investigation in Alzheimer's disease research. Taken together, our study provides the first long-read DNA sequencing-based analysis of retrotransposon sequences, structural variants, and DNA methylation in the aging brain affected with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulino Ramirez
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Wenyan Sun
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Shiva Kazempour Dehkordi
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Habil Zare
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Bernard Fongang
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kevin F. Bieniek
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Bess Frost
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
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3
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Constantin M, Chifiriuc MC, Mihaescu G, Vrancianu CO, Dobre EG, Cristian RE, Bleotu C, Bertesteanu SV, Grigore R, Serban B, Cirstoiu C. Implications of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in head and neck cancer: from molecular and cellular mechanisms to early diagnosis and therapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1273516. [PMID: 38179168 PMCID: PMC10765588 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1273516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with more than half a million new cases annually. This review focuses on the role of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in HNCs, presenting the involved taxons, molecular effectors and pathways, as well as the HPV-associated particularities of genetic and epigenetic changes and of the tumor microenvironment occurred in different stages of tumor development. Oral dysbiosis is associated with the evolution of HNCs, through multiple mechanisms such as inflammation, genotoxins release, modulation of the innate and acquired immune response, carcinogens and anticarcinogens production, generation of oxidative stress, induction of mutations. Thus, novel microbiome-derived biomarkers and interventions could significantly contribute to achieving the desideratum of personalized management of oncologic patients, regarding both early diagnosis and treatment. The results reported by different studies are not always congruent regarding the variations in the abundance of different taxons in HNCs. However, there is a consistent reporting of a higher abundance of Gram-negative species such as Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia, Treponema, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella, Bacteroidetes, Haemophilus, Veillonella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacterales, which are probably responsible of chronic inflammation and modulation of tumor microenvironment. Candida albicans is the dominant fungi found in oral carcinoma being also associated with shorter survival rate. Specific microbial signatures (e.g., F. nucleatum, Bacteroidetes and Peptostreptococcus) have been associated with later stages and larger tumor, suggesting their potential to be used as biomarkers for tumor stratification and prognosis. On the other hand, increased abundance of Corynebacterium, Kingella, Abiotrophia is associated with a reduced risk of HNC. Microbiome could also provide biomarkers for differentiating between oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers as well as between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. Ongoing clinical trials aim to validate non-invasive tests for microbiome-derived biomarkers detection in oral and throat cancers, especially within high-risk populations. Oro-pharyngeal dysbiosis could also impact the HNCs therapy and associated side-effects of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. HPV-positive tumors harbor fewer mutations, as well as different DNA methylation pattern and tumor microenvironment. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by which oral microbiota and HPV infection influence the HNC initiation and progression, screening for HPV infection and vaccination against HPV, adopting a good oral hygiene, and preventing oral dysbiosis are important tools for advancing in the battle with this public health global challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Constantin
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Life, Medical and Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences Section, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Grigore Mihaescu
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- DANUBIUS Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Immunology Department, “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana-Elena Cristian
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- DANUBIUS Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Coralia Bleotu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, Bucharest, Romania
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Department, Ştefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Serban Vifor Bertesteanu
- Coltea Clinical Hospital, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Grigore
- Coltea Clinical Hospital, ENT, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Serban
- University Emergency Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Catalin Cirstoiu
- University Emergency Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
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Gussakovsky D, Booy EP, Brown MJF, McKenna SA. Nuclear SRP9/SRP14 heterodimer transcriptionally regulates 7SL and BC200 RNA expression. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1185-1200. [PMID: 37156570 PMCID: PMC10351891 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079649.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The SRP9/SRP14 heterodimer is a central component of signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA (7SL) processing and Alu retrotransposition. In this study, we sought to establish the role of nuclear SRP9/SRP14 in the transcriptional regulation of 7SL and BC200 RNA. 7SL and BC200 RNA steady-state levels, rate of decay, and transcriptional activity were evaluated under SRP9/SRP14 knockdown conditions. Immunofluorescent imaging, and subcellular fractionation of MCF-7 cells, revealed a distinct nuclear localization for SRP9/SRP14. The relationship between this localization and transcriptional activity at 7SL and BC200 genes was also examined. These findings demonstrate a novel nuclear function of SRP9/SRP14 establishing that this heterodimer transcriptionally regulates 7SL and BC200 RNA expression. We describe a model in which SRP9/SRP14 cotranscriptionally regulate 7SL and BC200 RNA expression. Our model is also a plausible pathway for regulating Alu RNA transcription and is consistent with the hypothesized roles of SRP9/SRP14 transporting 7SL RNA into the nucleolus for posttranscriptional processing, and trafficking of Alu RNA for retrotransposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gussakovsky
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Evan P Booy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Mira J F Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Sean A McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
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Ramini D, Latini S, Giuliani A, Matacchione G, Sabbatinelli J, Mensà E, Bacalini MG, Garagnani P, Rippo MR, Bronte G, Bonafè M, Cardelli M, Olivieri F. Replicative Senescence-Associated LINE1 Methylation and LINE1-Alu Expression Levels in Human Endothelial Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233799. [PMID: 36497059 PMCID: PMC9739197 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main challenges of current research on aging is to identify the complex epigenetic mechanisms involved in the acquisition of the cellular senescent phenotype. Despite some evidence suggested that epigenetic changes of DNA repetitive elements, including transposable elements (TE) sequences, are associated with replicative senescence of fibroblasts, data on different types of cells are scarce. We previously analysed genome-wide DNA methylation of young and replicative senescent human endothelial cells (HUVECs), highlighting increased levels of demethylated sequences in senescent cells. Here, we aligned the most significantly demethylated single CpG sites to the reference genome and annotated their localization inside TE sequences and found a significant hypomethylation of sequences belonging to the Long-Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) subfamilies L1M, L1P, and L1HS. To verify the hypothesis that L1 demethylation could be associated with increased transcription/activation of L1s and/or Alu elements (non-autonomous retroelements that usually depend on L1 sequences for reverse transcription and retrotransposition), we quantified the RNA expression levels of both L1 (generic L1 elements or site-specific L1PA2 on chromosome 14) and Alu elements in young and senescent HUVECs and human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). The RNA expression of Alu and L1 sequences was significantly increased in both senescent HUVECs and NHDFs, whereas the RNA transcript of L1PA2 on chromosome 14 was not significantly modulated in senescent cells. Moreover, we found an increased amount of TE DNA copies in the cytoplasm of senescent HUVECs and NHDFs. Our results support the hypothesis that TE, which are significantly increased in senescent cells, could be retrotranscribed to DNA sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Ramini
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Silvia Latini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-071-220-6243
| | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Laboratory Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mensà
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Applied Biomedical Research Center (CRBA), S. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”-Unit of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Maria Rita Rippo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bronte
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, 60121 Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bonafè
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cardelli
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, IRCCS INRCA, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, 60121 Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
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Shridharan RV, Kalakuntla N, Chirmule N, Tiwari B. The Happy Hopping of Transposons: The Origins of V(D)J Recombination in Adaptive Immunity. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.836066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly 50% of the human genome is derived from transposable elements (TEs). Though dysregulated transposons are deleterious to humans and can lead to diseases, co-opted transposons play an important role in generating alternative or new DNA sequence combinations to perform novel cellular functions. The appearance of an adaptive immune system in jawed vertebrates, wherein the somatic rearrangement of T and B cells generates a repertoire of antibodies and receptors, is underpinned by Class II TEs. This review follows the evolution of recombination activation genes (RAGs), components of adaptive immunity, from TEs, focusing on the structural and mechanistic similarities between RAG recombinases and DNA transposases. As evolution occurred from a transposon precursor, DNA transposases developed a more targeted and constrained mechanism of mobilization. As DNA repair is integral to transposition and recombination, we note key similarities and differences in the choice of DNA repair pathways following these processes. Understanding the regulation of V(D)J recombination from its evolutionary origins may help future research to specifically target RAG proteins to rectify diseases associated with immune dysregulation.
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Abstract
Alu RNA are implicated in the poor prognosis of several human disease states. These RNA are transcription products of primate specific transposable elements called Alu elements. These elements are extremely abundant, comprising over 10% of the human genome, and 100 to 1000 cytoplasmic copies of Alu RNA per cell. Alu RNA do not have a single universal functional role aside from selfish self-propagation. Despite this, Alu RNA have been found to operate in a diverse set of translational and transcriptional mechanisms. This review will focus on the current knowledge of Alu RNA involved in human disease states and known mechanisms of action. Examples of Alu RNA that are transcribed in a variety of contexts such as introns, mature mRNA, and non-coding transcripts will be discussed. Past and present challenges in studying Alu RNA, and the future directions of Alu RNA in basic and clinical research will also be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sean A McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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