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Alfonso-Gonzalez C, Hilgers V. (Alternative) transcription start sites as regulators of RNA processing. Trends Cell Biol 2024:S0962-8924(24)00033-3. [PMID: 38531762 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Alternative transcription start site usage (ATSS) is a widespread regulatory strategy that enables genes to choose between multiple genomic loci for initiating transcription. This mechanism is tightly controlled during development and is often altered in disease states. In this review, we examine the growing evidence highlighting a role for transcription start sites (TSSs) in the regulation of mRNA isoform selection during and after transcription. We discuss how the choice of transcription initiation sites influences RNA processing and the importance of this crosstalk for cell identity and organism function. We also speculate on possible mechanisms underlying the integration of transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alfonso-Gonzalez
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwigs University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMPRS- MCB), 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valérie Hilgers
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany.
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2
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Reimão-Pinto MM, Castillo-Hair SM, Seelig G, Schier AF. The regulatory landscape of 5' UTRs in translational control during zebrafish embryogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.23.568470. [PMID: 38045294 PMCID: PMC10690280 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.23.568470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The 5' UTRs of mRNAs are critical for translation regulation, but their in vivo regulatory features are poorly characterized. Here, we report the regulatory landscape of 5' UTRs during early zebrafish embryogenesis using a massively parallel reporter assay of 18,154 sequences coupled to polysome profiling. We found that the 5' UTR is sufficient to confer temporal dynamics to translation initiation, and identified 86 motifs enriched in 5' UTRs with distinct ribosome recruitment capabilities. A quantitative deep learning model, DaniO5P, revealed a combined role for 5' UTR length, translation initiation site context, upstream AUGs and sequence motifs on in vivo ribosome recruitment. DaniO5P predicts the activities of 5' UTR isoforms and indicates that modulating 5' UTR length and motif grammar contributes to translation initiation dynamics. This study provides a first quantitative model of 5' UTR-based translation regulation in early vertebrate development and lays the foundation for identifying the underlying molecular effectors. Highlights In vivo MPRA systematically interrogates the regulatory potential of endogenous 5' UTRs The 5' UTR alone is sufficient to regulate the dynamics of ribosome recruitment during early embryogenesis The MPRA identifies 5' UTR cis -regulatory motifs for translation initiation control 5' UTR length, upstream AUGs and motif grammar contribute to the differential regulatory capability of 5' UTR switching isoforms.
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3
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Chen Y, Arlt VM, Stürzenbaum SR. MosSCI-mediated exogenous gene expression is modulated by genomic positioning. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2300062. [PMID: 37177911 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Although the Mos1-mediated single-copy insertion (MosSCI) technique has been widely used to generate stable transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strains, the link between stability of expression and integration site still needs to be explored. Here, experimental evidence is provided that transgenes are not able to match the level of transcription of their native counterpart, and that insertions at certain locations can result in an external stress-mediated increase in expression. Insertion site ttTi5605 on chromosome II was shown to be a superior location, at least when introducing reproduction related genes. Thus, this study provides a reference for the selection of an optimal site for MosSCI which provides acceptable expression performance whilst minimizing undesirable secondary effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhi Chen
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Volker M Arlt
- Toxicology Department, GAB Consulting GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephen R Stürzenbaum
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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4
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Alfonso-Gonzalez C, Legnini I, Holec S, Arrigoni L, Ozbulut HC, Mateos F, Koppstein D, Rybak-Wolf A, Bönisch U, Rajewsky N, Hilgers V. Sites of transcription initiation drive mRNA isoform selection. Cell 2023; 186:2438-2455.e22. [PMID: 37178687 PMCID: PMC10228280 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The generation of distinct messenger RNA isoforms through alternative RNA processing modulates the expression and function of genes, often in a cell-type-specific manner. Here, we assess the regulatory relationships between transcription initiation, alternative splicing, and 3' end site selection. Applying long-read sequencing to accurately represent even the longest transcripts from end to end, we quantify mRNA isoforms in Drosophila tissues, including the transcriptionally complex nervous system. We find that in Drosophila heads, as well as in human cerebral organoids, 3' end site choice is globally influenced by the site of transcription initiation (TSS). "Dominant promoters," characterized by specific epigenetic signatures including p300/CBP binding, impose a transcriptional constraint to define splice and polyadenylation variants. In vivo deletion or overexpression of dominant promoters as well as p300/CBP loss disrupted the 3' end expression landscape. Our study demonstrates the crucial impact of TSS choice on the regulation of transcript diversity and tissue identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alfonso-Gonzalez
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwig University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMPRS-MCB), 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ivano Legnini
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Holec
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Arrigoni
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hasan Can Ozbulut
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwig University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fernando Mateos
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - David Koppstein
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf
- Organoid Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Bönisch
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Charitépl. 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK); National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Hilgers
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centre CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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5
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Albarqi MMY, Ryder SP. The role of RNA-binding proteins in orchestrating germline development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1094295. [PMID: 36684428 PMCID: PMC9846511 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1094295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA passed from parents to progeny controls several aspects of early development. The germline of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains many families of evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that target the untranslated regions of mRNA transcripts to regulate their translation and stability. In this review, we summarize what is known about the binding specificity of C. elegans germline RNA-binding proteins and the mechanisms of mRNA regulation that contribute to their function. We examine the emerging role of miRNAs in translational regulation of germline and embryo development. We also provide an overview of current technology that can be used to address the gaps in our understanding of RBP regulation of mRNAs. Finally, we present a hypothetical model wherein multiple 3'UTR-mediated regulatory processes contribute to pattern formation in the germline to ensure the proper and timely localization of germline proteins and thus a functional reproductive system.
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Mitschka S, Mayr C. Context-specific regulation and function of mRNA alternative polyadenylation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:779-796. [PMID: 35798852 PMCID: PMC9261900 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00507-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) is a widespread mechanism to generate mRNA isoforms with alternative 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). The expression of alternative 3' UTR isoforms is highly cell type specific and is further controlled in a gene-specific manner by environmental cues. In this Review, we discuss how the dynamic, fine-grained regulation of APA is accomplished by several mechanisms, including cis-regulatory elements in RNA and DNA and factors that control transcription, pre-mRNA cleavage and post-transcriptional processes. Furthermore, signalling pathways modulate the activity of these factors and integrate APA into gene regulatory programmes. Dysregulation of APA can reprogramme the outcome of signalling pathways and thus can control cellular responses to environmental changes. In addition to the regulation of protein abundance, APA has emerged as a major regulator of mRNA localization and the spatial organization of protein synthesis. This role enables the regulation of protein function through the addition of post-translational modifications or the formation of protein-protein interactions. We further discuss recent transformative advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and CRISPR-Cas technologies, which enable the mapping and functional characterization of alternative 3' UTRs in any biological context. Finally, we discuss new APA-based RNA therapeutics, including compounds that target APA in cancer and therapeutic genome editing of degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Mitschka
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine Mayr
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Grzybowska EA, Wakula M. Protein Binding to Cis-Motifs in mRNAs Coding Sequence Is Common and Regulates Transcript Stability and the Rate of Translation. Cells 2021; 10:2910. [PMID: 34831133 PMCID: PMC8616275 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein binding to the non-coding regions of mRNAs is relatively well characterized and its functionality has been described in many examples. New results obtained by high-throughput methods indicate that binding to the coding sequence (CDS) by RNA-binding proteins is also quite common, but the functions thereof are more obscure. As described in this review, CDS binding has a role in the regulation of mRNA stability, but it has also a more intriguing role in the regulation of translational efficiency. Global approaches, which suggest the significance of CDS binding along with specific examples of CDS-binding RBPs and their modes of action, are outlined here, pointing to the existence of a relatively less-known regulatory network controlling mRNA stability and translation on yet another level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa A. Grzybowska
- Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland;
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Albarqi MMY, Ryder SP. The endogenous mex-3 3´UTR is required for germline repression and contributes to optimal fecundity in C. elegans. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009775. [PMID: 34424904 PMCID: PMC8412283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA regulation is essential to successful reproduction. Messenger RNAs delivered from parent to progeny govern early embryonic development. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are the key effectors of this process, regulating the translation and stability of parental transcripts to control cell fate specification events prior to zygotic gene activation. The KH-domain RBP MEX-3 is conserved from nematode to human. It was first discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans, where it is essential for anterior cell fate and embryo viability. Here, we show that loss of the endogenous mex-3 3´UTR disrupts its germline expression pattern. An allelic series of 3´UTR deletion variants identify repressing regions of the UTR and demonstrate that repression is not precisely coupled to reproductive success. We also show that several RBPs regulate mex-3 mRNA through its 3´UTR to define its unique germline spatiotemporal expression pattern. Additionally, we find that both poly(A) tail length control and the translation initiation factor IFE-3 contribute to its expression pattern. Together, our results establish the importance of the mex-3 3´UTR to reproductive health and its expression in the germline. Our results suggest that additional mechanisms control MEX-3 function when 3´UTR regulation is compromised. In sexually reproducing organisms, germ cells undergo meiosis and differentiate to form oocytes or sperm. Coordination of this process requires a gene regulatory program that acts while the genome is undergoing chromatin condensation. As such, RNA regulatory pathways are an important contributor. The germline of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a suitable model system to study germ cell differentiation. Several RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) coordinate each transition in the germline such as the transition from mitosis to meiosis. MEX-3 is a conserved RNA-binding protein found in most animals including humans. In C. elegans, MEX-3 displays a highly restricted pattern of expression. Here, we define the importance of the 3´UTR in regulating MEX-3 expression pattern in vivo and characterize the RNA-binding proteins involved in this regulation. Our results show that deleting various mex-3 3´UTR regions alter the pattern of expression in the germline in various ways. These mutations also reduced—but did not eliminate—reproductive capacity. Finally, we demonstrate that multiple post-transcriptional mechanisms control MEX-3 levels in different domains of the germline. Our data suggest that coordination of MEX-3 activity requires multiple layers of regulation to ensure reproductive robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mennatallah M. Y. Albarqi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sean P. Ryder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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9
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Mitschka S, Mayr C. Endogenous p53 expression in human and mouse is not regulated by its 3'UTR. eLife 2021; 10:65700. [PMID: 33955355 PMCID: PMC8137139 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The TP53 gene encodes the tumor suppressor p53 which is functionally inactivated in many human cancers. Numerous studies suggested that 3′UTR-mediated p53 expression regulation plays a role in tumorigenesis and could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. However, these studies did not investigate post-transcriptional regulation of the native TP53 gene. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delete the human and mouse TP53/Trp53 3′UTRs while preserving endogenous mRNA processing. This revealed that the endogenous 3′UTR is not involved in regulating p53 mRNA or protein expression neither in steady state nor after genotoxic stress. Using reporter assays, we confirmed the previously observed repressive effects of the isolated 3′UTR. However, addition of the TP53 coding region to the reporter had a dominant negative impact on expression as its repressive effect was stronger and abrogated the contribution of the 3′UTR. Our data highlight the importance of genetic models in the validation of post-transcriptional gene regulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Mitschka
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States
| | - Christine Mayr
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States
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10
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Loss of Quaking RNA binding protein disrupts the expression of genes associated with astrocyte maturation in mouse brain. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1537. [PMID: 33750804 PMCID: PMC7943582 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21703-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Quaking RNA binding protein (QKI) is essential for oligodendrocyte development as myelination requires myelin basic protein mRNA regulation and localization by the cytoplasmic isoforms (e.g., QKI-6). QKI-6 is also highly expressed in astrocytes, which were recently demonstrated to have regulated mRNA localization. Here, we define the targets of QKI in the mouse brain via CLIPseq and we show that QKI-6 binds 3'UTRs of a subset of astrocytic mRNAs. Binding is also enriched near stop codons, mediated partially by QKI-binding motifs (QBMs), yet spreads to adjacent sequences. Using a viral approach for mosaic, astrocyte-specific gene mutation with simultaneous translating RNA sequencing (CRISPR-TRAPseq), we profile ribosome associated mRNA from QKI-null astrocytes in the mouse brain. This demonstrates a role for QKI in stabilizing CLIP-defined direct targets in astrocytes in vivo and further shows that QKI mutation disrupts the transcriptional changes for a discrete subset of genes associated with astrocyte maturation.
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Vemuri S, Srivastava R, Mir Q, Hashemikhabir S, Dong XC, Janga SC. SliceIt: A genome-wide resource and visualization tool to design CRISPR/Cas9 screens for editing protein-RNA interaction sites in the human genome. Methods 2020; 178:104-113. [PMID: 31494246 PMCID: PMC7056568 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Several protein-RNA cross linking protocols have been established in recent years to delineate the molecular interaction of an RNA Binding Protein (RBP) and its target RNAs. However, functional dissection of the role of the RBP binding sites in modulating the post-transcriptional fate of the target RNA remains challenging. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system is being commonly employed to perturb both coding and noncoding regions in the genome. With the advancements in genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9 screens, it is now possible to not only perturb specific binding sites but also probe the global impact of protein-RNA interaction sites across cell types. Here, we present SliceIt (http://sliceit.soic.iupui.edu/), a database of in silico sgRNA (single guide RNA) library to facilitate conducting such high throughput screens. SliceIt comprises of ~4.8 million unique sgRNAs with an estimated range of 2-8 sgRNAs designed per RBP binding site, for eCLIP experiments of >100 RBPs in HepG2 and K562 cell lines from the ENCODE project. SliceIt provides a user friendly environment, developed using advanced search engine framework, Elasticsearch. It is available in both table and genome browser views facilitating the easy navigation of RBP binding sites, designed sgRNAs, exon expression levels across 53 human tissues along with prevalence of SNPs and GWAS hits on binding sites. Exon expression profiles enable examination of locus specific changes proximal to the binding sites. Users can also upload custom tracks of various file formats directly onto genome browser, to navigate additional genomic features in the genome and compare with other types of omics profiles. All the binding site-centric information is dynamically accessible via "search by gene", "search by coordinates" and "search by RBP" options and readily available to download. Validation of the sgRNA library in SliceIt was performed by selecting RBP binding sites in Lipt1 gene and designing sgRNAs. Effect of CRISPR/Cas9 perturbations on the selected binding sites in HepG2 cell line, was confirmed based on altered proximal exon expression levels using qPCR, further supporting the utility of the resource to design experiments for perturbing protein-RNA interaction networks. Thus, SliceIt provides a one-stop repertoire of guide RNA library to perturb RBP binding sites, along with several layers of functional information to design both low and high throughput CRISPR/Cas9 screens, for studying the phenotypes and diseases associated with RBP binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasank Vemuri
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Rajneesh Srivastava
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Quoseena Mir
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Seyedsasan Hashemikhabir
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - X Charlie Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Sarath Chandra Janga
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University Purdue University, 719 Indiana Ave Ste 319, Walker Plaza Building, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical Research and Library Building, 975 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States; Centre for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 5021 Health Information and Translational Sciences (HITS), 410 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
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12
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Popovitchenko T, Park Y, Page NF, Luo X, Krsnik Z, Liu Y, Salamon I, Stephenson JD, Kraushar ML, Volk NL, Patel SM, Wijeratne HRS, Li D, Suthar KS, Wach A, Sun M, Arnold SJ, Akamatsu W, Okano H, Paillard L, Zhang H, Buyske S, Kostovic I, De Rubeis S, Hart RP, Rasin MR. Translational derepression of Elavl4 isoforms at their alternative 5' UTRs determines neuronal development. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1674. [PMID: 32245946 PMCID: PMC7125149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15412-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopment requires precise regulation of gene expression, including post-transcriptional regulatory events such as alternative splicing and mRNA translation. However, translational regulation of specific isoforms during neurodevelopment and the mechanisms behind it remain unknown. Using RNA-seq analysis of mouse neocortical polysomes, here we report translationally repressed and derepressed mRNA isoforms during neocortical neurogenesis whose orthologs include risk genes for neurodevelopmental disorders. We demonstrate that the translation of distinct mRNA isoforms of the RNA binding protein (RBP), Elavl4, in radial glia progenitors and early neurons depends on its alternative 5' UTRs. Furthermore, 5' UTR-driven Elavl4 isoform-specific translation depends on upstream control by another RBP, Celf1. Celf1 regulation of Elavl4 translation dictates development of glutamatergic neurons. Our findings reveal a dynamic interplay between distinct RBPs and alternative 5' UTRs in neuronal development and underscore the risk of post-transcriptional dysregulation in co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Popovitchenko
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Yongkyu Park
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Nicholas F Page
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Xiaobing Luo
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Zeljka Krsnik
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Center of Research Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Iva Salamon
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Center of Research Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Jessica D Stephenson
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Matthew L Kraushar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Nicole L Volk
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Sejal M Patel
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - H R Sagara Wijeratne
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Diana Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Kandarp S Suthar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Aaron Wach
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Miao Sun
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Sebastian J Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, D-79104, Germany
| | - Wado Akamatsu
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Luc Paillard
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de génétique et développement de Rennes)-UMR 6290, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Huaye Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Steven Buyske
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Ivica Kostovic
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Center of Research Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Mladen-Roko Rasin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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13
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Bernardes WS, Menossi M. Plant 3' Regulatory Regions From mRNA-Encoding Genes and Their Uses to Modulate Expression. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1252. [PMID: 32922424 PMCID: PMC7457121 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Molecular biotechnology has made it possible to explore the potential of plants for different purposes. The 3' regulatory regions have a great diversity of cis-regulatory elements directly involved in polyadenylation, stability, transport and mRNA translation, essential to achieve the desired levels of gene expression. A complex interaction between the cleavage and polyadenylation molecular complex and cis-elements determine the polyadenylation site, which may result in the choice of non-canonical sites, resulting in alternative polyadenylation events, involved in the regulation of more than 80% of the genes expressed in plants. In addition, after transcription, a wide array of RNA-binding proteins interacts with cis-acting elements located mainly in the 3' untranslated region, determining the fate of mRNAs in eukaryotic cells. Although a small number of 3' regulatory regions have been identified and validated so far, many studies have shown that plant 3' regulatory regions have a higher potential to regulate gene expression in plants compared to widely used 3' regulatory regions, such as NOS and OCS from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and 35S from cauliflower mosaic virus. In this review, we discuss the role of 3' regulatory regions in gene expression, and the superior potential that plant 3' regulatory regions have compared to NOS, OCS and 35S 3' regulatory regions.
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14
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Hubbard EJA, Schedl T. Biology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Stem Cell System. Genetics 2019; 213:1145-1188. [PMID: 31796552 PMCID: PMC6893382 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.300238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell systems regulate tissue development and maintenance. The germline stem cell system is essential for animal reproduction, controlling both the timing and number of progeny through its influence on gamete production. In this review, we first draw general comparisons to stem cell systems in other organisms, and then present our current understanding of the germline stem cell system in Caenorhabditis elegans In contrast to stereotypic somatic development and cell number stasis of adult somatic cells in C. elegans, the germline stem cell system has a variable division pattern, and the system differs between larval development, early adult peak reproduction and age-related decline. We discuss the cell and developmental biology of the stem cell system and the Notch regulated genetic network that controls the key decision between the stem cell fate and meiotic development, as it occurs under optimal laboratory conditions in adult and larval stages. We then discuss alterations of the stem cell system in response to environmental perturbations and aging. A recurring distinction is between processes that control stem cell fate and those that control cell cycle regulation. C. elegans is a powerful model for understanding germline stem cells and stem cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Jane Albert Hubbard
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016
| | - Tim Schedl
- and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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15
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Theil K, Imami K, Rajewsky N. Identification of proteins and miRNAs that specifically bind an mRNA in vivo. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4205. [PMID: 31527589 PMCID: PMC6746756 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12050-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding regulation of an mRNA requires knowledge of its regulators. However, methods for reliable de-novo identification of proteins binding to a particular RNA are scarce and were thus far only successfully applied to abundant noncoding RNAs in cell culture. Here, we present vIPR, an RNA-protein crosslink, RNA pulldown, and shotgun proteomics approach to identify proteins bound to selected mRNAs in C. elegans. Applying vIPR to the germline-specific transcript gld-1 led to enrichment of known and novel interactors. By comparing enrichment upon gld-1 and lin-41 pulldown, we demonstrate that vIPR recovers both common and specific RNA-binding proteins, and we validate DAZ-1 as a specific gld-1 regulator. Finally, combining vIPR with small RNA sequencing, we recover known and biologically important transcript-specific miRNA interactions, and we identify miR-84 as a specific interactor of the gld-1 transcript. We envision that vIPR will provide a platform for investigating RNA in vivo regulation in diverse biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Theil
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Koshi Imami
- Proteome Dynamics, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular BioAnalysis, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany.
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16
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Nance J, Frøkjær-Jensen C. The Caenorhabditis elegans Transgenic Toolbox. Genetics 2019; 212:959-990. [PMID: 31405997 PMCID: PMC6707460 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.301506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The power of any genetic model organism is derived, in part, from the ease with which gene expression can be manipulated. The short generation time and invariant developmental lineage have made Caenorhabditis elegans very useful for understanding, e.g., developmental programs, basic cell biology, neurobiology, and aging. Over the last decade, the C. elegans transgenic toolbox has expanded considerably, with the addition of a variety of methods to control expression and modify genes with unprecedented resolution. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of transgenic methods in C. elegans, with an emphasis on recent advances in transposon-mediated transgenesis, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, conditional gene and protein inactivation, and bipartite systems for temporal and spatial control of expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Nance
- Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016
| | - Christian Frøkjær-Jensen
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Rollins JA, Shaffer D, Snow SS, Kapahi P, Rogers AN. Dietary restriction induces posttranscriptional regulation of longevity genes. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/4/e201800281. [PMID: 31253655 PMCID: PMC6600014 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR) increases life span through adaptive changes in gene expression. To understand more about these changes, we analyzed the transcriptome and translatome of Caenorhabditis elegans subjected to DR. Transcription of muscle regulatory and structural genes increased, whereas increased expression of amino acid metabolism and neuropeptide signaling genes was controlled at the level of translation. Evaluation of posttranscriptional regulation identified putative roles for RNA-binding proteins, RNA editing, miRNA, alternative splicing, and nonsense-mediated decay in response to nutrient limitation. Using RNA interference, we discovered several differentially expressed genes that regulate life span. We also found a compensatory role for translational regulation, which offsets dampened expression of a large subset of transcriptionally down-regulated genes. Furthermore, 3' UTR editing and intron retention increase under DR and correlate with diminished translation, whereas trans-spliced genes are refractory to reduced translation efficiency compared with messages with the native 5' UTR. Finally, we find that smg-6 and smg-7, which are genes governing selection and turnover of nonsense-mediated decay targets, are required for increased life span under DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarod A Rollins
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Dan Shaffer
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Santina S Snow
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Pankaj Kapahi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Aric N Rogers
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
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18
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Palovaara J, Weijers D. Adapting INTACT to analyse cell-type-specific transcriptomes and nucleocytoplasmic mRNA dynamics in the Arabidopsis embryo. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2019; 32:113-121. [PMID: 30430248 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-018-0347-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the early embryo of vascular plants, the different cell types and stem cells of the seedling are specified as the embryo develops from a zygote towards maturity. How the key steps in cell and tissue specification are instructed by genome-wide transcriptional activity is poorly understood. Progress in defining transcriptional regulation at the genome-wide level in plant embryos has been hampered by difficulties associated with capturing cell-type-specific transcriptomes in this small and inaccessible structure. We recently adapted a two-component genetic nucleus labelling system called INTACT to isolate nuclei from distinct cell types at different stages of Arabidopsis thaliana embryogenesis. We have used these to generate a transcriptomic atlas of embryo development following microarray-based expression profiling. Here, we present a general description of the adapted INTACT procedure, including the two-component labelling system, seed isolation, nuclei preparation and purification, as well as transcriptomic profiling. We also compare nuclear and cellular transcriptomes from the early Arabidopsis embryo to assess nucleocytoplasmic differences and discuss how these differences can be used to infer regulation of gene activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Palovaara
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Molecular Genetics, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dolf Weijers
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Spatiotemporal m(i)RNA Architecture and 3' UTR Regulation in the C. elegans Germline. Dev Cell 2018; 47:785-800.e8. [PMID: 30416012 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In animal germlines, regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation is particularly important but poorly understood. Here, using a cryo-cut approach, we mapped RNA expression along the Caenorhabditis elegans germline and, using mutants, dissected gene regulatory mechanisms that control spatiotemporal expression. We detected, at near single-cell resolution, >10,000 mRNAs, >300 miRNAs, and numerous unannotated miRNAs. Most RNAs were organized in distinct spatial patterns. Germline-specific miRNAs and their targets were co-localized. Moreover, we observed differential 3' UTR isoform usage for hundreds of mRNAs. In tumorous gld-2 gld-1 mutants, gene expression was strongly perturbed. In particular, differential 3' UTR usage was significantly impaired. We propose that PIE-1, a transcriptional repressor, functions to maintain spatial gene expression. Our data also suggest that cpsf-4 and fipp-1 control differential 3' UTR usage for hundreds of genes. Finally, we constructed a "virtual gonad" enabling "virtual in situ hybridizations" and access to all data (https://shiny.mdc-berlin.de/spacegerm/).
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