1
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Xiao F, He Z, Wang S, Li J, Fan X, Yan T, Yang M, Yang D. Regulatory mechanism of circular RNAs in neurodegenerative diseases. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14499. [PMID: 37864389 PMCID: PMC11017410 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disease is a collective term for a category of diseases that are caused by neuronal dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs without the 3' cap and 5' poly(A) and are linked by covalent bonds. CircRNAs are highly expressed in brain neurons and can regulate the pathological process of neurodegenerative diseases by affecting the levels of various deposition proteins. AIMS This review is aiming to suggest that the majority of circRNAs influence neurodegenerative pathologies mainly by affecting the abnormal deposition of proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS We systematically summarized the pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases and the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in various types of neurodegenerative diseases. RESULTS Neurodegenerative disease main features include intercellular ubiquitin-proteasome system abnormalities, changes in cytoskeletal proteins, and the continuous deposition of insoluble protein fragments and inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm or nucleus, resulting in impairment of the normal physiological processes of the neuronal system. CircRNAs have multiple mechanisms, such as acting as microRNA sponges, binding to proteins, and regulating transcription. CircRNAs, which are highly stable molecules, are expected to be potential biomarkers for the pathological detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. CONCLUSIONS In this review, we describe the regulatory roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and aim to employ circRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xiao
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhi He
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Siqi Wang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jiamei Li
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaolan Fan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Taiming Yan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Mingyao Yang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Deying Yang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
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2
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D'Ambra E, Vitiello E, Santini T, Bozzoni I. In Situ Hybridization of circRNAs in Cells and Tissues through BaseScope™ Strategy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2765:63-92. [PMID: 38381334 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3678-7_4] [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] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Imaging-based approaches are powerful strategies that nowadays have been largely used to gain insight into the function of different types of macromolecules. As for RNA, it is becoming clear how important is its intracellular localization for the control of proper cell differentiation and development and how its perturbation can be linked to several pathological states. This aspect is even more important if one thinks of highly polarized cells such as neurons.In this chapter, we describe in detail an innovative RNA-FISH approach for the detection of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a recently discovered class of noncoding RNAs, which display different subcellular localizations and whose functions still largely remain to be elucidated. The detection of these molecules represents a great challenge, above all because they share most of their sequence with the corresponding linear counterparts, from which they differ only for the back-splicing junction (BSJ) originating from the circularization reaction. This implies the use of RNA-FISH probes capable of specifically binding the BSJ and avoiding the detection of the linear counterpart. This requirement imposes the design of probes on a very small region, which implies the risk of obtaining a low and undetectable signal. The BaseScope™ Assay RNA-FISH technology overpasses this problem since it is based on branched-DNA probes. With this approach it is possible to target a specific region of the RNA, even small such as a splicing junction, and at the same time to obtain a strong and well detectable signal. All this is possible thanks to subsequent series of probes that, starting from the first hybridization to the BSJ, build a branched tree of probes that greatly amplifies the signal. Here we provide a detailed step-by-step protocol of BaseScope™ RNA-FISH on circRNAs coupled with immunofluorescence, both in cells and tissues, and we address difficulties which may arise when using this methodology that depend on cell type, specific permeabilization, image acquisition, and post-acquisition analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora D'Ambra
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Vitiello
- Center for Human Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy.
- Center for Human Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa, Italy.
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Taliani V, Buonaiuto G, Desideri F, Setti A, Santini T, Galfrè S, Schirone L, Mariani D, Frati G, Valenti V, Sciarretta S, Perlas E, Nicoletti C, Musarò A, Ballarino M. The long noncoding RNA Charme supervises cardiomyocyte maturation by controlling cell differentiation programs in the developing heart. eLife 2023; 12:81360. [PMID: 36877136 PMCID: PMC10023161 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of heart physiology and disease, although the studies unveiling their modes of action are still limited to few examples. We recently identified pCharme, a chromatin-associated lncRNA whose functional knockout in mice results in defective myogenesis and morphological remodeling of the cardiac muscle. Here, we combined Cap-Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE), single-cell (sc)RNA sequencing, and whole-mount in situ hybridization analyses to study pCharme cardiac expression. Since the early steps of cardiomyogenesis, we found the lncRNA being specifically restricted to cardiomyocytes, where it assists the formation of specific nuclear condensates containing MATR3, as well as important RNAs for cardiac development. In line with the functional significance of these activities, pCharme ablation in mice results in a delayed maturation of cardiomyocytes, which ultimately leads to morphological alterations of the ventricular myocardium. Since congenital anomalies in myocardium are clinically relevant in humans and predispose patients to major complications, the identification of novel genes controlling cardiac morphology becomes crucial. Our study offers unique insights into a novel lncRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism promoting cardiomyocyte maturation and bears relevance to Charme locus for future theranostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Taliani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Giulia Buonaiuto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Fabio Desideri
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)RomeItaly
| | - Adriano Setti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Tiziana Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Silvia Galfrè
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)RomeItaly
| | - Leonardo Schirone
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeLatinaItaly
| | - Davide Mariani
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Giacomo Frati
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeLatinaItaly
| | - Valentina Valenti
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeLatinaItaly
| | - Sebastiano Sciarretta
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeLatinaItaly
| | - Emerald Perlas
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL-RomeMonterotondoItaly
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Antonio Musarò
- DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Monica Ballarino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
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4
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FUS Alters circRNA Metabolism in Human Motor Neurons Carrying the ALS-Linked P525L Mutation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043181. [PMID: 36834591 PMCID: PMC9968238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043181] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of RNA metabolism has emerged as one of the key events leading to the degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease. Indeed, mutations on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) or on proteins involved in aspects of RNA metabolism account for the majority of familiar forms of ALS. In particular, the impact of the ALS-linked mutations of the RBP FUS on many aspects of RNA-related processes has been vastly investigated. FUS plays a pivotal role in splicing regulation and its mutations severely alter the exon composition of transcripts coding for proteins involved in neurogenesis, axon guidance, and synaptic activity. In this study, by using in vitro-derived human MNs, we investigate the effect of the P525L FUS mutation on non-canonical splicing events that leads to the formation of circular RNAs (circRNAs). We observed altered levels of circRNAs in FUSP525L MNs and a preferential binding of the mutant protein to introns flanking downregulated circRNAs and containing inverted Alu repeats. For a subset of circRNAs, FUSP525L also impacts their nuclear/cytoplasmic partitioning, confirming its involvement in different processes of RNA metabolism. Finally, we assess the potential of cytoplasmic circRNAs to act as miRNA sponges, with possible implications in ALS pathogenesis.
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5
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Basri R, Awan FM, Yang BB, Awan UA, Obaid A, Naz A, Ikram A, Khan S, Haq IU, Khan SN, Aqeel MB. Brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs: Kick starting self-cleaning mode in brain cells via circRNAs as a potential therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1078441. [PMID: 36727091 PMCID: PMC9885805 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1078441] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered autophagy is a hallmark of neurodegeneration but how autophagy is regulated in the brain and dysfunctional autophagy leads to neuronal death has remained cryptic. Being a key cellular waste-recycling and housekeeping system, autophagy is implicated in a range of brain disorders and altering autophagy flux could be an effective therapeutic strategy and has the potential for clinical applications down the road. Tight regulation of proteins and organelles in order to meet the needs of complex neuronal physiology suggests that there is distinct regulatory pattern of neuronal autophagy as compared to non-neuronal cells and nervous system might have its own separate regulator of autophagy. Evidence has shown that circRNAs participates in the biological processes of autophagosome assembly. The regulatory networks between circRNAs, autophagy, and neurodegeneration remains unknown and warrants further investigation. Understanding the interplay between autophagy, circRNAs and neurodegeneration requires a knowledge of the multiple steps and regulatory interactions involved in the autophagy pathway which might provide a valuable resource for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we aimed to summarize the latest studies on the role of brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Friedreich's ataxia) and how this knowledge can be leveraged for the development of novel therapeutics against them. Autophagy stimulation might be potential one-size-fits-all therapy for neurodegenerative disease as per considerable body of evidence, therefore future research on brain-protective mechanisms of autophagy associated circRNAs will illuminate an important feature of nervous system biology and will open the door to new approaches for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabea Basri
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Faryal Mehwish Awan
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan,*Correspondence: Faryal Mehwish Awan, ✉ ;
| | - Burton B. Yang
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Usman Ayub Awan
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Obaid
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Anam Naz
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore (UOL), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aqsa Ikram
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore (UOL), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Suliman Khan
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Ijaz ul Haq
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Sadiq Noor Khan
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Muslim Bin Aqeel
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, The University of Haripur (UOH), Haripur, Pakistan
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6
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Recent insights into the roles of circular RNAs in human brain development and neurologic diseases. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 225:1038-1048. [PMID: 36410538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs. They are single-stranded RNA transcripts characterized with a closed loop structure making them resistant to degrading enzymes. Recently, circRNAs have been suggested with regulatory roles in gene expression involved in controlling various biological processes. Notably, they have demonstrated abundance, dynamic expression, back-splicing events, and spatiotemporally regulation in the human brain. Accordingly, they are expected to be involved in brain functions and related diseases. Studies in animals and human brain have revealed differential expression of circRNAs in brain compartments. Interestingly, contributing roles of circRNAs in the regulation of central nervous system (CNS) development have been demonstrated in a number of studies. It has been proposed that circRNAs play role in substantial neurological functions like neurotransmitter-associated tasks, neural cells maturation, and functions of synapses. Furthermore, 3 main pathways have been identified in association with circRNAs's host genes including axon guidance, Wnt signaling, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathways, which are known to be involved in substantial functions like migration and differentiation of neurons and specification of axons, and thus play role in brain development. In this review, we have an overview to the biogenesis, biological functions of circRNAs, and particularly their roles in human brain development and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's diseases, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and brain tumors.
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7
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Tsitsipatis D, Mazan-Mamczarz K, Si Y, Herman AB, Yang JH, Guha A, Piao Y, Fan J, Martindale JL, Munk R, Yang X, De S, Singh BK, Ho R, Gorospe M, King PH. Transcriptomic analysis of human ALS skeletal muscle reveals a disease-specific pattern of dysregulated circRNAs. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:9832-9859. [PMID: 36585921 PMCID: PMC9831722 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs are abundant, covalently closed transcripts that arise in cells through back-splicing and display distinct expression patterns across cells and developmental stages. While their functions are largely unknown, their intrinsic stability has made them valuable biomarkers in many diseases. Here, we set out to examine circRNA patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By RNA-sequencing analysis, we first identified circRNAs and linear RNAs that were differentially abundant in skeletal muscle biopsies from ALS compared to normal individuals. By RT-qPCR analysis, we confirmed that 8 circRNAs were significantly elevated and 10 were significantly reduced in ALS, while the linear mRNA counterparts, arising from shared precursor RNAs, generally did not change. Several of these circRNAs were also differentially abundant in motor neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) bearing ALS mutations, and across different disease stages in skeletal muscle from a mouse model of ALS (SOD1G93A). Interestingly, a subset of the circRNAs significantly elevated in ALS muscle biopsies were significantly reduced in the spinal cord samples from ALS patients and ALS (SOD1G93A) mice. In sum, we have identified differentially abundant circRNAs in ALS-relevant tissues (muscle and spinal cord) that could inform about neuromuscular molecular programs in ALS and guide the development of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Tsitsipatis
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Krystyna Mazan-Mamczarz
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Ying Si
- Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Allison B. Herman
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jen-Hao Yang
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Abhishek Guha
- Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Yulan Piao
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jinshui Fan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Martindale
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Rachel Munk
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Xiaoling Yang
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Supriyo De
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Brijesh K. Singh
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ritchie Ho
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Peter H. King
- Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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8
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Pellegrini F, Padovano V, Biscarini S, Santini T, Setti A, Galfrè SG, Silenzi V, Vitiello E, Mariani D, Nicoletti C, Torromino G, De Leonibus E, Martone J, Bozzoni I. A KO mouse model for the lncRNA Lhx1os produces motor neuron alterations and locomotor impairment. iScience 2022; 26:105891. [PMID: 36647387 PMCID: PMC9840152 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe a conserved motor neuron-specific long non-coding RNA, Lhx1os, whose knockout in mice produces motor impairment and postnatal reduction of mature motor neurons (MNs). The ER stress-response pathway result specifically altered with the downregulation of factors involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR). Lhx1os was found to bind the ER-associated PDIA3 disulfide isomerase and to affect the expression of the same set of genes controlled by this protein, indicating that the two factors act in conjunction to modulate the UPR. Altogether, the observed phenotype and function of Lhx1os indicate its important role in the control of MN homeostasis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Pellegrini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Padovano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Biscarini
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Adriano Setti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Giulia Galfrè
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Silenzi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Vitiello
- Center for Human Technologies (CHT) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16152 Genova, Italy
| | - Davide Mariani
- Center for Human Technologies (CHT) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16152 Genova, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- DAHFMO - Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Torromino
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology "ABT", CNR, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology "ABT", CNR, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, 80078 Naples, Italy
| | - Julie Martone
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, CNR, 00185 Rome, Italy,Corresponding author
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science@Sapienza of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy,Center for Human Technologies (CHT) Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16152 Genova, Italy,Corresponding author
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9
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Desideri F, D’Ambra E, Laneve P, Ballarino M. Advances in endogenous RNA pull-down: A straightforward dextran sulfate-based method enhancing RNA recovery. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1004746. [PMID: 36339717 PMCID: PMC9629853 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1004746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting RNA/RNA interactions in the context of a given cellular system is crucial to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms that stand beneath each specific RNA molecule. When it comes to non-protein coding RNA (ncRNAs), and especially to long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), the reliability of the RNA purification is dramatically dependent on their abundance. Exogenous methods, in which lncRNAs are in vitro transcribed and incubated with protein extracts or overexpressed by cell transfection, have been extensively used to overcome the problem of abundance. However, although useful to study the contribution of single RNA sub-modules to RNA/protein interactions, these exogenous practices might fail in revealing biologically meaningful contacts occurring in vivo and risk to generate non-physiological artifacts. Therefore, endogenous methods must be preferred, especially for the initial identification of partners specifically interacting with elected RNAs. Here, we apply an endogenous RNA pull-down to lncMN2-203, a neuron-specific lncRNA contributing to the robustness of motor neurons specification, through the interaction with miRNA-466i-5p. We show that both the yield of lncMN2-203 recovery and the specificity of its interaction with the miRNA dramatically increase in the presence of Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) salt. This new set-up may represent a powerful means for improving the study of RNA-RNA interactions of biological significance, especially for those lncRNAs whose role as microRNA (miRNA) sponges or regulators of mRNA stability was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Desideri
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora D’Ambra
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Laneve
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Ballarino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Monica Ballarino,
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10
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Brancato V, Brentari I, Coscujuela Tarrero L, Furlan M, Nicassio F, Denti MA. News from around the RNA world: new avenues in RNA biology, biotechnology and therapeutics from the 2022 SIBBM meeting. Biol Open 2022; 11:277240. [PMID: 36239357 PMCID: PMC9581514 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the formalization of the Central Dogma of molecular biology, the relevance of RNA in modulating the flow of information from DNA to proteins has been clear. More recently, the discovery of a vast set of non-coding transcripts involved in crucial aspects of cellular biology has renewed the enthusiasm of the RNA community. Moreover, the remarkable impact of RNA therapies in facing the COVID19 pandemics has bolstered interest in the translational opportunities provided by this incredible molecule. For all these reasons, the Italian Society of Biophysics and Molecular Biology (SIBBM) decided to dedicate its 17th yearly meeting, held in June 2022 in Rome, to the many fascinating aspects of RNA biology. More than thirty national and international speakers covered the properties, modes of action and applications of RNA, from its role in the control of development and cell differentiation to its involvement in disease. Here, we summarize the scientific content of the conference, highlighting the take-home message of each presentation, and we stress the directions the community is currently exploring to push forward our comprehension of the RNA World 3.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Brancato
- Center for Genomic Science IIT@SEMM, Italian Institute of Technology, Milan 20139, Italy
| | - Ilaria Brentari
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38123, Italy
| | | | - Mattia Furlan
- Center for Genomic Science IIT@SEMM, Italian Institute of Technology, Milan 20139, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicassio
- Center for Genomic Science IIT@SEMM, Italian Institute of Technology, Milan 20139, Italy
| | - Michela A Denti
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento 38123, Italy
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Nielsen AF, Bindereif A, Bozzoni I, Hanan M, Hansen TB, Irimia M, Kadener S, Kristensen LS, Legnini I, Morlando M, Jarlstad Olesen MT, Pasterkamp RJ, Preibisch S, Rajewsky N, Suenkel C, Kjems J. Best practice standards for circular RNA research. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1208-1220. [PMID: 35618955 PMCID: PMC9759028 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01487-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are formed in all domains of life and via different mechanisms. There has been an explosion in the number of circRNA papers in recent years; however, as a relatively young field, circRNA biology has an urgent need for common experimental standards for isolating, analyzing, expressing and depleting circRNAs. Here we propose a set of guidelines for circRNA studies based on the authors' experience. This Perspective will specifically address the major class of circRNAs in Eukarya that are generated by a spliceosome-catalyzed back-splicing event. We hope that the implementation of best practice principles for circRNA research will help move the field forward and allow a better functional understanding of this fascinating group of RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne F Nielsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Center for Cellular Signal Patterns (CellPAT), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Albrecht Bindereif
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Charles Darwin, and Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mor Hanan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas B Hansen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- TargoVax - Clinical Science, Oslo, Norway
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ivano Legnini
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mariangela Morlando
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 'Department of Excellence 2018-2022', University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Stephan Preibisch
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- HHMI Janelia Research campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christin Suenkel
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Lonza - Drug Product Services, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jørgen Kjems
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Center for Cellular Signal Patterns (CellPAT), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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12
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Integrated lncRNA function upon genomic and epigenomic regulation. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2252-2266. [PMID: 35714586 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although some long noncoding (lnc)RNAs are known since the 1950s, the past 25 years have uncovered myriad lncRNAs with diverse sequences, structures, and functions. The advent of high-throughput and sensitive technologies has further uncovered the vast heterogeneity of lncRNA-interacting molecules and patterns of expressed lncRNAs. We propose a unifying functional theme for the expansive family of lncRNAs. At an elementary level, the genomic program of gene expression is elicited via canonical transcription and post-transcriptional mRNA assembly, turnover, and translation. Building upon this regulation, an epigenomic program refines the basic genomic control by modifying chromatin architecture as well as DNA and RNA chemistry. Superimposed over the genomic and epigenomic programs, lncRNAs create an additional regulatory dimension: by interacting with the proteins and nucleic acids that regulate gene expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm, lncRNAs help establish robust, nimble, and specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional control. We describe our present understanding of lncRNA-coordinated control of protein programs and cell fate and discuss challenges and opportunities as we embark on the next 25 years of lncRNA discovery.
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