1
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Uriostegui-Arcos M, Mick ST, Shi Z, Rahman R, Fiszbein A. Splicing activates transcription from weak promoters upstream of alternative exons. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3435. [PMID: 37301863 PMCID: PMC10256964 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39200-2] [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: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription and splicing are intrinsically coupled. Alternative splicing of internal exons can fine-tune gene expression through a recently described phenomenon called exon-mediated activation of transcription starts (EMATS). However, the association of this phenomenon with human diseases remains unknown. Here, we develop a strategy to activate gene expression through EMATS and demonstrate its potential for treatment of genetic diseases caused by loss of expression of essential genes. We first identified a catalog of human EMATS genes and provide a list of their pathological variants. To test if EMATS can be used to activate gene expression, we constructed stable cell lines expressing a splicing reporter based on the alternative splicing of motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene. Using small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) currently used for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, we demonstrated that increase of inclusion of alternative exons can trigger an activation of gene expression up to 45-fold by enhancing transcription in EMATS-like genes. We observed the strongest effects in genes under the regulation of weak human promoters located proximal to highly included skipped exons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven T Mick
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, 02215, USA
| | - Zhuo Shi
- Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Rufuto Rahman
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, 02215, USA
| | - Ana Fiszbein
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, 02215, USA.
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2
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Lee ES, Smith HW, Wolf EJ, Guvenek A, Wang YE, Emili A, Tian B, Palazzo AF. ZFC3H1 and U1-70K promote the nuclear retention of mRNAs with 5' splice site motifs within nuclear speckles. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:878-894. [PMID: 35351812 PMCID: PMC9074902 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079104.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Quality control of mRNA represents an important regulatory mechanism for gene expression in eukaryotes. One component of this quality control is the nuclear retention and decay of misprocessed RNAs. Previously, we demonstrated that mature mRNAs containing a 5' splice site (5'SS) motif, which is typically found in misprocessed RNAs such as intronic polyadenylated (IPA) transcripts, are nuclear retained and degraded. Using high-throughput sequencing of cellular fractions, we now demonstrate that IPA transcripts require the zinc finger protein ZFC3H1 for their nuclear retention and degradation. Using reporter mRNAs, we demonstrate that ZFC3H1 promotes the nuclear retention of mRNAs with intact 5'SS motifs by sequestering them into nuclear speckles. Furthermore, we find that U1-70K, a component of the spliceosomal U1 snRNP, is also required for the nuclear retention of these reporter mRNAs and likely functions in the same pathway as ZFC3H1. Finally, we show that the disassembly of nuclear speckles impairs the nuclear retention of reporter mRNAs with 5'SS motifs. Our results highlight a splicing independent role of U1 snRNP and indicate that it works in conjunction with ZFC3H1 in preventing the nuclear export of misprocessed mRNAs by sequestering them into nuclear speckles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza S Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Harrison W Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Eric J Wolf
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aysegul Guvenek
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
| | - Yifan E Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Andrew Emili
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
| | - Bin Tian
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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3
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Sergeeva OV, Shcherbinina EY, Shomron N, Zatsepin TS. Modulation of RNA Splicing by Oligonucleotides: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Implications. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 32:123-138. [PMID: 35166605 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of RNA splicing causes many diseases and disorders. Several therapeutic approaches have been developed to correct aberrant alternative splicing events for the treatment of cancers and hereditary diseases, including gene therapy and redirecting splicing, using small molecules or splice switching oligonucleotides (SSO). Significant advances in the chemistry and pharmacology of nucleic acid have led to the development of clinically approved SSO drugs for the treatment of spinal muscular dystrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of SSO action with emphasis on "less common" approaches to modulate alternative splicing, including bipartite and bifunctional SSO, oligonucleotide decoys for splice factors and SSO-mediated mRNA degradation via AS-NMD and NGD pathways. We briefly discuss the current progress and future perspectives of SSO therapy for rare and ultrarare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Sergeeva
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Noam Shomron
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Timofei S Zatsepin
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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4
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Pereira-Castro I, Moreira A. On the function and relevance of alternative 3'-UTRs in gene expression regulation. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1653. [PMID: 33843145 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Messanger RNA (mRNA) isoforms with alternative 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) are produced by alternative polyadenylation (APA), which occurs during transcription in most eukaryotic genes. APA fine-tunes gene expression in a cell-type- and cellular state-dependent manner. Selection of an APA site entails the binding of core cleavage and polyadenylation factors to a particular polyadenylation site localized in the pre-mRNA and is controlled by multiple regulatory determinants, including transcription, pre-mRNA cis-regulatory sequences, and protein factors. Alternative 3'-UTRs serve as platforms for specific RNA binding proteins and microRNAs, which regulate gene expression in a coordinated manner by controlling mRNA fate and function in the cell. Genome-wide studies illustrated the full extent of APA prevalence and revealed that specific 3'-UTR profiles are associated with particular cellular states and diseases. Generally, short 3'-UTRs are associated with proliferative and cancer cells, and long 3'-UTRs are mostly found in polarized and differentiated cells. Fundamental new insights on the physiological consequences of this widespread event and the molecular mechanisms involved have been revealed through single-cell studies. Publicly available comprehensive databases that cover all APA mRNA isoforms identified in many cellular states and diseases reveal specific APA signatures. Therapies tackling APA mRNA isoforms or APA regulators may be regarded as innovative and attractive tools for diagnostics or treatment of several pathologies. We highlight the function of APA and alternative 3'-UTRs in gene expression regulation, the control of these mechanisms, their physiological consequences, and their potential use as new biomarkers and therapeutic tools. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pereira-Castro
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Moreira
- Gene Regulation, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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5
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Abstract
U1 snRNP is one of the most abundant ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes in eukaryotic cells and is estimated to be approximately 1 million copies per cell. Apart from its canonical role in mRNA splicing, this complex has emerged as a key regulator of eukaryotic mRNA length via inhibition of mRNA 3'-end processing at numerous intronic polyadenylation sites, in a process that is also termed 'U1 snRNP telescripting'. Several reviews have extensively described the concept of U1 telescripting and subsequently highlighted its potential impacts in mRNA metabolism. Here, we review what is currently known regarding the underlying mechanisms of this important phenomenon and discuss open questions and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ran
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhui Deng
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengguo Yao
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Palazzo AF, Koonin EV. Functional Long Non-coding RNAs Evolve from Junk Transcripts. Cell 2020; 183:1151-1161. [PMID: 33068526 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome studies reveal pervasive transcription of complex genomes, such as those of mammals. Despite popular arguments for functionality of most, if not all, of these transcripts, genome-wide analysis of selective constraints indicates that most of the produced RNA are junk. However, junk is not garbage. On the contrary, junk transcripts provide the raw material for the evolution of diverse long non-coding (lnc) RNAs by non-adaptive mechanisms, such as constructive neutral evolution. The generation of many novel functional entities, such as lncRNAs, that fuels organismal complexity does not seem to be driven by strong positive selection. Rather, the weak selection regime that dominates the evolution of most multicellular eukaryotes provides ample material for functional innovation with relatively little adaptation involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Palazzo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
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7
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Nourse J, Spada S, Danckwardt S. Emerging Roles of RNA 3'-end Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Disorders. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060915. [PMID: 32560344 PMCID: PMC7356254 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A crucial feature of gene expression involves RNA processing to produce 3′ ends through a process termed 3′ end cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA). This ensures the nascent RNA molecule can exit the nucleus and be translated to ultimately give rise to a protein which can execute a function. Further, alternative polyadenylation (APA) can produce distinct transcript isoforms, profoundly expanding the complexity of the transcriptome. CPA is carried out by multi-component protein complexes interacting with multiple RNA motifs and is tightly coupled to transcription, other steps of RNA processing, and even epigenetic modifications. CPA and APA contribute to the maintenance of a multitude of diverse physiological processes. It is therefore not surprising that disruptions of CPA and APA can lead to devastating disorders. Here, we review potential CPA and APA mechanisms involving both loss and gain of function that can have tremendous impacts on health and disease. Ultimately we highlight the emerging diagnostic and therapeutic potential CPA and APA offer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Nourse
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefano Spada
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sven Danckwardt
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.N.); (S.S.)
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Rhine-Main, Germany
- Correspondence:
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8
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Shi J, Deng Y, Huang S, Huang C, Wang J, Xiang AP, Yao C. Suboptimal RNA-RNA interaction limits U1 snRNP inhibition of canonical mRNA 3' processing. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1448-1460. [PMID: 31242075 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1636596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly appreciated that U1 snRNP transcriptomically suppresses the usage of intronic polyadenylation site (PAS) of mRNAs, an outstanding question is why frequently used PASs are not suppressed. Here we found that U1 snRNP could be transiently associated with sequences upstream of actionable PASs in human cells, and RNA-RNA interaction might contribute to the association. By focusing on individual PAS, we showed that the stable assembly of U1 snRNP near PAS might be generally required for U1 inhibition of mRNA 3' processing. Therefore, actionable PASs that often lack optimal U1 snRNP docking site nearby is free from U1 inhibitory effect. Consistently, natural 5' splicing site (5'-SS) is moderately enriched ~250 nt upstream of intronic PASs whose usage is sensitive to functional knockdown of U1 snRNA. Collectively, our results provided an insight into how U1 snRNP selectively inhibits the usage of PASs in a cellular context, and supported a prevailing model that U1 snRNP scans pre-mRNA through RNA-RNA interaction to find a stable interaction site to exercise its function in pre-mRNA processing, including repressing the usage of cryptic PASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Shi
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Yanhui Deng
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Shanshan Huang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Chunliu Huang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Jinkai Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China.,RNA Biomedical Institute, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Andy Peng Xiang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Chengguo Yao
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China.,Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China
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9
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iRGD: A Promising Peptide for Cancer Imaging and a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Cancers. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:9367845. [PMID: 31346334 PMCID: PMC6617877 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9367845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Poor penetration into the tumor parenchyma and the reduced therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs and other medications are the major problems in tumor treatment. A new tumor-homing and penetrating peptide, iRGD (CRGDK/RGPD/EC), can be effectively used to combine and deliver imaging agents or anticancer drugs into tumors. The different “vascular zip codes” expressed in different tissues can serve as targets for docking-based (synaptic) delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic molecules. αv-Integrins are abundantly expressed in the tumor vasculature, where they are recognized by peptides containing the RGD integrin recognition motif. The iRGD peptide follows a multistep tumor-targeting process: First, it is proteolytically cleaved to generate the CRGDK fragment by binding to the surface of cells expressing αv integrins (αvβ3 and αvβ5). Then, the fragment binds to neuropilin-1 and penetrates the tumor parenchyma more deeply. Compared with conventional RGD peptides, the affinity of iRGD for αv integrins is in the mid to low nanomolar range, and the CRGDK fragment has a stronger affinity for neuropilin-1 than that for αv integrins because of the C-terminal exposure of a conditional C-end Rule (CendR) motif (R/KXXR/K), whose receptor proved to be neuropilin-1. Consequently, these advantages facilitate the transfer of CRGDK fragments from integrins to neuropilin-1 and consequently deeper penetration into the tumor. Due to its specific binding and strong affinity, the iRGD peptide can deliver imaging agents and anticancer drugs into tumors effectively and deeply, which is useful in detecting the tumor, blocking tumor growth, and inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review aims to focus on the role of iRGD in the imaging and treatment of various cancers.
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10
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Abstract
The first published description of therapeutic applications of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology occurred in the late 1970s and was followed by the founding of commercial companies focused on developing antisense therapeutics in the late 1980s. Since the late 1980s, there has been steady progress in improving the technology platform, taking advantage of advances in oligonucleotide chemistry and formulations as well as increased understanding of the distribution and safety of ASOs. There are several approved ASO drugs and a broad pipeline in development. In addition, advances in understanding human disease, including the genetic basis for most monogenic diseases and the availability of the full human genome sequence, have created numerous therapeutic applications for the technology. I summarize the state of the technology and highlight how advances in the technology position ASOs to be an important contributor to future medicines.
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11
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Palazzo AF, Lee ES. Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs. Front Genet 2018; 9:440. [PMID: 30386371 PMCID: PMC6199362 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes are divided into two major compartments: the nucleus where RNA is synthesized and processed, and the cytoplasm, where mRNA is translated into proteins. Although many different RNAs are made, only a subset is allowed access to the cytoplasm, primarily RNAs involved in protein synthesis (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA). In contrast, nuclear retained transcripts are mostly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose role in cell physiology has been a source of much investigation in the past few years. In addition, it is likely that many non-functional RNAs, which arise by spurious transcription and misprocessing of functional RNAs, are also retained in the nucleus and degraded. In this review, the main sequence features that dictate whether any particular mRNA or lncRNA is a substrate for retention in the nucleus, or export to the cytoplasm, are discussed. Although nuclear export is promoted by RNA-splicing due to the fact that the spliceosome can help recruit export factors to the mature RNA, nuclear export does not require splicing. Indeed, most stable unspliced transcripts are well exported and associate with these same export factors in a splicing-independent manner. In contrast, nuclear retention is promoted by specialized cis-elements found in certain RNAs. This new understanding of the determinants of nuclear retention and cytoplasmic export provides a deeper understanding of how information flow is regulated in eukaryotic cells. Ultimately these processes promote the evolution of complexity in eukaryotes by shaping the genomic content through constructive neutral evolution.
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12
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The transcription factor RUNX2 regulates receptor tyrosine kinase expression in melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:29689-707. [PMID: 27102439 PMCID: PMC5045426 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases-based autocrine loops largely contribute to activate the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in melanoma. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in generating these autocrine loops are still largely unknown. In the present study, we examine the role of the transcription factor RUNX2 in the regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) expression in melanoma. We have demonstrated that RUNX2-deficient melanoma cells display a significant decrease in three receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR, IGF-1R and PDGFRβ. In addition, we found co-expression of RUNX2 and another RTK, AXL, in both melanoma cells and melanoma patient samples. We observed a decrease in phosphoAKT2 (S474) and phosphoAKT (T308) levels when RUNX2 knock down resulted in significant RTK down regulation. Finally, we showed a dramatic up regulation of RUNX2 expression with concomitant up-regulation of EGFR, IGF-1R and AXL in melanoma cells resistant to the BRAF V600E inhibitor PLX4720. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that RUNX2 might be a key player in RTK-based autocrine loops and a mediator of resistance to BRAF V600E inhibitors involving RTK up regulation in melanoma.
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13
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Tsang AT, Dudgeon C, Yi L, Yu X, Goraczniak R, Donohue K, Kogan S, Brenneman MA, Ho ES, Gunderson SI, Carpizo DR. U1 Adaptors Suppress the KRAS-MYC Oncogenic Axis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:1445-1455. [PMID: 28377488 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Targeting KRAS and MYC has been a tremendous challenge in cancer drug development. Genetic studies in mouse models have validated the efficacy of silencing expression of both KRAS and MYC in mutant KRAS-driven tumors. We investigated the therapeutic potential of a new oligonucleotide-mediated gene silencing technology (U1 Adaptor) targeting KRAS and MYC in pancreatic cancer. Nanoparticles in complex with anti-KRAS U1 Adaptors (U1-KRAS) showed remarkable inhibition of KRAS in different human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo As a nanoparticle-free approach is far easier to develop into a drug, we refined the formulation of U1 Adaptors by conjugating them to tumor-targeting peptides (iRGD and cRGD). Peptides coupled to fluorescently tagged U1 Adaptors showed selective tumor localization in vivo Efficacy experiments in pancreatic cancer xenograft models showed highly potent (>90%) antitumor activity of both iRGD and (cRGD)2-KRAS Adaptors. U1 Adaptors targeting MYC inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation caused by apoptosis in vitro (40%-70%) and tumor regressions in vivo Comparison of iRGD-conjugated U1 KRAS and U1 MYC Adaptors in vivo revealed a significantly greater degree of cleaved caspase-3 staining and decreased Ki67 staining as compared with controls. There was no significant difference in efficacy between the U1 KRAS and U1 MYC Adaptor groups. Our results validate the value in targeting both KRAS and MYC in pancreatic cancer therapeutics and provide evidence that the U1 Adaptor technology can be successfully translated using a nanoparticle-free delivery system to target two undruggable genes in cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(8); 1445-55. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley T Tsang
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Crissy Dudgeon
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Lan Yi
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Xin Yu
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | - Kristen Donohue
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Samuel Kogan
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | | | - Eric S Ho
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
| | - Samuel I Gunderson
- Silagene Inc., Hillsborough, New Jersey.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Darren R Carpizo
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey. .,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.,Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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14
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Pelaz B, Alexiou C, Alvarez-Puebla RA, Alves F, Andrews AM, Ashraf S, Balogh LP, Ballerini L, Bestetti A, Brendel C, Bosi S, Carril M, Chan WCW, Chen C, Chen X, Chen X, Cheng Z, Cui D, Du J, Dullin C, Escudero A, Feliu N, Gao M, George M, Gogotsi Y, Grünweller A, Gu Z, Halas NJ, Hampp N, Hartmann RK, Hersam MC, Hunziker P, Jian J, Jiang X, Jungebluth P, Kadhiresan P, Kataoka K, Khademhosseini A, Kopeček J, Kotov NA, Krug HF, Lee DS, Lehr CM, Leong KW, Liang XJ, Ling Lim M, Liz-Marzán LM, Ma X, Macchiarini P, Meng H, Möhwald H, Mulvaney P, Nel AE, Nie S, Nordlander P, Okano T, Oliveira J, Park TH, Penner RM, Prato M, Puntes V, Rotello VM, Samarakoon A, Schaak RE, Shen Y, Sjöqvist S, Skirtach AG, Soliman MG, Stevens MM, Sung HW, Tang BZ, Tietze R, Udugama BN, VanEpps JS, Weil T, Weiss PS, Willner I, Wu Y, Yang L, Yue Z, Zhang Q, Zhang Q, Zhang XE, Zhao Y, Zhou X, Parak WJ. Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine. ACS NANO 2017; 11:2313-2381. [PMID: 28290206 PMCID: PMC5371978 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b06040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 756] [Impact Index Per Article: 108.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Pelaz
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Alexiou
- ENT-Department, Section of Experimental Oncology & Nanomedicine
(SEON), Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung-Professorship for Nanomedicine, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ramon A. Alvarez-Puebla
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frauke Alves
- Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Diagnostic
and Interventional Radiology, University
Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne M. Andrews
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry and Department of Psychiatry and Semel Institute
for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Division of NanoMedicine and Center
for the Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology, and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of California,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Sumaira Ashraf
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lajos P. Balogh
- AA Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology Consultants, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845, United States
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bestetti
- School of Chemistry & Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Cornelia Brendel
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Susanna Bosi
- Department of Chemical
and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University
of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Monica Carril
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014, Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation
for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Warren C. W. Chan
- Institute of Biomaterials
and Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Chunying Chen
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience and CAS Key
Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of
China, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiaodong Chen
- School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore 639798
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine,
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Molecular
Imaging Program at Stanford and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford
for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Daxiang Cui
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument
Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electronical
Engineering, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, China
| | - Jianzhong Du
- Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Christian Dullin
- Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Diagnostic
and Interventional Radiology, University
Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen Germany
| | - Alberto Escudero
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla. CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Neus Feliu
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mingyuan Gao
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
| | | | - Yury Gogotsi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials
Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Arnold Grünweller
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, 610000 Chengdu, China
| | - Naomi J. Halas
- Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Rice
University, Houston, Texas 77005, United
States
| | - Norbert Hampp
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Roland K. Hartmann
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Mark C. Hersam
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry,
and Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Patrick Hunziker
- University Hospital, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- CLINAM,
European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ji Jian
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Center for
Bionanoengineering and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience and CAS Key
Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of
China, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Philipp Jungebluth
- Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, Universitätsklinikum
Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pranav Kadhiresan
- Institute of Biomaterials
and Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | | | | | - Jindřich Kopeček
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Nicholas A. Kotov
- Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48019, United States
| | - Harald F. Krug
- EMPA, Federal Institute for Materials
Science and Technology, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Dong Soo Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical
Sciences and School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- HIPS - Helmhotz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, New York 10027, United States
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience and CAS Key
Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of
China, Beijing 100190, China
- Laboratory of Controllable Nanopharmaceuticals, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 100190 Beijing, China
| | - Mei Ling Lim
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luis M. Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014, Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation
for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Ciber-BBN, 20014 Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- Laboratory of Controllable Nanopharmaceuticals, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 100190 Beijing, China
| | - Paolo Macchiarini
- Laboratory of Bioengineering Regenerative Medicine (BioReM), Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Huan Meng
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry and Department of Psychiatry and Semel Institute
for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Division of NanoMedicine and Center
for the Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology, and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of California,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Helmuth Möhwald
- Department of Interfaces, Max-Planck
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Paul Mulvaney
- School of Chemistry & Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Andre E. Nel
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry and Department of Psychiatry and Semel Institute
for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Division of NanoMedicine and Center
for the Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology, and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of California,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Shuming Nie
- Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Peter Nordlander
- Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Rice
University, Houston, Texas 77005, United
States
| | - Teruo Okano
- Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | | | - Tai Hyun Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical
Sciences and School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Reginald M. Penner
- Department of Chemistry, University of
California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical
and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University
of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014, Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation
for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Victor Puntes
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Nanotecnologia, UAB, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
Institute of Research, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincent M. Rotello
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Amila Samarakoon
- Institute of Biomaterials
and Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Raymond E. Schaak
- Department of Chemistry, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Youqing Shen
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Center for
Bionanoengineering and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China
| | - Sebastian Sjöqvist
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention, and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andre G. Skirtach
- Department of Interfaces, Max-Planck
Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Ghent, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mahmoud G. Soliman
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Hsing-Wen Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan,
ROC 300
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rainer Tietze
- ENT-Department, Section of Experimental Oncology & Nanomedicine
(SEON), Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung-Professorship for Nanomedicine, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Buddhisha N. Udugama
- Institute of Biomaterials
and Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - J. Scott VanEpps
- Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48019, United States
| | - Tanja Weil
- Institut für
Organische Chemie, Universität Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul S. Weiss
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry and Department of Psychiatry and Semel Institute
for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Division of NanoMedicine and Center
for the Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology, and Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of California,
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yuzhou Wu
- Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, China
| | | | - Zhao Yue
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Qiang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Xian-En Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules,
CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuliang Zhao
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience and CAS Key
Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of
China, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wolfgang J. Parak
- Fachbereich Physik, Fachbereich Medizin, Fachbereich Pharmazie, and Department of Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014, Donostia - San Sebastián, Spain
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15
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16
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Kaida D. The reciprocal regulation between splicing and 3'-end processing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2016; 7:499-511. [PMID: 27019070 PMCID: PMC5071671 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most eukaryotic precursor mRNAs are subjected to RNA processing events, including 5′‐end capping, splicing and 3′‐end processing. These processing events were historically studied independently; however, since the early 1990s tremendous efforts by many research groups have revealed that these processing factors interact with each other to control each other's functions. U1 snRNP and its components negatively regulate polyadenylation of precursor mRNAs. Importantly, this function is necessary for protecting the integrity of the transcriptome and for regulating gene length and the direction of transcription. In addition, physical and functional interactions occur between splicing factors and 3′‐end processing factors across the last exon. These interactions activate or inhibit splicing and 3′‐end processing depending on the context. Therefore, splicing and 3′‐end processing are reciprocally regulated in many ways through the complex protein–protein interaction network. Although interesting questions remain, future studies will illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal regulation. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:499–511. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1348 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kaida
- Frontier Research Core for Life Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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17
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Pieperhoff MS, Pall GS, Jiménez-Ruiz E, Das S, Melatti C, Gow M, Wong EH, Heng J, Müller S, Blackman MJ, Meissner M. Conditional U1 Gene Silencing in Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130356. [PMID: 26090798 PMCID: PMC4474610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional characterisation of essential genes in apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii or Plasmodium falciparum, relies on conditional mutagenesis systems. Here we present a novel strategy based on U1 snRNP-mediated gene silencing. U1 snRNP is critical in pre-mRNA splicing by defining the exon-intron boundaries. When a U1 recognition site is placed into the 3'-terminal exon or adjacent to the termination codon, pre-mRNA is cleaved at the 3'-end and degraded, leading to an efficient knockdown of the gene of interest (GOI). Here we describe a simple method that combines endogenous tagging with DiCre-mediated positioning of U1 recognition sites adjacent to the termination codon of the GOI which leads to a conditional knockdown of the GOI upon rapamycin-induction. Specific knockdown mutants of the reporter gene GFP and several endogenous genes of T. gondii including the clathrin heavy chain gene 1 (chc1), the vacuolar protein sorting gene 26 (vps26), and the dynamin-related protein C gene (drpC) were silenced using this approach and demonstrate the potential of this technology. We also discuss advantages and disadvantages of this method in comparison to other technologies in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela S. Pieperhoff
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Gurman S. Pall
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Jiménez-Ruiz
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sujaan Das
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carmen Melatti
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Gow
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor H. Wong
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Heng
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sylke Müller
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MM); (MJB)
| | - Markus Meissner
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MM); (MJB)
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18
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Li W, You B, Hoque M, Zheng D, Luo W, Ji Z, Park JY, Gunderson SI, Kalsotra A, Manley JL, Tian B. Systematic profiling of poly(A)+ transcripts modulated by core 3' end processing and splicing factors reveals regulatory rules of alternative cleavage and polyadenylation. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005166. [PMID: 25906188 PMCID: PMC4407891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) results in mRNA isoforms containing different 3’ untranslated regions (3’UTRs) and/or coding sequences. How core cleavage/polyadenylation (C/P) factors regulate APA is not well understood. Using siRNA knockdown coupled with deep sequencing, we found that several C/P factors can play significant roles in 3’UTR-APA. Whereas Pcf11 and Fip1 enhance usage of proximal poly(A) sites (pAs), CFI-25/68, PABPN1 and PABPC1 promote usage of distal pAs. Strong cis element biases were found for pAs regulated by CFI-25/68 or Fip1, and the distance between pAs plays an important role in APA regulation. In addition, intronic pAs are substantially regulated by splicing factors, with U1 mostly inhibiting C/P events in introns near the 5’ end of gene and U2 suppressing those in introns with features for efficient splicing. Furthermore, PABPN1 inhibits expression of transcripts with pAs near the transcription start site (TSS), a property possibly related to its role in RNA degradation. Finally, we found that groups of APA events regulated by C/P factors are also modulated in cell differentiation and development with distinct trends. Together, our results support an APA code where an APA event in a given cellular context is regulated by a number of parameters, including relative location to the TSS, splicing context, distance between competing pAs, surrounding cis elements and concentrations of core C/P factors. A gene can express multiple isoforms varying in the 3’ end, a phenomenon called alternative cleavage and polyadenylation, or APA. Previous studies have indicated that most eukaryotic genes display APA and the APA profile changes under different physiological and pathological conditions. However, how APA is regulated in the cell is unclear. Here using gene knockdown and high throughput sequencing we examine how APA is regulated by factors in the machinery responsible for cleavage and polyadenylation as well as factors that play essential roles in splicing. We identify several factors that play significant roles in APA in the last exon, including CFI-25/68, PABPN1, PABPC1, Fip1 and Pcf11. We also elucidate how cleavage and polyadenylation events are regulated in introns and near the transcription start site. We uncover a group of APA events that are highly regulated by core factors as well as in cell differentiation and development. We present an APA code where an APA event in a given cellular context is regulated by a number of parameters, including relative location to the transcription start site, splicing context, distance between competing pAs, surrounding cis elements and concentrations of core cleavage and polyadenylation factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Li
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Bei You
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Mainul Hoque
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Dinghai Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Wenting Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Zhe Ji
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Ji Yeon Park
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Samuel I. Gunderson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medical Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - James L. Manley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United Staes of America
| | - Bin Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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19
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U1 interference (U1i) for Antiviral Approaches. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 848:51-69. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2432-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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20
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Rigo F, Seth PP, Bennett CF. Antisense oligonucleotide-based therapies for diseases caused by pre-mRNA processing defects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 825:303-52. [PMID: 25201110 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1221-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Before a messenger RNA (mRNA) is translated into a protein in the cytoplasm, its pre-mRNA precursor is extensively processed through capping, splicing and polyadenylation in the nucleus. Defects in the processing of pre-mRNAs due to mutations in RNA sequences often cause disease. Traditional small molecules or protein-based therapeutics are not well suited for correcting processing defects by targeting RNA. However, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to bind RNA by Watson-Crick base pairing can target most RNA transcripts and have emerged as the ideal therapeutic agents for diseases that are caused by pre-mRNA processing defects. Here we review the diverse ASO-based mechanisms that can be exploited to modulate the expression of RNA. We also discuss how advancements in medicinal chemistry and a deeper understanding of the pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of ASOs have enabled their use as therapeutic agents. We end by describing how ASOs have been used successfully to treat various pre-mRNA processing diseases in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Rigo
- Isis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, USA,
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21
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Saito Y, Hashimoto Y, Arai M, Tarashima N, Miyazawa T, Miki K, Takahashi M, Furukawa K, Yamazaki N, Matsuda A, Ishida T, Minakawa N. Chemistry, properties, and in vitro and in vivo applications of 2'-O-methoxyethyl-4'-thioRNA, a novel hybrid type of chemically modified RNA. Chembiochem 2014; 15:2535-40. [PMID: 25314258 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis, properties, and in vitro and in vivo applications of 2'-O-methoxyethyl-4'-thioRNA (MOE-SRNA), a novel type of hybrid chemically modified RNA. In its hybridization with complementary RNA, MOE-SRNA showed a moderate improvement of Tm value (+3.4 °C relative to an RNA:RNA duplex). However, the results of a comprehensive comparison of the nuclease stability of MOE-SRNA relative to 2'-O-methoxyethylRNA (MOERNA), 2'-O-methyl-4'-thioRNA (Me-SRNA), 2'-O-methylRNA (MeRNA), 4'-thioRNA (SRNA), and natural RNA revealed that MOE-SRNA had the highest stability (t1/2 >48 h in human plasma). Because of the favorable properties of MOE-SRNA, we evaluated its in vitro and in vivo potencies as an anti-microRNA oligonucleotide against miR-21. Although the in vitro potency of MOE-SRNA was moderate, its in vivo potency was significant for the suppression of tumor growth (similar to that of MOERNA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yota Saito
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1 Shomachi, Tokushima 770-8505 (Japan)
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22
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Jilaveanu LB, Parisi F, Barr ML, Zito CR, Cruz-Munoz W, Kerbel RS, Rimm DL, Bosenberg MW, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Kluger HM. PLEKHA5 as a Biomarker and Potential Mediator of Melanoma Brain Metastasis. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 21:2138-47. [PMID: 25316811 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-0861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Approximately 40% of patients with metastatic melanoma develop brain metastases. Our purpose was to identify genes aberrantly expressed in melanoma that might be associated with propensity for brain homing. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We studied gene expression profiles in a cell line model of brain metastasis (cerebrotropic A375Br cells vs. parental A375P cells) and compared them with profiles of patients who developed early brain metastases and who did not. A tissue microarray containing 169 metastatic melanoma cases with variable time to brain metastasis was constructed to further study marker expression by quantitative immunofluorescence. An in vitro model of the blood brain barrier (BBB) was generated to evaluate potential mediators of brain metastases. RESULTS PLEKHA5 was differentially expressed in both the A375 cell line model and patient samples subjected to gene expression profiling. At the protein level, by quantitative immunofluorescence, PLEKHA5 was associated with decreased brain metastasis-free survival. PLEKHA5 overexpression was not associated with other metastatic sites. Knockdown of PLEKHA5 decreases the viability of A375Br cells, inhibits BBB transmigration and invasion in vitro. Similar results were found with YUMUL cells, cultured from a patient with overwhelming brain metastases. PLEKHA5 knockdown did not affect the viability of A375P cells. CONCLUSIONS PLEKHA5 expression in melanoma tumors was associated with early development of brain metastases. Inhibition of PLEKHA5 might decrease passage across the BBB and decrease proliferation and survival of melanoma cells both in the brain and in extracerebral sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia B Jilaveanu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Fabio Parisi
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Meaghan L Barr
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Christopher R Zito
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Department of Biology, School of Health and Natural Sciences, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, Connecticut
| | - William Cruz-Munoz
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert S Kerbel
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Biological Sciences Platform, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David L Rimm
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Marcus W Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ruth Halaban
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yuval Kluger
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Harriet M Kluger
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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Lima WF, Vickers TA, Nichols J, Li C, Crooke ST. Defining the factors that contribute to on-target specificity of antisense oligonucleotides. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101752. [PMID: 25072142 PMCID: PMC4114480 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand the factors that influence the activity and specificity of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), we designed a minigene encoding superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and cloned the minigene into vectors for T7 transcription of pre-mRNA and splicing in a nuclear extract or for stable integration in cells. We designed a series of ASOs that covered the entire mRNA and determined the binding affinities and activities of the ASOs in a cell-free system and in cells. The mRNA bound known RNA-binding proteins on predicted binding sites in the mRNA. The higher order structure of the mRNA had a significantly greater effect than the RNA-binding proteins on ASO binding affinities as the ASO activities in cells and in the cell-free systems were consistent. We identified several ASOs that exhibited off-target hybridization to the SOD-1 minigene mRNA in the cell-free system. Off-target hybridization occurred only at highly accessible unstructured sites in the mRNA and these interactions were inhibited by both the higher order structure of the mRNA and by RNA-binding proteins. The same off-target hybridization interactions were identified in cells that overexpress E. coli RNase H1. No off-target activity was observed for cells expressing only endogenous human RNase H1. Neither were these off-target heteroduplexes substrates for recombinant human RNase H1 under multiple-turnover kinetics suggesting that the endogenous enzyme functions under similar kinetic parameters in cells and in the cell-free system. These results provide a blueprint for design of more potent and more specific ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walt F. Lima
- Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Timothy A. Vickers
- Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States of America
| | - Josh Nichols
- Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States of America
| | - Cheryl Li
- Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States of America
| | - Stanley T. Crooke
- Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States of America
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24
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Rehfeld A, Plass M, Døssing K, Knigge U, Kjær A, Krogh A, Friis-Hansen L. Alternative polyadenylation of tumor suppressor genes in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:46. [PMID: 24782827 PMCID: PMC3995063 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumorigenesis of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) is poorly understood. Recent studies have associated alternative polyadenylation (APA) with proliferation, cell transformation, and cancer. Polyadenylation is the process in which the pre-messenger RNA is cleaved at a polyA site and a polyA tail is added. Genes with two or more polyA sites can undergo APA. This produces two or more distinct mRNA isoforms with different 3' untranslated regions. Additionally, APA can also produce mRNAs containing different 3'-terminal coding regions. Therefore, APA alters both the repertoire and the expression level of proteins. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing data to map polyA sites and characterize polyadenylation genome-wide in three SI-NETs and a reference sample. In the tumors, 16 genes showed significant changes of APA pattern, which lead to either the 3' truncation of mRNA coding regions or 3' untranslated regions. Among these, 11 genes had been previously associated with cancer, with 4 genes being known tumor suppressors: DCC, PDZD2, MAGI1, and DACT2. We validated the APA in three out of three cases with quantitative real-time-PCR. Our findings suggest that changes of APA pattern in these 16 genes could be involved in the tumorigenesis of SI-NETs. Furthermore, they also point to APA as a new target for both diagnostic and treatment of SI-NETs. The identified genes with APA specific to the SI-NETs could be further tested as diagnostic markers and drug targets for disease prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Rehfeld
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mireya Plass
- Department of Biology, The Bioinformatics Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristina Døssing
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrich Knigge
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Kjær
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Krogh
- Department of Biology, The Bioinformatics Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lennart Friis-Hansen
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Lennart Friis-Hansen, Center for Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK 2100, Denmark e-mail:
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Lu Z, Xu J, Xu M, Pasternak GW, Pan YX. Morphine regulates expression of μ-opioid receptor MOR-1A, an intron-retention carboxyl terminal splice variant of the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene via miR-103/miR-107. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 85:368-80. [PMID: 24302561 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.089292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The μ-opioid receptor (MOR-1) gene OPRM1 undergoes extensive alternative splicing, generating an array of splice variants. Of these variants, MOR-1A, an intron-retention carboxyl terminal splice variant identical to MOR-1 except for the terminal intracellular tail encoded by exon 3b, is quite abundant and conserved from rodent to humans. Increasing evidence indicates that miroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate MOR-1 expression and that μ agonists such as morphine modulate miRNA expression. However, little is known about miRNA regulation of the OPRM1 splice variants. Using 3'-rapid amplification cDNA end and Northern blot analyses, we identified the complete 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) for both mouse and human MOR-1A and their conserved polyadenylation site, and defined the role the 3'-UTR in mRNA stability using a luciferase reporter assay. Computer models predicted a conserved miR-103/107 targeting site in the 3'-UTR of both mouse and human MOR-1A. The functional relevance of miR-103/107 in regulating expression of MOR-1A protein through the consensus miR-103/107 binding sites in the 3'-UTR was established by using mutagenesis and a miR-107 inhibitor in transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells and Be(2)C cells that endogenously express human MOR-1A. Chronic morphine treatment significantly upregulated miR-103 and miR-107 levels, leading to downregulation of polyribosome-associated MOR-1A in both Be(2)C cells and the striatum of a morphine-tolerant mouse, providing a new perspective on understanding the roles of miRNAs and OPRM1 splice variants in modulating the complex actions of morphine in animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Lu
- Department of Neurology and the Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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26
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U1 snRNP-Dependent Suppression of Polyadenylation: Physiological Role and Therapeutic Opportunities in Cancer. Int J Cell Biol 2013; 2013:846510. [PMID: 24285958 PMCID: PMC3826338 DOI: 10.1155/2013/846510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing and polyadenylation are critical steps in the maturation of eukaryotic mRNA. U1 snRNP is an essential component of the splicing machinery and participates in splice-site selection and spliceosome assembly by base-pairing to the 5' splice site. U1 snRNP also plays an additional, nonsplicing global function in 3' end mRNA processing; it actively suppresses the polyadenylation machinery from using early, mostly intronic polyadenylation signals which would lead to aberrant, truncated mRNAs. Thus, U1 snRNP safeguards pre-mRNA transcripts against premature polyadenylation and contributes to the regulation of alternative polyadenylation. Here, we review the role of U1 snRNP in 3' end mRNA processing, outline the evidence that led to the recognition of its physiological, general role in inhibiting polyadenylation, and finally highlight the possibility of manipulating this U1 snRNP function for therapeutic purposes in cancer.
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27
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The conserved intronic cleavage and polyadenylation site of CstF-77 gene imparts control of 3' end processing activity through feedback autoregulation and by U1 snRNP. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003613. [PMID: 23874216 PMCID: PMC3708835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gene encoding the cleavage/polyadenylation (C/P) factor CstF-77 contains 21 exons. However, intron 3 (In3) accounts for nearly half of the gene region, and contains a C/P site (pA) with medium strength, leading to short mRNA isoforms with no apparent protein products. This intron contains a weak 5′ splice site (5′SS), opposite to the general trend for large introns in the human genome. Importantly, the intron size and strengths of 5′SS and pA are all highly conserved across vertebrates, and perturbation of these parameters drastically alters intronic C/P. We found that the usage of In3 pA is responsive to the expression level of CstF-77 as well as several other C/P factors, indicating it attenuates the expression of CstF-77 via a negative feedback mechanism. Significantly, intronic C/P of CstF-77 pre-mRNA correlates with global 3′UTR length across cells and tissues. In addition, inhibition of U1 snRNP also leads to regulation of the usage of In3 pA, suggesting that the C/P activity in the cell can be cross-regulated by splicing, leading to coordination between these two processes. Importantly, perturbation of CstF-77 expression leads to widespread alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) and disturbance of cell proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the conserved intronic pA of the CstF-77 gene may function as a sensor for cellular C/P and splicing activities, controlling the homeostasis of CstF-77 and C/P activity and impacting cell proliferation and differentiation. Autoregulation is commonly used in biological systems to control the homeostasis of certain activity, and cross-regulation coordinates multiple processes. We show that vertebrate genes encoding the cleavage/polyadenylation (C/P) factor CstF-77 contain a conserved intronic C/P site (pA) which regulates CstF-77 expression through a negative feedback loop. Since the usage of this intronic pA is also responsive to the expression of other C/P factors, the pA can function as a sensor for the cellular C/P activity. Because the CstF-77 level is important for the usage of a large number of pAs in the genome and is particularly critical for expression of genes involved in cell cycle, this autoregulatory mechanism has far-reaching implications for cell proliferation and differentiation. The human intron harboring the pA is large and has a weak 5′ splice site, both of which are also highly conserved in other vertebrates. Inhibition of U1 snRNP, which recognizes the 5′ splice site of intron, leads to upregulation of the intronic pA isoform of CstF-77 gene, suggesting that the C/P activity in the cell can be cross-regulated by splicing, leading to coordination between these two processes.
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28
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Kikuchi Y, Yamazaki N, Tarashima N, Furukawa K, Takiguchi Y, Itoh K, Minakawa N. Gene suppression via U1 small nuclear RNA interference (U1i) machinery using oligonucleotides containing 2'-modified-4'-thionucleosides. Bioorg Med Chem 2013; 21:5292-6. [PMID: 23871495 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Gene suppression via U1 small nuclear RNA interference (U1i) is considered to be one of the most attractive approaches, and takes the place of general antisense, RNA interference (RNAi), and anti-micro RNA machineries. Since the U1i can be induced by short oligonucleotides (ONs), namely U1 adaptors consisting of a 'target domain' and a 'U1 domain', we prepared adaptor ONs using 2'-modified-4'-thionucleosides developed by our group, and evaluated their U1i activity. As a result, the desired gene suppression via U1i was observed in ONs prepared as a combination of 2'-fluoro-4'-thionucleoside and 2'-fluoronucleoside units as well as only 2'-fluoronucleoside units, while those prepared as combination of 2'-OMe nucleoside/2'-OMe-4'-thionucleoside and 2'-fluoronucleoside units did not show significant activity. Measurement of Tm values indicated that a higher hybridization ability of adaptor ONs with complementary RNA is one of the important factors to show potent U1i activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusaku Kikuchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Shomachi 1-78-1, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
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29
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Weirauch U, Grünweller A, Cuellar L, Hartmann RK, Aigner A. U1 adaptors for the therapeutic knockdown of the oncogene pim-1 kinase in glioblastoma. Nucleic Acid Ther 2013; 23:264-72. [PMID: 23724780 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2012.0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
U1 small nuclear interference (U1i) has recently been described as a novel gene silencing mechanism. U1i employs short oligonucleotides, so-called U1 adaptors, for specific gene knockdown, expanding the field of current silencing strategies that are primarily based on RNA interference (RNAi) or antisense. Despite the potential of U1 adaptors as therapeutic agents, their in vivo application has not yet been studied. Here we explore U1i by analyzing U1 adaptor-mediated silencing of the oncogene Pim-1 in glioblastoma cells. We have generated Pim-1-specific U1 adaptors comprising DNA, locked nucleic acids (LNA), and 2'-O-Methyl RNA and demonstrate their ability to induce a Pim-1 knockdown, leading to antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. For the therapeutic in vivo application of U1 adaptors, we establish their complexation with branched low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI). Upon injection of nanoscale PEI/adaptor complexes into subcutaneous glioblastoma xenografts in mice, we observed the knockdown of Pim-1 that resulted in the suppression of tumor growth. The absence of hepatotoxicity and immune stimulation also demonstrates the biocompatibility of PEI/adaptor complexes. We conclude that U1i represents an alternative to RNAi for the therapeutic silencing of pathologically upregulated genes and demonstrate the functional relevance of Pim-1 oncogene knockdown in glioblastoma. We furthermore introduce nanoscale PEI/adaptor complexes as efficient and safe for in vivo application, thus offering novel therapeutic approaches based on U1i-mediated gene knockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Weirauch
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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30
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U1 Adaptor Oligonucleotides Targeting BCL2 and GRM1 Suppress Growth of Human Melanoma Xenografts In Vivo. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e92. [PMID: 23673539 PMCID: PMC4817935 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
U1 Adaptor is a recently discovered oligonucleotide-based gene-silencing technology with a unique mechanism of action that targets nuclear pre-mRNA processing. U1 Adaptors have two distinct functional domains, both of which must be present on the same oligonucleotide to exert their gene-silencing function. Here, we present the first in vivo use of U1 Adaptors by targeting two different human genes implicated in melanomagenesis, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (GRM1), in a human melanoma cell xenograft mouse model system. Using a newly developed dendrimer delivery system, anti-BCL2 U1 Adaptors were very potent and suppressed tumor growth at doses as low as 34 µg/kg with twice weekly intravenous (iv) administration. Anti-GRM1 U1 Adaptors suppressed tumor xenograft growth with similar potency. Mechanism of action was demonstrated by showing target gene suppression in tumors and by observing that negative control U1 Adaptors with just one functional domain show no tumor suppression activity. The anti-BCL2 and anti-GRM1 treatments were equally effective against cell lines harboring either wild-type or a mutant V600E B-RAF allele, the most common mutation in melanoma. Treatment of normal immune-competent mice (C57BL6) indicated no organ toxicity or immune stimulation. These proof-of-concept studies represent an in-depth (over 800 mice in ~108 treatment groups) validation that U1 Adaptors are a highly potent gene-silencing therapeutic and open the way for their further development to treat other human diseases.
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31
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Langemeier J, Radtke M, Bohne J. U1 snRNP-mediated poly(A) site suppression: beneficial and deleterious for mRNA fate. RNA Biol 2013; 10:180-4. [PMID: 23324605 DOI: 10.4161/rna.23314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The spliceosomal component U1snRNP commits pre-mRNAs to the splicing pathway. Recently, a nuclear RNA surveillance function has been ascribed to U1, namely the suppression of intronic polyadenylation sites. This surveillance holds regulatory potential as it alters the 3' ends of certain receptor tyrosine kinase mRNAs. However, suppression of 3' end processing by U1 snRNP is also the cause of a severe genetic disorder. We described a 3'UTR point mutation creating a 5'SS leading to U1-mediated suppression of 3' end formation. Thus, the inhibitory function of U1 is both beneficial and deleterious where misled. The exact mechanism of how U1 interferes with 3' end processing remains unclear. According to our data, U1 snRNP already interferes with cleavage or poly(A) site selection instead of directly inhibiting poly(A) polymerase as previously assumed. Here, we present alternative models for U1-mediated poly(A) site suppression and discuss the implications for RNA quality control and disease-related mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Langemeier
- Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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32
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Rehfeld A, Plass M, Krogh A, Friis-Hansen L. Alterations in polyadenylation and its implications for endocrine disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:53. [PMID: 23658553 PMCID: PMC3647115 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Polyadenylation is the process in which the pre-mRNA is cleaved at the poly(A) site and a poly(A) tail is added - a process necessary for normal mRNA formation. Genes with multiple poly(A) sites can undergo alternative polyadenylation (APA), producing distinct mRNA isoforms with different 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) and in some cases different coding regions. Two thirds of all human genes undergo APA. The efficiency of the polyadenylation process regulates gene expression and APA plays an important part in post-transcriptional regulation, as the 3' UTR contains various cis-elements associated with post-transcriptional regulation, such as target sites for micro-RNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Implications of alterations in polyadenylation for endocrine disease: Alterations in polyadenylation have been found to be causative of neonatal diabetes and IPEX (immune dysfunction, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked) and to be associated with type I and II diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fragile X-associated premature ovarian insufficiency, ectopic Cushing syndrome, and many cancer diseases, including several types of endocrine tumor diseases. PERSPECTIVES Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing have made it possible to characterize polyadenylation genome-wide. Antisense elements inhibiting or enhancing specific poly(A) site usage can induce desired alterations in polyadenylation, and thus hold the promise of new therapeutic approaches. SUMMARY This review gives a detailed description of alterations in polyadenylation in endocrine disease, an overview of the current literature on polyadenylation and summarizes the clinical implications of the current state of research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Rehfeld
- Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mireya Plass
- Department of Biology, The Bioinformatics Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Krogh
- Department of Biology, The Bioinformatics Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lennart Friis-Hansen
- Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCopenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Lennart Friis-Hansen, Genomic Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, 4113, Blegdamsvej 9, DK2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. e-mail:
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Spraggon L, Cartegni L. Antisense Modulation of RNA Processing as a Therapeutic Approach in Cancer Therapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 10:e139-e148. [PMID: 25589899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddstr.2013.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation antisense technologies are re-emerging as viable and powerful approaches to the treatment of several genetic diseases. Similar strategies are also being applied to cancer therapy. Re-programming of the expression of endogenous oncogenic products to replace them with functional antagonists, by interfering with alternative splicing or polyadenylation, provides a promising novel approach to address acquired drug resistance and previously undruggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Spraggon
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Luca Cartegni
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
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34
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Langemeier J, Schrom EM, Rabner A, Radtke M, Zychlinski D, Saborowski A, Bohn G, Mandel-Gutfreund Y, Bodem J, Klein C, Bohne J. A complex immunodeficiency is based on U1 snRNP-mediated poly(A) site suppression. EMBO J 2012; 31:4035-44. [PMID: 22968171 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2012.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biallelic mutations in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs are rare causes for monogenetic diseases whose mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated a 3'UTR mutation resulting in a complex immunodeficiency syndrome caused by decreased mRNA levels of p14/robld3 by a previously unknown mechanism. Here, we show that the mutation creates a functional 5' splice site (SS) and that its recognition by the spliceosomal component U1 snRNP causes p14 mRNA suppression in the absence of splicing. Histone processing signals are able to rescue p14 expression. Therefore, the mutation interferes only with canonical poly(A)-site 3' end processing. Our data suggest that U1 snRNP inhibits cleavage or poly(A) site recognition. This is the first description of a 3'UTR mutation that creates a functional 5'SS causative of a monogenetic disease. Moreover, our data endorse the recently described role of U1 snRNP in suppression of intronic poly(A) sites, which is here deleterious for p14 mRNA biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Langemeier
- Cell and Virus Genetics Group, Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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35
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Synthetic oligonucleotides recruit ILF2/3 to RNA transcripts to modulate splicing. Nat Chem Biol 2012; 8:555-61. [PMID: 22504300 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We describe a new technology for recruiting specific proteins to RNA through selective recognition of heteroduplexes formed with chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Typically, ASOs function by hybridizing to their RNA targets and blocking the binding of single-stranded RNA-binding proteins. Unexpectedly, we found that ASOs with 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro (2'-F) nucleotides, but not with other 2' chemical modifications, have an additional property: they form heteroduplexes with RNA that are specifically recognized by the interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 and 3 complex (ILF2/3). 2'-F ASO-directed recruitment of ILF2/3 to RNA can be harnessed to control gene expression by modulating alternative splicing of target transcripts. ILF2/3 recruitment to precursor mRNA near an exon results in omission of the exon from the mature mRNA, both in cell culture and in mice. We discuss the possibility of using chemically engineered ASOs that recruit specific proteins to modulate gene expression for therapeutic intervention.
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36
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Vorlová S, Rocco G, Lefave CV, Jodelka FM, Hess K, Hastings ML, Henke E, Cartegni L. Induction of antagonistic soluble decoy receptor tyrosine kinases by intronic polyA activation. Mol Cell 2011; 43:927-39. [PMID: 21925381 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Revised: 04/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Alternative intronic polyadenylation (IPA) can generate truncated protein isoforms with significantly altered functions. Here, we describe 31 dominant-negative, secreted variant isoforms of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that are produced by activation of intronic poly(A) sites. We show that blocking U1-snRNP can activate IPA, indicating a larger role for U1-snRNP in RNA surveillance. Moreover, we report the development of an antisense-based method to effectively and specifically activate expression of individual soluble decoy RTKs (sdRTKs) to alter signaling, with potential therapeutic implications. In particular, a quantitative switch from signal transducing full-length vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2/KDR) to a dominant-negative sKDR results in a strong antiangiogenic effect both on directly targeted cells and on naive cells exposed to conditioned media, suggesting a role for this approach in interfering with angiogenic paracrine and autocrine loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Vorlová
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Ma H, Qazi S, Ozer Z, Gaynon P, Reaman GH, Uckun FM. CD22 Exon 12 deletion is a characteristic genetic defect of therapy-refractory clones in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2011; 156:89-98. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08901.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Mohr SE, Perrimon N. RNAi screening: new approaches, understandings, and organisms. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2011; 3:145-58. [PMID: 21953743 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) leads to sequence-specific knockdown of gene function. The approach can be used in large-scale screens to interrogate function in various model organisms and an increasing number of other species. Genome-scale RNAi screens are routinely performed in cultured or primary cells or in vivo in organisms such as C. elegans. High-throughput RNAi screening is benefitting from the development of sophisticated new instrumentation and software tools for collecting and analyzing data, including high-content image data. The results of large-scale RNAi screens have already proved useful, leading to new understandings of gene function relevant to topics such as infection, cancer, obesity, and aging. Nevertheless, important caveats apply and should be taken into consideration when developing or interpreting RNAi screens. Some level of false discovery is inherent to high-throughput approaches and specific to RNAi screens, false discovery due to off-target effects (OTEs) of RNAi reagents remains a problem. The need to improve our ability to use RNAi to elucidate gene function at large scale and in additional systems continues to be addressed through improved RNAi library design, development of innovative computational and analysis tools and other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E Mohr
- Drosophila RNAi Screening Center, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Koornneef A, van Logtenstein R, Timmermans E, Pisas L, Blits B, Abad X, Fortes P, Petry H, Konstantinova P, Ritsema T. AAV-mediated in vivo knockdown of luciferase using combinatorial RNAi and U1i. Gene Ther 2011; 18:929-35. [PMID: 21472008 PMCID: PMC3169806 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has been successfully employed for specific inhibition of gene expression; however, safety and delivery of RNAi remain critical issues. We investigated the combinatorial use of RNAi and U1 interference (U1i). U1i is a gene-silencing technique that acts on the pre-mRNA by preventing polyadenylation. RNAi and U1i have distinct mechanisms of action in different cellular compartments and their combined effect allows usage of minimal doses, thereby avoiding toxicity while retaining high target inhibition. As a proof of concept, we investigated knockdown of the firefly luciferase reporter gene by combinatorial use of RNAi and U1i, and evaluated their inhibitory potential both in vitro and in vivo. Co-transfection of RNAi and U1i constructs showed additive reduction of luciferase expression up to 95% in vitro. We attained similar knockdown when RNAi and U1i constructs were hydrodynamically transfected into murine liver, demonstrating for the first time successful in vivo application of U1i. Moreover, we demonstrated long-term gene silencing by AAV-mediated transduction of murine muscle with RNAi/U1i constructs targeting firefly luciferase. In conclusion, these results provide a proof of principle for the combinatorial use of RNAi and U1i to enhance target gene knockdown in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Koornneef
- Department of Research and Development, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Vickers TA, Sabripour M, Crooke ST. U1 adaptors result in reduction of multiple pre-mRNA species principally by sequestering U1snRNP. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:e71. [PMID: 21415007 PMCID: PMC3105408 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
U1 Adaptors are a recently reported novel approach for targeted reduction of mRNA transcripts. A U1 adaptor oligonucleotide comprising of a target-complimentary hybridization domain and a U1 recruitment domain, directs the U1 snRNP complex to the terminal exon of a targeted gene, subsequently inhibiting poly(A) tail addition and leading to degradation of that RNA species within the nucleus. Here, we present data demonstrating U1 adapter-mediated gene silencing can result in significant ‘off-target’ silencing effects as demonstrated by the reduction of multiple mRNA species that were not intended to be targeted. Our data suggest that a substantial portion of this U1 adaptor-mediated off-target mRNA reduction is the result of sequestration U1 snRNP at levels sufficient to affect splicing and processing of non-target transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 1896 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA.
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Bennett CF, Swayze EE. RNA targeting therapeutics: molecular mechanisms of antisense oligonucleotides as a therapeutic platform. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2010; 50:259-93. [PMID: 20055705 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.010909.105654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 990] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dramatic advances in understanding of the roles RNA plays in normal health and disease have greatly expanded over the past 10 years and have made it clear that scientists are only beginning to comprehend the biology of RNAs. It is likely that RNA will become an increasingly important target for therapeutic intervention; therefore, it is important to develop strategies for therapeutically modulating RNA function. Antisense oligonucleotides are perhaps the most direct therapeutic strategy to approach RNA. Antisense oligonucleotides are designed to bind to the target RNA by well-characterized Watson-Crick base pairing, and once bound to the target RNA, modulate its function through a variety of postbinding events. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which antisense oligonucleotides can be designed to modulate RNA function in mammalian cells and how synthetic oligonucleotides behave in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Frank Bennett
- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California 92008, USA.
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Ono M, Yamada K, Avolio F, Scott MS, van Koningsbruggen S, Barton GJ, Lamond AI. Analysis of human small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA) and the development of snoRNA modulator of gene expression vectors. Mol Biol Cell 2010; 21:1569-84. [PMID: 20219969 PMCID: PMC2861615 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e10-01-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this manuscript we describe the characterisation of human snoRNAs that co-purify with nucleoli and develop a new vector based system for targeted gene knock down. We demonstrate that this novel vector system (snoMEN) can deliver effective, sequence-specific knock down of endogenous cellular genes as well as GFP and GFP-fusion proteins. Human small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that copurify with nucleoli isolated from HeLa cells have been characterized. Novel fibrillarin-associated snoRNAs were detected that allowed the creation of a new vector system for the targeted knockdown of one or more genes in mammalian cells. The snoMEN (snoRNA modulator of gene expressioN) vector technology is based on snoRNA HBII-180C, which contains an internal sequence that can be manipulated to make it complementary to RNA targets. Gene-specific knockdowns are demonstrated for endogenous cellular proteins and for G/YFP-fusion proteins. Multiplex snoMEN vectors coexpress multiple snoRNAs in one transcript, targeted either to different genes or to different sites in the same gene. Protein replacement snoMEN vectors can express a single transcript combining cDNA for a tagged protein with introns containing cognate snoRNAs targeted to knockdown the endogenous cellular protein. We foresee applications for snoMEN vectors in basic gene expression research, target validation, and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoharu Ono
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, and Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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Biotech paper - market watch. Biotechnol J 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.200990034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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