Adar RNA editing-dependent and -independent effects are required for brain and innate immune functions in Drosophila

Host response to Aplysia Abyssovirus 1 in nervous system and gill

The California sea hare (Aplysia californica) is a model for age associated cognitive decline. Recent researched identified a novel nidovirus, Aplysia Abyssovirus 1, with broad tropism enriched in the Aplysia nervous system. This virus is ubiquitous in wild and maricultured, young and old animals without obvious pathology. Here we re-evaluated gene expression data from several previous studies to investigate differential expression in the nervous system and gill in response to virus and aging as well as the mutational spectrum observed in the viral sequences obtained from these datasets. Viral load and age were highly correlated, indicating persistent infection. Upregulated genes in response to virus were enriched for immune genes and signatures of ER and proteostatic stress, while downregulated genes were enriched for mitochondrial metabolism. Differential expression with respect to age suggested increased iron accumulation and decreased glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, and proteasome function. Interaction of gene expression trends associated with viral infection and aging suggest that viral infection likely plays a role in aging in the Aplysia nervous system. Mutation analysis of viral RNA identified signatures suggesting ADAR and AID/APOBEC like deaminase act as part of Aplysia anti-viral defense.

Insights into ADAR gene complement, expression patterns, and RNA editing landscape in Chlamys farreri

Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs) are evolutionarily conserved enzymes known to convert adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNAs and participate in host-virus interactions. Conducting a meta-analysis of available transcriptome data, we identified and characterised eight ADAR transcripts in Chlamys farreri, a farmed marine scallop susceptible to Acute viral necrosis virus (AVNV) infections and mortality outbreaks. Accordingly, we identified six ADAR genes in the Zhikong scallop genome, revised previous gene annotations, and traced alternative splicing variants. In detail, each ADAR gene encodes a unique combination of functional domains, always including the Adenosine deaminase domain, RNA binding domains and, in one case, two copies of a Z-DNA binding domain. After phylogenetic analysis, five C. farreri ADARs clustered in the ADAR1 clade along with sequences from diverse animal phyla. Gene expression analysis indicated CF051320 as the most expressed ADAR, especially in the eye and male gonad. The other four ADAR1 genes and one ADAR2 gene exhibited variable expression levels, with CF105370 and CF051320 significantly increasing during early scallop development. ADAR-mediated single-base editing, evaluated across adult C. farreri tissues and developmental stages, was mainly detectable in intergenic regions (83 % and 85 %, respectively). Overall, the expression patterns of the six ADAR genes together with the editing and hyper-editing values computed on scallops RNA-seq samples support the adaptive value of ADAR1-mediated editing, particularly in the pre-settling larval stages.

Adar Regulates Drosophila melanogaster Spermatogenesis via Modulation of BMP Signaling

The dynamic process of Drosophila spermatogenesis involves asymmetric division, mitosis, and meiosis, which ultimately results in the production of mature spermatozoa. Disorders of spermatogenesis can lead to infertility in males. ADAR (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA) mutations in Drosophila cause male infertility, yet the causative factors remain unclear. In this study, immunofluorescence staining was employed to visualize endogenous ADAR proteins and assess protein levels via fluorescence-intensity analysis. In addition, the early differentiation disorders and homeostatic alterations during early spermatogenesis in the testes were examined through quantification of transit-amplifying region length, counting the number of GSCs (germline stem cells), and fertility experiments. Our findings suggest that deletion of ADAR causes testicular tip transit-amplifying cells to accumulate and become infertile in older male Drosophila. By overexpressing ADAR in early germline cells, male infertility can be partially rescued. Transcriptome analysis showed that ADAR maintained early spermatogenesis homeostasis through the bone-morphogenetic-protein (BMP) signaling pathway. Taken together, these findings have the potential to help explore the role of ADAR in early spermatogenesis.

Temporal landscape and translational regulation of A-to-I RNA editing in mouse retina development

BACKGROUND

The significance of A-to-I RNA editing in nervous system development is widely recognized; however, its influence on retina development remains to be thoroughly understood.

RESULTS

In this study, we performed RNA sequencing and ribosome profiling experiments on developing mouse retinas to characterize the temporal landscape of A-to-I editing. Our findings revealed temporal changes in A-to-I editing, with distinct editing patterns observed across different developmental stages. Further analysis showed the interplay between A-to-I editing and alternative splicing, with A-to-I editing influencing splicing efficiency and the quantity of splicing events. A-to-I editing held the potential to enhance translation diversity, but this came at the expense of reduced translational efficiency. When coupled with splicing, it could produce a coordinated effect on gene translation.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study presents a temporally resolved atlas of A-to-I editing, connecting its changes with the impact on alternative splicing and gene translation in retina development.

Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA, then and now

In this article, I recount my memories of key experiments that led to my entry into the RNA editing/modification field. I highlight initial observations made by the pioneers in the ADAR field, and how they fit into our current understanding of this family of enzymes. I discuss early mysteries that have now been solved, as well as those that still linger. Finally, I discuss important, outstanding questions and acknowledge my hope for the future of the RNA editing/modification field.

ADARs regulate cuticle collagen expression and promote survival to pathogen infection

BACKGROUND

In all organisms, the innate immune system defends against pathogens through basal expression of molecules that provide critical barriers to invasion and inducible expression of effectors that combat infection. The adenosine deaminase that act on RNA (ADAR) family of RNA-binding proteins has been reported to influence innate immunity in metazoans. However, studies on the susceptibility of ADAR mutant animals to infection are largely lacking.

RESULTS

Here, by analyzing adr-1 and adr-2 null mutants in well-established slow-killing assays, we find that both Caenorhabditis elegans ADARs are important for organismal survival to gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, all of which are pathogenic to humans. Furthermore, our high-throughput sequencing and genetic analysis reveal that ADR-1 and ADR-2 function in the same pathway to regulate collagen expression. Consistent with this finding, our scanning electron microscopy studies indicate adr-1;adr-2 mutant animals also have altered cuticle morphology prior to pathogen exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data uncover a critical role of the C. elegans ADAR family of RNA-binding proteins in promoting cuticular collagen expression, which represents a new post-transcriptional regulatory node that influences the extracellular matrix. In addition, we provide the first evidence that ADAR mutant animals have altered susceptibility to infection with several opportunistic human pathogens, suggesting a broader role of ADARs in altering physical barriers to infection to influence innate immunity.

The competitive landscape of the dsRNA world

The ability to sense and respond to infection is essential for life. Viral infection produces double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) that are sensed by proteins that recognize the structure of dsRNA. This structure-based recognition of viral dsRNA allows dsRNA sensors to recognize infection by many viruses, but it comes at a cost-the dsRNA sensors cannot always distinguish between "self" and "nonself" dsRNAs. "Self" RNAs often contain dsRNA regions, and not surprisingly, mechanisms have evolved to prevent aberrant activation of dsRNA sensors by "self" RNA. Here, we review current knowledge about the life of endogenous dsRNAs in mammals-the biosynthesis and processing of dsRNAs, the proteins they encounter, and their ultimate degradation. We highlight mechanisms that evolved to prevent aberrant dsRNA sensor activation and the importance of competition in the regulation of dsRNA sensors and other dsRNA-binding proteins.

ADAR1 links R-loop homeostasis to ATR activation in replication stress response

Unscheduled R-loops are a major source of replication stress and DNA damage. R-loop-induced replication defects are sensed and suppressed by ATR kinase, whereas it is not known whether R-loop itself is actively involved in ATR activation and, if so, how this is achieved. Here, we report that the nuclear form of RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 promotes ATR activation and resolves genome-wide R-loops, a process that requires its double-stranded RNA-binding domains. Mechanistically, ADAR1 interacts with TOPBP1 and facilitates its loading on perturbed replication forks by enhancing the association of TOPBP1 with RAD9 of the 9-1-1 complex. When replication is inhibited, DNA-RNA hybrid competes with TOPBP1 for ADAR1 binding to promote the translocation of ADAR1 from damaged fork to accumulate at R-loop region. There, ADAR1 recruits RNA helicases DHX9 and DDX21 to unwind R-loops, simultaneously allowing TOPBP1 to stimulate ATR more efficiently. Collectively, we propose that the tempo-spatially regulated assembly of ADAR1-nucleated protein complexes link R-loop clearance and ATR activation, while R-loops crosstalk with blocked replication forks by transposing ADAR1 to finetune ATR activity and safeguard the genome.

Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA (ADAR) Enzymes: A Journey from Weird to Wondrous

The adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes that catalyze the conversion of adenosine to inosine in double-stranded (ds)RNA are evolutionarily conserved and are essential for many biological functions including nervous system function, hematopoiesis, and innate immunity. Initially it was assumed that the wide-ranging biological roles of ADARs are due to inosine in mRNA being read as guanosine by the translational machinery, allowing incomplete RNA editing in a target codon to generate two different proteins from the same primary transcript. In humans, there are approximately seventy-six positions that undergo site-specific editing in tissues at greater than 20% efficiency that result in recoding. Many of these transcripts are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and edited by ADAR2. Exploiting mouse genetic models revealed that transgenic mice lacking the gene encoding Adar2 die within 3 weeks of birth. Therefore, the role of ADAR2 in generating protein diversity in the nervous system is clear, but why is ADAR RNA editing activity essential in other biological processes, particularly editing mainly involving ADAR1? ADAR1 edits human transcripts having embedded Alu element inverted repeats (AluIRs), but the link from this activity to innate immunity activation was elusive. Mice lacking the gene encoding Adar1 are embryonically lethal, and a major breakthrough was the discovery that the role of Adar1 in innate immunity is due to its ability to edit such repetitive element inverted repeats which have the ability to form dsRNA in transcripts. The presence of inosine prevents activation of the dsRNA sensor melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (Mda5). Thus, inosine helps the cell discriminate self from non-self RNA, acting like a barcode on mRNA. As innate immunity is key to many different biological processes, the basis for this widespread biological role of the ADAR1 enzyme became evident.Our group has been studying ADARs from the outset of research on these enzymes. In this Account, we give a historical perspective, moving from the initial purification of ADAR1 and ADAR2 and cloning of their encoding genes up to the current research focus in the field and what questions still remain to be addressed. We discuss the characterizations of the proteins, their localizations, posttranslational modifications, and dimerization, and how all of these affect their biological activities. Another aspect we explore is the use of mouse and Drosophila genetic models to study ADAR functions and how these were crucial in determining the biological functions of the ADAR proteins. Finally, we describe the severe consequences of rare mutations found in the human genes encoding ADAR1 and ADAR2.

High-level RNA editing diversifies the coleoid cephalopod brain proteome

Coleoid cephalopods (octopus, squid and cuttlefish) have unusually complex nervous systems. The coleoid nervous system is also the only one currently known to recode the majority of expressed proteins through A-to-I RNA editing. The deamination of adenosine by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes produces inosine, which is interpreted as guanosine during translation. If this occurs in an open reading frame, which is the case for tens of thousands of editing sites in coleoids, it can recode the encoded protein. Here, we describe recent findings aimed at deciphering the mechanisms underlying high-level recoding and its adaptive potential. We describe the complement of ADAR enzymes in cephalopods, including a recently discovered novel domain in sqADAR1. We further summarize current evidence supporting an adaptive role of high-level RNA recoding in coleoids, and review recent studies showing that a large proportion of recoding sites is temperature-sensitive. Despite these new findings, the mechanisms governing the high level of RNA recoding in coleoid cephalopods remain poorly understood. Recent advances using genome editing in squid may provide useful tools to further study A-to-I RNA editing in these animals.

ADAR1 suppression causes interferon signaling and transposable element transcript accumulation in human astrocytes

Neuroinflammation is a central mechanism of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the exact causes of age- and AD-related neuroinflammation are incompletely understood. One potential modulator of neuroinflammation is the enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which regulates the accumulation of endogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), a pro-inflammatory/innate immune activator. However, the role of ADAR1 and its transcriptomic targets in astrocytes, key mediators of neuroinflammation, have not been comprehensively investigated. Here, we knock down ADAR1 in primary human astrocytes via siRNA transfection and use transcriptomics (RNA-seq) to show that this results in: (1) increased expression of type I interferon and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways and (2) an accumulation of transposable element (TE) transcripts with the potential to form dsRNA. We also show that our findings may be clinically relevant, as ADAR1 gene expression declines with brain aging and AD in humans, and this is associated with a similar increase in TE transcripts. Together, our results suggest an important role for ADAR1 in preventing pro-inflammatory activation of astrocytes in response to endogenous dsRNA with aging and AD.

In Silico Discovery of Potential Inhibitors Targeting the RNA Binding Loop of ADAR2 and 5-HT2CR from Traditional Chinese Natural Compounds

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2) is an important enzyme involved in RNA editing processes, particularly in the conversion of adenosine to inosine in RNA molecules. Dysregulation of ADAR2 activity has been implicated in various diseases, including neurological disorders (including schizophrenia), inflammatory disorders, viral infections, and cancers. Therefore, targeting ADAR2 with small molecules presents a promising therapeutic strategy for modulating RNA editing and potentially treating associated pathologies. However, there are limited compounds that effectively inhibit ADAR2 reactions. This study therefore employed computational approaches to virtually screen natural compounds from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) library. The shortlisted compounds demonstrated a stronger binding affinity to the ADAR2 (<-9.5 kcal/mol) than the known inhibitor, 8-azanebularine (-6.8 kcal/mol). The topmost compounds were also observed to possess high binding affinity towards 5-HT2CR with binding energies ranging from -7.8 to -12.9 kcal/mol. Further subjecting the top ADAR2-ligand complexes to molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations revealed that five potential hit compounds comprising ZINC000014637370, ZINC000085593577, ZINC000042890265, ZINC000039183320, and ZINC000101100339 had favorable binding free energies of -174.911, -137.369, -117.236, -67.023, and -64.913 kJ/mol, respectively, with the human ADAR2 protein. Residues Lys350, Cys377, Glu396, Cys451, Arg455, Ser486, Gln488, and Arg510 were also predicted to be crucial in ligand recognition and binding. This finding will provide valuable insights into the molecular interactions between ADAR2 and small molecules, aiding in the design of future ADAR2 inhibitors with potential therapeutic applications. The potential lead compounds were also profiled to have insignificant toxicities. A structural similarity search via DrugBank revealed that ZINC000039183320 and ZINC000014637370 were similar to naringin and naringenin, which are known adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitors. These potential novel ADAR2 inhibitors identified herein may be beneficial in treating several neurological disorders, cancers, viral infections, and inflammatory disorders caused by ADAR2 after experimental validation.

Emerging role of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 in stem cell fate and function

Stem cells are critical for organism development and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Recent studies focusing on RNA editing have indicated how this mark controls stem cell fate and function in both normal and malignant states. RNA editing is mainly mediated by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). The RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 converts adenosine in a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrate into inosine. ADAR1 is a multifunctional protein that regulate physiological processes including embryonic development, cell differentiation, and immune regulation, and even apply to the development of gene editing technologies. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of ADAR1 with a focus on how it can mediate distinct functions in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Targeting ADAR1 has emerged as a potential novel therapeutic strategy in both normal and dysregulated stem cell contexts.

Contribution of A-to-I RNA editing, M6A RNA Methylation, and Alternative Splicing to physiological brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases

Aging is a physiological and progressive phenomenon in all organisms' life cycle, characterized by the accumulation of degenerative processes triggered by several alterations within molecular pathways. These changes compromise cell fate, resulting in the loss of functions in tissues throughout the body, including the brain. Physiological brain aging has been linked to structural and functional alterations, as well as to an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications modulate mRNA coding properties, stability, translatability, expanding the coding capacity of the genome, and are involved in all cellular processes. Among mRNA post-transcriptional modifications, the A-to-I RNA editing, m6A RNA Methylation and Alternative Splicing play a critical role in all the phases of a neuronal cell life cycle and alterations in their mechanisms of action significantly contribute to aging and neurodegeneration. Here we review our current understanding of the contribution of A-to-I RNA editing, m6A RNA Methylation, and Alternative Splicing to physiological brain aging process and neurodegenerative diseases.

Host-mediated RNA editing in viruses

Viruses rely on hosts for life and reproduction, cause a variety of symptoms from common cold to AIDS to COVID-19 and provoke public health threats claiming millions of lives around the globe. RNA editing, as a crucial co-/post-transcriptional modification inducing nucleotide alterations on both endogenous and exogenous RNA sequences, exerts significant influences on virus replication, protein synthesis, infectivity and toxicity. Hitherto, a number of host-mediated RNA editing sites have been identified in diverse viruses, yet lacking a full picture of RNA editing-associated mechanisms and effects in different classes of viruses. Here we synthesize the current knowledge of host-mediated RNA editing in a variety of viruses by considering two enzyme families, viz., ADARs and APOBECs, thereby presenting a landscape of diverse editing mechanisms and effects between viruses and hosts. In the ongoing pandemic, our study promises to provide potentially valuable insights for better understanding host-mediated RNA editing on ever-reported and newly-emerging viruses.

Lactobacillus for ribosome peptide editing cancer

This study reviews newly discovered insect peptide point mutations as new possible cancer research targets. To interpret newly discovered peptide point mutations in insects as new possible cancer research targets, we focused on the numerous peptide changes found in the 'CSP' family on the sex pheromone gland of the female silkworm moth Bombyx mori. We predict that the Bombyx peptide modifications will have a significant effect on cancer CUP (cancers of unknown primary) therapy and that bacterial peptide editing techniques, specifically Lactobacillus combined to CRISPR, will be used to regulate ribosomes and treat cancer in humans.

The role of post-transcriptional modifications during development

While the existence of post-transcriptional modifications of RNA nucleotides has been known for decades, in most RNA species the exact positions of these modifications and their physiological function have been elusive until recently. Technological advances, such as high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods and nanopore-based mapping technologies, have made it possible to map the position of these modifications with single nucleotide accuracy, and genetic screens have uncovered the “writer”, “reader” and “eraser” proteins that help to install, interpret and remove such modifications, respectively. These discoveries led to intensive research programmes with the aim of uncovering the roles of these modifications during diverse biological processes. In this review, we assess novel discoveries related to the role of post-transcriptional modifications during animal development, highlighting how these discoveries can affect multiple aspects of development from fertilization to differentiation in many species.

ADAR2 enzymes: efficient site-specific RNA editors with gene therapy aspirations

The adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes are essential for neuronal function and innate immune control. ADAR1 RNA editing prevents aberrant activation of antiviral dsRNA sensors through editing of long, double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). In this review, we focus on the ADAR2 proteins involved in the efficient, highly site-specific RNA editing to recode open reading frames first discovered in the GRIA2 transcript encoding the key GLUA2 subunit of AMPA receptors; ADAR1 proteins also edit many of these sites. We summarize the history of ADAR2 protein research and give an up-to-date review of ADAR2 structural studies, human ADARBI (ADAR2) mutants causing severe infant seizures, and mouse disease models. Structural studies on ADARs and their RNA substrates facilitate current efforts to develop ADAR RNA editing gene therapy to edit disease-causing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Artificial ADAR guide RNAs are being developed to retarget ADAR RNA editing to new target transcripts in order to correct SNP mutations in them at the RNA level. Site-specific RNA editing has been expanded to recode hundreds of sites in CNS transcripts in Drosophila and cephalopods. In Drosophila and C. elegans, ADAR RNA editing also suppresses responses to self dsRNA.

Adar-mediated A-to-I editing is required for embryonic patterning and innate immune response regulation in zebrafish

Adenosine deaminases (ADARs) catalyze the deamination of adenosine to inosine, also known as A-to-I editing, in RNA. Although A-to-I editing occurs widely across animals and is well studied, new biological roles are still being discovered. Here, we study the role of A-to-I editing in early zebrafish development. We demonstrate that Adar, the zebrafish orthologue of mammalian ADAR1, is essential for establishing the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes and patterning. Genome-wide editing discovery reveals pervasive editing in maternal and the earliest zygotic transcripts, the majority of which occurred in the 3'-UTR. Interestingly, transcripts implicated in gastrulation as well as dorso-ventral and antero-posterior patterning are found to contain multiple editing sites. Adar knockdown or overexpression affect gene expression by 12 hpf. Analysis of adar-/- zygotic mutants further reveals that the previously described role of Adar in mammals in regulating the innate immune response is conserved in zebrafish. Our study therefore establishes distinct maternal and zygotic functions of RNA editing by Adar in embryonic patterning along the zebrafish antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes, and in the regulation of the innate immune response, respectively.

ADAR2 Protein Is Associated with Overall Survival in GBM Patients and Its Decrease Triggers the Anchorage-Independent Cell Growth Signature

Background: Epitranscriptomic mechanisms, such as A-to-I RNA editing mediated by ADAR deaminases, contribute to cancer heterogeneity and patients’ stratification. ADAR enzymes can change the sequence, structure, and expression of several RNAs, affecting cancer cell behavior. In glioblastoma, an overall decrease in ADAR2 RNA level/activity has been reported. However, no data on ADAR2 protein levels in GBM patient tissues are available; and most data are based on ADARs overexpression experiments. Methods: We performed IHC analysis on GBM tissues and correlated ADAR2 levels and patients’ overall survival. We silenced ADAR2 in GBM cells, studied cell behavior, and performed a gene expression/editing analysis. Results: GBM tissues do not all show a low/no ADAR2 level, as expected by previous studies. Although, different amounts of ADAR2 protein were observed in different patients, with a low level correlating with a poor patient outcome. Indeed, reducing the endogenous ADAR2 protein in GBM cells promotes cell proliferation and migration and changes the cell’s program to an anchorage-independent growth mode. In addition, deep-seq data and bioinformatics analysis indicated multiple RNAs are differently expressed/edited upon siADAR2. Conclusion: ADAR2 protein is an important deaminase in GBM and its amount correlates with patient prognosis.

ADAR1 downregulation by autophagy drives senescence independently of RNA editing by enhancing p16INK4a levels

Cellular senescence plays a causal role in ageing and, in mice, depletion of p16INK4a-expressing senescent cells delays ageing-associated disorders1,2. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) are RNA-editing enzymes that are also implicated as important regulators of human ageing, and ADAR inactivation causes age-associated pathologies such as neurodegeneration in model organisms3,4. However, the role, if any, of ADARs in cellular senescence is unknown. Here we show that ADAR1 is post-transcriptionally downregulated by autophagic degradation to promote senescence through p16INK4a upregulation. The ADAR1 downregulation is sufficient to drive senescence in both in vitro and in vivo models. Senescence induced by ADAR1 downregulation is p16INK4a-dependent and independent of its RNA-editing function. Mechanistically, ADAR1 promotes SIRT1 expression by affecting its RNA stability through HuR, an RNA-binding protein that increases the half-life and steady-state levels of its target mRNAs. SIRT1 in turn antagonizes translation of mRNA encoding p16INK4a. Hence, downregulation of ADAR1 and SIRT1 mediates p16INK4a upregulation by enhancing its mRNA translation. Finally, Adar1 is downregulated during ageing of mouse tissues such as brain, ovary and intestine, and Adar1 expression correlates with Sirt1 expression in these tissues in mice. Together, our study reveals an RNA-editing-independent role for ADAR1 in the regulation of senescence by post-transcriptionally controlling p16INK4a expression.

Neuronal role of taxi is imperative for flight in Drosophila melanogaster

Extensive studies in Drosophila have led to the elucidation of the roles of many molecular players involved in the sensorimotor coordination of flight. However, the identification and characterisation of new players can add novel perspectives to the process. In this paper, we show that the extant mutant, jumper, is a hypermorphic allele of the taxi/delilah gene, which encodes a transcription factor. The defective flight of jumper flies results from the insertion of an I-element in the 5'-UTR of taxi gene, leading to an over-expression of the taxi. We also show that the molecular lesion responsible for the taxi¹ allele results from a 25 bp deletion leading to a shift in the reading frame at the C-terminus of the taxi coding sequence. Thus, the last 20 residues are replaced by 32 disparate residues in taxi¹. Both taxi¹, a hypomorphic allele, and the CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out (taxi^KO) null allele, show a defective flight phenotype. Electrophysiological studies show taxi hypermorphs, hypomorphs, and knock out flies show abnormal neuronal firing. We further show that neuronal-specific knock-down or over-expression of taxi cause a defect in the brain's inputs to the flight muscles, leading to reduced flight ability. Through transcriptomic analysis of the taxi^KO fly head, we have identified several putative targets of Taxi that may play important roles in flight. In conclusion, from molecularly characterising jumper to establishing Taxi's role during Drosophila flight, our work shows that the forward genetics approach still can lead to the identification of novel molecular players required for neuronal transmission.

Impact of ADAR-induced editing of minor viral RNA populations on replication and transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Viral RNA may be edited by enzymes of the ADAR family that deaminate adenosine residues with ensuing A→G mutations. We found multiple A→G mutations in minor viral populations of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. A→G mutations accumulated in the receptor binding domain of the spike gene, which may cause structural changes by altering binding to the ACE2 receptor. Presence of A→G mutations in minor viral populations was associated with reduced viral load, implying that ADAR may limit viral replication. Analyses of >250,000 European samples from 2020 revealed that A→G mutations in SARS-CoV-2 RNA were inversely correlated with mortality as a reflection of incidence. ADAR may thus be important in providing new variants of SARS-CoV-2 with altered infectivity and transmissibility.

Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) are RNA-editing enzymes that may restrict viral infection. We have utilized deep sequencing to determine adenosine to guanine (A→G) mutations, signifying ADAR activity, in clinical samples retrieved from 93 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–infected patients in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. A→G mutations were detected in 0.035% (median) of RNA residues and were predominantly nonsynonymous. These mutations were rarely detected in the major viral population but were abundant in minor viral populations in which A→G was more prevalent than any other mutation (P < 0.001). The A→G substitutions accumulated in the spike protein gene at positions corresponding to amino acids 505 to 510 in the receptor binding motif and at amino acids 650 to 655. The frequency of A→G mutations in minor viral populations was significantly associated with low viral load (P < 0.001). We additionally analyzed A→G mutations in 288,247 SARS-CoV-2 major (consensus) sequences representing the dominant viral population. The A→G mutations observed in minor viral populations in the initial patient cohort were increasingly detected in European consensus sequences between March and June 2020 (P < 0.001) followed by a decline of these mutations in autumn and early winter (P < 0.001). We propose that ADAR-induced deamination of RNA is a significant source of mutated SARS-CoV-2 and hypothesize that the degree of RNA deamination may determine or reflect viral fitness and infectivity.

Cross-species analysis of viral nucleic acid interacting proteins identifies TAOKs as innate immune regulators

The cell intrinsic antiviral response of multicellular organisms developed over millions of years and critically relies on the ability to sense and eliminate viral nucleic acids. Here we use an affinity proteomics approach in evolutionary distant species (human, mouse and fly) to identify proteins that are conserved in their ability to associate with diverse viral nucleic acids. This approach shows a core of orthologous proteins targeting viral genetic material and species-specific interactions. Functional characterization of the influence of 181 candidates on replication of 6 distinct viruses in human cells and flies identifies 128 nucleic acid binding proteins with an impact on virus growth. We identify the family of TAO kinases (TAOK1, -2 and -3) as dsRNA-interacting antiviral proteins and show their requirement for type-I interferon induction. Depletion of TAO kinases in mammals or flies leads to an impaired response to virus infection characterized by a reduced induction of interferon stimulated genes in mammals and impaired expression of srg1 and diedel in flies. Overall, our study shows a larger set of proteins able to mediate the interaction between viral genetic material and host factors than anticipated so far, attesting to the ancestral roots of innate immunity and to the lineage-specific pressures exerted by viruses.

ADAR1 restricts ZBP1-mediated immune response and PANoptosis to promote tumorigenesis

Cell death provides host defense and maintains homeostasis. Zα-containing molecules are essential for these processes. Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) activates inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis, whereas adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) serves as an RNA editor to maintain homeostasis. Here, we identify and characterize ADAR1's interaction with ZBP1, defining its role in cell death regulation and tumorigenesis. Combining interferons (IFNs) and nuclear export inhibitors (NEIs) activates ZBP1-dependent PANoptosis. ADAR1 suppresses this PANoptosis by interacting with the Zα2 domain of ZBP1 to limit ZBP1 and RIPK3 interactions. Adar1fl/flLysMcre mice are resistant to development of colorectal cancer and melanoma, but deletion of the ZBP1 Zα2 domain restores tumorigenesis in these mice. In addition, treating wild-type mice with IFN-γ and the NEI KPT-330 regresses melanoma in a ZBP1-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that ADAR1 suppresses ZBP1-mediated PANoptosis, promoting tumorigenesis. Defining the functions of ADAR1 and ZBP1 in cell death is fundamental to informing therapeutic strategies for cancer and other diseases.

dCubilin- or dAMN-mediated protein reabsorption in Drosophila nephrocytes modulates longevity

Aging is a multifaceted process regulated by multiple cellular pathways, including the proteostasis network. Pharmacological or genetic enhancement of the intracellular proteostasis network extends lifespan and prevents age-related diseases. However, how proteostasis is regulated in different tissues throughout the aging process remains unclear. Here, we show that Drosophila homologs of Cubilin- and Amnionless (dCubilin and dAMN, respectively)-mediated protein reabsorption (CAMPR) from hemolymph insect blood by nephrocytes modulate longevity through regulating proteostasis in muscle and brain tissues. We find that overexpression of dAMN receptor in nephrocytes extends lifespan, whereas nephrocyte-specific dCubilin or dAMN RNAi knockdown shortens lifespan. We also show that CAMPR in nephrocytes regulates proteostasis in hemolymph and improves healthspan. In addition, we show that enhanced CAMPR in nephrocytes slows down the aging process in muscle and brain by maintaining the proteostasis network in these tissues. Altogether, our work has revealed an inter-organ communication network across nephrocytes and muscle/neuronal tissue that is essential for maintaining proteostasis, and to delay senescence in these organs. These findings provide insight into the role of renal protein reabsorption in the aging process via this tele-proteostasis network.

Summary: dCubilin- or dAMN-mediated protein reabsorption in nephrocytes from hemolymph modulates Drosophila lifespan through regulating proteostasis and aging in muscle and brain tissues via the tele-proteostasis mechanism.

Evolutionary driving forces of A-to-I editing in metazoans

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that converts adenosines to inosines in metazoans' transcriptomes. However, the landscapes of editomes have considerably changed during evolution. Here, we review some of our current knowledge of A-to-I editing in the metazoan transcriptomes, focusing on the possible evolutionary driving forces underlying the editing events. First, we review the evolution of ADAR gene family in animals. Then, we summarize the recent advances in characterizing the editomes of various metazoan species. Next, we highlight several factors contributing to the interspecies differences in editomes, including variations in copy number and expression patterns of ADAR genes, the differences in genomic architectures and contents, and the differences in the efficacy of natural selection. After that, we review the possible diversifying and restorative effects of the editing (recoding) events that change the protein sequences. Finally, we discuss the possible convergent evolution of RNA editing in distantly related clades. This article is categorized under: RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification.

Sensing and signalling viral infection in drosophila

The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster is a valuable model to unravel mechanisms of innate immunity, in particular in the context of viral infections. RNA interference, and more specifically the small interfering RNA pathway, is a major component of antiviral immunity in drosophila. In addition, the contribution of inducible transcriptional responses to the control of viruses in drosophila and other invertebrates is increasingly recognized. In particular, the recent discovery of a STING-IKKβ-Relish signalling cassette in drosophila has confirmed that NF-κB transcription factors play an important role in the control of viral infections, in addition to bacterial and fungal infections. Here, we review recent developments in the field, which begin to shed light on the mechanisms involved in sensing of viral infections and in signalling leading to production of antiviral effectors.

ADAR RNA Modifications, the Epitranscriptome and Innate Immunity

Modified bases act as marks on cellular RNAs so that they can be distinguished from foreign RNAs, reducing innate immune responses to endogenous RNA. In humans, mutations giving reduced levels of one base modification, adenosine-to-inosine deamination, cause a viral infection mimic syndrome, a congenital encephalitis with aberrant interferon induction. These Aicardi-Goutières syndrome 6 mutations affect adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which generates inosines in endogenous double-stranded (ds)RNA. The inosine base alters dsRNA structure to prevent aberrant activation of antiviral cytosolic helicase RIG-I-like receptors. We review how effects of inosines, ADARs, and other modified bases have been shown to be important in innate immunity and cancer.

ADAR1 is a new target of METTL3 and plays a pro-oncogenic role in glioblastoma by an editing-independent mechanism

Background

N⁶-methyladenosine (m6A) and adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing are two of the most abundant RNA modification events affecting adenosines in mammals. Both these RNA modifications determine mRNA fate and play a pivotal role in tumor development and progression.

Results

Here, we show that METTL3, upregulated in glioblastoma, methylates ADAR1 mRNA and increases its protein level leading to a pro-tumorigenic mechanism connecting METTL3, YTHDF1, and ADAR1. We show that ADAR1 plays a cancer-promoting role independently of its deaminase activity by binding CDK2 mRNA, underlining the importance of ADARs as essential RNA-binding proteins for cell homeostasis as well as cancer progression. Additionally, we show that ADAR1 knockdown is sufficient to strongly inhibit glioblastoma growth in vivo.

Conclusions

Hence, our findings underscore METTL3/ADAR1 axis as a novel crucial pathway in cancer progression that connects m6A and A-to-I editing post-transcriptional events.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-021-02271-9.

To protect and modify double-stranded RNA - the critical roles of ADARs in development, immunity and oncogenesis

Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) are present in all animals and function to both bind double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and catalyze the deamination of adenosine (A) to inosine (I). As inosine is a biological mimic of guanosine, deamination by ADARs changes the genetic information in the RNA sequence and is commonly referred to as RNA editing. Millions of A-to-I editing events have been reported for metazoan transcriptomes, indicating that RNA editing is a widespread mechanism used to generate molecular and phenotypic diversity. Loss of ADARs results in lethality in mice and behavioral phenotypes in worm and fly model systems. Furthermore, alterations in RNA editing occur in over 35 human pathologies, including several neurological disorders, metabolic diseases, and cancers. In this review, a basic introduction to ADAR structure and target recognition will be provided before summarizing how ADARs affect the fate of cellular RNAs and how researchers are using this knowledge to engineer ADARs for personalized medicine. In addition, we will highlight the important roles of ADARs and RNA editing in innate immunity and cancer biology.

Proteome-Wide Analysis of ADAR-Mediated Messenger RNA Editing during Fruit Fly Ontogeny

Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing is an enzymatic post-transcriptional modification which modulates immunity and neural transmission in multicellular organisms. In particular, it involves editing of mRNA codons with the resulting amino acid substitutions. We identified such sites for developmental proteomes of Drosophila melanogaster at the protein level using available data for 15 stages of fruit fly development from egg to imago and 14 time points of embryogenesis. In total, 40 sites were obtained, each belonging to a unique protein, including four sites related to embryogenesis. The interactome analysis has revealed that the majority of the editing-recoded proteins were associated with synaptic vesicle trafficking and actomyosin organization. Quantitation data analysis suggested the existence of a phase-specific RNA editing regulation with yet unknown mechanisms. These findings supported the transcriptome analysis results, which showed that a burst in the RNA editing occurs during insect metamorphosis from pupa to imago. Finally, targeted proteomic analysis was performed to quantify editing-recoded and genomically encoded versions of five proteins in brains of larvae, pupae, and imago insects, which showed a clear tendency toward an increase in the editing rate for each of them. These results will allow a better understanding of the protein role in physiological effects of RNA editing.

Expressional Localization and Functionally Identifying an RNA Editing Enzyme BmADARa of the Silkworm Bombyx mori

The most common type of RNA editing in metazoans is the deamination of adenosine into inosine (A-to-I) catalyzed by the adenosine deaminase acting on the RNA (ADAR) family of proteins. The deletion or dysfunction of ADAR enzymes in higher eukaryotes can affect the efficiency of substrate editing and cause neurological disorders. However, the information concerning A-to-I RNA editing and ADAR members in the silkworm, Bombyx mori (BmADAR), is limited. In this study, a first molecular comprehensive cloning and sequence analysis of BmADAR transcripts was presented. A complete open reading frame (ORF) (BmADARa) was obtained using RT-PCR and RACE and its expression pattern, subcellular localization and A-to-I RNA-editing function on the silkworm synaptotagmin I (BmSyt I) were investigated. Subcellular localization analysis observed that BmADARa was mainly localized in the nucleus. To further study the A-to-I RNA-editing function of BmADARa, BmSyt I-pIZ-EGFP was constructed and co-transfected with BmADARa-pIZ-EGFP into BmN cells. The result demonstrates that BmADARa can functionally edit the specific site of BmSyt I. Taken together, this study not only provides insight into the function of the first ADAR enzyme in B. mori, but also lays foundations for further exploration of the functional domain of BmADARa and its editing substrates and target sites.

Immunopathology and immune homeostasis during viral infection in insects

Organisms clear infections by mounting an immune response that is normally turned off once the pathogens have been cleared. However, sometimes this immune response is not properly or timely arrested, resulting in the host damaging itself. This immune dysregulation may be referred to as immunopathology. While our knowledge of immune and metabolic pathways in insects, particularly in response to viral infections, is growing, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate this immune response and hence little is known about immunopathology in this important and diverse group of organisms. In this chapter we focus both on documenting the molecular mechanisms described involved in restoring immune homeostasis in insects after viral infections and on identifying potential mechanisms for future investigation. We argue that learning about the immunopathological consequences of an improperly regulated immune response in insects will benefit both insect and human health.

Protective Mechanisms Against DNA Replication Stress in the Nervous System

The precise replication of DNA and the successful segregation of chromosomes are essential for the faithful transmission of genetic information during the cell cycle. Alterations in the dynamics of genome replication, also referred to as DNA replication stress, may lead to DNA damage and, consequently, mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Extensive research has revealed that DNA replication stress drives genome instability during tumorigenesis. Over decades, genetic studies of inherited syndromes have established a connection between the mutations in genes required for proper DNA repair/DNA damage responses and neurological diseases. It is becoming clear that both the prevention and the responses to replication stress are particularly important for nervous system development and function. The accurate regulation of cell proliferation is key for the expansion of progenitor pools during central nervous system (CNS) development, adult neurogenesis, and regeneration. Moreover, DNA replication stress in glial cells regulates CNS tumorigenesis and plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). Here, we review how replication stress generation and replication stress response (RSR) contribute to the CNS development, homeostasis, and disease. Both cell-autonomous mechanisms, as well as the evidence of RSR-mediated alterations of the cellular microenvironment in the nervous system, were discussed.