1
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Cao X, Zhang Y, Ding Y, Wan Y. Identification of RNA structures and their roles in RNA functions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:784-801. [PMID: 38926530 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00748-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The development of high-throughput RNA structure profiling methods in the past decade has greatly facilitated our ability to map and characterize different aspects of RNA structures transcriptome-wide in cell populations, single cells and single molecules. The resulting high-resolution data have provided insights into the static and dynamic nature of RNA structures, revealing their complexity as they perform their respective functions in the cell. In this Review, we discuss recent technical advances in the determination of RNA structures, and the roles of RNA structures in RNA biogenesis and functions, including in transcription, processing, translation, degradation, localization and RNA structure-dependent condensates. We also discuss the current understanding of how RNA structures could guide drug design for treating genetic diseases and battling pathogenic viruses, and highlight existing challenges and future directions in RNA structure research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinang Cao
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yueying Zhang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
| | - Yiliang Ding
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
| | - Yue Wan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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2
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Parmar S, Bume DD, Connelly CM, Boer RE, Prestwood PR, Wang Z, Labuhn H, Sinnadurai K, Feri A, Ouellet J, Homan P, Numata T, Schneekloth JS. Mechanistic analysis of Riboswitch Ligand interactions provides insights into pharmacological control over gene expression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8173. [PMID: 39289353 PMCID: PMC11408619 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52235-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Riboswitches are structured RNA elements that regulate gene expression upon binding to small molecule ligands. Understanding the mechanisms by which small molecules impact riboswitch activity is key to developing potent, selective ligands for these and other RNA targets. We report the structure-informed design of chemically diverse synthetic ligands for PreQ1 riboswitches. Multiple X-ray co-crystal structures of synthetic ligands with the Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (Tte)-PreQ1 riboswitch confirm a common binding site with the cognate ligand, despite considerable chemical differences among the ligands. Structure probing assays demonstrate that one ligand causes conformational changes similar to PreQ1 in six structurally and mechanistically diverse PreQ1 riboswitch aptamers. Single-molecule force spectroscopy is used to demonstrate differential modes of riboswitch stabilization by the ligands. Binding of the natural ligand brings about the formation of a persistent, folded pseudoknot structure, whereas a synthetic ligand decreases the rate of unfolding through a kinetic mechanism. Single round transcription termination assays show the biochemical activity of the ligands, while a GFP reporter system reveals compound activity in regulating gene expression in live cells without toxicity. Taken together, this study reveals that diverse small molecules can impact gene expression in live cells by altering conformational changes in RNA structures through distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaifaly Parmar
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Desta Doro Bume
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Colleen M Connelly
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Robert E Boer
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Peri R Prestwood
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Philip Homan
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Numata
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - John S Schneekloth
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
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3
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Akirtava C, May G, McManus CJ. Deciphering the cis-regulatory landscape of natural yeast Transcript Leaders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.03.601937. [PMID: 39005336 PMCID: PMC11245039 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.03.601937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Protein synthesis is a vital process that is highly regulated at the initiation step of translation. Eukaryotic 5' transcript leaders (TLs) contain a variety of cis-regulatory features that influence translation and mRNA stability. However, the relative influences of these features in natural TLs are poorly characterized. To address this, we used massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) to quantify RNA levels, ribosome loading, and protein levels from 11,027 natural yeast TLs in vivo and systematically compared the relative impacts of their sequence features on gene expression. We found that yeast TLs influence gene expression over two orders of magnitude. While a leaky scanning model using Kozak contexts and uAUGs explained half of the variance in expression across transcript leaders, the addition of other features explained ~70% of gene expression variation. Our analyses detected key cis-acting sequence features, quantified their effects in vivo, and compared their roles to motifs reported from an in vitro study of ribosome recruitment. In addition, our work quantitated the effects of alternative transcription start site usage on gene expression in yeast. Thus, our study provides new quantitative insights into the roles of TL cis-acting sequences in regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Akirtava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado - Anshutz, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Gemma May
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - C Joel McManus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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4
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Wilkinson P, Jackson B, Fermor H, Davies R. A new mRNA structure prediction based approach to identifying improved signal peptides for bone morphogenetic protein 2. BMC Biotechnol 2024; 24:34. [PMID: 38783306 PMCID: PMC11112908 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-024-00858-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signal peptide (SP) engineering has proven able to improve production of many proteins yet is a laborious process that still relies on trial and error. mRNA structure around the translational start site is important in translation initiation and has rarely been considered in this context, with recent improvements in in silico mRNA structure potentially rendering it a useful predictive tool for SP selection. Here we attempt to create a method to systematically screen candidate signal peptide sequences in silico based on both their nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Several recently released computational tools were used to predict signal peptide activity (SignalP), localization target (DeepLoc) and predicted mRNA structure (MXFold2). The method was tested with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2), an osteogenic growth factor used clinically for bone regeneration. It was hoped more effective BMP2 SPs could improve BMP2-based gene therapies and reduce the cost of recombinant BMP2 production. RESULTS Amino acid sequence analysis indicated 2,611 SPs from the TGF-β superfamily were predicted to function when attached to BMP2. mRNA structure prediction indicated structures at the translational start site were likely highly variable. The five sequences with the most accessible translational start sites, a codon optimized BMP2 SP variant and the well-established hIL2 SP sequence were taken forward to in vitro testing. The top five candidates showed non-significant improvements in BMP2 secretion in HEK293T cells. All showed reductions in secretion versus the native sequence in C2C12 cells, with several showing large and significant decreases. None of the tested sequences were able to increase alkaline phosphatase activity above background in C2C12s. The codon optimized control sequence and hIL2 SP showed reasonable activity in HEK293T but very poor activity in C2C12. CONCLUSIONS These results support the use of peptide sequence based in silico tools for basic predictions around signal peptide activity in a synthetic biology context. However, mRNA structure prediction requires improvement before it can produce reliable predictions for this application. The poor activity of the codon optimized BMP2 SP variant in C2C12 emphasizes the importance of codon choice, mRNA structure, and cellular context for SP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piers Wilkinson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Brian Jackson
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Hazel Fermor
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert Davies
- Oral Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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5
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Parmar S, Bume DD, Conelly C, Boer R, Prestwood PR, Wang Z, Labuhn H, Sinnadurai K, Feri A, Ouellet J, Homan P, Numata T, Schneekloth JS. Mechanistic Analysis of Riboswitch Ligand Interactions Provides Insights into Pharmacological Control over Gene Expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.23.581746. [PMID: 38903087 PMCID: PMC11188086 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.23.581746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Riboswitches are structured RNA elements that regulate gene expression upon binding to small molecule ligands. Understanding the mechanisms by which small molecules impact riboswitch activity is key to developing potent, selective ligands for these and other RNA targets. We report the structure-informed design of chemically diverse synthetic ligands for PreQ1 riboswitches. Multiple X-ray co-crystal structures of synthetic ligands with the Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (Tte)-PreQ1 riboswitch confirm a common binding site with the cognate ligand, despite considerable chemical differences among the ligands. Structure probing assays demonstrate that one ligand causes conformational changes similar to PreQ1 in six structurally and mechanistically diverse PreQ1 riboswitch aptamers. Single-molecule force spectroscopy is used to demonstrate differential modes of riboswitch stabilization by the ligands. Binding of the natural ligand brings about the formation of a persistent, folded pseudoknot structure, whereas a synthetic ligand decreases the rate of unfolding through a kinetic mechanism. Single round transcription termination assays show the biochemical activity of the ligands, while a GFP reporter system reveals compound activity in regulating gene expression in live cells without toxicity. Taken together, this study reveals that diverse small molecules can impact gene expression in live cells by altering conformational changes in RNA structures through distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaifaly Parmar
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Desta Doro Bume
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Colleen Conelly
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Robert Boer
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Peri R. Prestwood
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- Depixus SAS, 3-5 Impasse Reille, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | | | - Adeline Feri
- Depixus SAS, 3-5 Impasse Reille, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Jimmy Ouellet
- Depixus SAS, 3-5 Impasse Reille, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Philip Homan
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Numata
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - John S. Schneekloth
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
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6
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Bose R, Saleem I, Mustoe AM. Causes, functions, and therapeutic possibilities of RNA secondary structure ensembles and alternative states. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:17-35. [PMID: 38199037 PMCID: PMC10842484 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
RNA secondary structure plays essential roles in encoding RNA regulatory fate and function. Most RNAs populate ensembles of alternatively paired states and are continually unfolded and refolded by cellular processes. Measuring these structural ensembles and their contributions to cellular function has traditionally posed major challenges, but new methods and conceptual frameworks are beginning to fill this void. In this review, we provide a mechanism- and function-centric compendium of the roles of RNA secondary structural ensembles and minority states in regulating the RNA life cycle, from transcription to degradation. We further explore how dysregulation of RNA structural ensembles contributes to human disease and discuss the potential of drugging alternative RNA states to therapeutically modulate RNA activity. The emerging paradigm of RNA structural ensembles as central to RNA function provides a foundation for a deeper understanding of RNA biology and new therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritwika Bose
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irfana Saleem
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony M Mustoe
- Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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7
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Kalsheker N. PCR Analysis to Identify AAT Gene Promoters and Splice Variants. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2750:33-39. [PMID: 38108965 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3605-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
This chapter explores the methods used for the analysis of alpha1-antitrypsin gene expression. This includes the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR), and whole transcriptome analysis combined with parallel DNA sequencing to understand the processes involved in AAT expression.
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8
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Lafortune P, Zahid K, Ploszaj M, Awadalla E, Carroll TP, Geraghty P. Testing Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in Black Populations. Adv Respir Med 2023; 92:1-12. [PMID: 38392031 PMCID: PMC10886060 DOI: 10.3390/arm92010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) is an under-recognized hereditary disorder and a significant cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that contributes to global mortality. AAT is encoded by the SERPINA1 gene, and severe mutation variants of this gene increase the risk of developing COPD. AATD is more frequently screened for in non-Hispanic White populations. However, AATD is also observed in other ethnic groups and very few studies have documented the mutation frequency in these other ethnic populations. Here, we review the current literature on AATD and allele frequency primarily in Black populations and discuss the possible clinical outcomes of low screening rates in a population that experiences poor health outcomes and whether the low frequency of AATD is related to a lack of screening in this population or a truly low frequency of mutations causing AATD. This review also outlines the harmful SERPINA1 variants, the current epidemiology knowledge of AATD, health inequity in Black populations, AATD prevalence in Black populations, the clinical implications of low screening of AATD in this population, and the possible dangers of not diagnosing or treating AATD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Lafortune
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (P.L.); (K.Z.); (M.P.); (E.A.)
| | - Kanza Zahid
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (P.L.); (K.Z.); (M.P.); (E.A.)
| | - Magdalena Ploszaj
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (P.L.); (K.Z.); (M.P.); (E.A.)
| | - Emilio Awadalla
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (P.L.); (K.Z.); (M.P.); (E.A.)
| | - Tomás P. Carroll
- Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Alpha-1 Foundation Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick Geraghty
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (P.L.); (K.Z.); (M.P.); (E.A.)
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9
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May GE, Akirtava C, Agar-Johnson M, Micic J, Woolford J, McManus J. Unraveling the influences of sequence and position on yeast uORF activity using massively parallel reporter systems and machine learning. eLife 2023; 12:e69611. [PMID: 37227054 PMCID: PMC10259493 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Upstream open-reading frames (uORFs) are potent cis-acting regulators of mRNA translation and nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). While both AUG- and non-AUG initiated uORFs are ubiquitous in ribosome profiling studies, few uORFs have been experimentally tested. Consequently, the relative influences of sequence, structural, and positional features on uORF activity have not been determined. We quantified thousands of yeast uORFs using massively parallel reporter assays in wildtype and ∆upf1 yeast. While nearly all AUG uORFs were robust repressors, most non-AUG uORFs had relatively weak impacts on expression. Machine learning regression modeling revealed that both uORF sequences and locations within transcript leaders predict their effect on gene expression. Indeed, alternative transcription start sites highly influenced uORF activity. These results define the scope of natural uORF activity, identify features associated with translational repression and NMD, and suggest that the locations of uORFs in transcript leaders are nearly as predictive as uORF sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma E May
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
| | - Christina Akirtava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
| | - Matthew Agar-Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
| | - Jelena Micic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
| | - John Woolford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
| | - Joel McManus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghUnited States
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10
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Monroy-Eklund A, Taylor C, Weidmann CA, Burch C, Laederach A. Structural analysis of MALAT1 long noncoding RNA in cells and in evolution. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:691-704. [PMID: 36792358 PMCID: PMC10159000 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079388.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although not canonically polyadenylated, the long noncoding RNA MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) is stabilized by a highly conserved 76-nt triple helix structure on its 3' end. The entire MALAT1 transcript is over 8000 nt long in humans. The strongest structural conservation signal in MALAT1 (as measured by covariation of base pairs) is in the triple helix structure. Primary sequence analysis of covariation alone does not reveal the degree of structural conservation of the entire full-length transcript, however. Furthermore, RNA structure is often context dependent; RNA binding proteins that are differentially expressed in different cell types may alter structure. We investigate here the in-cell and cell-free structures of the full-length human and green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) MALAT1 transcripts in multiple tissue-derived cell lines using SHAPE chemical probing. Our data reveal levels of uniform structural conservation in different cell lines, in cells and cell-free, and even between species, despite significant differences in primary sequence. The uniformity of the structural conservation across the entire transcript suggests that, despite seeing covariation signals only in the triple helix junction of the lncRNA, the rest of the transcript's structure is remarkably conserved, at least in primates and across multiple cell types and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anais Monroy-Eklund
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Colin Taylor
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Center for RNA Biomedicine, Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Christina Burch
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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11
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Maslakova AA, Golyshev SA, Potashnikova DM, Moisenovich AM, Orlovsky IV, Smirnova OV, Rubtsov MA. SERPINA1 long transcripts produce non-secretory alpha1-antitrypsin isoform: In vitro translation in living cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 241:124433. [PMID: 37086761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
SERPINA1 is a well-studied serpin gene due to its dramatic impact on human health. Translation initiation at the main SERPINA1 start codon produces the only known alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) isoform intended for secretion. AAT performs essential functions by inhibiting proteases and modulating immunity. However, SERPINA1 expression at the level of translation is not sufficiently studied. Here we hypothesize that the main SERPINA1 ORF can be alternatively translated, producing a non-secretory AAT isoform by either masking or excluding a signal peptide. We defined SERPINA1 long mRNA isoforms specific for prostate (DU145) and liver (HepG2) cell lines and studied their individual expression by in vitro assay. We found that all long transcripts produce both glycosylated secretory AAT-eGFP fusion protein and non-glycosylated intracellular AAT-eGFP (initiated from an alternative AUG-2 start codon), with the proportion regulated by the SERPINA1 5'-UTR. Both fusion proteins localize to distinct cellular compartments: in contrast to a fusion with the secretory AAT accumulating in the ER, the intracellular one exhibits nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling. We detected putative endogenous AAT isoform enriching the nuclear speckles. CONCLUSION: Alternative translation initiation might be a mechanism through which SERPINA1 expands the biological diversity of its protein products. Our findings open up new prospects for the study of SERPINA1 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Maslakova
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - S A Golyshev
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119992, Russia
| | - D M Potashnikova
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - A M Moisenovich
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - I V Orlovsky
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya, Moscow 117198, Russia
| | - O V Smirnova
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - M A Rubtsov
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia; Center for Industrial Technologies and Entrepreneurship, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya, Moscow 119991, Russia
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12
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How does precursor RNA structure influence RNA processing and gene expression? Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232489. [PMID: 36689327 PMCID: PMC9977717 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA is a fundamental biomolecule that has many purposes within cells. Due to its single-stranded and flexible nature, RNA naturally folds into complex and dynamic structures. Recent technological and computational advances have produced an explosion of RNA structural data. Many RNA structures have regulatory and functional properties. Studying the structure of nascent RNAs is particularly challenging due to their low abundance and long length, but their structures are important because they can influence RNA processing. Precursor RNA processing is a nexus of pathways that determines mature isoform composition and that controls gene expression. In this review, we examine what is known about human nascent RNA structure and the influence of RNA structure on processing of precursor RNAs. These known structures provide examples of how other nascent RNAs may be structured and show how novel RNA structures may influence RNA processing including splicing and polyadenylation. RNA structures can be targeted therapeutically to treat disease.
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13
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SERPINA1 and More? A Putative Genetic Contributor to Pulmonary Dysfunction in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051708. [PMID: 36902496 PMCID: PMC10003154 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a common inherited disorder associated with an increased risk of pulmonary disease. Its clinical presentation, including the nature and severity of organ involvement, is highly variable and unpredictable and is not as strongly linked to genotype and environmental exposure (e.g., smoking history) as might be expected. Significant differences were observed within matched populations of severe AATD patients regarding risk of complications, age at onset, and disease course, including the dynamics of lung function decline. Genetic factors are among the putative modifiers contributing to the clinical variability in AATD, yet their role remains elusive. Here, we review and summarise our current understanding of epigenetic and genetic modifiers of pulmonary dysfunction in subjects with AATD.
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14
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Biological and Genetic Mechanisms of COPD, Its Diagnosis, Treatment, and Relationship with Lung Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020448. [PMID: 36830984 PMCID: PMC9953173 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prevalent chronic adult diseases, with significant worldwide morbidity and mortality. Although long-term tobacco smoking is a critical risk factor for this global health problem, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Several phenomena are thought to be involved in the evolution of emphysema, including airway inflammation, proteinase/anti-proteinase imbalance, oxidative stress, and genetic/epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, COPD is one main risk for lung cancer (LC), the deadliest form of human tumor; formation and chronic inflammation accompanying COPD can be a potential driver of malignancy maturation (0.8-1.7% of COPD cases develop cancer/per year). Recently, the development of more research based on COPD and lung cancer molecular analysis has provided new light for understanding their pathogenesis, improving the diagnosis and treatments, and elucidating many connections between these diseases. Our review emphasizes the biological factors involved in COPD and lung cancer, the advances in their molecular mechanisms' research, and the state of the art of diagnosis and treatments. This work combines many biological and genetic elements into a single whole and strongly links COPD with lung tumor features.
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Grayeski PJ, Weidmann CA, Kumar J, Lackey L, Mustoe A, Busan S, Laederach A, Weeks KM. Global 5'-UTR RNA structure regulates translation of a SERPINA1 mRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:9689-9704. [PMID: 36107773 PMCID: PMC9508835 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SERPINA1 mRNAs encode the protease inhibitor α-1-antitrypsin and are regulated through post-transcriptional mechanisms. α-1-antitrypsin deficiency leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver cirrhosis, and specific variants in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) are associated with COPD. The NM_000295.4 transcript is well expressed and translated in lung and blood and features an extended 5'-UTR that does not contain a competing upstream open reading frame (uORF). We show that the 5'-UTR of NM_000295.4 folds into a well-defined multi-helix structural domain. We systematically destabilized mRNA structure across the NM_000295.4 5'-UTR, and measured changes in (SHAPE quantified) RNA structure and cap-dependent translation relative to a native-sequence reporter. Surprisingly, despite destabilizing local RNA structure, most mutations either had no effect on or decreased translation. Most structure-destabilizing mutations retained native, global 5'-UTR structure. However, those mutations that disrupted the helix that anchors the 5'-UTR domain yielded three groups of non-native structures. Two of these non-native structure groups refolded to create a stable helix near the translation initiation site that decreases translation. Thus, in contrast to the conventional model that RNA structure in 5'-UTRs primarily inhibits translation, complex folding of the NM_000295.4 5'-UTR creates a translation-optimized message by promoting accessibility at the translation initiation site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Grayeski
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jayashree Kumar
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lela Lackey
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Anthony M Mustoe
- Verna and Marrs McClean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, and Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Steven Busan
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
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16
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Kumar J, Lackey L, Waldern JM, Dey A, Mustoe AM, Weeks KM, Mathews DH, Laederach A. Quantitative prediction of variant effects on alternative splicing in MAPT using endogenous pre-messenger RNA structure probing. eLife 2022; 11:73888. [PMID: 35695373 PMCID: PMC9236610 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Splicing is highly regulated and is modulated by numerous factors. Quantitative predictions for how a mutation will affect precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) structure and downstream function are particularly challenging. Here, we use a novel chemical probing strategy to visualize endogenous precursor and mature MAPT mRNA structures in cells. We used these data to estimate Boltzmann suboptimal structural ensembles, which were then analyzed to predict consequences of mutations on pre-mRNA structure. Further analysis of recent cryo-EM structures of the spliceosome at different stages of the splicing cycle revealed that the footprint of the Bact complex with pre-mRNA best predicted alternative splicing outcomes for exon 10 inclusion of the alternatively spliced MAPT gene, achieving 74% accuracy. We further developed a β-regression weighting framework that incorporates splice site strength, RNA structure, and exonic/intronic splicing regulatory elements capable of predicting, with 90% accuracy, the effects of 47 known and 6 newly discovered mutations on inclusion of exon 10 of MAPT. This combined experimental and computational framework represents a path forward for accurate prediction of splicing-related disease-causing variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayashree Kumar
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States.,Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Lela Lackey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States.,Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, United States
| | - Justin M Waldern
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Abhishek Dey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Anthony M Mustoe
- Verna and Marrs McClean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, United States
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States.,Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
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17
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Sun W, Ding L, Zhang H. The Potential Role of RNA Structure in Crop Molecular Breeding. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:868771. [PMID: 35586218 PMCID: PMC9108716 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.868771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The continually growing human population creates a concomitantly increasing demand for nutritious crops with high yields. Advances in high throughput sequencing technologies have revealed the genetic architecture of major crops. This includes extensive information enabling comprehensive genetic markers for breeding selection, new gene discoveries, and novel gene regulatory strategies for crop editing. RNA structure is an important type of genetic feature, essential for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Here, we summarize recent advances in genome-wide RNA structure studies in crops and review the associated RNA structure-mediated regulation of gene expression. We also discuss the functional importance of those single nucleotide variations that induce large RNA structure disparities. Lastly, we discuss the potential role of RNA structure in crop molecular breeding.
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18
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Ferrero-Serrano Á, Sylvia MM, Forstmeier PC, Olson AJ, Ware D, Bevilacqua PC, Assmann SM. Experimental demonstration and pan-structurome prediction of climate-associated riboSNitches in Arabidopsis. Genome Biol 2022; 23:101. [PMID: 35440059 PMCID: PMC9017077 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02656-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) aim to correlate phenotypic changes with genotypic variation. Upon transcription, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) may alter mRNA structure, with potential impacts on transcript stability, macromolecular interactions, and translation. However, plant genomes have not been assessed for the presence of these structure-altering polymorphisms or “riboSNitches.” Results We experimentally demonstrate the presence of riboSNitches in transcripts of two Arabidopsis genes, ZINC RIBBON 3 (ZR3) and COTTON GOLGI-RELATED 3 (CGR3), which are associated with continentality and temperature variation in the natural environment. These riboSNitches are also associated with differences in the abundance of their respective transcripts, implying a role in regulating the gene's expression in adaptation to local climate conditions. We then computationally predict riboSNitches transcriptome-wide in mRNAs of 879 naturally inbred Arabidopsis accessions. We characterize correlations between SNPs/riboSNitches in these accessions and 434 climate descriptors of their local environments, suggesting a role of these variants in local adaptation. We integrate this information in CLIMtools V2.0 and provide a new web resource, T-CLIM, that reveals associations between transcript abundance variation and local environmental variation. Conclusion We functionally validate two plant riboSNitches and, for the first time, demonstrate riboSNitch conditionality dependent on temperature, coining the term “conditional riboSNitch.” We provide the first pan-genome-wide prediction of riboSNitches in plants. We expand our previous CLIMtools web resource with riboSNitch information and with 1868 additional Arabidopsis genomes and 269 additional climate conditions, which will greatly facilitate in silico studies of natural genetic variation, its phenotypic consequences, and its role in local adaptation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02656-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Ferrero-Serrano
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Megan M Sylvia
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Peter C Forstmeier
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Andrew J Olson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA
| | - Doreen Ware
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA.,USDA ARS NAA Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Philip C Bevilacqua
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA.,Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sarah M Assmann
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA. .,Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA.
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19
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A Review of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Binding Partners for Immune Regulation and Potential Therapeutic Application. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052441. [PMID: 35269582 PMCID: PMC8910375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is the canonical serine protease inhibitor of neutrophil-derived proteases and can modulate innate immune mechanisms through its anti-inflammatory activities mediated by a broad spectrum of protein, cytokine, and cell surface interactions. AAT contains a reactive methionine residue that is critical for its protease-specific binding capacity, whereby AAT entraps the protease on cleavage of its reactive centre loop, neutralises its activity by key changes in its tertiary structure, and permits removal of the AAT-protease complex from the circulation. Recently, however, the immunomodulatory role of AAT has come increasingly to the fore with several prominent studies focused on lipid or protein-protein interactions that are predominantly mediated through electrostatic, glycan, or hydrophobic potential binding sites. The aim of this review was to investigate the spectrum of AAT molecular interactions, with newer studies supporting a potential therapeutic paradigm for AAT augmentation therapy in disorders in which a chronic immune response is strongly linked.
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20
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Della Bella E, Koch J, Baerenfaller K. Translation and emerging functions of non-coding RNAs in inflammation and immunity. Allergy 2022; 77:2025-2037. [PMID: 35094406 PMCID: PMC9302665 DOI: 10.1111/all.15234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including small non‐coding RNAs (sRNAs), long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have gained considerable attention in the last few years. This is mainly due to their condition‐ and tissue‐specific expression and their various modes of action, which suggests them as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets. One important mechanism of ncRNAs to regulate gene expression is through translation of short open reading frames (sORFs). These sORFs can be located in lncRNAs, in non‐translated regions of mRNAs where upstream ORFs (uORFs) represent the majority, or in circRNAs. Regulation of their translation can function as a quick way to adapt protein production to changing cellular or environmental cues, and can either depend solely on the initiation and elongation of translation, or on the roles of the produced functional peptides. Due to the experimental challenges to pinpoint translation events and to detect the produced peptides, translational regulation through regulatory RNAs is not well studied yet. In the case of circRNAs, they have only recently started to be recognized as regulatory molecules instead of mere artifacts of RNA biosynthesis. Of the many roles described for regulatory ncRNAs, we will focus here on their regulation during inflammation and in immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jana Koch
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) University of Zurich Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) Davos Switzerland
| | - Katja Baerenfaller
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) University of Zurich Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) Davos Switzerland
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21
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Wienecke A, Laederach A. A novel algorithm for ranking RNA structure candidates. Biophys J 2022; 121:7-10. [PMID: 34896370 PMCID: PMC8758412 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA research is advancing at an ever increasing pace. The newest and most state-of-the-art instruments and techniques have made possible the discoveries of new RNAs, and they have carried the field to new frontiers of disease research, vaccine development, therapeutics, and architectonics. Like proteins, RNAs show a marked relationship between structure and function. A deeper grasp of RNAs requires a finer understanding of their elaborate structures. In pursuit of this, cutting-edge experimental and computational structure-probing techniques output several candidate geometries for a given RNA, each of which is perfectly aligned with experimentally determined parameters. Identifying which structure is the most accurate, however, remains a major obstacle. In recent years, several algorithms have been developed for ranking candidate RNA structures in order from most to least probable, though their levels of accuracy and transparency leave room for improvement. Most recently, advances in both areas are demonstrated by rsRNASP, a novel algorithm proposed by Tan et al. rsRNASP is a residue-separation-based statistical potential for three-dimensional structure evaluation, and it outperforms the leading algorithms in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastacia Wienecke
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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22
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Lackey L, Coria A, Ghosh AJ, Grayeski P, Hatfield A, Shankar V, Platig J, Xu Z, Ramos SBV, Silverman EK, Ortega VE, Cho MH, Hersh CP, Hobbs BD, Castaldi P, Laederach A. Alternative poly-adenylation modulates α1-antitrypsin expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009912. [PMID: 34784346 PMCID: PMC8631626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
α1-anti-trypsin (A1AT), encoded by SERPINA1, is a neutrophil elastase inhibitor that controls the inflammatory response in the lung. Severe A1AT deficiency increases risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), however, the role of A1AT in COPD in non-deficient individuals is not well known. We identify a 2.1-fold increase (p = 2.5x10-6) in the use of a distal poly-adenylation site in primary lung tissue RNA-seq in 82 COPD cases when compared to 64 controls and replicate this in an independent study of 376 COPD and 267 controls. This alternative polyadenylation event involves two sites, a proximal and distal site, 61 and 1683 nucleotides downstream of the A1AT stop codon. To characterize this event, we measured the distal ratio in human primary tissue short read RNA-seq data and corroborated our results with long read RNA-seq data. Integrating these results with 3' end RNA-seq and nanoluciferase reporter assay experiments we show that use of the distal site yields mRNA transcripts with over 50-fold decreased translation efficiency and A1AT expression. We identified seven RNA binding proteins using enhanced CrossLinking and ImmunoPrecipitation precipitation (eCLIP) with one or more binding sites in the SERPINA1 3' UTR. We combined these data with measurements of the distal ratio in shRNA knockdown experiments, nuclear and cytoplasmic fractionation, and chemical RNA structure probing. We identify Quaking Homolog (QKI) as a modulator of SERPINA1 mRNA translation and confirm the role of QKI in SERPINA1 translation with luciferase reporter assays. Analysis of single-cell RNA-seq showed differences in the distribution of the SERPINA1 distal ratio among hepatocytes, macrophages, αβ-Tcells and plasma cells in the liver. Alveolar Type 1,2, dendritic cells and macrophages also vary in their distal ratio in the lung. Our work reveals a complex post-transcriptional mechanism that regulates alternative polyadenylation and A1AT expression in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lela Lackey
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Aaztli Coria
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Auyon J. Ghosh
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Phil Grayeski
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Abigail Hatfield
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - John Platig
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhonghui Xu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Silvia B. V. Ramos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Edwin K. Silverman
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Victor E. Ortega
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Michael H. Cho
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Craig P. Hersh
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brian D. Hobbs
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter Castaldi
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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23
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Hale AE, Moorman NJ. The Ends Dictate the Means: Promoter Switching in Herpesvirus Gene Expression. Annu Rev Virol 2021; 8:201-218. [PMID: 34129370 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-072841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Herpesvirus gene expression is dynamic and complex, with distinct complements of viral genes expressed at specific times in different infection contexts. These complex patterns of viral gene expression arise in part from the integration of multiple cellular and viral signals that affect the transcription of viral genes. The use of alternative promoters provides an increased level of control, allowing different promoters to direct the transcription of the same gene in response to distinct temporal and contextual cues. While once considered rare, herpesvirus alternative promoter usage was recently found to be far more pervasive and impactful than previously thought. Here we review several examples of promoter switching in herpesviruses and discuss the functional consequences on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of viral gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Hale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA;
| | - Nathaniel J Moorman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA;
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24
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhosis: SERPINA1 MZ or MS Genotype Carriage Decreases the Risk. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910560. [PMID: 34638908 PMCID: PMC8509047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygotes for Z or S alleles of alpha-1-antrypsin (AAT) have low serum AAT levels. Our aim was to compare the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis carrying the SERPINA1 MM, MZ and MS genotypes. The study groups consisted of 1119 patients with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies, and 3240 healthy individuals served as population controls. The MZ genotype was significantly more frequent in the study group (55/1119 vs. 87/3240, p < 0.0001). The MS genotype frequency was comparable in controls (32/119 vs. 101/3240, p = 0.84). MZ and MS heterozygotes had lower serum AAT level than MM homozygotes (medians: 0.90 g/L; 1.40 g/L and 1.67 g/L; p < 0.001 for both). There were significantly fewer patients with HCC in the cirrhosis group among MZ and MS heterozygotes than in MM homozygotes (5/55 and 1/32 respectively, vs. 243/1022, p < 0.01 for both). The risk of HCC was lower in MZ and MS heterozygotes than in MM homozygotes (OR 0.3202; 95% CI 0.1361–0.7719 and OR 0.1522; 95% CI 0.02941–0.7882, respectively). Multivariate analysis of HCC risk factors identified MZ or MS genotype carriage as a protective factor, whereas age, male sex, BMI and viral aetiology of cirrhosis increased HCC risk.
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25
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Targeting RNA structures in diseases with small molecules. Essays Biochem 2021; 64:955-966. [PMID: 33078198 PMCID: PMC7724634 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA is crucial for gene expression and regulation. Recent advances in understanding of RNA biochemistry, structure and molecular biology have revealed the importance of RNA structure in cellular processes and diseases. Various approaches to discovering drug-like small molecules that target RNA structure have been developed. This review provides a brief introduction to RNA structural biology and how RNA structures function as disease regulators. We summarize approaches to targeting RNA with small molecules and highlight their advantages, shortcomings and therapeutic potential.
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26
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Abstract
RNA lies upstream of nearly all biology and functions as the central conduit of information exchange in all cells. RNA molecules encode information both in their primary sequences and in complex structures that form when an RNA folds back on itself. From the time of discovery of mRNA in the late 1950s until quite recently, we had only a rudimentary understanding of RNA structure across vast regions of most messenger and noncoding RNAs. This deficit is now rapidly being addressed, especially by selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry, mutational profiling (MaP), and closely related platform technologies that, collectively, create chemical microscopes for RNA. These technologies make it possible to interrogate RNA structure, quantitatively, at nucleotide resolution, and at large scales, for entire mRNAs, noncoding RNAs, and viral RNA genomes. By applying comprehensive structure probing to diverse problems, we and others are showing that control of biological function mediated by RNA structure is ubiquitous across prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.Work over the past decade using SHAPE-based analyses has clarified key principles. First, the method of RNA structure probing matters. SHAPE-MaP, with its direct and one-step readout that probes nearly every nucleotide by reaction at the 2'-hydroxyl, gives a more detailed and accurate readout than alternatives. Second, comprehensive chemical probing is essential. Focusing on fragments of large RNAs or using meta-gene or statistical analyses to compensate for sparse data sets misses critical features and often yields structure models with poor predictive power. Finally, every RNA has its own internal structural personality. There are myriad ways in which RNA structure modulates sequence accessibility, protein binding, translation, splice-site choice, phase separation, and other fundamental biological processes. In essentially every instance where we have applied rigorous and quantitative SHAPE technologies to study RNA structure-function interrelationships, new insights regarding biological regulatory mechanisms have emerged. RNA elements with more complex higher-order structures appear more likely to contain high-information-content clefts and pockets that bind small molecules, broadly informing a vigorous field of RNA-targeted drug discovery.The broad implications of this collective work are twofold. First, it is long past time to abandon depiction of large RNAs as simple noodle-like or gently flowing molecules. Instead, we need to emphasize that nearly all RNAs are punctuated with distinctive internal structures, a subset of which modulate function in profound ways. Second, structure probing should be an integral component of any effort that seeks to understand the functional nexuses and biological roles of large RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M. Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
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McClements ME, Butt A, Piotter E, Peddle CF, MacLaren RE. An analysis of the Kozak consensus in retinal genes and its relevance to gene therapy. Mol Vis 2021; 27:233-242. [PMID: 34012226 PMCID: PMC8116250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The classic Kozak consensus is a critical genetic element included in gene therapy transgenes to encourage the translation of the therapeutic coding sequence. Despite optimizations of other transgene elements, the Kozak consensus has not yet been considered for potential tissue-specific sequence refinement. We screened the -9 to -1 region relative to the AUG start codon of retina-specific genes to identify whether a Kozak consensus that is different from the classic sequence may be more appropriate for inclusion in gene therapy transgenes that treat inherited retinal disease. METHODS Sequences for 135 genes known to cause nonsyndromic inherited retinal disease were extracted from the NCBI database, and the -9 to -1 nucleotides were compared. This panel was then refined to 75 genes with specific retinal functions, for which the -9 to -1 nucleotides were placed in front of a GFP transcript sequence and RNAfold predictions performed. These were compared with a GFP sequence with the classic Kozak consensus (GCCGCCACC), and sequences from retinal genes with minimum free energy (MFE) predictions greater than the reference sequence were selected to generate an optimized Kozak consensus sequence. The original Kozak consensus and the refined retina Kozak consensus were placed upstream of the Renilla luciferase coding sequence, which were used to transfect retinoblastoma cell lines Y-79 and WERI-RB-1 and HEK 293T/17 cells. RESULTS The nucleotide frequencies of the original panel of genes were determined to be comparable to the classic Kozak consensus. RNAfold analysis of a GFP transcript with the classic Kozak sequence in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) generated an MFE prediction of -503.3 kcal/mol. RNAfold analysis was then performed with a GFP transcript containing each -9 to -1 Kozak sequence of 75 retinal genes. Thirty-eight of the 75 genes provided a greater MFE value than -503.3 kcal/mol and exhibited an absence of stable secondary structures before the AUG codon. The -9 to -1 nucleotide frequencies of these genes identified a Kozak consensus of ACCGAGACC, differing from the classic Kozak consensus at positions -9, -5, and -4. Applying this sequence to the GFP transcript increased the MFE prediction to -500.1 kcal/mol. The newly identified retina Kozak sequence was also applied to Renilla luciferase plus the REP1 and RPGR transcripts used in current clinical trials. In all examples, the predicted transcript MFE score increased when compared with the current transcript sequences containing classic Kozak consensus sequences. In vitro transfections identified a 7%-9% increase in Renilla activity when incorporating the optimized Kozak sequence. CONCLUSIONS The Kozak consensus is a critical element of eukaryotic genes; therefore, it is a required feature of gene therapy transgenes. To date, the classic sequence of GCCRCC (-6 to -1) has typically been incorporated in gene therapy transgenes, but the analysis described here suggests that, for vectors targeting the retina, using a Kozak consensus derived from retinal genes can provide increased expression of the target product.
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Therapeutic Potential of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57040397. [PMID: 33923873 PMCID: PMC8073794 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57040397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) has established anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but there is increasing evidence of its role in other inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions, like diabetes mellitus (DM). AAT activity is altered in both developing and established type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as well in established type 2 DM (T2DM). Augmentation therapy with AAT appears to favorably impact T1DM development in mice models and to affect β-cell function and inflammation in humans with T1DM. The role of AAT in T2DM is less clear, but AAT activity appears to be reduced in T2DM. This article reviews these associations and emerging therapeutic strategies using AAT to treat DM.
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Busan S, Weeks KM. Visualization of lncRNA and mRNA Structure Models Within the Integrative Genomics Viewer. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2254:15-25. [PMID: 33326067 PMCID: PMC7935467 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1158-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Every class of RNA forms base-paired structures that impact biological functions. Chemical probing of RNA structure, especially with the advent of strategies such as SHAPE-MaP, vastly expands the scale and quantitative accuracy over which RNA structure can be examined. These methods have enabled large-scale structural studies of mRNAs and lncRNAs, but the length and complexity of these RNAs makes interpretation of the data challenging. We have created modules available through the open-source Integrative Genomics Viewer (IGV) for straightforward visualization of RNA structures along with complementary experimental data. Here we present detailed and stepwise strategies for exploring and visualizing complex RNA structures in IGV. Individuals can use these instructions and supplied sample data to become adept at using IGV to visualize RNA structure models in conjunction with useful allied information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Busan
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Zhang J, Coaker G, Zhou JM, Dong X. Plant Immune Mechanisms: From Reductionistic to Holistic Points of View. MOLECULAR PLANT 2020; 13:1358-1378. [PMID: 32916334 PMCID: PMC7541739 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
After three decades of the amazing progress made on molecular studies of plant-microbe interactions (MPMI), we have begun to ask ourselves "what are the major questions still remaining?" as if the puzzle has only a few pieces missing. Such an exercise has ultimately led to the realization that we still have many more questions than answers. Therefore, it would be an impossible task for us to project a coherent "big picture" of the MPMI field in a single review. Instead, we provide our opinions on where we would like to go in our research as an invitation to the community to join us in this exploration of new MPMI frontiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Advanced Agricutural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gitta Coaker
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jian-Min Zhou
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Advanced Agricutural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xinnian Dong
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Biology, Duke University, PO Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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Pan Y, Fang Y, Xie M, Liu Y, Yu T, Wu X, Xu T, Ma P, Shu Y. LINC00675 Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration via Downregulating the H3K4me2 Level at the SPRY4 Promoter in Gastric Cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 22:766-778. [PMID: 33230474 PMCID: PMC7595884 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in diverse tumors and take a pivotal role in modulating biological processes. In our study, a decreased expression level of LINC00675 in gastric cancer (GC) was first determined by data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and was identified using specimens from GC patients. Then, in vitro and in vivo functional experiments elaborated that LINC00675 could suppress cell proliferation and migration in GC. Multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LINC00675-overexpressing cells were identified through RNA sequencing analysis. An RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay was conducted to reveal that LINC00675 competitively bound with lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). A coimmunoprecipitation (coIP) assay indicated that LINC00675 overexpression may strengthen the binding of LSD1 and H3K4me2, whereas the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay results verified lower expression of H3K4me2 at the sprouty homolog 4 (SPRY4) promoter region. Together, our research identified that LINC00675 was remarkably downregulated in GC tissues and cells relative to nontumor tissues and cells. LINC00675 could repress GC tumorigenesis and metastasis via competitively binding with LSD1 and intensifying the binding of LSD1 and its target H3K4me2. Importantly, this contributed to attenuated binding of H3K4me2 at the promoter region of oncogene SPRY4 and suppressed SPRY4 transcription, thus suppressing GC cell proliferation and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Pan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyan Xie
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of the Orthopaedics, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tao Yu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongpeng Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Pei Ma
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongqian Shu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Affiliated Sir Run Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, People's Republic of China
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Saha K, England W, Fernandez MM, Biswas T, Spitale RC, Ghosh G. Structural disruption of exonic stem-loops immediately upstream of the intron regulates mammalian splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:6294-6309. [PMID: 32402057 PMCID: PMC7293017 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognition of highly degenerate mammalian splice sites by the core spliceosomal machinery is regulated by several protein factors that predominantly bind exonic splicing motifs. These are postulated to be single-stranded in order to be functional, yet knowledge of secondary structural features that regulate the exposure of exonic splicing motifs across the transcriptome is not currently available. Using transcriptome-wide RNA structural information we show that retained introns in mouse are commonly flanked by a short (≲70 nucleotide), highly base-paired segment upstream and a predominantly single-stranded exonic segment downstream. Splicing assays with select pre-mRNA substrates demonstrate that loops immediately upstream of the introns contain pre-mRNA-specific splicing enhancers, the substitution or hybridization of which impedes splicing. Additionally, the exonic segments flanking the retained introns appeared to be more enriched in a previously identified set of hexameric exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences compared to their spliced counterparts, suggesting that base-pairing in the exonic segments upstream of retained introns could be a means for occlusion of ESEs. The upstream exonic loops of the test substrate promoted recruitment of splicing factors and consequent pre-mRNA structural remodeling, leading up to assembly of the early spliceosome. These results suggest that disruption of exonic stem-loop structures immediately upstream (but not downstream) of the introns regulate alternative splicing events, likely through modulating accessibility of splicing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Whitney England
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, 147 Bison Modular, Building 515, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Mike Minh Fernandez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Tapan Biswas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Robert C Spitale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, 147 Bison Modular, Building 515, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Gourisankar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
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Akirtava C, McManus CJ. Control of translation by eukaryotic mRNA transcript leaders-Insights from high-throughput assays and computational modeling. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 12:e1623. [PMID: 32869519 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene expression is tightly regulated during translation of mRNA to protein. Mis-regulation of translation can lead to aberrant proteins which accumulate in cancers and cause neurodegenerative diseases. Foundational studies on model genes established fundamental roles for mRNA 5' transcript leader (TL) sequences in controlling ribosome recruitment, scanning, and initiation. TL cis-regulatory elements and their corresponding trans-acting factors control cap-dependent initiation under unstressed conditions. Under stress, cap-dependent initiation is suppressed, and specific mRNA structures and sequences promote translation of stress-responsive transcripts to remodel the proteome. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of TL functions in translation initiation. We focus on insights from high-throughput analyses of ribosome occupancy, mRNA structure, RNA Binding Protein occupancy, and massively parallel reporter assays. These data-driven approaches, coupled with computational analyses and modeling, have paved the way for a comprehensive understanding of TL functions. Finally, we will discuss areas of future research on the roles of mRNA sequences and structures in translation. This article is categorized under: Translation > Translation Mechanisms RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Akirtava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles Joel McManus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wachs AS, Bohne J. Two sides of the same medal: Noncoding mutations reveal new pathological mechanisms and insights into the regulation of gene expression. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 12:e1616. [PMID: 32633083 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Noncoding sequences constitute the major part of the human genome and also of pre-mRNAs. Single nucleotide variants in these regions are often overlooked, but may be responsible for much of the variation of phenotypes observed. Mutations in the noncoding part of pre-mRNAs often reveal new and meaningful insights into the regulation of cellular gene expression. Thus, the mechanistic analysis of the pathological mechanism of such mutations will both foster a deeper understanding of the disease and the underlying cellular pathways. Even synonymous mutations can cause diseases, since the primary mRNA sequence not only encodes amino acids, but also encrypts information on RNA-binding proteins and secondary structure. In fact, the RNA sequence directs assembly of a specific mRNP complex, which in turn dictates the fate of the mRNA or regulates its biogenesis. The accumulation of genomic sequence information is increasing at a rapid pace. However, much of the diversity uncovered may not explain the phenotype of a certain syndrome or disease. For this reason, we also emphasize the value of mechanistic studies on pathological mechanisms being complementary to genome-wide studies and bioinformatic approaches. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie S Wachs
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Jens Bohne
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Li C, Cai W, Liu S, Zhou C, Yin H, Sun D, Zhang S. SERPINA1 gene identified in RNA-Seq showed strong association with milk protein concentration in Chinese Holstein cows. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8460. [PMID: 32140298 PMCID: PMC7045893 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection of candidate genes and mutations associated with phenotypic traits is important for livestock animals. A previous RNA-Seq study revealed that SERPINA1 gene was a functional candidate that may affect milk protein concentration in dairy cows. To further confirm the genetic effect of SERPINA1 on milk protein traits, genetic polymorphisms were identified and genotype-phenotype associations were performed in a large Chinese Holstein cattle population. The entire coding region and the 5′-regulatory region (5′-UTR) of SERPINA1 was sequenced using pooled DNA of 17 unrelated sires. Association studies for five milk production traits were performed using a mixed model with a population encompassing 1,027 Chinese Holstein cows. A total of four SNPs were identified in SERPINA1, among which rs210222822 and rs41257068 presented in exons, rs207601878 presented in an intron, and rs208607693 was in the 5′-UTR. Analyses of pairwise D′ measures of linkage disequilibrium (LD) showed strong linkage among these four SNPs (D′ = 0.99–1.00), and a 9 Kb haplotype block involving three main haplotypes with GTGT, CCCC and CCGT was inferred. An association study revealed that all four single SNPs and their haplotypes had significant genetic effects on milk protein percentage, milk protein yield and milk yield (P = 0.0458 − < 0.0001). The phenotypic variance ratio for all 11 significant SNP-trait pairs ranged from 1.01% to 7.54%. The candidate gene of SERPINA1 revealed by our previous RNA-Seq study was confirmed to have pronounced effect on milk protein traits on a genome level. Two SNPs (rs208607693 and rs210222822) presented phenotypic variances of approximately 7% and may be used as key or potential markers to assist selection for new lines of cows with high protein concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.,Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wentao Cai
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuli Liu
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenghao Zhou
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Yin
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxiao Sun
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Ortega VE, Li X, O’Neal WK, Lackey L, Ampleford E, Hawkins GA, Grayeski PJ, Laederach A, Barjaktarevic I, Barr RG, Cooper C, Couper D, Han MK, Kanner RE, Kleerup EC, Martinez FJ, Paine R, Peters SP, Pirozzi C, Rennard SI, Woodruff PG, Hoffman EA, Meyers DA, Bleecker ER. The Effects of Rare SERPINA1 Variants on Lung Function and Emphysema in SPIROMICS. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 201:540-554. [PMID: 31661293 PMCID: PMC7047460 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201904-0769oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The role of PI (protease inhibitor) type Z heterozygotes and additional rare variant genotypes in the gene encoding alpha-1 antitrypsin, SERPINA1 (serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 1), in determining chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk and severity is controversial.Objectives: To comprehensively evaluate the effects of rare SERPINA1 variants on lung function and emphysema phenotypes in subjects with significant tobacco smoke exposure using deep gene resequencing and alpha-1 antitrypsin concentrations.Methods: DNA samples from 1,693 non-Hispanic white individuals, 385 African Americans, and 90 Hispanics with ≥20 pack-years smoking were resequenced for the identification of rare variants (allele frequency < 0.05) in 16.9 kB of SERPINA1.Measurements and Main Results: White PI Z heterozygotes confirmed by sequencing (MZ; n = 74) had lower post-bronchodilator FEV1 (P = 0.007), FEV1/FVC (P = 0.003), and greater computed tomography-based emphysema (P = 0.02) compared with 1,411 white individuals without PI Z, S, or additional rare variants denoted as VR. PI Z-containing compound heterozygotes (ZS/ZVR; n = 7) had lower FEV1/FVC (P = 0.02) and forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase (P = 0.009). Nineteen white heterozygotes for five non-S/Z coding variants associated with lower alpha-1 antitrypsin had greater computed tomography-based emphysema compared with those without rare variants. In African Americans, a 5' untranslated region insertion (rs568223361) was associated with lower alpha-1 antitrypsin and functional small airway disease (P = 0.007).Conclusions: In this integrative deep sequencing study of SERPINA1 with alpha-1 antitrypsin concentrations in a heavy smoker and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cohort, we confirmed the effects of PI Z heterozygote and compound heterozygote genotypes. We demonstrate the cumulative effects of multiple SERPINA1 variants on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, lung function, and emphysema, thus significantly increasing the frequency of SERPINA1 variation associated with respiratory disease in at-risk smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor E. Ortega
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Xingnan Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Wanda K. O’Neal
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lela Lackey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Elizabeth Ampleford
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Gregory A. Hawkins
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Philip J. Grayeski
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Igor Barjaktarevic
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - R. Graham Barr
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, New York
| | - Christopher Cooper
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - David Couper
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - MeiLan K. Han
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Richard E. Kanner
- Division of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Eric C. Kleerup
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Fernando J. Martinez
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York City, New York
| | - Robert Paine
- Division of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Stephen P. Peters
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Cheryl Pirozzi
- Division of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Stephen I. Rennard
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Prescott G. Woodruff
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California; and
| | - Eric A. Hoffman
- Department of Radiology
- Department of Medicine, and
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
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Chen Z, Chen X, Lu B, Gu Y, Chen Q, Lei T, Nie F, Gu J, Huang J, Wei C, Sun M, Wang Z. Up-regulated LINC01234 promotes non-small-cell lung cancer cell metastasis by activating VAV3 and repressing BTG2 expression. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:7. [PMID: 31959200 PMCID: PMC6972004 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0842-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate tumorigenesis and cancer progression, but their contributions to non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis remain poorly understood. Our previous and other studies have revealed the involvement of upregulated LINC01234 in regulating gastric cancer and colon cancer cells proliferation, and we aimed to investigate whether LINC01234 overexpression also contribute to cancer cells metastasis in this study. Methods We collect the NSCLC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues and analyzed expression levels of LINC01234 by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. LINC01234 were knocked down by using siRNAs or shRNAs, and overexpressed by transfection with overexpression vector; RNA levels of miRNA were downregulated or upregulated with inhibitors or mimics. Transwell assays were used to evaluate cell migration and invasive ability; in vivo metastasis experiments were performed to investigate the effect of LINC01234 on NSCLC cells metastasis. Luciferase reporter, RIP, and ChIP assays were used to determine the regulation of LINC01234 on its targets. Results LINC01234 expression is increased in NSCLC tissues, and its upregulation is associated with metastasis and shorter survival in NSCLC. Downregulation of LINC01234 impairs cell migration and invasion in vitro, and inhibits cells metastasis in vivo by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for the miR-340-5p and miR-27b-3p. LINC01234 also interacts with the RNA-binding proteins LSD1 and EZH2, leading to histone modification and transcriptional repression of the anti-proliferative genes BTG2. Conclusions Taken together, our findings identify two oncogenic regulatory axes in NSCLC centering on LINC01234: one involving miR-340-5p/miR-27b-3p in the cytoplasm and the second involving EZH2, LSD1, and BTG2 in the nucleus. Our study indicates that these genes may be targeted to reduce or prevent NSCLC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyao Chen
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Xin Chen
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Binbin Lu
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Yu Gu
- Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Qinnan Chen
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Tianyao Lei
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Fengqi Nie
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Jingyao Gu
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Jiali Huang
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Chenchen Wei
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011
| | - Ming Sun
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Cancer Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China, 210011.
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38
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Lin Y, May GE, Kready H, Nazzaro L, Mao M, Spealman P, Creeger Y, McManus CJ. Impacts of uORF codon identity and position on translation regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:9358-9367. [PMID: 31392980 PMCID: PMC6755093 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Translation regulation plays an important role in eukaryotic gene expression. Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are potent regulatory elements located in 5′ mRNA transcript leaders. Translation of uORFs usually inhibit the translation of downstream main open reading frames, but some enhance expression. While a minority of uORFs encode conserved functional peptides, the coding regions of most uORFs are not conserved. Thus, the importance of uORF coding sequences on their regulatory functions remains largely unknown. We investigated the impact of an uORF coding region on gene regulation by assaying the functions of thousands of variants in the yeast YAP1 uORF. Varying uORF codons resulted in a wide range of functions, including repressing and enhancing expression of the downstream ORF. The presence of rare codons resulted in the most inhibitory YAP1 uORF variants. Inhibitory functions of such uORFs were abrogated by overexpression of complementary tRNA. Finally, regression analysis of our results indicated that both codon identity and position impact uORF function. Our results support a model in which a uORF coding sequence impacts its regulatory functions by altering the speed of uORF translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhu Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Gemma E May
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hunter Kready
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lauren Nazzaro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mao Mao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Roche Sequencing Solutions, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
| | - Pieter Spealman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Yehuda Creeger
- Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - C Joel McManus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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39
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Jodoin R, Carrier JC, Rivard N, Bisaillon M, Perreault JP. G-quadruplex located in the 5'UTR of the BAG-1 mRNA affects both its cap-dependent and cap-independent translation through global secondary structure maintenance. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10247-10266. [PMID: 31504805 PMCID: PMC6821271 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The anti-apoptotic BAG-1 protein isoforms are known to be overexpressed in colorectal tumors and are considered to be potential therapeutic targets. The isoforms are derived from alternative translation initiations occuring at four in-frame start codons of a single mRNA transcript. Its 5′UTR also contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) regulating the cap-independent translation of the transcript. An RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) is located at the 5′end of the BAG-1 5′UTR, upstream of the known cis-regulatory elements. Herein, we observed that the expression of BAG-1 isoforms is post-transcriptionally regulated in colorectal cancer cells and tumors, and that stabilisation of the rG4 by small molecules ligands reduces the expression of endogenous BAG-1 isoforms. We demonstrated a critical role for the rG4 in the control of both cap-dependent and independent translation of the BAG-1 mRNA in colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, we found an upstream ORF that also represses BAG-1 mRNA translation. The structural probing of the complete 5′UTR showed that the rG4 acts as a steric block which controls the initiation of translation at each start codon of the transcript and also maintains the global 5′UTR secondary structure required for IRES-dependent translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Jodoin
- Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Julie C Carrier
- Service de Gastro-entérologie, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Nathalie Rivard
- Département d'Anatomie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Martin Bisaillon
- Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1E 4K8, Canada
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40
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Busan S, Weidmann CA, Sengupta A, Weeks KM. Guidelines for SHAPE Reagent Choice and Detection Strategy for RNA Structure Probing Studies. Biochemistry 2019; 58:2655-2664. [PMID: 31117385 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chemical probing is an important tool for characterizing the complex folded structures of RNA molecules, many of which play key cellular roles. Electrophilic SHAPE reagents create adducts at the 2'-hydroxyl position on the RNA backbone of flexible ribonucleotides with relatively little dependence on nucleotide identity. Strategies for adduct detection such as mutational profiling (MaP) allow accurate, automated calculation of relative adduct frequencies for each nucleotide in a given RNA or group of RNAs. A number of alternative reagents and adduct detection strategies have been proposed, especially for use in living cells. Here we evaluate five SHAPE reagents: three previously well-validated reagents 1M7 (1-methyl-7-nitroisatoic anhydride), 1M6 (1-methyl-6-nitroisatoic anhydride), and NMIA ( N-methylisatoic anhydride), one more recently proposed NAI (2-methylnicotinic acid imidazolide), and one novel reagent 5NIA (5-nitroisatoic anhydride). We clarify the importance of carefully designed software in reading out SHAPE experiments using massively parallel sequencing approaches. We examine SHAPE modification in living cells in diverse cell lines, compare MaP and reverse transcription-truncation as SHAPE adduct detection strategies, make recommendations for SHAPE reagent choice, and outline areas for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Busan
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599-3290 , United States
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599-3290 , United States
| | - Arnab Sengupta
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599-3290 , United States
| | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599-3290 , United States
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41
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Sheshukova EV, Komarova TV, Ershova NM, Bronstein AM, Dorokhov YL. The Expression of Matryoshka Gene Encoding a Homologue of Kunitz Peptidase Inhibitor Is Regulated Both at the Level of Transcription and Translation. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2018; 83:1255-1262. [PMID: 30472962 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297918100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The gene for Kunitz peptidase inhibitor-like protein (KPILP) contains nested alternative open reading frame (aORF) that controls expression of the maternal mRNA. The content of NbKPILP mRNA in intact leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana plant is low but increases significantly upon extended dark exposure or when foreign nucleic acid is overexpressed in the cells. The NbKPILP gene promoter along with the expressed nested aORF are likely to play an important role in maintaining the levels of NbKPILP mRNA. To elucidate the role of NbKPILP promoter, we isolated a fragment of N. benthamiana chromosomal DNA upstream of the NbKPILP transcription start, sequenced it, and created constructs in which reporter E. coli uidA gene coding for β-D-glucuronidase (GUS) was placed under control of the NbKPILP promoter. By assessing the efficacy of uidA mRNA synthesis directed by the NbKPILP promoter and 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus in a transient expression system, we showed that the levels of GUS accumulation were comparable for both promoters. Prolonged incubation of the agroinjected plants in the darkness stimulated accumulation of the uidA mRNA directed by the NbKPILP promoter. Our experiments indicate that along with regulation at the transcriptional level, expression of NbKPILP mRNA can be affected by expression of the nested aORF controlled by the polypurine block (PPB) located upstream of its start codon, since introduction of mutations in the PPB resulted in significant accumulation of the NbKPILP mRNA. Nucleotide replacement in the aORF start codon led to the drastic increase in the amounts of NbKPILP mRNA and its protein product.
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Affiliation(s)
- E V Sheshukova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - T V Komarova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - N M Ershova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - A M Bronstein
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Y L Dorokhov
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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42
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Beckmeyer-Borowko A, Imboden M, Rezwan FI, Wielscher M, Amaral AFS, Jeong A, Schaffner E, Auvinen J, Sebert S, Karhunen V, Bettschart R, Turk A, Pons M, Stolz D, Kronenberg F, Arathimos R, Sharp GC, Relton C, Henderson AJ, Jarvelin MR, Jarvis D, Holloway JW, Probst-Hensch NM. SERPINA1 methylation and lung function in tobacco-smoke exposed European children and adults: a meta-analysis of ALEC population-based cohorts. Respir Res 2018; 19:156. [PMID: 30134983 PMCID: PMC6103990 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-018-0850-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathophysiological role of SERPINA1 in respiratory health may be more strongly determined by the regulation of its expression than by common genetic variants. A family based study of predominantly smoking adults found methylation at two Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine sites (CpGs) in SERPINA1 gene to be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk. The objective of this study was to confirm the association of lung function with SERPINA1 methylation in general population samples by testing a comprehensive set of CpGs in the SERPINA gene cluster. We considered lung function level and decline in adult smokers from three European population-based cohorts and lung function level and growth in tobacco-smoke exposed children from a birth cohort. METHODS DNA methylation using Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 k and EPIC beadchips and lung function were measured at two time points in 1076 SAPALDIA, ECRHS and NFBC adult cohort participants and 259 ALSPAC children. Associations of methylation at 119 CpG sites in the SERPINA gene cluster (PP4R4-SERPINA13P) with lung functions and circulating alpha-1-antitripsin (AAT) were assessed using multivariable cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models. RESULTS Methylation at cg08257009 in the SERPINA gene cluster, located 32 kb downstream of SERPINA1, not annotated to a gene, was associated with FEV1/FVC at the Bonferroni corrected level in adults, but not in children. None of the methylation signals in the SERPINA1 gene showed associations with lung function after correcting for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS The results do not support a role of SERPINA1 gene methylation as determinant of lung function across the life course in the tobacco smoke exposed general population exposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Beckmeyer-Borowko
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Medea Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Faisal I. Rezwan
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthias Wielscher
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
| | - Andre F. S. Amaral
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- Population Health and Occupational Disease, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ayoung Jeong
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Schaffner
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juha Auvinen
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Oulunkaari Health Center, Ii, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sylvain Sebert
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department for Genomics of Common Diseases, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ville Karhunen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Marco Pons
- Ospedale Regionale di Lugano-Sede Civico, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Daiana Stolz
- Clinic of Pulmonary Medicine and Respiratory Cell Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian Kronenberg
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ryan Arathimos
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gemma C. Sharp
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, London, UK
- Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Unit of Primary Health Care, Oulu University Hospital, OYS, Kajaanintie 50, 90220 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH UK
| | - Deborah Jarvis
- Population Health and Occupational Disease, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - John W. Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Nicole M. Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Warner KD, Hajdin CE, Weeks KM. Principles for targeting RNA with drug-like small molecules. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2018; 17:547-558. [PMID: 29977051 PMCID: PMC6420209 DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2018.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 424] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated the potential to develop small-molecule drugs that act on RNA targets, leading to burgeoning interest in the field. This article discusses general principles for discovering small-molecule drugs that target RNA and argues that the overarching challenge is to identify appropriate target structures in disease-causing RNAs that have high information content and, consequently, appropriate ligand-binding pockets. RNA molecules are essential for cellular information transfer and gene regulation, and RNAs have been implicated in many human diseases. Messenger and non-coding RNAs contain highly structured elements, and evidence suggests that many of these structures are important for function. Targeting these RNAs with small molecules offers opportunities to therapeutically modulate numerous cellular processes, including those linked to 'undruggable' protein targets. Despite this promise, there is currently only a single class of human-designed small molecules that target RNA used clinically — the linezolid antibiotics. However, a growing number of small-molecule RNA ligands are being identified, leading to burgeoning interest in the field. Here, we discuss principles for discovering small-molecule drugs that target RNA and argue that the overarching challenge is to identify appropriate target structures — namely, in disease-causing RNAs that have high information content and, consequently, appropriate ligand-binding pockets. If focus is placed on such druggable binding sites in RNA, extensive knowledge of the typical physicochemical properties of drug-like small molecules could then enable small-molecule drug discovery for RNA targets to become (only) roughly as difficult as for protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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44
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Mustoe AM, Corley M, Laederach A, Weeks KM. Messenger RNA Structure Regulates Translation Initiation: A Mechanism Exploited from Bacteria to Humans. Biochemistry 2018; 57:3537-3539. [PMID: 29894169 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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