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Kvolik Pavić A, Čonkaš J, Mumlek I, Zubčić V, Ozretić P. Clinician’s Guide to Epitranscriptomics: An Example of N1-Methyladenosine (m1A) RNA Modification and Cancer. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:1230. [DOI: 10.3390/life14101230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epitranscriptomics is the study of modifications of RNA molecules by small molecular residues, such as the methyl (-CH3) group. These modifications are inheritable and reversible. A specific group of enzymes called “writers” introduces the change to the RNA; “erasers” delete it, while “readers” stimulate a downstream effect. Epitranscriptomic changes are present in every type of organism from single-celled ones to plants and animals and are a key to normal development as well as pathologic processes. Oncology is a fast-paced field, where a better understanding of tumor biology and (epi)genetics is necessary to provide new therapeutic targets and better clinical outcomes. Recently, changes to the epitranscriptome have been shown to be drivers of tumorigenesis, biomarkers, and means of predicting outcomes, as well as potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we aimed to give a concise overview of epitranscriptomics in the context of neoplastic disease with a focus on N1-methyladenosine (m1A) modification, in layman’s terms, to bring closer this omics to clinicians and their future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Kvolik Pavić
- Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Hospital Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Josipa Čonkaš
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Mumlek
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Vedran Zubčić
- Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University Hospital Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Petar Ozretić
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Wang Z, Liu Z, Fang Y, Zhang HH, Sun X, Hao N, Que J, Ding H. Training Data Diversity Enhances the Basecalling of Novel RNA Modification-Induced Nanopore Sequencing Readouts. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.29.610342. [PMID: 39257777 PMCID: PMC11383704 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.29.610342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Accurately basecalling sequence backbones in the presence of nucleotide modifications remains a substantial challenge in nanopore sequencing bioinformatics. It has been extensively demonstrated that state-of-the-art basecallers are less compatible with modification-induced sequencing signals. A precise basecalling, on the other hand, serves as the prerequisite for virtually all the downstream analyses. Here, we report that basecallers exposed to diverse training modifications gain the generalizability to analyze novel modifications. With synthesized oligos as the model system, we precisely basecall various out-of-sample RNA modifications. From the representation learning perspective, we attribute this generalizability to basecaller representation space expanded by diverse training modifications. Taken together, we conclude increasing the training data diversity as a novel paradigm for building modification-tolerant nanopore sequencing basecallers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Ziyang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Statistics and Data Science GIDP, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Yinshan Fang
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hao Helen Zhang
- Statistics and Data Science GIDP, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Sun
- Statistics and Data Science GIDP, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Ning Hao
- Statistics and Data Science GIDP, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hongxu Ding
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Statistics and Data Science GIDP, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Fluke KA, Fuchs RT, Tsai YL, Talbott V, Elkins L, Febvre HP, Dai N, Wolf EJ, Burkhart BW, Schiltz J, Brett Robb G, Corrêa IR, Santangelo TJ. The extensive m 5C epitranscriptome of Thermococcus kodakarensis is generated by a suite of RNA methyltransferases that support thermophily. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7272. [PMID: 39179532 PMCID: PMC11344067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51410-w] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
RNAs are often modified to invoke new activities. While many modifications are limited in frequency, restricted to non-coding RNAs, or present only in select organisms, 5-methylcytidine (m5C) is abundant across diverse RNAs and fitness-relevant across Domains of life, but the synthesis and impacts of m5C have yet to be fully investigated. Here, we map m5C in the model hyperthermophile, Thermococcus kodakarensis. We demonstrate that m5C is ~25x more abundant in T. kodakarensis than human cells, and the m5C epitranscriptome includes ~10% of unique transcripts. T. kodakarensis rRNAs harbor tenfold more m5C compared to Eukarya or Bacteria. We identify at least five RNA m5C methyltransferases (R5CMTs), and strains deleted for individual R5CMTs lack site-specific m5C modifications that limit hyperthermophilic growth. We show that m5C is likely generated through partial redundancy in target sites among R5CMTs. The complexity of the m5C epitranscriptome in T. kodakarensis argues that m5C supports life in the extremes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A Fluke
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Ryan T Fuchs
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | | | - Victoria Talbott
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Liam Elkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Hallie P Febvre
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Nan Dai
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | - Eric J Wolf
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | - Brett W Burkhart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Jackson Schiltz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - G Brett Robb
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | | | - Thomas J Santangelo
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
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Bortoletto E, Rosani U. Bioinformatics for Inosine: Tools and Approaches to Trace This Elusive RNA Modification. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:996. [PMID: 39202357 PMCID: PMC11353476 DOI: 10.3390/genes15080996] [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: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Inosine is a nucleotide resulting from the deamination of adenosine in RNA. This chemical modification process, known as RNA editing, is typically mediated by a family of double-stranded RNA binding proteins named Adenosine Deaminase Acting on dsRNA (ADAR). While the presence of ADAR orthologs has been traced throughout the evolution of metazoans, the existence and extension of RNA editing have been characterized in a more limited number of animals so far. Undoubtedly, ADAR-mediated RNA editing plays a vital role in physiology, organismal development and disease, making the understanding of the evolutionary conservation of this phenomenon pivotal to a deep characterization of relevant biological processes. However, the lack of direct high-throughput methods to reveal RNA modifications at single nucleotide resolution limited an extended investigation of RNA editing. Nowadays, these methods have been developed, and appropriate bioinformatic pipelines are required to fully exploit this data, which can complement existing approaches to detect ADAR editing. Here, we review the current literature on the "bioinformatics for inosine" subject and we discuss future research avenues in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Umberto Rosani
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
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Xue H, Ma Y, Guan K, Zhou Y, Liu Y, Cao F, Kang X. The role of m6A methylation in targeted therapy resistance in lung cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:2994-3009. [PMID: 39005690 PMCID: PMC11236795 DOI: 10.62347/lxos2662] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies have greatly improved clinical outcomes for patients with lung cancer (LC), but acquired drug resistance and disease relapse inevitably occur. Increasingly, the role of epigenetic mechanisms in driving acquired drug resistance is appreciated. In particular, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), one of the most prevalent RNA modifications, has several roles regulating RNA stability, splicing, transcription, translation, and destruction. Numerous studies have demonstrated that m6A RNA methylation can modulate the growth and invasion of cancer cells as well as contribute to targeted therapy resistance in LC. In this study, we outline what is known regarding the function of m6A in the acquisition of targeted therapy resistance in LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huange Xue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yufei Ma
- Life Science Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Kaiwen Guan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yueyang Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Fei Cao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohong Kang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Xinxiang, Henan, China
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Li J, Sun F, He K, Zhang L, Meng J, Huang D, Zhang Y. Detection and Quantification of 5moU RNA Modification from Direct RNA Sequencing Data. Curr Genomics 2024; 25:212-225. [PMID: 39086998 PMCID: PMC11288159 DOI: 10.2174/0113892029288843240402042529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Chemically modified therapeutic mRNAs have gained momentum recently. In addition to commonly used modifications (e.g., pseudouridine), 5moU is considered a promising substitution for uridine in therapeutic mRNAs. Accurate identification of 5-methoxyuridine (5moU) would be crucial for the study and quality control of relevant in vitro-transcribed (IVT) mRNAs. However, current methods exhibit deficiencies in providing quantitative methodologies for detecting such modification. Utilizing the capabilities of Oxford nanopore direct RNA sequencing, in this study, we present NanoML-5moU, a machine-learning framework designed specifically for the read-level detection and quantification of 5moU modification for IVT data. Materials and Methods Nanopore direct RNA sequencing data from both 5moU-modified and unmodified control samples were collected. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis and modeling of signal event characteristics (mean, median current intensities, standard deviations, and dwell times) were performed. Furthermore, classical machine learning algorithms, notably the Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost were employed to discern 5moU modifications within NNUNN (where N represents A, C, U, or G) 5-mers. Results Notably, the signal event attributes pertaining to each constituent base of the NNUNN 5-mers, in conjunction with the utilization of the XGBoost algorithm, exhibited remarkable performance levels (with a maximum AUROC of 0.9567 in the "AGTTC" reference 5-mer dataset and a minimum AUROC of 0.8113 in the "TGTGC" reference 5-mer dataset). This accomplishment markedly exceeded the efficacy of the prevailing background error comparison model (ELIGOs AUC 0.751 for site-level prediction). The model's performance was further validated through a series of curated datasets, which featured customized modification ratios designed to emulate broader data patterns, demonstrating its general applicability in quality control of IVT mRNA vaccines. The NanoML-5moU framework is publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/JiayiLi21/NanoML-5moU). Conclusion NanoML-5moU enables accurate read-level profiling of 5moU modification with nanopore direct RNA-sequencing, which is a powerful tool specialized in unveiling signal patterns in in vitro-transcribed (IVT) mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Li
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Feiyang Sun
- Department of Computer Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Kunyang He
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- School of Information and Control Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
| | - Jia Meng
- Department of Biological Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Daiyun Huang
- Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Biological Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
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Yi M, Zhou F, Deng Y. STM-ac4C: a hybrid model for identification of N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) in human mRNA based on selective kernel convolution, temporal convolutional network, and multi-head self-attention. Front Genet 2024; 15:1408688. [PMID: 38873109 PMCID: PMC11169723 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1408688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
N4-acetylcysteine (ac4C) is a chemical modification in mRNAs that alters the structure and function of mRNA by adding an acetyl group to the N4 position of cytosine. Researchers have shown that ac4C is closely associated with the occurrence and development of various cancers. Therefore, accurate prediction of ac4C modification sites on human mRNA is crucial for revealing its role in diseases and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, existing deep learning models still have limitations in prediction accuracy and generalization ability, which restrict their effectiveness in handling complex biological sequence data. This paper introduces a deep learning-based model, STM-ac4C, for predicting ac4C modification sites on human mRNA. The model combines the advantages of selective kernel convolution, temporal convolutional networks, and multi-head self-attention mechanisms to effectively extract and integrate multi-level features of RNA sequences, thereby achieving high-precision prediction of ac4C sites. On the independent test dataset, STM-ac4C showed improvements of 1.81%, 3.5%, and 0.37% in accuracy, Matthews correlation coefficient, and area under the curve, respectively, compared to the existing state-of-the-art technologies. Moreover, its performance on additional balanced and imbalanced datasets also confirmed the model's robustness and generalization ability. Various experimental results indicate that STM-ac4C outperforms existing methods in predictive performance. In summary, STM-ac4C excels in predicting ac4C modification sites on human mRNA, providing a powerful new tool for a deeper understanding of the biological significance of mRNA modifications and cancer treatment. Additionally, the model reveals key sequence features that influence the prediction of ac4C sites through sequence region impact analysis, offering new perspectives for future research. The source code and experimental data are available at https://github.com/ymy12341/STM-ac4C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyue Yi
- School of Information Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, China
| | - Fenglin Zhou
- School of Information Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen, China
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Flemmich L, Bereiter R, Micura R. Chemical Synthesis of Modified RNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403063. [PMID: 38529723 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403063] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play a vital role in living organisms. Many of their cellular functions depend critically on chemical modification. Methods to modify RNA in a controlled manner-both in vitro and in vivo-are thus essential to evaluate and understand RNA biology at the molecular and mechanistic levels. The diversity of modifications, combined with the size and uniformity of RNA (made up of only 4 nucleotides) makes its site-specific modification a challenging task that needs to be addressed by complementary approaches. One such approach is solid-phase RNA synthesis. We discuss recent developments in this field, starting with new protection concepts in the ongoing effort to overcome current size limitations. We continue with selected modifications that have posed significant challenges for their incorporation into RNA. These include deazapurine bases required for atomic mutagenesis to elucidate mechanistic aspects of catalytic RNAs, and RNA containing xanthosine, N4-acetylcytidine, 5-hydroxymethylcytidine, 3-methylcytidine, 2'-OCF3, and 2'-N3 ribose modifications. We also discuss the all-chemical synthesis of 5'-capped mRNAs and the enzymatic ligation of chemically synthesized oligoribonucleotides to obtain long RNA with multiple distinct modifications, such as those needed for single-molecule FRET studies. Finally, we highlight promising developments in RNA-catalyzed RNA modification using cofactors that transfer bioorthogonal functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurin Flemmich
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Raphael Bereiter
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ronald Micura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Maździarz M, Krawczyk K, Kurzyński M, Paukszto Ł, Szablińska-Piernik J, Szczecińska M, Sulima P, Sawicki J. Epitranscriptome insights into Riccia fluitans L. (Marchantiophyta) aquatic transition using nanopore direct RNA sequencing. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:399. [PMID: 38745128 PMCID: PMC11094948 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Riccia fluitans, an amphibious liverwort, exhibits a fascinating adaptation mechanism to transition between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Utilizing nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we try to capture the complex epitranscriptomic changes undergone in response to land-water transition. RESULTS A significant finding is the identification of 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with a split of 33 downregulated in terrestrial forms and 12 upregulated in aquatic forms, indicating a robust transcriptional response to environmental changes. Analysis of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications revealed 173 m6A sites in aquatic and only 27 sites in the terrestrial forms, indicating a significant increase in methylation in the former, which could facilitate rapid adaptation to changing environments. The aquatic form showed a global elongation bias in poly(A) tails, which is associated with increased mRNA stability and efficient translation, enhancing the plant's resilience to water stress. Significant differences in polyadenylation signals were observed between the two forms, with nine transcripts showing notable changes in tail length, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to modulate mRNA stability and translational efficiency in response to environmental conditions. This differential methylation and polyadenylation underline a sophisticated layer of post-transcriptional regulation, enabling Riccia fluitans to fine-tune gene expression in response to its living conditions. CONCLUSIONS These insights into transcriptome dynamics offer a deeper understanding of plant adaptation strategies at the molecular level, contributing to the broader knowledge of plant biology and evolution. These findings underscore the sophisticated post-transcriptional regulatory strategies Riccia fluitans employs to navigate the challenges of aquatic versus terrestrial living, highlighting the plant's dynamic adaptation to environmental stresses and its utility as a model for studying adaptation mechanisms in amphibious plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Maździarz
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Krawczyk
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Mateusz Kurzyński
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Joanna Szablińska-Piernik
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Monika Szczecińska
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - Paweł Sulima
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3, Olsztyn, 10-724, Poland
| | - Jakub Sawicki
- Department of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland.
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Lü C, Xu H, Gao P, Huang A, Qu M, He W, Wu H, Chen J, Xu B, Guo L, Xie J. Abundance of Modifications in Mature miRNAs Revealed by LC-MS/MS Method Coupled with a Two-Step Hybridization Purification Strategy. Anal Chem 2024; 96:6870-6874. [PMID: 38648202 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Accurate detection of endogenous miRNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 7-methylguanosine (m7G), and 5-methylcytidine (m5C), poses significant challenges, resulting in considerable uncertainty regarding their presence in mature miRNAs. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) nucleoside analysis method is a practical tool for quantitatively analyzing human miRNA modifications. The newly designed liquid-solid two-step hybridization (LSTH) strategy enhances specificity for miRNA purification, while LC-MS/MS offers robust capability in recognizing modifications and sufficient sensitivity with detection limits ranging from attomoles to low femtomoles. Therefore, it provides a more reliable approach compared to existing techniques for revealing modifications in endogenous miRNAs. With this approach, we characterized m6A, m7G, and m5C modifications in miR-21-5p, Let-7a/e-5p, and miR-10a-5p isolated from cultured cells and observed unexpectedly low abundance (<1% at each site) of these modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Lü
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
- Beijing Institute of Microchemistry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Hua Xu
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Pengxia Gao
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Aixue Huang
- Institute of Beijing Basic Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Minmin Qu
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Weiwei He
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Haijiang Wu
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lei Guo
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jianwei Xie
- Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
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11
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Han H, Sun Y, Wei W, Huang Z, Cheng M, Qiu H, Wang J, Zheng S, Liu L, Zhang Q, Zhang C, Ma J, Guo S, Wang Z, Li Z, Jiang X, Lin S, Liu Q, Zhang S. RNA modification-related genes illuminate prognostic signature and mechanism in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. iScience 2024; 27:109327. [PMID: 38487015 PMCID: PMC10937836 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging studies have demonstrated the link between RNA modifications and various cancers, while the predictive value and functional mechanisms of RNA modification-related genes (RMGs) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. Here we established a prognostic signature for ESCC based on five RMGs. The analysis of ESCC clinical samples further verified the prognostic power of the prognostic signature. Moreover, we found that the knockdown of NSUN6 promotes ESCC progression in vitro and in vivo, whereas the overexpression of NSUN6 inhibits the malignant phenotype of ESCC cells. Mechanically, NSUN6 mediated tRNA m5C modifications selectively enhance the translation efficiency of CDH1 mRNA in a codon dependent manner. Rescue assays revealed that E-cadherin is an essential downstream target that mediates NSUN6's function in the regulation of ESCC progression. These findings offer additional insights into the link between ESCC and RMGs, as well as provide potential strategies for ESCC management and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Han
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yucong Sun
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zixin Huang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hongshen Qiu
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Siyi Zheng
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Lianlian Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Canfeng Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jieyi Ma
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Siyao Guo
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhaoyu Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhenpeng Li
- Department of Microsurgery, Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xu Jiang
- School of basic medical sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuibin Lin
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qianwen Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shuishen Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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12
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Yang ZC, Zhao LX, Sang YQ, Huang X, Lin XC, Yu ZM. Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens: A New Possibility for Efficient Visualization of RNA in Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:743. [PMID: 38475589 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
RNAs play important roles in regulating biological growth and development. Advancements in RNA-imaging techniques are expanding our understanding of their function. Several common RNA-labeling methods in plants have pros and cons. Simultaneously, plants' spontaneously fluorescent substances interfere with the effectiveness of RNA bioimaging. New technologies need to be introduced into plant RNA luminescence. Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), due to their luminescent properties, tunable molecular size, high fluorescence intensity, good photostability, and low cell toxicity, have been widely applied in the animal and medical fields. The application of this technology in plants is still at an early stage. The development of AIEgens provides more options for RNA labeling. Click chemistry provides ideas for modifying AIEgens into RNA molecules. The CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated targeting system provides a guarantee of precise RNA modification. The liquid-liquid phase separation in plant cells creates conditions for the enrichment and luminescence of AIEgens. The only thing that needs to be looked for is a specific enzyme that uses AIEgens as a substrate and modifies AIEgens onto target RNA via a click chemical reaction. With the development and progress of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, it may soon be possible to artificially synthesize or discover such an enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Chao Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Li-Xiang Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yu-Qi Sang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Xin Huang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Xuan-Chen Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Yu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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13
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Xu J, He J, Yang J, Wang F, Huo Y, Guo Y, Si Y, Gao Y, Wang F, Cheng H, Cheng T, Yu J, Wang X, Ma Y. REDH: A database of RNA editome in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:283-293. [PMID: 37386732 PMCID: PMC10836905 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002782] [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: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The conversion of adenosine (A) to inosine (I) through deamination is the prevailing form of RNA editing, impacting numerous nuclear and cytoplasmic transcripts across various eukaryotic species. Millions of high-confidence RNA editing sites have been identified and integrated into various RNA databases, providing a convenient platform for the rapid identification of key drivers of cancer and potential therapeutic targets. However, the available database for integration of RNA editing in hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic malignancies is still lacking. METHODS We downloaded RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of 29 leukemia patients and 19 healthy donors from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and RNA-seq data of 12 mouse hematopoietic cell populations obtained from our previous research were also used. We performed sequence alignment, identified RNA editing sites, and obtained characteristic editing sites related to normal hematopoietic development and abnormal editing sites associated with hematologic diseases. RESULTS We established a new database, "REDH", represents RNA editome in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancy. REDH is a curated database of associations between RNA editome and hematopoiesis. REDH integrates 30,796 editing sites from 12 murine adult hematopoietic cell populations and systematically characterizes more than 400,000 edited events in malignant hematopoietic samples from 48 cohorts (human). Through the Differentiation, Disease, Enrichment, and knowledge modules, each A-to-I editing site is systematically integrated, including its distribution throughout the genome, its clinical information (human sample), and functional editing sites under physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, REDH compares the similarities and differences of editing sites between different hematologic malignancies and healthy control. CONCLUSIONS REDH is accessible at http://www.redhdatabase.com/ . This user-friendly database would aid in understanding the mechanisms of RNA editing in hematopoietic differentiation and malignancies. It provides a set of data related to the maintenance of hematopoietic homeostasis and identifying potential therapeutic targets in malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jiahuan He
- Key Laboratory of RNA and Hematopoietic Regulation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jiabin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Fengjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Yue Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yuehong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yanmin Si
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yufeng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Hui Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Tao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Jia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610052, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yanni Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
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14
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Qu S, Nelson H, Liu X, Semler E, Michell DL, Massick C, Franklin JL, Karijolich J, Weaver AM, Coffey RJ, Liu Q, Vickers KC, Patton JG. 5-Fluorouracil Treatment Represses Pseudouridine-Containing Small RNA Export into Extracellular Vesicles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.575751. [PMID: 38293013 PMCID: PMC10827090 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.575751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used for chemotherapy for colorectal and other cancers for over 50 years. The prevailing view of its mechanism of action is inhibition of thymidine synthase leading to defects in DNA replication and repair. However, 5-FU is also incorporated into RNA causing toxicity due to defects in RNA metabolism, inhibition of pseudouridine modification, and altered ribosome function. Here, we examine the impact of 5-FU on the expression and export of small RNAs (sRNAs) into small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Moreover, we assess the role of 5-FU in regulation of post-transcriptional sRNA modifications (PTxM) using mass spectrometry approaches. EVs are secreted by all cells and contain a variety of proteins and RNAs that can function in cell-cell communication. PTxMs on cellular and extracellular sRNAs provide yet another layer of gene regulation. We found that treatment of the colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line DLD-1 with 5-FU led to surprising differential export of miRNA snRNA, and snoRNA transcripts. Strikingly, 5-FU treatment significantly decreased the levels of pseudouridine on both cellular and secreted EV sRNAs. In contrast, 5-FU exposure led to increased levels of cellular sRNAs containing a variety of methyl-modified bases. Our results suggest that 5-FU exposure leads to altered expression, base modifications, and mislocalization of EV base-modified sRNAs.
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15
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Potužník JF, Cahova H. If the 5' cap fits (wear it) - Non-canonical RNA capping. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-13. [PMID: 39007883 PMCID: PMC11253889 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2372138] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA capping is a prominent RNA modification that influences RNA stability, metabolism, and function. While it was long limited to the study of the most abundant eukaryotic canonical m7G cap, the field recently went through a large paradigm shift with the discovery of non-canonical RNA capping in bacteria and ultimately all domains of life. The repertoire of non-canonical caps has expanded to encompass metabolite caps, including NAD, FAD, CoA, UDP-Glucose, and ADP-ribose, alongside alarmone dinucleoside polyphosphate caps, and methylated phosphate cap-like structures. This review offers an introduction into the field, presenting a summary of the current knowledge about non-canonical RNA caps. We highlight the often still enigmatic biological roles of the caps together with their processing enzymes, focusing on the most recent discoveries. Furthermore, we present the methods used for the detection and analysis of these non-canonical RNA caps and thus provide an introduction into this dynamic new field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří František Potužník
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Prague 6, Czechia
- Department of Cell Biology, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague 2, Czechia
| | - Hana Cahova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Prague 6, Czechia
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16
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Crespo-García E, Bueno-Costa A, Esteller M. Single-cell analysis of the epitranscriptome: RNA modifications under the microscope. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-8. [PMID: 38368619 PMCID: PMC10877985 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2315385] [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] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of mechanisms capable of modifying genetic information by the addition of covalent RNA modifications distinguishes a level of complexity in gene expression which challenges key long-standing concepts of RNA biology. One of the current challenges of molecular biology is to properly understand the molecular functions of these RNA modifications, with more than 170 different ones having been identified so far. However, it has not been possible to map specific RNA modifications at a single-cell resolution until very recently. This review will highlight the technological advances in single-cell methodologies aimed at assessing and testing the biological function of certain RNA modifications, focusing on m6A. These advances have allowed for the development of novel strategies that enable the study of the 'epitranscriptome'. Nevertheless, despite all these improvements, many challenges and difficulties still need fixing for these techniques to work efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Crespo-García
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Spain
| | - Alberto Bueno-Costa
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Xie Y, Chan LY, Cheung MY, Li MW, Lam HM. Current technical advancements in plant epitranscriptomic studies. THE PLANT GENOME 2023; 16:e20316. [PMID: 36890704 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The growth and development of plants are the result of the interplay between the internal developmental programming and plant-environment interactions. Gene expression regulations in plants are made up of multi-level networks. In the past few years, many studies were carried out on co- and post-transcriptional RNA modifications, which, together with the RNA community, are collectively known as the "epitranscriptome." The epitranscriptomic machineries were identified and their functional impacts characterized in a broad range of physiological processes in diverse plant species. There is mounting evidence to suggest that the epitranscriptome provides an additional layer in the gene regulatory network for plant development and stress responses. In the present review, we summarized the epitranscriptomic modifications found so far in plants, including chemical modifications, RNA editing, and transcript isoforms. The various approaches to RNA modification detection were described, with special emphasis on the recent development and application potential of third-generation sequencing. The roles of epitranscriptomic changes in gene regulation during plant-environment interactions were discussed in case studies. This review aims to highlight the importance of epitranscriptomics in the study of gene regulatory networks in plants and to encourage multi-omics investigations using the recent technical advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichun Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Long-Yiu Chan
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ming-Yan Cheung
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man-Wah Li
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hon-Ming Lam
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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18
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Todkari IA, Chandrasekaran AR, Punnoose JA, Mao S, Haruehanroengra P, Beckles C, Sheng J, Halvorsen K. Resolving altered base-pairing of RNA modifications with DNA nanoswitches. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11291-11297. [PMID: 37811879 PMCID: PMC10639047 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad802] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There are >170 naturally occurring RNA chemical modifications, with both known and unknown biological functions. Analytical methods for detecting chemical modifications and for analyzing their effects are relatively limited and have had difficulty keeping pace with the demand for RNA chemical biology and biochemistry research. Some modifications can affect the ability of RNA to hybridize with its complementary sequence or change the selectivity of base pairing. Here, we investigate the use of affinity-based DNA nanoswitches to resolve energetic differences in hybridization. We found that a single m3C modification can sufficiently destabilize hybridization to abolish a detection signal, while an s4U modification can selectively hybridize with G over A. These results establish proof of concept for using DNA nanoswitches to detect certain RNA modifications and analyzing their effects in base pairing stability and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iranna Annappa Todkari
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Jibin Abraham Punnoose
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Song Mao
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Phensinee Haruehanroengra
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Camryn Beckles
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jia Sheng
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Ken Halvorsen
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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19
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Mara P, Zhou YL, Teske A, Morono Y, Beaudoin D, Edgcomb V. Microbial gene expression in Guaymas Basin subsurface sediments responds to hydrothermal stress and energy limitation. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1907-1919. [PMID: 37658181 PMCID: PMC10579382 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01492-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Analyses of gene expression of subsurface bacteria and archaea provide insights into their physiological adaptations to in situ subsurface conditions. We examined patterns of expressed genes in hydrothermally heated subseafloor sediments with distinct geochemical and thermal regimes in Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico. RNA recovery and cell counts declined with sediment depth, however, we obtained metatranscriptomes from eight sites at depths spanning between 0.8 and 101.9 m below seafloor. We describe the metabolic potential of sediment microorganisms, and discuss expressed genes involved in tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA modifications that enable physiological flexibility of bacteria and archaea in the hydrothermal subsurface. Microbial taxa in hydrothermally influenced settings like Guaymas Basin may particularly depend on these catalytic RNA functions since they modulate the activity of cells under elevated temperatures and steep geochemical gradients. Expressed genes for DNA repair, protein maintenance and circadian rhythm were also identified. The concerted interaction of many of these genes may be crucial for microorganisms to survive and to thrive in the Guaymas Basin subsurface biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Mara
- Geology and Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Ying-Li Zhou
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Andreas Teske
- Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yuki Morono
- Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan
| | - David Beaudoin
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Virginia Edgcomb
- Geology and Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
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20
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Zhu G, Wang W, Yao H, Li H, Zhang C, Meng Y, Wang J, Zhu M, Zheng H. Identification and validation of novel prognostic signatures based on m5C methylation patterns and tumor EMT profiles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18763. [PMID: 37907576 PMCID: PMC10618291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) in tumor initiation and progression has been increasingly recognized. However, the precise association between the regulation of m5C and the progression, metastasis, and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not yet been fully explored. Data from 545 HNSCC patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed. Unsupervised cluster analysis was conducted using the expression levels of m5C regulatory genes. Additionally, gene set variation analysis (GSVA), single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and Cox regression analysis were utilized. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), colony formation assay, transwell experiments and western blots were performed in the HNSCC cell line UM-SCC-17B to assess the expression and functional role of one of the novel signatures, CNFN. Significant expression differences were found in m5C regulatory genes between tumor and normal tissues in HNSCC. Two distinct m5C modification patterns, characterized by substantial prognostic differences, were identified. Cluster-2, which exhibited a strong association with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), was found to be associated with a poorer prognosis. Based on the m5C clusters and EMT status, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Using DEGs, an 8-gene signature (CAMK2N1, WNT7A, F2RL1, AREG, DEFB1, CNFN, TGFBI, and CAV1) was established to develop a prognostic model. The performance of this signature was validated in both the training and external validation datasets, demonstrating its promising efficacy. Furthermore, additional investigations using RT-qPCR on clinical specimens and experimental assays in cell lines provided compelling evidence suggesting that CNFN, one of the genes in the signature, could play a role in HNSCC progression and metastasis through the EMT pathway. This study highlighted the role of m5C in HNSCC progression and metastasis. The relationship between m5C and EMT has been elucidated for the first time. A robust prognostic model was developed for accurately predicting HNSCC patients' survival outcomes. Potential molecular mechanisms underlying these associations have been illuminated through this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghao Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Yao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haopu Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Caiyun Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yindi Meng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjie Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minhui Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hongliang Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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21
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Draycott AS, Schaening-Burgos C, Rojas-Duran MF, Gilbert WV. D-Seq: Genome-wide detection of dihydrouridine modifications in RNA. Methods Enzymol 2023; 692:3-22. [PMID: 37925185 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.09.001] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
In addition to A, C, G and U, RNA contains over 100 additional chemically distinct residues. An abundant modified base frequently found in tRNAs, dihydrouridine (D) has recently been mapped to over 100 positions in mRNAs in yeast and human cells. Multiple highly conserved dihydrouridine synthases associate with and modify mRNA, suggesting there are many D sites yet to be found. Because D alters RNA structure, installation of D in mRNA is likely to effect multiple steps in mRNA metabolism including processing, trafficking, translation, and degradation. Here, we introduce D-seq, a method to chart the D landscape at single nucleotide resolution. The included protocols start with RNA isolation and carry through D-seq library preparation and data analysis. While the protocols below are tailored to map Ds in mRNA, the D-seq method is generalizable to any RNA type of interest, including non-coding RNAs, which have also recently been identified as dihydrouridine synthase targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin S Draycott
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, New, Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Maria F Rojas-Duran
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, New, Haven, CT, United States
| | - Wendy V Gilbert
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, New, Haven, CT, United States.
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22
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Li D, Liu C, Li Y, Tenchov R, Sasso JM, Zhang D, Li D, Zou L, Wang X, Zhou Q. Messenger RNA-Based Therapeutics and Vaccines: What's beyond COVID-19? ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:943-969. [PMID: 37470024 PMCID: PMC10353067 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid success in the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and with a number of mRNA-based drugs ahead in the pipelines, mRNA has catapulted to the forefront of drug research, demonstrating its substantial effectiveness against a broad range of diseases. As the recent global pandemic gradually fades, we cannot stop thinking about what the world has gained: the realization and validation of the power of mRNA in modern medicine. A significant amount of research has now been concentrated on developing mRNA drugs and vaccine platforms against infectious and immune diseases, cancer, and other debilitating diseases and has demonstrated encouraging results. Here, based on the CAS Content Collection, we provide a landscape view of the current state, outline trends in the research and development of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, and highlight some notable patents focusing on mRNA therapeutics, vaccines, and delivery systems. Analysis of diseases disclosed in patents also reveals highly investigated diseases for treatments with these medicines. Finally, we provide information about mRNA therapeutics and vaccines in clinical trials. We hope this Review will be useful for understanding the current knowledge in the field of mRNA medicines and will assist in efforts to solve its remaining challenges and revolutionize the treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqiao Li
- Information
Center, National Science Library, Chinese
Academy of Science, Haidan District, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Cynthia Liu
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society 2540 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Yingzhu Li
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society 2540 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Rumiana Tenchov
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society 2540 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Janet M. Sasso
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society 2540 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
| | - Di Zhang
- Information
Center, National Science Library, Chinese
Academy of Science, Haidan District, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Information
Center, National Science Library, Chinese
Academy of Science, Haidan District, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Lixue Zou
- Information
Center, National Science Library, Chinese
Academy of Science, Haidan District, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Xuezhao Wang
- Information
Center, National Science Library, Chinese
Academy of Science, Haidan District, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Qiongqiong Zhou
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society 2540 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
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Lv T, Jiang S, Wang X, Hou Y. Profiling A-to-I RNA editing during mouse somatic reprogramming at the single-cell level. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18133. [PMID: 37519753 PMCID: PMC10375800 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells through a highly heterogeneous process regulated by numerous biological factors, including adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing. In this study, we analyzed A-to-I RNA editing sites using a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset with high-depth and full-length coverage. Our method revealed that A-to-I RNA editing frequency varied widely at the single-cell level and underwent dynamic changes. We also found that A-to-I RNA editing level was correlated with the expression of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1. The analysis combined with gene ontology (GO) enrichment revealed that ADAR1-dependent A-to-I editing may downregulate the expression levels of Igtp, Irgm2, Mndal, Ifi202b, and Tapbp in the early stage, to inhibit the pathways of cellular response to interferon-beta and regulation of protein complex stability to promote mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). Notably, we identified a negative correlation between A-to-I RNA editing frequency and the expression of certain genes, such as Nras, Ube2l6, Zfp987, and Adsl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhang Lv
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Siyuan Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | | | - Yong Hou
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
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24
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Bortoletto E, Pieretti F, Brun P, Venier P, Leonardi A, Rosani U. Meta-Analysis of Keratoconus Transcriptomic Data Revealed Altered RNA Editing Levels Impacting Keratin Genomic Clusters. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:12. [PMID: 37279397 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.7.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Keratoconus (KC) is an ocular disorder with a multifactorial origin. Transcriptomic analyses (RNA-seq) revealed deregulations of coding (mRNA) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in KC, suggesting that mRNA-ncRNA co-regulations can promote the onset of KC. The present study investigates the modulation of RNA editing mediated by the adenosine deaminase acting on dsRNA (ADAR) enzyme in KC. Materials The level of ADAR-mediated RNA editing in KC and healthy corneas were determined by two indexes in two different sequencing datasets. REDIportal was used to localize known editing sites, whereas new putative sites were de novo identified in the most extended dataset only and their possible impact was evaluated. Western Blot analysis was used to measure the level of ADAR1 in the cornea from independent samples. Results KC was characterized by a statistically significant lower RNA-editing level compared to controls, resulting in a lower editing frequency, and less edited bases. The distribution of the editing sites along the human genome showed considerable differences between groups, particularly relevant in the chromosome 12 regions encoding for Keratin type II cluster. A total of 32 recoding sites were characterized, 17 representing novel sites. JUP, KRT17, KRT76, and KRT79 were edited with higher frequencies in KC than in controls, whereas BLCAP, COG3, KRT1, KRT75, and RRNAD1 were less edited. Both gene expression and protein levels of ADAR1 appeared not regulated between diseased and controls. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated an altered RNA-editing in KC possibly linked to the peculiar cellular conditions. The functional implications should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabio Pieretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Histology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Brun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Histology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Venier
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Leonardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Umberto Rosani
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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25
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Acera Mateos P, Zhou Y, Zarnack K, Eyras E. Concepts and methods for transcriptome-wide prediction of chemical messenger RNA modifications with machine learning. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:7150742. [PMID: 37139545 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The expanding field of epitranscriptomics might rival the epigenome in the diversity of biological processes impacted. In recent years, the development of new high-throughput experimental and computational techniques has been a key driving force in discovering the properties of RNA modifications. Machine learning applications, such as for classification, clustering or de novo identification, have been critical in these advances. Nonetheless, various challenges remain before the full potential of machine learning for epitranscriptomics can be leveraged. In this review, we provide a comprehensive survey of machine learning methods to detect RNA modifications using diverse input data sources. We describe strategies to train and test machine learning methods and to encode and interpret features that are relevant for epitranscriptomics. Finally, we identify some of the current challenges and open questions about RNA modification analysis, including the ambiguity in predicting RNA modifications in transcript isoforms or in single nucleotides, or the lack of complete ground truth sets to test RNA modifications. We believe this review will inspire and benefit the rapidly developing field of epitranscriptomics in addressing the current limitations through the effective use of machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Acera Mateos
- EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- The Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- The Centre for Computational Biomedical Sciences, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - You Zhou
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
| | - Kathi Zarnack
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
| | - Eduardo Eyras
- EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- The Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- The Centre for Computational Biomedical Sciences, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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26
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Tyczewska A, Rzepczak A, Sobańska D, Grzywacz K. The emerging roles of tRNAs and tRNA-derived fragments during aging: Lessons from studies on model organisms. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 85:101863. [PMID: 36707034 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101863] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a gradual decline of various functions of organisms resulting in diminished abilities to protect against the environmental damage and reinforce the physiological harmony. Age-related functional declines have been thought to be passive and not regulated. However, studies on numerous model organisms, from yeast to mammals, exposed that the mechanisms of lifespan regulation are remarkably conserved throughout the evolution. Following the pioneering genetic studies in C. elegans, it has been shown that the genes related to the longevity are conserved in yeast, flies and mice. For a long time, tRNAs have been only considered as molecules transporting amino acids to the ribosome during translation. Nonetheless, it has become apparent from many biological studies that tRNAs are entangled in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. This review focuses on the emerging roles of tRNA-associated processes in aging and lifespan of model organisms. More specificaly, we present a summary on the importance of tRNA metabolism, epitranscriptome and possible roles of tRNA-derived fragments in aging and lifespan regulation. Better understanding of the basic mechanisms of aging could lead to the development of new diagnostics and treatments for aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Tyczewska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Alicja Rzepczak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Daria Sobańska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Kamilla Grzywacz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
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27
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Boughanem H, Böttcher Y, Tomé-Carneiro J, López de Las Hazas MC, Dávalos A, Cayir A, Macias-González M. The emergent role of mitochondrial RNA modifications in metabolic alterations. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1753. [PMID: 35872632 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial epitranscriptomics refers to the modifications occurring in all the different RNA types of mitochondria. Although the number of mitochondrial RNA modifications is less than those in cytoplasm, substantial evidence indicates that they play a critical role in accurate protein synthesis. Recent evidence supported those modifications in mitochondrial RNAs also have crucial implications in mitochondrial-related diseases. In the light of current knowledge about the involvement, the association between mitochondrial RNA modifications and diseases arises from studies focusing on mutations in both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA genes encoding enzymes involved in such modifications. Here, we review the current evidence available for mitochondrial RNA modifications and their role in metabolic disorders, and we also explore the possibility of using them as promising targets for prevention and early detection. Finally, we discuss future directions of mitochondrial epitranscriptomics in these metabolic alterations, and how these RNA modifications may offer a new diagnostic and theragnostic avenue for preventive purposes. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatim Boughanem
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Endocrinología y Nutrición del Hospital Virgen de la Victoria and University of Málaga, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yvonne Böttcher
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Akershus Universitetssykehus, Medical Department, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - João Tomé-Carneiro
- Laboratory of Functional Foods, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA)-Food, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Carmen López de Las Hazas
- Laboratory of Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA)-Food, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Dávalos
- Laboratory of Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA)-Food, CEI UAM + CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Akin Cayir
- Vocational Health College, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.,Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Division of Medicine, Akershus Universitetssykehus, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Manuel Macias-González
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Endocrinología y Nutrición del Hospital Virgen de la Victoria and University of Málaga, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
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28
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Kisan A, Chhabra R. Modulation of gene expression by YTH domain family (YTHDF) proteins in human physiology and pathology. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:5-31. [PMID: 36326110 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30907] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The advent of high throughput techniques in the past decade has significantly advanced the field of epitranscriptomics. The internal chemical modification of the target RNA at a specific site is a basic feature of epitranscriptomics and is critical for its structural stability and functional property. More than 170 modifications at the transcriptomic level have been reported so far, among which m6A methylation is one of the more conserved internal RNA modifications, abundantly found in eukaryotic mRNAs and frequently involved in enhancing the target messenger RNA's (mRNA) stability and translation. m6A modification of mRNAs is essential for multiple physiological processes including stem cell differentiation, nervous system development and gametogenesis. Any aberration in the m6A modification can often result in a pathological condition. The deregulation of m6A methylation has already been described in inflammation, viral infection, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The m6A modification is reversible in nature and is carried out by specialized m6A proteins including writers (m6A methyltransferases) that add methyl groups and erasers (m6A demethylases) that remove methyl groups selectively. The fate of m6A-modified mRNA is heavily reliant on the various m6A-binding proteins ("readers") which recognize and generate a functional signal from m6A-modified mRNA. In this review, we discuss the role of a family of reader proteins, "YT521-B homology domain containing family" (YTHDF) proteins, in human physiology and pathology. In addition, we critically evaluate the potential of YTHDF proteins as therapeutic targets in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aju Kisan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Ravindresh Chhabra
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
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29
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Milazzotto MP, Ispada J, de Lima CB. Metabolism-epigenetic interactions on in vitro produced embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 35:84-97. [PMID: 36592974 DOI: 10.1071/rd22203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism and epigenetics, which reciprocally regulate each other in different cell types, are fundamental aspects of cellular adaptation to the environment. Evidence in cancer and stem cells has shown that the metabolic status modifies the epigenome while epigenetic mechanisms regulate the expression of genes involved in metabolic processes, thereby altering the metabolome. This crosstalk occurs as many metabolites serve as substrates or cofactors of chromatin-modifying enzymes. If we consider the intense metabolic dynamic and the epigenetic remodelling of the embryo, the comprehension of these regulatory networks will be important not only for understanding early embryonic development, but also to determine in vitro culture conditions that support embryo development and may insert positive regulatory marks that may persist until adult life. In this review, we focus on how metabolism may affect epigenetic reprogramming of the early stages of development, in particular acetylation and methylation of histone and DNA. We also present other metabolic modifications in bovine embryos, such as lactylation, highlighting the promising epigenetic and metabolic targets to improve conditions for in vitro embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Pecora Milazzotto
- Laboratory of Embryo Metabolism and Epigenomic, Center of Natural and Human Science, Federal University of ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | - Jessica Ispada
- Laboratory of Embryo Metabolism and Epigenomic, Center of Natural and Human Science, Federal University of ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Bruna de Lima
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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30
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Zhao L, Islam R, Wang Y, Zhang X, Liu LZ. Epigenetic Regulation in Chromium-, Nickel- and Cadmium-Induced Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235768. [PMID: 36497250 PMCID: PMC9737485 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals, such as hexavalent chromium, nickel, and cadmium, are major health concerns worldwide. Some heavy metals are well-documented human carcinogens. Multiple mechanisms, including DNA damage, dysregulated gene expression, and aberrant cancer-related signaling, have been shown to contribute to metal-induced carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms accounting for heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis and angiogenesis are still not fully understood. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have indicated that in addition to genotoxicity and genetic mutations, epigenetic mechanisms play critical roles in metal-induced cancers. Epigenetics refers to the reversible modification of genomes without changing DNA sequences; epigenetic modifications generally involve DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetic regulation is essential for maintaining normal gene expression patterns; the disruption of epigenetic modifications may lead to altered cellular function and even malignant transformation. Therefore, aberrant epigenetic modifications are widely involved in metal-induced cancer formation, development, and angiogenesis. Notably, the role of epigenetic mechanisms in heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis and angiogenesis remains largely unknown, and further studies are urgently required. In this review, we highlight the current advances in understanding the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis, cancer progression, and angiogenesis.
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31
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Jin X, Huang Z, Xie L, Liu L, Han D, Cheng L. Photo‐Facilitated Detection and Sequencing of 5‐Formylcytidine RNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202210652. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202210652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Yang Jin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Function CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Zu‐Rui Huang
- China National Center for Bioinformation Beijing Institute of Genomics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Li‐Jun Xie
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Function CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Li Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Function CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Da‐Li Han
- China National Center for Bioinformation Beijing Institute of Genomics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Liang Cheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Function CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou 310024 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
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32
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Abstract
The field of epitranscriptomics has expanded dramatically in recent years, both in the number of identified RNA modifications and the number of researchers studying them. As knowledge of post-transcriptional modifications continues to expand, numerous new methods have been developed to detect these modifications. Additionally, modifications are being extended to therapeutic settings, such as with recent mRNA vaccines. With this increase in knowledge and use, the community is recognizing the necessity for user-friendly databases to (i) store information from both high- and low-throughput studies and (ii) provide prediction software on how RNA modifications contribute to RNA function and disease. This mini-review highlights select RNA modification databases and their key attributes with the aim of providing a resource to researchers in the field of epitranscriptomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Ramos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
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33
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Begik O, Mattick JS, Novoa EM. Exploring the epitranscriptome by native RNA sequencing. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1430-1439. [PMID: 36104106 PMCID: PMC9745831 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079404.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Chemical RNA modifications, collectively referred to as the "epitranscriptome," are essential players in fine-tuning gene expression. Our ability to analyze RNA modifications has improved rapidly in recent years, largely due to the advent of high-throughput sequencing methodologies, which typically consist of coupling modification-specific reagents, such as antibodies or enzymes, to next-generation sequencing. Recently, it also became possible to map RNA modifications directly by sequencing native RNAs using nanopore technologies, which has been applied for the detection of a number of RNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), pseudouridine (Ψ), and inosine (I). However, the signal modulations caused by most RNA modifications are yet to be determined. A global effort is needed to determine the signatures of the full range of RNA modifications to avoid the technical biases that have so far limited our understanding of the epitranscriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oguzhan Begik
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - John S Mattick
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Eva Maria Novoa
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08002, Spain
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34
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Unlocking the promise of mRNA therapeutics. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1586-1600. [PMID: 36329321 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01491-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The extraordinary success of mRNA vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has renewed interest in mRNA as a means of delivering therapeutic proteins. Early clinical trials of mRNA therapeutics include studies of paracrine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA for heart failure and of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA for a congenital liver-specific storage disease. However, a series of challenges remains to be addressed before mRNA can be established as a general therapeutic modality with broad relevance to both rare and common diseases. An array of new technologies is being developed to surmount these challenges, including approaches to optimize mRNA cargos, lipid carriers with inherent tissue tropism and in vivo percutaneous delivery systems. The judicious integration of these advances may unlock the promise of biologically targeted mRNA therapeutics, beyond vaccines and other immunostimulatory agents, for the treatment of diverse clinical indications.
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35
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Wang L, Zhang JY, Yang DH. Editorial: RNA and RNA modification in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1063365. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1063365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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36
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Delli Ponti R, Broglia L, Vandelli A, Armaos A, Torrent Burgas M, Sanchez de Groot N, Tartaglia GG. A high-throughput approach to predict A-to-I effects on RNA structure indicates a change of double-stranded content in non-coding RNAs. IUBMB Life 2022; 75:411-426. [PMID: 36057100 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
RNA molecules undergo a number of chemical modifications whose effects can alter their structure and molecular interactions. Previous studies have shown that RNA editing can impact the formation of ribonucleoprotein complexes and influence the assembly of membrane-less organelles such as stress-granules. For instance, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) enhances SG formation and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) prevents their transition to solid-like aggregates. Yet, very little is known about adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) modification that is very abundant in human cells and not only impacts mRNAs but also non-coding RNAs. Here, we built the CROSSalive predictor of A-to-I effects on RNA structure based on high-throughput in-cell experiments. Our method shows an accuracy of 90% in predicting the single and double-stranded content of transcripts and identifies a general enrichment of double-stranded regions caused by A-to-I in long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs). For the individual cases of NEAT1, NORAD and XIST, we investigated the relationship between A-to-I editing and interactions with RNA-binding proteins using available CLIP data and catRAPID predictions. We found that A-to-I editing is linked to alteration of interaction sites with proteins involved in phase-separation, which suggests that RNP assembly can be influenced by A-to-I. CROSSalive is available at http://service.tartaglialab.com/new_submission/crossalive. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Delli Ponti
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix #07-01, Singapore
| | - Laura Broglia
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Vandelli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandros Armaos
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marc Torrent Burgas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Sanchez de Groot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Biology 'Charles Darwin', Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, Rome, Italy
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Bataglia L, Simões ZLP, Nunes FMF. Transcriptional expression of m6A and m5C RNA methyltransferase genes in the brain and fat body of honey bee adult workers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:921503. [PMID: 36105348 PMCID: PMC9467440 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.921503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) adult workers change behaviors and nutrition according to age progression. Young workers, such as nurses, perform in-hive tasks and consume protein-rich pollen, while older workers (foragers) leave the colony to search for food, and consume carbohydrate-rich nectar. These environmentally stimulated events involve transcriptional and DNA epigenetic marks alterations in worker tissues. However, post-transcriptional RNA modifications (epitranscriptomics) are still poorly explored in bees. We investigated the transcriptional profiles of m6A and m5C RNA methyltransferases in the brain and fat body of adult workers of 1) different ages and performing different tasks [nurses of 8 days-old (N-8D) and foragers of 29 days-old (F-29D), sampled from wild-type colonies], and 2) same-aged young workers caged in an incubator and treated with a pollen-rich [PR] or a pollen-deprived [PD] diet for 8 days. In the brain, METTL3, DNMT2, NOP2, NSUN2, NSUN5, and NSUN7 genes increased expression during adulthood (from N-8D to F-29D), while the opposite pattern was observed in the fat body for METTL3, DNMT2, and NSUN2 genes. Regarding diet treatments, high expression levels were observed in the brains of the pollen-deprived group (DNMT2, NOP2, and NSUN2 genes) and the fat bodies of the pollen-rich group (NOP2, NSUN4, and NSUN5 genes) compared to the brains of the PR group and the fat bodies of the PD group, respectively. Our data indicate that RNA epigenetics may be an important regulatory layer in the development of adult workers, presenting tissue-specific signatures of RNA methyltransferases expression in response to age, behavior, and diet content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Bataglia
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Francis Morais Franco Nunes
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Francis Morais Franco Nunes,
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38
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Reis AL, Hammond JH, Stevanovski I, Arnold JC, McGregor IS, Deveson IW, Gururajan A. Sex-specific transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic signatures of PTSD-like fear acquisition. iScience 2022; 25:104861. [PMID: 36039298 PMCID: PMC9418440 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular pathology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is evolving due to advances in sequencing technologies. With the recent emergence of Oxford Nanopore direct RNA-seq (dRNA-seq), it is now also possible to interrogate diverse RNA modifications, collectively known as the “epitranscriptome.”. Here, we present our analyses of the male and female mouse amygdala transcriptome and epitranscriptome, obtained using parallel Illumina RNA-seq and Oxford Nanopore dRNA-seq, associated with the acquisition of PTSD-like fear induced by Pavlovian cued-fear conditioning. We report significant sex-specific differences in the amygdala transcriptional response during fear acquisition and a range of shared and dimorphic epitranscriptomic signatures. Differential RNA modifications are enriched among mRNA transcripts associated with neurotransmitter regulation and mitochondrial function, many of which have been previously implicated in PTSD. Very few differentially modified transcripts are also differentially expressed, suggesting an influential, expression-independent role for epitranscriptional regulation in PTSD-like fear acquisition. PTSD-like trauma has sexually dimorphic effects on the amygdala transcriptome Most RNA modifications identified adhere to the known patterns associated with m6A There was enrichment of RNA modifications in neurological/PTSD-related genes There was little overlap between transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic signatures
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Alagia A, Gullerova M. The Methylation Game: Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Dynamics of 5-Methylcytosine. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:915685. [PMID: 35721489 PMCID: PMC9204050 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.915685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA and RNA methylation dynamics have been linked to a variety of cellular processes such as development, differentiation, and the maintenance of genome integrity. The correct deposition and removal of methylated cytosine and its oxidized analogues is pivotal for cellular homeostasis, rapid responses to exogenous stimuli, and regulated gene expression. Uncoordinated expression of DNA/RNA methyltransferases and demethylase enzymes has been linked to genome instability and consequently to cancer progression. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that post-transcriptional DNA/RNA modifications are important features in DNA/RNA function, regulating the timely recruitment of modification-specific reader proteins. Understanding the biological processes that lead to tumorigenesis or somatic reprogramming has attracted a lot of attention from the scientific community. This work has revealed extensive crosstalk between epigenetic and epitranscriptomic pathways, adding a new layer of complexity to our understanding of cellular programming and responses to environmental cues. One of the key modifications, m5C, has been identified as a contributor to regulation of the DNA damage response (DDR). However, the various mechanisms of dynamic m5C deposition and removal, and the role m5C plays within the cell, remains to be fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Gullerova
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Kminek G, Benardini JN, Brenker FE, Brooks T, Burton AS, Dhaniyala S, Dworkin JP, Fortman JL, Glamoclija M, Grady MM, Graham HV, Haruyama J, Kieft TL, Koopmans M, McCubbin FM, Meyer MA, Mustin C, Onstott TC, Pearce N, Pratt LM, Sephton MA, Siljeström S, Sugahara H, Suzuki S, Suzuki Y, van Zuilen M, Viso M. COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF). ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:S186-S216. [PMID: 35653292 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) has been developed by a COSPAR appointed Working Group. The objective of the sample safety assessment would be to evaluate whether samples returned from Mars could be harmful for Earth's systems (e.g., environment, biosphere, geochemical cycles). During the Working Group's deliberations, it became clear that a comprehensive assessment to predict the effects of introducing life in new environments or ecologies is difficult and practically impossible, even for terrestrial life and certainly more so for unknown extraterrestrial life. To manage expectations, the scope of the SSAF was adjusted to evaluate only whether the presence of martian life can be excluded in samples returned from Mars. If the presence of martian life cannot be excluded, a Hold & Critical Review must be established to evaluate the risk management measures and decide on the next steps. The SSAF starts from a positive hypothesis (there is martian life in the samples), which is complementary to the null-hypothesis (there is no martian life in the samples) typically used for science. Testing the positive hypothesis includes four elements: (1) Bayesian statistics, (2) subsampling strategy, (3) test sequence, and (4) decision criteria. The test sequence capability covers self-replicating and non-self-replicating biology and biologically active molecules. Most of the investigations associated with the SSAF would need to be carried out within biological containment. The SSAF is described in sufficient detail to support planning activities for a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) and for preparing science announcements, while at the same time acknowledging that further work is required before a detailed Sample Safety Assessment Protocol (SSAP) can be developed. The three major open issues to be addressed to optimize and implement the SSAF are (1) setting a value for the level of assurance to effectively exclude the presence of martian life in the samples, (2) carrying out an analogue test program, and (3) acquiring relevant contamination knowledge from all Mars Sample Return (MSR) flight and ground elements. Although the SSAF was developed specifically for assessing samples from Mars in the context of the currently planned NASA-ESA MSR Campaign, this framework and the basic safety approach are applicable to any other Mars sample return mission concept, with minor adjustments in the execution part related to the specific nature of the samples to be returned. The SSAF is also considered a sound basis for other COSPAR Planetary Protection Category V, restricted Earth return missions beyond Mars. It is anticipated that the SSAF will be subject to future review by the various MSR stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Kminek
- European Space Agency, Mars Exploration Group, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - James N Benardini
- NASA Headquarters, Office of Planetary Protection, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Frank E Brenker
- Goethe University, Department of Geoscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Timothy Brooks
- UK Health Security Agency, Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Salisbury, UK
| | - Aaron S Burton
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Suresh Dhaniyala
- Clarkson University, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Potsdam, New York, USA
| | - Jason P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Fortman
- Security Programs, Engineering Biology Research Consortium, Emeryville, USA
| | - Mihaela Glamoclija
- Rutgers University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Monica M Grady
- The Open University, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Heather V Graham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrochemistry Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Junichi Haruyama
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Chofu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas L Kieft
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Biology Department, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
| | - Marion Koopmans
- Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Viroscience, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francis M McCubbin
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A Meyer
- NASA Headquarters, Planetary Science Division, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Tullis C Onstott
- Princeton University, Department of Geosciences, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Neil Pearce
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Department of Medical Statistics, London, UK
| | - Lisa M Pratt
- Indiana University Bloomington, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Emeritus, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science & Engineering, London, UK
| | - Sandra Siljeström
- RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, Department of Methodology, Textiles and Medical Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haruna Sugahara
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shino Suzuki
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yohey Suzuki
- University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark van Zuilen
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
- European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM), CNRS-UMR6538 Laboratoire Geo-Ocean, Plouzané, France
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Ligresti G, Pham TX, Sanders YY. Circular RNA Methylation: A New Twist in Lung Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2022; 66:471-472. [PMID: 35238732 PMCID: PMC9116359 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0044ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ligresti
- Department of Medicine Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tho X Pham
- Department of Medicine Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yan Y Sanders
- Department of Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
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Song H, Zhang J, Liu B, Xu J, Cai B, Yang H, Straube J, Yu X, Ma T. Biological roles of RNA m 5C modification and its implications in Cancer immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2022; 10:15. [PMID: 35365216 PMCID: PMC8973801 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics including DNA and RNA modifications have always been the hotspot field of life sciences in the post-genome era. Since the first mapping of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and the discovery of its widespread presence in mRNA, there are at least 160-170 RNA modifications have been discovered. These methylations occur in different RNA types, and their distribution is species-specific. 5-methylcytosine (m5C) has been found in mRNA, rRNA and tRNA of representative organisms from all kinds of species. As reversible epigenetic modifications, m5C modifications of RNA affect the fate of the modified RNA molecules and play important roles in various biological processes including RNA stability control, protein synthesis, and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, accumulative evidence also implicates the role of RNA m5C in tumorigenesis. Here, we review the latest progresses in the biological roles of m5C modifications and how it is regulated by corresponding "writers", "readers" and "erasers" proteins, as well as the potential molecular mechanism in tumorigenesis and cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Biao Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Hai Yang
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Straube
- Division of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Xiyong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
| | - Teng Ma
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China.
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D’Esposito RJ, Myers CA, Chen AA, Vangaveti S. Challenges with Simulating Modified RNA: Insights into Role and Reciprocity of Experimental and Computational Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:540. [PMID: 35328093 PMCID: PMC8949676 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA is critical to a broad spectrum of biological and viral processes. This functional diversity is a result of their dynamic nature; the variety of three-dimensional structures that they can fold into; and a host of post-transcriptional chemical modifications. While there are many experimental techniques to study the structural dynamics of biomolecules, molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) play a significant role in complementing experimental data and providing mechanistic insights. The accuracy of the results obtained from MDS is determined by the underlying physical models i.e., the force-fields, that steer the simulations. Though RNA force-fields have received a lot of attention in the last decade, they still lag compared to their protein counterparts. The chemical diversity imparted by the RNA modifications adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging problem. Insight into the effect of RNA modifications upon RNA folding and dynamics is lacking due to the insufficiency or absence of relevant experimental data. This review provides an overview of the state of MDS of modified RNA, focusing on the challenges in parameterization of RNA modifications as well as insights into relevant reference experiments necessary for their calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. D’Esposito
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA; (R.J.D.); (A.A.C.)
| | - Christopher A. Myers
- Department of Physics, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA;
| | - Alan A. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA; (R.J.D.); (A.A.C.)
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Sweta Vangaveti
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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Quiles-Jiménez A, Dahl TB, Bjørås M, Alseth I, Halvorsen B, Gregersen I. Epitranscriptome in Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease: Potential Target for Therapies. Stroke 2022; 53:2114-2122. [PMID: 35240858 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.121.037581] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The global risk of cardiovascular disease, including ischemic disease such as stroke, remains high, and cardiovascular disease is the cause of one-third of all deaths worldwide. The main subjacent cause, atherosclerosis, is not fully understood. To improve early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, it is crucial to unveil the key molecular mechanisms that lead to atherosclerosis development. The field of epitranscriptomics is blossoming and quickly advancing in fields like cancer research, nevertheless, poorly understood in the context of cardiovascular disease. Epitranscriptomic modifications are shown to regulate the metabolism and function of RNA molecules, which are important for cell functions such as cell proliferation, a key aspect in atherogenesis. As such, epitranscriptomic regulatory mechanisms can serve as novel checkpoints in gene expression during disease development. In this review, we describe examples of the latest research investigating epitranscriptomic modifications, in particular A-to-I editing and the covalent modification N6-methyladenosine and their regulatory proteins, in the context of cardiovascular disease. We additionally discuss the potential of these mechanisms as therapeutic targets and novel treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Quiles-Jiménez
- Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (A.Q.-J., T.B.D., B.H., I.G.).,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway (A.Q.-J., B.H.)
| | - Tuva B Dahl
- Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (A.Q.-J., T.B.D., B.H., I.G.).,Division of Critical Care and Emergencies, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (T.B.D.)
| | - Magnar Bjørås
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (M.B., I.A.).,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway (M.B.)
| | - Ingrun Alseth
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (M.B., I.A.)
| | - Bente Halvorsen
- Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (A.Q.-J., T.B.D., B.H., I.G.).,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway (A.Q.-J., B.H.)
| | - Ida Gregersen
- Research Institute for Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway. (A.Q.-J., T.B.D., B.H., I.G.)
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45
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Thomas NK, Poodari VC, Jain M, Olsen HE, Akeson M, Abu-Shumays RL. Direct Nanopore Sequencing of Individual Full Length tRNA Strands. ACS NANO 2021; 15:16642-16653. [PMID: 34618430 PMCID: PMC10189790 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We describe a method for direct tRNA sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore MinION. The principal technical advance is custom adapters that facilitate end-to-end sequencing of individual transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules at subnanometer precision. A second advance is a nanopore sequencing pipeline optimized for tRNA. We tested this method using purified E. coli tRNAfMet, tRNALys, and tRNAPhe samples. 76-92% of individual aligned tRNA sequence reads were full length. As a proof of concept, we showed that nanopore sequencing detected all 43 expected isoacceptors in total E. coli MRE600 tRNA as well as isodecoders that further define that tRNA population. Alignment-based comparisons between the three purified tRNAs and their synthetic controls revealed systematic nucleotide miscalls that were diagnostic of known modifications. Systematic miscalls were also observed proximal to known modifications in total E. coli tRNA alignments, including a highly conserved pseudouridine in the T loop. This work highlights the potential of nanopore direct tRNA sequencing as well as improvements needed to implement tRNA sequencing for human healthcare applications.
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46
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Thomas NK, Poodari VC, Jain M, Olsen HE, Akeson M, Abu-Shumays RL. Direct Nanopore Sequencing of Individual Full Length tRNA Strands. ACS NANO 2021; 15:16642-16653. [PMID: 34618430 DOI: 10.1101/2021.1104.1126.441285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We describe a method for direct tRNA sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore MinION. The principal technical advance is custom adapters that facilitate end-to-end sequencing of individual transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules at subnanometer precision. A second advance is a nanopore sequencing pipeline optimized for tRNA. We tested this method using purified E. coli tRNAfMet, tRNALys, and tRNAPhe samples. 76-92% of individual aligned tRNA sequence reads were full length. As a proof of concept, we showed that nanopore sequencing detected all 43 expected isoacceptors in total E. coli MRE600 tRNA as well as isodecoders that further define that tRNA population. Alignment-based comparisons between the three purified tRNAs and their synthetic controls revealed systematic nucleotide miscalls that were diagnostic of known modifications. Systematic miscalls were also observed proximal to known modifications in total E. coli tRNA alignments, including a highly conserved pseudouridine in the T loop. This work highlights the potential of nanopore direct tRNA sequencing as well as improvements needed to implement tRNA sequencing for human healthcare applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki K Thomas
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Vinay C Poodari
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Miten Jain
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Hugh E Olsen
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Mark Akeson
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Robin L Abu-Shumays
- Biomolecular Engineering Department, Genomics Institute, and Center for Molecular Biology of RNA University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
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47
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Șelaru A, Costache M, Dinescu S. Epitranscriptomic signatures in stem cell differentiation to the neuronal lineage. RNA Biol 2021; 18:51-60. [PMID: 34582322 PMCID: PMC8677044 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1985348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Considered to be a field that is continuously growing, epitranscriptomics analyzes the modifications that occur in RNA transcripts and their downstream effects. As epigenetic modifications found in DNA and histones exhibit specific roles on various biological processes, also epitranscriptomic marks control gene expression patterns that are crucial for proper cell proliferation, differentiation and tissue development. Thus, various epitranscriptomic signatures have been identified to play specific roles during stem cell differentiation towards the neuronal and glial lineages, axonal guidance, synaptic plasticity, thus leading to the development of the mature brain tissue. Here we describe in-depth molecular mechanism underlying the most important RNA modifications with emerging roles in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Șelaru
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marieta Costache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorina Dinescu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
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48
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Yang B, Wang JQ, Tan Y, Yuan R, Chen ZS, Zou C. RNA methylation and cancer treatment. Pharmacol Res 2021; 174:105937. [PMID: 34648969 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
To this date, over 100 different types of RNA modification have been identified. Methylation of different RNA species has emerged as a critical regulator of transcript expression. RNA methylation and its related downstream signaling pathways are involved in plethora biological processes, including cell differentiation, sex determination and stress response, and others. It is catalyzed by the RNA methyltransferases, is demethylated by the demethylases (FTO and ALKBH5) and read by methylation binding protein (YTHDF1 and IGF2BP1). Increasing evidence indicates that this process closely connected to cancer cell proliferation, cellular stress, metastasis, immune response. And RNA methylation related protein has been becoming a promising targets of cancer therapy. This review outlines the relationship between different types of RNA methylation and cancer, and some FTO inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baochen Yang
- Department of Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China; University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jing-Quan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA
| | - Yao Tan
- Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Runzhu Yuan
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA.
| | - Chang Zou
- Department of Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China; Shenzhen Public Service Platform on Tumor Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China; School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Kong Hong, Shenzhen, PR China.
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49
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Miranda-Gonçalves V, Lobo J, Guimarães-Teixeira C, Barros-Silva D, Guimarães R, Cantante M, Braga I, Maurício J, Oing C, Honecker F, Nettersheim D, Looijenga LHJ, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. The component of the m 6A writer complex VIRMA is implicated in aggressive tumor phenotype, DNA damage response and cisplatin resistance in germ cell tumors. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:268. [PMID: 34446080 PMCID: PMC8390281 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are developmental cancers, tightly linked to embryogenesis and germ cell development. The recent and expanding field of RNA modifications is being increasingly implicated in such molecular events, as well as in tumor progression and resistance to therapy, but still rarely explored in GCTs. In this work, and as a follow-up of our recent study on this topic in TGCT tissue samples, we aim to investigate the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant of such modifications in mRNA, in in vitro and in vivo models representative of such tumors. Methods Four cell lines representative of GCTs (three testicular and one mediastinal), including an isogenic cisplatin resistant subline, were used. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of VIRMA was established and the chorioallantoic membrane assay was used to study its phenotypic effect in vivo. Results We demonstrated the differential expression of the various m6A writers, readers and erasers in GCT cell lines representative of the major classes of these tumors, seminomas and non-seminomas, and we evidenced changes occurring upon differentiation with all-trans retinoic acid treatment. We showed differential expression also among cells sensitive and resistant to cisplatin treatment, implicating these players in acquisition of cisplatin resistant phenotype. Knockdown of VIRMA led to disruption of the remaining methyltransferase complex and decrease in m6A abundance, as well as overall reduced tumor aggressiveness (with decreased cell viability, tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion) and increased sensitivity to cisplatin treatment, both in vitro and confirmed in vivo. Enhanced response to cisplatin after VIRMA knockdown was related to significant increase in DNA damage (with higher γH2AX and GADD45B levels) and downregulation of XLF and MRE11. Conclusions VIRMA has an oncogenic role in GCTs confirming our previous tissue-based study and is further involved in response to cisplatin by interfering with DNA repair. These data contribute to our better understanding of the emergence of cisplatin resistance in GCTs and support recent attempts to therapeutically target elements of the m6A writer complex. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02072-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Miranda-Gonçalves
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Lobo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Catarina Guimarães-Teixeira
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Barros-Silva
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Guimarães
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Cantante
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isaac Braga
- Department of Urology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquina Maurício
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - Christoph Oing
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCs4, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedemann Honecker
- Tumour and Breast Center ZeTuP St. Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 150, 9006, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal.
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Kouvela A, Zaravinos A, Stamatopoulou V. Adaptor Molecules Epitranscriptome Reprograms Bacterial Pathogenicity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8409. [PMID: 34445114 PMCID: PMC8395126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The strong decoration of tRNAs with post-transcriptional modifications provides an unprecedented adaptability of this class of non-coding RNAs leading to the regulation of bacterial growth and pathogenicity. Accumulating data indicate that tRNA post-transcriptional modifications possess a central role in both the formation of bacterial cell wall and the modulation of transcription and translation fidelity, but also in the expression of virulence factors. Evolutionary conserved modifications in tRNA nucleosides ensure the proper folding and stability redounding to a totally functional molecule. However, environmental factors including stress conditions can cause various alterations in tRNA modifications, disturbing the pathogen homeostasis. Post-transcriptional modifications adjacent to the anticodon stem-loop, for instance, have been tightly linked to bacterial infectivity. Currently, advances in high throughput methodologies have facilitated the identification and functional investigation of such tRNA modifications offering a broader pool of putative alternative molecular targets and therapeutic avenues against bacterial infections. Herein, we focus on tRNA epitranscriptome shaping regarding modifications with a key role in bacterial infectivity including opportunistic pathogens of the human microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamantia Kouvela
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Apostolos Zaravinos
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
- Cancer Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology Group, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC), Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
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