1
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Stover NM, Ganko K, Braatz RD. Mechanistic modeling of in vitro transcription incorporating effects of magnesium pyrophosphate crystallization. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2636-2647. [PMID: 38695152 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28699] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
The in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction used in the production of messenger RNA vaccines and therapies remains poorly quantitatively understood. Mechanistic modeling of IVT could inform reaction design, scale-up, and control. In this work, we develop a mechanistic model of IVT to include nucleation and growth of magnesium pyrophosphate crystals and subsequent agglomeration of crystals and DNA. To help generalize this model to different constructs, a novel quantitative description is included for the rate of transcription as a function of target sequence length, DNA concentration, and T7 RNA polymerase concentration. The model explains previously unexplained trends in IVT data and quantitatively predicts the effect of adding the pyrophosphatase enzyme to the reaction system. The model is validated on additional literature data showing an ability to predict transcription rates as a function of RNA sequence length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Merica Stover
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Krystian Ganko
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Richard D Braatz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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2
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Boman J, Marušič T, Seravalli TV, Skok J, Pettersson F, Nemec KŠ, Widmark H, Sekirnik R. Quality by design approach to improve quality and decrease cost of in vitro transcription of mRNA using design of experiments. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 39014536 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28806] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
In vitro transcription (IVT) reaction is an RNA polymerase-catalyzed production of messenger RNA (mRNA) from DNA template, and the unit operation with highest cost of goods in the mRNA drug substance production process. To decrease the cost of mRNA production, reagents should be optimally utilized. Due to the catalytic, multicomponent nature of the IVT reaction, optimization is a multi-factorial problem, ideally suited to design-of-experiment approach for optimization and identification of design space. We derived a data-driven model of the IVT reaction and explored factors that drive process yield (in g/L), including impact of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) concentration and Mg:NTP ratio on reaction yield and how to optimize the main cost drivers RNA polymerase and DNA template, while minimizing dsRNA formation, a critical quality attribute in mRNA products. We report a methodological approach to derive an optimum reaction design, with which cost efficiency of the reaction was improved by 44%. We demonstrate the validity of the model on mRNA construct of different lengths. Finally, we maximized the yield of the IVT reaction to 24.9 ± 1.5 g/L in batch, thus doubling the highest ever reported IVT yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Boman
- Sartorius Stedim Data Analytics AB, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tjaša Marušič
- Sartorius BIA Separations d.o.o., Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Janja Skok
- Sartorius BIA Separations d.o.o., Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | | | | | | | - Rok Sekirnik
- Sartorius BIA Separations d.o.o., Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
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3
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He W, Zhang X, Zou Y, Li J, Wang C, He Y, Jin Q, Ye J. Effective Synthesis of High-Integrity mRNA Using In Vitro Transcription. Molecules 2024; 29:2461. [PMID: 38893337 PMCID: PMC11173937 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112461] [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] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines are entering a period of rapid development. However, their synthesis is still plagued by challenges related to mRNA impurities and fragments (incomplete mRNA). Most impurities of mRNA products transcribed in vitro are mRNA fragments. Only full-length mRNA transcripts containing both a 5'-cap and a 3'-poly(A) structure are viable for in vivo expression. Therefore, RNA fragments are the primary product-related impurities that significantly hinder mRNA efficacy and must be effectively controlled; these species are believed to originate from either mRNA hydrolysis or premature transcriptional termination. In the manufacturing of commercial mRNA vaccines, T7 RNA polymerase-catalyzed in vitro transcription (IVT) synthesis is a well-established method for synthesizing long RNA transcripts. This study identified a pivotal domain on the T7 RNA polymerase that is associated with erroneous mRNA release. By leveraging the advantageous properties of a T7 RNA polymerase mutant and precisely optimized IVT process parameters, we successfully achieved an mRNA integrity exceeding 91%, thereby further unlocking the immense potential of mRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Xinya Zhang
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Yangxiaoyu Zou
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Ji Li
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Chong Wang
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Yucai He
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Qiuheng Jin
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Jianren Ye
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
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4
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Wang Y, Li L, Sutton AT, Tu Q, Zhao K, Wen E, Osborn J, Singh A, Gunsch MJ, Rustandi RR, Foley D, He Y. Development of a capillary zone electrophoresis method to monitor magnesium ion consumption during in vitro transcription for mRNA production. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024:10.1007/s00216-024-05242-8. [PMID: 38594392 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05242-8] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines represent a landmark in vaccinology, especially with their success in COVID-19 vaccines, which have shown great promise for future vaccine development and disease prevention. As a platform technology, synthetic mRNA can be produced with high fidelity using in vitro transcription (IVT). Magnesium plays a vital role in the IVT process, facilitating the phosphodiester bond formation between adjacent nucleotides and ensuring accurate transcription to produce high-quality mRNA. The development of the IVT process has prompted key inquiries about in-process characterization of magnesium ion (Mg++) consumption, relating to the RNA polymerase (RNAP) activation, fed-batch mode production yield, and mRNA quality. Hence, it becomes crucial to monitor the free Mg++ concentration throughout the IVT process. However, no free Mg++ analysis method has been reported for complex IVT reactions. Here we report a robust capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with indirect UV detection. The assay allows accurate quantitation of free Mg++ for the complex IVT reaction where it is essential to preserve IVT samples in their native-like state during analysis to avoid dissociation of bound Mg complexes. By applying this CZE method, the relationships between free Mg++ concentration, the mRNA yield, and dsRNA impurity level were investigated. Such mechanistic understanding facilitates informed decisions regarding the quantity and timing of feeding starting materials to increase the yield. Furthermore, this approach can serve as a platform method for analyzing the free Mg++ in complex sample matrices where preserving the native-like state of Mg++ binding is key for accurate quantitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA.
| | - Li Li
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA.
| | - Adam T Sutton
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Qiang Tu
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Kaixi Zhao
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Emily Wen
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - James Osborn
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Andrew Singh
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Matthew J Gunsch
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | | | - David Foley
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Yu He
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
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5
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Hengelbrock A, Schmidt A, Strube J. Digital Twin Fundamentals of mRNA In Vitro Transcription in Variable Scale Toward Autonomous Operation. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:8204-8220. [PMID: 38405539 PMCID: PMC10882708 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the rapid development of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines and new RNA-based therapeutic methods. However, the approval rate for candidates has the potential to be increased, with a significant number failing so far due to efficacy, safety, and manufacturing deficiencies, hindering equitable vaccine distribution during pandemics. This study focuses on optimizing the production of mRNA, a critical component of mRNA-based vaccines, using a scalable machine by investigating the key mechanisms of mRNA in vitro transcription. First, kinetic parameters for the mRNA production process were determined. The validity of the determination and the robustness of the model are demonstrated by predicting different reactions with and without substrate limitations as well as different transcripts. The optimized reaction conditions, including temperature, urea concentration, and concentration of reaction-enhancing additives, resulted in a 55% increase in mRNA yield with a 33% reduction in truncated mRNA. Additionally, the feasibility of a segmented flow approach allowed for high-throughput screening (HTS), enabling the production of 20 vaccine candidates within a short time frame, representing a 10-fold increase in productivity, compared to nonsegmented reactions limited by the residence time in the plug flow reactor. The findings presented for the first time here contribute to the development of a fully continuous and efficient manufacturing process for mRNA and other cell and gene therapy drugs/vaccine candidates as presented in our previous work, which discussed the integration of process analytical technologies and predictive process models in a Biopharma 4.0 facility to enable the production of clinical and large-scale doses, ensuring a rapid and resilient supply of critical therapeutics. The results in this study especially highlight that the same machine and equipment can be used for screening and manufacturing different drug candidates in continuous operation. By streamlining production and adhering to quality standards, this approach enhances the industry's ability to respond swiftly to pandemics and public health emergencies, addressing the urgent need for accessible and effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Hengelbrock
- Institute for Separation
and Process Technology, Clausthal University
of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 38678, Germany
| | - Axel Schmidt
- Institute for Separation
and Process Technology, Clausthal University
of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 38678, Germany
| | - Jochen Strube
- Institute for Separation
and Process Technology, Clausthal University
of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 38678, Germany
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6
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Shahrear S, Islam ABMMK. Modeling of MT. P495, an mRNA-based vaccine against the phosphate-binding protein PstS1 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mol Divers 2023; 27:1613-1632. [PMID: 36006502 PMCID: PMC9406248 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10515-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that predominantly affects the lungs, but can also spread to other organs via the bloodstream. TB affects about one-fourth population of the world. With age, the effectiveness of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only authorized TB vaccine, decreases. In the quest for a prophylactic and immunotherapeutic vaccine, in this study, a hypothetical mRNA vaccine is delineated, named MT. P495, implementing in silico and immunoinformatics approaches to evaluate key aspects and immunogenic epitopes across the PstS1, a highly conserved periplasmic protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). PstS1 elicited the potential to generate 99.9% population coverage worldwide. The presence of T- and B-cell epitopes across the PstS1 protein were validated using several computational prediction tools. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation confirmed stable epitope-allele interaction. Immune cell response to the antigen clearance rate was verified by the in silico analysis of immune simulation. Codon optimization confirmed the efficient translation of the mRNA in the host cell. With Toll-like receptors, the vaccine exhibited stable and strong interactions. Findings suggest that the MT. P495 vaccine probably will elicit specific immune responses against Mtb. This mRNA vaccine model is a ready source for further wet-lab validation to confirm the efficacy of this proposed vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sazzad Shahrear
- Department of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
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7
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Rubio-Canalejas A, Pedraz L, Torrents E. ReViTA: A novel in vitro transcription system to study gene regulation. N Biotechnol 2023; 76:41-48. [PMID: 37080534 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.04.005] [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: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
ReViTA (Reverse in VitroTranscription Assay) is a novel in vitro transcription-based method to study gene expression under the regulation of specific transcription factors. The ReViTA system uses a plasmid with a control sequence, the promoter region of the studied gene, the transcription factor of interest, and an RNA polymerase saturated with σ70. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the method; thus, as a proof of concept, two different transcription factors were used, a transcriptional inducer, AlgR, and a repressor, LexA, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After the promoters were incubated with the transcription factors, the plasmid was transcribed into RNA and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Gene expression was measured using qRTPCR. Using the ReViTA plasmid, transcription induction of 55% was observed when AlgR protein was added and a 27% transcription reduction with the repressor LexA, compared with the samples without transcription factors. The results demonstrated the correct functioning of ReViTA as a novel method to study transcription factors and gene expression. Thus, ReViTA could be a rapid and accessible in vitro method to evaluate genes and regulators of various species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Rubio-Canalejas
- Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). Baldiri Reixac 15-21. 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucas Pedraz
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research. University of British Columbia. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Eduard Torrents
- Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). Baldiri Reixac 15-21. 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Microbiology Section, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 643 Diagonal Ave., 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Pregeljc D, Skok J, Vodopivec T, Mencin N, Krušič A, Ličen J, Nemec KŠ, Štrancar A, Sekirnik R. Increasing yield of in vitro transcription reaction with at-line high pressure liquid chromatography monitoring. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:737-747. [PMID: 36471904 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented rate of development of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, which are produced by in vitro transcription reactions. The latter has been the focus of intense development to increase productivity and decrease cost. Optimization of in vitro transcription (IVT) depends on understanding the impact of individual reagents on the kinetics of mRNA production and the consumption of building blocks, which is hampered by slow, low-throughput, end-point analytics. We implemented a workflow based on rapid at-line high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) monitoring of consumption of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) with concomitant production of mRNA, with a sub-3 min read-out, allowing for adjustment of IVT reaction parameters with minimal time lag. IVT was converted to fed-batch resulting in doubling the reaction yield compared to batch IVT protocol, reaching 10 mg/ml for multiple constructs. When coupled with exonuclease digestion, HPLC analytics for quantification of mRNA was extended to monitoring capping efficiency of produced mRNA. When HPLC monitoring was applied to production of an anti-reverse cap analog (ARCA)-capped mRNA construct, which requires an approximate 4:1 ARCA:guanidine triphosphate ratio, the optimized fed-batch approach achieved productivity of 9 mg/ml with 79% capping. The study provides a methodological platform for optimization of factors influencing IVT reactions, converting the reaction from batch to fed-batch mode, determining reaction kinetics, which are critical for optimization of continuous addition of reagents, thus in principle enabling continuous manufacturing of mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domen Pregeljc
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Janja Skok
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Tina Vodopivec
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Nina Mencin
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Krušič
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Jure Ličen
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Kristina Š Nemec
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Štrancar
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
| | - Rok Sekirnik
- BIA Separations d.o.o., a Sartorius Company, Ajdovščina, Slovenia
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9
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Khan NT, Zinnia MA, Islam ABMMK. Modeling mRNA-based vaccine YFV.E1988 against yellow fever virus E-protein using immuno-informatics and reverse vaccinology approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:1617-1638. [PMID: 34994279 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2024253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
To surmount constraints of live-attenuated vaccines we have in silico designed mRNA vaccine using envelope protein as a target antigen. From the alignment of 216 envelope proteins, a consensus sequence was obtained which was used for codon optimization. The secondary structure was predicted using Mfold and RNAfold tool. IEDB server was used to predict T-cell and B-cell epitopes, epitope conservancy, immunogenicity, and population coverage. Antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity were predicted using Vaxijen, AllerTOP, and ToxinPred tools, respectively. Interactions between MHC and identified epitopes were confirmed by docking and molecular dynamics simulation. In silico immune simulation was done using the C-ImmSim server. Vaccine peptide 3D structure was predicted and validated based on the Ramachandran plot. Finally, we designed the vaccine construct for simulating restriction cloning using the SnapGene tool. Our optimization of consensus E protein is highly immunogenic, conserved, has immune-dominance characteristics, and suggests high translational efficiency in the host cell. We validated the presence of T and B cell epitopes and interestingly we found one CD4+ and four CD8+ T-cell epitopes that satisfied all the criteria of an effective vaccine candidate. We found high-affinity interactions between epitope and HLA alleles that can stimulate the T-cell response. The immune simulation verified the immune cell response to eliminate the antigen. To ensure effective expression of the vaccine, a circular plasmid has been designed using in silico cloning approach for the in vitro transcription process. Obtained results suggest that the vaccine YFV.E1988 will elicit specific immune responses against YFV and it is a potential model ready for laboratory testing. HighlightsThe envelope (E) protein was found to be highly conserved and it has the potential to protect individuals against YFV infection.YFV.E1988 vaccine has been capable to stimulate both the CD8+ and CD4+ T cell, solving the major limitations of the current live-attenuated vaccines against YFV.Presence of T- and B-cell epitopes across the antigen have been validated using several computational tools.Molecular docking ensured the epitope-allele binding and protein-TLR/MR interaction. The vaccine was found to be immune-stimulatory, safe, and stable.The codons were optimized for efficient translation and increased stability into the human host. The UTR regions and poly (A) tail used for the development of YFV.E1988 showed immune stimulatory potential in several experiments.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabiha Tasneem Khan
- Department of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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10
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Nwokeoji AO, Chou T, Nwokeoji EA. Low Resource Integrated Platform for Production and Analysis of Capped mRNA. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:329-339. [PMID: 36495278 PMCID: PMC9872168 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The existing platform for large-scale mRNA production is fast, but consumable costs, process technicality, and complexity represent key bottlenecks limiting global mRNA biologics manufacturing. Another challenge is the lack of a consolidated platform for mRNA product characterization and assays that meet regulatory requirements. Bridging these innovation gaps to simplify processes and reduce cost would improve mRNA biologics manufacturability, especially in low-resource settings. This study develops a "cotranscriptional" capping strategy that utilizes T7 RNA polymerase, and the Vaccinia Capping System to synthesize and cap mRNA. We created an "integrated reaction buffer" that supports both capping enzymes for catalytic and in vitro transcription processes, enabling one-pot, two-step capped mRNA synthesis. Additionally, we report a novel, one-step analytic platform for rapid, quantitative, capped mRNA analysis. The assay involves target mRNA segment protection with cheap DNA primers and RNase digest of non-hybridized or non-target sequences before analysis by single nucleotide-resolving urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The integrated approach simplifies production processes and saves costs. Moreover, this assay has potential applications for mRNA analyses and post-transcriptional modification detection in biological samples. Finally, we propose a strategy that may enable unparalleled sequence coverage in RNase mass mapping by adapting the developed assay and replacing urea-PAGE with mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Obinna Nwokeoji
- Chemical
and Biological Engineering, University of
Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, South Yorkshire, U.K.
| | - Tachung Chou
- School
of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, South Yorkshire, U.K.
- All
First Technologies, No.
208, Longnan Rd, Pingzhen District, Taoyuan
City 324, Taiwan
| | - Eleojo Ahuva Nwokeoji
- All
First Technologies, No.
208, Longnan Rd, Pingzhen District, Taoyuan
City 324, Taiwan
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11
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Minkner R, Boonyakida J, Park EY, Wätzig H. Oligonucleotide separation techniques for purification and analysis: What can we learn for today's tasks? Electrophoresis 2022; 43:2402-2427. [PMID: 36285667 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are the blueprint of life. They are not only the construction plan of the single cell or higher associations of them, but also necessary for function, communication and regulation. Due to the pandemic, the attention shifted in particular to their therapeutic potential as a vaccine. As pharmaceutical oligonucleotides are unique in terms of their stability and application, special delivery systems were also considered. Oligonucleotide production systems can vary and depend on the feasibility, availability, price and intended application. To achieve good purity, reliable results and match the strict specifications in the pharmaceutical industry, the separation of oligonucleotides is always essential. Besides the separation required for production, additional and specifically different separation techniques are needed for analysis to determine if the product complies with the designated specifications. After a short introduction to ribonucleic acids (RNAs), messenger RNA vaccines, and their production and delivery systems, an overview regarding separation techniques will be provided. This not only emphasises electrophoretic separations but also includes spin columns, extractions, precipitations, magnetic nanoparticles and several chromatographic separation principles, such as ion exchange chromatography, ion-pair reversed-phase, size exclusion and affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Minkner
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jirayu Boonyakida
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Enoch Y Park
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hermann Wätzig
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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12
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Piao X, Yadav V, Wang E, Chang W, Tau L, Lindenmuth BE, Wang SX. Double-stranded RNA reduction by chaotropic agents during in vitro transcription of messenger RNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:618-624. [PMID: 36090758 PMCID: PMC9421179 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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13
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Daniel S, Kis Z, Kontoravdi C, Shah N. Quality by Design for enabling RNA platform production processes. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1213-1228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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14
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Abstract
In recent years, it has become clear that RNA molecules are involved in almost all vital cellular processes and pathogenesis of human disorders. The functional diversity of RNA comes from its structural richness. Although composed of only four nucleotides, RNA molecules present a plethora of secondary and tertiary structures critical for intra and intermolecular contacts with other RNAs and ligands (proteins, small metabolites, etc.). In order to fully understand RNA function it is necessary to define its spatial structure. Crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance and cryogenic electron microscopy have demonstrated considerable success in determining the structures of biologically important RNA molecules. However, these powerful methods require large amounts of sample. Despite their limitations, chemical synthesis and in vitro transcription are usually employed to obtain milligram quantities of RNA for structural studies, delivering simple and effective methods for large-scale production of homogenous samples. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of methods for large-scale RNA synthesis with emphasis on chemical synthesis and in vitro transcription. We also present our own results of testing the efficiency of these approaches in order to adapt the material acquisition strategy depending on the desired RNA construct.
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15
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Rogers AN, Mastronardo MK, Mekonnen TG, Soto AM. RNA electroelution: Comparing two electroeluter models. Anal Biochem 2021; 632:114391. [PMID: 34562467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2021.114391] [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: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
RNA represents a vibrant area of research and many studies use techniques that require large amounts of purified RNA. One common purification method involves slicing a section of a polyacrylamide gel containing the RNA of interest and eluting the RNA out of the gel using electroelution. Various electroeluter models are available but sometimes a given model becomes discontinued, compelling researchers to choose a different model. Here, we have compared two electroeluters with different chamber designs for their ability to recover RNA from gel pieces. Our results show that both electroeluters are effective and recover comparable amounts of purified RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber N Rogers
- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry & Bioinformatics Program, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA
| | - Maya K Mastronardo
- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry & Bioinformatics Program, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA
| | - Tsion G Mekonnen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA
| | - Ana Maria Soto
- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry & Bioinformatics Program, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA; Department of Chemistry, Towson University, Towson, MD, 21252, USA.
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16
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François-Moutal L, Miranda VG, Mollasalehi N, Gokhale V, Khanna M. In Silico Targeting of the Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:915-921. [PMID: 34141069 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA targeting has gained traction over the past decade. It has become clear that dysregulation of RNA can be linked to many diseases, leading to a need for new scaffolds recognizing RNA specifically. Long noncoding RNAs are emerging as key controllers of gene expression and potential therapeutic targets. However, traditional targeting methods have overwhelmingly been focused on proteins. In this study, we used a protein computational tool and found several possible targetable pockets in a structurally characterized long noncoding RNA, MALAT1. Screening against those identified pockets revealed several hit compounds. We tested the binding of those compounds to MALAT1 RNA and tRNA as a negative control, using SPR. While several compounds were nonspecific binders, others were able to recognize MALAT1 specifically. One of them, MTC07, has an apparent affinity of 400.2 ± 14.4 μM. Although it has weak affinity, MTC07 is the first compound targeting MALAT1 originating from in silico docking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liberty François-Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Victor G. Miranda
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Niloufar Mollasalehi
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0041, United States
| | - Vijay Gokhale
- Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0041, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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17
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Torelli E, Kozyra J, Shirt-Ediss B, Piantanida L, Voïtchovsky K, Krasnogor N. Cotranscriptional Folding of a Bio-orthogonal Fluorescent Scaffolded RNA Origami. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1682-1692. [PMID: 32470289 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The scaffolded origami technique is an attractive tool for engineering nucleic acid nanostructures. This paper demonstrates scaffolded RNA origami folding in vitro in which, for the first time, all components are transcribed simultaneously in a single-pot reaction. Double-stranded DNA sequences are transcribed by T7 RNA polymerase into scaffold and staple strands able to correctly fold in a high synthesis yield into the nanoribbon. Synthesis is successfully confirmed by atomic force microscopy, and the unpurified transcription reaction mixture is analyzed by an in gel-imaging assay where the transcribed RNA nanoribbons are able to capture the specific dye through the reconstituted split Broccoli aptamer showing a clear green fluorescent band. Finally, we simulate the RNA origami in silico using the nucleotide-level coarse-grained model oxRNA to investigate the thermodynamic stability of the assembled nanostructure in isothermal conditions over a period of time. Our work suggests that the scaffolded origami technique is a viable, and potentially more powerful, assembly alternative to the single-stranded origami technique for future in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Torelli
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Jerzy Kozyra
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Shirt-Ediss
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Piantanida
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Kislon Voïtchovsky
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Natalio Krasnogor
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
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18
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Wu MZ, Asahara H, Tzertzinis G, Roy B. Synthesis of low immunogenicity RNA with high-temperature in vitro transcription. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:345-360. [PMID: 31900329 PMCID: PMC7025508 DOI: 10.1261/rna.073858.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The use of synthetic RNA for therapeutics requires that the in vitro synthesis process be robust and efficient. The technology used for the synthesis of these in vitro-transcribed RNAs, predominantly using phage RNA polymerases (RNAPs), is well established. However, transcripts synthesized with RNAPs are known to display an immune-stimulatory activity in vivo that is often undesirable. Previous studies have identified double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), a major by-product of the in vitro transcription (IVT) process, as a trigger of cellular immune responses. Here we describe the characterization of a high-temperature IVT process using thermostable T7 RNAPs to synthesize functional mRNAs that demonstrate reduced immunogenicity without the need for a post-synthesis purification step. We identify features that drive the production of two kinds of dsRNA by-products-one arising from 3' extension of the run-off product and one formed by the production of antisense RNAs-and demonstrate that at a high temperature, T7 RNAP has reduced 3'-extension of the run-off product. We show that template-encoded poly(A) tailing does not affect 3'-extension but reduces the formation of the antisense RNA by-products. Combining high-temperature IVT with template-encoded poly(A) tailing prevents the formation of both kinds of dsRNA by-products generating functional mRNAs with reduced immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Z Wu
- RNA and Genome Editing, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
| | - Haruichi Asahara
- RNA and Genome Editing, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
| | - George Tzertzinis
- RNA and Genome Editing, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
| | - Bijoyita Roy
- RNA and Genome Editing, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
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19
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Cai R, Price IR, Ding F, Wu F, Chen T, Zhang Y, Liu G, Jardine PJ, Lu C, Ke A. ATP/ADP modulates gp16-pRNA conformational change in the Phi29 DNA packaging motor. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:9818-9828. [PMID: 31396619 PMCID: PMC6765105 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Packaging of phage phi29 genome requires the ATPase gp16 and prohead RNA (pRNA). The highly conserved pRNA forms the interface between the connector complex and gp16. Understanding how pRNA interacts with gp16 under packaging conditions can shed light on the molecular mechanism of the packaging motor. Here, we present 3D models of the pRNA–gp16 complex and its conformation change in response to ATP or ADP binding. Using a combination of crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering and chemical probing, we find that the pRNA and gp16 forms a ‘Z’-shaped complex, with gp16 specifically binds to pRNA domain II. The whole complex closes in the presence of ATP, and pRNA domain II rotates open as ATP hydrolyzes, before resetting after ADP is released. Our results suggest that pRNA domain II actively participates in the packaging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujie Cai
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ian R Price
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Fang Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Feifei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Guangfeng Liu
- National Center for Protein Science Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Paul J Jardine
- Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences, and Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Changrui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ailong Ke
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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20
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Kanwal F, Chen T, Zhang Y, Simair A, Lu C. A Modified In Vitro Transcription Approach to Improve RNA Synthesis and Ribozyme Cleavage Efficiency. Mol Biotechnol 2019; 61:469-476. [PMID: 30868354 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-019-00167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA elements such as catalytic RNA, riboswitch, microRNA, and long non-coding RNA perform a major role in cellular processes. A complete understanding of cellular processes is impossible without knowing the structure-function relationship of participating RNA molecules that ultimately requires large quantities of pure RNAs. Thus, structural/functional analyses of emerging RNAs necessitate revised protocols for improved RNA quantity and quality. Here we present a modified in vitro transcription protocol to enhance ribozyme cleaving efficiency and RNA yield by working on two variables, i.e., incubation temperature and limiting GTPs. Following an improved RNA synthesis, the target RNA is purified from transcription mixture components through denaturing size-exclusion chromatography. The protocol confirms that cyclic elevated incubation temperatures during transcription and increased concentrations of GTPs improve the production rate of RNA. Our modified in vitro transcription method improves the ribozyme cleaving efficiency and targets RNA yield by four- to fivefold that can benefit almost any RNA-related study from protein-RNA interaction analysis to crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariha Kanwal
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DongHua University, 2999 North Ren Min Road, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DongHua University, 2999 North Ren Min Road, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DongHua University, 2999 North Ren Min Road, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Altaf Simair
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DongHua University, 2999 North Ren Min Road, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Changrui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, DongHua University, 2999 North Ren Min Road, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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21
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A review on native and denaturing purification methods for non-coding RNA (ncRNA). J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1120:71-79. [PMID: 31071581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recently, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) became the centerpiece of human genome research. Modern ncRNA-based research has revolutionized disease diagnosis and therapeutics. However, decoding structural/functional information of ncRNA requires large amount of pure RNA, and hence effective RNA preparation and purification protocols. This review focuses on purification schemes of synthetic oligonucleotides, particularly liquid chromatographic (LC) techniques as improved alternatives to urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (urea-PAGE) purification. Moreover, the review summarizes the shortcomings of urea-PAGE purification method and details the chromatographic purification such as affinity, ion-exchange (IE) or size-exclusion (SE) chromatography. Specifically, we discuss denaturing and native RNA purification schemes with newest developments. In short, the review evaluates nucleic acid purification schemes required for various structural analyses.
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22
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Gemmill D, D'souza S, Meier-Stephenson V, Patel TR. Current approaches for RNA-labelling to identify RNA-binding proteins. Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 98:31-41. [PMID: 30931575 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2019-0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA is involved in all domains of life, playing critical roles in a host of gene expression processes, host-defense mechanisms, cell proliferation, and diseases. A critical component in many of these events is the ability for RNA to interact with proteins. Over the past few decades, our understanding of such RNA-protein interactions and their importance has driven the search and development of new techniques for the identification of RNA-binding proteins. In determining which proteins bind to the RNA of interest, it is often useful to use the approach where the RNA molecule is the "bait" and allow it to capture proteins from a lysate or other relevant solution. Here, we review a collection of methods for modifying RNA to capture RNA-binding proteins. These include small-molecule modification, the addition of aptamers, DNA-anchoring, and nucleotide substitution. With each, we provide examples of their application, as well as highlight their advantages and potential challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Gemmill
- Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Simmone D'souza
- Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Vanessa Meier-Stephenson
- Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Trushar R Patel
- Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and Discovery Lab, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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23
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Qin XG, Zeng JH, Lin P, Mo WJ, Li Q, Feng ZB, Luo DZ, Yang H, Chen G, Zeng JJ. Prognostic value of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) for digestive tract pan- adenocarcinomas identified by RNA sequencing data. Pathol Res Pract 2018; 215:414-426. [PMID: 30455130 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Malignant tumors of the digestive tract include esophageal, gastric, and colorectal carcinomas, which all have high global mortality rates. A clinical role for small nuclear RNA (snRNA), a type of small non-coding RNA, has not yet been documented for digestive tract pan-adenocarcinomas. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify differentially expressed snRNAs and to explore their prognostic implications in pan-adenocarcinomas from the esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum. The pan-carcinoma RNA-sequencing data of four types of digestive tract cancers with 1, 102 cases obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project were analyzed and the differentially expressed snRNAs were evaluated using the edgeR package. The prognostic value of each of the selected snRNAs was determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. All the digestive tract pan-adenocarcinomas showed differential expression of three snRNAs: the up-regulated RNU1-106 P and RNU6-850 P and the down-regulated RNU6-529 P. Interestingly, RNU6-101 P appeared to be a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (ESAD) and RNVU1-4 was potentially a protective factor for stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) survival. This consistent finding of differential expression of all three snRNAs in all four types of digestive system cancers suggests potential roles for these snRNAs in the tumorigenesis of digestive system cancers. RNU6-101 P could play a pivotal role in the progression of ESAD and RNVU1-4 could perform a protective role in STAD. However, since the current findings were based on RNA-sequencing data mining, more studies are needed for verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Gan Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Jiang-Hui Zeng
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Peng Lin
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Wei-Jia Mo
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Zhen-Bo Feng
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Dian-Zhong Luo
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China
| | - Jing-Jing Zeng
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, Nanning, PR China.
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