1
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Wang J, Yang L, Cheng A, Tham CY, Tan W, Darmawan J, de Sessions PF, Wan Y. Direct RNA sequencing coupled with adaptive sampling enriches RNAs of interest in the transcriptome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:481. [PMID: 38212309 PMCID: PMC10784512 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44656-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Abundant cellular transcripts occupy most of the sequencing reads in the transcriptome, making it challenging to assay for low-abundant transcripts. Here, we utilize the adaptive sampling function of Oxford Nanopore sequencing to selectively deplete and enrich RNAs of interest without biochemical manipulation before sequencing. Adaptive sampling performed on a pool of in vitro transcribed RNAs resulted in a net increase of 22-30% in the proportion of transcripts of interest in the population. Enriching and depleting different proportions of the Candida albicans transcriptome also resulted in a 11-13.5% increase in the number of reads on target transcripts, with longer and more abundant transcripts being more efficiently depleted. Depleting all currently annotated Candida albicans transcripts did not result in an absolute enrichment of remaining transcripts, although we identified 26 previously unknown transcripts and isoforms, 17 of which are antisense to existing transcripts. Further improvements in the adaptive sampling of RNAs will allow the technology to be widely applied to study RNAs of interest in diverse transcriptomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxu Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Lin Yang
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Singapore, 138667, Singapore
| | - Anthony Cheng
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | | | - Wenting Tan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Jefferson Darmawan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | | | - Yue Wan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, 138672, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore.
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2
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Zanin O, Eastham M, Winczura K, Ashe M, Martinez-Nunez RT, Hebenstreit D, Grzechnik P. Ceg1 depletion reveals mechanisms governing degradation of non-capped RNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1112. [PMID: 37919390 PMCID: PMC10622555 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05495-6] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Most functional eukaryotic mRNAs contain a 5' 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap. Although capping is essential for many biological processes including mRNA processing, export and translation, the fate of uncapped transcripts has not been studied extensively. Here, we employed fast nuclear depletion of the capping enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to uncover the turnover of the transcripts that failed to be capped. We show that although the degradation of cap-deficient mRNA is dominant, the levels of hundreds of non-capped mRNAs increase upon depletion of the capping enzymes. Overall, the abundance of non-capped mRNAs is inversely correlated to the expression levels, altogether resembling the effects observed in cells lacking the cytoplasmic 5'-3' exonuclease Xrn1 and indicating differential degradation fates of non-capped mRNAs. The inactivation of the nuclear 5'-3' exonuclease Rat1 does not rescue the non-capped mRNA levels indicating that Rat1 is not involved in their degradation and consequently, the lack of the capping does not affect the distribution of RNA Polymerase II on the chromatin. Our data indicate that the cap presence is essential to initiate the Xrn1-dependent degradation of mRNAs underpinning the role of 5' cap in the Xrn1-dependent buffering of the cellular mRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onofrio Zanin
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Matthew Eastham
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Kinga Winczura
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Mark Ashe
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Rocio T Martinez-Nunez
- School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | - Pawel Grzechnik
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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3
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Ngo K, Gittens TH, Gonzalez DI, Hatmaker EA, Plotkin S, Engle M, Friedman GA, Goldin M, Hoerr RE, Eichman BF, Rokas A, Benton ML, Friedman KL. A comprehensive map of hotspots of de novo telomere addition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad076. [PMID: 37119805 PMCID: PMC10474931 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad076] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere healing occurs when telomerase, normally restricted to chromosome ends, acts upon a double-strand break to create a new, functional telomere. De novo telomere addition (dnTA) on the centromere-proximal side of a break truncates the chromosome but, by blocking resection, may allow the cell to survive an otherwise lethal event. We previously identified several sequences in the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that act as hotspots of dnTA [termed Sites of Repair-associated Telomere Addition (SiRTAs)], but the distribution and functional relevance of SiRTAs is unclear. Here, we describe a high-throughput sequencing method to measure the frequency and location of telomere addition within sequences of interest. Combining this methodology with a computational algorithm that identifies SiRTA sequence motifs, we generate the first comprehensive map of telomere-addition hotspots in yeast. Putative SiRTAs are strongly enriched in subtelomeric regions where they may facilitate formation of a new telomere following catastrophic telomere loss. In contrast, outside of subtelomeres, the distribution and orientation of SiRTAs appears random. Since truncating the chromosome at most SiRTAs would be lethal, this observation argues against selection for these sequences as sites of telomere addition per se. We find, however, that sequences predicted to function as SiRTAs are significantly more prevalent across the genome than expected by chance. Sequences identified by the algorithm bind the telomeric protein Cdc13, raising the possibility that association of Cdc13 with single-stranded regions generated during the response to DNA damage may facilitate DNA repair more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Ngo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Tristen H Gittens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - David I Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - E Anne Hatmaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Simcha Plotkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Mason Engle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Geofrey A Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Melissa Goldin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Remington E Hoerr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Brandt F Eichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
| | | | - Katherine L Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA
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4
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Ngo K, Gittens TH, Gonzalez DI, Hatmaker EA, Plotkin S, Engle M, Friedman GA, Goldin M, Hoerr RE, Eichman BF, Rokas A, Benton ML, Friedman KL. A comprehensive map of hotspots of de novo telomere addition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.533556. [PMID: 36993206 PMCID: PMC10055226 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.533556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomere healing occurs when telomerase, normally restricted to chromosome ends, acts upon a double-strand break to create a new, functional telomere. De novo telomere addition on the centromere-proximal side of a break truncates the chromosome but, by blocking resection, may allow the cell to survive an otherwise lethal event. We previously identified several sequences in the baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae , that act as hotspots of de novo telomere addition (termed Sites of Repair-associated Telomere Addition or SiRTAs), but the distribution and functional relevance of SiRTAs is unclear. Here, we describe a high-throughput sequencing method to measure the frequency and location of telomere addition within sequences of interest. Combining this methodology with a computational algorithm that identifies SiRTA sequence motifs, we generate the first comprehensive map of telomere-addition hotspots in yeast. Putative SiRTAs are strongly enriched in subtelomeric regions where they may facilitate formation of a new telomere following catastrophic telomere loss. In contrast, outside of subtelomeres, the distribution and orientation of SiRTAs appears random. Since truncating the chromosome at most SiRTAs would be lethal, this observation argues against selection for these sequences as sites of telomere addition per se. We find, however, that sequences predicted to function as SiRTAs are significantly more prevalent across the genome than expected by chance. Sequences identified by the algorithm bind the telomeric protein Cdc13, raising the possibility that association of Cdc13 with single-stranded regions generated during the response to DNA damage may facilitate DNA repair more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Ngo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | | | | | - E. Anne Hatmaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University
| | - Simcha Plotkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | - Mason Engle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | | | - Melissa Goldin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
| | | | - Brandt F. Eichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University
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5
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Jacobs RQ, Carter ZI, Lucius AL, Schneider DA. Uncovering the mechanisms of transcription elongation by eukaryotic RNA polymerases I, II, and III. iScience 2022; 25:105306. [PMID: 36304104 PMCID: PMC9593817 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes express three nuclear RNA polymerases (Pols I, II, and III) that are essential for cell survival. Despite extensive investigation of the three Pols, significant knowledge gaps regarding their biochemical properties remain because each Pol has been evaluated independently under disparate experimental conditions and methodologies. To advance our understanding of the Pols, we employed identical in vitro transcription assays for direct comparison of their elongation rates, elongation complex (EC) stabilities, and fidelities. Pol I is the fastest, most likely to misincorporate, forms the least stable EC, and is most sensitive to alterations in reaction buffers. Pol II is the slowest of the Pols, forms the most stable EC, and negligibly misincorporated an incorrect nucleotide. The enzymatic properties of Pol III were intermediate between Pols I and II in all assays examined. These results reveal unique enzymatic characteristics of the Pols that provide new insights into their evolutionary divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Q. Jacobs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Zachariah I. Carter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Aaron L. Lucius
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - David A. Schneider
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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6
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Hedayioglu F, Mead EJ, O'Connor PBF, Skiotys M, Sansom OJ, Mallucci GR, Willis AE, Baranov PV, Smales CM, von der Haar T. Evaluating data integrity in ribosome footprinting datasets through modelled polysome profiles. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e112. [PMID: 35979952 PMCID: PMC9638929 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of transcriptome-wide ribosome binding to mRNAs is useful for studying the dynamic regulation of protein synthesis. Two methods frequently applied in eukaryotic cells that operate at different levels of resolution are polysome profiling, which reveals the distribution of ribosome loads across the transcriptome, and ribosome footprinting (also termed ribosome profiling or Ribo-Seq), which when combined with appropriate data on mRNA expression can reveal ribosome densities on individual transcripts. In this study we develop methods for relating the information content of these two methods to one another, by reconstructing theoretical polysome profiles from ribosome footprinting data. Our results validate both approaches as experimental tools. Although we show that both methods can yield highly consistent data, some published ribosome footprinting datasets give rise to reconstructed polysome profiles with non-physiological features. We trace these aberrant features to inconsistencies in RNA and Ribo-Seq data when compared to datasets yielding physiological polysome profiles, thereby demonstrating that modelled polysomes are useful for assessing global dataset properties such as its quality in a simple, visual approach. Aside from using polysome profile reconstructions on published datasets, we propose that this also provides a useful tool for validating new ribosome footprinting datasets in early stages of analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Hedayioglu
- Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Emma J Mead
- Industrial Biotechnology Centre, School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | | | - Matas Skiotys
- Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Giovanna R Mallucci
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Island Research Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Anne E Willis
- MRC Toxciology Unit, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Pavel V Baranov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - C Mark Smales
- Industrial Biotechnology Centre, School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Tobias von der Haar
- Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
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7
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Guo T, Modi OL, Hirano J, Guzman HV, Tsuboi T. Single-chain models illustrate the 3D RNA folding shape during translation. BIOPHYSICAL REPORTS 2022; 2:100065. [PMID: 36425329 PMCID: PMC9680788 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The three-dimensional conformation of RNA is important in the function and fate of the molecule. The common conformation of mRNA is formed based on the closed-loop structure and internal base pairings with the activity of the ribosome movements. However, recent reports suggest that the closed-loop structure might not be formed in many mRNAs. This implies that mRNA can be considered as a single polymer in the cell. Here, we introduce the Three-dimensional RNA Illustration Program (TRIP) to model the three-dimensional RNA folding shape based on single-chain models and angle restriction of each bead component from previously reported single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) experimental data. This simulation method was able to recapitulate the mRNA conformation change of the translation activity and three-dimensional positional interaction between an organelle and its localized mRNAs as end-to-end distances. Within the analyzed cases, base-pairing interactions only have minor effects on the three-dimensional mRNA conformation, and instead single-chain polymer characteristics have a more significant impact on the conformation. This top-down method will be used to interpret the aggregation mechanism of mRNA under different cellular conditions such as nucleolus and phase-separated granules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianze Guo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Olivia L. Modi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jillian Hirano
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Horacio V. Guzman
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tatsuhisa Tsuboi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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8
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Partitioning RNAs by length improves transcriptome reconstruction from short-read RNA-seq data. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:741-750. [PMID: 35013600 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01136-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The accuracy of methods for assembling transcripts from short-read RNA sequencing data is limited by the lack of long-range information. Here we introduce Ladder-seq, an approach that separates transcripts according to their lengths before sequencing and uses the additional information to improve the quantification and assembly of transcripts. Using simulated data, we show that a kallisto algorithm extended to process Ladder-seq data quantifies transcripts of complex genes with substantially higher accuracy than conventional kallisto. For reference-based assembly, a tailored scheme based on the StringTie2 algorithm reconstructs a single transcript with 30.8% higher precision than its conventional counterpart and is more than 30% more sensitive for complex genes. For de novo assembly, a similar scheme based on the Trinity algorithm correctly assembles 78% more transcripts than conventional Trinity while improving precision by 78%. In experimental data, Ladder-seq reveals 40% more genes harboring isoform switches compared to conventional RNA sequencing and unveils widespread changes in isoform usage upon m6A depletion by Mettl14 knockout.
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9
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Cao X, Guo Z, Wang H, Dong Y, Lu S, He QY, Sun X, Zhang G. Autoactivation of Translation Causes the Bloom of Prorocentrum donghaiense in Harmful Algal Blooms. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:3179-3187. [PMID: 33955761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are symptomatic of ecosystem imbalance, leading to major worldwide marine natural disasters, and seriously threaten the human health. Some HAB algae's exceptional genome size prohibited the genomic investigations on molecular mechanisms, for example, Prorocentrum. This study performed translatome sequencing (RNC-seq) for Prorocentrum donghaiense to assemble the translatome reference sequences on appropriate cost to enable the global molecular study at translatome and proteome levels. By analyzing the translatome and proteome of P. donghaiense in phosphor-rich, phosphor-deficient, and phosphor-restored media, we found massive up-regulation of energy and material production pathways in phosphor-rich conditions that enables autoactivation of translation, which is the key to its exponential growth in HABs. To break down the autoactivation, we demonstrated that mild translation delay using very low concentrations of cycloheximide efficiently controls the blooming without harming other aquatic organisms and humans. Our result provides a novel hint for controlling HABs and demonstrated the RNC-seq as an economic strategy on investigating functions of organisms with large and unknown genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhong Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hualong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention, Research Center for Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuelei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention, Research Center for Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Songhui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention, Research Center for Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qing-Yu He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xuesong Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Gong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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10
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Meganck RM, Liu J, Hale AE, Simon KE, Fanous MM, Vincent HA, Wilusz JE, Moorman NJ, Marzluff WF, Asokan A. Engineering highly efficient backsplicing and translation of synthetic circRNAs. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 23:821-834. [PMID: 33614232 PMCID: PMC7868716 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly stable RNA molecules that are attractive templates for expression of therapeutic proteins and non-coding RNAs. In eukaryotes, circRNAs are primarily generated by the spliceosome through backsplicing. Here, we interrogate different molecular elements including intron type and length, Alu repeats, internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), and exon length essential for circRNA formation and exploit this information to engineer robust backsplicing and circRNA expression. Specifically, we leverage the finding that the downstream intron can tolerate large inserts without affecting splicing to achieve tandem expression of backspliced circRNAs and tRNA intronic circRNAs from the same template. Further, truncation of selected intronic regions markedly increased circRNA formation in different cell types in vitro as well as AAV-mediated circRNA expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue in vivo. We also observed that different IRES elements and exon length influenced circRNA expression and translation, revealing an exonic contribution to splicing, as evidenced by different RNA species produced. Taken together, these data provide new insight into improving the design and expression of synthetic circRNAs. When combined with AAV capsid and promoter technologies, the backsplicing introns and IRES elements constituting this modular platform significantly expand the gene expression toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita M Meganck
- Curriculum in Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Andrew E Hale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Katherine E Simon
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Marco M Fanous
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Heather A Vincent
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jeremy E Wilusz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Moorman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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11
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Jacobs RQ, Ingram ZM, Lucius AL, Schneider DA. Defining the divergent enzymatic properties of RNA polymerases I and II. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100051. [PMID: 33168625 PMCID: PMC7948988 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes express at least three nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols) responsible for synthesizing all RNA required by the cell. Despite sharing structural homology, they have functionally diverged to suit their distinct cellular roles. Although the Pols have been studied extensively, direct comparison of their enzymatic properties is difficult because studies are often conducted under disparate experimental conditions and techniques. Here, we directly compare and reveal functional differences between Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pols I and II using a series of quantitative in vitro transcription assays. We find that Pol I single-nucleotide and multinucleotide addition rate constants are faster than those of Pol II. Pol I elongation complexes are less stable than Pol II elongation complexes, and Pol I is more error prone than Pol II. Collectively, these data show that the enzymatic properties of the Pols have diverged over the course of evolution, optimizing these enzymes for their unique cellular responsibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Q Jacobs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Zachariah M Ingram
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Aaron L Lucius
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
| | - David A Schneider
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
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12
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Cheng YH, Liu CFJ, Yu YH, Jhou YT, Fujishima M, Tsai IJ, Leu JY. Genome plasticity in Paramecium bursaria revealed by population genomics. BMC Biol 2020; 18:180. [PMID: 33250052 PMCID: PMC7702705 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00912-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ciliates are an ancient and diverse eukaryotic group found in various environments. A unique feature of ciliates is their nuclear dimorphism, by which two types of nuclei, the diploid germline micronucleus (MIC) and polyploidy somatic macronucleus (MAC), are present in the same cytoplasm and serve different functions. During each sexual cycle, ciliates develop a new macronucleus in which newly fused genomes are extensively rearranged to generate functional minichromosomes. Interestingly, each ciliate species seems to have its way of processing genomes, providing a diversity of resources for studying genome plasticity and its regulation. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the macronuclear genome of different strains of Paramecium bursaria, a highly divergent species of the genus Paramecium which can stably establish endosymbioses with green algae. Results We assembled a high-quality macronuclear genome of P. bursaria and further refined genome annotation by comparing population genomic data. We identified several species-specific expansions in protein families and gene lineages that are potentially associated with endosymbiosis. Moreover, we observed an intensive chromosome breakage pattern that occurred during or shortly after sexual reproduction and contributed to highly variable gene dosage throughout the genome. However, patterns of copy number variation were highly correlated among genetically divergent strains, suggesting that copy number is adjusted by some regulatory mechanisms or natural selection. Further analysis showed that genes with low copy number variation among populations tended to function in basic cellular pathways, whereas highly variable genes were enriched in environmental response pathways. Conclusions We report programmed DNA rearrangements in the P. bursaria macronuclear genome that allow cells to adjust gene copy number globally according to individual gene functions. Our results suggest that large-scale gene copy number variation may represent an ancient mechanism for cells to adapt to different environments. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-020-00912-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsuan Cheng
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Fu Jeff Liu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsin Yu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Jhou
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Masahiro Fujishima
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8512, Japan
| | - Isheng Jason Tsai
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Jun-Yi Leu
- Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan. .,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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13
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Petibon C, Malik Ghulam M, Catala M, Abou Elela S. Regulation of ribosomal protein genes: An ordered anarchy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 12:e1632. [PMID: 33038057 PMCID: PMC8047918 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomal protein genes are among the most highly expressed genes in most cell types. Their products are generally essential for ribosome synthesis, which is the cornerstone for cell growth and proliferation. Many cellular resources are dedicated to producing ribosomal proteins and thus this process needs to be regulated in ways that carefully balance the supply of nascent ribosomal proteins with the demand for new ribosomes. Ribosomal protein genes have classically been viewed as a uniform interconnected regulon regulated in eukaryotic cells by target of rapamycin and protein kinase A pathway in response to changes in growth conditions and/or cellular status. However, recent literature depicts a more complex picture in which the amount of ribosomal proteins produced varies between genes in response to two overlapping regulatory circuits. The first includes the classical general ribosome‐producing program and the second is a gene‐specific feature responsible for fine‐tuning the amount of ribosomal proteins produced from each individual ribosomal gene. Unlike the general pathway that is mainly controlled at the level of transcription and translation, this specific regulation of ribosomal protein genes is largely achieved through changes in pre‐mRNA splicing efficiency and mRNA stability. By combining general and specific regulation, the cell can coordinate ribosome production, while allowing functional specialization and diversity. Here we review the many ways ribosomal protein genes are regulated, with special focus on the emerging role of posttranscriptional regulatory events in fine‐tuning the expression of ribosomal protein genes and its role in controlling the potential variation in ribosome functions. This article is categorized under:Translation > Ribosome Biogenesis Translation > Ribosome Structure/Function Translation > Translation Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Petibon
- Département de microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Universite de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mustafa Malik Ghulam
- Département de microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Universite de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Catala
- Département de microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Universite de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sherif Abou Elela
- Département de microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Universite de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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14
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Chaudhuri A, Das S, Das B. Localization elements and zip codes in the intracellular transport and localization of messenger RNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 11:e1591. [PMID: 32101377 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular trafficking and localization of mRNAs provide a mechanism of regulation of expression of genes with excellent spatial control. mRNA localization followed by localized translation appears to be a mechanism of targeted protein sorting to a specific cell-compartment, which is linked to the establishment of cell polarity, cell asymmetry, embryonic axis determination, and neuronal plasticity in metazoans. However, the complexity of the mechanism and the components of mRNA localization in higher organisms prompted the use of the unicellular organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a simplified model organism to study this vital process. Current knowledge indicates that a variety of mRNAs are asymmetrically and selectively localized to the tip of the bud of the daughter cells, to the vicinity of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and nucleus in this organism, which are connected to diverse cellular processes. Interestingly, specific cis-acting RNA localization elements (LEs) or RNA zip codes play a crucial role in the localization and trafficking of these localized mRNAs by providing critical binding sites for the specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In this review, we present a comprehensive account of mRNA localization in S. cerevisiae, various types of localization elements influencing the mRNA localization, and the RBPs, which bind to these LEs to implement a number of vital physiological processes. Finally, we emphasize the significance of this process by highlighting their connection to several neuropathological disorders and cancers. This article is categorized under: RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Chaudhuri
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
| | - Subhadeep Das
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
| | - Biswadip Das
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
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15
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Genomic Considerations for the Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Biofuel and Metabolite Biosynthesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030321. [PMID: 32110897 PMCID: PMC7143498 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing global population and developing world has put a strain on non-renewable natural resources, such as fuels. The shift to renewable sources will, thus, help meet demands, often through the modification of existing biosynthetic pathways or the introduction of novel pathways into non-native species. There are several useful biosynthetic pathways endogenous to organisms that are not conducive for the scale-up necessary for industrial use. The use of genetic and synthetic biological approaches to engineer these pathways in non-native organisms can help ameliorate these challenges. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers several advantages for genetic engineering for this purpose due to its widespread use as a model system studied by many researchers. The focus of this review is to present a primer on understanding genomic considerations prior to genetic modification and manipulation of S. cerevisiae. The choice of a site for genetic manipulation can have broad implications on transcription throughout a region and this review will present the current understanding of position effects on transcription.
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16
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McMillan J, Lu Z, Rodriguez JS, Ahn TH, Lin Z. YeasTSS: an integrative web database of yeast transcription start sites. DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION 2020; 2019:5479513. [PMID: 31032841 PMCID: PMC6484093 DOI: 10.1093/database/baz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The transcription initiation landscape of eukaryotic genes is complex and highly dynamic. In eukaryotes, genes can generate multiple transcript variants that differ in 5' boundaries due to usages of alternative transcription start sites (TSSs), and the abundance of transcript isoforms are highly variable. Due to a large number and complexity of the TSSs, it is not feasible to depict details of transcript initiation landscape of all genes using text-format genome annotation files. Therefore, it is necessary to provide data visualization of TSSs to represent quantitative TSS maps and the core promoters (CPs). In addition, the selection and activity of TSSs are influenced by various factors, such as transcription factors, chromatin remodeling and histone modifications. Thus, integration and visualization of functional genomic data related to these features could provide a better understanding of the gene promoter architecture and regulatory mechanism of transcription initiation. Yeast species play important roles for the research and human society, yet no database provides visualization and integration of functional genomic data in yeast. Here, we generated quantitative TSS maps for 12 important yeast species, inferred their CPs and built a public database, YeasTSS (www.yeastss.org). YeasTSS was designed as a central portal for visualization and integration of the TSS maps, CPs and functional genomic data related to transcription initiation in yeast. YeasTSS is expected to benefit the research community and public education for improving genome annotation, studies of promoter structure, regulated control of transcription initiation and inferring gene regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan McMillan
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Program in Computer Engineering, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zhaolian Lu
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Judith S Rodriguez
- Program of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tae-Hyuk Ahn
- Program of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Computer Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zhenguo Lin
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Program of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
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17
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De Nijs Y, De Maeseneire SL, Soetaert WK. 5' untranslated regions: the next regulatory sequence in yeast synthetic biology. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 95:517-529. [PMID: 31863552 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
When developing industrial biotechnology processes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast or brewer's yeast) is a popular choice as a microbial host. Many tools have been developed in the fields of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to introduce heterologous pathways and tune their expression in yeast. Such tools mainly focus on controlling transcription, whereas post-transcriptional regulation is often overlooked. Herein we discuss regulatory elements found in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and their influence on protein synthesis. We provide not only an overall picture, but also a set of design rules on how to engineer a 5' UTR. The reader is also referred to currently available models that allow gene expression to be tuned predictably using different 5' UTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yatti De Nijs
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be), Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie L De Maeseneire
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be), Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim K Soetaert
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (InBio.be), Department Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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18
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Lu Z, Lin Z. Pervasive and dynamic transcription initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genome Res 2019; 29:1198-1210. [PMID: 31076411 PMCID: PMC6633255 DOI: 10.1101/gr.245456.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transcription initiation is finely regulated to ensure proper expression and function of genes. The regulated transcription initiation in response to various environmental stimuli in a classic model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we generated quantitative maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) at a single-nucleotide resolution for S. cerevisiae grown in nine different conditions using no-amplification nontagging Cap analysis of gene expression (nAnT-iCAGE) sequencing. We mapped ∼1 million well-supported TSSs, suggesting highly pervasive transcription initiation in the compact genome of the budding yeast. The comprehensive TSS maps allowed us to identify core promoters for ∼96% verified protein-coding genes. We corrected misannotation of translation start codon for 122 genes and suggested an alternative start codon for 57 genes. We found that 56% of yeast genes are controlled by multiple core promoters, and alternative core promoter usage by a gene is widespread in response to changing environments. Most core promoter shifts are coupled with altered gene expression, indicating that alternative core promoter usage might play an important role in controlling gene transcriptional activities. Based on their activities in responding to environmental cues, we divided core promoters into constitutive class (55%) and inducible class (45%). The two classes of core promoters display distinctive patterns in transcriptional abundance, chromatin structure, promoter shape, and sequence context. In summary, our study improved the annotation of the yeast genome and demonstrated a much more pervasive and dynamic nature of transcription initiation in yeast than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolian Lu
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA
| | - Zhenguo Lin
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA
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19
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Ferretti MB, Karbstein K. Does functional specialization of ribosomes really exist? RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 25:521-538. [PMID: 30733326 PMCID: PMC6467006 DOI: 10.1261/rna.069823.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
It has recently become clear that ribosomes are much more heterogeneous than previously thought, with diversity arising from rRNA sequence and modifications, ribosomal protein (RP) content and posttranslational modifications (PTMs), as well as bound nonribosomal proteins. In some cases, the existence of these diverse ribosome populations has been verified by biochemical or structural methods. Furthermore, knockout or knockdown of RPs can diversify ribosome populations, while also affecting the translation of some mRNAs (but not others) with biological consequences. However, the effects on translation arising from depletion of diverse proteins can be highly similar, suggesting that there may be a more general defect in ribosome function or stability, perhaps arising from reduced ribosome numbers. Consistently, overall reduced ribosome numbers can differentially affect subclasses of mRNAs, necessitating controls for specificity. Moreover, in order to study the functional consequences of ribosome diversity, perturbations including affinity tags and knockouts are introduced, which can also affect the outcome of the experiment. Here we review the available literature to carefully evaluate whether the published data support functional diversification, defined as diverse ribosome populations differentially affecting translation of distinct mRNA (classes). Based on these observations and the commonly observed cellular responses to perturbations in the system, we suggest a set of important controls to validate functional diversity, which should include gain-of-function assays and the demonstration of inducibility under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max B Ferretti
- Department of Integrative Structural and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
- The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Katrin Karbstein
- Department of Integrative Structural and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
- The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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20
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Colombo CV, Trovesi C, Menin L, Longhese MP, Clerici M. The RNA binding protein Npl3 promotes resection of DNA double-strand breaks by regulating the levels of Exo1. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:6530-6545. [PMID: 28472517 PMCID: PMC5499764 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells preserve genome integrity upon DNA damage by activating a signaling network that promotes DNA repair and controls cell cycle progression. One of the most severe DNA damage is the DNA double-strand break (DSB), whose 5΄ ends can be nucleolitically resected by multiple nucleases to create 3΄-ended single-stranded DNA tails that trigger DSB repair by homologous recombination. Here, we identify the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA binding protein Npl3 as a new player in DSB resection. Npl3 is related to both the metazoan serine-arginine-rich and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleo-proteins. NPL3 deletion impairs the generation of long ssDNA tails at the DSB ends, whereas it does not exacerbate the resection defect of exo1Δ cells. Furthermore, either the lack of Npl3 or the inactivation of its RNA-binding domains causes decrease of the exonuclease Exo1 protein levels as well as generation of unusual and extended EXO1 RNA species. These findings, together with the observation that EXO1 overexpression partially suppresses the resection defect of npl3Δ cells, indicate that Npl3 participates in DSB resection by promoting the proper biogenesis of EXO1 mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Vittoria Colombo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Camilla Trovesi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Menin
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Longhese
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Clerici
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
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21
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Liu L, Wang J, Khanabdali R, Kalionis B, Tai X, Xia S. Circular RNAs: Isolation, characterization and their potential role in diseases. RNA Biol 2017; 14:1715-1721. [PMID: 28820337 PMCID: PMC5731806 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1367886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) generated by alternative splicing represents a special class of non-coding RNA molecule. CircRNAs are abundant in the eukaryotic cell cytoplasm and have a characteristic organization, timing of action and disease specificity. In contrast to linear RNA, circRNAs are resistant to RNA exonuclease. Consequently, circRNA escapes normal RNA turnover and this improves circRNA stability. CircRNAs can be degraded by microRNA (miRNA) and this results in linearization of the circRNA, which can then act as competitor to endogenous RNA. Through interactions with disease-related miRNA, circRNA can play an important regulatory role in specific diseases. Furthermore, circRNAs have significant potential to become new clinical diagnostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lumei Liu
- a Department of Geriatrics , Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.,b Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jian Wang
- c Department of Respiration , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
| | - Ramin Khanabdali
- d Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre and University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Royal Women's Hospital , Parkville , Australia
| | - Bill Kalionis
- d Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre and University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Royal Women's Hospital , Parkville , Australia
| | - Xiantao Tai
- e Department of Clinical Massage, School of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation , Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Kunming , China
| | - Shijin Xia
- a Department of Geriatrics , Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
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22
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Rps26 directs mRNA-specific translation by recognition of Kozak sequence elements. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2017; 24:700-707. [PMID: 28759050 PMCID: PMC5777333 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We describe a novel approach to separate two ribosome populations from the same cells and use this method, and RNA-seq, to identify the mRNAs bound to S. cerevisiae ribosomes with and without Rps26, a protein linked to the pathogenesis of Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA). These analyses reveal that Rps26 contributes to mRNA-specific translation by recognition of the Kozak sequence in well-translated mRNAs, and that Rps26-deficient ribosomes preferentially translate mRNA from select stress response pathways. Surprisingly, exposure of yeast to these stresses leads to the formation of Rps26-deficient ribosomes and to the increased translation of their target mRNAs. These results describe a novel paradigm, the production of specialized ribosomes, which play physiological roles in augmenting the well-characterized transcriptional stress response with a heretofore unknown translational response, thereby creating a feed forward loop in gene-expression. Moreover, the simultaneous gain-of-function and loss-of-function phenotypes from Rps26-deficient ribosomes can explain the pathogenesis of DBA.
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23
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Analysis of Ribosome-Associated mRNAs in Rice Reveals the Importance of Transcript Size and GC Content in Translation. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2017; 7:203-219. [PMID: 27852012 PMCID: PMC5217110 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.036020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression is controlled at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels including decoding of messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptides via ribosome-mediated translation. Translational regulation has been intensively studied in the model dicot plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and in this study, we assessed the translational status [proportion of steady-state mRNA associated with ribosomes] of mRNAs by Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification followed by mRNA-sequencing (TRAP-seq) in rice (Oryza sativa), a model monocot plant and the most important food crop. A survey of three tissues found that most transcribed rice genes are translated whereas few transposable elements are associated with ribosomes. Genes with short and GC-rich coding regions are overrepresented in ribosome-associated mRNAs, suggesting that the GC-richness characteristic of coding sequences in grasses may be an adaptation that favors efficient translation. Transcripts with retained introns and extended 5′ untranslated regions are underrepresented on ribosomes, and rice genes belonging to different evolutionary lineages exhibited differential enrichment on the ribosomes that was associated with GC content. Genes involved in photosynthesis and stress responses are preferentially associated with ribosomes, whereas genes in epigenetic regulation pathways are the least enriched on ribosomes. Such variation is more dramatic in rice than that in Arabidopsis and is correlated with the wide variation of GC content of transcripts in rice. Taken together, variation in the translation status of individual transcripts reflects important mechanisms of gene regulation, which may have a role in evolution and diversification.
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24
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Smith C, Lari A, Derrer CP, Ouwehand A, Rossouw A, Huisman M, Dange T, Hopman M, Joseph A, Zenklusen D, Weis K, Grunwald D, Montpetit B. In vivo single-particle imaging of nuclear mRNA export in budding yeast demonstrates an essential role for Mex67p. J Cell Biol 2016; 211:1121-30. [PMID: 26694837 PMCID: PMC4687877 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201503135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-particle imaging in budding yeast demonstrates that mRNP export is fast (∼200 ms) and that mRNPs are retained at NPCs and undergo retrograde transport in a mex67-5 mutant, proving an essential role for Mex67p in directional mRNP transport. Many messenger RNA export proteins have been identified; yet the spatial and temporal activities of these proteins and how they determine directionality of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex export from the nucleus remain largely undefined. Here, the bacteriophage PP7 RNA-labeling system was used in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to follow single-particle mRNP export events with high spatial precision and temporal resolution. These data reveal that mRNP export, consisting of nuclear docking, transport, and cytoplasmic release from a nuclear pore complex (NPC), is fast (∼200 ms) and that upon arrival in the cytoplasm, mRNPs are frequently confined near the nuclear envelope. Mex67p functions as the principal mRNP export receptor in budding yeast. In a mex67-5 mutant, delayed cytoplasmic release from NPCs and retrograde transport of mRNPs was observed. This proves an essential role for Mex67p in cytoplasmic mRNP release and directionality of transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlas Smith
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Azra Lari
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, T6G 2H7 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Anette Ouwehand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ammeret Rossouw
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Maximiliaan Huisman
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Thomas Dange
- Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Mark Hopman
- Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Aviva Joseph
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Daniel Zenklusen
- Departement de Biochimie et Medecine Moleculaire, Universite de Montreal, H3T 1J4 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Karsten Weis
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - David Grunwald
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Department Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ben Montpetit
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, T6G 2H7 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Weinberg DE, Shah P, Eichhorn SW, Hussmann JA, Plotkin JB, Bartel DP. Improved Ribosome-Footprint and mRNA Measurements Provide Insights into Dynamics and Regulation of Yeast Translation. Cell Rep 2016; 14:1787-1799. [PMID: 26876183 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome-footprint profiling provides genome-wide snapshots of translation, but technical challenges can confound its analysis. Here, we use improved methods to obtain ribosome-footprint profiles and mRNA abundances that more faithfully reflect gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results support proposals that both the beginning of coding regions and codons matching rare tRNAs are more slowly translated. They also indicate that emergent polypeptides with as few as three basic residues within a ten-residue window tend to slow translation. With the improved mRNA measurements, the variation attributable to translational control in exponentially growing yeast was less than previously reported, and most of this variation could be predicted with a simple model that considered mRNA abundance, upstream open reading frames, cap-proximal structure and nucleotide composition, and lengths of the coding and 5' UTRs. Collectively, our results provide a framework for executing and interpreting ribosome-profiling studies and reveal key features of translational control in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Premal Shah
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen W Eichhorn
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Hussmann
- Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Joshua B Plotkin
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David P Bartel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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26
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Shaw PJ, Kaewprommal P, Piriyapongsa J, Wongsombat C, Yuthavong Y, Kamchonwongpaisan S. Estimating mRNA lengths from Plasmodium falciparum genes by Virtual Northern RNA-seq analysis. Int J Parasitol 2015; 46:7-12. [PMID: 26548960 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Accurate gene models are essential for understanding parasite biology. However, transcript structure information is lacking for most parasite genes. Here, we describe "Virtual Northern" analysis of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to address this issue. RNA-seq libraries were made from size-fractionated RNA. Transcript sizes for 3052 genes were inferred from the read counts in each library. The data show that for almost half of the transcripts, the combined untranslated regions are more than twice the length of the open reading frame. Furthermore, we identified novel polycistronic, or gene overlapping, transcripts that suggest revisions to current gene models are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Shaw
- Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Medical Molecular Biology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
| | - Pavita Kaewprommal
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Genome Technology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Jittima Piriyapongsa
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Genome Technology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Chayaphat Wongsombat
- Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Medical Molecular Biology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Yongyuth Yuthavong
- Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Medical Molecular Biology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sumalee Kamchonwongpaisan
- Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Medical Molecular Biology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Thanon Phahonyothin, Tambon Khlong Neung, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
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27
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Jeck WR, Sharpless NE. Detecting and characterizing circular RNAs. Nat Biotechnol 2015; 32:453-61. [PMID: 24811520 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1932] [Impact Index Per Article: 214.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNA transcripts were first identified in the early 1990s but knowledge of these species has remained limited, as their study through traditional methods of RNA analysis has been difficult. Now, novel bioinformatic approaches coupled with biochemical enrichment strategies and deep sequencing have allowed comprehensive studies of circular RNA species. Recent studies have revealed thousands of endogenous circular RNAs in mammalian cells, some of which are highly abundant and evolutionarily conserved. Evidence is emerging that some circRNAs might regulate microRNA (miRNA) function, and roles in transcriptional control have also been suggested. Therefore, study of this class of noncoding RNAs has potential implications for therapeutic and research applications. We believe the key future challenge for the field will be to understand the regulation and function of these unusual molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Jeck
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Norman E Sharpless
- 1] Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. [2] Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. [3] The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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28
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Li W, Selvam K, Ko T, Li S. Transcription bypass of DNA lesions enhances cell survival but attenuates transcription coupled DNA repair. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:13242-53. [PMID: 25389266 PMCID: PMC4245964 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription-coupled DNA repair (TCR) is a subpathway of nucleotide excision repair (NER) dedicated to rapid removal of DNA lesions in the transcribed strand of actively transcribed genes. The precise nature of the TCR signal and how the repair machinery gains access to lesions imbedded in stalled RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) complexes in eukaryotic cells are still enigmatic. RNAP II has an intrinsic capacity for transcription bypass of DNA lesions by incorporation or misincorporation of nucleotides across the lesions. It has been suggested that transcription bypass of lesions, which exposes the lesions, may be required for TCR. Here, we show that E1103G mutation of Rpb1, the largest subunit of RNAP II, which promotes transcription bypass of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), increases survival of UV irradiated yeast cells but attenuates TCR. The increased cell survival is independent of any NER subpathways. In contrast, G730D mutation of Rpb1, which impairs transcription bypass of CPDs, enhances TCR. Our results suggest that transcription bypass of lesions attenuates TCR but enhances cell tolerance to DNA lesions. Efficient stalling of RNAP II is essential for efficient TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Li
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Kathiresan Selvam
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Tengyu Ko
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Shisheng Li
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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SVD identifies transcript length distribution functions from DNA microarray data and reveals evolutionary forces globally affecting GBM metabolism. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78913. [PMID: 24282503 PMCID: PMC3839928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To search for evolutionary forces that might act upon transcript length, we use the singular value decomposition (SVD) to identify the length distribution functions of sets and subsets of human and yeast transcripts from profiles of mRNA abundance levels across gel electrophoresis migration distances that were previously measured by DNA microarrays. We show that the SVD identifies the transcript length distribution functions as “asymmetric generalized coherent states” from the DNA microarray data and with no a-priori assumptions. Comparing subsets of human and yeast transcripts of the same gene ontology annotations, we find that in both disparate eukaryotes, transcripts involved in protein synthesis or mitochondrial metabolism are significantly shorter than typical, and in particular, significantly shorter than those involved in glucose metabolism. Comparing the subsets of human transcripts that are overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or normal brain tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we find that GBM maintains normal brain overexpression of significantly short transcripts, enriched in transcripts that are involved in protein synthesis or mitochondrial metabolism, but suppresses normal overexpression of significantly longer transcripts, enriched in transcripts that are involved in glucose metabolism and brain activity. These global relations among transcript length, cellular metabolism and tumor development suggest a previously unrecognized physical mode for tumor and normal cells to differentially regulate metabolism in a transcript length-dependent manner. The identified distribution functions support a previous hypothesis from mathematical modeling of evolutionary forces that act upon transcript length in the manner of the restoring force of the harmonic oscillator.
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30
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Multiple transcripts from a 3'-UTR reporter vary in sensitivity to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80981. [PMID: 24260526 PMCID: PMC3832414 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) causes accelerated transcript degradation when a premature translation termination codon disrupts the open reading frame (ORF). Although endogenous transcripts that have uninterrupted ORFs are typically insensitive to NMD, some can nonetheless become prone to NMD when translation terminates at out-of-frame premature stop codons. This occurs when introns containing stop codons fail to be spliced, when translation of an upstream ORF (uORF) terminates in the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) or the coding region, or when the 5′-proximal AUG initiation codon is bypassed and translation initiates at a downstream out-of-frame AUG followed by a stop codon. Some 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTRs) are also known to trigger NMD, but the mechanism is less well understood. To further study the role of 3′-UTRs in NMD, a reporter system was designed to examine 3′-UTRs from candidate genes known to produce NMD-sensitive transcripts. Out of eight that were tested, the 3′-UTRs from MSH4 and SPO16 caused NMD-dependent mRNA destabilization. Both endogenous genes produce multiple transcripts that differ in length at the 3′ end. Detailed studies revealed that the longest of six reporter MSH4-3′-UTR transcripts was NMD-sensitive but five shorter transcripts were insensitive. NMD-dependent degradation of the long transcript required Xrn1, which degrades mRNA from the 5′ end. Sensitivity to NMD was not associated with extensive translational read-through past the normal stop codon. To our knowledge, this is the first example where multiple transcripts containing the same ORF are differentially sensitive to NMD in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results provide a proof of principle that long 3′-UTRs can trigger NMD, which suggests a potential link between errors in transcription termination or processing and mRNA decay.
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31
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Shah P, Ding Y, Niemczyk M, Kudla G, Plotkin J. Rate-limiting steps in yeast protein translation. Cell 2013; 153:1589-601. [PMID: 23791185 PMCID: PMC3694300 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 334] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Deep sequencing now provides detailed snapshots of ribosome occupancy on mRNAs. We leverage these data to parameterize a computational model of translation, keeping track of every ribosome, tRNA, and mRNA molecule in a yeast cell. We determine the parameter regimes in which fast initiation or high codon bias in a transgene increases protein yield and infer the initiation rates of endogenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes, which vary by several orders of magnitude and correlate with 5′ mRNA folding energies. Our model recapitulates the previously reported 5′-to-3′ ramp of decreasing ribosome densities, although our analysis shows that this ramp is caused by rapid initiation of short genes rather than slow codons at the start of transcripts. We conclude that protein production in healthy yeast cells is typically limited by the availability of free ribosomes, whereas protein production under periods of stress can sometimes be rescued by reducing initiation or elongation rates. Computational model of translation tracks all ribosomes, tRNAs, and mRNAs in a cell Translation is generally limited by initiation, not elongation Model allows inference of initiation rates for all yeast genes Ramp of 5′ ribosomes is caused by rapid initiation of short genes
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Affiliation(s)
- Premal Shah
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yang Ding
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Malwina Niemczyk
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 9LP, UK
| | - Grzegorz Kudla
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 9LP, UK
| | - Joshua B. Plotkin
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding author
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32
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Rao YS, Wang ZF, Chai XW, Nie QH, Zhang XQ. Relationship between 5′ UTR length and gene expression pattern in chicken. Genetica 2013; 141:311-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10709-013-9730-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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33
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Ding Y, Shah P, Plotkin JB. Weak 5'-mRNA secondary structures in short eukaryotic genes. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 4:1046-53. [PMID: 23034215 PMCID: PMC3490412 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evs082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental studies of translation have found that short genes tend to exhibit greater densities of ribosomes than long genes in eukaryotic species. It remains an open question whether the elevated ribosome density on short genes is due to faster initiation or slower elongation dynamics. Here, we address this question computationally using 5′-mRNA folding energy as a proxy for translation initiation rates and codon bias as a proxy for elongation rates. We report a significant trend toward reduced 5′-secondary structure in shorter coding sequences, suggesting that short genes initiate faster during translation. We also find a trend toward higher 5′-codon bias in short genes, suggesting that short genes elongate faster than long genes. Both of these trends hold across a diverse set of eukaryotic taxa. Thus, the elevated ribosome density on short eukaryotic genes is likely caused by differential rates of initiation, rather than differential rates of elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ding
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
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34
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Jeck WR, Sorrentino JA, Wang K, Slevin MK, Burd CE, Liu J, Marzluff WF, Sharpless NE. Circular RNAs are abundant, conserved, and associated with ALU repeats. RNA 2012; 19:141-57. [PMID: 23249747 DOI: 10.1261/rna.035667.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3166] [Impact Index Per Article: 263.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs composed of exonic sequence have been described in a small number of genes. Thought to result from splicing errors, circular RNA species possess no known function. To delineate the universe of endogenous circular RNAs, we performed high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq) of libraries prepared from ribosome-depleted RNA with or without digestion with the RNA exonuclease, RNase R. We identified >25,000 distinct RNA species in human fibroblasts that contained non-colinear exons (a "backsplice") and were reproducibly enriched by exonuclease degradation of linear RNA. These RNAs were validated as circular RNA (ecircRNA), rather than linear RNA, and were more stable than associated linear mRNAs in vivo. In some cases, the abundance of circular molecules exceeded that of associated linear mRNA by >10-fold. By conservative estimate, we identified ecircRNAs from 14.4% of actively transcribed genes in human fibroblasts. Application of this method to murine testis RNA identified 69 ecircRNAs in precisely orthologous locations to human circular RNAs. Of note, paralogous kinases HIPK2 and HIPK3 produce abundant ecircRNA from their second exon in both humans and mice. Though HIPK3 circular RNAs contain an AUG translation start, it and other ecircRNAs were not bound to ribosomes. Circular RNAs could be degraded by siRNAs and, therefore, may act as competing endogenous RNAs. Bioinformatic analysis revealed shared features of circularized exons, including long bordering introns that contained complementary ALU repeats. These data show that ecircRNAs are abundant, stable, conserved and nonrandom products of RNA splicing that could be involved in control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Jeck
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, USA
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35
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Lin Z, Li WH. Evolution of 5' untranslated region length and gene expression reprogramming in yeasts. Mol Biol Evol 2011; 29:81-9. [PMID: 21965341 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequences of the untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs play important roles in posttranscriptional regulation, but whether a change in UTR length can significantly affect the regulation of gene expression is not clear. In this study, we examined the connection between UTR length and Expression Correlation with cytosolic ribosomal proteins (CRP) genes (ECC), which measures the level of expression similarity of a group of genes with CRP genes under various growth conditions. We used data from the aerobic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the aerobic respiration yeast Candida albicans. To reduce statistical fluctuations, we computed the ECC for the genes in a Gene Ontology (GO) functional group. We found that in both species, ECC is strongly correlated with the 5' UTR length but not with the 3' UTR length and that the 5' UTR length is evolutionarily better conserved than the 3' UTR length. Interestingly, we found 11 GO groups that have had a substantial increase in 5' UTR length in the S. cerevisiae lineage and that the length increase was associated with a substantial decrease in ECC. Moreover, 9 of the 11 GO groups of genes are involved in mitochondrial respiration function, whose expression reprogramming has been shown to be a major factor for the evolution of aerobic fermentation. Finally, we found that an increase in 5' UTR length may decrease the +1 nucleosome occupancy. This study provides a new angle to understand the role of 5' UTR in gene expression regulation and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenguo Lin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, USA
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36
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Doyle CE, Donaldson ME, Morrison EN, Saville BJ. Ustilago maydis transcript features identified through full-length cDNA analysis. Mol Genet Genomics 2011; 286:143-59. [PMID: 21750919 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-011-0634-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is the model for investigating basidiomycete biotrophic plant pathogens. To further the annotation of its genome, 12,943 full-length cDNA sequences were used to construct databases for the promoter and untranslated regions of U. maydis genes. A subset of clones was sequenced to determine full cDNA sequences. These and the original ESTs were assembled into contigs representing 3,058, or 45%, of the predicted U. maydis genes. The new sequencing allowed the confirmation of 2,842 gene models, 690 of which contain an intron. The use of full-length cDNA clone sequences ensured that untranslated regions were physically linked to the open reading frames (ORFs), not merely aligned upstream of the start of transcription. Identified sequence features include: (1) over 500 potential short upstream ORFs, (2) 95 gene models that require further annotation, (3) one new potential ORF, (4) varying GC content in different gene regions, (5) a WebLogo motif for the start of translation, (6) the correlation of UTR length with transcript representation in cDNA libraries and with gene function categories, (7) a relationship between natural antisense transcripts and UTR length that differs from that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, (8) a potential relationship between DNA replication and the control of transcription, and (9) new insights regarding mechanisms for the control of transcription and mRNA maturation in U. maydis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen E Doyle
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
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Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker's or budding yeast, is an attractive organism for design-based engineering because it is an industrially important organism with a well-annotated genome sequence and an extensive collection of resources for molecular analyses. This chapter describes the utility of Saccharomyces Genome Database for analysis of S. cerevisiae genes and identification of homologs, strategies for integration and analysis of gene expression data, and the genetic resources available for doing experiments using S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L Atkin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
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38
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GRISDALE CAMERONJ, FAST NAOMIM. Patterns of 5′ Untranslated Region Length Distribution in Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Implications for Gene Regulation and Potential Links Between Transcription and Splicing. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2010; 58:68-74. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2010.00523.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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39
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Olivares-Hernández R, Usaite R, Nielsen J. Integrative analysis using proteome and transcriptome data from yeast to unravel regulatory patterns at post-transcriptional level. Biotechnol Bioeng 2010; 107:865-75. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.22868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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40
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Tuller T, Ruppin E, Kupiec M. Properties of untranslated regions of the S. cerevisiae genome. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:391. [PMID: 19698117 PMCID: PMC2737003 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2009] [Accepted: 08/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During evolution selection forces such as changing environments shape the architecture of genomes. The distribution of genes along chromosomes and the length of intragenic regions are basic genomic features known to play a major role in the regulation of gene transcription and translation. Results In this work we perform the first large scale analysis of the length distribution of untranslated regions (promoters, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, terminators) in the genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our analysis shows that the length of each open reading frame (ORF) and that of its associated regulatory and untranslated regions significantly correlate with each other. Moreover, significant correlations with other features related to gene expression and evolution (number of regulating transcription factors, mRNA and protein abundance, evolutionary rate, etc) were observed. Furthermore, the function of genes seems to have an important role in the evolution of these lengths. Notably, genes that are related to RNA metabolism tend to have shorter untranslated regions and thus tend to be closer to their neighbouring genes while genes coding for cell wall proteins tend to be isolated in the genome. Conclusion These results indicate that genome architecture has a significant role in regulating gene expression, and in shaping the characteristics and functionality of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamir Tuller
- School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel.
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41
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Kebaara BW, Atkin AL. Long 3'-UTRs target wild-type mRNAs for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 37:2771-8. [PMID: 19270062 PMCID: PMC2685090 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway, present in most eukaryotic cells, is a specialized pathway that leads to the recognition and rapid degradation of mRNAs with premature termination codons and, importantly, some wild-type mRNAs. Earlier studies demonstrated that aberrant mRNAs with artificially extended 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTRs) are degraded by NMD. However, the extent to which wild-type mRNAs with long 3′-UTRs are degraded by NMD is not known. We used a global approach to identify wild-type mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have longer than expected 3′-UTRs, and of these mRNAs tested, 91% were degraded by NMD. We demonstrate for the first time that replacement of the natural, long 3′-UTR from wild-type PGA1 mRNA, which encodes a protein that is important for cell wall biosynthesis, with a short 3′-UTR renders it immune to NMD. The natural PGA1 3′-UTR is sufficient to target a NMD insensitive mRNA for decay by the NMD pathway. Finally, we show that nmd mutants are sensitive to Calcofluor White, which suggests that the regulation of PGA1 and other cell wall biosynthesis proteins by NMD is physiologically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bessie W Kebaara
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
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42
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Lawless C, Pearson RD, Selley JN, Smirnova JB, Grant CM, Ashe MP, Pavitt GD, Hubbard SJ. Upstream sequence elements direct post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression under stress conditions in yeast. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:7. [PMID: 19128476 PMCID: PMC2649001 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The control of gene expression in eukaryotic cells occurs both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. Although many genes are now known to be regulated at the translational level, in general, the mechanisms are poorly understood. We have previously presented polysomal gradient and array-based evidence that translational control is widespread in a significant number of genes when yeast cells are exposed to a range of stresses. Here we have re-examined these gene sets, considering the role of UTR sequences in the translational responses of these genes using recent large-scale datasets which define 5' and 3' transcriptional ends for many yeast genes. In particular, we highlight the potential role of 5' UTRs and upstream open reading frames (uORFs). Results We show a highly significant enrichment in specific GO functional classes for genes that are translationally up- and down-regulated under given stresses (e.g. carbohydrate metabolism is up-regulated under amino acid starvation). Cross-referencing these data with the stress response data we show that translationally upregulated genes have longer 5' UTRs, consistent with their role in translational regulation. In the first genome-wide study of uORFs in a set of mapped 5' UTRs, we show that uORFs are rare, being statistically under-represented in UTR sequences. However, they have distinct compositional biases consistent with their putative role in translational control and are more common in genes which are apparently translationally up-regulated. Conclusion These results demonstrate a central regulatory role for UTR sequences, and 5' UTRs in particular, highlighting the significant role of uORFs in post-transcriptional control in yeast. Yeast uORFs are more highly conserved than has been suggested, lending further weight to their significance as functional elements involved in gene regulation. It also suggests a more complex and novel mechanism of control, whereby uORFs permit genes to escape from a more general attenuation of translation under conditions of stress. However, since uORFs are relatively rare (only ~13% of yeast genes have them) there remain many unanswered questions as to how UTR elements can direct translational control of many hundreds of genes under stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Lawless
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Diverse RNA-binding proteins interact with functionally related sets of RNAs, suggesting an extensive regulatory system. PLoS Biol 2008; 6:e255. [PMID: 18959479 PMCID: PMC2573929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 456] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2008] [Accepted: 09/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have roles in the regulation of many post-transcriptional steps in gene expression, but relatively few RBPs have been systematically studied. We searched for the RNA targets of 40 proteins in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a selective sample of the approximately 600 annotated and predicted RBPs, as well as several proteins not annotated as RBPs. At least 33 of these 40 proteins, including three of the four proteins that were not previously known or predicted to be RBPs, were reproducibly associated with specific sets of a few to several hundred RNAs. Remarkably, many of the RBPs we studied bound mRNAs whose protein products share identifiable functional or cytotopic features. We identified specific sequences or predicted structures significantly enriched in target mRNAs of 16 RBPs. These potential RNA-recognition elements were diverse in sequence, structure, and location: some were found predominantly in 3′-untranslated regions, others in 5′-untranslated regions, some in coding sequences, and many in two or more of these features. Although this study only examined a small fraction of the universe of yeast RBPs, 70% of the mRNA transcriptome had significant associations with at least one of these RBPs, and on average, each distinct yeast mRNA interacted with three of the RBPs, suggesting the potential for a rich, multidimensional network of regulation. These results strongly suggest that combinatorial binding of RBPs to specific recognition elements in mRNAs is a pervasive mechanism for multi-dimensional regulation of their post-transcriptional fate. Regulation of gene transcription has been extensively studied, but much less is known about how the fates of the resulting mRNA transcripts are regulated. We were intrigued by the fact that while most eukaryotic genomes encode hundreds of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), the targets and regulatory roles of only a small fraction of these proteins have been characterized. In this study, we systematically identified the RNAs associated with a select sample of 40 of the approximately 600 predicted RBPs in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that most of these RBPs bound specific sets of mRNAs whose protein products share physiological themes or similar locations within the cell. For 16 of the 40 RBPs, we identified sequence motifs significantly enriched in their RNA targets that presumably mediate recognition of the target by the RBP. The intricate, overlapping patterns of mRNAs associated with RBPs suggest an extensive combinatorial system for post-transcriptional regulation, involving dozens or even hundreds of RBPs. The organization and molecular mechanisms involved in this regulatory system, including how RBP–mRNA interactions are integrated with signal transduction systems and how they affect the fates of their RNA targets, provide abundant opportunities for investigation and discovery. A systematic study of the RNA targets of 40 known or predicted RNA-binding proteins in yeast suggests that an extensive system of dozens or hundreds of specific RNA-binding proteins may act to regulate the post-transcriptional fate of most or all RNAs in the yeast cell.
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Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, an mRNA bearing a premature termination codon (PTC) or an abnormally long 3' untranslated region (UTR) is often degraded by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway. Despite the presence of a 5- to 7-kb 3' UTR, unspliced retroviral RNA escapes this degradation. We previously identified the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) stability element (RSE), an RNA element downstream of the gag natural translation termination codon that prevents degradation of the unspliced viral RNA. Insertion of this element downstream of a PTC in the RSV gag gene also inhibits NMD. Using partial RNase digestion and selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry, we determined the secondary structure of this element. Incorporating RNase and SHAPE data into structural prediction programs definitively shows that the RSE contains an AU-rich stretch of about 30 single-stranded nucleotides near the 5' end and two substantial stem-loop structures. The overall secondary structure of the RSE appears to be conserved among 20 different avian retroviruses. The structural aspects of this element will serve as a tool in the future design of cis mutants in addressing the mechanism of stabilization.
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Westholm JO, Xu F, Ronne H, Komorowski J. Genome-scale study of the importance of binding site context for transcription factor binding and gene regulation. BMC Bioinformatics 2008; 9:484. [PMID: 19014636 PMCID: PMC2629780 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-9-484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 11/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rate of mRNA transcription is controlled by transcription factors that bind to specific DNA motifs in promoter regions upstream of protein coding genes. Recent results indicate that not only the presence of a motif but also motif context (for example the orientation of a motif or its location relative to the coding sequence) is important for gene regulation. RESULTS In this study we present ContextFinder, a tool that is specifically aimed at identifying cases where motif context is likely to affect gene regulation. We used ContextFinder to examine the role of motif context in S. cerevisiae both for DNA binding by transcription factors and for effects on gene expression. For DNA binding we found significant patterns of motif location bias, whereas motif orientations did not seem to matter. Motif context appears to affect gene expression even more than it affects DNA binding, as biases in both motif location and orientation were more frequent in promoters of co-expressed genes. We validated our results against data on nucleosome positioning, and found a negative correlation between preferred motif locations and nucleosome occupancy. CONCLUSION We conclude that the requirement for stable binding of transcription factors to DNA and their subsequent function in gene regulation can impose constraints on motif context.
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Eldad N, Yosefzon Y, Arava Y. Identification and characterization of extensive intra-molecular associations between 3'-UTRs and their ORFs. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:6728-38. [PMID: 18948291 PMCID: PMC2588509 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
During eukaryotic translation, mRNAs may form intra-molecular interactions between distant domains. The 5′-cap and the polyA tail were shown to interact through their associated proteins, and this can induce physical compaction of the mRNA in vitro. However, the stability of this intra-molecular association in translating mRNAs and whether additional contacts exist in vivo are largely unknown. To explore this, we applied a novel approach in which several endogenous polysomal mRNAs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were cleaved near their stop codon and the resulting 3′-UTR fragments were tested either for co-sedimentation or co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) with their ORFs. In all cases a significant fraction of the 3′-UTR fragments sedimented similarly to their ORF-containing fragments, yet the extent of co-sedimentation differed between mRNAs. Similar observations were obtained by a co-IP assay. Interestingly, various treatments that are expected to interfere with the cap to polyA interactions had no effect on the co-sedimentation pattern. Moreover, the 3′-UTR appeared to co-sediment with different regions from within the ORF. Taken together, these results indicate extensive physical associations between 3′-UTRs and their ORFs that vary between genes. This implies that polyribosomal mRNAs are in a compact configuration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naama Eldad
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Loya A, Pnueli L, Yosefzon Y, Wexler Y, Ziv-Ukelson M, Arava Y. The 3'-UTR mediates the cellular localization of an mRNA encoding a short plasma membrane protein. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2008; 14:1352-65. [PMID: 18492794 PMCID: PMC2441994 DOI: 10.1261/rna.867208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2007] [Accepted: 03/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Cotranslational synthesis of proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum is preceded by targeting of the translating mRNA once a signal peptide emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel. Many mRNAs, however, are unlikely to be targeted by this process because they encode proteins that do not contain a signal peptide or because they are too short to be recognized by the signal recognition particle. Herein we tested the possible involvement of the 3'-UTR in the localization of an mRNA that encodes a very short Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein (Pmp1). We found by ribosome density mapping, sedimentation analysis, differential centrifugation, and fluorescent in situ hybridization that the 3'-UTR is essential for the association of the transcript with membrane compartments. Fusion of the 3'-UTR to heterologous open reading frames conferred on them a sedimentation and cellular localization pattern resembling that of PMP1. Mutation analysis revealed that a repeating UG-rich sequence within the 3'-UTR is important for membrane association. Taken together, our results reveal an essential role for elements within the 3'-UTR in the localization of an mRNA that is likely to be ignored by the standard signal-dependant mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Loya
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression plays important roles in diverse cellular processes such as development, metabolism and cancer progression. Whereas many classical studies explored the mechanistics and physiological impact on specific mRNA substrates, the recent development of genome-wide analysis tools enables the study of post-transcriptional gene regulation on a global scale. Importantly, these studies revealed distinct programs of RNA regulation, suggesting a complex and versatile post-transcriptional regulatory network. This network is controlled by specific RNA-binding proteins and/or non-coding RNAs, which bind to specific sequence or structural elements in the RNAs and thereby regulate subsets of mRNAs that partly encode functionally related proteins. It will be a future challenge to link the spectra of targets for RNA-binding proteins to post-transcriptional regulatory programs and to reveal its physiological implications.
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Wagner A. Energy costs constrain the evolution of gene expression. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2008; 308:322-4. [PMID: 17262826 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Changes in gene expression affect the energy budget of a cell. A previous contribution estimated the energetic cost of yeast mRNA and protein expression from very limited information on protein half-lives. Using recently published genome-scale measurements of protein half-lives, I here confirm that even small increases in gene expression are opposed by natural selection. In small organisms with large effective population sizes, the evolution of transcription and translation rates are thus not evolutionarily neutral processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Wagner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Hershman SG, Chen Q, Lee JY, Kozak ML, Yue P, Wang LS, Johnson FB. Genomic distribution and functional analyses of potential G-quadruplex-forming sequences in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:144-56. [PMID: 17999996 PMCID: PMC2248735 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2007] [Revised: 10/14/2007] [Accepted: 10/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although well studied in vitro, the in vivo functions of G-quadruplexes (G4-DNA and G4-RNA) are only beginning to be defined. Recent studies have demonstrated enrichment for sequences with intramolecular G-quadruplex forming potential (QFP) in transcriptional promoters of humans, chickens and bacteria. Here we survey the yeast genome for QFP sequences and similarly find strong enrichment for these sequences in upstream promoter regions, as well as weaker but significant enrichment in open reading frames (ORFs). Further, four findings are consistent with roles for QFP sequences in transcriptional regulation. First, QFP is correlated with upstream promoter regions with low histone occupancy. Second, treatment of cells with N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX (NMM), which binds G-quadruplexes selectively in vitro, causes significant upregulation of loci with QFP-possessing promoters or ORFs. NMM also causes downregulation of loci connected with the function of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), which itself has high QFP. Third, ORFs with QFP are selectively downregulated in sgs1 mutants that lack the G4-DNA-unwinding helicase Sgs1p. Fourth, a screen for yeast mutants that enhance or suppress growth inhibition by NMM revealed enrichment for chromatin and transcriptional regulators, as well as telomere maintenance factors. These findings raise the possibility that QFP sequences form bona fide G-quadruplexes in vivo and thus regulate transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve G. Hershman
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qijun Chen
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julia Y. Lee
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marina L. Kozak
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peng Yue
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Li-San Wang
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - F. Brad Johnson
- College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, and Penn Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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