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Frédérick PM, Jannot G, Banville I, Simard M. Interaction between a J-domain co-chaperone and a specific Argonaute protein contributes to microRNA function in animals. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6253-6268. [PMID: 38613392 PMCID: PMC11194074 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of several biological processes. They are loaded onto Argonaute (AGO) proteins to achieve their repressive function, forming the microRNA-Induced Silencing Complex known as miRISC. While several AGO proteins are expressed in plants and animals, it is still unclear why specific AGOs are strictly binding miRNAs. Here, we identified the co-chaperone DNJ-12 as a new interactor of ALG-1, one of the two major miRNA-specific AGOs in Caenorhabditis elegans. DNJ-12 does not interact with ALG-2, the other major miRNA-specific AGO, and PRG-1 and RDE-1, two AGOs involved in other small RNA pathways, making it a specific actor in ALG-1-dependent miRNA-mediated gene silencing. The loss of DNJ-12 causes developmental defects associated with defective miRNA function. Using the Auxin Inducible Degron system, a powerful tool to acutely degrade proteins in specific tissues, we show that DNJ-12 depletion hampers ALG-1 interaction with HSP70, a chaperone required for miRISC loading in vitro. Moreover, DNJ-12 depletion leads to the decrease of several miRNAs and prevents their loading onto ALG-1. This study uncovers the importance of a co-chaperone for the miRNA function in vivo and provides insights to explain how different small RNAs associate with specific AGO in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marc Frédérick
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec—Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Guillaume Jannot
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec—Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Isabelle Banville
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec—Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Martin J Simard
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec—Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
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2
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Johnson KC, Kilikevicius A, Hofman C, Hu J, Liu Y, Aguilar S, Graswich J, Han Y, Wang T, Westcott JM, Brekken RA, Peng L, Karagkounis G, Corey DR. Nuclear localization of Argonaute 2 is affected by cell density and may relieve repression by microRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1930-1952. [PMID: 38109320 PMCID: PMC10899759 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Argonaute protein is associated with post-transcriptional control of cytoplasmic gene expression through miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISC). Specific cellular and environmental conditions can trigger AGO protein to accumulate in the nucleus. Localization of AGO is central to understanding miRNA action, yet the consequences of AGO being in the nucleus are undefined. We show nuclear enrichment of AGO2 in HCT116 cells grown in two-dimensional culture to high density, HCT116 cells grown in three-dimensional tumor spheroid culture, and human colon tumors. The shift in localization of AGO2 from cytoplasm to nucleus de-represses cytoplasmic AGO2-eCLIP targets that were candidates for canonical regulation by miRISC. Constitutive nuclear localization of AGO2 using an engineered nuclear localization signal increases cell migration. Critical RNAi factors also affect the localization of AGO2. Knocking out an enzyme essential for miRNA biogenesis, DROSHA, depletes mature miRNAs and restricts AGO2 localization to the cytoplasm, while knocking out the miRISC scaffolding protein, TNRC6, results in nuclear localization of AGO2. These data suggest that AGO2 localization and miRNA activity can be regulated depending on environmental conditions, expression of mature miRNAs, and expression of miRISC cofactors. Localization and expression of core miRISC protein machinery should be considered when investigating the roles of miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal C Johnson
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Audrius Kilikevicius
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Cristina Hofman
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Selina Aguilar
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jon Graswich
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yi Han
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jill M Westcott
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Lan Peng
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Georgios Karagkounis
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - David R Corey
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
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3
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Lin YH, Su CH, Chen HM, Wu MS, Pan HA, Chang CN, Cheng YS, Chang WT, Chiu CC, Teng YN. MicroRNA-320a enhances LRWD1 expression through the AGO2/FXR1-dependent pathway to affect cell behaviors and the oxidative stress response in human testicular embryonic carcinoma cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3973-3988. [PMID: 38385979 PMCID: PMC10929808 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testicular cancer is fairly rare but can affect fertility in adult males. Leucine-rich repeats- and WD repeat domain-containing protein 1 (LRWD1) is a sperm-specific marker that mainly affects sperm motility in reproduction. Our previous study demonstrated the impact of LRWD1 on testicular cancer development; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS In this study, various plasmids associated with LRWD1 and miR-320a manipulation were used to explore the roles and regulatory effects of these molecules in NT2D1 cellular processes. A Dual-Glo luciferin-luciferase system was used to investigate LRWD1 transcriptional activity, and qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine gene and protein expression. RESULTS The results suggested that miR-320a positively regulated LRWD1 and positively correlated with NT2D1 cell proliferation but negatively correlated with cell migration and invasion ability. In addition, the miRNA-ribonucleoprotein complex AGO2/FXR1 was shown to be essential in the mechanism by which miR-320a regulates LRWD1 mRNA expression. As miR-320a was required to regulate LRWD1 expression through the AGO2 and FXR1 complex, eEF2 and eLF4E were also found to be involved in miR-320a increasing LRWD1 expression. Furthermore, miR-320a and LRWD1 were responsive to oxidative stress, and NRF2 was affected by the presence of miR-320a in response to ROS stimulation. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study showing the role of miR-320a in upregulating the testicular cancer-specific regulator LRWD1 and the importance of the AGO2/FXR1 complex in miR-320a-mediated upregulation of LRWD1 during testicular cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsiung Lin
- Center for Lipid Biosciences, Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hui Su
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan 700, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Mei Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan 700, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Syuan Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan 700, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-An Pan
- An-An Women and Children Clinic, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ning Chang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan 700, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sheng Cheng
- Department of Urology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tsan Chang
- Department of Surgery, Division of General and Digestive Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chih Chiu
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ni Teng
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan 700, Taiwan
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4
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Min KW, Jo MH, Song M, Lee JW, Shim MJ, Kim K, Park HB, Ha S, Mun H, Polash A, Hafner M, Cho JH, Kim D, Jeong JH, Ko S, Hohng S, Kang SU, Yoon JH. Mature microRNA-binding protein QKI promotes microRNA-mediated gene silencing. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-15. [PMID: 38372062 PMCID: PMC10878027 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2314846] [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] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Although Argonaute (AGO) proteins have been the focus of microRNA (miRNA) studies, we observed AGO-free mature miRNAs directly interacting with RNA-binding proteins, implying the sophisticated nature of fine-tuning gene regulation by miRNAs. To investigate microRNA-binding proteins (miRBPs) globally, we analyzed PAR-CLIP data sets to identify RBP quaking (QKI) as a novel miRBP for let-7b. Potential existence of AGO-free miRNAs were further verified by measuring miRNA levels in genetically engineered AGO-depleted human and mouse cells. We have shown that QKI regulates miRNA-mediated gene silencing at multiple steps, and collectively serves as an auxiliary factor empowering AGO2/let-7b-mediated gene silencing. Depletion of QKI decreases interaction of AGO2 with let-7b and target mRNA, consequently controlling target mRNA decay. This finding indicates that QKI is a complementary factor in miRNA-mediated mRNA decay. QKI, however, also suppresses the dissociation of let-7b from AGO2, and slows the assembly of AGO2/miRNA/target mRNA complexes at the single-molecule level. We also revealed that QKI overexpression suppresses cMYC expression at post-transcriptional level, and decreases proliferation and migration of HeLa cells, demonstrating that QKI is a tumour suppressor gene by in part augmenting let-7b activity. Our data show that QKI is a new type of RBP implicated in the versatile regulation of miRNA-mediated gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Won Min
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Hyun Jo
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Minseok Song
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Lee
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ji Shim
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Kim
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Bong Park
- Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Republic of Korea
| | - Shinwon Ha
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Hyejin Mun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, USA
| | - Ahsan Polash
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Markus Hafner
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Jung-Hyun Cho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Dongsan Kim
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Ji-Hoon Jeong
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seungbeom Ko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sungchul Hohng
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ung Kang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Je-Hyun Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, USA
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5
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Shang R, Lee S, Senavirathne G, Lai EC. microRNAs in action: biogenesis, function and regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:816-833. [PMID: 37380761 PMCID: PMC11087887 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00611-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Ever since microRNAs (miRNAs) were first recognized as an extensive gene family >20 years ago, a broad community of researchers was drawn to investigate the universe of small regulatory RNAs. Although core features of miRNA biogenesis and function were revealed early on, recent years continue to uncover fundamental information on the structural and molecular dynamics of core miRNA machinery, how miRNA substrates and targets are selected from the transcriptome, new avenues for multilevel regulation of miRNA biogenesis and mechanisms for miRNA turnover. Many of these latest insights were enabled by recent technological advances, including massively parallel assays, cryogenic electron microscopy, single-molecule imaging and CRISPR-Cas9 screening. Here, we summarize the current understanding of miRNA biogenesis, function and regulation, and outline challenges to address in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renfu Shang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seungjae Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gayan Senavirathne
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric C Lai
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Johnson KC, Kilikevicius A, Hofman C, Hu J, Liu Y, Aguilar S, Graswich J, Han Y, Wang T, Westcott JM, Brekken RA, Peng L, Karagkounis G, Corey DR. Nuclear Localization of Argonaute is affected by Cell Density and May Relieve Repression by microRNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.07.548119. [PMID: 37461596 PMCID: PMC10350042 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.07.548119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute protein is associated with post-transcriptional control of cytoplasmic gene expression through miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISC). Specific cellular and environmental conditions can trigger AGO protein to accumulate in the nucleus. Localization of AGO is central to understanding miRNA action, yet the consequences of AGO being in the nucleus are undefined. We show nuclear enrichment of AGO2 in HCT116 cells grown in two-dimensional culture to high density, HCT116 cells grown in three-dimensional tumor spheroid culture, and human colon tumors. The shift in localization of AGO2 from cytoplasm to nucleus de-represses cytoplasmic AGO2-eCLIP targets that were candidates for canonical regulation by miRISC. Constitutive nuclear localization of AGO2 using an engineered nuclear localization signal increases cell migration. Critical RNAi factors also affect the localization of AGO2. Knocking out an enzyme essential for miRNA biogenesis, DROSHA, depletes mature miRNAs and restricts AGO2 localization to the cytoplasm, while knocking out the miRISC scaffolding protein, TNRC6, results in nuclear localization of AGO2. These data suggest that AGO2 localization and miRNA activity can be regulated depending on environmental conditions, expression of mature miRNAs, and expression of miRISC cofactors. Localization and expression of core miRISC protein machinery should be considered when investigating the roles of miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal C Johnson
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Audrius Kilikevicius
- current address, Eli Lilly, Lilly Cambridge Innovation Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Cristina Hofman
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Yang Liu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Selina Aguilar
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jon Graswich
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Yi Han
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Tao Wang
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jill M Westcott
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Lan Peng
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Georgios Karagkounis
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - David R Corey
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
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7
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Welte T, Goulois A, Stadler MB, Hess D, Soneson C, Neagu A, Azzi C, Wisser MJ, Seebacher J, Schmidt I, Estoppey D, Nigsch F, Reece-Hoyes J, Hoepfner D, Großhans H. Convergence of multiple RNA-silencing pathways on GW182/TNRC6. Mol Cell 2023:S1097-2765(23)00423-9. [PMID: 37369201 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein TRIM71/LIN-41 is a phylogenetically conserved developmental regulator that functions in mammalian stem cell reprogramming, brain development, and cancer. TRIM71 recognizes target mRNAs through hairpin motifs and silences them through molecular mechanisms that await identification. Here, we uncover that TRIM71 represses its targets through RNA-supported interaction with TNRC6/GW182, a core component of the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC). We demonstrate that AGO2, TRIM71, and UPF1 each recruit TNRC6 to specific sets of transcripts to silence them. As cellular TNRC6 levels are limiting, competition occurs among the silencing pathways, such that the loss of AGO proteins or of AGO binding to TNRC6 enhances the activities of the other pathways. We conclude that a miRNA-like silencing activity is shared among different mRNA silencing pathways and that the use of TNRC6 as a central hub provides a means to integrate their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Welte
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Alison Goulois
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael B Stadler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Hess
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Soneson
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anca Neagu
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Azzi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marlena J Wisser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Seebacher
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Schmidt
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Estoppey
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian Nigsch
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - John Reece-Hoyes
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dominic Hoepfner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Helge Großhans
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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8
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Stein RA, Thompson LM. Epigenetic changes induced by pathogenic Chlamydia spp. Pathog Dis 2023; 81:ftad034. [PMID: 38031337 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, and C. psittaci, the three Chlamydia species known to cause human disease, have been collectively linked to several pathologies, including conjunctivitis, trachoma, respiratory disease, acute and chronic urogenital infections and their complications, and psittacosis. In vitro, animal, and human studies also established additional correlations, such as between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis and between C. trachomatis and ovarian cancer. As part of their survival and pathogenesis strategies as obligate intracellular bacteria, Chlamydia spp. modulate all three major types of epigenetic changes, which include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Some of these epigenetic changes may be implicated in key aspects of pathogenesis, such as the ability of the Chlamydia spp. to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, interfere with DNA damage repair, suppress cholesterol efflux from infected macrophages, act as a co-factor in human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated cervical cancer, prevent apoptosis, and preserve the integrity of mitochondrial networks in infected host cells. A better understanding of the individual and collective contribution of epigenetic changes to pathogenesis will enhance our knowledge about the biology of Chlamydia spp. and facilitate the development of novel therapies and biomarkers. Pathogenic Chlamydia spp. contribute to epigenetically-mediated gene expression changes in host cells by multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Stein
- NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Lily M Thompson
- NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
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9
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Bibel B, Elkayam E, Silletti S, Komives EA, Joshua-Tor L. Target binding triggers hierarchical phosphorylation of human Argonaute-2 to promote target release. eLife 2022; 11:76908. [PMID: 35638597 PMCID: PMC9154749 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Argonaute (Ago) proteins play a central role in post-transcriptional gene regulation through RNA interference (RNAi). Agos bind small RNAs (sRNAs) including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) to form the functional core of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The sRNA is used as a guide to target mRNAs containing either partially or fully complementary sequences, ultimately leading to downregulation of the corresponding proteins. It was previously shown that the kinase CK1α phosphorylates a cluster of residues in the eukaryotic insertion (EI) of Ago, leading to the alleviation of miRNA-mediated repression through an undetermined mechanism. We show that binding of miRNA-loaded human Ago2 to target RNA with complementarity to the seed and 3’ supplementary regions of the miRNA primes the EI for hierarchical phosphorylation by CK1α. The added negative charges electrostatically promote target release, freeing Ago to seek out additional targets once it is dephosphorylated. The high conservation of potential phosphosites in the EI suggests that such a regulatory strategy may be a shared mechanism for regulating miRNA-mediated repression. Proteins are the chemical ‘workhorses’ of the cell: some help maintain a cell’s shape or structure, while others carry out the chemical reactions necessary for life. Organisms therefore need to keep tight control over the production of proteins in their cells, so that the right amount of each protein is made at the right time, in the right place. Instructions for making new proteins are encoded in a type of molecule called messenger RNA. Each messenger RNA contains the instructions for one protein, which are then ‘read’ and carried out by special cellular machinery called ribosomes. The cell can control how much protein it produces by regulating both the levels of different messenger RNA and the amount of protein ribosomes are allowed to make from those instructions. The main way to regulate the levels of messenger RNA is through their transcription from the genome. However, this needs fine tuning. Cells can do this in a highly specific way using molecules called microRNAs. A microRNA works by directing a protein called Argonaute to the messenger RNA that it targets. Once Argonaute arrives, it can call in additional ‘helper proteins’ to shut down, or reduce, protein production from that messenger RNA, or alternatively to break down the messenger RNA altogether. Cells can use an enzyme called CK1α to attach bulky chemical groups onto a specific part of the Argonaute protein, in a reaction termed phosphorylation. The ability to carry out this reaction (and to reverse it) also seems to be important for microRNAs to do their job properly, but why has remained unknown. Bibel et al. wanted to determine what triggers CK1α to phosphorylate Argonaute, and how this affects interactions between microRNAs, Argonaute and their target messenger RNAs. A series of ‘test tube’ experiments looked at the interaction between purified CK1α and Argonaute under different conditions. These demonstrated that CK1α could only carry out its phosphorylation reaction when Argonaute was already interacting with a microRNA and its corresponding messenger RNA. Further measurements revealed that phosphorylation of Argonaute made it detach from the messenger RNA more quickly. This suggests that phosphorylation might be a way to let Argonaute seek out new messenger RNAs after blocking protein production at its first ‘target’. These results shed new light on a fundamental mechanism that cells use to control protein production. Bibel et al. propose that this mechanism may be shared across many different species and could one day help guide the development of new medical therapies based on microRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Bibel
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, W. M. Keck Structural Biology Laboratory
| | - Elad Elkayam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, W. M. Keck Structural Biology Laboratory
| | - Steve Silletti
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Elizabeth A Komives
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Leemor Joshua-Tor
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, W. M. Keck Structural Biology Laboratory
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10
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Hacquard T, Clavel M, Baldrich P, Lechner E, Pérez-Salamó I, Schepetilnikov M, Derrien B, Dubois M, Hammann P, Kuhn L, Brun D, Bouteiller N, Baumberger N, Vaucheret H, Meyers BC, Genschik P. The Arabidopsis F-box protein FBW2 targets AGO1 for degradation to prevent spurious loading of illegitimate small RNA. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110671. [PMID: 35417704 PMCID: PMC9035678 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA silencing is a conserved mechanism in eukaryotes involved in development and defense against viruses. In plants, ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) protein plays a central role in both microRNA- and small interfering RNA-directed silencing, and its expression is regulated at multiple levels. Here, we report that the F-box protein FBW2 assembles an SCF complex that selectively targets for proteolysis AGO1 when it is unloaded and mutated. Although FBW2 loss of function does not lead to strong growth or developmental defects, it significantly increases RNA-silencing activity. Interestingly, under conditions in which small-RNA accumulation is affected, the failure to degrade AGO1 in fbw2 mutants becomes more deleterious for the plant. Accordingly, the non-degradable AGO1 protein assembles high-molecular-weight complexes and binds illegitimate small RNA, leading to off-target cleavage. Therefore, control of AGO1 homeostasis by FBW2 plays an important role in quality control of RNA silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Hacquard
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marion Clavel
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Esther Lechner
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Imma Pérez-Salamó
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Mikhail Schepetilnikov
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Benoît Derrien
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marieke Dubois
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Hammann
- Plateforme Protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Lauriane Kuhn
- Plateforme Protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Danaé Brun
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Nathalie Bouteiller
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Nicolas Baumberger
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Hervé Vaucheret
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis 63132, MO, USA; Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Pascal Genschik
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
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11
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Bartom ET, Kocherginsky M, Paudel B, Vaidyanathan A, Haluck-Kangas A, Patel M, O’Shea KL, Murmann AE, Peter ME. SPOROS: A pipeline to analyze DISE/6mer seed toxicity. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010022. [PMID: 35358200 PMCID: PMC9004739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are (18-22nt long) noncoding short (s)RNAs that suppress gene expression by targeting the 3’ untranslated region of target mRNAs. This occurs through the seed sequence located in position 2-7/8 of the miRNA guide strand, once it is loaded into the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). G-rich 6mer seed sequences can kill cells by targeting C-rich 6mer seed matches located in genes that are critical for cell survival. This results in induction of Death Induced by Survival gene Elimination (DISE), through a mechanism we have called 6mer seed toxicity. miRNAs are often quantified in cells by aligning the reads from small (sm)RNA sequencing to the genome. However, the analysis of any smRNA Seq data set for predicted 6mer seed toxicity requires an alternative workflow, solely based on the exact position 2–7 of any short (s)RNA that can enter the RISC. Therefore, we developed SPOROS, a semi-automated pipeline that produces multiple useful outputs to predict and compare 6mer seed toxicity of cellular sRNAs, regardless of their nature, between different samples. We provide two examples to illustrate the capabilities of SPOROS: Example one involves the analysis of RISC-bound sRNAs in a cancer cell line (either wild-type or two mutant lines unable to produce most miRNAs). Example two is based on a publicly available smRNA Seq data set from postmortem brains (either from normal or Alzheimer’s patients). Our methods (found at https://github.com/ebartom/SPOROS and at Code Ocean: https://doi.org/10.24433/CO.1732496.v1) are designed to be used to analyze a variety of smRNA Seq data in various normal and disease settings. We recently discovered a kill code embedded in the genome with powerful anti-cancer activity. It is based on only 6 nucleotides (comprised of A, G, C, or U) that when present in the sequence of a small double stranded RNA allows it to act like a microRNA (miRNA). miRNAs are important regulators of many cell functions. The ~2,300 known miRNAs in the human genome function through their business end, the seed sequence. When this seed sequence is 6 nucleotides long (6mer seed) and is comprised of mostly Gs, then these small RNAs can kill all cancer cells. Hence, this code is found in a number of miRNAs that have anti-cancer activities. However, the code is not limited to miRNAs and may also affect normal tissue under certain conditions. We have now developed SPOROS, a semi-automated bioinformatics pipeline that allows one to analyze any data set of sequenced small RNAs with a focus on their 6mer seed content and their potential to kill cells. We present two examples of such an analysis: the first example is a data set we generated on the expression of all small RNAs in a human colon cancer cell line compared to matching mutant cell lines that cannot produce most miRNAs; the second example is a publicly available data set of small RNAs isolated from normal brains and from brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T. Bartom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Preventive Medicine/Division of Biostatistics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MEP); (ETB)
| | - Masha Kocherginsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine/Division of Biostatistics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Bidur Paudel
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Aparajitha Vaidyanathan
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ashley Haluck-Kangas
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Monal Patel
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn L. O’Shea
- Department of Preventive Medicine/Division of Biostatistics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Andrea E. Murmann
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Marcus E. Peter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Medicine/Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MEP); (ETB)
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12
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Shapiro D, Massopust R, Taetzsch T, Valdez G. Argonaute 2 is lost from neuromuscular junctions affected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in SOD1 G93A mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4630. [PMID: 35301367 PMCID: PMC8931107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
miRNAs are necessary for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) health; however, little is known about the proteins required for their activity in this regard. We examined expression of Argonaute 2 (Ago2) and miRNA biogenesis genes in skeletal muscles during development, following nerve injury and in the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model. We found that these genes are enriched in neonate muscles and in adult muscles following nerve injury. Despite widespread NMJ deterioration, these genes were not increased in muscles of SOD1G93A mice. We also found that Ago2 distribution is linked to maturation, innervation, and health of NMJs. Ago2 increasingly concentrates in synaptic regions during NMJ maturation, disperses following experimental denervation and reconcentrates at the NMJ upon reinnervation. Similar to experimentally denervated muscles, a homogenous distribution of Ago2 was observed in SOD1G93A muscle fibers. To determine if Ago2 is necessary for the health of adult muscles, we excised Ago2 from Ago2fl/fl mice using adeno-associated virus mediated Cre recombinase expression. We observed modest changes in muscle histology after 3 months of Ago2 knockdown. Together, these data provide critical insights into the role of Ago2 and miRNA biogenesis genes in healthy and ALS-afflicted skeletal muscles and NMJs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon Shapiro
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ryan Massopust
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Thomas Taetzsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Gregorio Valdez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 70 Ship St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, USA.
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13
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Machado-Pereira M, Saraiva C, Bernardino L, Cristóvão AC, Ferreira R. Argonaute-2 protects the neurovascular unit from damage caused by systemic inflammation. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:11. [PMID: 34991639 PMCID: PMC8740421 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02324-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain vasculature plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory process by modulating the interaction between blood cells and the neurovascular unit. Argonaute-2 (Ago2) has been suggested as essential for endothelial survival but its role in the brain vasculature or in the endothelial-glial crosstalk has not been addressed. Thus, our aim was to clarify the significance of Ago2 in the inflammatory responses elicited by these cell types. METHODS Mouse primary cultures of brain endothelial cells, astrocytes and microglia were used to evaluate cellular responses to the modulation of Ago2. Exposure of microglia to endothelial cell-conditioned media was used to assess the potential for in vivo studies. Adult mice were injected intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (2 mg/kg) followed by three daily intraperitoneal injections of Ago2 (0.4 nM) to assess markers of endothelial disruption, glial reactivity and neuronal function. RESULTS Herein, we demonstrated that LPS activation disturbed the integrity of adherens junctions and downregulated Ago2 in primary brain endothelial cells. Exogenous treatment recovered intracellular Ago2 above control levels and recuperated vascular endothelial-cadherin expression, while downregulating LPS-induced nitric oxide release. Primary astrocytes did not show a significant change in Ago2 levels or response to the modulation of the Ago2 system, although endogenous Ago2 was shown to be critical in the maintenance of tumor necrosis factor-α basal levels. LPS-activated primary microglia overexpressed Ago2, and Ago2 silencing contained the inflammatory response to some extent, preventing interleukin-6 and nitric oxide release. Moreover, the secretome of Ago2-modulated brain endothelial cells had a protective effect over microglia. The intraperitoneal injection of LPS impaired blood-brain barrier and neuronal function, while triggering inflammation, and the subsequent systemic administration of Ago2 reduced or normalized endothelial, glial and neuronal markers of LPS damage. This outcome likely resulted from the direct action of Ago2 over the brain endothelium, which reestablished glial and neuronal function. CONCLUSIONS Ago2 could be regarded as a putative therapeutic agent, or target, in the recuperation of the neurovascular unit in inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Machado-Pereira
- Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Saraiva
- Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- Present Address: Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Liliana Bernardino
- Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana C. Cristóvão
- Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- NeuroSoV, UBImedical, EM506, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Raquel Ferreira
- Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- CEDOC, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
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14
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Abstract
MicroRNAs are RNAs of about 18-24 nucleotides in lengths, which are found in the small noncoding RNA class and have a crucial role in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, cellular metabolic pathways, and developmental events. These small but essential molecules are first processed by Drosha and DGCR8 in the nucleus and then released into the cytoplasm, where they cleaved by Dicer to form the miRNA duplex. These duplexes are bound by the Argonaute (AGO) protein to form the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) in a process called RISC loading. Transcription of miRNAs, processing with Drosha and DGCR8 in the nucleus, cleavage by Dicer, binding to AGO proteins and forming RISC are the most critical steps in miRNA biogenesis. Additional molecules involved in biogenesis at these stages can enhance or inhibit these processes, which can radically change the fate of the cell. Biogenesis is regulated by many checkpoints at every step, primarily at the transcriptional level, in the nucleus, cytoplasm, with RNA regulation, RISC loading, miRNA strand selection, RNA methylation/uridylation, and turnover rate. Moreover, in recent years, different regulation mechanisms have been discovered in noncanonical Drosha or Dicer-independent pathways. This chapter seeks answers to how miRNA biogenesis and function are regulated through both canonical and non-canonical pathways.
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15
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Iwakawa HO, Tomari Y. Life of RISC: Formation, action, and degradation of RNA-induced silencing complex. Mol Cell 2021; 82:30-43. [PMID: 34942118 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Small RNAs regulate a wide variety of biological processes by repressing the expression of target genes at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. To achieve these functions, small RNAs form RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) together with a member of the Argonaute (AGO) protein family. RISC is directed by its bound small RNA to target complementary RNAs and represses their expression through mRNA cleavage, degradation, and/or translational repression. Many different factors fine-tune RISC activity and stability-from guide-target RNA complementarity to the recruitment of other protein partners to post-translational modifications of RISC itself. Here, we review recent progress in understanding RISC formation, action, and degradation, and discuss new, intriguing questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiro-Oki Iwakawa
- Laboratory of RNA Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
| | - Yukihide Tomari
- Laboratory of RNA Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan; Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
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16
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Hill A, van Leeuwen D, Schlösser V, Behera A, Mateescu B, Hall J. Chemically synthesized, self-assembling small interfering RNA-prohead RNA molecules trigger Dicer-independent gene silencing. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103995. [PMID: 34879171 PMCID: PMC9305526 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes is a powerful therapeutic modality, but the translation of siRNAs from the bench into clinical application has been hampered by inefficient delivery in vivo. An innovative delivery strategy involves fusing siRNAs to a three‐way junction (3WJ) motif derived from the phi29 bacteriophage prohead RNA (pRNA). Chimeric siRNA‐3WJ molecules are presumed to enter the RNAi pathway through Dicer cleavage. Here, we fused siRNAs to the phi29 3WJ and two phylogenetically related 3WJs. We confirmed that the siRNA‐3WJs are substrates for Dicer in vitro. However, our results reveal that siRNA‐3WJs transfected into Dicer‐deficient cell lines trigger potent gene silencing. Interestingly, siRNA‐3WJs transfected into an Argonaute 2‐deficient cell line also retain some gene silencing activity. siRNA‐3WJs are most efficient when the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex is positioned 5′ of the 3WJ (5′‐siRNA‐3WJ) relative to 3′ of the 3WJ (3′‐siRNA‐3WJ). This work sheds light on the functional properties of siRNA‐3WJs and offers a design rule for maximizing their potency in the human RNAi pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Hill
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, SWITZERLAND
| | - Daniël van Leeuwen
- ETH Zürich D-BIOL: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Biologie, Department of Biology, SWITZERLAND
| | - Verena Schlösser
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
| | - Alok Behera
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
| | - Bogdan Mateescu
- ETH Zürich D-BIOL: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Biologie, Department of Biology, SWITZERLAND
| | - Jonathan Hall
- ETH Zurich D-CHAB: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, SWITZERLAND
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17
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Gainetdinov I, Colpan C, Cecchini K, Arif A, Jouravleva K, Albosta P, Vega-Badillo J, Lee Y, Özata DM, Zamore PD. Terminal modification, sequence, length, and PIWI-protein identity determine piRNA stability. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4826-4842.e8. [PMID: 34626567 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In animals, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) silence transposons, fight viral infections, and regulate gene expression. piRNA biogenesis concludes with 3' terminal trimming and 2'-O-methylation. Both trimming and methylation influence piRNA stability. Our biochemical data show that multiple mechanisms destabilize unmethylated mouse piRNAs, depending on whether the piRNA 5' or 3' sequence is complementary to a trigger RNA. Unlike target-directed degradation of microRNAs, complementarity-dependent destabilization of piRNAs in mice and flies is blocked by 3' terminal 2'-O-methylation and does not require base pairing to both the piRNA seed and the 3' sequence. In flies, 2'-O-methylation also protects small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from complementarity-dependent destruction. By contrast, pre-piRNA trimming protects mouse piRNAs from a degradation pathway unaffected by trigger complementarity. In testis lysate and in vivo, internal or 3' terminal uridine- or guanine-rich tracts accelerate pre-piRNA decay. Loss of both trimming and 2'-O-methylation causes the mouse piRNA pathway to collapse, demonstrating that these modifications collaborate to stabilize piRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildar Gainetdinov
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Cansu Colpan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Katharine Cecchini
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Amena Arif
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Karina Jouravleva
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Paul Albosta
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Joel Vega-Badillo
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yongjin Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Deniz M Özata
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Phillip D Zamore
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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18
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Frédérick PM, Simard MJ. Regulation and different functions of the animal microRNA-induced silencing complex. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 13:e1701. [PMID: 34725940 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Among the different types of small RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in controlling gene expression at the mRNA level. To be active, they must associate with an Argonaute protein to form the miRNA induced silencing complex (miRISC) and binds to specific mRNA through complementarity sequences. The miRISC binding to an mRNA can lead to multiple outcomes, the most frequent being inhibition of the translation and/or deadenylation followed by decapping and mRNA decay. In the last years, several studies described different mechanisms modulating miRISC functions in animals. For instance, the regulation of the Argonaute protein through post-translational modifications can change the miRISC gene regulatory activity as well as modulate its binding to proteins, mRNA targets and miRISC stability. Furthermore, the presence of RNA binding proteins and multiple miRISCs at the targeted mRNA 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) can also affect its function through cooperation or competition mechanisms, underlying the importance of the 3'UTR environment in miRNA-mediated repression. Another way to regulate the miRISC function is by modulation of its interactors, forming different types of miRNA silencing complexes that affect gene regulation differently. It is also reported that the subcellular localization of several components of the miRNA pathway can modulate miRISC function, suggesting an important role for vesicular trafficking in the regulation of this essential silencing complex. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marc Frédérick
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada.,Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin J Simard
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada.,Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada
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19
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The miRNome of Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111312. [PMID: 34768740 PMCID: PMC8582693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is an effect of complex interactions between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. It is well established that stress responses are associated with multiple modest and often dynamic molecular changes in the homeostatic balance, rather than with a single genetic factor that has a strong phenotypic penetration. As depression is a multifaceted phenotype, it is important to study biochemical pathways that can regulate the overall allostasis of the brain. One such biological system that has the potential to fine-tune a multitude of diverse molecular processes is RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is an epigenetic process showing a very low level of evolutionary diversity, and relies on the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression using, in the case of mammals, primarily short (17–23 nucleotides) noncoding RNA transcripts called microRNAs (miRNA). In this review, our objective was to examine, summarize and discuss recent advances in the field of biomedical and clinical research on the role of miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression in the development of depression. We focused on studies investigating post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with depression, as well as research aiming to elucidate the biomarker potential of miRNAs in depression and antidepressant response.
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20
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Liu Q, Novak MK, Pepin RM, Eich T, Hu W. microRNA-mediated regulation of microRNA machinery controls cell fate decisions. eLife 2021; 10:72289. [PMID: 34596044 PMCID: PMC8504967 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs associate with Argonaute proteins, forming the microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), to repress target gene expression post-transcriptionally. Although microRNAs are critical regulators in mammalian cell differentiation, our understanding of how microRNA machinery, such as the miRISC, are regulated during development is still limited. We previously showed that repressing the production of one Argonaute protein, Ago2, by Trim71 is important for mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) self-renewal (Liu et al., 2021). Here, we show that among the four Argonaute proteins in mammals, Ago2 is the major developmentally regulated Argonaute protein in mESCs. Moreover, in pluripotency, besides the Trim71-mediated regulation of Ago2 (Liu et al., 2021), Mir182/Mir183 also repress Ago2. Specific inhibition of this microRNA-mediated repression results in stemness defects and accelerated differentiation through the let-7 microRNA pathway. These results reveal a microRNA-mediated regulatory circuit on microRNA machinery that is critical to maintaining pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - Mariah K Novak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - Rachel M Pepin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - Taylor Eich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - Wenqian Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
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21
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Torres Fernández LA, Mitschka S, Ulas T, Weise S, Dahm K, Becker M, Händler K, Beyer M, Windhausen J, Schultze JL, Kolanus W. The stem cell-specific protein TRIM71 inhibits maturation and activity of the pro-differentiation miRNA let-7 via two independent molecular mechanisms. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:rna.078696.121. [PMID: 33975917 PMCID: PMC8208056 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078696.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The stem cell-specific RNA-binding protein TRIM71/LIN-41 was the first identified target of the pro-differentiation and tumor suppressor miRNA let-7. TRIM71 has essential functions in embryonic development and a proposed oncogenic role in several cancer types, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we show that TRIM71 regulates let-7 expression and activity via two independent mechanisms. On the one hand, TRIM71 enhances pre-let-7 degradation through its direct interaction with LIN28 and TUT4, thereby inhibiting let-7 maturation and indirectly promoting the stabilization of let-7 targets. On the other hand, TRIM71 represses the activity of mature let-7 via its RNA-dependent interaction with the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) effector protein AGO2. We found that TRIM71 directly binds and stabilizes let-7 targets, suggesting that let-7 activity inhibition occurs on active RISCs. MiRNA enrichment analysis of several transcriptomic datasets from mouse embryonic stem cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma cells suggests that these let-7 regulatory mechanisms shape transcriptomic changes during developmental and oncogenic processes. Altogether, our work reveals a novel role for TRIM71 as a miRNA repressor and sheds light on a dual mechanism of let-7 regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Ulas
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) & Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn
| | - Stefan Weise
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn
| | - Kilian Dahm
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn
| | - Matthias Becker
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Bonn
| | - Kristian Händler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Bonn
| | - Marc Beyer
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES)
| | | | - Joachim L Schultze
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) & Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn
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22
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Xie W, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Xiang Y, Wu N, Wu L, Li C, Cai T, Ma X, Yu Z, Bai L, Li Y. Single-nucleotide polymorphism rs4142441 and MYC co-modulated long non-coding RNA OSER1-AS1 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer by sequestering ELAVL1. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2272-2286. [PMID: 33113263 PMCID: PMC8177763 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been involved in the process of lung cancer. Following clues given by lung cancer risk‐associated SNP, we aimed to find novel functional lncRNAs as candidate targets in lung cancer. We identified a lncRNA Oxidative Stress Responsive Serine Rich 1 Antisense RNA 1 (OSER1‐AS1) through a lung cancer risk‐associated SNP rs4142441. OSER1‐AS1 was down‐regulated in tumor tissue and its low expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival among non‐smokers in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies showed that OSER1‐AS1 acted as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting lung cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro. Xenograft tumor assays and a metastasis mouse model confirmed that OSER1‐AS1 suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The promoter of OSER1‐AS1 was repressed by MYC, and the 3′‐end of OSER1‐AS1 was competitively targeted by microRNA hsa‐miR‐17‐5p and RNA‐binding protein ELAVL1. Our results indicated that OSER1‐AS1 exerted tumor‐suppressive functions by acting as an ELAVL1 decoy to keep it away from its target mRNAs. Our findings characterized OSER1‐AS1 as a new tumor‐suppressive lncRNA in NSCLC, suggesting that OSER1‐AS1 may be suitable as a potential biomarker for prognosis, and a potential target for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Xie
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Youhao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Xiang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Na Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Long Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Chengying Li
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Tongjian Cai
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangyu Ma
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Zubin Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Li Bai
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yafei Li
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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23
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Dumoulin B, Ufer C, Kuhn H, Sofi S. Expression Regulation, Protein Chemistry and Functional Biology of the Guanine-Rich Sequence Binding Factor 1 (GRSF1). J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166922. [PMID: 33713675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells RNA-binding proteins have been implicated in virtually all post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene expression regulation. Based on the structural features of their RNA binding domains these proteins have been divided into several subfamilies. The presence of at least two RNA recognition motifs defines the group of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoproteins H/F and one of its members is the guanine-rich sequence binding factor 1 (GRSF1). GRSF1 was first described 25 years ago and is widely distributed in eukaryotic cells. It is present in the nucleus, the cytoplasm and in mitochondria and has been implicated in a variety of physiological processes (embryogenesis, erythropoiesis, redox homeostasis, RNA metabolism) but also in the pathogenesis of various diseases. This review summarizes our current understanding on GRSF1 biology, critically discusses the literature reports and gives an outlook of future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Dumoulin
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany; III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Christoph Ufer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hartmut Kuhn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Free University Berlin, Humboldt University Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sajad Sofi
- University of York, Department of Biology, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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24
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Kshirsagar V, Thingore C, Juvekar A. Insulin resistance: a connecting link between Alzheimer's disease and metabolic disorder. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:67-83. [PMID: 32986168 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00622-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely linked with insulin resistance, as seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin signaling is impaired in AD brains due to insulin resistance, ultimately resulting in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). AD and T2DM are connected at molecular, clinical, and epidemiological levels making it imperative to understand the contribution of T2DM, and other metabolic disorders, to AD pathogenesis. In this review, we have discussed various modalities involved in the pathogenesis of these two diseases and explained the contributing parameters. Insulin is vital for maintaining glucose homeostasis and it plays an important role in regulating inflammation. Here, we have discussed the roles of various contributing factors like miRNA, leptin hormone, neuroinflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and gangliosides in insulin impairment both in AD and T2DM. Understanding these mechanisms will be a big step forward for making molecular therapies that may help maintain or prevent both AD and T2DM, thus reducing the burden of both these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viplav Kshirsagar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Near Khalsa college, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019, India
| | - Chetan Thingore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Near Khalsa college, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019, India
| | - Archana Juvekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Near Khalsa college, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019, India.
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25
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Pös Z, Pös O, Styk J, Mocova A, Strieskova L, Budis J, Kadasi L, Radvanszky J, Szemes T. Technical and Methodological Aspects of Cell-Free Nucleic Acids Analyzes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228634. [PMID: 33207777 PMCID: PMC7697251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Analyzes of cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) have shown huge potential in many biomedical applications, gradually entering several fields of research and everyday clinical care. Many biological properties of cfNAs can be informative to gain deeper insights into the function of the organism, such as their different types (DNA, RNAs) and subtypes (gDNA, mtDNA, bacterial DNA, miRNAs, etc.), forms (naked or vesicle bound NAs), fragmentation profiles, sequence composition, epigenetic modifications, and many others. On the other hand, the workflows of their analyzes comprise many important steps, from sample collection, storage and transportation, through extraction and laboratory analysis, up to bioinformatic analyzes and statistical evaluations, where each of these steps has the potential to affect the outcome and informational value of the performed analyzes. There are, however, no universal or standard protocols on how to exactly proceed when analyzing different cfNAs for different applications, at least according to our best knowledge. We decided therefore to prepare an overview of the available literature and products commercialized for cfNAs processing, in an attempt to summarize the benefits and limitations of the currently available approaches, devices, consumables, and protocols, together with various factors influencing the workflow, its processes, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Pös
- Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.P.); (A.M.); (L.K.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Geneton Ltd., 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.S.); (J.B.)
| | - Ondrej Pös
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Geneton Ltd., 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.S.); (J.B.)
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Jakub Styk
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Angelika Mocova
- Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.P.); (A.M.); (L.K.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | | | - Jaroslav Budis
- Geneton Ltd., 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.S.); (J.B.)
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Slovak Center of Scientific and Technical Information, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ludevit Kadasi
- Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.P.); (A.M.); (L.K.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Jan Radvanszky
- Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.P.); (A.M.); (L.K.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: (J.R.); (T.S.); Tel.: +421-2-60296637 (J.R.); +421-2-9026-8807 (T.S.)
| | - Tomas Szemes
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Geneton Ltd., 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.S.); (J.B.)
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: (J.R.); (T.S.); Tel.: +421-2-60296637 (J.R.); +421-2-9026-8807 (T.S.)
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26
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Leng Y, Sim S, Magidson V, Wolin SL. Noncoding Y RNAs regulate the levels, subcellular distribution and protein interactions of their Ro60 autoantigen partner. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:6919-6930. [PMID: 32469055 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Noncoding Y RNAs are abundant in animal cells and present in many bacteria. These RNAs are bound and stabilized by Ro60, a ring-shaped protein that is a target of autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Studies in bacteria revealed that Y RNA tethers Ro60 to a ring-shaped exoribonuclease, forming a double-ringed RNP machine specialized for structured RNA degradation. In addition to functioning as a tether, the bacterial RNA gates access of substrates to the Ro60 cavity. To identify roles for Y RNAs in mammals, we used CRISPR to generate mouse embryonic stem cells lacking one or both of the two murine Y RNAs. Despite reports that animal cell Y RNAs are essential for DNA replication, cells lacking these RNAs divide normally. However, Ro60 levels are reduced, revealing that Y RNA binding is required for Ro60 to accumulate to wild-type levels. Y RNAs regulate the subcellular location of Ro60, since Ro60 is reduced in the cytoplasm and increased in nucleoli when Y RNAs are absent. Last, we show that Y RNAs tether Ro60 to diverse effector proteins to generate specialized RNPs. Together, our data demonstrate that the roles of Y RNAs are intimately connected to that of their Ro60 partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Leng
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Soyeong Sim
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Valentin Magidson
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sandra L Wolin
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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27
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VCP Machinery Mediates Autophagic Degradation of Empty Argonaute. Cell Rep 2020; 28:1144-1153.e4. [PMID: 31365860 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Argonaute subfamily of proteins (AGO) loads microRNAs (miRNAs) to form the effector complex that mediates target gene silencing. Empty AGO, but not miRNA-loaded AGO, is selectively degraded across species. We have reported that the degradation of empty AGO is part of a quality control pathway that eliminates dysfunctional AGO. However, how empty AGO is degraded remains unclear. Here we show that the empty state of Drosophila Ago1 is degraded by autophagy. Comprehensive LC-MS/MS analyses, together with manipulation of the Ago1 ubiquitination level, revealed that VCP, which mediates selective autophagy, recognizes empty Ago1 via the Ufd1-Npl4 heterodimer. Depletion of VCP-Ufd1-Npl4 machinery impairs degradation of empty Ago1 and miRNA-mediated target gene silencing. Our findings reveal a direct link between empty AGO degradation and selective autophagy that ensures efficient miRNA function.
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28
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Abildgaard MH, Brynjólfsdóttir SH, Frankel LB. The Autophagy-RNA Interplay: Degradation and Beyond. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:845-857. [PMID: 32828649 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved degradation pathway that ensures nutrient recycling and removal of unwanted substrates. This process has a fundamental role in stress adaptation and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Here, we discuss emerging aspects of the autophagy-RNA interplay, including autophagy-mediated degradation of RNA, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Beyond degradation, we review new roles for autophagy players in the secretion and intracellular transport of RNA and related complexes. We discuss the physiological importance of these events for RNA homeostasis and gene expression programs, as well as their implications for disease, including cancer and neurodegeneration. Lastly, we examine how post-transcriptional regulation of autophagy, through specialized processing and selective translation of key transcripts, challenges and updates our current view of autophagy complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lisa B Frankel
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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29
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Conte G, Nguyen NT, Alves M, de Diego-Garcia L, Kenny A, Nicke A, Henshall DC, Jimenez-Mateos EM, Engel T. P2X7 Receptor-Dependent microRNA Expression Profile in the Brain Following Status Epilepticus in Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:127. [PMID: 32982684 PMCID: PMC7485385 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ionotropic ATP-gated P2X7 receptor is an important contributor to inflammatory signaling cascades via the release of Interleukin-1β, as well as having roles in cell death, neuronal plasticity and the release of neurotransmitters. Accordingly, there is interest in targeting the P2X7 receptor for the treatment of epilepsy. However, the signaling pathways downstream of P2X7 receptor activation remain incompletely understood. Notably, recent studies showed that P2X7 receptor expression is controlled, in part, by microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we explored P2X7 receptor-dependent microRNA expression by comparing microRNA expression profiles of wild-type (wt) and P2X7 receptor knockout mice before and after status epilepticus. Genome-wide microRNA profiling was performed using hippocampi from wt and P2X7 receptor knockout mice following status epilepticus induced by intra-amygdala kainic acid. This revealed that the genetic deletion of the P2X7 receptor results in distinct patterns of microRNA expression. Specifically, we found that in vehicle-injected control mice, the lack of the P2X7 receptor resulted in the up-regulation of 50 microRNAs and down-regulation of 35 microRNAs. Post-status epilepticus, P2X7 receptor deficiency led to the up-regulation of 44 microRNAs while 13 microRNAs were down-regulated. Moreover, there was only limited overlap among identified P2X7 receptor-dependent microRNAs between control conditions and post-status epilepticus, suggesting that the P2X7 receptor regulates the expression of different microRNAs during normal physiology and pathology. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that genes targeted by P2X7 receptor-dependent microRNAs were particularly overrepresented in pathways involved in intracellular signaling, inflammation, and cell death; processes that have been repeatedly associated with P2X7 receptor activation. Moreover, whereas genes involved in signaling pathways and inflammation were common among up- and down-regulated P2X7 receptor-dependent microRNAs during physiological and pathological conditions, genes associated with cell death seemed to be restricted to up-regulated microRNAs during both physiological conditions and post-status epilepticus. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the P2X7 receptor impacts on the expression profile of microRNAs in the brain, thereby possibly contributing to both the maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Conte
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ngoc T Nguyen
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland.,FutureNeuro, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mariana Alves
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura de Diego-Garcia
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aidan Kenny
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Annette Nicke
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - David C Henshall
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland.,FutureNeuro, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva M Jimenez-Mateos
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Ireland, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tobias Engel
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland.,FutureNeuro, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland
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30
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Dexheimer PJ, Cochella L. MicroRNAs: From Mechanism to Organism. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:409. [PMID: 32582699 PMCID: PMC7283388 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, regulatory RNAs that act as post-transcriptional repressors of gene expression in diverse biological contexts. The emergence of small RNA-mediated gene silencing preceded the onset of multicellularity and was followed by a drastic expansion of the miRNA repertoire in conjunction with the evolution of complexity in the plant and animal kingdoms. Along this process, miRNAs became an essential feature of animal development, as no higher metazoan lineage tolerated loss of miRNAs or their associated protein machinery. In fact, ablation of the miRNA biogenesis machinery or the effector silencing factors results in severe embryogenesis defects in every animal studied. In this review, we summarize recent mechanistic insight into miRNA biogenesis and function, while emphasizing features that have enabled multicellular organisms to harness the potential of this broad class of repressors. We first discuss how different mechanisms of regulation of miRNA biogenesis are used, not only to generate spatio-temporal specificity of miRNA production within an animal, but also to achieve the necessary levels and dynamics of expression. We then explore how evolution of the mechanism for small RNA-mediated repression resulted in a diversity of silencing complexes that cause different molecular effects on their targets. Multicellular organisms have taken advantage of this variability in the outcome of miRNA-mediated repression, with differential use in particular cell types or even distinct subcellular compartments. Finally, we present an overview of how the animal miRNA repertoire has evolved and diversified, emphasizing the emergence of miRNA families and the biological implications of miRNA sequence diversification. Overall, focusing on selected animal models and through the lens of evolution, we highlight canonical mechanisms in miRNA biology and their variations, providing updated insight that will ultimately help us understand the contribution of miRNAs to the development and physiology of multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp J Dexheimer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Luisa Cochella
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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31
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Zaporozhchenko IA, Rykova EY, Laktionov PP. The Fundamentals of miRNA Biology: Structure, Biogenesis, and Regulatory Functions. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s106816202001015x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Nawalpuri B, Ravindran S, Muddashetty RS. The Role of Dynamic miRISC During Neuronal Development. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:8. [PMID: 32118035 PMCID: PMC7025485 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00008] [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: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent protein synthesis plays an important role during neuronal development by fine-tuning the formation and function of neuronal circuits. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are integral to this regulation because of their ability to control protein synthesis in a rapid, specific and potentially reversible manner. miRNA mediated regulation is a multistep process that involves inhibition of translation before degradation of targeted mRNA, which provides the possibility to store and reverse the inhibition at multiple stages. This flexibility is primarily thought to be derived from the composition of miRNA induced silencing complex (miRISC). AGO2 is likely the only obligatory component of miRISC, while multiple RBPs are shown to be associated with this core miRISC to form diverse miRISC complexes. The formation of these heterogeneous miRISC complexes is intricately regulated by various extracellular signals and cell-specific contexts. In this review, we discuss the composition of miRISC and its functions during neuronal development. Neurodevelopment is guided by both internal programs and external cues. Neuronal activity and external signals play an important role in the formation and refining of the neuronal network. miRISC composition and diversity have a critical role at distinct stages of neurodevelopment. Even though there is a good amount of literature available on the role of miRNAs mediated regulation of neuronal development, surprisingly the role of miRISC composition and its functional dynamics in neuronal development is not much discussed. In this article, we review the available literature on the heterogeneity of the neuronal miRISC composition and how this may influence translation regulation in the context of neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharti Nawalpuri
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (Instem), Bangalore, India.,School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, and Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Sreenath Ravindran
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (Instem), Bangalore, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Ravi S Muddashetty
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (Instem), Bangalore, India
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Reichholf B, Herzog VA, Fasching N, Manzenreither RA, Sowemimo I, Ameres SL. Time-Resolved Small RNA Sequencing Unravels the Molecular Principles of MicroRNA Homeostasis. Mol Cell 2019; 75:756-768.e7. [PMID: 31350118 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Argonaute-bound microRNAs silence mRNA expression in a dynamic and regulated manner to control organismal development, physiology, and disease. We employed metabolic small RNA sequencing for a comprehensive view on intracellular microRNA kinetics in Drosophila. Based on absolute rate of biogenesis and decay, microRNAs rank among the fastest produced and longest-lived cellular transcripts, disposing up to 105 copies per cell at steady-state. Mature microRNAs are produced within minutes, revealing tight intracellular coupling of biogenesis that is selectively disrupted by pre-miRNA-uridylation. Control over Argonaute protein homeostasis generates a kinetic bottleneck that cooperates with non-coding RNA surveillance to ensure faithful microRNA loading. Finally, regulated small RNA decay enables the selective rapid turnover of Ago1-bound microRNAs, but not of Ago2-bound small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), reflecting key differences in the robustness of small RNA silencing pathways. Time-resolved small RNA sequencing opens new experimental avenues to deconvolute the timescales, molecular features, and regulation of small RNA silencing pathways in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Reichholf
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika A Herzog
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Fasching
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ivica Sowemimo
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan L Ameres
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
Small RNAs govern almost every biological process in eukaryotes associating with the Argonaute (AGO) proteins to form the RNA-induced silencing complex (mRISC). AGO proteins constitute the core of RISCs with different members having variety of protein-binding partners and biochemical properties. This review focuses on the AGO subfamily of the AGOs that are ubiquitously expressed and are associated with small RNAs. The structure, function and role of the AGO proteins in the cell is discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saife Niaz
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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35
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Argonaute 2 drives miR-145-5p-dependent gene expression program in breast cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:17. [PMID: 30622242 PMCID: PMC6325137 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
To perform their regulatory functions, microRNAs (miRNAs) must assemble with any of the four mammalian Argonaute (Ago) family of proteins, Ago1–4, into an effector complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). While the mature miRNA guides the RISC complex to its target mRNA, the Ago protein represses mRNA translation. The specific roles of the various Ago members in mediating miRNAs activity, however, haven’t been clearly established. In this study, we investigated the contribution of Ago2, the only human Ago protein endowed with nuclease activity, to the function of tumor-suppressor miR-145-5p in breast cancer (BC). We show that miR-145-5p and Ago2 protein are concomitantly downregulated in BC tissues and that restoration of miR-145-5p expression in BC cells leads to Ago2 protein induction through the loosening of Ago2 mRNA translational repression. Functionally, miR-145-5p exerts its inhibitory activity on cell migration only in presence of Ago2, while, upon Ago2 depletion, we observed increased miR-145/Ago1 complex and enhanced cell motility. Profiling by microarray of miR-145-5p target mRNAs, in BC cells depleted or not of Ago2, revealed that miR-145-5p drives Ago2-dependent and -independent activities. Our results highlight that the Ago2 protein in cancer cells strictly dictates miR-145-5p tumor suppressor activity.
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36
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Kenny A, Hernández F, Avila J, Lucas JJ, Henshall DC, Prehn JHM, Jiménez-Mateos EM, Engel T. Profiling of Argonaute-2-loaded microRNAs in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 10:172-183. [PMID: 30697364 PMCID: PMC6334219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. These include more than 20 diseases, with Alzheimer's disease being the most frequent. While pathological and neurotoxic effects of tau are well documented, the mechanisms by which tau can promote neurodegeneration are less clear. Increasing evidence suggests a functional role for microRNAs in the pathogenesis of tauopathies, with altered expression and function of microRNAs in experimental models and patient brain. To determine whether a pathological expression of tau leads to altered microRNA expression, we investigated a mouse model (VLW), which overexpresses tau carrying three mutations identified in patients suffering from frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17. Argonaute-2-bound microRNAs were co-immunoprecipitated using hippocampal tissue to identify active microRNAs within the model and quantified using a genome-wide high-throughput qPCR-based microRNA platform. While similar numbers of microRNAs are present between wild-type and VLW mice, a prominent increase in Argonaute-2-bound levels of microRNAs could be observed in VLW mice. This included microRNA-134, microRNA-99a and microRNA-101. Subsequent experiments revealed this increase in Argonaute-2 loading of microRNAs to correlate with increased microRNA expression. Our in vivo study suggests that a pathological tau overexpression may lead to an increase in active microRNAs, possibly contributing to dysregulation of gene expression and tau-induced pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Kenny
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin 2, Ireland
| | - Félix Hernández
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)Madrid, Spain
| | - José J Lucas
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)Madrid, Spain
| | - David C Henshall
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin 2, Ireland
- FutureNeuro Research CentreDublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jochen HM Prehn
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin 2, Ireland
- FutureNeuro Research CentreDublin 2, Ireland
| | - Eva M Jiménez-Mateos
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin 2, Ireland
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of DublinDublin 2, Ireland
| | - Tobias Engel
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublin 2, Ireland
- FutureNeuro Research CentreDublin 2, Ireland
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Lee H, Groot M, Pinilla-Vera M, Fredenburgh LE, Jin Y. Identification of miRNA-rich vesicles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: Insights into the function and heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles. J Control Release 2018; 294:43-52. [PMID: 30529727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite emerging interest in the role of extracellular vesicle (EV)-containing microRNAs (EV-miRNAs), the existence of functional EV-miRNAs under patho-physiological conditions has been viewed with skepticism. Due to the heterogenicity of EVs, several barriers related to EV-miRNA research are to be explored before the in vivo function of EV-miRNAs can be thoroughly delineated. For example, it has been reported that far less than one copy of a given miRNA can be detected per exosome. In this study, we demonstrated that miRNA-rich-EVs exist and can be consistently isolated using differential centrifugation & density-gradient fractionation from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in vivo. The absolute number of this 'miRNA-rich'-EV population is only about 7.05 × 109 per mouse (6% of total EVs). However, the RNA amount detected in this population of EVs represents approximately 39% of the total EV RNAs in the BALF. In contrast, the remaining populations of BALF EVs (76% of total EVs) contain extremely low concentrations of RNAs and miRNAs. The miRNA-rich-EVs in BALF are likely derived from alveolar epithelial type-I cells (ATIs). Notably, caveolin-1, a lipid raft protein, is exclusively detected in the miRNA-rich-EVs, suggesting the lipid raft protein as a biomarker of EV-miRNA enrichment. We further demonstrated that miRNAs contained in the ATI-EVs are actively delivered into alveolar macrophages, subsequently promoting inflammasome activation, neutrophil recruitment, and M1-macrophage polarization in response to P. aeruginosa pneumonia in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, we are the first to identify and characterize the miRNA-rich-EVs in BALF. These miRNA-rich EVs endorse pro-inflammatory responses in bacterial lung infection. Our study provides a novel insight into the development of biomarkers, therapeutic strategies and underlying mechanisms for lung pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heedoo Lee
- Pulmonary Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, 72 E Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Michael Groot
- Pulmonary Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, 72 E Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Mayra Pinilla-Vera
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Laura E Fredenburgh
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yang Jin
- Pulmonary Center, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, 72 E Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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38
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Iruka Eliminates Dysfunctional Argonaute by Selective Ubiquitination of Its Empty State. Mol Cell 2018; 73:119-129.e5. [PMID: 30503771 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are loaded into the Argonaute subfamily of proteins (AGO) to form an effector complex that silences target genes. Empty but not miRNA-loaded AGO is selectively degraded across species. However, the mechanism and biological significance of selective AGO degradation remain unclear. We discovered a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase we named Iruka (Iru), which selectively ubiquitinates the empty form of Drosophila Ago1 to trigger its degradation. Iru preferentially binds empty Ago1 and ubiquitinates Lys514 in the L2 linker, which is predicted to be inaccessible in the miRNA-loaded state. Depletion of Iru results in global impairment of miRNA-mediated silencing of target genes and in the accumulation of aberrant Ago1 that is dysfunctional for canonical protein-protein interactions and miRNA loading. Our findings reveal a sophisticated mechanism for the selective degradation of empty AGO that underlies a quality control process to ensure AGO function.
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39
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Kutsche LK, Gysi DM, Fallmann J, Lenk K, Petri R, Swiersy A, Klapper SD, Pircs K, Khattak S, Stadler PF, Jakobsson J, Nowick K, Busskamp V. Combined Experimental and System-Level Analyses Reveal the Complex Regulatory Network of miR-124 during Human Neurogenesis. Cell Syst 2018; 7:438-452.e8. [PMID: 30292704 PMCID: PMC6205824 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs regulate many biological processes including neurogenesis. The brain-enriched miR-124 has been assigned as a key player of neuronal differentiation via its complex but little understood regulation of thousands of annotated targets. To systematically chart its regulatory functions, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to disrupt all six miR-124 alleles in human induced pluripotent stem cells. Upon neuronal induction, miR-124-deleted cells underwent neurogenesis and became functional neurons, albeit with altered morphology and neurotransmitter specification. Using RNA-induced-silencing-complex precipitation, we identified 98 high-confidence miR-124 targets, of which some directly led to decreased viability. By performing advanced transcription-factor-network analysis, we identified indirect miR-124 effects on apoptosis, neuronal subtype differentiation, and the regulation of previously uncharacterized zinc finger transcription factors. Our data emphasize the need for combined experimental- and system-level analyses to comprehensively disentangle and reveal miRNA functions, including their involvement in the neurogenesis of diverse neuronal cell types found in the human brain. miR-124 is not essential for neurogenesis from human iPSCs miR-124 regulation mediates neuroprotection and refines neuronal cell fates miRNA knockout characterization by experimental and advanced computational analyses Identification of 98 targets including the neuronal feature repressor ZNF787
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K Kutsche
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Deisy M Gysi
- Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04107, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Swarm Intelligence and Complex Systems Group, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04109, Germany; Faculty for Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Joerg Fallmann
- Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04107, Germany
| | - Kerstin Lenk
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Rebecca Petri
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lunds Universitet, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Anka Swiersy
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Simon D Klapper
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Karolina Pircs
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lunds Universitet, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Shahryar Khattak
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04107, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Johan Jakobsson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lunds Universitet, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Katja Nowick
- Faculty for Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG Research Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden 01307, Germany.
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40
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Ngondo RP, Cirera-Salinas D, Yu J, Wischnewski H, Bodak M, Vandormael-Pournin S, Geiselmann A, Wettstein R, Luitz J, Cohen-Tannoudji M, Ciaudo C. Argonaute 2 Is Required for Extra-embryonic Endoderm Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:461-476. [PMID: 29396181 PMCID: PMC5830960 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In mouse, although four Argonaute (AGO) proteins with partly overlapping functions in small-RNA pathways exist, only Ago2 deficiency causes embryonic lethality. To investigate the role of AGO2 during mouse early development, we generated Ago2-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and performed a detailed characterization of their differentiation potential. Ago2 disruption caused a global reduction of microRNAs, which resulted in the misregulation of only a limited number of transcripts. We demonstrated, both in vivo and in vitro, that AGO2 is dispensable for the embryonic germ-layer formation. However, Ago2-deficient mESCs showed a specific defect during conversion into extra-embryonic endoderm cells. We proved that this defect is cell autonomous and can be rescued by both a catalytically active and an inactive Ago2, but not by Ago2 deprived of its RNA binding capacity or by Ago1 overexpression. Overall, our results suggest a role for AGO2 in stem cell differentiation. Ago2 deletion strongly affects microRNA but not mRNA levels in mESCs AGO2 is dispensable for mESC self-renewal and formation of embryonic germ layers AGO2 but not AGO1 is required for GATA6 expression during XEN conversion of mESCs AGO2 is essential for the in vitro expression of extra-embryonic endoderm genes
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Patryk Ngondo
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Cirera-Salinas
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jian Yu
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Harry Wischnewski
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maxime Bodak
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Vandormael-Pournin
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Unité de Génétique Fonctionnelle de la Souris, UMR 3738, Department of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, 25 rue du docteur Roux, 75015 Paris Cedex, France
| | - Anna Geiselmann
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Unité de Génétique Fonctionnelle de la Souris, UMR 3738, Department of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, 25 rue du docteur Roux, 75015 Paris Cedex, France
| | - Rahel Wettstein
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Janina Luitz
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michel Cohen-Tannoudji
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Unité de Génétique Fonctionnelle de la Souris, UMR 3738, Department of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, 25 rue du docteur Roux, 75015 Paris Cedex, France
| | - Constance Ciaudo
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IMHS, Chair of RNAi and Genome Integrity, Zurich, Switzerland.
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41
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Putzbach W, Gao QQ, Patel M, Haluck-Kangas A, Murmann AE, Peter ME. DISE: A Seed-Dependent RNAi Off-Target Effect That Kills Cancer Cells. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:10-19. [PMID: 29413418 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Off-target effects (OTEs) represent a significant caveat for RNAi caused by substantial complementarity between siRNAs and unintended mRNAs. We now discuss the existence of three types of seed-dependent OTEs (sOTEs). Type I involves unintended targeting through the guide strand seed of an siRNA. Type II is caused by the activity of the seed on the designated siRNA passenger strand when loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Both type I and II sOTEs will elicit unpredictable cellular responses. By contrast, in sOTE type III the guide strand seed preferentially targets essential survival genes resulting in death induced by survival gene elimination (DISE). In this Opinion article, we discuss DISE as a consequence of RNAi that may preferentially affect cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Putzbach
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Quan Q Gao
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Monal Patel
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ashley Haluck-Kangas
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andrea E Murmann
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marcus E Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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42
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Freimer JW, Krishnakumar R, Cook MS, Blelloch R. Expression of Alternative Ago2 Isoform Associated with Loss of microRNA-Driven Translational Repression in Mouse Oocytes. Curr Biol 2018; 28:296-302.e3. [PMID: 29307557 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.11.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mouse oocyte maturation, fertilization, and reprogramming occur in the absence of transcription, and thus, changes in mRNA levels and translation rate are regulated through post-transcriptional mechanisms [1]. Surprisingly, microRNA function, which is a major form of post-transcriptional regulation, is absent during this critical period of mammalian development [2, 3]. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the global suppression of microRNA activity. In both mouse and frogs, microRNA function was active in growing oocytes but then absent during oocyte maturation. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of mouse oocytes uncovered that the microRNA effector protein AGO2 is predominantly expressed as an alternative isoform that encodes a truncated protein lacking all of the known essential domains. Full-length Ago2 as well as the related Argonautes (Ago1, Ago3, and Ago4) were lowly expressed in maturing mouse oocytes. Reintroduction of full-length AGO2 together with an exogenous microRNA in either mouse or frog oocytes restored translational repression of a target reporter. However, levels of endogenous transcripts remained unchanged. Consistent with a lack of microRNA activity, analysis of transcripts with alternative polyadenylation sites showed increased stability of transcripts with a longer 3' UTR during oocyte maturation. Redundant mechanisms protecting endogenous transcripts and the conserved loss of microRNA activity suggest a strong selection for suppressing microRNA function in vertebrate oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W Freimer
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Raga Krishnakumar
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Matthew S Cook
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Robert Blelloch
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 35 Medical Center Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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43
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Wang C, Gupta P, Fressigne L, Bossé GD, Wang X, Simard MJ, Hansen D. TEG-1 CD2BP2 controls miRNA levels by regulating miRISC stability in C. elegans and human cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:1488-1500. [PMID: 28180320 PMCID: PMC5388422 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MiRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by recruiting the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) to target mRNAs. However, the mechanisms by which miRISC components are maintained at appropriate levels for proper function are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Caenorhabditis elegans TEG-1 regulates the stability of two miRISC effectors, VIG-1 and ALG-1, which in turn affects the abundance of miRNAs in various families. We demonstrate that TEG-1 physically interacts with VIG-1, and complexes with mature let-7 miRNA. Also, loss of teg-1 in vivo phenocopies heterochronic defects observed in let-7 mutants, suggesting the association of TEG-1 with miRISC is necessary for let-7 to function properly during development. Loss of TEG-1 function also affects the abundance and function of other microRNAs, suggesting that TEG-1's role is not specific to let-7. We further demonstrate that the human orthologs of TEG-1, VIG-1 and ALG-1 (CD2BP2, SERBP1/PAI-RBP1 and AGO2) are found in a complex in HeLa cells, and knockdown of CD2BP2 results in reduced miRNA levels; therefore, TEG-1's role in affecting miRNA levels and function is likely conserved. Together, these data demonstrate that TEG-1 CD2BP2 stabilizes miRISC and mature miRNAs, maintaining them at levels necessary to properly regulate target gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pratyush Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lucile Fressigne
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology Hotel-Dieu de Quebec (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec), Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Gabriel D Bossé
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology Hotel-Dieu de Quebec (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec), Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Martin J Simard
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology Hotel-Dieu de Quebec (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebec), Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Dave Hansen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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44
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Park JH, Shin SY, Shin C. Non-canonical targets destabilize microRNAs in human Argonautes. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:1569-1583. [PMID: 28119422 PMCID: PMC5389725 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although much is known about microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and the mechanism by which miRNAs regulate their targets, little is known about the regulation of miRNA stability. Mature miRNAs are stabilized by binding to Argonaute (Ago) proteins, the core components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Recent studies suggest that interactions between miRNAs and their highly complementary target RNAs promote release of miRNAs from Ago proteins, and this in turn can lead to destabilization of miRNAs. However, the physiological triggers of miRNA destabilization with molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, using an in vitro system that consists of a minimal human Ago2-RISC in HEK293T cell lysates, we sought to understand how miRNAs are destabilized by their targets. Strikingly, we showed that miRNA destabilization is dramatically enhanced by an interaction with seedless, non-canonical targets. We then showed that this process entails not only unloading of miRNAs from Ago, but also 3΄ end destabilization of miRNAs occurred within Ago. Furthermore, our mutation analysis indicates that conformational changes in the hinge region of the Ago PAZ domain are likely to be the main driving force of the miRNA destabilization. Our collective results suggest that non-canonical targets may provide a stability control mechanism in the regulation of miRNAs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Hyun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yoon Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural Genomics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanseok Shin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural Genomics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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45
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Eledge MR, Yeruva L. Host and pathogen interface: microRNAs are modulators of disease outcome. Microbes Infect 2017; 20:410-415. [PMID: 28889971 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydiae are a group of intracellular bacterium that infect a range of hosts and are responsible for the most common sexual transmitted infections, which could be the result of a plethora of factors leading to varied pathological outcomes. This review aims to show that Chlamydia possibly manipulates host defenses through microRNAs interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Eledge
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA; Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Laxmi Yeruva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA; Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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46
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An alternative microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of GADD45A by p53 in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7153. [PMID: 28769054 PMCID: PMC5541050 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07332-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
GADD45A (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible alpha), a stress response gene induced by genotoxic and nongenotoxic stresses, is implicated in various key processes, including the control of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair. The expression of GADD45A is directly regulated by numerous transcription factors, with p53 being the most representative. Moreover, post-transcriptional regulation also plays a role in GADD45A expression. However, little is known about the regulatory effects of microRNAs (miRNAs) on GADD45A expression. As a potential tumour suppressor, miR-138 has pleiotropic biological functions in various cancers. We have previously reported p53-mediated activation of miR-138 in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In this study, we found that miR-138 specifically targeted AGO2, which affects the stability and maturation of miR-130b. Decreased expression of miR-130b promoted the expression of GADD45A and resulted in the G2/M phase arrest and proliferation inhibition in human NSCLC cells. Our results suggested that p53 could alternatively upregulate GADD45A in human NSCLC cells through a post-transcriptional pathway in which miR-138 is involved.
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47
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Structural Foundations of RNA Silencing by Argonaute. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:2619-2639. [PMID: 28757069 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Nearly every cell in the human body contains a set of programmable gene-silencing proteins named Argonaute. Argonaute proteins mediate gene regulation by small RNAs and thereby contribute to cellular homeostasis during diverse physiological process, such as stem cell maintenance, fertilization, and heart development. Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made toward understanding Argonaute proteins, small RNAs, and their roles in eukaryotic biology. Here, we review current understanding of Argonaute proteins from a structural prospective and discuss unanswered questions surrounding this fascinating class of enzymes.
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48
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Paces J, Nic M, Novotny T, Svoboda P. Literature review of baseline information to support the risk assessment of RNAi‐based GM plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [PMCID: PMC7163844 DOI: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.en-1246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Paces
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IMG)
| | | | | | - Petr Svoboda
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IMG)
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49
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Wang S, Sun X, Yi C, Zhang D, Lin X, Sun X, Chen H, Jin M. AGO2 Negatively Regulates Type I Interferon Signaling Pathway by Competition Binding IRF3 with CBP/p300. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:195. [PMID: 28589097 PMCID: PMC5438986 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infection triggers a series of signaling cascades and host innate immune responses, including interferon (IFN) production, which depends on coordinated activity of multiple transcription factors. IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and transcriptional coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP) and/or p300 are core factors that participate in transcriptional complex formation in the nucleus. In general, cells balance the production of IFNs through suppressive and stimulative mechanisms, but viral infections can disrupt such equilibrium. This study determined that H5N1 viral infection reduced the distribution of human argonaute 2 (AGO2) in A549 cell nucleus. AGO2 did not block phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and DNA binding ability of IRF3 but inhibited its association with CBP. Therefore, this newly revealed mechanism shows that cellular response leads to transfer of AGO2 from cell nucleus and promotes IFN-β expression to increase host survival during viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Xin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Chenyang Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Xian Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Xiaomei Sun
- Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig ProductionWuhan, China
| | - Meilin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig ProductionWuhan, China
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50
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Differential processing of small RNAs during endoplasmic reticulum stress. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46080. [PMID: 28452371 PMCID: PMC5408347 DOI: 10.1038/srep46080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen due to the disruption of the homeostatic system of the ER leads to the induction of the ER stress response. Cellular stress-induced pathways globally transform genes expression on both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels with small RNA involvement as regulators of the stress response. The modulation of small RNA processing might represent an additional layer of a complex stress response program. However, it is poorly understood. Here, we studied changes in expression and small RNAs processing upon ER stress in Jurkat T-cells. Induced by ER-stress, depletion of miRNAs among small RNA composition was accompanied by a global decrease of 3′ mono-adenylated, mono-cytodinylated and a global increase of 3′ mono-uridinylated miRNA isoforms. We observed the specific subset of differentially expressed microRNAs, and also the dramatic induction of 32-nt tRNA fragments precisely phased to 5′ and 3′ ends of tRNA from a subset of tRNA isotypes. The induction of these tRNA fragments was linked to Angiogenin RNase, which mediates translation inhibition. Overall, the global perturbations of the expression and processing of miRNAs and tiRNAs were the most prominent features of small RNA transcriptome changes upon ER stress.
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