1
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Wei G. RNA m6A modification, signals for degradation or stabilisation? Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:707-717. [PMID: 38629637 PMCID: PMC11088905 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The RNA modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is conserved across eukaryotes, and profoundly influences RNA metabolism, including regulating RNA stability. METTL3 and METTL14, together with several accessory components, form a 'writer' complex catalysing m6A modification. Conversely, FTO and ALKBH5 function as demethylases, rendering m6A dynamic. Key to understanding the functional significance of m6A is its 'reader' proteins, exemplified by YTH-domain-containing proteins (YTHDFs) canonical reader and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) non-canonical reader. These proteins play a crucial role in determining RNA stability: YTHDFs mainly promote mRNA degradation through different cytoplasmic pathways, whereas IGF2BPs function to maintain mRNA stability. Additionally, YTHDC1 functions within the nucleus to degrade or protect certain m6A-containing RNAs, and other non-canonical readers also contribute to RNA stability regulation. Notably, m6A regulates retrotransposon LINE1 RNA stability and/or transcription via multiple mechanisms. However, conflicting observations underscore the complexities underlying m6A's regulation of RNA stability depending upon the RNA sequence/structure context, developmental stage, and/or cellular environment. Understanding the interplay between m6A and other RNA regulatory elements is pivotal in deciphering the multifaceted roles m6A plays in RNA stability regulation and broader cellular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guifeng Wei
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
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2
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Zaccara S, Jaffrey SR. Understanding the redundant functions of the m 6A-binding YTHDF proteins. RNA 2024; 30:468-481. [PMID: 38531646 PMCID: PMC11019742 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079988.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modified nucleotide in mRNA, and it has important functions in mRNA regulation. However, our understanding of the specific functions of m6A along with its cytosolic readers, the YTHDF proteins, has changed substantially in recent years. The original view was that different m6A sites within an mRNA could have different functions depending on which YTHDF paralog was bound to it, with bound YTHDF1 inducing translation, while bound YTHDF2 induced mRNA degradation. As a result, each YTHDF was proposed to have unique physiologic roles that arise from their unique binding properties and regulatory effects on mRNA. More recent data have called much of this into question, showing that all m6A sites bind all YTHDF proteins with equal ability, with a single primary function of all three YTHDF proteins to mediate mRNA degradation. Here, we describe the diverse technical concerns that led to the original model being questioned and the newer data that overturned this model and led to the new understanding of m6A and YTHDF function. We also discuss how any remaining questions about the functions of the YTHDF proteins can be readily resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zaccara
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, USA
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3
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Aufgebauer CJ, Bland KM, Horner SM. Modifying the antiviral innate immune response by selective writing, erasing, and reading of m 6A on viral and cellular RNA. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:100-109. [PMID: 38176419 PMCID: PMC10872403 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Viral infection and the antiviral innate immune response are regulated by the RNA modification m6A. m6A directs nearly all aspects of RNA metabolism by recruiting RNA-binding proteins that mediate the fate of m6A-containing RNA. m6A controls the antiviral innate immune response in diverse ways, including shielding viral RNA from detection by antiviral sensors and influencing the expression of cellular mRNAs encoding antiviral signaling proteins, cytokines, and effector proteins. While m6A and the m6A machinery are important for the antiviral response, the precise mechanisms that determine how the m6A machinery selects specific viral or cellular RNA molecules for modification during infection are not fully understood. In this review, we highlight recent findings that shed light on how viral infection redirects the m6A machinery during the antiviral response. A better understanding of m6A targeting during viral infection could lead to new immunomodulatory and therapeutic strategies against viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J Aufgebauer
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Katherine M Bland
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Stacy M Horner
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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4
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Sikorski V, Selberg S, Lalowski M, Karelson M, Kankuri E. The structure and function of YTHDF epitranscriptomic m 6A readers. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:335-353. [PMID: 37069041 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Specific RNA sequences modified by a methylated adenosine, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), contribute to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The quantity of m6A in RNA is orchestrated by enzymes that write and erase it, while its effects are mediated by proteins that bind to read this modification. Dysfunction of this post-transcriptional regulatory process has been linked to human disease. Although the initial focus has been on pharmacological targeting of the writer and eraser enzymes, interest in the reader proteins has been challenged by a lack of clear understanding of their functional roles and molecular mechanisms of action. Readers of m6A-modified RNA (m6A-RNA) - the YTH (YT521-B homology) domain-containing protein family paralogs 1-3 (YTHDF1-3, referred to here as DF1-DF3) - are emerging as therapeutic targets as their links to pathological processes such as cancer and inflammation and their roles in regulating m6A-RNA fate become clear. We provide an updated understanding of the modes of action of DF1-DF3 and review their structures to unlock insights into drug design approaches for DF paralog-selective inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vilbert Sikorski
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simona Selberg
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maciej Lalowski
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mati Karelson
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Esko Kankuri
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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5
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Anreiter I, Tian YW, Soller M. The cap epitranscriptome: Early directions to a complex life as mRNA. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200198. [PMID: 36529693 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Animal, protist and viral messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are most prominently modified at the beginning by methylation of cap-adjacent nucleotides at the 2'-O-position of the ribose (cOMe) by dedicated cap methyltransferases (CMTrs). If the first nucleotide of an mRNA is an adenosine, PCIF1 can methylate at the N6 -position (m6 A), while internally the Mettl3/14 writer complex can methylate. These modifications are introduced co-transcriptionally to affect many aspects of gene expression including localisation to synapses and local translation. Of particular interest, transcription start sites of many genes are heterogeneous leading to sequence diversity at the beginning of mRNAs, which together with cOMe and m6 Am could constitute an extensive novel layer of gene expression control. Given the role of cOMe and m6 A in local gene expression at synapses and higher brain functions including learning and memory, such code could be implemented at the transcriptional level for lasting memories through local gene expression at synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Anreiter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yuan W Tian
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Matthias Soller
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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6
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Lao N, Barron N. Enhancing recombinant protein and viral vector production in mammalian cells by targeting the YTHDF readers of N 6 -methyladenosine in mRNA. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2200451. [PMID: 36692010 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
N6 -methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA and has been implicated in a wide range of fundamental cellular processes. This modification is regulated and interpreted by a set of writer, eraser, and reader proteins. To date, there have been no reports on the potential of mRNA epigenetic regulators to influence recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells. In this study, the potential of manipulating the expression of the m6A YTH domain-containing readers, YTHDF1, 2 and 3 to improve recombinant protein yield based on their role in regulating mRNA stability and promoting translation were evaluated. Using siRNA-mediated gene depletion, cDNA over-expression, and methylation-specific RNA immunoprecipitation, it is demonstrated that (i) knock-down of YTHDF2 enhances (~2-fold) the levels of recombinant protein derived from GFP and EPO transgenes in CHO cells; (ii) the effects of YTHDF2 depletion on transgene expression is m6A-mediated; and (iii) YTHDF2 depletion, or over-expression of YTHDF1 increases viral protein expression and yield of infectious lentiviral (LV) particles (~2-3-fold) in HEK293 cells. We conclude that various transgenes can be subjected to regulation by m6A regulators in mammalian cell lines and that these findings demonstrate the utility of epitranscriptomic-based approaches to host cell line engineering for improved recombinant protein and viral vector production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nga Lao
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niall Barron
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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7
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Owens MC, Liu KF. TRIBE-STAMP reveals new insights into the functions of RNA binding proteins. Genes Dev 2022; 36:954-955. [PMID: 36347558 PMCID: PMC9732907 DOI: 10.1101/gad.350207.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are important players in RNA metabolism and gene regulation. In this issue of Genes & Development, Flamand and colleagues (pp. 1002-1015) developed a new method (TRIBE-STAMP) that detects binding events by two distinct RBPs on single mRNA molecules, which they first applied to the YTHDF family of N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader proteins. The investigators show that these RBPs largely share a common pool of bound transcripts and that an individual mRNA may be bound by multiple YTHDF proteins throughout its lifetime. This single-molecule technique is an exciting new method to study potential synergy and/or antagonism between different RBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Owens
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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8
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Flamand MN, Ke K, Tamming R, Meyer KD. Single-molecule identification of the target RNAs of different RNA binding proteins simultaneously in cells. Genes Dev 2022; 36:1002-1015. [PMID: 36302554 PMCID: PMC9732904 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349983.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate nearly every aspect of mRNA processing and are important regulators of gene expression in cells. However, current methods for transcriptome-wide identification of RBP targets are limited, since they examine only a single RBP at a time and do not provide information on the individual RNA molecules that are bound by a given RBP. Here, we overcome these limitations by developing TRIBE-STAMP, an approach for single-molecule detection of the target RNAs of two RNA binding proteins simultaneously in cells. We applied TRIBE-STAMP to the cytoplasmic m6A reader proteins YTHDF1, YTHDF2, and YTHDF3 and discovered that individual mRNA molecules can be bound by more than one YTHDF protein throughout their lifetime, providing new insights into the function of YTHDF proteins in cells. TRIBE-STAMP is a highly versatile approach that enables single-molecule analysis of the targets of RBP pairs simultaneously in the same cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu N. Flamand
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Ke Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Renee Tamming
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Kate D. Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA;,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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9
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Grenov A, Hezroni H, Lasman L, Hanna JH, Shulman Z. YTHDF2 suppresses the plasmablast genetic program and promotes germinal center formation. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110778. [PMID: 35508130 PMCID: PMC9108551 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-mediated immunity is initiated by B cell differentiation into multiple cell subsets, including plasmablast, memory, and germinal center (GC) cells. B cell differentiation trajectories are determined by transcription factors, yet very few mechanisms that specifically determine early B cell fates have been described. Here, we report a post-transcriptional mechanism that suppresses the plasmablast genetic program and promotes GC B cell fate commitment. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that antigen-specific B cell precursors at the pre-GC stage upregulate YTHDF2, which enhances the decay of methylated transcripts. Ythdf2-deficient B cells exhibit intact proliferation and activation, whereas differentiation into GC B cells is blocked. Mechanistically, B cells require YTHDF2 to attenuate the plasmablast genetic program during GC seeding, and transcripts of key plasmablast-regulating genes are methylated and bound by YTHDF2. Collectively, this study reveals how post-transcriptional suppression of gene expression directs appropriate B cell fate commitment during initiation of the adaptive immune response. scRNA-seq of antigen-specific B cells reveals differentiation trajectories YTHDF2 is expressed by early-responding B cells and facilitates germinal center seeding YTHDF2 binds mRNAs of plasma cell-associated genes and suppresses their expression Germinal center formation does not depend on YTHDF1 and YTHDF3
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalie Grenov
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hadas Hezroni
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lior Lasman
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ziv Shulman
- Department of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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10
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N'Da Konan S, Ségéral E, Bejjani F, Bendoumou M, Ait Said M, Gallois-Montbrun S, Emiliani S. YTHDC1 regulates distinct post-integration steps of HIV-1 replication and is important for viral infectivity. Retrovirology 2022; 19:4. [PMID: 35101069 PMCID: PMC8805373 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-022-00589-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent discovery of the role of m6A methylation in the regulation of HIV-1 replication unveiled a novel layer of regulation for HIV gene expression. This epitranscriptomic modification of HIV-1 RNAs is under the dynamic control of specific writers and erasers. In addition, cytoplasmic readers of the m6A mark are recruited to the modified viral RNAs and regulate HIV-1 replication. Yet, little is known about the effects of m6A writers and readers on the biogenesis of HIV-1 RNAs. RESULTS We showed that the METTL3/14 m6A methyltransferase complex and the m6A YTHDF2 cytoplasmic writer down regulates the abundance of HIV-1 RNAs in infected cells. We also identified the m6A nuclear writer YTHDC1 as a novel regulator of HIV-1 transcripts. In HIV-1 producer cells, we showed that knocking down YTHDC1 increases the levels of unspliced and incompletely spliced HIV-1 RNAs, while levels of multiply spliced transcripts remained unaffected. In addition, we observed that depletion of YTHDC1 has no effect on the nuclear cytoplasmic distribution of viral transcripts. YTHDC1 binds specifically to HIV-1 transcripts in a METTL3-dependent manner. Knocking down YTHDC1 reduces the expression of Env and Vpu viral proteins in producer cells and leads to the incorporation of unprocessed Env gp160 in virus particles, resulting in the decrease of their infectivity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that, by controlling HIV-1 RNA biogenesis and protein expression, the m6A nuclear reader YTHDC1 is required for efficient production of infectious viral particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N'Da Konan
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Ségéral
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Fabienne Bejjani
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Maryam Bendoumou
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Mélissa Ait Said
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | | | - Stéphane Emiliani
- Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75014, Paris, France.
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11
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Wang S, Zhang J, Wu X, Lin X, Liu XM, Zhou J. Differential roles of YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte differentiation. RNA Biol 2021; 18:1354-1363. [PMID: 33295243 PMCID: PMC8354591 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1850628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as a crucial epitranscriptomic mark which regulates a broad spectrum of physiological processes including stem cell differentiation. m6A-binding YTHDF proteins have recently been proposed to mediate differentiation of leukemia cell in a redundant manner. However, whether these proteins play semblable roles in pluripotent stem cell remain largely unknown. Here, we showed the differential functions of YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 in controlling the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Depletion of YTHDF3 in ESCs resulted in loss of pluripotency with accelerated expressions of marker genes involved in formation of three germ layers. Phenotypic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that loss of YTHDF1 led to dramatic impairment of cardiomyocytes (CMs) differentiation, accompanied by downregulated CM-specific genes. While, knockdown of YTHDF3 accelerated differentiation through facilitating the expressions of CM-specific gene. Notably, YTHDF3 appears to modulate cellular differentiation partially through suppression of YTHDF1, supporting the distinguishable but interrelated roles of YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 in cell fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianrong Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Min Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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12
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Chen YG, Chen R, Ahmad S, Verma R, Kasturi SP, Amaya L, Broughton JP, Kim J, Cadena C, Pulendran B, Hur S, Chang HY. N6-Methyladenosine Modification Controls Circular RNA Immunity. Mol Cell 2019; 76:96-109.e9. [PMID: 31474572 PMCID: PMC6778039 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 320] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are prevalent in eukaryotic cells and viral genomes. Mammalian cells possess innate immunity to detect foreign circRNAs, but the molecular basis of self versus foreign identity in circRNA immunity is unknown. Here, we show that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification on human circRNAs inhibits innate immunity. Foreign circRNAs are potent adjuvants to induce antigen-specific T cell activation, antibody production, and anti-tumor immunity in vivo, and m6A modification abrogates immune gene activation and adjuvant activity. m6A reader YTHDF2 sequesters m6A-circRNA and is essential for suppression of innate immunity. Unmodified circRNA, but not m6A-modified circRNA, directly activates RNA pattern recognition receptor RIG-I in the presence of lysine-63-linked polyubiquitin chain to cause filamentation of the adaptor protein MAVS and activation of the downstream transcription factor IRF3. CircRNA immunity has considerable parallel to prokaryotic DNA restriction modification system that transforms nucleic acid chemical modification into organismal innate immunity.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/immunology
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
- Adenosine/administration & dosage
- Adenosine/analogs & derivatives
- Adenosine/immunology
- Adenosine/metabolism
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
- Animals
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- DEAD Box Protein 58/immunology
- DEAD Box Protein 58/metabolism
- Female
- HEK293 Cells
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Immunity, Innate
- Immunization
- Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/immunology
- Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/metabolism
- Interferons/immunology
- Interferons/metabolism
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Polyubiquitin/immunology
- Polyubiquitin/metabolism
- Protein Multimerization
- RNA, Circular/administration & dosage
- RNA, Circular/immunology
- RNA, Circular/metabolism
- RNA-Binding Proteins/immunology
- RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Receptors, Immunologic
- Ubiquitination
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Grace Chen
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Robert Chen
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sadeem Ahmad
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rohit Verma
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sudhir Pai Kasturi
- Emory Vaccine Center/Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laura Amaya
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James P Broughton
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeewon Kim
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cristhian Cadena
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bali Pulendran
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sun Hur
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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