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Turcotte MA, Garant JM, Cossette-Roberge H, Perreault JP. Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 1 (GNL1) binds RNA G-quadruplex structures in genes associated with Parkinson's disease. RNA Biol 2020; 18:1339-1353. [PMID: 33305682 PMCID: PMC8354592 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1847866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
RNAs are highly regulated at the post-transcriptional level in neurodegenerative diseases and just a few mutations can significantly affect the fate of neuronal cells. To date, the impact of G-quadruplex (G4) regulation in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD) has not been analysed. In this study, in silico potential G4s located in deregulated genes related to the nervous system were initially identified and were found to be significantly enriched. Several G4 sequences found in the 5ʹ untranslated regions (5ʹUTR) of mRNAs associated with Parkinson’s disease were demonstrated to in fact fold in vitro by biochemical assays. Subcloning of the full-length 5ʹUTRs of these candidates upstream of a luciferase reporter system led to the demonstration that the G4s of both Parkin RBR E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (PRKN) and Vacuolar Protein Sorting-Associated Protein 35 (VPS35) significantly repressed the translation of both genes in SH-SY5Y cells. Subsequently, a strategy of using label-free RNA affinity purification assays with either of these two G4 sequences as bait isolated the Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 1 (GNL1). The latter was shown to have a higher affinity for the G4 sequences than for their mutated version. This study sheds light on new RNA G-quadruplexes located in genes dysregulated in Parkinson disease and a new G4-binding protein, GNL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Turcotte
- Department of Biochemistry, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée Sur le Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Michel Garant
- Department of Biochemistry, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée Sur le Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Hélène Cossette-Roberge
- Department of Biochemistry, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée Sur le Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Department of Biochemistry, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée Sur le Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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52
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Dumas L, Herviou P, Dassi E, Cammas A, Millevoi S. G-Quadruplexes in RNA Biology: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 46:270-283. [PMID: 33303320 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplexes (RG4s) are four-stranded structures known to control gene expression mechanisms, from transcription to protein synthesis, and DNA-related processes. Their potential impact on RNA biology allows these structures to shape cellular processes relevant to disease development, making their targeting for therapeutic purposes an attractive option. We review here the current knowledge on RG4s, focusing on the latest breakthroughs supporting the notion of transient structures that fluctuate dynamically in cellulo, their interplay with RNA modifications, their role in cell compartmentalization, and their deregulation impacting the host immune response. We emphasize RG4-binding proteins as determinants of their transient conformation and effectors of their biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leïla Dumas
- Cancer Research Centre of Toulouse, INSERM UMR 1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Pauline Herviou
- Cancer Research Centre of Toulouse, INSERM UMR 1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Erik Dassi
- Laboratory of RNA Regulatory Networks, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, (TN), Italy
| | - Anne Cammas
- Cancer Research Centre of Toulouse, INSERM UMR 1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Stefania Millevoi
- Cancer Research Centre of Toulouse, INSERM UMR 1037, 31037 Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France.
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53
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Popenda M, Miskiewicz J, Sarzynska J, Zok T, Szachniuk M. Topology-based classification of tetrads and quadruplex structures. Bioinformatics 2020; 36:1129-1134. [PMID: 31588513 PMCID: PMC7031778 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btz738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Quadruplexes attract the attention of researchers from many fields of bio-science. Due to a specific structure, these tertiary motifs are involved in various biological processes. They are also promising therapeutic targets in many strategies of drug development, including anticancer and neurological disease treatment. The uniqueness and diversity of their forms cause that quadruplexes show great potential in novel biological applications. The existing approaches for quadruplex analysis are based on sequence or 3D structure features and address canonical motifs only. Results In our study, we analyzed tetrads and quadruplexes contained in nucleic acid molecules deposited in Protein Data Bank. Focusing on their secondary structure topology, we adjusted its graphical diagram and proposed new dot-bracket and arc representations. We defined the novel classification of these motifs. It can handle both canonical and non-canonical cases. Based on this new taxonomy, we implemented a method that automatically recognizes the types of tetrads and quadruplexes occurring as unimolecular structures. Finally, we conducted a statistical analysis of these motifs found in experimentally determined nucleic acid structures in relation to the new classification. Availability and implementation https://github.com/tzok/eltetrado/ Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Popenda
- Department of Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan 61-704, Poland
| | - Joanna Miskiewicz
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan 60-965, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzynska
- Department of Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan 61-704, Poland
| | - Tomasz Zok
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan 60-965, Poland.,Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center, Poznan 61-139, Poland
| | - Marta Szachniuk
- Department of Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan 61-704, Poland.,Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan 60-965, Poland
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54
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Miskiewicz J, Sarzynska J, Szachniuk M. How bioinformatics resources work with G4 RNAs. Brief Bioinform 2020; 22:5902714. [PMID: 32898859 PMCID: PMC8138894 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Quadruplexes (G4s) are of interest, which increases with the number of identified G4 structures and knowledge about their biomedical potential. These unique motifs form in many organisms, including humans, where their appearance correlates with various diseases. Scientists store and analyze quadruplexes using recently developed bioinformatic tools—many of them focused on DNA structures. With an expanding collection of G4 RNAs, we check how existing tools deal with them. We review all available bioinformatics resources dedicated to quadruplexes and examine their usefulness in G4 RNA analysis. We distinguish the following subsets of resources: databases, tools to predict putative quadruplex sequences, tools to predict secondary structure with quadruplexes and tools to analyze and visualize quadruplex structures. We share the results obtained from processing specially created RNA datasets with these tools. Contact: mszachniuk@cs.put.poznan.pl Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Briefings in Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Miskiewicz
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzynska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Szachniuk
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
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Varshney D, Spiegel J, Zyner K, Tannahill D, Balasubramanian S. The regulation and functions of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:459-474. [PMID: 32313204 PMCID: PMC7115845 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-0236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 755] [Impact Index Per Article: 151.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA and RNA can adopt various secondary structures. Four-stranded G-quadruplex (G4) structures form through self-recognition of guanines into stacked tetrads, and considerable biophysical and structural evidence exists for G4 formation in vitro. Computational studies and sequencing methods have revealed the prevalence of G4 sequence motifs at gene regulatory regions in various genomes, including in humans. Experiments using chemical, molecular and cell biology methods have demonstrated that G4s exist in chromatin DNA and in RNA, and have linked G4 formation with key biological processes ranging from transcription and translation to genome instability and cancer. In this Review, we first discuss the identification of G4s and evidence for their formation in cells using chemical biology, imaging and genomic technologies. We then discuss possible functions of DNA G4s and their interacting proteins, particularly in transcription, telomere biology and genome instability. Roles of RNA G4s in RNA biology, especially in translation, are also discussed. Furthermore, we consider the emerging relationships of G4s with chromatin and with RNA modifications. Finally, we discuss the connection between G4 formation and synthetic lethality in cancer cells, and recent progress towards considering G4s as therapeutic targets in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhaval Varshney
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jochen Spiegel
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Katherine Zyner
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Tannahill
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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56
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Liu G, Du W, Xu H, Sun Q, Tang D, Zou S, Zhang Y, Ma M, Zhang G, Du X, Ju S, Cheng W, Tian Y, Fu X. RNA G-quadruplex regulates microRNA-26a biogenesis and function. J Hepatol 2020; 73:371-382. [PMID: 32165252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS RNA G-quadruplexes (RG4s) appear to be important in post-transcriptional gene regulation, but their pathophysiological functions remain unknown. MicroRNA-26a (miR-26a) is emerging as a therapeutic target for various human diseases, however the mechanisms underlying endogenous miR-26a regulation are poorly understood. Herein, we study the role of RG4 in miR-26a expression and function in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Putative RG4s within liver-enriched miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatic analysis, and the presence of an RG4 structure in the miR-26a-1 precursor (pre-miR-26a-1) was further analyzed by biophysical and biochemical methods. RG4 stabilizers, pre-miR-26a-1 overexpression plasmids, and luciferase reporter assays were used to assess the effect of RG4 on pre-miR-26a-1 maturation. Both miR-26a knock-in and knockout mouse models were employed to investigate the influence of this RG4 on miR-26a expression and function. Moreover, the interaction between RG4 in pre-miR-26a-1 and DEAH-box helicase 36 (DHX36) was determined by biophysical and molecular methods. Finally, miR-26a processing and DHX36 expression were quantified in the livers of obese mice. RESULTS We identify a guanine-rich sequence in pre-miR-26a-1 that can fold into an RG4 structure. This RG4 impairs pre-miR-26a-1 maturation, resulting in a decrease in miR-26a expression and subsequently an increase in miR-26a cognate targets. In line with known miR-26a functions, this RG4 can regulate hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we reveal that DHX36 can bind and unwind this RG4 structure, thereby enhancing miR-26a maturation. Intriguingly, there is a concordant decrease of miR-26a maturation and DHX36 expression in obese mouse livers. CONCLUSIONS Our findings define a dynamic DHX36/RG4/miR-26a regulatory axis during obesity, highlighting an important role of RG4 in physiology and pathology. LAY SUMMARY Specific RNA sequences called G-quadruplexes (or RG4) appear to be important in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Obesity leads to the formation of these RG4 structures in pre-miR-26a-1 molecules, impairing the maturation and function of miR-26a, which has emerged as a therapeutic target in several diseases. This contributes to hepatic insulin resistance and the dysregulation of liver metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng Liu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenya Du
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Haixia Xu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiu Sun
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Dongmei Tang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Sailan Zou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Meilin Ma
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Guixiang Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Du
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of General Surgery, Yaan People's Hospital, Yaan 625000, Sichuan, China
| | - Shenggen Ju
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Tian
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Abstract
Several decades elapsed between the first descriptions of G-quadruplex nucleic acid structures (G4s) assembled in vitro and the emergence of experimental findings indicating that such structures can form and function in living systems. A large body of evidence now supports roles for G4s in many aspects of nucleic acid biology, spanning processes from transcription and chromatin structure, mRNA processing, protein translation, DNA replication and genome stability, and telomere and mitochondrial function. Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that some of this evidence is tentative, which is not surprising given the technical challenges associated with demonstrating G4s in biology. Here I provide an overview of evidence for G4 biology, focusing particularly on the many potential pitfalls that can be encountered in its investigation, and briefly discuss some of broader biological processes that may be impacted by G4s including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Brad Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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58
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Binas O, Bessi I, Schwalbe H. Structure Validation of G-Rich RNAs in Noncoding Regions of the Human Genome. Chembiochem 2020; 21:1656-1663. [PMID: 31943589 PMCID: PMC7318348 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We present the rapid biophysical characterization of six previously reported putative G-quadruplex-forming RNAs from the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of silvestrol-sensitive transcripts for investigation of their secondary structures. By NMR and CD spectroscopic analysis, we found that only a single sequence-[AGG]2 [CGG]2 C-folds into a single well-defined G-quadruplex structure. Sequences with longer poly-G strands form unspecific aggregates, whereas CGG-repeat-containing sequences exhibit a temperature-dependent equilibrium between a hairpin and a G-quadruplex structure. The applied experimental strategy is fast and provides robust readout for G-quadruplex-forming capacities of RNA oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Binas
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438FrankfurtGermany
| | - Irene Bessi
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular ChemistryJulius Maximilians University WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyGoethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438FrankfurtGermany
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59
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Vannutelli A, Belhamiti S, Garant JM, Ouangraoua A, Perreault JP. Where are G-quadruplexes located in the human transcriptome? NAR Genom Bioinform 2020; 2:lqaa035. [PMID: 33575590 PMCID: PMC7671396 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that RNA G-quadruplexes (G4) are structural motifs present in transcriptomes and play important regulatory roles in several post-transcriptional mechanisms. However, the full picture of RNA G4 locations and the extent of their implication remain elusive. Solely computational prediction analysis of the whole transcriptome may reveal all potential G4, since experimental identifications are always limited to specific conditions or specific cell lines. The present study reports the first in-depth computational prediction of potential G4 region across the complete human transcriptome. Although using a relatively stringent approach based on three prediction scores that accounts for the composition of G4 sequences, the composition of their neighboring sequences, and the various forms of G4, over 1.1 million of potential G4 (pG4) were predicted. The abundance of G4 was computationally confirmed in both 5' and 3'UTR as well as splicing junction of mRNA, appreciate for the first time in the long ncRNA, while almost absent of most of the small ncRNA families. The present results constitute an important step toward a full understanding of the roles of G4 in post-transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Vannutelli
- Department of Computer Science, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Sarah Belhamiti
- Department of Computer Science, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Jean-Michel Garant
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Aida Ouangraoua
- Department of Computer Science, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
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60
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Lee DSM, Ghanem LR, Barash Y. Integrative analysis reveals RNA G-quadruplexes in UTRs are selectively constrained and enriched for functional associations. Nat Commun 2020; 11:527. [PMID: 31988292 PMCID: PMC6985247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14404-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) sequences are abundant in untranslated regions (UTRs) of human messenger RNAs, but their functional importance remains unclear. By integrating multiple sources of genetic and genomic data, we show that putative G-quadruplex forming sequences (pG4) in 5' and 3' UTRs are selectively constrained, and enriched for cis-eQTLs and RNA-binding protein (RBP) interactions. Using over 15,000 whole-genome sequences, we find that negative selection acting on central guanines of UTR pG4s is comparable to that of missense variation in protein-coding sequences. At multiple GWAS-implicated SNPs within pG4 UTR sequences, we find robust allelic imbalance in gene expression across diverse tissue contexts in GTEx, suggesting that variants affecting G-quadruplex formation within UTRs may also contribute to phenotypic variation. Our results establish UTR G4s as important cis-regulatory elements and point to a link between disruption of UTR pG4 and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S M Lee
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Louis R Ghanem
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Yoseph Barash
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Computer and Information Science, School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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61
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Puig Lombardi E, Londoño-Vallejo A. A guide to computational methods for G-quadruplex prediction. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1-15. [PMID: 31754698 PMCID: PMC6943126 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine-rich nucleic acids can fold into the non-B DNA or RNA structures called G-quadruplexes (G4). Recent methodological developments have allowed the characterization of specific G-quadruplex structures in vitro as well as in vivo, and at a much higher throughput, in silico, which has greatly expanded our understanding of G4-associated functions. Typically, the consensus motif G3+N1-7G3+N1-7G3+N1-7G3+ has been used to identify potential G-quadruplexes from primary sequence. Since, various algorithms have been developed to predict the potential formation of quadruplexes directly from DNA or RNA sequences and the number of studies reporting genome-wide G4 exploration across species has rapidly increased. More recently, new methodologies have also appeared, proposing other estimates which consider non-canonical sequences and/or structure propensity and stability. The present review aims at providing an updated overview of the current open-source G-quadruplex prediction algorithms and straightforward examples of their implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Puig Lombardi
- Telomeres and Cancer Laboratory, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Universités, CNRS UMR3244, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Arturo Londoño-Vallejo
- Telomeres and Cancer Laboratory, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Universités, CNRS UMR3244, 75005 Paris, France
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McRae EKS, Dupas SJ, Booy EP, Piragasam RS, Fahlman RP, McKenna SA. An RNA guanine quadruplex regulated pathway to TRAIL-sensitization by DDX21. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:44-57. [PMID: 31653714 PMCID: PMC6913123 DOI: 10.1261/rna.072199.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
DDX21 is a newly discovered RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) binding protein with no known biological rG4 targets. In this study we used label-free proteomic MS/MS to identify 26 proteins that are expressed at significantly different levels in cells expressing an rG4-binding deficient DDX21 (M4). MS data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD013501. From this list we validate MAGED2 as a protein that is regulated by DDX21 through rG4 in its 5'-UTR. MAGED2 protein levels, but not mRNA levels, are reduced by half in cells expressing DDX21 M4. MAGED2 has a repressive effect on TRAIL-R2 expression that is relieved under these conditions, resulting in elevated TRAIL-R2 mRNA and protein in MCF-7 cells, rendering them sensitive to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Our work identifies the role of DDX21 in regulation at the translational level through biologically relevant rG4 and shows that MAGED2 protein levels are regulated, at least in part, by the potential to form rG4 in their 5'-UTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan K S McRae
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Steven J Dupas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Evan P Booy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | | | - Richard P Fahlman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2R7
| | - Sean A McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 0J9
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63
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Waldron JA, Tack DC, Ritchey LE, Gillen SL, Wilczynska A, Turro E, Bevilacqua PC, Assmann SM, Bushell M, Le Quesne J. mRNA structural elements immediately upstream of the start codon dictate dependence upon eIF4A helicase activity. Genome Biol 2019; 20:300. [PMID: 31888698 PMCID: PMC6936103 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The RNA helicase eIF4A1 is a key component of the translation initiation machinery and is required for the translation of many pro-oncogenic mRNAs. There is increasing interest in targeting eIF4A1 therapeutically in cancer, thus understanding how this protein leads to the selective re-programming of the translational landscape is critical. While it is known that eIF4A1-dependent mRNAs frequently have long GC-rich 5'UTRs, the details of how 5'UTR structure is resculptured by eIF4A1 to enhance the translation of specific mRNAs are unknown. RESULTS Using Structure-seq2 and polysome profiling, we assess global mRNA structure and translational efficiency in MCF7 cells, with and without eIF4A inhibition with hippuristanol. We find that eIF4A inhibition does not lead to global increases in 5'UTR structure, but rather it leads to 5'UTR remodeling, with localized gains and losses of structure. The degree of these localized structural changes is associated with 5'UTR length, meaning that eIF4A-dependent mRNAs have greater localized gains of structure due to their increased 5'UTR length. However, it is not solely increased localized structure that causes eIF4A-dependency but the position of the structured regions, as these structured elements are located predominantly at the 3' end of the 5'UTR. CONCLUSIONS By measuring changes in RNA structure following eIF4A inhibition, we show that eIF4A remodels local 5'UTR structures. The location of these structural elements ultimately determines the dependency on eIF4A, with increased structure just upstream of the CDS being the major limiting factor in translation, which is overcome by eIF4A activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Waldron
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
| | - David C Tack
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Present Address: Spectrum Health Office of Research, 100 Michigan Street NE, Mail Code 038, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Laura E Ritchey
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Present Address: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, PA, 15904, USA
| | - Sarah L Gillen
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Ania Wilczynska
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Ernest Turro
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK
- National Health Service Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health Research BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
| | - Philip C Bevilacqua
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sarah M Assmann
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Martin Bushell
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
| | - John Le Quesne
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Hodgkin Building, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HB, UK.
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
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64
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Shioda N, Yabuki Y, Asamitsu S. [The potential of G-quadruplexes as a therapeutic target for neurological diseases]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2019; 154:294-300. [PMID: 31787679 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.154.294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The most common form of DNA is a right-handed helix, the B-form DNA. DNA can also adopt a variety of alternative conformations, termed non-B-form DNA secondary structures, including the G-quadruplex (G4). Furthermore, non-canonical RNA G4 secondary structures are also observed. Recent bioinformatics analysis revealed genomic positions of G4. In addition, G4 formation may be associated with various biological functions, including DNA replication, transcription, epigenetic modification, and RNA metabolism. In this review, we focus on G4 structures in neuronal functions, which may have important roles reveal mechanisms underlying neurological disorders. In addition, we discuss the potential of G4s as a therapeutic target for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norifumi Shioda
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University
| | - Yasushi Yabuki
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University
| | - Sefan Asamitsu
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University
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65
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Belmonte-Reche E, Morales JC. G4-iM Grinder: when size and frequency matter. G-Quadruplex, i-Motif and higher order structure search and analysis tool. NAR Genom Bioinform 2019; 2:lqz005. [PMID: 33575559 PMCID: PMC7671307 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqz005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We present G4-iM Grinder, a system for the localization, characterization and selection of potential G4s, i-Motifs and higher order structures. A robust and highly adaptable search engine identifies all structures that fit the user’s quadruplex definitions. Their biological relevance, in vitro formation probability and presence of known-to-form structures are then used as filters. The outcome is an efficient methodology that helps select the best candidates for a subsequent in vitro analysis or a macroscopic genomic quadruplex assessment. As proof of the analytical capabilities of G4-iM Grinder, the human genome was analyzed for potential G4s and i-Motifs. Many known-to-form structures were identified. New candidates were selected considering their score and appearance frequency. We also focused on locating Potential Higher Order Quadruplex Sequences (PHOQS). We developed a new methodology to predict the most probable subunits of these assemblies and applied it to a PHOQS candidate. Taking the human average density as reference, we examined the genomes of several etiological causes of disease. This first of its class comparative study found many organisms to be very dense in these potential quadruplexes. Many presented already known-to-form-G4s and i-Motifs. These findings suggest the potential quadruplexes have as therapeutic targets for these diseases that currently kill millions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efres Belmonte-Reche
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Life Sciences Department, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Juan Carlos Morales
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
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66
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Umar MI, Ji D, Chan CY, Kwok CK. G-Quadruplex-Based Fluorescent Turn-On Ligands and Aptamers: From Development to Applications. Molecules 2019; 24:E2416. [PMID: 31262059 PMCID: PMC6650947 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Guanine (G)-quadruplexes (G4s) are unique nucleic acid structures that are formed by stacked G-tetrads in G-rich DNA or RNA sequences. G4s have been reported to play significant roles in various cellular events in both macro- and micro-organisms. The identification and characterization of G4s can help to understand their different biological roles and potential applications in diagnosis and therapy. In addition to biophysical and biochemical methods to interrogate G4 formation, G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands can be used to target and visualize G4 formation both in vitro and in cells. Here, we review several representative classes of G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands in terms of their interaction mechanism and application perspectives. Interestingly, G4 structures are commonly identified in DNA and RNA aptamers against targets that include proteins and small molecules, which can be utilized as G4 tools for diverse applications. We therefore also summarize the recent development of G4-containing aptamers and highlight their applications in biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy. Moreover, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives of G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands and G4-containing aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubarak I Umar
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Danyang Ji
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun-Yin Chan
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun Kit Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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67
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Perspectives for Applying G-Quadruplex Structures in Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20122884. [PMID: 31200506 PMCID: PMC6627371 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20122884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common form of DNA is a right-handed helix or the B-form DNA. DNA can also adopt a variety of alternative conformations, non-B-form DNA secondary structures, including the DNA G-quadruplex (DNA-G4). Furthermore, besides stem-loops that yield A-form double-stranded RNA, non-canonical RNA G-quadruplex (RNA-G4) secondary structures are also observed. Recent bioinformatics analysis of the whole-genome and transcriptome obtained using G-quadruplex–specific antibodies and ligands, revealed genomic positions of G-quadruplexes. In addition, accumulating evidence pointed to the existence of these structures under physiologically- and pathologically-relevant conditions, with functional roles in vivo. In this review, we focused on DNA-G4 and RNA-G4, which may have important roles in neuronal function, and reveal mechanisms underlying neurological disorders related to synaptic dysfunction. In addition, we mention the potential of G-quadruplexes as therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.
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68
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Marsico G, Chambers VS, Sahakyan AB, McCauley P, Boutell JM, Antonio MD, Balasubramanian S. Whole genome experimental maps of DNA G-quadruplexes in multiple species. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3862-3874. [PMID: 30892612 PMCID: PMC6486626 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic maps of DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) can help elucidate the roles that these secondary structures play in various organisms. Herein, we employ an improved version of a G-quadruplex sequencing method (G4-seq) to generate whole genome G4 maps for 12 species that include widely studied model organisms and also pathogens of clinical relevance. We identify G4 structures that form under physiological K+ conditions and also G4s that are stabilized by the G4-targeting small molecule pyridostatin (PDS). We discuss the various structural features of the experimentally observed G-quadruplexes (OQs), highlighting differences in their prevalence and enrichment across species. Our study describes diversity in sequence composition and genomic location for the OQs in the different species and reveals that the enrichment of OQs in gene promoters is particular to mammals such as mouse and human, among the species studied. The multi-species maps have been made publicly available as a resource to the research community. The maps can serve as blueprints for biological experiments in those model organisms, where G4 structures may play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Marsico
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Vicki S Chambers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- Illumina Cambridge Ltd., Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1XL, UK
| | | | - Patrick McCauley
- Illumina Cambridge Ltd., Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Jonathan M Boutell
- Illumina Cambridge Ltd., Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Marco Di Antonio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
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69
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Mirihana Arachchilage G, Hetti Arachchilage M, Venkataraman A, Piontkivska H, Basu S. Stable G-quadruplex enabling sequences are selected against by the context-dependent codon bias. Gene 2019; 696:149-161. [PMID: 30753890 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The distributions of secondary structural elements appear to differ between coding regions (CDS) of mRNAs compared to the untranslated regions (UTRs), presumably as a mechanism to fine-tune gene expression, including efficiency of translation. However, a systematic and comprehensive analysis of secondary structure avoidance because of potential bias in codon usage is difficult as some of the common secondary structures, such as, hairpins can be formed by numerous sequence combinations. Using G-quadruplex (GQ) as the model secondary structure we studied the impact of codon bias on GQs within the CDS. Because GQs can be predicted using specific consensus sequence motifs, they provide an excellent platform for investigation of the selectivity of such putative structures at the codon level. Using a bioinformatics approach, we calculated the frequencies of putative GQs within the CDS of a variety of species. Our results suggest that the most stable GQs appear to be significantly underrepresented within the CDS, through the use of specific synonymous codon combinations. Furthermore, we identified many peptide sequence motifs in which silent mutations can potentially alter translation via stable GQ formation. This work not only provides a comprehensive analysis on how stable secondary structures appear to be avoided within the CDS of mRNA, but also broadens the current understanding of synonymous codon usage as they relate to the structure-function relationship of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aparna Venkataraman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, United States of America
| | - Helen Piontkivska
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, United States of America
| | - Soumitra Basu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, United States of America.
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70
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Jodoin R, Perreault JP. G-quadruplexes formation in the 5'UTRs of mRNAs associated with colorectal cancer pathways. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208363. [PMID: 30507959 PMCID: PMC6277105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4) are stable non-canonical secondary structures composed of G-rich sequences. Many rG4 structures located in the 5'UTRs of mRNAs act as translation repressors due to their high stability which is thought to impede ribosomal scanning. That said, it is not known if these are mRNA-specific examples, or if they are indicative of a global expression regulation mechanism of the mRNAs involved in a common pathway based on structure folding recognition. Gene-ontology analysis of mRNAs bearing a predicted rG4 motif in their 5'UTRs revealed an enrichment for mRNAs associated with the colorectal cancer pathway. Bioinformatic tools for rG4 prediction, and experimental in vitro validations were used to confirm and compare the folding of the predicted rG4s of the mRNAs associated with dysregulated pathways in colorectal cancer. The rG4 folding was confirmed for the first time for 9 mRNAs. A repressive effect of 3 rG4 candidates on the expression of a reporter gene was also measured in colorectal cancer cell lines. This work highlights the fact that rG4 prediction is not yet accurate, and that experimental characterization is still essential in order to identify the precise rG4 folding sequences and the possible common features shared between the rG4 overrepresented in important biological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Jodoin
- Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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71
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Chan KL, Peng B, Umar MI, Chan CY, Sahakyan AB, Le MTN, Kwok CK. Structural analysis reveals the formation and role of RNA G-quadruplex structures in human mature microRNAs. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:10878-10881. [PMID: 30204160 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc04635b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Here we identify hundreds of RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) candidates in microRNAs (miRNAs), characterize the miRNA structure and miRNA-mRNA interactions on several mammalian-conserved miRNAs, and reveal the formation of rG4s in miRNAs. Notably, we study the effect of these rG4s in cells and uncover the role of rG4s in miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Lung Chan
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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72
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Kwok CK, Marsico G, Balasubramanian S. Detecting RNA G-Quadruplexes (rG4s) in the Transcriptome. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2018; 10:10/7/a032284. [PMID: 29967010 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) secondary structures are proposed to play key roles in fundamental biological processes that include the modulation of transcriptional, co-transcriptional, and posttranscriptional events. Recent methodological developments that include predictive algorithms and structure-based sequencing have enabled the detection and mapping of rG4 structures on a transcriptome-wide scale at high sensitivity and resolution. The data generated by these studies provide valuable insights into the potentially diverse roles of rG4s in biology and open up a number of mechanistic hypotheses. Herein we highlight these methodologies and discuss the associated findings in relation to rG4-related biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Kit Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Giovanni Marsico
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.,Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.,Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
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73
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Garant JM, Perreault JP, Scott MS. G4RNA screener web server: User focused interface for RNA G-quadruplex prediction. Biochimie 2018; 151:115-118. [PMID: 29885355 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Though RNA G-quadruplexes became a focus of study over a decade ago, the main challenge associated with the identification of new potential G-quadruplexes remains a bottleneck step. It slows the study of these non-canonical structures in nucleic acids, and thus the understanding of their significance. The G4RNA screener is an accurate tool for the prediction of RNA G-quadruplexes but its deployment has brought to light an issue with its accessibility to G-quadruplex experts and biologists. G4RNA screener web server is a platform that provides a much needed interface to manage the input, parameters and result display of the main command-line ready tool. It is accessible at http://scottgroup.med.usherbrooke.ca/G4RNA_screener/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Michel Garant
- RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée au Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 rue Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée au Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 rue Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1E 4K8, Canada.
| | - Michelle S Scott
- RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée au Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 rue Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1E 4K8, Canada.
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74
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Tokan V, Puterova J, Lexa M, Kejnovsky E. Quadruplex DNA in long terminal repeats in maize LTR retrotransposons inhibits the expression of a reporter gene in yeast. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:184. [PMID: 29510672 PMCID: PMC5838962 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4563-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies have shown that guanine-rich DNA sequences form quadruplex structures (G4) in vitro but there is scarce evidence of guanine quadruplexes in vivo. The majority of potential quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) are located in transposable elements (TEs), especially close to promoters within long terminal repeats of plant LTR retrotransposons. RESULTS In order to test the potential effect of G4s on retrotransposon expression, we cloned the long terminal repeats of selected maize LTR retrotransposons upstream of the lacZ reporter gene and measured its transcription and translation in yeast. We found that G4s had an inhibitory effect on translation in vivo since "mutants" (where guanines were replaced by adenines in PQS) showed higher expression levels than wild-types. In parallel, we confirmed by circular dichroism measurements that the selected sequences can indeed adopt G4 conformation in vitro. Analysis of RNA-Seq of polyA RNA in maize seedlings grown in the presence of a G4-stabilizing ligand (NMM) showed both inhibitory as well as stimulatory effects on the transcription of LTR retrotransposons. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that quadruplex DNA located within long terminal repeats of LTR retrotransposons can be formed in vivo and that it plays a regulatory role in the LTR retrotransposon life-cycle, thus also affecting genome dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Tokan
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Janka Puterova
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Lexa
- Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Botanicka 68a, 60200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eduard Kejnovsky
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
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75
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O'Hagan MP, Mergny JL, Waller ZAE. G-quadruplexes in Prague: A Bohemian Rhapsody. Biochimie 2018; 147:170-180. [PMID: 29452278 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The Sixth International Meeting on Quadruplex Nucleic Acids was held at the Hotel Internationale in Prague, Czech Republic from 31 May - 3 June 2017. A vibrant interdisciplinary community of over 300 scientists gathered to share their newest results in this exciting field and exchange ideas for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Paul O'Hagan
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS1 1TS, UK.
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Univ. Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, F-33600, France; Institute of Biophysics, AS CR, v.v.i., Kralovopolska 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zoë Ann Ella Waller
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK; Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
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76
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Rouleau SG, Garant JM, Bolduc F, Bisaillon M, Perreault JP. G-Quadruplexes influence pri-microRNA processing. RNA Biol 2017; 15:198-206. [PMID: 29171334 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1405211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA G-Quadruplexes (G4) have been shown to possess many biological functions, including the regulation of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and function. However, their impact on pri-miRNA processing remains unknown. We identified G4 located near the Drosha cleavage site in three distinct pri-miRNAs: pri-mir200c, pri-mir451a, and pri-mir497. The folding of the potential G4 motifs was determined in solution. Subsequently, mutations disrupting G4 folding led to important changes in the mature miRNAs levels in cells. Moreover, using small antisense oligonucleotides binding to the pri-miRNA, it was possible to modulate, either positively or negatively, the mature miRNA levels. Together, these data demonstrate that G4 motifs could contribute to the regulation of pri-mRNA processing, a novel role for G4. Considering that bio-informatics screening indicates that between 9% and 50% of all pri-miRNAs contain a putative G4, these structures possess interesting potential as future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G Rouleau
- a Département de Biochimie, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée sur le Cancer , Université de , Sherbrooke, 3201 Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke , Québec , Canada
| | - Jean-Michel Garant
- a Département de Biochimie, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée sur le Cancer , Université de , Sherbrooke, 3201 Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke , Québec , Canada
| | - François Bolduc
- a Département de Biochimie, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée sur le Cancer , Université de , Sherbrooke, 3201 Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke , Québec , Canada
| | - Martin Bisaillon
- a Département de Biochimie, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée sur le Cancer , Université de , Sherbrooke, 3201 Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke , Québec , Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- a Département de Biochimie, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée sur le Cancer , Université de , Sherbrooke, 3201 Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke , Québec , Canada
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