1
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Bočkaj I, Moreno Garcia A, de Miguel Herraiz P, Keskin S, Zancanella V, Acar Broekmans Ş, Vallès A, Liu YP, Evers M, Wartel M. LinQURE: A novel AAV gene silencing platform that supports multi-transcript targeting for complex disorders. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102307. [PMID: 39290581 PMCID: PMC11405814 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Given that numerous genetic disorders, driven by diverse pathogenic mechanisms, may be amenable to recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-delivered gene therapies, the sustained innovation of rAAV-based therapeutic modalities is crucial. The progression and severity of genetic diseases can be reduced by targeting the toxic transcripts of a defective gene using microRNA (miRNA)-based miQURE technology delivered within an AAV vector. By adapting the delivered cassette, it may be possible to simultaneously regulate the expression profile of multiple genes involved in the pathogenesis of complex genetic diseases. The established miQURE gene silencing strategy was expanded by concatenating several miQURE molecules in a single construct, resulting in the novel linQURE platform. Here, a proof of mechanism is established by demonstrating that linQURE technology enables the concomitant expression of two synthetic miRNAs in vitro and in vivo, allowing more efficient downregulation of their disease-causing mRNA targets. This approach supports the development of multi-targeting therapeutic strategies, enabling gene therapy products to adapt to more complex multigenic indications, thus expanding the toolbox of readily available gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Bočkaj
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Moreno Garcia
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sonay Keskin
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vanessa Zancanella
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Astrid Vallès
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ying Poi Liu
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Melvin Evers
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Morgane Wartel
- Global Research, uniQure biopharma B.V., 1105 BP Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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2
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Wang Y, Tu MJ, Yu AM. Efflux ABC transporters in drug disposition and their posttranscriptional gene regulation by microRNAs. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1423416. [PMID: 39114355 PMCID: PMC11303158 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1423416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are transmembrane proteins expressed commonly in metabolic and excretory organs to control xenobiotic or endobiotic disposition and maintain their homeostasis. Changes in ABC transporter expression may directly affect the pharmacokinetics of relevant drugs involving absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) processes. Indeed, overexpression of efflux ABC transporters in cancer cells or bacteria limits drug exposure and causes therapeutic failure that is known as multidrug resistance (MDR). With the discovery of functional noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) produced from the genome, many miRNAs have been revealed to govern posttranscriptional gene regulation of ABC transporters, which shall improve our understanding of complex mechanism behind the overexpression of ABC transporters linked to MDR. In this article, we first overview the expression and localization of important ABC transporters in human tissues and their clinical importance regarding ADME as well as MDR. Further, we summarize miRNA-controlled posttranscriptional gene regulation of ABC transporters and effects on ADME and MDR. Additionally, we discuss the development and utilization of novel bioengineered miRNA agents to modulate ABC transporter gene expression and subsequent influence on cellular drug accumulation and chemosensitivity. Findings on posttranscriptional gene regulation of ABC transporters shall not only improve our understanding of mechanisms behind variable ADME but also provide insight into developing new means towards rational and more effective pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ai-Ming Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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3
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Ma S, Howden SA, Keane SC. Use of steric blocking antisense oligonucleotides for the targeted inhibition of junction containing precursor microRNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588531. [PMID: 38645194 PMCID: PMC11030329 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are widely used as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and virus infections. One class of ASOs functions to enhance protein expression by sequestering the mature microRNA (miRNA) in a double-stranded structure within the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). An alternative approach for the targeted control of gene expression is to use ASOs that bind to the pre-elements of miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) and modulate their enzymatic processing. Here, we demonstrate that ASOs can be used to disrupt a specific structural feature, "junction," within pre-miR-31 that is important in directing efficient processing by the Dicer/TRBP complex. Furthermore, we extend and validate this strategy to pre-miR-144, which has a similar junction-dependent structure-function relationship. We found that a significant number of human pre-miRNAs are predicted to contain junctions, and validated our ASO approach on several members of this group. Importantly, we also verified the application of junction-targeting ASOs for the specific inhibition of pre-miRNA processing in cell . Our study reemphasizes the important roles of RNA structure in regulating Dicer/TRBP processing of pre-miRNAs and provides the framework to develop structure-informed ASOs that serve to inhibit miRNA production.
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4
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Baek SC, Kim B, Jang H, Kim K, Park IS, Min DH, Kim VN. Structural atlas of human primary microRNAs generated by SHAPE-MaP. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1158-1172.e6. [PMID: 38447581 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) maturation is critically dependent on structural features of primary transcripts (pri-miRNAs). However, the scarcity of determined pri-miRNA structures has limited our understanding of miRNA maturation. Here, we employed selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension and mutational profiling (SHAPE-MaP), a high-throughput RNA structure probing method, to unravel the secondary structures of 476 high-confidence human pri-miRNAs. Our SHAPE-based structures diverge substantially from those inferred solely from computation, particularly in the apical loop and basal segments, underlining the need for experimental data in RNA structure prediction. By comparing the structures with high-throughput processing data, we determined the optimal structural features of pri-miRNAs. The sequence determinants are influenced substantially by their structural contexts. Moreover, we identified an element termed the bulged GWG motif (bGWG) with a 3' bulge in the lower stem, which promotes processing. Our structure-function mapping better annotates the determinants of pri-miRNA processing and offers practical implications for designing small hairpin RNAs and predicting the impacts of miRNA mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chan Baek
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; School of Biological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Boseon Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; School of Biological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Harim Jang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; School of Biological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Kijun Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; School of Biological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Il-Soo Park
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Dal-Hee Min
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - V Narry Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, South Korea; School of Biological Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
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5
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Hynes C, Kakumani PK. Regulatory role of RNA-binding proteins in microRNA biogenesis. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1374843. [PMID: 38567098 PMCID: PMC10985210 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1374843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that silence gene expression through their interaction with complementary sequences in the 3' untranslated regions (UTR) of target mRNAs. miRNAs undergo a series of steps during their processing and maturation, which are tightly regulated to fine-tune their abundance and ability to function in post-transcriptional gene silencing. miRNA biogenesis typically involves core catalytic proteins, namely, Drosha and Dicer, and several other RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that recognize and interact with miRNA precursors and/or their intermediates, and mature miRNAs along with their interacting proteins. The series of RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions are critical to maintaining miRNA expression levels and their function, underlying a variety of cellular processes. Throughout this article, we review RBPs that play a role in miRNA biogenesis and focus on their association with components of the miRNA pathway with functional consequences in the processing and generation of mature miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pavan Kumar Kakumani
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
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6
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Bofill-De Ros X, Vang Ørom UA. Recent progress in miRNA biogenesis and decay. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-8. [PMID: 38031325 PMCID: PMC10761092 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2288741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are a class of small regulatory RNAs that mediate regulation of protein synthesis by recognizing sequence elements in mRNAs. MicroRNAs are processed through a series of steps starting from transcription and primary processing in the nucleus to precursor processing and mature function in the cytoplasm. It is also in the cytoplasm where levels of mature microRNAs can be modulated through decay mechanisms. Here, we review the recent progress in the lifetime of a microRNA at all steps required for maintaining their homoeostasis. The increasing knowledge about microRNA regulation upholds great promise as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bofill-De Ros
- RNA Biology and Innovation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ulf Andersson Vang Ørom
- RNA Biology and Innovation, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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7
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Shang R, Lee S, Senavirathne G, Lai EC. microRNAs in action: biogenesis, function and regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:816-833. [PMID: 37380761 PMCID: PMC11087887 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00611-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Ever since microRNAs (miRNAs) were first recognized as an extensive gene family >20 years ago, a broad community of researchers was drawn to investigate the universe of small regulatory RNAs. Although core features of miRNA biogenesis and function were revealed early on, recent years continue to uncover fundamental information on the structural and molecular dynamics of core miRNA machinery, how miRNA substrates and targets are selected from the transcriptome, new avenues for multilevel regulation of miRNA biogenesis and mechanisms for miRNA turnover. Many of these latest insights were enabled by recent technological advances, including massively parallel assays, cryogenic electron microscopy, single-molecule imaging and CRISPR-Cas9 screening. Here, we summarize the current understanding of miRNA biogenesis, function and regulation, and outline challenges to address in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renfu Shang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seungjae Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gayan Senavirathne
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric C Lai
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Shang R, Lai EC. Parameters of clustered suboptimal miRNA biogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306727120. [PMID: 37788316 PMCID: PMC10576077 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306727120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear cleavage of a suboptimal primary miRNA hairpin by the Drosha/DGCR8 complex ("Microprocessor") can be enhanced by an optimal miRNA neighbor, a phenomenon termed cluster assistance. Several features and biological impacts of this new layer of miRNA regulation are not fully known. Here, we elucidate the parameters of cluster assistance of a suboptimal miRNA and also reveal competitive interactions amongst optimal miRNAs within a cluster. We exploit cluster assistance as a functional assay for suboptimal processing and use this to invalidate putative suboptimal substrates, as well as identify a "solo" suboptimal miRNA. Finally, we report complexity in how specific mutations might affect the biogenesis of clustered miRNAs in disease contexts. This includes how an operon context can buffer the effect of a deleterious processing variant, but reciprocally how a point mutation can have a nonautonomous effect to impair the biogenesis of a clustered, suboptimal, neighbor. These data expand our knowledge regarding regulated miRNA biogenesis in humans and represent a functional assay for empirical definition of suboptimal Microprocessor substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renfu Shang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY10065
| | - Eric C. Lai
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY10065
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9
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Shi CY, Elcavage LE, Chivukula RR, Stefano J, Kleaveland B, Bartel DP. ZSWIM8 destabilizes many murine microRNAs and is required for proper embryonic growth and development. Genome Res 2023; 33:1482-1496. [PMID: 37532519 PMCID: PMC10620050 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278073.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) pair to sites in mRNAs to direct the degradation of these RNA transcripts. Conversely, certain RNA transcripts can direct the degradation of particular miRNAs. This target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD) requires the ZSWIM8 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Here, we report the function of ZSWIM8 in the mouse embryo. Zswim8 -/- embryos were smaller than their littermates and died near the time of birth. This highly penetrant perinatal lethality was apparently caused by a lung sacculation defect attributed to failed maturation of alveolar epithelial cells. Some mutant individuals also had heart ventricular septal defects. These developmental abnormalities were accompanied by aberrant accumulation of more than 50 miRNAs observed across 12 tissues, which often led to enhanced repression of their mRNA targets. These ZSWIM8-sensitive miRNAs were preferentially produced from genomic miRNA clusters, and in some cases, ZSWIM8 caused a switch in the dominant strand or isoform that accumulated from a miRNA hairpin-observations suggesting that TDMD provides a mechanism to uncouple coproduced miRNAs from each other. Overall, our findings indicate that the regulatory influence of ZSWIM8, and presumably TDMD, in mammalian biology is widespread and consequential, and posit the existence of many yet-unidentified transcripts that trigger miRNA degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Y Shi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Lara E Elcavage
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Raghu R Chivukula
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Joanna Stefano
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Benjamin Kleaveland
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA
| | - David P Bartel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA;
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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10
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Kshirsagar A, Doroshev SM, Gorelik A, Olender T, Sapir T, Tsuboi D, Rosenhek-Goldian I, Malitsky S, Itkin M, Argoetti A, Mandel-Gutfreund Y, Cohen SR, Hanna JH, Ulitsky I, Kaibuchi K, Reiner O. LIS1 RNA-binding orchestrates the mechanosensitive properties of embryonic stem cells in AGO2-dependent and independent ways. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3293. [PMID: 37280197 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38797-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lissencephaly-1 (LIS1) is associated with neurodevelopmental diseases and is known to regulate the molecular motor cytoplasmic dynein activity. Here we show that LIS1 is essential for the viability of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and it governs the physical properties of these cells. LIS1 dosage substantially affects gene expression, and we uncovered an unexpected interaction of LIS1 with RNA and RNA-binding proteins, most prominently the Argonaute complex. We demonstrate that LIS1 overexpression partially rescued the extracellular matrix (ECM) expression and mechanosensitive genes conferring stiffness to Argonaute null mESCs. Collectively, our data transforms the current perspective on the roles of LIS1 in post-transcriptional regulation underlying development and mechanosensitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kshirsagar
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Svetlana Maslov Doroshev
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anna Gorelik
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tamar Sapir
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Daisuke Tsuboi
- International Center for Brain Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Irit Rosenhek-Goldian
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sergey Malitsky
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maxim Itkin
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amir Argoetti
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Sidney R Cohen
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kozo Kaibuchi
- International Center for Brain Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Orly Reiner
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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11
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Nguyen TL, Nguyen TD, Ngo MK, Le TNY, Nguyen TA. Noncanonical processing by animal Microprocessor. Mol Cell 2023; 83:1810-1826.e8. [PMID: 37267903 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Microprocessor (MP), DROSHA-DGCR8, processes primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) to initiate miRNA biogenesis. The canonical cleavage mechanism of MP has been extensively investigated and comprehensively validated for two decades. However, this canonical mechanism cannot account for the processing of certain pri-miRNAs in animals. In this study, by conducting high-throughput pri-miRNA cleavage assays for approximately 260,000 pri-miRNA sequences, we discovered and comprehensively characterized a noncanonical cleavage mechanism of MP. This noncanonical mechanism does not need several RNA and protein elements essential for the canonical mechanism; instead, it utilizes previously unrecognized DROSHA dsRNA recognition sites (DRESs). Interestingly, the noncanonical mechanism is conserved across animals and plays a particularly significant role in C. elegans. Our established noncanonical mechanism elucidates MP cleavage in numerous RNA substrates unaccounted for by the canonical mechanism in animals. This study suggests a broader substrate repertoire of animal MPs and an expanded regulatory landscape for miRNA biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Linh Nguyen
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Trung Duc Nguyen
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Minh Khoa Ngo
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Thi Nhu-Y Le
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tuan Anh Nguyen
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China.
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12
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Li S, Meng W, Guo Z, Liu M, He Y, Li Y, Ma Z. The miR-183 Cluster: Biogenesis, Functions, and Cell Communication via Exosomes in Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:1315. [PMID: 37174715 PMCID: PMC10177187 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of human death. MicroRNAs have been found to be closely associated with cancer. The miR-183 cluster, comprising miR-183, miR-96, and miR-182, is transcribed as a polycistronic miRNA cluster. Importantly, in most cases, these clusters promote cancer development through different pathways. Exosomes, as extracellular vesicles, play an important role in cellular communication and the regulation of the tissue microenvironment. Interestingly, the miR-183 cluster can be detected in exosomes and plays a functional regulatory role in tumor development. Here, the biogenesis and functions of the miR-183 cluster in highly prevalent cancers and their relationship with other non-coding RNAs are summarized. In addition, the miR-183 cluster in exosomes has also been discussed. Finally, we discuss the miR-183 cluster as a promising target for cancer therapy. This review is expected to provide a new direction for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Li
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wei Meng
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Ziyi Guo
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Min Liu
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yanyun He
- Experimental Center of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yanli Li
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Zhongliang Ma
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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13
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Son S, Kim B, Yang J, Kim VN. Role of the proline-rich disordered domain of DROSHA in intronic microRNA processing. Genes Dev 2023; 37:383-397. [PMID: 37236670 PMCID: PMC10270192 DOI: 10.1101/gad.350275.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
DROSHA serves as a gatekeeper of the microRNA (miRNA) pathway by processing primary transcripts (pri-miRNAs). While the functions of structured domains of DROSHA have been well documented, the contribution of N-terminal proline-rich disordered domain (PRD) remains elusive. Here we show that the PRD promotes the processing of miRNA hairpins located within introns. We identified a DROSHA isoform (p140) lacking the PRD, which is produced by proteolytic cleavage. Small RNA sequencing revealed that p140 is significantly impaired in the maturation of intronic miRNAs. Consistently, our minigene constructs demonstrated that PRD enhances the processing of intronic hairpins, but not those in exons. Splice site mutations did not affect the PRD's enhancing effect on intronic constructs, suggesting that the PRD acts independently of splicing reaction by interacting with sequences residing within introns. The N-terminal regions from zebrafish and Xenopus DROSHA can replace the human counterpart, indicating functional conservation despite poor sequence alignment. Moreover, we found that rapidly evolving intronic miRNAs are generally more dependent on PRD than conserved ones, suggesting a role of PRD in miRNA evolution. Our study reveals a new layer of miRNA regulation mediated by a low-complexity disordered domain that senses the genomic contexts of miRNA loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soomin Son
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Baekgyu Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jihye Yang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - V Narry Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea;
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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14
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Vilimova M, Pfeffer S. Post-transcriptional regulation of polycistronic microRNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1749. [PMID: 35702737 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
An important proportion of microRNA (miRNA) genes tend to lie close to each other within animal genomes. Such genomic organization is generally referred to as miRNA clusters. Even though many miRNA clusters have been greatly studied, most attention has been usually focused on functional impacts of clustered miRNA co-expression. However, there is also another compelling aspect about these miRNA clusters, their polycistronic nature. Being transcribed on a single RNA precursor, polycistronic miRNAs benefit from common transcriptional regulation allowing their coordinated expression. And yet, numerous reports have revealed striking discrepancies in the accumulation of mature miRNAs produced from the same cluster. Indeed, the larger polycistronic transcripts can act as platforms providing unforeseen post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling individual miRNA processing, thus leading to differential miRNA expression, and sometimes even challenging the general assumption that polycistronic miRNAs are co-expressed. In this review, we aim to address the current knowledge about how miRNA polycistrons are post-transcriptionally regulated. In particular, we will focus on the mechanisms occurring at the level of the primary transcript, which are highly relevant for individual miRNA processing and as such have a direct repercussion on miRNA function within the cell. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Vilimova
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Pfeffer
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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15
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Lee S, Jee D, Srivastava S, Yang A, Ramidi A, Shang R, Bortolamiol-Becet D, Pfeffer S, Gu S, Wen J, Lai EC. Promiscuous splicing-derived hairpins are dominant substrates of tailing-mediated defense of miRNA biogenesis in mammals. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112111. [PMID: 36800291 PMCID: PMC10508058 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Canonical microRNA (miRNA) hairpins are processed by the RNase III enzymes Drosha and Dicer into ∼22 nt RNAs loaded into an Argonaute (Ago) effector. In addition, splicing generates numerous intronic hairpins that bypass Drosha (mirtrons) to yield mature miRNAs. Here, we identify hundreds of previously unannotated, splicing-derived hairpins in intermediate-length (∼50-100 nt) but not small (20-30 nt) RNA data. Since we originally defined mirtrons from small RNA duplexes, we term this larger set as structured splicing-derived RNAs (ssdRNAs). These associate with Dicer and/or Ago complexes, but generally accumulate modestly and are poorly conserved. We propose they contaminate the canonical miRNA pathway, which consequently requires defense against the siege of splicing-derived substrates. Accordingly, ssdRNAs/mirtrons comprise dominant hairpin substrates for 3' tailing by multiple terminal nucleotidyltransferases, notably TUT4/7 and TENT2. Overall, the rampant proliferation of young mammalian mirtrons/ssdRNAs, coupled with an inhibitory molecular defense, comprises a Red Queen's race of intragenomic conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungjae Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David Jee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sid Srivastava
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA; High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ 07738, USA
| | - Acong Yang
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, 8 National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Abhinav Ramidi
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA; High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ 07738, USA
| | - Renfu Shang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Diane Bortolamiol-Becet
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA; Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 Allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Pfeffer
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 Allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Shuo Gu
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, 8 National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jiayu Wen
- Division of Genome Sciences and Cancer, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Eric C Lai
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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16
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Komatsu S, Kitai H, Suzuki HI. Network Regulation of microRNA Biogenesis and Target Interaction. Cells 2023; 12:306. [PMID: 36672241 PMCID: PMC9856966 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile, post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Canonical miRNAs are generated through the two-step DROSHA- and DICER-mediated processing of primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts with optimal or suboptimal features for DROSHA and DICER cleavage and loading into Argonaute (AGO) proteins, whereas multiple hairpin-structured RNAs are encoded in the genome and could be a source of non-canonical miRNAs. Recent advances in miRNA biogenesis research have revealed details of the structural basis of miRNA processing and cluster assistance mechanisms that facilitate the processing of suboptimal hairpins encoded together with optimal hairpins in polycistronic pri-miRNAs. In addition, a deeper investigation of miRNA-target interaction has provided insights into the complexity of target recognition with distinct outcomes, including target-mediated miRNA degradation (TDMD) and cooperation in target regulation by multiple miRNAs. Therefore, the coordinated or network regulation of both miRNA biogenesis and miRNA-target interaction is prevalent in miRNA biology. Alongside recent advances in the mechanistic investigation of miRNA functions, this review summarizes recent findings regarding the ordered regulation of miRNA biogenesis and miRNA-target interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shintaro Komatsu
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kitai
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Hiroshi I. Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research, Gifu University Institute for Advanced Study, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
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17
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Ruiz-Arroyo VM, Nam Y. Dynamic Protein-RNA recognition in primary MicroRNA processing. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 76:102442. [PMID: 36067707 PMCID: PMC9509664 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are prevalent regulators of gene expression, controlling most of the proteome in multicellular organisms. To generate the functional small RNAs, precise processing steps are required. In animals, microRNA biogenesis is initiated by Microprocessor that minimally consists of the Drosha enzyme and its partner, DGCR8. This first step is critical for selecting primary microRNAs, and many RNA-binding proteins and regulatory pathways target both the accuracy and efficiency of microRNA maturation. Structures of Drosha and DGCR8 in complex with primary microRNAs elucidate how RNA structural features rather than sequence provide the framework for substrate recognition. Comparing multiple states of Microprocessor and the closely related Dicer homologs shed light on the dynamic protein-RNA complex assembly and disassembly required to recognize RNAs with diverse sequences via common structural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Ruiz-Arroyo
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biophysics, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. https://twitter.com/@Ruiz_Arroy0
| | - Yunsun Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biophysics, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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18
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Shang R, Kretov DA, Adamson SI, Treiber T, Treiber N, Vedanayagam J, Chuang J, Meister G, Cifuentes D, Lai E. Regulated dicing of pre-mir-144 via reshaping of its terminal loop. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7637-7654. [PMID: 35801921 PMCID: PMC9303283 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the route to generate microRNAs (miRNAs) is often depicted as a linear series of sequential and constitutive cleavages, we now appreciate multiple alternative pathways as well as diverse strategies to modulate their processing and function. Here, we identify an unusually profound regulatory role of conserved loop sequences in vertebrate pre-mir-144, which are essential for its cleavage by the Dicer RNase III enzyme in human and zebrafish models. Our data indicate that pre-mir-144 dicing is positively regulated via its terminal loop, and involves the ILF3 complex (NF90 and its partner NF45/ILF2). We provide further evidence that this regulatory switch involves reshaping of the pre-mir-144 apical loop into a structure that is appropriate for Dicer cleavage. In light of our recent findings that mir-144 promotes the nuclear biogenesis of its neighbor mir-451, these data extend the complex hierarchy of nuclear and cytoplasmic regulatory events that can control the maturation of clustered miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renfu Shang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dmitry A Kretov
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Scott I Adamson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Thomas Treiber
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nora Treiber
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Vedanayagam
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Chuang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Gunter Meister
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Cifuentes
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Eric C Lai
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA
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19
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Jungers CF, Djuranovic S. Modulation of miRISC-Mediated Gene Silencing in Eukaryotes. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:832916. [PMID: 35237661 PMCID: PMC8882679 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.832916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression is regulated at multiple levels in eukaryotic cells. Regulation at the post-transcriptional level is modulated by various trans-acting factors that bind to specific sequences in the messenger RNA (mRNA). The binding of different trans factors influences various aspects of the mRNA such as degradation rate, translation efficiency, splicing, localization, etc. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenous ncRNAs that combine with the Argonaute to form the microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), which uses base-pair complementation to silence the target transcript. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to post-transcriptional control by influencing the mRNA stability and translation upon binding to cis-elements within the mRNA transcript. RBPs have been shown to impact gene expression through influencing the miRISC biogenesis, composition, or miRISC-mRNA target interaction. While there is clear evidence that those interactions between RBPs, miRNAs, miRISC and target mRNAs influence the efficiency of miRISC-mediated gene silencing, the exact mechanism for most of them remains unclear. This review summarizes our current knowledge on gene expression regulation through interactions of miRNAs and RBPs.
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20
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miRNA:miRNA Interactions: A Novel Mode of miRNA Regulation and Its Effect On Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1385:241-257. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-08356-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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21
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Kang W, Fromm B, Houben AJ, Høye E, Bezdan D, Arnan C, Thrane K, Asp M, Johnson R, Biryukova I, Friedländer MR. MapToCleave: High-throughput profiling of microRNA biogenesis in living cells. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110015. [PMID: 34788611 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous large-scale studies have uncovered many features that determine the processing of microRNA (miRNA) precursors; however, they have been conducted in vitro. Here, we introduce MapToCleave, a method to simultaneously profile processing of thousands of distinct RNA structures in living cells. We find that miRNA precursors with a stable lower basal stem are more efficiently processed and also have higher expression in vivo in tissues from 20 animal species. We systematically compare the importance of known and novel sequence and structural features and test biogenesis of miRNA precursors from 10 animal and plant species in human cells. Lastly, we provide evidence that the GHG motif better predicts processing when defined as a structure rather than sequence motif, consistent with recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies. In summary, we apply a screening assay in living cells to reveal the importance of lower basal stem stability for miRNA processing and in vivo expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Kang
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bastian Fromm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna J Houben
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eirik Høye
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniela Bezdan
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carme Arnan
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Kim Thrane
- Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Michaela Asp
- Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Rory Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Inna Biryukova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marc R Friedländer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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22
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Vilimova M, Contrant M, Randrianjafy R, Dumas P, Elbasani E, Ojala P, Pfeffer S, Fender A. Cis regulation within a cluster of viral microRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10018-10033. [PMID: 34417603 PMCID: PMC8464075 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs involved in virtually all biological processes. Although many of them are co-expressed from clusters, little is known regarding the impact of this organization on the regulation of their accumulation. In this study, we set to decipher a regulatory mechanism controlling the expression of the ten clustered pre-miRNAs from Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We measured in vitro the efficiency of cleavage of each individual pre-miRNA by the Microprocessor and found that pre-miR-K1 and -K3 were the most efficiently cleaved pre-miRNAs. A mutational analysis showed that, in addition to producing mature miRNAs, they are also important for the optimal expression of the whole set of miRNAs. We showed that this feature depends on the presence of a canonical pre-miRNA at this location since we could functionally replace pre-miR-K1 by a heterologous pre-miRNA. Further in vitro processing analysis suggests that the two stem-loops act in cis and that the cluster is cleaved in a sequential manner. Finally, we exploited this characteristic of the cluster to inhibit the expression of the whole set of miRNAs by targeting the pre-miR-K1 with LNA-based antisense oligonucleotides in cells either expressing a synthetic construct or latently infected with KSHV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Vilimova
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Maud Contrant
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ramy Randrianjafy
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Dumas
- Institut de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of Integrated structural Biology, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP10142, 67404 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Endrit Elbasani
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi M Ojala
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sébastien Pfeffer
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aurélie Fender
- Université de Strasbourg, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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23
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Desvignes T, Sydes J, Montfort J, Bobe J, Postlethwait JH. Evolution after Whole-Genome Duplication: Teleost MicroRNAs. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:3308-3331. [PMID: 33871629 PMCID: PMC8321539 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene expression regulators implicated in many biological processes, but we lack a global understanding of how miRNA genes evolve and contribute to developmental canalization and phenotypic diversification. Whole-genome duplication events likely provide a substrate for species divergence and phenotypic change by increasing gene numbers and relaxing evolutionary pressures. To understand the consequences of genome duplication on miRNA evolution, we studied miRNA genes following the teleost genome duplication (TGD). Analysis of miRNA genes in four teleosts and in spotted gar, whose lineage diverged before the TGD, revealed that miRNA genes were retained in ohnologous pairs more frequently than protein-coding genes, and that gene losses occurred rapidly after the TGD. Genomic context influenced retention rates, with clustered miRNA genes retained more often than nonclustered miRNA genes and intergenic miRNA genes retained more frequently than intragenic miRNA genes, which often shared the evolutionary fate of their protein-coding host. Expression analyses revealed both conserved and divergent expression patterns across species in line with miRNA functions in phenotypic canalization and diversification, respectively. Finally, major strands of miRNA genes experienced stronger purifying selection, especially in their seeds and 3'-complementary regions, compared with minor strands, which nonetheless also displayed evolutionary features compatible with constrained function. This study provides the first genome-wide, multispecies analysis of the mechanisms influencing metazoan miRNA evolution after whole-genome duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Desvignes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jason Sydes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
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24
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Kim K, Baek SC, Lee YY, Bastiaanssen C, Kim J, Kim H, Kim VN. A quantitative map of human primary microRNA processing sites. Mol Cell 2021; 81:3422-3439.e11. [PMID: 34320405 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Maturation of canonical microRNA (miRNA) is initiated by DROSHA that cleaves the primary transcript (pri-miRNA). More than 1,800 miRNA loci are annotated in humans, but it remains largely unknown whether and at which sites pri-miRNAs are cleaved by DROSHA. Here, we performed in vitro processing on a full set of human pri-miRNAs (miRBase version 21) followed by sequencing. This comprehensive profiling enabled us to classify miRNAs on the basis of DROSHA dependence and map their cleavage sites with respective processing efficiency measures. Only 758 pri-miRNAs are confidently processed by DROSHA, while the majority may be non-canonical or false entries. Analyses of the DROSHA-dependent pri-miRNAs show key cis-elements for processing. We observe widespread alternative processing and unproductive cleavage events such as "nick" or "inverse" processing. SRSF3 is a broad-acting auxiliary factor modulating alternative processing and suppressing unproductive processing. The profiling data and methods developed in this study will allow systematic analyses of miRNA regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kijun Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - S Chan Baek
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young-Yoon Lee
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Carolien Bastiaanssen
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeesoo Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Haedong Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - V Narry Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
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25
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MicroRNAs Regulating Autophagy in Neurodegeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1208:191-264. [PMID: 34260028 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-2830-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Social and economic impacts of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) become more prominent in our constantly aging population. Currently, due to the lack of knowledge about the aetiology of most NDs, only symptomatic treatment is available for patients. Hence, researchers and clinicians are in need of solid studies on pathological mechanisms of NDs. Autophagy promotes degradation of pathogenic proteins in NDs, while microRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate multiple signalling networks including autophagy. This chapter will critically discuss current research advancements in the area of microRNAs regulating autophagy in NDs. Moreover, we will introduce basic strategies and techniques used in microRNA research. Delineation of the mechanisms contributing to NDs will result in development of better approaches for their early diagnosis and effective treatment.
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Kotowska-Zimmer A, Pewinska M, Olejniczak M. Artificial miRNAs as therapeutic tools: Challenges and opportunities. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1640. [PMID: 33386705 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been used for almost two decades to study gene functions and in therapeutic approaches. It uses cellular machinery and small, designed RNAs in the form of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or vector-based short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), and artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs) to inhibit a gene of interest. Artificial miRNAs, known also as miRNA mimics, shRNA-miRs, or pri-miRNA-like shRNAs have the most complex structures and undergo two-step processing in cells to form mature siRNAs, which are RNAi effectors. AmiRNAs are composed of a target-specific siRNA insert and scaffold based on a natural primary miRNA (pri-miRNA). siRNAs serve as a guide to search for complementary sequences in transcripts, whereas pri-miRNA scaffolds ensure proper processing and transport. The dynamics of siRNA maturation and siRNA levels in the cell resemble those of endogenous miRNAs; therefore amiRNAs are safer than other RNAi triggers. Delivered as viral vectors and expressed under tissue-specific polymerase II (Pol II) promoters, amiRNAs provide long-lasting silencing and expression in selected tissues. Therefore, amiRNAs are useful therapeutic tools for a broad spectrum of human diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancers and viral infections. Recent reports on the role of sequence and structure in pri-miRNA processing may contribute to the improvement of the amiRNA tools. In addition, the success of a recently initiated clinical trial for Huntington's disease could pave the way for other amiRNA-based therapies, if proven effective and safe. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kotowska-Zimmer
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marianna Pewinska
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olejniczak
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS, Poznan, Poland
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27
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Kwon SC, Jang H, Shen S, Baek SC, Kim K, Yang J, Kim J, Kim JS, Wang S, Shi Y, Li F, Kim VN. ERH facilitates microRNA maturation through the interaction with the N-terminus of DGCR8. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11097-11112. [PMID: 33035348 PMCID: PMC7641749 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The microprocessor complex cleaves the primary transcript of microRNA (pri-miRNA) to initiate miRNA maturation. Microprocessor is known to consist of RNase III DROSHA and dsRNA-binding DGCR8. Here, we identify Enhancer of Rudimentary Homolog (ERH) as a new component of Microprocessor. Through a crystal structure and biochemical experiments, we reveal that ERH uses its hydrophobic groove to bind to a conserved region in the N-terminus of DGCR8, in a 2:2 stoichiometry. Knock-down of ERH or deletion of the DGCR8 N-terminus results in a reduced processing of suboptimal pri-miRNAs in polycistronic miRNA clusters. ERH increases the processing of suboptimal pri-miR-451 in a manner dependent on its neighboring pri-miR-144. Thus, the ERH dimer may mediate 'cluster assistance' in which Microprocessor is loaded onto a poor substrate with help from a high-affinity substrate in the same cluster. Our study reveals a role of ERH in the miRNA biogenesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chul Kwon
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Harim Jang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Siyuan Shen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - S Chan Baek
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kijun Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jihye Yang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeesoo Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jong-Seo Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Suman Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Fudong Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - V Narry Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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28
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Sheng P, Flood KA, Xie M. Short Hairpin RNAs for Strand-Specific Small Interfering RNA Production. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:940. [PMID: 32850763 PMCID: PMC7427337 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective mechanism for inhibiting gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Expression of a messenger RNA (mRNA) can be inhibited by a ∼22-nucleotide (nt) small interfering (si)RNA with the corresponding reverse complementary sequence. Typically, a duplex of siRNA, composed of the desired siRNA and a passenger strand, is processed from a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) precursor by Dicer. Subsequently, one strand of the siRNA duplex is associated with Argonaute (Ago) protein for RNAi. Although RNAi is widely used, the off-target effect induced by the passenger strand remains a potential problem. Here, based on current understanding of endogenous precursor microRNA (pre-miRNA) hairpins, called Ago-shRNA and m7G-capped pre-miRNA, we discuss the principles of shRNA designs that produce a single siRNA from one strand of the hairpin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peike Sheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Krystal A Flood
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Mingyi Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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29
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Hutter K, Lohmüller M, Jukic A, Eichin F, Avci S, Labi V, Szabo TG, Hoser SM, Hüttenhofer A, Villunger A, Herzog S. SAFB2 Enables the Processing of Suboptimal Stem-Loop Structures in Clustered Primary miRNA Transcripts. Mol Cell 2020; 78:876-889.e6. [PMID: 32502422 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many microRNAs (miRNAs) are generated from primary transcripts containing multiple clustered stem-loop structures that are thought to be recognized and cleaved by the Microprocessor complex as independent units. Here, we uncover an unexpected mode of processing of the bicistronic miR-15a-16-1 cluster. We find that the primary miR-15a stem-loop is not processed on its own but that the presence of the neighboring primary miR-16-1 stem-loop on the same transcript can compensate for this deficiency in cis. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 screen, we identify SAFB2 (scaffold attachment factor B2) as an essential co-factor in this miR-16-1-assisted pri-miR-15 cleavage and describe SAFB2 as an accessory protein of the Microprocessor. Notably, SAFB2-mediated cleavage expands to other clustered pri-miRNAs, indicating a general mechanism. Together, our study reveals an unrecognized function of SAFB2 in miRNA processing and suggests a scenario in which SAFB2 enables the binding and processing of suboptimal Microprocessor substrates in clustered primary miRNA transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hutter
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Lohmüller
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Almina Jukic
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Felix Eichin
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Seymen Avci
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Labi
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tamas G Szabo
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Simon M Hoser
- Institute for Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Hüttenhofer
- Institute for Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Villunger
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Herzog
- Institute of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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