1
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Sung PY, Phelan JE, Luo D, Kulasegaran-Shylini R, Bohn P, Smyth RP, Roy P. Recruitment of multi-segment genomic RNAs by Bluetongue virus requires a preformed RNA network. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae404. [PMID: 38769067 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
How do segmented RNA viruses correctly recruit their genome has yet to be clarified. Bluetongue virus is a double-stranded RNA virus with 10 segments of different sizes, but it assembles its genome in single-stranded form through a series of specific RNA-RNA interactions prior to packaging. In this study, we determined the structure of each BTV transcript, individually and in different combinations, using 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension and mutational profiling (SHAPE-MaP). SHAPE-MaP identified RNA structural changes during complex formation and putative RNA-RNA interaction sites. Our data also revealed a core RNA-complex of smaller segments which serves as the foundation ('anchor') for the assembly of a complete network composed of ten ssRNA segments. The same order of core RNA complex formation was identified in cells transfected with viral RNAs. No viral protein was required for these assembly reactions. Further, substitution mutations in the interacting bases within the core assemblies, altered subsequent segment addition and affected virus replication. These data identify a wholly RNA driven reaction that may offer novel opportunities for designed attenuation or antiviral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Yu Sung
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jody E Phelan
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dongsheng Luo
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Patrick Bohn
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Redmond P Smyth
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Polly Roy
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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2
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Bose E, Xiong S, Jones AN. Probing RNA structure and dynamics using nanopore and next generation sequencing. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107317. [PMID: 38677514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
It has become increasingly evident that the structures RNAs adopt are conformationally dynamic; the various structured states that RNAs sample govern their interactions with other nucleic acids, proteins, and ligands to regulate a myriad of biological processes. Although several biophysical approaches have been developed and used to study the dynamic landscape of structured RNAs, technical limitations have limited their application to all classes of RNA due to variable size and flexibility. Recent advances combining chemical probing experiments with next-generation- and direct sequencing have emerged as an alternative approach to exploring the conformational dynamics of RNA. In this review, we provide a methodological overview of the sequencing-based techniques used to study RNA conformational dynamics. We discuss how different techniques have enabled us to better understand the propensity of RNAs from a variety of different classes to sample multiple conformational states. Finally, we present examples of the ways these techniques have reshaped how we think about RNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Bose
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shengwei Xiong
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alisha N Jones
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
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3
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Chatterjee S, Xiao L, Zhong W, Feng S, Kool ET. Selective Arylation of RNA 2'-OH Groups via S NAr Reaction with Trialkylammonium Heterocycles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202403496. [PMID: 38625814 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Small-molecule reactions at the 2'-OH groups of RNA enable useful applications for transcriptome technology and biology. To date, all reactions have involved carbonyl acylation and mechanistically related sulfonylation, limiting the types of modifications and properties that can be achieved. Here we report that electron-deficient heteroaryl species selectively react with 2'-OH groups of RNA in water via SNAr chemistry. In particular, trialkyl-ammonium (TAA)-activated aromatic heterocycles, prepared in one step from aryl chloride precursors, give high conversions to aryl ether adducts with RNAs in aqueous buffer in ~2-3 h. Remarkably, a TAA triazine previously used only for reaction with carboxylic acids, shows unprecedented selectivity for RNA over water, reacting rapidly with 2'-OH groups while exhibiting a half-life in water of >10 days. We further show that a triazine aryl species can be used as a probe at trace-level yields to map RNA structure in vitro. Finally, we prepare a number of functionalized trialkylammonium triazine reagents and show that they can be used to covalently label RNA efficiently for use in vitro and in living cells. This direct arylation chemistry offers a simple and distinct structural scaffold for post-synthetic RNA modification, with potential utility in multiple applications in transcriptome research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wenrui Zhong
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sheng Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eric T Kool
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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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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von Löhneysen S, Mörl M, Stadler PF. Limits of experimental evidence in RNA secondary structure prediction. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 4:1346779. [PMID: 38456157 PMCID: PMC10918467 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2024.1346779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah von Löhneysen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mario Mörl
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter F. Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Competence Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, School of Embedded and Compositive Artificial Intelligence (SECAI), Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad National de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Center for Non-Coding RNA in Technology and Health, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, United States
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6
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Bozděchová L, Havlová K, Fajkus P, Fajkus J. Analysis of Telomerase RNA Structure in Physcomitrium patens Indicates Functionally Relevant Transitions Between OPEN and CLOSED Conformations. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168417. [PMID: 38143018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168417] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase RNA (TR) conformation determines its function as a template for telomere synthesis and as a scaffold for the assembly of the telomerase nucleoprotein complex. Experimental analyses of TR secondary structure using DMS-Map Seq and SHAPE-Map Seq techniques show its CLOSED conformation as the consensus structure where the template region cannot perform its function. Our data show that the apparent discrepancy between experimental results and predicted TR functional conformation, mostly ignored in published studies, can be explained using data analysis based on single-molecule structure prediction from individual sequencing reads by the recently established DaVinci method. This method results in several clusters of secondary structures reflecting the structural dynamics of TR, possibly related to its multiple functional states. Interestingly, the presumed active (OPEN) conformation of TR corresponds to a minor fraction of TR under in vivo conditions. Therefore, structural polymorphism and dynamic TR transitions between CLOSED and OPEN conformations may be involved in telomerase activity regulation as a switch that functions independently of total TR transcript levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Bozděchová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Havlová
- National Center for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Biophysics, Czech Acad Sci, Královopolská 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; National Center for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Biophysics, Czech Acad Sci, Královopolská 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic.
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7
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Kharel P, Ivanov P. RNA G-quadruplexes and stress: emerging mechanisms and functions. Trends Cell Biol 2024:S0962-8924(24)00005-9. [PMID: 38341346 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are noncanonical secondary structures formed by guanine-rich sequences that are found in different regions of RNA molecules. These structures have been implicated in diverse biological processes, including translation, splicing, and RNA stability. Recent studies have suggested that rG4s play a role in the cellular response to stress. This review summarizes the current knowledge on rG4s under stress, focusing on their formation, regulation, and potential functions in stress response pathways. We discuss the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation of rG4 under different stress conditions and the impact of these structures on RNA metabolism, gene expression, and cell survival. Finally, we highlight the potential therapeutic implications of targeting rG4s for the treatment of stress-related diseases through modulating cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kharel
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Pavel Ivanov
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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8
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Xiao L, Fang L, Kool ET. 2'-OH as a universal handle for studying intracellular RNAs. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:110-124. [PMID: 37992716 PMCID: PMC10841764 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.022] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
RNA plays pivotal roles in most cellular processes, serving as both the traditional carrier of genetic information and as a key regulator of cellular functions. The advent of chemical technologies has contributed critically to the analysis of cellular RNA structures, functions, and interactions. Many of these methods and molecules involve the utilization of chemically reactive handles in RNAs, either introduced externally or inherent within the polymer itself. Among these handles, the 2'-hydroxyl (2'-OH) group has emerged as an exceptionally well-suited and general chemical moiety for the modification and profiling of RNAs in intracellular studies. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in intracellular applications of acylation at the 2'-OH group of RNA. We outline progress made in probing RNA structure and interactomes, controlling RNA function, RNA imaging, and analyzing RNA-small molecule interactions, all achieved in living cells through this simple chemical handle on the biopolymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Linglan Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eric T Kool
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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9
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Maharjan S, Gamper H, Yamaki Y, Henley RY, Li NS, Suzuki T, Suzuki T, Piccirilli JA, Wanunu M, Seifert E, Wallace DC, Hou YM. Post-Transcriptional Methylation of Mitochondrial-tRNA Differentially Contributes to Mitochondrial Pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.09.569632. [PMID: 38106193 PMCID: PMC10723379 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.09.569632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Human mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs), critical for mitochondrial biogenesis, are frequently associated with pathogenic mutations. These mt-tRNAs have unusual sequence motifs and require post-transcriptional modifications to stabilize their fragile structures. However, whether a modification that stabilizes a wild-type (WT) mt-tRNA structure would also stabilize its pathogenic variants is unknown. Here we show that the N 1 -methylation of guanosine at position 9 (m 1 G9) of mt-Leu(UAA), while stabilizing the WT tRNA, has an opposite and destabilizing effect on variants associated with MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes). This differential effect is further demonstrated by the observation that demethylation of m 1 G9, while damaging to the WT tRNA, is beneficial to the major pathogenic variant, improving its structure and activity. These results have new therapeutic implications, suggesting that the N 1 -methylation of mt-tRNAs at position 9 is a determinant of pathogenicity and that controlling the methylation level is an important modulator of mt-tRNA-associated diseases.
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10
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Xiao L, Fang L, Kool ET. RNA Infrastructure Profiling Illuminates Transcriptome Structure in Crowded Spaces. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.09.561413. [PMID: 37873487 PMCID: PMC10592667 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.09.561413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
RNAs can fold into compact three-dimensional structures, and most RNAs undergo protein interactions in the cell. These compact and occluded environments can block the ability of structure-probing agents to provide useful data about the folding and modification of the underlying RNA. The development of probes that can analyze structure in crowded settings, and differentiate the proximity of interactions, can shed new light on RNA biology. To this end, here we employ 2'-OH-reactive probes that are small enough to access folded RNA structure underlying many close molecular contacts within cells, providing considerably broader coverage for intracellular RNA structural analysis. We compare reverse transcriptase stops in RNA-Seq data from probes of small and standard size to assess RNA-protein proximity and evaluate solvent-exposed tunnels adjacent to RNA. The data are analyzed first with structurally characterized complexes (human 18S and 28S RNA), and then applied transcriptome-wide to polyadenylated transcripts in HEK293 cells. In our transcriptome profile, the smallest probe acetylimidazole (AcIm) yields 80% greater structural coverage than larger conventional reagent NAIN3, providing enhanced structural information in hundreds of transcripts. We further show that acetyl probes provide superior signals for identifying m6A modification sites in transcripts, and provide information regarding methylation sites that are inaccessible to a larger standard probe. RNA infrastructure profiling (RISP) enables enhanced analysis of transcriptome structure, modification, and interactions in living cells, especially in spatially crowded settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Linglan Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Eric T. Kool
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
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11
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Williams AM, Jolley EA, Santiago-Martínez MG, Chan CX, Gutell RR, Ferry JG, Bevilacqua PC. In vivo structure probing of RNA in Archaea: novel insights into the ribosome structure of Methanosarcina acetivorans. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1610-1620. [PMID: 37491319 PMCID: PMC10578495 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079687.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Structure probing combined with next-generation sequencing (NGS) has provided novel insights into RNA structure-function relationships. To date, such studies have focused largely on bacteria and eukaryotes, with little attention given to the third domain of life, archaea. Furthermore, functional RNAs have not been extensively studied in archaea, leaving open questions about RNA structure and function within this domain of life. With archaeal species being diverse and having many similarities to both bacteria and eukaryotes, the archaea domain has the potential to be an evolutionary bridge. In this study, we introduce a method for probing RNA structure in vivo in the archaea domain of life. We investigated the structure of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from Methanosarcina acetivorans, a well-studied anaerobic archaeal species, grown with either methanol or acetate. After probing the RNA in vivo with dimethyl sulfate (DMS), Structure-seq2 libraries were generated, sequenced, and analyzed. We mapped the reactivity of DMS onto the secondary structure of the ribosome, which we determined independently with comparative analysis, and confirmed the accuracy of DMS probing in M. acetivorans Accessibility of the rRNA to DMS in the two carbon sources was found to be quite similar, although some differences were found. Overall, this study establishes the Structure-seq2 pipeline in the archaea domain of life and informs about ribosomal structure within M. acetivorans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Williams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Jolley
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | | | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robin R Gutell
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - James G Ferry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Philip C Bevilacqua
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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12
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Khan D, Terenzi F, Liu G, Ghosh PK, Ye F, Nguyen K, China A, Ramachandiran I, Chakraborty S, Stefan J, Khan K, Vasu K, Dong F, Willard B, Karn J, Gack MU, Fox PL. A viral pan-end RNA element and host complex define a SARS-CoV-2 regulon. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3385. [PMID: 37296097 PMCID: PMC10250186 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, generates multiple protein-coding, subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) from a longer genomic RNA, all bearing identical termini with poorly understood roles in regulating viral gene expression. Insulin and interferon-gamma, two host-derived, stress-related agents, and virus spike protein, induce binding of glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS1), within an unconventional, tetra-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex, to the sgRNA 3'-end thereby enhancing sgRNA expression. We identify an EPRS1-binding sarbecoviral pan-end activating RNA (SPEAR) element in the 3'-end of viral RNAs driving agonist-induction. Translation of another co-terminal 3'-end feature, ORF10, is necessary for SPEAR-mediated induction, independent of Orf10 protein expression. The SPEAR element enhances viral programmed ribosomal frameshifting, thereby expanding its functionality. By co-opting noncanonical activities of a family of essential host proteins, the virus establishes a post-transcriptional regulon stimulating global viral RNA translation. A SPEAR-targeting strategy markedly reduces SARS-CoV-2 titer, suggesting a pan-sarbecoviral therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debjit Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fulvia Terenzi
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - GuanQun Liu
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Prabar K Ghosh
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fengchun Ye
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Kien Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Arnab China
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Iyappan Ramachandiran
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Shruti Chakraborty
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jennifer Stefan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Krishnendu Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kommireddy Vasu
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Franklin Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Belinda Willard
- Lerner Research Institute Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jonathan Karn
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Michaela U Gack
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Paul L Fox
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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13
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Incarnato D. Sequencing-based analysis of RNA structures in living cells with 2A3 via SHAPE-MaP. Methods Enzymol 2023; 691:153-181. [PMID: 37914444 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.03.021] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Chemical probing of RNA 2'-hydroxyl groups by selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) is a rapid and powerful approach for querying RNA structures in living cells. At reverse transcription, sites of chemical modification can be encoded as mutations in the cDNA, a process called mutational profiling (MaP), enabling their detection via high-throughput sequencing. This chapter describes how to synthesize the SHAPE probe 2-aminopyridine-3-carboxylic acid imidazolide (2A3), how to use it to probe RNA structures in living bacteria, and how to generate Illumina-compatible SHAPE-MaP sequencing libraries. The protocol further describes data analysis using the RNA Framework, from raw sequencing data processing to experimentally-driven RNA secondary structure model generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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14
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Mirska B, Woźniak T, Lorent D, Ruszkowska A, Peterson JM, Moss WN, Mathews DH, Kierzek R, Kierzek E. In vivo secondary structural analysis of Influenza A virus genomic RNA. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:136. [PMID: 37131079 PMCID: PMC10153785 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04764-1] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory virus that causes epidemics and pandemics. Knowledge of IAV RNA secondary structure in vivo is crucial for a better understanding of virus biology. Moreover, it is a fundament for the development of new RNA-targeting antivirals. Chemical RNA mapping using selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) coupled with Mutational Profiling (MaP) allows for the thorough examination of secondary structures in low-abundance RNAs in their biological context. So far, the method has been used for analyzing the RNA secondary structures of several viruses including SARS-CoV-2 in virio and in cellulo. Here, we used SHAPE-MaP and dimethyl sulfate mutational profiling with sequencing (DMS-MaPseq) for genome-wide secondary structure analysis of viral RNA (vRNA) of the pandemic influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) strain in both in virio and in cellulo environments. Experimental data allowed the prediction of the secondary structures of all eight vRNA segments in virio and, for the first time, the structures of vRNA5, 7, and 8 in cellulo. We conducted a comprehensive structural analysis of the proposed vRNA structures to reveal the motifs predicted with the highest accuracy. We also performed a base-pairs conservation analysis of the predicted vRNA structures and revealed many highly conserved vRNA motifs among the IAVs. The structural motifs presented herein are potential candidates for new IAV antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mirska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Woźniak
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland
| | - Dagny Lorent
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ruszkowska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jake M Peterson
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Walter N Moss
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 712, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Ryszard Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland.
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15
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Gupta M, Garfio CM, Spitale RC. Overview of Chemical Methods to Probe RNA Structure with Radionucleotides. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e781. [PMID: 37196139 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Structural features of RNA play an important role in its capability to perform various functions in biological systems. To probe structural features, chemical probes are used to conjugate or cleave RNA at solvent-accessible sites, differentiating between flexible and constrained regions. These conjugates or cleaved products are then detected using reverse transcription (RT), where enzymatic RNA-dependent DNA primer extension is abruptly halted at the conjugation site or cleavage site. Here, we provide an overview of methods to probe RNA structure in vitro using radioactively labeled DNA primers, which provide a highly sensitive method to visualize RT stop sites with gel electrophoresis. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrityunjay Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Chely M Garfio
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Robert C Spitale
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California
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16
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Kiliszek A, Rypniewski W, Błaszczyk L. Exploring structural determinants and the role of nucleolin in formation of the long-range interactions between untranslated regions of p53 mRNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:630-643. [PMID: 36653114 PMCID: PMC10158990 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079378.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
p53 protein is a key regulator of cellular homeostasis by coordinating the framework of antiproliferative pathways as a response to various stress factors. Although the main mechanism of stress-dependent induction of p53 protein relies on post-translational modifications influencing its stability and activity, a growing amount of evidence suggests that complex regulation of p53 expression occurs also at the mRNA level. This study explores structural determinants of long-range RNA-RNA interactions in p53 mRNA, crucial for stress-dependent regulation of p53 protein translation. We demonstrate that the 8-nt bulge motif plays a key structural role in base-pairing of complementary sequences from the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of p53 mRNA. We also show that one of the p53 translation regulators, nucleolin, displays an RNA chaperone activity and facilitates the association of sequences involved in the formation of long-range interactions in p53 mRNA. Nucleolin promotes base-pairing of complementary sequences through the bulge motif, because mutations of this region reduce or inhibit pairing while compensatory mutations restore this interaction. Mutational analysis of nucleolin reveals that all four RNA recognition motifs are indispensable for optimal RNA chaperone activity of nucleolin. These observations help to decipher the unique mechanism of p53 protein translation regulation pointing to bulge motif and nucleolin as the critical factors during intramolecular RNA-RNA recognition in p53 mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kiliszek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech Rypniewski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Leszek Błaszczyk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
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17
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Monroy-Eklund A, Taylor C, Weidmann CA, Burch C, Laederach A. Structural analysis of MALAT1 long noncoding RNA in cells and in evolution. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:691-704. [PMID: 36792358 PMCID: PMC10159000 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079388.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although not canonically polyadenylated, the long noncoding RNA MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) is stabilized by a highly conserved 76-nt triple helix structure on its 3' end. The entire MALAT1 transcript is over 8000 nt long in humans. The strongest structural conservation signal in MALAT1 (as measured by covariation of base pairs) is in the triple helix structure. Primary sequence analysis of covariation alone does not reveal the degree of structural conservation of the entire full-length transcript, however. Furthermore, RNA structure is often context dependent; RNA binding proteins that are differentially expressed in different cell types may alter structure. We investigate here the in-cell and cell-free structures of the full-length human and green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) MALAT1 transcripts in multiple tissue-derived cell lines using SHAPE chemical probing. Our data reveal levels of uniform structural conservation in different cell lines, in cells and cell-free, and even between species, despite significant differences in primary sequence. The uniformity of the structural conservation across the entire transcript suggests that, despite seeing covariation signals only in the triple helix junction of the lncRNA, the rest of the transcript's structure is remarkably conserved, at least in primates and across multiple cell types and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anais Monroy-Eklund
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Colin Taylor
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Center for RNA Biomedicine, Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Christina Burch
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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18
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Bagnolini G, Luu TB, Hargrove AE. Recognizing the power of machine learning and other computational methods to accelerate progress in small molecule targeting of RNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:473-488. [PMID: 36693763 PMCID: PMC10019373 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079497.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
RNA structures regulate a wide range of processes in biology and disease, yet small molecule chemical probes or drugs that can modulate these functions are rare. Machine learning and other computational methods are well poised to fill gaps in knowledge and overcome the inherent challenges in RNA targeting, such as the dynamic nature of RNA and the difficulty of obtaining RNA high-resolution structures. Successful tools to date include principal component analysis, linear discriminate analysis, k-nearest neighbor, artificial neural networks, multiple linear regression, and many others. Employment of these tools has revealed critical factors for selective recognition in RNA:small molecule complexes, predictable differences in RNA- and protein-binding ligands, and quantitative structure activity relationships that allow the rational design of small molecules for a given RNA target. Herein we present our perspective on the value of using machine learning and other computation methods to advance RNA:small molecule targeting, including select examples and their validation as well as necessary and promising future directions that will be key to accelerate discoveries in this important field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - TinTin B Luu
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Amanda E Hargrove
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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19
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How does precursor RNA structure influence RNA processing and gene expression? Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232489. [PMID: 36689327 PMCID: PMC9977717 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA is a fundamental biomolecule that has many purposes within cells. Due to its single-stranded and flexible nature, RNA naturally folds into complex and dynamic structures. Recent technological and computational advances have produced an explosion of RNA structural data. Many RNA structures have regulatory and functional properties. Studying the structure of nascent RNAs is particularly challenging due to their low abundance and long length, but their structures are important because they can influence RNA processing. Precursor RNA processing is a nexus of pathways that determines mature isoform composition and that controls gene expression. In this review, we examine what is known about human nascent RNA structure and the influence of RNA structure on processing of precursor RNAs. These known structures provide examples of how other nascent RNAs may be structured and show how novel RNA structures may influence RNA processing including splicing and polyadenylation. RNA structures can be targeted therapeutically to treat disease.
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20
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Nagatsugi F, Onizuka K. Selective Chemical Modification to the Higher-Order Structures of Nucleic Acids. CHEM REC 2023; 23:e202200194. [PMID: 36111635 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202200194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
DNA and RNA can adopt a variety of stable higher-order structural motifs, including G-quadruplex (G4 s), mismatches, and bulges. Many of these secondary structures are closely related to the regulation of gene expression. Therefore, the higher-order structure of nucleic acids is one of the candidate therapeutic targets, and the development of binding molecules targeting the higher-order structure of nucleic acids has been pursued vigorously. Furthermore, as one of the methodologies for detecting the higher-order structures of these nucleic acids, developing techniques for the selective chemical modification of the higher-order structures of nucleic acids is also underway. In this personal account, we focus on the following higher-order structures of nucleic acids, double-stranded DNA containing the abasic site, T-T/U-U mismatch structure, and G-quadruplex structure, and describe the development of molecules that bind to and chemically modify these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumi Nagatsugi
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan.,Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kazumitsu Onizuka
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan.,Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.,Division for the Establishment of Frontier Sciences of Organization for Advanced Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan
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21
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Xiao L, Fang L, Chatterjee S, Kool ET. Diverse Reagent Scaffolds Provide Differential Selectivity of 2'-OH Acylation in RNA. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:143-151. [PMID: 36542611 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RNA 2'-OH acylation is widely used both for mapping structure and for conjugating RNA, generally relying on selective reactions with unpaired nucleotides over paired ones. Common reagents for this acylation have been chiefly restricted to two similar aryl scaffolds, leaving open the question of how more broadly varied reagent structure might affect selectivity. Here, we prepared a set of 10 structurally diverse acylimidazole reagents and employed deep sequencing to profile their reactivity and selectivity in an RNA library of systematically varied structure. We show that structure-directed reactivity profiles vary significantly with the reagent scaffold, and we document new acylating agents that have altered selectivity profiles, including reagents that show elevated selectivity within loops, as well as compounds with reduced off-target reactivity in loop closing base pairs. Interestingly, we also show that the simplest reagent (acetylimidazole) is cell permeable and is small enough to map RNA structure in the presence of protein contacts that block other reagents. Finally, we describe reagents that show elevated selectivity within small loops, with applications in site-selective labeling. The results provide new tools for improved conjugation and mapping of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Linglan Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sayantan Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Eric T Kool
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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22
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Saha K, Ghosh G. Chemical Probing of RNA Structure In Vivo Using SHAPE-MaP and DMS-MaP. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2666:81-93. [PMID: 37166658 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3191-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The functional roles of RNAs are often regulated by their structure. Selective 2' hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) and dimethyl sulfate (DMS) base reactivity can be employed to investigate the flexibility of nucleotides and correlate it to the constraints imparted by base-pairing and/or protein-binding. In vivo, a multitude of proteins could bind an RNA molecule, regulating its structure and function. Hence, to obtain a more comprehensive view of the RNA structure-function relationship in vivo, it may be required to characterize both the RNA structure and the RNA-protein interaction network. In this chapter, we describe methods for characterizing the in vivo nucleotide flexibility of RNA in cells by SHAPE-MaP (SHAPE by Mutational Profiling) and DMS-MaP. In another chapter, we will discuss the characterization of RNA-protein interaction network by RNP-MaP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gourisankar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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23
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Saha K, Ghosh G. SHAPE to Probe RNA Structure and RNA-Protein Interactions In Vitro. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2666:69-80. [PMID: 37166657 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3191-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Selective 2' hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) is used to distinguish between the levels of flexibility of nucleotides regulated by base pairing or protein binding. In this method, a reagent reacts with the 2' hydroxyl group to form an adduct, which is then detected by reverse transcription reaction. The number of RNA molecules with an adduct at a specific nucleotide position indicates the SHAPE reactivity of that nucleotide. Here, we describe the method for probing the structure of an RNA in a protein-free or a protein-bound state by in vitro SHAPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gourisankar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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24
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Spitale RC, Incarnato D. Probing the dynamic RNA structurome and its functions. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:178-196. [PMID: 36348050 PMCID: PMC9644009 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00546-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
RNA is a key regulator of almost every cellular process, and the structures adopted by RNA molecules are thought to be central to their functions. The recent fast-paced evolution of high-throughput sequencing-based RNA structure mapping methods has enabled the rapid in vivo structural interrogation of entire cellular transcriptomes. Collectively, these studies are shedding new light on the long underestimated complexity of the structural organization of the transcriptome - the RNA structurome. Moreover, recent analyses are challenging the view that the RNA structurome is a static entity by revealing how RNA molecules establish intricate networks of alternative intramolecular and intermolecular interactions and that these ensembles of RNA structures are dynamically regulated to finely tune RNA functions in living cells. This new understanding of how RNA can shape cell phenotypes has important implications for the development of RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C. Spitale
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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25
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Shaath H, Vishnubalaji R, Elango R, Kardousha A, Islam Z, Qureshi R, Alam T, Kolatkar PR, Alajez NM. Long non-coding RNA and RNA-binding protein interactions in cancer: Experimental and machine learning approaches. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:325-345. [PMID: 35643221 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the complex and specific roles played by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which comprise the bulk of the genome, is important for understanding virtually every hallmark of cancer. This large group of molecules plays pivotal roles in key regulatory mechanisms in various cellular processes. Regulatory mechanisms, mediated by long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and RNA-binding protein (RBP) interactions, are well documented in several types of cancer. Their effects are enabled through networks affecting lncRNA and RBP stability, RNA metabolism including N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and alternative splicing, subcellular localization, and numerous other mechanisms involved in cancer. In this review, we discuss the reciprocal interplay between lncRNAs and RBPs and their involvement in epigenetic regulation via histone modifications, as well as their key role in resistance to cancer therapy. Other aspects of RBPs including their structural domains, provide a deeper knowledge on how lncRNAs and RBPs interact and exert their biological functions. In addition, current state-of-the-art knowledge, facilitated by machine and deep learning approaches, unravels such interactions in better details to further enhance our understanding of the field, and the potential to harness RNA-based therapeutics as an alternative treatment modality for cancer are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hibah Shaath
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Radhakrishnan Vishnubalaji
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ramesh Elango
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Kardousha
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Zeyaul Islam
- Diabetes Research Center (DRC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rizwan Qureshi
- College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tanvir Alam
- College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Prasanna R Kolatkar
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar; Diabetes Research Center (DRC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nehad M Alajez
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar; College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar.
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26
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Zhang J, Fei Y, Sun L, Zhang QC. Advances and opportunities in RNA structure experimental determination and computational modeling. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1193-1207. [PMID: 36203019 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01623-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Beyond transferring genetic information, RNAs are molecules with diverse functions that include catalyzing biochemical reactions and regulating gene expression. Most of these activities depend on RNAs' specific structures. Therefore, accurately determining RNA structure is integral to advancing our understanding of RNA functions. Here, we summarize the state-of-the-art experimental and computational technologies developed to evaluate RNA secondary and tertiary structures. We also highlight how the rapid increase of experimental data facilitates the integrative modeling approaches for better resolving RNA structures. Finally, we provide our thoughts on the latest advances and challenges in RNA structure determination methods, as well as on future directions for both experimental approaches and artificial intelligence-based computational tools to model RNA structure. Ultimately, we hope the technological advances will deepen our understanding of RNA biology and facilitate RNA structure-based biomedical research such as designing specific RNA structures for therapeutics and deploying RNA-targeting small-molecule drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhan Fei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. .,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qiangfeng Cliff Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. .,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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27
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Bizuayehu TT, Labun K, Jakubec M, Jefimov K, Niazi A, Valen E. Long-read single-molecule RNA structure sequencing using nanopore. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e120. [PMID: 36166000 PMCID: PMC9723614 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules can form secondary and tertiary structures that can regulate their localization and function. Using enzymatic or chemical probing together with high-throughput sequencing, secondary structure can be mapped across the entire transcriptome. However, a limiting factor is that only population averages can be obtained since each read is an independent measurement. Although long-read sequencing has recently been used to determine RNA structure, these methods still used aggregate signals across the strands to detect structure. Averaging across the population also means that only limited information about structural heterogeneity across molecules or dependencies within each molecule can be obtained. Here, we present Single-Molecule Structure sequencing (SMS-seq) that combines structural probing with native RNA sequencing to provide non-amplified, structural profiles of individual molecules with novel analysis methods. Our new approach using mutual information enabled single molecule structural interrogation. Each RNA is probed at numerous bases enabling the discovery of dependencies and heterogeneity of structural features. We also show that SMS-seq can capture tertiary interactions, dynamics of riboswitch ligand binding, and mRNA structural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teshome Tilahun Bizuayehu
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
- Sars International Center for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Kornel Labun
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Kirill Jefimov
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Adnan Muhammad Niazi
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
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28
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Grayeski PJ, Weidmann CA, Kumar J, Lackey L, Mustoe A, Busan S, Laederach A, Weeks KM. Global 5'-UTR RNA structure regulates translation of a SERPINA1 mRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:9689-9704. [PMID: 36107773 PMCID: PMC9508835 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SERPINA1 mRNAs encode the protease inhibitor α-1-antitrypsin and are regulated through post-transcriptional mechanisms. α-1-antitrypsin deficiency leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver cirrhosis, and specific variants in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) are associated with COPD. The NM_000295.4 transcript is well expressed and translated in lung and blood and features an extended 5'-UTR that does not contain a competing upstream open reading frame (uORF). We show that the 5'-UTR of NM_000295.4 folds into a well-defined multi-helix structural domain. We systematically destabilized mRNA structure across the NM_000295.4 5'-UTR, and measured changes in (SHAPE quantified) RNA structure and cap-dependent translation relative to a native-sequence reporter. Surprisingly, despite destabilizing local RNA structure, most mutations either had no effect on or decreased translation. Most structure-destabilizing mutations retained native, global 5'-UTR structure. However, those mutations that disrupted the helix that anchors the 5'-UTR domain yielded three groups of non-native structures. Two of these non-native structure groups refolded to create a stable helix near the translation initiation site that decreases translation. Thus, in contrast to the conventional model that RNA structure in 5'-UTRs primarily inhibits translation, complex folding of the NM_000295.4 5'-UTR creates a translation-optimized message by promoting accessibility at the translation initiation site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Grayeski
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jayashree Kumar
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lela Lackey
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Anthony M Mustoe
- Verna and Marrs McClean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, and Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Steven Busan
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
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29
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Coria A, Wienecke A, Knight ML, Desirò D, Laederach A, Borodavka A. Rotavirus RNA chaperone mediates global transcriptome-wide increase in RNA backbone flexibility. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10078-10092. [PMID: 36062555 PMCID: PMC9508848 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to genome segmentation, rotaviruses must co-package eleven distinct genomic RNAs. The packaging is mediated by virus-encoded RNA chaperones, such as the rotavirus NSP2 protein. While the activities of distinct RNA chaperones are well studied on smaller RNAs, little is known about their global effect on the entire viral transcriptome. Here, we used Selective 2'-hydroxyl Acylation Analyzed by Primer Extension and Mutational Profiling (SHAPE-MaP) to examine the secondary structure of the rotavirus transcriptome in the presence of increasing amounts of NSP2. SHAPE-MaP data reveals that despite the well-documented helix-unwinding activity of NSP2 in vitro, its incubation with cognate rotavirus transcripts does not induce a significant change in the SHAPE reactivities. However, a quantitative analysis of mutation rates measured by mutational profiling reveals a global 5-fold rate increase in the presence of NSP2. We demonstrate that the normalization procedure used in deriving SHAPE reactivities from mutation rates can mask an important global effect of an RNA chaperone. Analysis of the mutation rates reveals a larger effect on stems rather than loops. Together, these data provide the first experimentally derived secondary structure model of the rotavirus transcriptome and reveal that NSP2 acts by globally increasing RNA backbone flexibility in a concentration-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaztli Coria
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Anastacia Wienecke
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael L Knight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Desirò
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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30
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Ding P, Summers MF. Sequestering the 5′‐cap for viral RNA packaging. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200104. [PMID: 36101513 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Many viruses evolved mechanisms for capping the 5'-ends of their plus-strand RNAs as a means of hijacking the eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing/translation machinery. Although capping is critical for replication, the RNAs of these viruses have other essential functions including their requirement to be packaged as either genomes or pre-genomes into progeny viruses. Recent studies indicate that human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) RNAs are segregated between splicing/translation and packaging functions by a mechanism that involves structural sequestration of the 5'-cap. Here, we examined studies reported for other viruses and retrotransposons that require both selective packaging of their RNAs and 5'-RNA capping for host-mediated translation. Our findings suggest that viruses and retrotransposons have evolved multiple mechanisms to control 5'-cap accessibility, consistent with the hypothesis that removal or sequestration of the 5' cap enables packageable RNAs to avoid capture by the cellular RNA processing and translation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Ding
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Michael F. Summers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland USA
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31
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Zawadzka M, Andrzejewska-Romanowska A, Gumna J, Garfinkel DJ, Pachulska-Wieczorek K. Cell Compartment-Specific Folding of Ty1 Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposon RNA Genome. Viruses 2022; 14:2007. [PMID: 36146813 PMCID: PMC9503155 DOI: 10.3390/v14092007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural transitions RNAs undergo during trafficking are not well understood. Here, we used the well-developed yeast Ty1 retrotransposon to provide the first structural model of genome (g) RNA in the nucleus from a retrovirus-like transposon. Through a detailed comparison of nuclear Ty1 gRNA structure with those established in the cytoplasm, virus-like particles (VLPs), and those synthesized in vitro, we detected Ty1 gRNA structural alterations that occur during retrotransposition. Full-length Ty1 gRNA serves as the mRNA for Gag and Gag-Pol proteins and as the genome that is reverse transcribed within VLPs. We show that about 60% of base pairs predicted for the nuclear Ty1 gRNA appear in the cytoplasm, and active translation does not account for such structural differences. Most of the shared base pairs are represented by short-range interactions, whereas the long-distance pairings seem unique for each compartment. Highly structured motifs tend to be preserved after nuclear export of Ty1 gRNA. In addition, our study highlights the important role of Ty1 Gag in mediating critical RNA-RNA interactions required for retrotransposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Zawadzka
- Department of Structure and Function of Retrotransposons, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Angelika Andrzejewska-Romanowska
- Department of Structure and Function of Retrotransposons, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Julita Gumna
- Department of Structure and Function of Retrotransposons, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - David J. Garfinkel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Katarzyna Pachulska-Wieczorek
- Department of Structure and Function of Retrotransposons, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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32
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Xiao L, Fang L, Kool ET. Acylation probing of "generic" RNA libraries reveals critical influence of loop constraints on reactivity. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:1341-1352.e8. [PMID: 35662395 PMCID: PMC9391288 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The reactivity of RNA 2'-OH acylation is broadly useful both in probing structure and in preparing conjugates. To date, this reactivity has been analyzed in limited sets of biological RNA sequences, leaving open questions of how reactivity varies inherently without regard to sequence in structured contexts. We constructed and probed "generic" structured RNA libraries using homogeneous loop sequences, employing deep sequencing to carry out a systematic survey of reactivity. We find a wide range of RNA reactivities among single-stranded sequences, with nearest neighbors playing substantial roles. Remarkably, certain small loops are found to be far more reactive on average (up to 4,000-fold) than single-stranded RNAs, due to conformational constraints that enhance reactivity. Among loops, we observe large variations in reactivity based on size, type, and position. The results lend insights into RNA designs for achieving high-efficiency local conjugation and provide new opportunities to refine structure analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry and ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Linglan Fang
- Department of Chemistry and ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eric T Kool
- Department of Chemistry and ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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33
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Aviran S, Incarnato D. Computational approaches for RNA structure ensemble deconvolution from structure probing data. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167635. [PMID: 35595163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA structure probing experiments have emerged over the last decade as a straightforward way to determine the structure of RNA molecules in a number of different contexts. Although powerful, the ability of RNA to dynamically interconvert between, and to simultaneously populate, alternative structural configurations, poses a nontrivial challenge to the interpretation of data derived from these experiments. Recent efforts aimed at developing computational methods for the reconstruction of coexisting alternative RNA conformations from structure probing data are paving the way to the study of RNA structure ensembles, even in the context of living cells. In this review, we critically discuss these methods, their limitations and possible future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Aviran
- Biomedical Engineering Department and Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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34
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Abstract
RNA molecules encode proteins and play numerous regulatory roles in cells. Targeting RNA with small molecules, as is routine with proteins, would create broad opportunities for modulating biology and creating new drugs. However, this opportunity has been difficult to realize because creating novel small molecules that bind RNA, especially using modest resources, is challenging. This study integrates two widely used technologies, SHAPE chemical probing of RNA and fragment-based ligand discovery, to craft an innovative strategy for creating small molecules that bind to and modulate the activity of a structured RNA. The anticipated impact is high because the methods are simple, can be implemented in diverse research and discovery contexts, and lead to realistic druglike molecules. The transcriptome represents an attractive but underused set of targets for small-molecule ligands. Here, we devise a technology that leverages fragment-based screening and SHAPE-MaP RNA structure probing to discover small-molecule fragments that bind an RNA structure of interest. We identified fragments and cooperatively binding fragment pairs that bind to the thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) riboswitch with millimolar to micromolar affinities. We then used structure-activity relationship information to efficiently design a linked-fragment ligand, with no resemblance to the native ligand, with high ligand efficiency and druglikeness, that binds to the TPP thiM riboswitch with high nanomolar affinity and that modulates RNA conformation during cotranscriptional folding. Principles from this work are broadly applicable, leveraging cooperativity and multisite binding, for developing high-quality ligands for diverse RNA targets.
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35
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Powell P, Bhardwaj U, Goss D. Eukaryotic initiation factor 4F promotes a reorientation of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 binding on the 5' and the 3' UTRs of barley yellow dwarf virus mRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:4988-4999. [PMID: 35446425 PMCID: PMC9122605 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral mRNAs that lack a 5′ m7GTP cap and a 3′ poly-A tail rely on structural elements in their untranslated regions (UTRs) to form unique RNA-protein complexes that regulate viral translation. Recent studies of the barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) have revealed eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) plays a significant role in facilitating communication between its 5′ and 3′ UTRs by binding both UTRs simultaneously. This report uses in vitro translation assays, fluorescence anisotropy binding assays, and selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) footprinting to identify secondary structures that are selectively interacting with eIF3. SHAPE data also show that eIF3 alters its interaction with BYDV structures when another factor crucial for BYDV translation, eIF4F, is introduced by the 3′ BYDV translational enhancer (BTE). The observed BTE and eIF4F-induced shift of eIF3 position on the 5’ UTR and the translational effects of altering eIF3-binding structures (SLC and SLII) support a new model for BYDV translation initiation that requires the reorientation of eIF3 on BYDV UTRs. This eIF3 function in BYDV translation initiation is both reminiscent of and distinct from eIF3–RNA interactions found in other non-canonically translating mRNAs (e.g. HCV). This characterization of a new role in translation initiation expands the known functionality of eIF3 and may be broadly applicable to other non-canonically translating mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Powell
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Usha Bhardwaj
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dixie Goss
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
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36
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Wongsurawat T, Jenjaroenpun P, Wanchai V, Nookaew I. Native RNA or cDNA Sequencing for Transcriptomic Analysis: A Case Study on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:842299. [PMID: 35497361 PMCID: PMC9039254 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.842299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct sequencing of single molecules through nanopores allows for accurate quantification and full-length characterization of native RNA or complementary DNA (cDNA) without amplification. Both nanopore-based native RNA and cDNA approaches involve complex transcriptome procedures at a lower cost. However, there are several differences between the two approaches. In this study, we perform matched native RNA sequencing and cDNA sequencing to enable relevant comparisons and evaluation. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a eukaryotic model organism widely used in industrial biotechnology, two different growing conditions are considered for comparison, including the poly-A messenger RNA isolated from yeast cells grown in minimum media under respirofermentative conditions supplemented with glucose (glucose growth conditions) and from cells that had shifted to ethanol as a carbon source (ethanol growth conditions). Library preparation for direct RNA sequencing is shorter than that for direct cDNA sequencing. The sequence characteristics of the two methods were different, such as sequence yields, quality score of reads, read length distribution, and mapped on reference ability of reads. However, differential gene expression analyses derived from the two approaches are comparable. The unique feature of direct RNA sequencing is RNA modification; we found that the RNA modification at the 5' end of a transcript was underestimated due to the 3' bias behavior of the direct RNA sequencing. Our comprehensive evaluation from this work could help researchers make informed choices when selecting an appropriate long-read sequencing method for understanding gene functions, pathways, and detailed functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thidathip Wongsurawat
- Division of Bioinformatics and Data Management for Research, Research Group and Research Network Division, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piroon Jenjaroenpun
- Division of Bioinformatics and Data Management for Research, Research Group and Research Network Division, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Visanu Wanchai
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Intawat Nookaew
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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37
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Morandi E, van Hemert MJ, Incarnato D. SHAPE-guided RNA structure homology search and motif discovery. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1722. [PMID: 35361788 PMCID: PMC8971488 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29398-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapidly growing popularity of RNA structure probing methods is leading to increasingly large amounts of available RNA structure information. This demands the development of efficient tools for the identification of RNAs sharing regions of structural similarity by direct comparison of their reactivity profiles, hence enabling the discovery of conserved structural features. We here introduce SHAPEwarp, a largely sequence-agnostic SHAPE-guided algorithm for the identification of structurally-similar regions in RNA molecules. Analysis of Dengue, Zika and coronavirus genomes recapitulates known regulatory RNA structures and identifies novel highly-conserved structural elements. This work represents a preliminary step towards the model-free search and identification of shared and conserved RNA structural features within transcriptomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Morandi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn J van Hemert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Molecular Virology Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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38
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Tants JN, Becker LM, McNicoll F, Müller-McNicoll M, Schlundt A. NMR-derived secondary structure of the full-length Ox40 mRNA 3'UTR and its multivalent binding to the immunoregulatory RBP Roquin. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:4083-4099. [PMID: 35357505 PMCID: PMC9023295 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of posttranscriptional mRNA decay is a crucial determinant of cell homeostasis and differentiation. mRNA lifetime is governed by cis-regulatory elements in their 3′ untranslated regions (UTR). Despite ongoing progress in the identification of cis elements we have little knowledge about the functional and structural integration of multiple elements in 3′UTR regulatory hubs and their recognition by mRNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Structural analyses are complicated by inconsistent mapping and prediction of RNA fold, by dynamics, and size. We here, for the first time, provide the secondary structure of a complete mRNA 3′UTR. We use NMR spectroscopy in a divide-and-conquer strategy complemented with SAXS, In-line probing and SHAPE-seq applied to the 3′UTR of Ox40 mRNA, which encodes a T-cell co-receptor repressed by the protein Roquin. We provide contributions of RNA elements to Roquin-binding. The protein uses its extended bi-modal ROQ domain to sequentially engage in a 2:1 stoichiometry with a 3′UTR core motif. We observe differential binding of Roquin to decay elements depending on their structural embedment. Our data underpins the importance of studying RNA regulation in a full sequence and structural context. This study serves as a paradigm for an approach in analysing structured RNA-regulatory hubs and their binding by RBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Niklas Tants
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lea Marie Becker
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - François McNicoll
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michaela Müller-McNicoll
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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39
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Zeller MJ, Nuthanakanti A, Li K, Aubé J, Serganov A, Weeks KM. Subsite Ligand Recognition and Cooperativity in the TPP Riboswitch: Implications for Fragment-Linking in RNA Ligand Discovery. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:438-448. [PMID: 35060698 PMCID: PMC8938680 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RNA molecules can show high levels of cooperativity in their global folding and interactions with divalent ions. However, cooperativity at individual ligand-RNA interaction sites remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the binding of thiamine and methylene diphosphonic acid (MDP, a soluble structural analogue of pyrophosphate) to the thiamine pyrophosphate riboswitch. These ligands each bind weakly at proximal subsites, with 10 μM and 1 mM affinities, respectively. The affinity of MDP moderately improves when thiamine or thiamine-like fragments are pre-bound to the RNA. Covalent linking of thiamine and MDP substantially increases riboswitch binding to a notable high affinity of 20 nM. Crystal structures and single-molecule correlated chemical probing revealed favorable induced fit effects upon binding of individual ligands and, unexpectedly, a substantial thermodynamically unfavorable RNA structural rearrangement upon binding of the linked thiamine-MDP ligand. Thus, linking of two ligands of modest affinity, accompanied by an unfavorable structural rearrangement, still yields a potent linked RNA-binding compound. Since complex ligands often bind riboswitches and other RNAs at proximal subsites, principles derived from this work inform and support fragment-linking strategies for identifying small molecules that interact with RNA specifically and with high affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith J. Zeller
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Ashok Nuthanakanti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Kelin Li
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7363
| | - Jeffrey Aubé
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290,Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7363
| | - Alexander Serganov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Kevin M. Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290,correspondence,
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40
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Przanowska RK, Weidmann CA, Saha S, Cichewicz MA, Jensen KN, Przanowski P, Irving PS, Janes KA, Guertin MJ, Weeks KM, Dutta A. Distinct MUNC lncRNA structural domains regulate transcription of different promyogenic factors. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110361. [PMID: 35172143 PMCID: PMC8937029 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lncRNAs have been discovered using transcriptomic data; however, it is unclear what fraction of lncRNAs is functional and what structural properties affect their phenotype. MUNC lncRNA (also known as DRReRNA) acts as an enhancer RNA for the Myod1 gene in cis and stimulates the expression of other promyogenic genes in trans by recruiting the cohesin complex. Here, experimental probing of the RNA structure revealed that MUNC contains multiple structural domains not detected by prediction algorithms in the absence of experimental information. We show that these specific and structurally distinct domains are required for induction of promyogenic genes, for binding genomic sites and gene expression regulation, and for binding the cohesin complex. Myod1 induction and cohesin interaction comprise only a subset of MUNC phenotype. Our study reveals unexpectedly complex, structure-driven functions for the MUNC lncRNA and emphasizes the importance of experimentally determined structures for understanding structure-function relationships in lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza K Przanowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Engineering, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA
| | - Shekhar Saha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Magdalena A Cichewicz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Kate N Jensen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Piotr Przanowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Engineering, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Patrick S Irving
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kevin A Janes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Engineering, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Michael J Guertin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; R. D. Berlin Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Kevin M Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Anindya Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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41
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Abstract
Cotranscriptional folding is a fundamental step in RNA biogenesis and the basis for many RNA-mediated gene regulation systems. Understanding how RNA folds as it is synthesized requires experimental methods that can systematically identify intermediate RNA structures that form during transcription. Cotranscriptional RNA chemical probing experiments achieve this by applying high-throughput RNA structure probing to an in vitro transcribed array of cotranscriptionally folded intermediate transcripts. In this chapter, we present guidelines and procedures for integrating single-round in vitro transcription using E. coli RNA polymerase with high-throughput RNA chemical probing workflows. We provide an overview of key concepts including DNA template design, transcription roadblocking strategies, single-round in vitro transcription with E. coli RNA polymerase, and RNA chemical probing and describe procedures for DNA template preparation, cotranscriptional RNA chemical probing, RNA purification, and 3' adapter ligation. The end result of these procedures is a purified RNA library that can be prepared for Illumina sequencing using established high-throughput RNA structure probing library construction strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney E Szyjka
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Strobel
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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42
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Baes R, Charlier D, Peeters E. Determination of RNA Structure with In Vitro SHAPE Experiments. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2516:259-290. [PMID: 35922631 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2413-5_14] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The structure of an RNA molecule is often critical for its correct functioning, post-transcriptional regulation, and/or translation. Predicting RNA secondary structures with in silico tools is relatively straightforward with the large array of software and webservers available. However, for long RNAs and RNA at high temperatures, in silico predictions are less accurate and require experimental validation. To this end, a variety of structural probing reagents are commonly used, both for in vitro and in vivo mapping of RNA structure. Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) experiments make use of a nonbase-specific modifying reagent, acylating all conformationally flexible (mainly single-stranded or unpaired) nucleotides and have been employed both for in vitro and in vivo modification of RNA. Here, we describe a protocol for an in vitro SHAPE experiment, starting from in vitro transcribed RNA using a T7 polymerase system. This RNA is folded and subsequently modified in vitro with the SHAPE-reagent N-methyl isatoic anhydride (NMIA). Primer extension employing a radioactive 32P-labeled primer that binds the RNA downstream of the structure of interest will generate cDNA until the reverse transcriptase enzyme is halted by the introduced SHAPE modifications. Denaturing acrylamide gel electrophoresis of the pool of 32P-labeled cDNAs and the corresponding sequencing ladders, followed by autoradiography, will expose these stops in reverse transcription (RT) and will therefore enable to identify single-stranded nucleotides in the RNA of interest. These RT stops and NMIA-modification efficiencies can be quantified with ImageJ software and can be used to validate or increase the accuracy of RNA secondary structure predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Baes
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Daniel Charlier
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.
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43
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Soszynska-Jozwiak M, Pszczola M, Piasecka J, Peterson JM, Moss WN, Taras-Goslinska K, Kierzek R, Kierzek E. Universal and strain specific structure features of segment 8 genomic RNA of influenza A virus-application of 4-thiouridine photocrosslinking. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101245. [PMID: 34688660 PMCID: PMC8666676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA structure in the influenza A virus (IAV) has been the focus of several studies that have shown connections between conserved secondary structure motifs and their biological function in the virus replication cycle. Questions have arisen on how to best recognize and understand the pandemic properties of IAV strains from an RNA perspective, but determination of the RNA secondary structure has been challenging. Herein, we used chemical mapping to determine the secondary structure of segment 8 viral RNA (vRNA) of the pandemic A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) strain of IAV. Additionally, this long, naturally occurring RNA served as a model to evaluate RNA mapping with 4-thiouridine (4sU) crosslinking. We explored 4-thiouridine as a probe of nucleotides in close proximity, through its incorporation into newly transcribed RNA and subsequent photoactivation. RNA secondary structural features both universal to type A strains and unique to the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) strain were recognized. 4sU mapping confirmed and facilitated RNA structure prediction, according to several rules: 4sU photocross-linking forms efficiently in the double-stranded region of RNA with some flexibility, in the ends of helices, and across bulges and loops when their structural mobility is permitted. This method highlighted three-dimensional properties of segment 8 vRNA secondary structure motifs and allowed to propose several long-range three-dimensional interactions. 4sU mapping combined with chemical mapping and bioinformatic analysis could be used to enhance the RNA structure determination as well as recognition of target regions for antisense strategies or viral RNA detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Pszczola
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Julita Piasecka
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jake M Peterson
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Walter N Moss
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Ryszard Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Elzbieta Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
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44
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Romero-López C, Ramos-Lorente SE, Berzal-Herranz A. In Vitro Methods to Decipher the Structure of Viral RNA Genomes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111192. [PMID: 34832974 PMCID: PMC8620418 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA viruses encode essential information in their genomes as conserved structural elements that are involved in efficient viral protein synthesis, replication, and encapsidation. These elements can also establish complex networks of RNA-RNA interactions, the so-called RNA interactome, to shape the viral genome and control different events during intracellular infection. In recent years, targeting these conserved structural elements has become a promising strategy for the development of new antiviral tools due to their sequence and structural conservation. In this context, RNA-based specific therapeutic strategies, such as the use of siRNAs have been extensively pursued to target the genome of different viruses. Importantly, siRNA-mediated targeting is not a straightforward approach and its efficiency is highly dependent on the structure of the target region. Therefore, the knowledge of the viral structure is critical for the identification of potentially good target sites. Here, we describe detailed protocols used in our laboratory for the in vitro study of the structure of viral RNA genomes. These protocols include DMS (dimethylsulfate) probing, SHAPE (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension) analysis, and HMX (2'-hydroxyl molecular interference). These methodologies involve the use of high-throughput analysis techniques that provide extensive information about the 3D folding of the RNA under study and the structural tuning derived from the interactome activity. They are therefore a good tool for the development of new RNA-based antiviral compounds.
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45
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Ha N, Ding N, Hong R, Liu R, Roca X, Luo Y, Duan X, Wang X, Ni P, Wu H, Zhang LF, Chen L. The lupus autoantigen La/Ssb is an Xist-binding protein involved in Xist folding and cloud formation. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:11596-11613. [PMID: 34723322 PMCID: PMC8599922 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Using the programmable RNA-sequence binding domain of the Pumilio protein, we FLAG-tagged Xist (inactivated X chromosome specific transcript) in live mouse cells. Affinity pulldown coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to identify a list of 138 candidate Xist-binding proteins, from which, Ssb (also known as the lupus autoantigen La) was validated as a protein functionally critical for X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Extensive XCI defects were detected in Ssb knockdown cells, including chromatin compaction, death of female mouse embryonic stem cells during in vitro differentiation and chromosome-wide monoallelic gene expression pattern. Live-cell imaging of Xist RNA reveals the defining XCI defect: Xist cloud formation. Ssb is a ubiquitous and versatile RNA-binding protein with RNA chaperone and RNA helicase activities. Functional dissection of Ssb shows that the RNA chaperone domain plays critical roles in XCI. In Ssb knockdown cells, Xist transcripts are unstable and misfolded. These results show that Ssb is critically involved in XCI, possibly as a protein regulating the in-cell structure of Xist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Ha
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Nan Ding
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Ru Hong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Rubing Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Xavier Roca
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Yingyuan Luo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaowei Duan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Peiling Ni
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Haiyang Wu
- TCRCure Biological Technology Co Ltd., Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Feng Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
- TCRCure Biological Technology Co Ltd., Guangdong, China
| | - Lingyi Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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46
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Progress toward SHAPE Constrained Computational Prediction of Tertiary Interactions in RNA Structure. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7040071. [PMID: 34842779 PMCID: PMC8628965 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As more sequencing data accumulate and novel puzzling genetic regulations are discovered, the need for accurate automated modeling of RNA structure increases. RNA structure modeling from chemical probing experiments has made tremendous progress, however accurately predicting large RNA structures is still challenging for several reasons: RNA are inherently flexible and often adopt many energetically similar structures, which are not reliably distinguished by the available, incomplete thermodynamic model. Moreover, computationally, the problem is aggravated by the relevance of pseudoknots and non-canonical base pairs, which are hardly predicted efficiently. To identify nucleotides involved in pseudoknots and non-canonical interactions, we scrutinized the SHAPE reactivity of each nucleotide of the 188 nt long lariat-capping ribozyme under multiple conditions. Reactivities analyzed in the light of the X-ray structure were shown to report accurately the nucleotide status. Those that seemed paradoxical were rationalized by the nucleotide behavior along molecular dynamic simulations. We show that valuable information on intricate interactions can be deduced from probing with different reagents, and in the presence or absence of Mg2+. Furthermore, probing at increasing temperature was remarkably efficient at pointing to non-canonical interactions and pseudoknot pairings. The possibilities of following such strategies to inform structure modeling software are discussed.
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47
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Radecki P, Uppuluri R, Aviran S. Rapid structure-function insights via hairpin-centric analysis of big RNA structure probing datasets. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab073. [PMID: 34447931 PMCID: PMC8384053 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The functions of RNA are often tied to its structure, hence analyzing structure is of significant interest when studying cellular processes. Recently, large-scale structure probing (SP) studies have enabled assessment of global structure-function relationships via standard data summarizations or local folding. Here, we approach structure quantification from a hairpin-centric perspective where putative hairpins are identified in SP datasets and used as a means to capture local structural effects. This has the advantage of rapid processing of big (e.g. transcriptome-wide) data as RNA folding is circumvented, yet it captures more information than simple data summarizations. We reformulate a statistical learning algorithm we previously developed to significantly improve precision of hairpin detection, then introduce a novel nucleotide-wise measure, termed the hairpin-derived structure level (HDSL), which captures local structuredness by accounting for the presence of likely hairpin elements. Applying HDSL to data from recent studies recapitulates, strengthens and expands on their findings which were obtained by more comprehensive folding algorithms, yet our analyses are orders of magnitude faster. These results demonstrate that hairpin detection is a promising avenue for global and rapid structure-function analysis, furthering our understanding of RNA biology and the principal features which drive biological insights from SP data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierce Radecki
- Biomedical Engineering Department and Genome Center, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rahul Uppuluri
- Biomedical Engineering Department and Genome Center, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sharon Aviran
- Biomedical Engineering Department and Genome Center, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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48
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Saha K, Fernandez MM, Biswas T, Joseph S, Ghosh G. Discovery of a pre-mRNA structural scaffold as a contributor to the mammalian splicing code. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7103-7121. [PMID: 34161584 PMCID: PMC8266590 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The specific recognition of splice signals at or near exon-intron junctions is not explained by their weak conservation and instead is postulated to require a multitude of features embedded in the pre-mRNA strand. We explored the possibility of 3D structural scaffold of AdML-a model pre-mRNA substrate-guiding early spliceosomal components to the splice signal sequences. We find that mutations in the non-cognate splice signal sequences impede recruitment of early spliceosomal components due to disruption of the global structure of the pre-mRNA. We further find that the pre-mRNA segments potentially interacting with the early spliceosomal component U1 snRNP are distributed across the intron, that there is a spatial proximity of 5' and 3' splice sites within the pre-mRNA scaffold, and that an interplay exists between the structural scaffold and splicing regulatory elements in recruiting early spliceosomal components. These results suggest that early spliceosomal components can recognize a 3D structural scaffold beyond the short splice signal sequences, and that in our model pre-mRNA, this scaffold is formed across the intron involving the major splice signals. This provides a conceptual basis to analyze the contribution of recognizable 3D structural scaffolds to the splicing code across the mammalian transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Mike Minh Fernandez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Tapan Biswas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Simpson Joseph
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
| | - Gourisankar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0375, USA
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49
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Christy TW, Giannetti CA, Houlihan G, Smola MJ, Rice GM, Wang J, Dokholyan NV, Laederach A, Holliger P, Weeks KM. Direct Mapping of Higher-Order RNA Interactions by SHAPE-JuMP. Biochemistry 2021; 60:1971-1982. [PMID: 34121404 PMCID: PMC8256721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Higher-order structure governs function for many RNAs. However, discerning this structure for large RNA molecules in solution is an unresolved challenge. Here, we present SHAPE-JuMP (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension and juxtaposed merged pairs) to interrogate through-space RNA tertiary interactions. A bifunctional small molecule is used to chemically link proximal nucleotides in an RNA structure. The RNA cross-link site is then encoded into complementary DNA (cDNA) in a single, direct step using an engineered reverse transcriptase that "jumps" across cross-linked nucleotides. The resulting cDNAs contain a deletion relative to the native RNA sequence, which can be detected by sequencing, that indicates the sites of cross-linked nucleotides. SHAPE-JuMP measures RNA tertiary structure proximity concisely across large RNA molecules at nanometer resolution. SHAPE-JuMP is especially effective at measuring interactions in multihelix junctions and loop-to-helix packing, enables modeling of the global fold for RNAs up to several hundred nucleotides in length, facilitates ranking of structural models by consistency with through-space restraints, and is poised to enable solution-phase structural interrogation and modeling of complex RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Christy
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Catherine A. Giannetti
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290
| | - Gillian Houlihan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Matthew J. Smola
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290
| | - Greggory M. Rice
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290
| | - Jian Wang
- Departments of Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Departments of Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Departments of Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Kevin M. Weeks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290
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50
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Abstract
Over the past decade, harnessing the cellular protein synthesis machinery to incorporate non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into tailor-made peptides has significantly advanced many aspects of molecular science. More recently, groundbreaking progress in our ability to engineer this machinery for improved ncAA incorporation has led to significant enhancements of this powerful tool for biology and chemistry. By revealing the molecular basis for the poor or improved incorporation of ncAAs, mechanistic studies of ncAA incorporation by the protein synthesis machinery have tremendous potential for informing and directing such engineering efforts. In this chapter, we describe a set of complementary biochemical and single-molecule fluorescence assays that we have adapted for mechanistic studies of ncAA incorporation. Collectively, these assays provide data that can guide engineering of the protein synthesis machinery to expand the range of ncAAs that can be incorporated into peptides and increase the efficiency with which they can be incorporated, thereby enabling the full potential of ncAA mutagenesis technology to be realized.
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