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Teng M, Guo J, Xu X, Ci X, Mo Y, Kohen Y, Ni Z, Chen S, Guo WY, Bakht M, Ku S, Sigouros M, Luo W, Macarios CM, Xia Z, Chen M, Ul Haq S, Yang W, Berlin A, van der Kwast T, Ellis L, Zoubeidi A, Zheng G, Ming J, Wang Y, Cui H, Lok BH, Raught B, Beltran H, Qin J, He HH. Circular RMST cooperates with lineage-driving transcription factors to govern neuroendocrine transdifferentiation. Cancer Cell 2025; 43:891-904.e10. [PMID: 40250444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2025] [Accepted: 03/21/2025] [Indexed: 04/20/2025]
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of noncoding RNA with regulatory potentials. Its role in the transdifferentiation of prostate and lung adenocarcinoma into neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unexplored. Here, we identified circRMST as an exceptionally abundant circRNA predominantly expressed in NEPC and SCLC, with strong conservation between humans and mice. Functional studies using shRNA, siRNA, CRISPR-Cas13, and Cas9 consistently demonstrate that circRMST is essential for tumor growth and the expression of ASCL1, a master regulator of neuroendocrine fate. Genetic knockout of Rmst in NEPC genetic engineered mouse models prevents neuroendocrine transdifferentiation, maintaining tumors in an adenocarcinoma state. Mechanistically, circRMST physically interacts with lineage transcription factors NKX2-1 and SOX2. Loss of circRMST induces NKX2-1 protein degradation through autophagy-lysosomal pathway and alters the genomic binding of SOX2, collectively leading to the loss of ASCL1 transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Teng
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jiacheng Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xinpei Ci
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yulin Mo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yakup Kohen
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zuyao Ni
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sujun Chen
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wang Yuan Guo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Bakht
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shengyu Ku
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Sigouros
- Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Ziting Xia
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Moliang Chen
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sami Ul Haq
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wen Yang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Alejandro Berlin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Theo van der Kwast
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leigh Ellis
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amina Zoubeidi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gang Zheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jie Ming
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Haissi Cui
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin H Lok
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Raught
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Himisha Beltran
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jun Qin
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Yang J, Jin N, Zhang S, Tan Y, Chen Z, Huang X, Li G, Yu B, Shi J, Gu X, Cui Z, Xu L. Genome-wide profiling and functional characterization of circular RNAs in neural development and injury: insights from a rat model research. Cell Mol Life Sci 2025; 82:135. [PMID: 40169448 PMCID: PMC11961807 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-025-05665-1] [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: 08/10/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2025] [Indexed: 04/03/2025]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have re-emerged as promising gene regulators in various physiological and pathological conditions. However, the expression patterns of circRNAs in the developing spinal cord of mammals and the comprehensive distribution of circRNAs across different tissues remain poorly understood. In this study, rats were used as the model organism. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 15 RNA-Seq datasets comprising 217 rat samples and developed a web-based resource, CiRNat, to facilitate access to these data. We identified 15,251 credible circRNAs and validated them through experimental approaches. Notably, we observed two significant time points for circRNA increase during spinal cord development, approximately at embryonic day 14 (E14d) and postnatal week 4 (P4w). Analysis of circRNA expression in various rat tissues revealed higher expression levels in central nervous system tissues compared to peripheral nervous system tissues and other tissues. Furthermore, some highly abundant circRNAs exhibited tissue- and species-specific expression patterns and differed from their cognate linear RNAs, such as those derived from Gigyf2. Integrating polysome profiling and bioinformatic predictions suggested potential functions of certain circRNAs as miRNA sponges and translational templates. Collectively, this study provides the first comprehensive landscape of circRNAs in the developing spinal cord, offering an important resource and new insights for future exploration of functional circRNAs in central nervous system development and related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Deyang, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nana Jin
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ya Tan
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoli Huang
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guicai Li
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianhua Shi
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhiming Cui
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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Dremel SE, Koparde VN, Arbuckle JH, Hogan CH, Kristie TM, Krug LT, Conrad NK, Ziegelbauer JM. Noncanonical circRNA biogenesis driven by alpha and gamma herpesviruses. EMBO J 2025; 44:2323-2352. [PMID: 40033018 PMCID: PMC12000468 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-025-00398-0] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses require the host transcriptional machinery, inducing significant changes in gene expression to prioritize viral transcripts. We examined alpha- and gamma-herpesvirus alterations to a type of alternative splicing, namely circular RNA (circRNA) synthesis. We developed "Circrnas in Host And viRuses anaLysis pIpEline" (CHARLIE) to facilitate viral profiling. This method identified thousands of back-splicing variants, including circRNA common to lytic and latent phases of infection. Ours is the first report of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 circRNAs, including species derived from ICP0 and the latency-associated transcript. We characterized back-splicing cis- and trans-elements, and found viral circRNAs resistant to spliceosome perturbation and lacking canonical splice donor-acceptors. Subsequent loss-of-function studies of host RNA ligases (RTCB, RLIG1) revealed instances of decreased viral back splicing. Using eCLIP and 4sU-Sequencing, we determined that the KSHV RNA-binding protein, ORF57, enhanced synthesis for a subset of viral and host circRNAs. Our work explores unique splicing mechanisms driven by lytic infection, and identifies a class of transcripts with the potential to function in replication, persistence, or tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Dremel
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Vishal N Koparde
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Sciences, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA
| | - Jesse H Arbuckle
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Chad H Hogan
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Institute for Genomic Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Thomas M Kristie
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Laurie T Krug
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas K Conrad
- Department of Microbiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Joseph M Ziegelbauer
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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4
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Brown T, Mishra K, Elewa A, Iarovenko S, Subramanian E, Araus AJ, Petzold A, Fromm B, Friedländer MR, Rikk L, Suzuki M, Suzuki KIT, Hayashi T, Toyoda A, Oliveira CR, Osipova E, Leigh ND, Yun MH, Simon A. Chromosome-scale genome assembly reveals how repeat elements shape non-coding RNA landscapes active during newt limb regeneration. CELL GENOMICS 2025; 5:100761. [PMID: 39874962 PMCID: PMC11872487 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100761] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 12/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 01/30/2025]
Abstract
Newts have large genomes harboring many repeat elements. How these elements shape the genome and relate to newts' unique regeneration ability remains unknown. We present here the chromosome-scale assembly of the 20.3 Gb genome of the Iberian ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, with a hitherto unprecedented contiguity and completeness among giant genomes. Utilizing this assembly, we demonstrate conserved synteny as well as genetic rearrangements, such as in the major histocompatibility complex locus. We provide evidence suggesting that intronic repeat elements drive newt-specific circular RNA (circRNA) biogenesis and show their regeneration-specific expression. We also present a comprehensive in-depth annotation and chromosomal mapping of microRNAs, highlighting genomic expansion profiles as well as a distinct regulatory pattern in the regenerating limb. These data reveal links between repeat elements, non-coding RNAs, and adult regeneration and provide key resources for addressing developmental, regenerative, and evolutionary principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brown
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center (DcGC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ketan Mishra
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ahmed Elewa
- Department of Biology, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Svetlana Iarovenko
- CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Elaiyaraja Subramanian
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alberto Joven Araus
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Petzold
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center (DcGC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Bastian Fromm
- The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9006 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marc R Friedländer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lennart Rikk
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Miyuki Suzuki
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Ken-Ichi T Suzuki
- Emerging Model Organisms Facility, Trans-scale Biology Center, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Toshinori Hayashi
- Program of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan; Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-0801, Japan
| | - Catarina R Oliveira
- CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Osipova
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nicholas D Leigh
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Maximina H Yun
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany; CRTD Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Physics of Life Excellence Cluster Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - András Simon
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Bibi A, Bartekova M, Gandhi S, Greco S, Madè A, Sarkar M, Stopa V, Tastsoglou S, de Gonzalo-Calvo D, Devaux Y, Emanueli C, Hatzigeorgiou AG, Nossent AY, Zhou Z, Martelli F. Circular RNA regulatory role in pathological cardiac remodelling. Br J Pharmacol 2025; 182:316-339. [PMID: 38830749 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16434] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac remodelling involves structural, cellular and molecular alterations in the heart after injury, resulting in progressive loss of heart function and ultimately leading to heart failure. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently rediscovered class of non-coding RNAs that play regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the role of circRNAs in the processes governing cardiac remodelling may set the ground for the development of circRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, the current knowledge about circRNA origin, conservation, characteristics and function is summarized. Bioinformatics and wet-lab methods used in circRNA research are discussed. The regulatory function of circRNAs in cardiac remodelling mechanisms such as cell death, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, inflammation, fibrosis and metabolism is highlighted. Finally, key challenges and opportunities in circRNA research are discussed, and orientations for future work to address the pharmacological potential of circRNAs in heart failure are proposed. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Non-coding RNA Therapeutics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v182.2/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Bibi
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monika Bartekova
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Physiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Shrey Gandhi
- Institute of Immunology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Simona Greco
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Alisia Madè
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Moumita Sarkar
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Stopa
- Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Spyros Tastsoglou
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - David de Gonzalo-Calvo
- Translational Research in Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova and Santa Maria, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain
- CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yvan Devaux
- Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Costanza Emanueli
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Artemis G Hatzigeorgiou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - A Yaël Nossent
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zhichao Zhou
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabio Martelli
- Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
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Deng F, Chen CB, Li H, Huang S, Xu C, Xiao X. CircSlc17a5 controlled by VLDLR/QKI pathway regulated the choroidal angiogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119802. [PMID: 39069227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119802] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) involves in ocular neovascularization, a major cause of severe vision loss. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms were not completely clarified. Here, we aimed to investigate roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in VLDLR-associated ocular neovascularization. METHODS Vldlr knockout (Vldlr-/-, ko), Robo4 knockout (Robo4-/-, ko) and wild-type (WT) mice were used. Mouse model of oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) and high-throughput sequence were performed to profile the differential expression of circRNA and transcripts. RNase R treatment, Sanger PCR sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to validate candidate circRNAs and their expression patterns. Choroidal sprouting assay ex vivo and laser induction choroid neovascularization were used to determine the expression and functions of QKI/CircSlc17a5 on choroidal neovascularization. RESULTS In macrophage and ocular tissues derived from Vldlr (Vldlr-/-,Vldlr ko) or Robo4 (Robo4-/-,Robo4 ko) deficiency as well as wild-type (WT) mice, Quaking (Qki) expression was significantly down-regulated in Vldlr deficiency compared to WT and Robo4 deficiency groups. Ectopic VLDLR expression or Reelin stimulation increased expression of QKI in bEnd.3 cells. Circular RNA sequencing uncovered that VLDLR regulated the biogenesis of certain circular RNAs, including the circSlc17a5. The number of Circular RNAs increased in mice treated with OIR. QKI mediated the biogenesis of circSlc17a5, which was an important regulator of choroidal angiogenesis. CONCLUSION CircSlc17a5 regulated by VLDLR/QKI plays important roles in the choroidal angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Deng
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Chong-Bo Chen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Huiping Li
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Shaofen Huang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Ciyan Xu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Xiao
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China.
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7
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Wang C, Liang C. CircCNNs, a convolutional neural network framework to better understand the biogenesis of exonic circRNAs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18982. [PMID: 39152135 PMCID: PMC11329666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69262-1] [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: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) as biomarkers for cancer detection have been extensively explored, however, the biogenesis mechanism is still elusive. In contrast to linear splicing (LS) involved in linear transcript formation, the so-called back splicing (BS) process has been proposed to explain circRNA formation. To investigate the potential mechanism of BS via the machine learning approach, we curated a high-quality BS and LS exon pairs dataset with evidence-based stringent filtering. Two convolutional neural networks (CNN) base models with different structures for processing splicing junction sequences including motif extraction were created and compared after extensive hyperparameter tuning. In contrast to the previous study, we are able to identify motifs corresponding to well-established BS-associated genes such as MBNL1, QKI, and ESPR2. Importantly, despite prevalent high false positive rates in existing circRNA detection pipelines and databases, our base models demonstrated a notable high specificity (greater than 90%). To further improve the model performance, a novo fast numerical method was proposed and implemented to calculate the reverse complementary matches (RCMs) crossing two flanking regions and within each flanking region of exon pairs. Our CircCNNs framework that incorporated RCM information into the optimal base models further reduced the false positive rates leading to 88% prediction accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - Chun Liang
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
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8
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Rybiczka-Tešulov M, Garritsen O, Venø MT, Wieg L, Dijk RV, Rahimi K, Gomes-Duarte A, Wit MD, van de Haar LL, Michels L, van Kronenburg NCH, van der Meer C, Kjems J, Vangoor VR, Pasterkamp RJ. Circular RNAs regulate neuron size and migration of midbrain dopamine neurons during development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6773. [PMID: 39117691 PMCID: PMC11310423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51041-1] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons play an essential role in cognitive and motor behaviours and are linked to different brain disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their development, and in particular the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), remain incompletely understood. Here, we establish the transcriptomic landscape and alternative splicing patterns of circular RNAs (circRNAs) at key developmental timepoints in mouse mDA neurons in vivo using fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by short- and long-read RNA sequencing. In situ hybridisation shows expression of several circRNAs during early mDA neuron development and post-transcriptional silencing unveils roles for different circRNAs in regulating mDA neuron morphology. Finally, in utero electroporation and time-lapse imaging implicate circRmst, a circRNA with widespread morphological effects, in the migration of developing mDA neurons in vivo. Together, these data for the first time suggest a functional role for circRNAs in developing mDA neurons and characterise poorly defined aspects of mDA neuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateja Rybiczka-Tešulov
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oxana Garritsen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Morten T Venø
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Omiics ApS, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Laura Wieg
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roland van Dijk
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- VectorY Therapeutics, Matrix Innovation Center VI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karim Rahimi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, MA, Boston, USA
| | - Andreia Gomes-Duarte
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- VectorY Therapeutics, Matrix Innovation Center VI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marina de Wit
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke L van de Haar
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Michels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- VectorY Therapeutics, Matrix Innovation Center VI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicky C H van Kronenburg
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan van der Meer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jørgen Kjems
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Vamshidhar R Vangoor
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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9
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Yuan J, Li Q, Sun Y, Wang Y, Li Y, You Z, Ni A, Zong Y, Ma H, Chen J. Multi-tissue transcriptome profiling linked the association between tissue-specific circRNAs and the heterosis for feed intake and efficiency in chicken. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103783. [PMID: 38713987 PMCID: PMC11091503 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103783] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterosis has been widely utilized in chickens. The nonadditive inheritance of genes contributes to this biological phenomenon. However, the role of circRNAs played in the heterosis is poorly determined. In this study, we observed divergent heterosis for residual feed intake (RFI) between 2 crossbreds derived from a reciprocal cross between White Leghorns and Beijing You chickens. Then, circRNA landscape for 120 samples covering the hypothalamus, liver, duodenum mucosa and ovary were profiled to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of heterosis. We detected that a small proportion of circRNAs (7.83-20.35%) were additively and non-additively expressed, in which non-additivity was a major inheritance of circRNAs in the crossbreds. Tissue-specific expression of circRNAs was prevalent across 4 tissues. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed circRNA-mRNA co-expression modules associated with feed intake and RFI in the hypothalamus and liver, and the co-expressed genes were enriched in oxidative phosphorylation pathway. We further identified 8 nonadditive circRNAs highly correlated with 16 nonadditive genes regulating negative heterosis for RFI in the 2 tissues. Circ-ITSN2 was validated in the liver tissue for its significantly positive correlation with PGPEP1L. Moreover, the bioinformatic analysis indicated that candidate circRNAs might be functioned by binding the microRNAs and interacting with the RNA binding proteins. The integration of multi-tissue transcriptome firstly linked the association between tissue-specific circRNAs and the heterosis for feed intake and efficiency in chicken, which provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism underlying heterosis for feed efficiency. The validated circRNAs can act as potential biomarkers for predicting RFI and its heterosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qin Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanyan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuanmei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yunlei Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhangjing You
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Aixin Ni
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yunhe Zong
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jilan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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10
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Luo D, Ottesen EW, Lee JH, Singh RN. Transcriptome- and proteome-wide effects of a circular RNA encompassing four early exons of the spinal muscular atrophy genes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10442. [PMID: 38714739 PMCID: PMC11076517 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60593-7] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) genes, SMN1 and SMN2 (hereinafter referred to as SMN1/2), produce multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs), including C2A-2B-3-4 that encompasses early exons 2A, 2B, 3 and 4. C2A-2B-3-4 is a universally and abundantly expressed circRNA of SMN1/2. Here we report the transcriptome- and proteome-wide effects of overexpression of C2A-2B-3-4 in inducible HEK293 cells. Our RNA-Seq analysis revealed altered expression of ~ 15% genes (4172 genes) by C2A-2B-3-4. About half of the affected genes by C2A-2B-3-4 remained unaffected by L2A-2B-3-4, a linear transcript encompassing exons 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 of SMN1/2. These findings underscore the unique role of the structural context of C2A-2B-3-4 in gene regulation. A surprisingly high number of upregulated genes by C2A-2B-3-4 were located on chromosomes 4 and 7, whereas many of the downregulated genes were located on chromosomes 10 and X. Supporting a cross-regulation of SMN1/2 transcripts, C2A-2B-3-4 and L2A-2B-3-4 upregulated and downregulated SMN1/2 mRNAs, respectively. Proteome analysis revealed 61 upregulated and 57 downregulated proteins by C2A-2B-3-4 with very limited overlap with those affected by L2A-2B-3-4. Independent validations confirmed the effect of C2A-2B-3-4 on expression of genes associated with chromatin remodeling, transcription, spliceosome function, ribosome biogenesis, lipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, cell proliferation and neuromuscular junction formation. Our findings reveal a broad role of C2A-2B-3-4, and expands our understanding of functions of SMN1/2 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diou Luo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Eric W Ottesen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Ji Heon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Ravindra N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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11
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Luo D, Ottesen E, Lee JH, Singh R. Transcriptome- and proteome-wide effects of a circular RNA encompassing four early exons of the spinal muscular atrophy genes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3818622. [PMID: 38464174 PMCID: PMC10925445 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3818622/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) genes, SMN1 and SMN2, produce multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs), including C2A-2B-3-4 that encompasses early exons 2A, 2B, 3 and 4. Here we report the transcriptome- and proteome-wide effects of overexpression of C2A-2B-3-4 in inducible HEK293 cells. Our RNA-Seq analysis revealed altered expression of ~ 15% genes (4,172 genes) by C2A-2B-3-4. About half of the affected genes by C2A-2B-3-4 remained unaffected by L2A-2B-3-4, a linear transcript encompassing exons 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 of SMN1/SMN2. These fifindings underscore the unique role of the structural context of C2A-2B-3-4 in gene regulation. A surprisingly high number of upregulated genes by C2A-2B-3-4 were located on chromosomes 4 and 7, whereas many of the downregulated genes were located on chromosomes 10 and X. Supporting a cross-regulation of SMN1/SMN2 transcripts, C2A-2B-3-4 and L2A-2B-3-4 upregulated and downregulated SMN1/SMN2 mRNAs, respectively. Proteome analysis revealed 61 upregulated and 57 downregulated proteins by C2A-2B-3-4 with very limited overlap with those affected by L2A-2B-3-4. Independent validations confirmed the effect of C2A-2B-3-4 on expression of genes associated with chromatin remodeling, transcription, spliceosome function, ribosome biogenesis, lipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, cell proliferation and neuromuscular junction formation. Our findings reveal a broad role of C2A-2B-3-4, a universally expressed circRNA produced by SMN1/SMN2.
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12
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Robic A, Hadlich F, Costa Monteiro Moreira G, Louise Clark E, Plastow G, Charlier C, Kühn C. Innovative construction of the first reliable catalogue of bovine circular RNAs. RNA Biol 2024; 21:52-74. [PMID: 38989833 PMCID: PMC11244336 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2375090] [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] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the circular transcriptome of divergent tissues in order to understand: i) the presence of circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are not exonic circRNAs, i.e. originated from backsplicing involving known exons and, ii) the origin of artificial circRNA (artif_circRNA), i.e. circRNA not generated in-vivo. CircRNA identification is mostly an in-silico process, and the analysis of data from the BovReg project (https://www.bovreg.eu/) provided an opportunity to explore new ways to identify reliable circRNAs. By considering 117 tissue samples, we characterized 23,926 exonic circRNAs, 337 circRNAs from 273 introns (191 ciRNAs, 146 intron circles), 108 circRNAs from small non-coding genes and nearly 36.6K circRNAs classified as other_circRNAs. Furthermore, for 63 of those samples we analysed in parallel data from total-RNAseq (ribosomal RNAs depleted prior to library preparation) with paired mRNAseq (library prepared with poly(A)-selected RNAs). The high number of circRNAs detected in mRNAseq, and the significant number of novel circRNAs, mainly other_circRNAs, led us to consider all circRNAs detected in mRNAseq as artificial. This study provided evidence of 189 false entries in the list of exonic circRNAs: 103 artif_circRNAs identified by total RNAseq/mRNAseq comparison using two circRNA tools, 26 probable artif_circRNAs, and 65 identified by deep annotation analysis. Extensive benchmarking was performed (including analyses with CIRI2 and CIRCexplorer-2) and confirmed 94% of the 23,737 reliable exonic circRNAs. Moreover, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of a panel of highly expressed exonic circRNAs (5-8%) in analysing the tissue specificity of the bovine circular transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Robic
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Frieder Hadlich
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | | | | | - Graham Plastow
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, Livestock Gentec, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Carole Charlier
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christa Kühn
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald – Insel Riems, Germany
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13
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Dhahri H, Fondufe-Mittendorf YN. Exploring the interplay between PARP1 and circRNA biogenesis and function. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1823. [PMID: 37957925 PMCID: PMC11089078 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
PARP1 (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1) is a multidomain protein with a flexible and self-folding structure that allows it to interact with a wide range of biomolecules, including nucleic acids and target proteins. PARP1 interacts with its target molecules either covalently via PARylation or non-covalently through its PAR moieties induced by auto-PARylation. These diverse interactions allow PARP1 to participate in complex regulatory circuits and cellular functions. Although the most studied PARP1-mediated functions are associated with DNA repair and cellular stress response, subsequent discoveries have revealed additional biological functions. Based on these findings, PARP1 is now recognized as a major modulator of gene expression. Several discoveries show that this multifunctional protein has been intimately connected to several steps of mRNA biogenesis, from transcription initiation to mRNA splicing, polyadenylation, export, and translation of mRNA to proteins. Nevertheless, our understanding of PARP1's involvement in the biogenesis of both coding and noncoding RNA, notably circular RNA (circRNA), remains restricted. In this review, we outline the possible roles of PARP1 in circRNA biogenesis. A full examination of the regulatory roles of PARP1 in nuclear processes with an emphasis on circRNA may reveal new avenues to control dysregulation implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancers. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejer Dhahri
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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14
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Sanadgol N, Amini J, Beyer C, Zendedel A. Presenilin-1-Derived Circular RNAs: Neglected Epigenetic Regulators with Various Functions in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1401. [PMID: 37759801 PMCID: PMC10527059 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091401] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene is crucial in developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNA generated through back-splicing, resulting in a covalently closed circular molecule. This study aimed to investigate PSEN1-gene-derived circular RNAs (circPSEN1s) and their potential functions in AD. Our in silico analysis indicated that circPSEN1s (hsa_circ_0008521 and chr14:73614502-73614802) act as sponge molecules for eight specific microRNAs. Surprisingly, two of these miRNAs (has-mir-4668-5p and has-mir-5584-5p) exclusively interact with circPSEN1s rather than mRNA-PSEN1. Furthermore, the analysis of pathways revealed that these two miRNAs predominantly target mRNAs associated with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. With sponging these microRNAs, circPSEN1s were found to protect mRNAs commonly targeted by these miRNAs, including QSER1, BACE2, RNF157, PTMA, and GJD3. Furthermore, the miRNAs sequestered by circPSEN1s have a notable preference for targeting the TGF-β and Hippo signaling pathways. We also demonstrated that circPSEN1s potentially interact with FOXA1, ESR1, HNF1B, BRD4, GATA4, EP300, CBX3, PRDM9, and PPARG proteins. These proteins have a prominent preference for targeting the TGF-β and Notch signaling pathways, where EP300 and FOXA1 have the highest number of protein interactions. Molecular docking analysis also confirms the interaction of these hub proteins and Aβ42 with circPSEN1s. Interestingly, circPSEN1s-targeted molecules (miRNAs and proteins) impacted TGF-β, which served as a shared signaling pathway. Finally, the analysis of microarray data unveiled distinct expression patterns of genes influenced by circPSEN1s (WTIP, TGIF, SMAD4, PPP1CB, and BMPR1A) in the brains of AD patients. In summary, our findings suggested that the interaction of circPSEN1s with microRNAs and proteins could affect the fate of specific mRNAs, interrupt the function of unique proteins, and influence cell signaling pathways, generally TGF-β. Further research is necessary to validate these findings and gain a deeper understanding of the precise mechanisms and significance of circPSEN1s in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Sanadgol
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Javad Amini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd 94149-75516, Iran
| | - Cordian Beyer
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Adib Zendedel
- Department of Biomedicine, Institut of Anatomy, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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15
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Watts ME, Oksanen M, Lejerkrans S, Mastropasqua F, Gorospe M, Tammimies K. Circular RNAs arising from synaptic host genes during human neuronal differentiation are modulated by SFPQ RNA-binding protein. BMC Biol 2023; 21:127. [PMID: 37237280 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01627-w] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNA (circRNA) molecules, generated through non-canonical back-splicing of exon-exon junctions, have recently been implicated in diverse biological functions including transcriptional regulation and modulation of protein interactions. CircRNAs are emerging as a key component of the complex neural transcriptome implicated in brain development. However, the specific expression patterns and functions of circRNAs in human neuronal differentiation have not been explored. RESULTS Using total RNA sequencing analysis, we identified expressed circRNAs during the differentiation of human neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells into developing neurons and discovered that many circRNAs originated from host genes associated with synaptic function. Interestingly, when assessing population data, exons giving rise to circRNAs in our dataset had a higher frequency of genetic variants. Additionally, screening for RNA-binding protein sites identified enrichment of Splicing Factor Proline and Glutamine Rich (SFPQ) motifs in increased circRNAs, several of which were reduced by SFPQ knockdown and enriched in SFPQ ribonucleoprotein complexes. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides an in-depth characterisation of circRNAs in a human neuronal differentiation model and highlights SFPQ as both a regulator and binding partner of circRNAs elevated during neuronal maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Watts
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marika Oksanen
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sanna Lejerkrans
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Mastropasqua
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristiina Tammimies
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum J9:30, Visionsgatan 4, 171 56, Solna, Sweden.
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16
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Rebolledo C, Silva JP, Saavedra N, Maracaja-Coutinho V. Computational approaches for circRNAs prediction and in silico characterization. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:7150741. [PMID: 37139555 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded and covalently closed non-coding RNA molecules originated from RNA splicing. Their functions include regulatory potential over other RNA species, such as microRNAs, messenger RNAs and RNA binding proteins. For circRNA identification, several algorithms are available and can be classified in two major types: pseudo-reference-based and split-alignment-based approaches. In general, the data generated from circRNA transcriptome initiatives is deposited on public specific databases, which provide a large amount of information on different species and functional annotations. In this review, we describe the main computational resources for the identification and characterization of circRNAs, covering the algorithms and predictive tools to evaluate its potential role in a particular transcriptomics project, including the public repositories containing relevant data and information for circRNAs, recapitulating their characteristics, reliability and amount of data reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Rebolledo
- Center of Molecular Biology & Pharmacogenetics, Department of Basic Sciences, Scientific and Technological Resources, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases - ACCDiS, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Modelamiento Molecular, Biofísica y Bioinformática - CM2B2, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Silva
- Centro de Modelamiento Molecular, Biofísica y Bioinformática - CM2B2, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- ANID Anillo ACT210004 SYSTEMIX, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Nicolás Saavedra
- Center of Molecular Biology & Pharmacogenetics, Department of Basic Sciences, Scientific and Technological Resources, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Vinicius Maracaja-Coutinho
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases - ACCDiS, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Modelamiento Molecular, Biofísica y Bioinformática - CM2B2, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- ANID Anillo ACT210004 SYSTEMIX, Rancagua, Chile
- Anillo Inflammation in HIV/AIDS - InflammAIDS, Santiago, Chile
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17
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Rogalska ME, Vivori C, Valcárcel J. Regulation of pre-mRNA splicing: roles in physiology and disease, and therapeutic prospects. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:251-269. [PMID: 36526860 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00556-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The removal of introns from mRNA precursors and its regulation by alternative splicing are key for eukaryotic gene expression and cellular function, as evidenced by the numerous pathologies induced or modified by splicing alterations. Major recent advances have been made in understanding the structures and functions of the splicing machinery, in the description and classification of physiological and pathological isoforms and in the development of the first therapies for genetic diseases based on modulation of splicing. Here, we review this progress and discuss important remaining challenges, including predicting splice sites from genomic sequences, understanding the variety of molecular mechanisms and logic of splicing regulation, and harnessing this knowledge for probing gene function and disease aetiology and for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Ewa Rogalska
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Vivori
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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MacMillan HJ, Kong Y, Calvo-Roitberg E, Alonso LC, Pai AA. High-throughput analysis of ANRIL circRNA isoforms in human pancreatic islets. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7745. [PMID: 35546161 PMCID: PMC9095874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11668-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The antisense non-coding RNA in the INK locus (ANRIL) is a hotspot for genetic variants associated with cardiometabolic disease. We recently found increased ANRIL abundance in human pancreatic islets from donors with certain Type II Diabetes (T2D) risk-SNPs, including a T2D risk-SNP located within ANRIL exon 2 associated with beta cell proliferation. Recent studies have found that expression of circular species of ANRIL is linked to the regulation of cardiovascular phenotypes. Less is known about how the abundance of circular ANRIL may influence T2D phenotypes. Herein, we sequence circular RNA in pancreatic islets to characterize circular isoforms of ANRIL. We identify several consistently expressed circular ANRIL isoforms whose expression is correlated across dozens of individuals and characterize ANRIL splice sites that are commonly involved in back-splicing. We find that samples with the T2D risk allele in ANRIL exon 2 had higher ratios of circular to linear ANRIL compared to protective-allele carriers, and that higher circular:linear ANRIL was associated with decreased beta cell proliferation. Our study points to a combined involvement of both linear and circular ANRIL species in T2D phenotypes and opens the door for future studies of the molecular mechanisms by which ANRIL impacts cellular function in pancreatic islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J MacMillan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Yahui Kong
- UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Curia Global, Inc., Hopkinton, MA, 01748, USA
| | - Ezequiel Calvo-Roitberg
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Laura C Alonso
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Weill Center for Metabolic Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
| | - Athma A Pai
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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Ron M, Ulitsky I. Context-specific effects of sequence elements on subcellular localization of linear and circular RNAs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2481. [PMID: 35513423 PMCID: PMC9072321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30183-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Long RNAs vary extensively in their post-transcriptional fates, and this variation is attributed in part to short sequence elements. We used massively parallel RNA assays to study how sequences derived from noncoding RNAs influence the subcellular localization and stability of circular and linear RNAs, including spliced and unspliced forms. We find that the effects of sequence elements strongly depend on the host RNA context, with limited overlap between sequences that drive nuclear enrichment of linear and circular RNAs. Binding of specific RNA binding proteins underpins some of these differences-SRSF1 binding leads to nuclear enrichment of circular RNAs; SAFB binding is associated with nuclear enrichment of predominantly unspliced linear RNAs; and IGF2BP1 promotes export of linear spliced RNA molecules. The post-transcriptional fate of long RNAs is thus dictated by combinatorial contributions of specific sequence elements, of splicing, and of the presence of the terminal features unique to linear RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Ron
- Departments of Biological Regulation and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Departments of Biological Regulation and Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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20
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Zucko D, Hayir A, Grinde K, Boris-Lawrie K. Circular RNA Profiles in Viremia and ART Suppression Predict Competing circRNA–miRNA–mRNA Networks Exclusive to HIV-1 Viremic Patients. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040683. [PMID: 35458413 PMCID: PMC9027527 DOI: 10.3390/v14040683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the HIV-1/AIDS epidemic in 1981, 75 million people have been infected with the virus, and the disease remains a public health crisis worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are derived from excised exons and introns during backsplicing, a form of alternative splicing. The relevance of unconventional, non-capped, and non-poly(A) transcripts to transcriptomics studies remains to be routinely investigated. Knowledge gaps to be filled are the interface between host-encoded circRNAs and viral replication in chronically progressed patients and upon treatment with antiviral drugs. We implemented a bioinformatic pipeline and repurpose publicly archived RNA sequence reads from the blood of 19 HIV-1-positive patients that previously compared transcriptomes during viremia and viremia suppression by antiretroviral therapy (ART). The in silico analysis identified viremic patients’ circRNA that became undetectable after ART. The circRNAs originated from a subset of host genes enriched in the HDAC biological pathway. These circRNAs and parental mRNAs held in common a small collection of miRNA response elements (MREs), some of which were present in HIV-1 mRNAs. The function of the MRE-containing target mRNA enriched the RNA polymerase II GO pathway. To visualize the interplay between individual circRNA–miRNA–target mRNA, important for HIV-1 and potentially other diseases, an Interactive Circos tool was developed to efficiently parse the intricately competing endogenous network of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions originating from seven circRNA singled out in viremic versus non-viremic patients. The combined downregulation of the identified circRNAs warrants investigation as a novel antiviral targeting strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Zucko
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA; (D.Z.); (A.H.)
| | - Abdullgadir Hayir
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA; (D.Z.); (A.H.)
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA;
| | - Kelsey Grinde
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA;
| | - Kathleen Boris-Lawrie
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA; (D.Z.); (A.H.)
- Correspondence:
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Bioinformatics and Machine Learning Approaches to Understand the Regulation of Mobile Genetic Elements. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090896. [PMID: 34571773 PMCID: PMC8465862 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that are, or were, able to move (transpose) within the genome of a single cell. They were first discovered by Barbara McClintock while working on maize, and they make up a large fraction of the genome. Transpositions can result in mutations and they can alter the genome size. Cells regulate the activity of TEs using a variety of mechanisms, such as chemical modifications of DNA and small RNAs. Machine learning (ML) is an interdisciplinary subject that studies computer algorithms that can improve through experience and by the use of data. ML has been successfully applied to a variety of problems in bioinformatics and has exhibited favorable precision and speed. Here, we provide a systematic and guided review on the ML and bioinformatic methods and tools that are used for the analysis of the regulation of TEs. Abstract Transposable elements (TEs, or mobile genetic elements, MGEs) are ubiquitous genetic elements that make up a substantial proportion of the genome of many species. The recent growing interest in understanding the evolution and function of TEs has revealed that TEs play a dual role in genome evolution, development, disease, and drug resistance. Cells regulate TE expression against uncontrolled activity that can lead to developmental defects and disease, using multiple strategies, such as DNA chemical modification, small RNA (sRNA) silencing, chromatin modification, as well as sequence-specific repressors. Advancements in bioinformatics and machine learning approaches are increasingly contributing to the analysis of the regulation mechanisms. A plethora of tools and machine learning approaches have been developed for prediction, annotation, and expression profiling of sRNAs, for methylation analysis of TEs, as well as for genome-wide methylation analysis through bisulfite sequencing data. In this review, we provide a guided overview of the bioinformatic and machine learning state of the art of fields closely associated with TE regulation and function.
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