Project description:Many biological processes are regulated by RNA-RNA interactions 1, nonetheless it remains formidable to analyze the entire RNA interactome. We developed a method, MARIO (MApping Rna-rna Interactions in vivO), to map protein-assisted RNA-RNA interactions in vivo. By circumventing the selection for a specific RNA-binding protein 2-5, our approach vastly expands the identifiable portion of the RNA interactome. Using this technology, we mapped the RNA interactome in mouse embryonic stem cells, which was composed of 46,780 RNA-RNA interactions. The RNA interactome was a scale-free network, with several lincRNAs and mRNAs emerging as hubs. We validated an interaction between two hubs, Malat1 and Slc2a3 using single molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization. Base pairing was observed at the interaction sites of long RNAs, and was particularly strong in transposonRNA-mRNA and lincRNA-mRNA interactions. This reveals a new type of regulatory sequences acting in trans. Consistent with their hypothesized roles, the RNA interaction sites were more evolutionarily conserved than other regions of the transcripts. MARIO also provided new information on RNA structures, by simultaneously revealing the footprint of single stranded regions and the spatially proximal sites of each RNA. The unbiased mapping of the protein-assisted RNA interactome with minimum perturbation of cell physiology will greatly expand our capacity to investigate RNA functions. Three (3) ESC samples with different treatment (different digestion size and/or crosslinking method) and one (1) MEF sample were included to test our new approach for RNA-interactome mapping and the different samples were analyzed to show RNA interactome differences between them.
Project description:We developed RBS-ID, which greatly simplifies the RNA moiety by chemical cleavage, reducing the complexity of MS/MS search space to accurately identify and localize RBS in peptides. RBS-ID comprehensively and robustly identifies RNA-binding sites at both proteome and single protein level.
Project description:Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and its derivatives are the main techniques used to determine transcription factor binding sites. However, conventional ChIP with sequencing (ChIP-seq) has problems with poor resolution and newer techniques require significant experimental alterations and complex bioinformatics. Here we build upon our high-resolution crosslinking ChIP-seq (X-ChIP-seq) method and compare it to existing methodologies. By using micrococcal nuclease, which has both endo- and exo-nuclease activity to fragment the chromatin and thereby generate precise protein-DNA footprints, high-resolution X-ChIP-seq achieves single base pair resolution of transcription factor binding. A significant advantage of this protocol is the minimal alteration to the conventional ChIP-seq workflow and simple bioinformatic processing. Using High-resolution X-ChIP-seq we determined the genome-wide binding profile of various DNA binding proteins.
Project description:Aim: To determine how different classes of transcript (e.g. lncRNAs and mRNAs) are defined in the cell. Approach: We determined the transcriptome-wide targets of key RNA packaging, maturation, export and turnover factors. We used the CRAC technique, whereby RNA:protein interactions are fixed by UV irradiation of yeast cultures, and RNA:protein complexes obtained via a stringent multi-step purification. A mild RNase treatment fragments the bound RNAs, which are then used as templates for RT-PCR, prior to sequencing. This approach enabled us to compare the maturation and turnover pathways of mRNAs and lncRNAs. Results: Our data reveal that mRNA and lncRNA maturation pathways diverge prior to nuclear export, and 3' end processing emerges as a key step in determining transcript fate. Our analyses also reveal when and where the tested proteins bind to mRNAs, and thus offer much insight into the dynamic assembly of mRNPs. Analyses of reads with non-genome-encoded A-tails enabled us to distinguish proteins bound to stable poly(A) tails on full-length mRNAs, and to short oligo(A)4-5 tails on nuclear surveillance intermediates. This lead to the identification of a novel class of promoter-proximal ncRNAs, that we suggest arise from early termination within protein-coding genes. Identification of targets of RNA packaging, processing, export and turnover factors in wild-type cells; replicates included for some but not all samples; “BY” samples are negative controls, which use untagged strains
Project description:Sperm-derived tsRNAs could act as acquired epigenetic factors and contribute to offspring phenotypes. However, the roles of specific tsRNAs in early embryo development remain to be elucidated. Here, by using pigs as a research model, we probed the tsRNA dynamics during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, and demonstrated the delivery of tsRNAs from semen-derived exosomes to spermatozoa. By microinjection of the antisense sequence into in vitro fertilized oocytes and subsequent single-cell RNA-sequencing of embryos, we identified a specific functional tsRNA group (Gln-TTGs) that participate in the early cleavage of porcine preimplantation embryos, probably by regulating cell cycle-associated genes. Thus, specific tsRNAs present in mature spermatozoa play significant roles during preimplantation embryo development.
Project description:We profiled Sex comb on midleg (Scm), Pc and E(z) in fly embryos and S2 based on BioTAP-XL ChIP-seq. ChIP-seq revealed that Scm is co-localized with PRC1, PRC2, and H3K27me3 in both S2 cells and embryos. Genomic binding/occupancy profiling of Scm, Pc and E(z) by high throughput sequencing
Project description:Purpose: The exosome plays major roles in RNA processing and surveillance but the in vivo target range and substrate acquisition mechanisms remain unclear. We applied an in vivo cross-linking technique coupled with deep sequencing (CRAC) that captures transcriptome-wide interactions between individual yeast exosome subunits and their targets in a living cell. Methods: We apply CRAC to HTP-tagged proteins (HTP: His6 - TEV cleavage site - two copies of the z-domain of Protein A): Two nucleases (Rrp44, Rrp6) and two structural subunits (Rrp41, Csl4) of the yeast exosome. At least two independent experiments were performed in each case and analyzed separately. We performed CRAC on wild-type (WT) Rrp44 and two catalytic mutants, rrp44-endo (D91N, E120Q, D171N, D198N) and rrp44-exo (D551N). We further developed CRAC using cleavable proteins (split-CRAC) to compare endonuclease and exonuclease targets of Rrp44. Plasmids designed for split-CRAC contain a PreScission protease cleavage site (PP) inserted between aa 241 and 242 in the RRP44 ORF to allow in vitro cleavage of purified protein, and a His6 tag to select the respective cleaved fragment. Results: Analysis of wild-type Rrp44 and catalytic mutants showed that both the CUT and SUT classes of noncoding RNA, snoRNAs and, most prominently, pre-tRNAs and other Pol III transcripts are targeted for oligoadenylation and exosome degradation. Unspliced pre-mRNAs were also identified as targets for Rrp44 and Rrp6. CRAC performed using cleavable proteins (split-CRAC) revealed that Rrp44 endonuclease and exonuclease activities cooperate on most substrates. Mapping oligoadenylated reads suggests that the endonuclease activity may release stalled exosome substrates. Rrp6 was preferentially associated with structured targets, which frequently did not associate with the core exosome. This indicates that substrates can follow multiple pathways to the nucleases. Conclusion: Our study represents the first transcriptome-wide map of substrates for the yeast exosome nuclease complex. Identification of targets for individual exosome subunits in wild-type and mutant yeast cells.
Project description:Purpose: Pre-ribosomal RNA is cleaved at defined sites, but many endonucleases involved in 18S rRNA release are not known. We apply an in vivo cross-linking technique coupled with deep sequencing (CRAC) that captures transcriptome-wide interactions between a yeast candidate pre-rRNA endonuclease (Utp24) and its targets in a living cell. Methods: We apply CRAC to an HTP-tagged Utp24 protein (HTP: His6 - TEV cleavage site - two copies of the z-domain of Protein A). At least two independent experiments were performed and analyzed separately. Results: We found that yeast Utp24 UV-crosslinked in vivo to the U3 snoRNA and all (pre-)rRNA elements that form the central pseudoknot in the 18S rRNA. The pseudoknot is an evolutionarily highly conserved structure that is required to ensure pre-rRNA processing at three cleavage sites (A0, A1 and A2) and still present in the mature rRNA. According to our crosslinking data, the endonuclease Utp24 is placed in close proximity to site A1 at the 5'-end of the 18S rRNA. Conclusion: Our study strongly supports the hypothesis that Utp24 cleaves pre-rRNA at sites A1 and A2. Examination of targets for pre-rRNA endonucleases in yeast cells.
Project description:RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have essential roles in RNA-mediated gene regulation, and yet annotation of RBPs is limited mainly to those with known RNA-binding domains. To systematically identify the RBPs of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we here employ interactome capture, which combines UV cross-linking of RBP to RNA in living cells, oligo(dT) capture and MS. From mouse ESCs (mESCs), we have defined 555 proteins constituting the mESC mRNA interactome, including 283 proteins not previously annotated as RBPs. Of these, 68 new RBP candidates are highly expressed in ESCs compared to differentiated cells, implicating a role in stem-cell physiology. Two well-known E3 ubiquitin ligases, Trim25 (also called Efp) and Trim71 (also called Lin41), are validated as RBPs, revealing a potential link between RNA biology and protein-modification pathways. Our study confirms and expands the atlas of RBPs, providing a useful resource for the study of the RNA-RBP network in stem cells.