Metabolic labeling of RNA uncovers the contribution of transcription and decay rates on hypoxia-induced changes in RNA levels.

ABSTRACT: Cells adapt to environmental changes, including fluctuations in oxygen levels, through the induction of specific gene expression programs. However, most transcriptomic studies do not distinguish the relative contribution of transcription, RNA processing, and RNA degradation processes to cellular homeostasis. Here we used metabolic labeling followed by massive parallel sequencing of newly transcribed and preexisting RNA fractions to simultaneously analyze RNA synthesis and decay in primary endothelial cells exposed to low oxygen tension. We found that changes in transcription rates induced by hypoxia are the major determinant of changes in RNA levels. However, degradation rates also had a significant contribution, accounting for 24% of the observed variability in total mRNA. In addition, ou

SUBMITTER: Tiana M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7373995 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature