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Predicting off-target effects of antisense oligomers targeting bacterial mRNAs with the MASON webserver

ABSTRACT: Antisense oligomers (ASOs) such as peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), designed to inhibit the translation of essential bacterial genes, have emerged as attractive sequence- and species-specific programmable RNA antibiotics. Yet, potential drawbacks include unwanted side effects caused by their binding to transcripts other than the intended target. To facilitate the design of PNAs with minimal off-target effects, we developed MASON (Make AntiSense Oligomers Now), a webserver for the design of PNAs that target bacterial mRNAs. MASON generates PNA sequences complementary to the translational start site of a bacterial gene of interest and reports critical sequence attributes and potential off-target sites. We based MASON’s off-target predictions on experiments in which we treated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with a series of 10mer PNAs derived from a PNA targeting the essential gene acpP but carrying two serial mismatches. Growth inhibition and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed that PNAs with terminal mismatches are still able to target acpP, suggesting wider off-target effects than anticipated. Comparison of these results to an RNA-seq dataset from uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) treated with eleven different PNAs confirmed our findings are not unique to Salmonella. We believe that MASON’s off-target assessment will improve the design of specific PNAs and other ASOs.

ORGANISM(S): Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. SL1344

PROVIDER: GSE199542 | GEO | 2022/07/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Purpose: Current methods to repair ablation-type peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) using peripheral nerve allografts (PNAs) often result in poor functional recovery due to immunological rejection as well as slow and inaccurate outgrowth of regenerating axon sprouts. In contrast, ablation-type PNIs repaired by PNAs using a multistep protocol, in which one step uses the membrane fusogen polyethylene glycol (PEG), permanently restore sciatic-mediated behaviors within weeks. Axons and cells within the PNA remain viable, even though outbred host and donor tissues are neither immunosuppressed nor tissue matched. PEG-fused PNAs exhibit significantly reduced T cell and macrophage infiltration, apoptosis, and expression of major histocompatibility complex I/II. In this study, we analyzed the coding transcriptome of PEG-fused PNAs to determine possible mechanisms underlying immunosuppression. Methods: Ablation-type sciatic PNIs in adult Sprague Dawley rats were repaired using PNAs and a PEG-fusion protocol combined with neurorrhaphy. Electrophysiological and behavioral recovery tests confirmed successful PEG-fusion of PNAs. RNA sequencing analyzed differential expression profiles of protein-coding genes between PEG-fused PNAs and NC PNAs (not treated with PEG) at 14d PO, along with Unoperated nerves. Sequencing results were validated by Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: PEG-fused PNAs display significant downregulation of a great many gene transcripts associated with innate and adaptive allorejection responses. Many Schwann cell-associated transcripts are upregulated, and many cellular processes such as extracellular matrix remodeling, cell and tissue development are particularly enriched. Transcripts encoding several potentially immunosuppressive proteins (e.g. Thrombospondins 1 and 2) are upregulated in PEG-fused PNAs. Conclusions: This study is the first to characterize the coding transcriptome of PEG-fused PNAs, and identifies possible links between alterations of the extracellular matrix and suppression of the allorejection response. The results establish a molecular-basis to understand mechanisms underlying PEG-mediated immunosuppression.

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Predicting off-target effects of antisense oligomers targeting bacterial mRNAs with the MASON webserver

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