Project description:In human cells, Staufen1 is double-stranded RNA-binding protein involved in several cellular functions including mRNA localization, translation and decay. We used a genome wide approach to identify and compare the mRNA targets of mammalian Staufen1. The mRNA content of Staufen1 mRNPs was identified by probing DNA microarrays with probes derived from mRNAs isolated from immunopurified Staufen-containing complexes following transfection of HEK293T cells with a Stau1-HA expressor. Our results indicate that 7% of the cellular RNAs expressed in HEK293T cells are found in Stau1-containing mRNPs. There is a predominance of mRNAs involved in cell metabolism, transport, transcription, regulation of cell processes and catalytic activity. Keywords: Immunoprecipitation, Staufen, microarray
Project description:In human cells, Staufen1 is double-stranded RNA-binding protein involved in several cellular functions including mRNA localization, translation and decay. We used a genome wide approach to identify and compare the mRNA targets of mammalian Staufen1. The mRNA content of Staufen1 mRNPs was identified by probing DNA microarrays with probes derived from mRNAs isolated from immunopurified Staufen-containing complexes following transfection of HEK293T cells with a Stau1-HA expressor. Our results indicate that 7% of the cellular RNAs expressed in HEK293T cells are found in Stau1-containing mRNPs. There is a predominance of mRNAs involved in cell metabolism, transport, transcription, regulation of cell processes and catalytic activity. Experiment Overall Design: HEK293 cells were transiantly transfected with plasmids coding for Staufen1-HA. Cell extracts were immunoprecipitated using anti-HA antibodies and co-immunoprecipitated mRNAs were purified and used to hybridize microarrays. As control, cell extract from mock transfected cells were used.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes