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Environmental perturbations lead to extensive directional shifts in RNA processing.

ABSTRACT: Environmental perturbations have large effects on both organismal and cellular traits, including gene expression, but the extent to which the environment affects RNA processing remains largely uncharacterized. Recent studies have identified a large number of genetic variants associated with variation in RNA processing that also have an important role in complex traits; yet we do not know in which contexts the different underlying isoforms are used. Here, we comprehensively characterized changes in RNA processing events across 89 environments in five human cell types and identified 15,300 event shifts (FDR = 15%) comprised of eight event types in over 4,000 genes. Many of these changes occur consistently in the same direction across conditions, indicative of global regulation by trans factors. Accordingly, we demonstrate that environmental modulation of splicing factor binding predicts shifts in intron retention, and that binding of transcription factors predicts shifts in alternative first exon (AFE) usage in response to specific treatments. We validated the mechanism hypothesized for AFE in two independent datasets. Using ATAC-seq, we found altered binding of 64 factors in response to selenium at sites of AFE shift, including ELF2 and other factors in the ETS family. We also performed AFE QTL mapping in 373 individuals and found an enrichment for SNPs predicted to disrupt binding of the ELF2 factor. Together, these results demonstrate that RNA processing is dramatically changed in response to environmental perturbations through specific mechanisms regulated by trans factors.

SUBMITTER: Richards AL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5667937 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Environmental perturbations lead to extensive directional shifts in RNA processing.

Richards Allison L AL Watza Donovan D Findley Anthony A Alazizi Adnan A Wen Xiaoquan X Pai Athma A AA Pique-Regi Roger R Luca Francesca F

PLoS genetics 20171012 10

Environmental perturbations have large effects on both organismal and cellular traits, including gene expression, but the extent to which the environment affects RNA processing remains largely uncharacterized. Recent studies have identified a large number of genetic variants associated with variation in RNA processing that also have an important role in complex traits; yet we do not know in which contexts the different underlying isoforms are used. Here, we comprehensively characterized changes ...[more]

PMID: 29023442

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Project description:A large-scale functional genomics study revealed shifting energy generating processes in white muscle during the final 1,300 km migration of wild sockeye salmon to their spawning grounds in the Fraser River, British Columbia. In 2006, Lower Adams stock sockeye salmon ceased feeding after passing the Queen Charlotte Islands, 850 km from the Fraser River. Enhanced protein turnover and reduced transcription of actin, muscle contractile and heme-related proteins were early starvation responses in saltwater. Arrival to the estuarine environment triggered massive protein turnover through induction of proteasoma and lysosomal proteolysis and protein biosynthesis, and a shift from anaerobic glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Response to entry into freshwater was modest, with up-regulation of heat shock proteins and nitric oxide biosynthesis. High river temperatures resulted in a strong defense/immune response and high mortalities in 50% of fish. Arrival to the spawning grounds triggered further up-regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and proteolysis, down-regulation of protein biosynthesis and helicase activity, and continued down-regulation of muscle proteins and most glycolytic enzymes. However, sharp up-regulation of PFK-I indicated induction of glycolytic potential at the spawning grounds. The identification of potential environmental cues triggering genome-wide transcriptional shifts in white muscle associated with migration and the strong activation of proteasomal proteolysis were both novel findings. Keywords: Functional genomics study on wild-caught fish The experiment was based on expression profiles of white muscle tissue collected from wild migrating adult sockeye salmon during their return spawning migration back to the Fraser River. Fish were collected from seven sites along the final 1,300 km migration path, and white muscle samples were quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen upon capture. Marine sampling sites included (from north to south) the Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI), Johnstone Strait (JS), Juan de Fuca Strait (JDFS), and the Strait of Georgia (SOG). Freshwater sampling sites included Whonnock (W), Savona (SV) and the Lower Adams Spawning Grounds. Genetically-based stock ID was used to identify the natal sites of fish collected from the wild. The experiment was designed to profile the transcriptional shifts associated with migration of the Adams River stock complex. The total experiment included 80 microarray slides, with a minimum biological replicate size per site of 6 (SV), and maximum of 18 (JS) (see supplemental table for details). Additional intra-site variables, which could only be addressed in some sites, included sex (female biased) and river entry timing (for JS, JDFS and W sites; identified through radio-tracking of marine collected fish). Total RNA was amplified (1 round) with MessageAmpTMII-96 kit (Ambion, TX, USA), and reverse transcribed to cDNA before labelling with ALEXA dyes using the Invitrogen Indirect Labelling Kit. The experiment was based on a reference design, with the reference containing the combined aRNA of all individuals used in the experiment. Individual samples were labelled with Alexa 555 and the reference control with Alexa 647, with no dye flips included. A single technical replicate of one SV fish (replicate 5) was included in the experimental design. This experiment is part of a larger white muscle experiment containing additional sockeye salmon stocks.

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Environmental perturbations lead to extensive directional shifts in RNA processing.

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Environmental perturbations lead to extensive directional shifts in RNA processing.

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