TRAP-based allelic translation efficiency imbalance analysis to identify genetic regulation of ribosome occupancy in specific cell types in vivo
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ABSTRACT: The alteration of gene expression due to variations in the sequences of transcriptional regulatory elements has been a focus of substantial inquiry in humans and model organisms. However, less is known about the extent to which natural variation contributes to post-transcriptional regulation. Allelic Expression Imbalance(AEI) is a classical approach for studying the association of specific haplotypes with relative changes in transcript abundance. Here, we benchmarked a new TRAP based approach to associate genetic variation with transcript occupancy on ribosomes in specific cell types, to determine if it will allow examination of Allelic Translation Imbalance(ATI), and Allelic Translation Efficiency Imbalance, using as a test case mouse astrocytes in vivo. We show that most changes of the mRNA levels on ribosomes were reflected in transcript abundance, though ~1.5% of transcripts have variants that clearly alter loading onto ribosomes orthogonally to transcript levels. These variants were often in conserved residues and altered sequences known to regulate translation such as upstream ORFs, PolyA sites, and predicted miRNA binding sites. Such variants were also common in transcripts showing altered abundance, suggesting some genetic regulation of gene expression may function through post-transcriptional mechanisms. Overall, our work shows that naturally occurring genetic variants can impact ribosome occupancy in astrocytes in vivo and suggests that mechanisms may also play a role in genetic contributions to disease.
Project description:The 5' untranslated region (UTR) sequence of eukaryotic mRNAs may contain upstream open reading frames (uORFs), which can regulate translation of the main open reading frame (mORF). The current model of translational regulation by uORFs posits that when a ribosome scans an mRNA and encounters a uORF, translation of that uORF can prevent ribosomes from reaching the mORF and cause decreased mORF translation. In this study, we first observed that rare variants in the 5' UTR dysregulate protein abundance. Upon further investigation, we found that rare variants near the start codon of uORFs can repress or derepress mORF translation, causing allelic changes in protein abundance. This finding holds for common variants as well, and common variants that modify uORF start codons also contribute disproportionately to metabolic and whole-plant phenotypes, suggesting that translational regulation by uORFs serves an adaptive function. These results provide evidence for the mechanisms by which natural sequence variation modulates gene expression, and ultimately, phenotype.
Project description:Purpose: mRNA translation into protein is highly regulated, but the role of mRNA isoforms, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), and genetic variants has yet to be systematically studied. Using high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq), we have measured cellular levels of mRNAs and ncRNAs, and their isoforms, in lymphoblast cell lines (LCL) and in polysomal fractions, the latter shown to yield strong correlations of mRNAs with expressed protein levels. Analysis of allelic RNA ratios at heterozygous SNPs served to reveal genetic factors in ribosomal loading. Methods: RNA-seq was performed on cytosolic extracts and polysomal fractions (3 ribosomes or more) from three lymphoblastoid cell lines. As each RNA fraction was amplified (NuGen kit), and relative contributions from various RNA classes differed between cytosol and polysomes, the fraction of any given RNA species loaded onto polysomes was difficult to quantitate. Therefore, we focused on relative recovery of the various RNA classes and rank order of single RNAs compared to total RNA. Results: RNA-seq of coding and non-coding RNAs (including microRNAs) in three LCLs revealed significant differences in polysomal loading of individual RNAs and isoforms, and between RNA classes. Moreover, correlated distribution between protein-coding and non-coding RNAs suggests possible interactions between them. Allele-selective RNA recruitment revealed strong genetic influence on polysomal loading for multiple RNAs. Allelic effects can be attributed to generation of different RNA isoforms before polysomal loading or to differential loading onto polysomes, the latter defining a direct genetic effect on translation. Several variants and genes identified by this approach are also associated with RNA expression and clinical phenotypes in various databases. Conclusions: These results provide a novel approach using complete transcriptome RNA-seq to study polysomal RNA recruitment and regulatory variants affecting protein translation. cells from 3 samples were grown to 5x105 cells/mL density in T75 tissue culture flask and harvested, total RNA and polysome bound RNA was sequenced by Ion Proton
Project description:Purpose: mRNA translation into protein is highly regulated, but the role of mRNA isoforms, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), and genetic variants has yet to be systematically studied. Using high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq), we have measured cellular levels of mRNAs and ncRNAs, and their isoforms, in lymphoblast cell lines (LCL) and in polysomal fractions, the latter shown to yield strong correlations of mRNAs with expressed protein levels. Analysis of allelic RNA ratios at heterozygous SNPs served to reveal genetic factors in ribosomal loading. Methods: RNA-seq was performed on cytosolic extracts and polysomal fractions (3 ribosomes or more) from three lymphoblastoid cell lines. As each RNA fraction was amplified (NuGen kit), and relative contributions from various RNA classes differed between cytosol and polysomes, the fraction of any given RNA species loaded onto polysomes was difficult to quantitate. Therefore, we focused on relative recovery of the various RNA classes and rank order of single RNAs compared to total RNA. Results: RNA-seq of coding and non-coding RNAs (including microRNAs) in three LCLs revealed significant differences in polysomal loading of individual RNAs and isoforms, and between RNA classes. Moreover, correlated distribution between protein-coding and non-coding RNAs suggests possible interactions between them. Allele-selective RNA recruitment revealed strong genetic influence on polysomal loading for multiple RNAs. Allelic effects can be attributed to generation of different RNA isoforms before polysomal loading or to differential loading onto polysomes, the latter defining a direct genetic effect on translation. Several variants and genes identified by this approach are also associated with RNA expression and clinical phenotypes in various databases. Conclusions: These results provide a novel approach using complete transcriptome RNA-seq to study polysomal RNA recruitment and regulatory variants affecting protein translation.
Project description:Genetic variants that impact gene regulation are important contributors to human phenotypic variation. For this reason, considerable efforts have been made to identify genetic associations with differences in mRNA levels of nearby genes, namely, cis expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). The phenotypic consequences of eQTLs are presumably due, in most cases, to their ultimate effects on protein expression levels. Yet, only few studies have quantified the impact of genetic variation on proteins levels directly. It remains unclear how faithfully eQTLs are reflected at the protein level, and whether there is a significant layer of cis regulatory variation acting primarily on translation or steady state protein levels. To address these questions, we measured ribosome occupancy by high-throughput sequencing, and relative protein levels by high-resolution quantitative mass spectrometry, in a panel of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) in which we had previously measured transcript expression using RNA sequencing. We then mapped genetic variants that are associated with changes in transcript expression (eQTLs), ribosome occupancy (rQTLs), or protein abundance (pQTLs). Most of the QTLs we detected are associated with transcript expression levels, with consequent effects on ribosome and protein levels. However, we found that eQTLs tend to have significantly reduced effect sizes on protein levels, suggesting that their potential impact on downstream phenotypes is often attenuated or buffered. Additionally, we confirmed the presence of a class of cis QTLs that specifically affect protein abundance with little or no effect on mRNA levels; most of these QTLs have little effect on ribosome occupancy, and hence may arise from differences in post-translational regulation. We measured level of translation transcriptome-wide in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from 72 HapMap Yoruba individuals using ribosome profiling assay, for which we have transcript level, protein level (62 out of 72) and genotype information collected.
Project description:We used single cell multiome (ATAC and RNA) sequencing to profile 85266 islet cells from 20 individuals, including islets from non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic (T2D) donors. We characterize changes in regulatory programs of islet cell types and subtypes in T2D progression, describe the relationship of these programs to genetic risk for T2D, and use allelic imbalance mapping to define cell type-specific functions for candidate T2D causal variants.
Project description:In this study, we used single cell nucleus ATAC-seq (snATAC-seq) to profile 218,973 islet cells from 34 individuals, including islets from non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and type 2 diectic (T2D) donors. We characterize changes in regulatory programs of islet cell types in T2D progression, describe the relationship of these programs to genetic risk for T2D, and use allelic imbalance mapping to define cell type-specific functions for candidate T2D causal variants.
Project description:We perform a systematic classification of allelic imbalance in mouse hybrids derived from reciprocal crosses of divergent strains. We observe that deviation from balanced biallelic expression is common, occurring in ~20% of the mouse transcriptome. Allelic imbalance attributed to genotype is by far the most prevalent class and typically is tissue-specific. However, some genotype-based imbalance is maintained across tissues and is associated with greater genetic variation, especially in 5’ and 3’ termini of transcripts. We further identify novel random monoallelic and imprinted genes, and find that genotype can compete with parental origin even in the setting of large imprinted regions. PolyA-selected RNA-sequencing in F1 hybrid and parental cells of Mm. musculus and Mm. castaneus origin
Project description:Recent studies highlight the importance of translational control in determining protein abundance, underscoring the value of measuring gene expression at the level of translation. We present a protocol for genome-wide, quantitative analysis of in vivo translation by deep sequencing. This ribosome profiling approach maps the exact positions of ribosomes on transcripts by nuclease footprinting. The nuclease-protected mRNA fragments are converted into a DNA library suitable for deep sequencing using a strategy that minimizes bias. The abundance of different footprint fragments in deep sequencing data reports on the amount of translation of a gene. Additionally, footprints reveal the exact regions of the transcriptome that are translated. To better define translated reading frames, we describe an adaptation that reveals the sites of translation initiation by pre-treating cells with harringtonine to immobilize initiating ribosomes. The protocol we describe requires 5 - 7 days to generate a completed ribosome profiling sequencing library. Ribosome profiling in cultured mammalian cells under three different footprinting conditions
Project description:Protein coding gene expression requires two steps – transcription and translation – which can be regulated independently to allow nuanced, localized, and rapid responses to cellular stimuli. Neurons are known to respond transcriptionally and translationally to bursts of brain activity, and a transcriptional response to this activation has also been recently characterized in astrocytes. However, the extent to which astrocytes respond translationally is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that astrocytes also have a programmed translational response by characterizing the change in transcript ribosome occupancy in astrocytes using Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification subsequent to a robust induction of neuronal activity in vivo via acute seizure. We identified a reproducible change in transcripts on astrocyte ribosomes, highlighted by a rapid decrease in housekeeping transcripts, such as ribosomal and mitochondrial components, and a rapid increase in transcripts related to cytoskeleton, motor activity, ion transport, and cell communication. This indicates a dynamic response, some of which might be secondary to activation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase signaling. Using acute slices, we quantified the extent to which individual cues and sequela of neuronal activity can activate translation acutely in astrocytes. This identified both BDNF and KCl as contributors to translation induction, the latter with both action-potential sensitive and insensitive components. Finally, we show that this translational response requires the presence of neurons, indicating the response is acutely or chronically non-cell autonomous. Regulation of translation in astrocytes by neuronal activity suggests an additional mechanism by which astrocytes may dynamically modulate nervous system functioning.