Human RNase 4 Improves mRNA Sequence Characterization by LC-MS/MS.
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ABSTRACT: With the rapid growth of synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and vaccines, the development of analytical tools for characterization of long, complex RNAs has become essential. Tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) permits direct assessment of the mRNA primary sequence and modifications thereof without conversion to cDNA or amplification. It relies upon digestion of mRNA with site-specific endoribonucleases to generate pools of short oligonucleotides that are then amenable to MS-based sequence analysis. Here, we showed that the uridine-specific human endoribonuclease hRNase 4 improves mRNA sequence coverage, in comparison with the benchmark enzyme RNase T1, by producing a large population of uniquely mappable cleavage products. Furthermore, we deployed hRNase 4 to characterize mRNAs fully substituted with 1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) or 5-methoxyuridine (mo5U), as well as mRNAs selectively depleted of uridine–two key strategies to reduce synthetic mRNA immunogenicity. Lastly, we demonstrated that hRNase 4 enables direct assessment of the 5′ cap incorporation in in vitro synthesized mRNA. Collectively, this study highlights the power of hRNase 4 to interrogate mRNA sequence, identity, and modifications by LC-MS/MS.
INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive
ORGANISM(S): Synthetic Rna
SUBMITTER: Eric Wolf
LAB HEAD: Ivan R. Correa Jr.
PROVIDER: PXD033334 | Pride | 2022-07-26
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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