Project description:Drosophila miRNAs show distinct change in isoform distribution pattern with age. Some miRNAs show accumulation of the short isoforms, while other miRNAs show the accumulation of the long isoforms with age. The increase of the long isoforms of some miRNAs reflects increased 2'-O-methylated miRNA isoforms with age. The increase in 2'-O-methylated miRNA isoforms reflected increased Ago2-loading, but not Ago1-loading of specific miRNA isoforms with age. This raised a question on whether there is global shift in small RNA loading pattern between Ago1 and Ago2 with age. To investigate change in small RNA loading pattern between Ago1 and Ago2 with age, we performed small RNA deep-sequencing of Ago1 vs Ago2-IP small RNAs at 3d and 30d in Drosophila. This analysis revealed global increase of miRNA loading into Ago2, but not into Ago1 with age.
Project description:In flies, small silencing RNAs are sorted between Argonaute1 (Ago1), the central protein component of the microRNA (miRNA) pathway, and Argonaute2 (Ago2), which mediates RNA interference. Extensive double-stranded character—as is found in small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)—directs duplexes into Ago2, whereas central mismatches, like those found in miRNA/miRNA* duplexes, direct duplexes into Ago1. Central to this sorting decision is the affinity of the small RNA duplex for the Dcr-2/R2D2 heterodimer, which loads small RNAs into Ago2. Here, we show that while most Drosophila miRNAs are bound to Ago1, miRNA* strands accumulate bound to Ago2. Like siRNA loading, efficient loading of miRNA* strands in Ago2 favors duplexes with a paired central region and requires both Dcr-2 and R2D2. Those miRNA and miRNA* sequences bound to Ago2, like siRNAs diced in vivo from long double-stranded RNA, typically begin with cytidine, whereas Ago1-bound miRNA and miRNA* disproportionately begin with uridine. Consequently, some pre-miRNA generate two or more isoforms from the same side of the stem that differentially partition between Ago1 and Ago2. Our findings provide the first genome-wide test for the idea that Drosophila small RNAs are sorted between Ago1 and Ago2 according to their duplex structure and the identity of their first nucleotide.
Project description:Drosophila miRNAs show distinct change in isoform distribution pattern with age. Some miRNAs show accumulation of the short isoforms, while other miRNAs show the accumulation of the long isoforms with age. The increase of the long isoforms of some miRNAs reflects increased 2'-O-methylated miRNA isoforms with age. The increase in 2'-O-methylated miRNA isoforms reflected increased Ago2-loading, but not Ago1-loading of specific miRNA isoforms with age. This raised a question on whether there is global shift in small RNA loading pattern between Ago1 and Ago2 with age. To investigate change in small RNA loading pattern between Ago1 and Ago2 with age, we performed small RNA deep-sequencing of Ago1 vs Ago2-IP small RNAs at 3d and 30d in Drosophila. This analysis revealed global increase of miRNA loading into Ago2, but not into Ago1 with age. 3d and 30d FLAG-HA-Ago2 male flies were collected. Ago1 and Ago2 were immunoprecipitated by anti-Ago1 and anti-FLAG M2 beads respectively. RNA was purified from the beads, P32-labeled, and small RNA fraction was gel-purififed. Small RNA libraries were prepared using Illumina's TruSeq small RNA sample preparation kit (#RS-200-0012, Illumina, Inc. San Diego, CA), following the manufacturer's protocol. The libraries were multiplexed and sequenced on HiSeq2000 platform (Illumina).
Project description:In flies, small silencing RNAs are sorted between Argonaute1 (Ago1), the central protein component of the microRNA (miRNA) pathway, and Argonaute2 (Ago2), which mediates RNA interference. Extensive double-stranded characterM-bM-^@M-^Tas is found in small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)M-bM-^@M-^Tdirects duplexes into Ago2, whereas central mismatches, like those found in miRNA/miRNA* duplexes, direct duplexes into Ago1. Central to this sorting decision is the affinity of the small RNA duplex for the Dcr-2/R2D2 heterodimer, which loads small RNAs into Ago2. Here, we show that while most Drosophila miRNAs are bound to Ago1, miRNA* strands accumulate bound to Ago2. Like siRNA loading, efficient loading of miRNA* strands in Ago2 favors duplexes with a paired central region and requires both Dcr-2 and R2D2. Those miRNA and miRNA* sequences bound to Ago2, like siRNAs diced in vivo from long double-stranded RNA, typically begin with cytidine, whereas Ago1-bound miRNA and miRNA* disproportionately begin with uridine. Consequently, some pre-miRNA generate two or more isoforms from the same side of the stem that differentially partition between Ago1 and Ago2. Our findings provide the first genome-wide test for the idea that Drosophila small RNAs are sorted between Ago1 and Ago2 according to their duplex structure and the identity of their first nucleotide. Sequencing of small RNAs (either total small RNAs or Ago1-associated small RNAs) in wild-type, dcr-2 and r2d2 mutant flies. Small RNA sequencing, Small RNAs (18-29 nt long), Size selection (18 to 30 nt).
Project description:In Drosophila, siRNAs are classified as endo- or exo-siRNAs based on their origin. Both are processed from double-stranded RNA precursors by Dcr-2, then loaded into the Argonaute protein Ago2. While exo-siRNAs serve to defend the cell against viruses, endo-siRNAs restrict the spread of selfish DNA in somatic cells, analogous to piRNAs in the germ line. Endo- and exo-siRNAs display a differential requirement for double-stranded RNA binding domain proteins (dsRBPs): R2D2 is needed to load exo-siRNAs into Ago2 while the PD isoform of Loquacious (Loqs-PD) stimulates Dcr-2 during the nucleolytic processing of hairpin-derived endo-siRNAs. In cell culture assays, R2D2 antagonizes Loqs-PD in endo-siRNA silencing and Loqs-PD is an inhibitor of RNA interference. Loqs-PD can interact via the C-terminus unique to this isoform with the DExH/D-helicase domain of Drosophila Dcr-2, where binding of R2D2 has also been localized. Separation of the two pathways is not complete; rather, the dicing and Ago2-loading steps appear uncoupled, analogous to the corresponding steps in miRNA biogenesis. Analysis of deep sequencing data further demonstrates that in r2d2 mutant flies, siRNAs can be loaded into Ago2 but not all siRNA classes are equally proficient for this. Thus, the canonical Ago2-RISC loading complex can be bypassed under certain circumstances.
Project description:We found that AGO2 suspends the formation of miRNA-single stranded (ss) DNA hybrid due to the high affinity interaction of AGO2-miRNA, being different from canonical miRNA guidance of AGO2 loading for mRNA. By this mechanism, we demonstrated that NamiRNA miR-1246 could promote MMP1 gene transcription to induce osteosarcoma cell metastasis. The observed metastasis features can be also extended to the transmission of miR-1246 enriched and carried by extracellular vesicles (EVs) to induce metastasis phenotypes of benign osteosarcoma cells. Collectively, we reveal that AGO2 senses and stabilizes miRNA-enhancer hybrids/loops to activate global gene expression and elucidate EV-carried miR-1246 plays important biological function to facilitate tumor metastasis.
Project description:In Drosophila, siRNAs are classified as endo- or exo-siRNAs based on their origin. Both are processed from double-stranded RNA precursors by Dcr-2, then loaded into the Argonaute protein Ago2. While exo-siRNAs serve to defend the cell against viruses, endo-siRNAs restrict the spread of selfish DNA in somatic cells, analogous to piRNAs in the germ line. Endo- and exo-siRNAs display a differential requirement for double-stranded RNA binding domain proteins (dsRBPs): R2D2 is needed to load exo-siRNAs into Ago2 while the PD isoform of Loquacious (Loqs-PD) stimulates Dcr-2 during the nucleolytic processing of hairpin-derived endo-siRNAs. In cell culture assays, R2D2 antagonizes Loqs-PD in endo-siRNA silencing and Loqs-PD is an inhibitor of RNA interference. Loqs-PD can interact via the C-terminus unique to this isoform with the DExH/D-helicase domain of Drosophila Dcr-2, where binding of R2D2 has also been localized. Separation of the two pathways is not complete; rather, the dicing and Ago2-loading steps appear uncoupled, analogous to the corresponding steps in miRNA biogenesis. Analysis of deep sequencing data further demonstrates that in r2d2 mutant flies, siRNAs can be loaded into Ago2 but not all siRNA classes are equally proficient for this. Thus, the canonical Ago2-RISC loading complex can be bypassed under certain circumstances. Examination of small RNAs from two different mutant strains as well as the corresponding heterozygous controls
Project description:Drosophila Argonaute-1 and Argonaute-2 differ in function and small RNA content. AGO2 binds to siRNAs, whereas AGO1 is almost exclusively occupied by microRNAs. microRNA duplexes are intrinsically asymmetric, with one strand, the miR strand, preferentially entering AGO1 to recognize and regulate the expression of target mRNAs. The other strand, miR*, has been viewed as a by-product of microRNA biogenesis. Here, we show that miR*s are often loaded as functional species into AGO2. This indicates that each microRNA precursor can potentially produce two mature small RNA strands that are differentially sorted within the RNAi pathway. miR* biogenesis depends upon the canonical microRNA pathway, but loading into AGO2 is mediated by factors traditionally dedicated to siRNAs. By inferring and validating hierarchical rules that predict differential AGO loading, we find that intrinsic determinants, including structural and thermodynamic properties of the processed duplex, regulate the fate of each RNA strand within the RNAi pathway.
Project description:Increasing lines of evidence support that Argonaute2 (AGO2) harbors several nuclear functions in metazoa. In particular, Drosophila AGO2 modulates transcription of developmentally regulated genes; however, the molecular mechanisms behind AGO2 recruitment into chromatin and its function in transcription have not been deeply explored. In this study, we show that Drosophila AGO2 chromatin association depends on active transcription. In order to gain insight into how AGO2 controls transcription, we performed differential ChIP-seq analysis for RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) upon depletion of AGO2. Interestingly, we find specific accumulation of the elongating but not initiating form of Pol II after AGO2 knockdown, suggesting that AGO2 impairs transcription elongation. Finally, AGO2 also affects Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) chromatin association but not the Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9). Altogether, these results provide key insights into the molecular role of AGO2 in attenuating elongation of certain actively transcribed genes.