ABSTRACT: Distinct NSun methylases control cytosine-5 methylation of messenger, mitochondrial and transfer RNA: implications for human diseases [Bisulfite-Seq dermal fibroblasts]
Project description:Distinct NSun methylases control cytosine-5 methylation of messenger, mitochondrial and transfer RNA: implications for human diseases
Project description:Distinct NSun methylases control cytosine-5 methylation of messenger, mitochondrial and transfer RNA: implications for human diseases [miCLIP & Bisfulfite-Seq HEK293]
Project description:Aberrant post-transcriptional methylation is implicated in a wide range of human diseases, yet the specific enzymes responsible for site- and substrate-specific methylation remain largely unknown. Here, we use our recently developed catalysis-dependent RIP sequencing approach (miCLIP) and RNA bisulfite sequencing to map C5-methylcytosine (m5C) in the human transcriptome. We identified two novel m5C methylases NSun3 and NSun6, both of which have strong substrate specificity. In contrast to the previously characterized NSun2, which displays some preference to methylating transfer RNAs (tRNA), NSun6 predominantly targeted 3’ UTRs of messenger RNAs (mRNA), and NSun3 mainly methylated mitochondrial RNAs (mtRNA). Consistent with the miCLIP-predicted RNA target specificity, whole exome sequencing identified NSUN3 loss-of-function mutations in a patient presenting with combined respiratory chain complex deficiency. Functional studies of the patient fibroblast cell line revealed that loss of the NSun3 protein resulted in severe mitochondrial translation defects, which were rescued by expression of wild-type NSun3. In summary, our results reveal how highly conserved NSun m5C methylases partition their substrate specificities to remodel the sequences of particular ribonucleotide classes.
Project description:Aberrant post-transcriptional methylation is implicated in a wide range of human diseases, yet the specific enzymes responsible for site- and substrate-specific methylation remain largely unknown. Here, we use our recently developed catalysis-dependent RIP sequencing approach (miCLIP) and RNA bisulfite sequencing to map C5-methylcytosine (m5C) in the human transcriptome. We identified two novel m5C methylases NSun3 and NSun6, both of which have strong substrate specificity. In contrast to the previously characterized NSun2, which displays some preference to methylating transfer RNAs (tRNA), NSun6 predominantly targeted 3’ UTRs of messenger RNAs (mRNA), and NSun3 mainly methylated mitochondrial RNAs (mtRNA). Consistent with the miCLIP-predicted RNA target specificity, whole exome sequencing identified NSUN3 loss-of-function mutations in a patient presenting with combined respiratory chain complex deficiency. Functional studies of the patient fibroblast cell line revealed that loss of the NSun3 protein resulted in severe mitochondrial translation defects, which were rescued by expression of wild-type NSun3. In summary, our results reveal how highly conserved NSun m5C methylases partition their substrate specificities to remodel the sequences of particular ribonucleotide classes.
Project description:Autosomal-recessive loss of the NSUN2 gene has been recently identified as a causative link to intellectual disability disorders in humans. NSun2 is an RNA methyltransferase modifying cytosine-5 in transfer RNAs (tRNA). Whether NSun2 methylates additional RNA species is currently debated. Here, we adapted the individual-nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation method (iCLIP) to identify NSun2-mediated methylation in RNA transcriptome. We confirm site-specific methylation in tRNA and identify messenger and non-coding RNAs as potential methylation targets for NSun2. Using RNA bisulfite sequencing we establish Vault non-coding RNAs as novel substrates for NSun2 and identified six cytosine-5 methylated sites. Furthermore, we show that loss of cytosine-5 methylation in Vault RNAs causes aberrant processing into argonaute-associating small RNA fragments (svRNA). Thus, impaired Vault non-coding RNA processing may be an important contributor to the etiology of NSUN2-deficieny human disorders. mRNA-seq in Embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells transfected with siRNA against Nsun2 vs control
Project description:Autosomal-recessive loss of the NSUN2 gene has been recently identified as a causative link to intellectual disability disorders in humans. NSun2 is an RNA methyltransferase modifying cytosine-5 in transfer RNAs (tRNA). Whether NSun2 methylates additional RNA species is currently debated. Here, we adapted the individual-nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation method (iCLIP) to identify NSun2-mediated methylation in RNA transcriptome. We confirm site-specific methylation in tRNA and identify messenger and non-coding RNAs as potential methylation targets for NSun2. Using RNA bisulfite sequencing we establish Vault non-coding RNAs as novel substrates for NSun2 and identified six cytosine-5 methylated sites. Furthermore, we show that loss of cytosine-5 methylation in Vault RNAs causes aberrant processing into argonaute-associating small RNA fragments (svRNA). Thus, impaired Vault non-coding RNA processing may be an important contributor to the etiology of NSUN2-deficieny human disorders. Identification of Nsun2 targets by miCLIP in Embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells
Project description:Autosomal-recessive loss of the NSUN2 gene has been recently identified as a causative link to intellectual disability disorders in humans. NSun2 is an RNA methyltransferase modifying cytosine-5 in transfer RNAs (tRNA). Whether NSun2 methylates additional RNA species is currently debated. Here, we adapted the individual-nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation method (iCLIP) to identify NSun2-mediated methylation in RNA transcriptome. We confirm site-specific methylation in tRNA and identify messenger and non-coding RNAs as potential methylation targets for NSun2. Using RNA bisulfite sequencing we establish Vault non-coding RNAs as novel substrates for NSun2 and identified six cytosine-5 methylated sites. Furthermore, we show that loss of cytosine-5 methylation in Vault RNAs causes aberrant processing into argonaute-associating small RNA fragments (svRNA). Thus, impaired Vault non-coding RNA processing may be an important contributor to the etiology of NSUN2-deficieny human disorders.
Project description:Autosomal-recessive loss of the NSUN2 gene has been recently identified as a causative link to intellectual disability disorders in humans. NSun2 is an RNA methyltransferase modifying cytosine-5 in transfer RNAs (tRNA). Whether NSun2 methylates additional RNA species is currently debated. Here, we adapted the individual-nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation method (iCLIP) to identify NSun2-mediated methylation in RNA transcriptome. We confirm site-specific methylation in tRNA and identify messenger and non-coding RNAs as potential methylation targets for NSun2. Using RNA bisulfite sequencing we establish Vault non-coding RNAs as novel substrates for NSun2 and identified six cytosine-5 methylated sites. Furthermore, we show that loss of cytosine-5 methylation in Vault RNAs causes aberrant processing into argonaute-associating small RNA fragments (svRNA). Thus, impaired Vault non-coding RNA processing may be an important contributor to the etiology of NSUN2-deficieny human disorders.
Project description:By depleting CGGBP1 in normal human fibroblasts and by performing genome-wide sequencing (with and without bisulfite conversion) we show that upon CGGBP1 depletion cytosine methylation increases significantly at repeat regions. Using Pacbio sequencing of Alu and LINE-1 repeats amplified genome-wide from bisulfite converted DNA, we further establish the cytosine methylation-inhibitory functions of CGGBP1.
Project description:N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification on messenger RNAs and is linked to human diseases, but its functions in mammalian development are poorly understood. Here we reveal the evolutionary conservation and function of m6A by mapping the m6A methylome in mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Thousands of messenger and long noncoding RNAs show conserved m6A modification, including transcripts encoding core pluripotency transcription factors. m6A is enriched over 3M-bM-^@M-^Y untranslated regions at defined sequence motifs, and marks unstable transcripts, including transcripts turned over upon differentiation. Genetic inactivation or depletion of mouse and human Mettl3, one of the m6A methylases, led to m6A erasure on select target genes, prolonged Nanog expression upon differentiation, and impaired ESCM-bM-^@M-^Ys exit from self-renewal towards differentiation into several lineages in vitro and in vivo. Thus, m6A is a mark of transcriptome flexibility required for stem cells to differentiate to specific lineages. Examing m6A modification differences in two different cell types