Project description:During microRNA (miRNA)-guided gene silencing, Argonaute (Ago) proteins interact with a member of the TNRC6/GW protein family. Here we used a short GW protein-derived peptide fused to GST and demonstrate that it binds to Ago proteins with high affinity. This allows for the simultaneous isolation of all Ago protein complexes expressed in diverse species to identify associated proteins, small RNAs or target mRNAs. We refer to our method as Ago protein Affinity Purification by Peptides (Ago-APP). Comparison of small RNA lengths in total RNA and APP-enriched RNA samples
Project description:During microRNA (miRNA)-guided gene silencing, Argonaute (Ago) proteins interact with a member of the TNRC6/GW protein family. Here we used a short GW protein-derived peptide fused to GST and demonstrate that it binds to Ago proteins with high affinity. This allows for the simultaneous isolation of all Ago protein complexes expressed in diverse species to identify associated proteins, small RNAs or target mRNAs. We refer to our method as Ago protein Affinity Purification by Peptides (Ago-APP).
Project description:microRNAs (miRNAs) act as sequence-specific guides for Argonaute (AGO) proteins, which mediate post-transcriptional silencing of target mRNAs. Despite their importance in many biological processes, rules governing AGO-miRNA targeting are only partially understood. We use a modified AGO HITS-CLIP strategy, termed CLEAR (Covalent Ligation of Endogenous Argonaute-bound RNAs) CLIP that enriches miRNAs ligated to their endogenous mRNA targets. CLEAR-CLIP mapped ~130,000 endogenous miRNA-target interactions in mouse brain and ~40,000 in human hepatoma cells. Motif and structural analysis define expanded pairing rules for over 200 mammalian miRNAs. Most interactions combine seed-based pairing with distinct, miRNA-specific patterns of auxiliary pairing. At some regulatory sites, this specificity confers distinct silencing functions to miRNA family members with shared seed sequences but divergent 3’ ends. This work provides a means for explicit biochemical identification of miRNA sites in vivo, leading to the discovery that miRNA 3’ end pairing is a general determinant of AGO binding specificity.
Project description:microRNAs (miRNAs) act as sequence-specific guides for Argonaute (AGO) proteins, which mediate post-transcriptional silencing of target mRNAs. Despite their importance in many biological processes, rules governing AGO-miRNA targeting are only partially understood. We use a modified AGO HITS-CLIP strategy, termed CLEAR (Covalent Ligation of Endogenous Argonaute-bound RNAs) CLIP that enriches miRNAs ligated to their endogenous mRNA targets. CLEAR-CLIP mapped ~130,000 endogenous miRNA-target interactions in mouse brain and ~40,000 in human hepatoma cells. Motif and structural analysis define expanded pairing rules for over 200 mammalian miRNAs. Most interactions combine seed-based pairing with distinct, miRNA-specific patterns of auxiliary pairing. At some regulatory sites, this specificity confers distinct silencing functions to miRNA family members with shared seed sequences but divergent 3’ ends. This work provides a means for explicit biochemical identification of miRNA sites in vivo, leading to the discovery that miRNA 3’ end pairing is a general determinant of AGO binding specificity.
Project description:Background: Exosomes and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as important sources of biomarkers for disease study and diagnosis. Results: A synthetic peptide, Vn96, allows for capture of EVs from biological fluids using basic laboratory equipment. Conclusion: The Vn96-captured EVs are qualitatively equivalent or superior to exosomes isolated by ultracentrifugation. Significance: The Vn96 peptide provides an effective affinity-capture method for the isolation of EVs from biological fluids.
Project description:In response to a viral infection, the plant’s RNA silencing machinery processes viral RNAs into a huge number of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). However, very few of these siRNAs actually interfere with viral replication. A reliable approach to define the characteristics underlying the activity of these immunologically effective siRNAs (esiRNAs) has not been available so far. We developed a novel screening approach that enables a rapid functional identification of antiviral esiRNAs. The approach is essentially based on the use of a cytoplasmic extract from Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 protoplasts (BY-2 lysate, BYL), that shows Dicer-like (DCL) activity and facilitates the assembly of active RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISC) with an in vitro-translated Argonaute (AGO) protein of choice. We exposed double-stranded (ds) RNA of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) to the BYL to generate viral siRNAs (DCL assay). Total RNA was isolated from the reactions and DCL-generated TBSV siRNAs were identified by NGS. In another approach, AGO1/RISC- or AGO2/RISC-associated siRNAs were isolated using FLAG-AGO immunoprecipitation (AGO-IP) and analyzed by NGS. Subsequently, the antiviral activity of siRNAs with high affinity to AGO proteins was characterized in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:Target competition (ceRNA crosstalk) within miRNA-regulated gene networks has been proposed to influence biological systems. To assess target competition, we characterize and quantitate miRNA networks in two cell types. Argonaute iCLIP reveals that hierarchical binding of high to low affinity miRNA targets is a key characteristic of in vivo activity. Quantification of cellular miRNA and mRNA/ncRNA target pool levels indicates that miRNA-Target pool ratios and an affinity partitioned target pool accurately predict in vivo Ago binding profiles and miRNA susceptibility to target competition. Using single-cell reporters, we directly test predictions and estimate ~3,000 additional high affinity target sites can affect active miRNA families with low endogenous miRNA-Target ratios, such as miR-92/25. In contrast, the highly expressed miR-294 and let-7 families are not susceptible to increases of nearly 10,000 sites. These results show differential susceptibility based on endogenous miRNA-Target pool ratios and provide a physiological context for ceRNA competition in vivo.
Project description:Target competition (ceRNA crosstalk) within miRNA-regulated gene networks has been proposed to influence biological systems. To assess target competition, we characterize and quantitate miRNA networks in two cell types. Argonaute iCLIP reveals that hierarchical binding of high to low affinity miRNA targets is a key characteristic of in vivo activity. Quantification of cellular miRNA and mRNA/ncRNA target pool levels indicates that miRNA-Target pool ratios and an affinity partitioned target pool accurately predict in vivo Ago binding profiles and miRNA susceptibility to target competition. Using single-cell reporters, we directly test predictions and estimate ~3,000 additional high affinity target sites can affect active miRNA families with low endogenous miRNA-Target ratios, such as miR-92/25. In contrast, the highly expressed miR-294 and let-7 families are not susceptible to increases of nearly 10,000 sites. These results show differential susceptibility based on endogenous miRNA-Target pool ratios and provide a physiological context for ceRNA competition in vivo.