Project description:In A. thaliana, C. elegans and Drosophila, long dsRNA accumulation during virus infection, transposon activation or transgene expression, elicits a potent RNAi response: long dsRNA processing into siRNAs by Dicer, loading into Argonaute and assembly of the RNA-induced silencing complex to slice complementary RNA. In mammals, recognition of long dsRNA by type I interferon (IFN) factors, results in a mitigated RNAi response in some cell types. Here we uncover key mechanisms associated with recognition and processing of long dsRNA by both pathways. First, we demonstrate that exogenous long dsRNA rapidly congregates into granules recruiting key RNA silencing and type I IFN factors, suggesting an interaction between these pathways. Second, we confirm that inactivation of PKR, unleashes a potent RNAi response on transgene and endogenous mRNA targets in HEK293T cells. Finally, we observe different Dicer processing modes and uncovered a role for TRBP as regulator of RNAi in a template-dependent manner.
Project description:Mitochondrial biogenesis relies on both the nuclear and the mitochondrial genomes, and the mechanisms that support their coordinated expression are not fully understood. Improper mitochondrial DNA expression can lead to inborn error of metabolism, inflammation, and aging. Here, we investigate N6AMT1, a nucleo-cytosolic multi-substrate methyltransferase. We analyze genetic dependency, transcription, translation, and proteomic profiles of N6AMT1-depleted cells and report that N6AMT1 is necessary for the cytosolic translation of factors involved in mitochondrial RNA metabolism, including subunits of the mitochondrial RNase P. In the absence of N6AMT1, RNA processing and translation within mitochondria are impaired, while double-stranded RNA accumulates in mitochondrial RNA granules causing an interferon response. Our work highlights a cytosolic program required for proper mitochondrial biogenesis, with consequences on innate immunity.
Project description:Mitochondrial biogenesis relies on both the nuclear and the mitochondrial genomes, and the mechanisms that support their coordinated expression are not fully understood. Improper mitochondrial DNA expression can lead to inborn error of metabolism, inflammation, and aging. Here, we investigate N6AMT1, a nucleo-cytosolic multi-substrate methyltransferase. We analyze genetic dependency, transcription, translation, and proteomic profiles of N6AMT1-depleted cells and report that N6AMT1 is necessary for the cytosolic translation of factors involved in mitochondrial RNA metabolism, including subunits of the mitochondrial RNase P. In the absence of N6AMT1, RNA processing and translation within mitochondria are impaired, while double-stranded RNA accumulates in mitochondrial RNA granules causing an interferon response. Our work highlights a cytosolic program required for proper mitochondrial biogenesis, with consequences on innate immunity.
Project description:To investigate possible smRNAs linked to TMM silencing by single-stranded and double-stranded silencers, we determined sequences of smRNAs by the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform and compared silencing efficiency of different strategies. We found that single-stranded silencer alone could promote the production of smRNAs.
Project description:To investigate possible smRNAs linked to TMM silencing by single-stranded and double-stranded silencers, we determined sequences of smRNAs by the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform and compared silencing efficiency of different strategies. We found that single-stranded silencer alone could promote the production of smRNAs. smRNA profiles of 2-week-old wide type seedlings (WT) and different silencers were generated by Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx.
Project description:Nanobody is one special type of single-domain antibody fragment with multiple advantages over traditional antibody. Our previous work established linear-double-stranded DNA (ldsDNA, or PCR amplicon) as novel biological parts for building AND gate genetic circuits in mammalian cells. During this AND-gate circuit formation process, the co-transfected up- and down-stream ldsDNAs could be linked together to form intact gene expression cassette. Here, we employed this ldsDNA-based AND-gate (LBAG) strategy to construct nanobody library in mammalian cells. The sequence complexity of complementary determining regions (CDRs) was introduced into ldsDNA by PCR amplification. After being co-transfected into mammalian cells, the up- and down- stream ldsDNAs undergo AND gate linkage and form full nanobody coding regions, containing CDR1-3. High throughput sequencing identified 22,173 unique oligonucleotide sequences in total generated by this strategy. Thus, we developed a novel method to construct nanobody library, which is a start point for building high content nanobody library in mammalian cells.
Project description:In vertebrates, the presence of viral RNA in the cytosol is sensed by members of the RIG-I like receptor (RLR) family , which signal to induce production of type I interferons (IFN). These key anti-viral cytokines act in a paracrine and autocrine manner to induce hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), whose protein products restrict viral entry, replication and budding. ISGs include the RLRs themselves: RIG-I, MDA5 and the least-studied family member, LGP2. In contrast, the IFN system is absent in plants and invertebrates, which defend themselves from viral intruders using RNA interference (RNAi). In RNAi, the endoribonuclease Dicer cleaves virus-derived double stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target complementary viral RNA for cleavage. Interestingly, the RNAi machinery is conserved in mammals and we have recently demonstrated that it is able to participate in mammalian antiviral defence in conditions in which the IFN system is suppressed. In contrast, when the IFN system is active, one or more ISGs act to mask or suppress antiviral RNAi. Here, we demonstrate that LGP2 constitutes one of the ISGs that can inhibit antiviral RNAi in mammals. We identify Dicer as an LGP2-associated protein and show that LGP2 inhibits Dicer cleavage of dsRNA into siRNAs both in vitro and in vivo. Further, we show that in cells lacking an IFN response, ectopic expression of LGP2 interferes with RNAi-dependent suppression of gene expression. Thus, the inefficiency of RNAi as a mechanism of antiviral defence in mammalian somatic cells can be in part attributed to Dicer inhibition by LGP2 induced by type I IFNs.
Project description:Single Centre, open label assignment phase II clinical study.
To evaluate the effect of oral 200mg Methylene Blue tablets (administered 8x25mg) prior to endoscopy on double stranded DNA breaks in colonic biopsy samples assessed by histone gamma H2AX analysis, compared to control biopsies.