Project description:Using Next-generation sequencing of total RNA isolated from human cytomegalovirus virions we have analyzed host (human) snoRNA molecules.
Project description:Using Next-generation sequencing of total RNA isolated from human cytomegalovirus virions we have identified host (human) tRNA molecules.
Project description:Background: Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are mid-size non-coding RNAs required for ribosomal RNA modification, implying a ubiquitous tissue distribution linked to ribosome synthesis. However, increasing numbers of studies identify extra-ribosomal roles of snoRNAs in modulating gene expression, suggesting more complex snoRNA abundance patterns. Therefore, there is a great need for mapping the snoRNome in different human tissues as the blueprint for snoRNA functions. Results: We used a low structure bias RNA-Seq approach to accurately quantify snoRNAs and compare them to the entire transcriptome in seven healthy human tissues (breast, ovary, prostate, testis, skeletal muscle, liver and brain). We identify 475 expressed snoRNAs categorized in two abundance classes that differ significantly in their function, conservation level and correlation with their host gene: 390 snoRNAs are uniformly expressed and 85 are enriched in the brain or reproductive tissues. Most tissue-enriched snoRNAs are embedded in lncRNAs and display strong correlation of abundance with them, whereas uniformly expressed snoRNAs are mostly embedded in protein-coding host genes and are mainly non- or anticorrelated with them. 59% of the non-correlated or anticorrelated protein-coding host gene/snoRNA pairs feature dual-initiation promoters, compared to only 16% of the correlated non-coding host gene/snoRNA pairs. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that snoRNAs are not a single homogeneous group of housekeeping genes but include highly regulated tissue-enriched RNAs. Indeed, our work indicates that the architecture of snoRNA host genes varies to uncouple the host and snoRNA expressions in order to meet the different snoRNA abundance levels and functional needs of human tissues.
Project description:Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA) are non-coding RNAs known for guiding RNA modifications including 2ʹ-O-methylation (Nm) and pseudouridine (Ψ). While snoRNAs may also interact with other RNAs such as mRNA, the full repertoire of RNAs targeted by snoRNA remains elusive due to the lack of effective technologies that identify snoRNA targets transcriptome-wide. Here we develop a chemical crosslinking-based approach that comprehensively detects cellular RNA targets of snoRNAs, yielding thousands of previously unrecognized snoRNA-mRNA interactions in human cells and mouse brain tissues. Many interactions occur outside of snoRNA-guided rRNA modification sites, hinting at non-canonical functions beyond RNA modification. We find that one of these snoRNAs, SNORA73, targets mRNAs that encode secretory proteins and membrane proteins. SNORA73 also interacts with 7SL RNA, part of the signal recognition particle (SRP) required for protein secretion. The mRNA-SNORA73-7SL RNA interactions enhance the association of the SNORA73-target mRNAs with SRP, thereby facilitating secretion of the encoded proteins.
Project description:The paired-end next-generation sequencing of all small RNAs of less than 200 nucleotides in length from four different human cell lines (SKOV3ip1, MCF-7, BJ-Tielf, INOF) allowed us to determine the exact sequence(s) and variations of human box C/D snoRNAs (small nucleolar RNAs), revealing processing patterns of this class of molecules. Two distinct groups of box C/D snoRNAs were identified based on the position of their ends with respect to their characteristic boxes and the terminal base pairing potential. Short box C/D snoRNAs start sharply 4 or 5 nucleotides upstream of their box C and end 2 or 3 nucleotides downstream of their box D. In contrast, long box C/D snoRNAs start 5 or 6 nucleotides upstream of their box C and end 4 or 5 nucleotides downstream of their box D, increasing the likelihood of formation of a k-turn between their boxes C and D. Sequencing of SKOV3ip1 cells following the depletions of NOP58, a core box C/D snoRNA-binding protein and of RBFOX2, a splicing factor, shows that the short box C/D snoRNA forms are significantly more affected by the depletion of RBFOX2 while the long snoRNA forms, which display more canonical box C/D snoRNA features, are significantly more affected by the depletion of NOP58. Together the data suggest that box C/D snoRNAs are divided into at least two groups of RNA with distinct maturation and functional preferences. Small RNAs (<200 nucleotides) were isolated from different human cell lines that were either untreated or depleted of NOP58 or RBFOX2 using specific siRNAs. The resulting libraries were multiplexed and paired-end sequenced using Illumina HiSeq.
Project description:Comparison of gene expression profiles of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) infected with 3 clinical isolates of cytomegalovirus strains representing three glycoprotein B genotypes. Keywords: other
Project description:RNA can be extensively modified post-transcriptionally with >170 covalent modifications, expanding its functional and structural repertoire. Pseudouridine (Ψ), the most abundant modified nucleoside in rRNA and tRNA, has recently been found within mRNA molecules. Due to technical challenges, it remained unclear whether pseudouridylation of mRNA can be snoRNA-guided, which has important implications for understanding the physiological target spectrum of snoRNAs and for their potential therapeutic exploitation in genetic diseases. Here, using a massively parallel reporter based strategy we simultaneously interrogate Ψ levels across hundreds of synthetic constructs with predesigned complementarity against endogenous snoRNAs. Our results demonstrate that snoRNA-mediated pseudouridylation can occur on mRNA targets. However, this is typically achieved at low efficiencies, and is constrained by the localization of mRNA, by the expression levels of snoRNAs and by the length of the snoRNA:mRNA complementarity stretches. We exploited these insights for the design of snoRNAs targeting pseudouridylation at premature termination codons, which was previously suggested to suppress translational termination. However, in contrast to previous studies, in this and follow-up experiments we observe no evidence for readthrough of pseudouridylated stop codons. Our study enhances our understanding of the scope, ‘design rules’ and constraints of snoRNA-mediated pseudouridylation, and challenges a key functional outcome associated with this modification.