The Long Non-Coding RNA ANRIL in Cancers.

ANRIL (Antisense Noncoding RNA in the INK4 Locus), a long non-coding RNA encoded in the human chromosome 9p21 region, is a critical factor for regulating gene expression by interacting with multiple proteins and miRNAs. It has been found to play important roles in various cellular processes, including cell cycle control and proliferation. Dysregulation of ANRIL has been associated with several diseases like cancers and cardiovascular diseases, for instance. Understanding the oncogenic role of ANRIL and its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer is crucial. This review provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms and oncogenic significance of the 9p21 locus and ANRIL in cancer.

Erratum: Ribosomal RNA 2' O-methylation as a novel layer of inter-tumour heterogeneity in breast cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcaa036.].

AlkAniline-Seq: A Highly Sensitive and Specific Method for Simultaneous Mapping of 7-Methyl-guanosine (m7G) and 3-Methyl-cytosine (m3C) in RNAs by High-Throughput Sequencing.

Epitranscriptomics is an emerging field where the development of high-throughput analytical technologies is essential to profile the dynamics of RNA modifications under different conditions. Despite important advances during the last 10 years, the number of RNA modifications detectable by next-generation sequencing is restricted to a very limited subset. Here, we describe a highly efficient and fast method called AlkAniline-Seq to map simultaneously two different RNA modifications: 7-methyl-guanosine (m7G) and 3-methyl-cytosine (m3C) in RNA. Our protocol is based on three subsequent chemical/enzymatic steps allowing the enrichment of RNA fragments ending at position n + 1 to the modified nucleotide, without any prior RNA selection. Therefore, AlkAniline-Seq demonstrates an outstanding sensitivity and specificity for these two RNA modifications. We have validated AlkAniline-Seq using bacterial, yeast, and human total RNA, and here we present, as an example, a synthetic view of the complete profiling of these RNA modifications in S. cerevisiae tRNAs.

Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Small RNA Preparations.

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have shed new light on the diversity of small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) classes and their crucial roles in gene regulation and disease. One key step in sncRNA profiling consists in their quantification and assessment of their degradation extent. In this chapter, we will describe different gold standard methods used to achieve both purposes before using the sncRNAs in downstream applications.

Bacterial tRNA 2'-O-methylation is dynamically regulated under stress conditions and modulates innate immune response.

RNA modifications are a well-recognized way of gene expression regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Despite the importance of this level of regulation, current knowledge on modulation of tRNA modification status in response to stress conditions is far from being complete. While it is widely accepted that tRNA modifications are rather dynamic, such variations are mostly assessed in terms of total tRNA, with only a few instances where changes could be traced to single isoacceptor species. Using Escherichia coli as a model system, we explored stress-induced modulation of 2'-O-methylations in tRNAs by RiboMethSeq. This analysis and orthogonal analytical measurements by LC-MS show substantial, but not uniform, increase of the Gm18 level in selected tRNAs under mild bacteriostatic antibiotic stress, while other Nm modifications remain relatively constant. The absence of Gm18 modification in tRNAs leads to moderate alterations in E. coli mRNA transcriptome, but does not affect polysomal association of mRNAs. Interestingly, the subset of motility/chemiotaxis genes is significantly overexpressed in ΔTrmH mutant, this corroborates with increased swarming motility of the mutant strain. The stress-induced increase of tRNA Gm18 level, in turn, reduced immunostimulation properties of bacterial tRNAs, which is concordant with the previous observation that Gm18 is a suppressor of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7)-mediated interferon release. This documents an effect of stress induced modulation of tRNA modification that acts outside protein translation.

HydraPsiSeq: a method for systematic and quantitative mapping of pseudouridines in RNA.

Developing methods for accurate detection of RNA modifications remains a major challenge in epitranscriptomics. Next-generation sequencing-based mapping approaches have recently emerged but, often, they are not quantitative and lack specificity. Pseudouridine (ψ), produced by uridine isomerization, is one of the most abundant RNA modification. ψ mapping classically involves derivatization with soluble carbodiimide (CMCT), which is prone to variation making this approach only semi-quantitative. Here, we developed 'HydraPsiSeq', a novel quantitative ψ mapping technique relying on specific protection from hydrazine/aniline cleavage. HydraPsiSeq is quantitative because the obtained signal directly reflects pseudouridine level. Furthermore, normalization to natural unmodified RNA and/or to synthetic in vitro transcripts allows absolute measurements of modification levels. HydraPsiSeq requires minute amounts of RNA (as low as 10-50 ng), making it compatible with high-throughput profiling of diverse biological and clinical samples. Exploring the potential of HydraPsiSeq, we profiled human rRNAs, revealing strong variations in pseudouridylation levels at ∼20-25 positions out of total 104 sites. We also observed the dynamics of rRNA pseudouridylation throughout chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells. In conclusion, HydraPsiSeq is a robust approach for the systematic mapping and accurate quantification of pseudouridines in RNAs with applications in disease, aging, development, differentiation and/or stress response.

Holistic Optimization of Bioinformatic Analysis Pipeline for Detection and Quantification of 2'-O-Methylations in RNA by RiboMethSeq.

A major trend in the epitranscriptomics field over the last 5 years has been the high-throughput analysis of RNA modifications by a combination of specific chemical treatment(s), followed by library preparation and deep sequencing. Multiple protocols have been described for several important RNA modifications, such as 5-methylcytosine (m5C), pseudouridine (ψ), 1-methyladenosine (m1A), and 2'-O-methylation (Nm). One commonly used method is the alkaline cleavage-based RiboMethSeq protocol, where positions of reads' 5'-ends are used to distinguish nucleotides protected by ribose methylation. This method was successfully applied to detect and quantify Nm residues in various RNA species such as rRNA, tRNA, and snRNA. Such applications require adaptation of the initially published protocol(s), both at the wet bench and in the bioinformatics analysis. In this manuscript, we describe the optimization of RiboMethSeq bioinformatics at the level of initial read treatment, alignment to the reference sequence, counting the 5'- and 3'- ends, and calculation of the RiboMethSeq scores, allowing precise detection and quantification of the Nm-related signal. These improvements introduced in the original pipeline permit a more accurate detection of Nm candidates and a more precise quantification of Nm level variations. Applications of the improved RiboMethSeq treatment pipeline for different cellular RNA types are discussed.

Ribosomal RNA 2'O-methylation as a novel layer of inter-tumour heterogeneity in breast cancer.

Recent epitranscriptomics studies unravelled that ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 2'O-methylation is an additional layer of gene expression regulation highlighting the ribosome as a novel actor of translation control. However, this major finding lies on evidences coming mainly, if not exclusively, from cellular models. Using the innovative next-generation RiboMeth-seq technology, we established the first rRNA 2'O-methylation landscape in 195 primary human breast tumours. We uncovered the existence of compulsory/stable sites, which show limited inter-patient variability in their 2'O-methylation level, which map on functionally important sites of the human ribosome structure and which are surrounded by variable sites found from the second nucleotide layers. Our data demonstrate that some positions within the rRNA molecules can tolerate absence of 2'O-methylation in tumoral and healthy tissues. We also reveal that rRNA 2'O-methylation exhibits intra- and inter-patient variability in breast tumours. Its level is indeed differentially associated with breast cancer subtype and tumour grade. Altogether, our rRNA 2'O-methylation profiling of a large-scale human sample collection provides the first compelling evidence that ribosome variability occurs in humans and suggests that rRNA 2'O-methylation might represent a relevant element of tumour biology useful in clinic. This novel variability at molecular level offers an additional layer to capture the cancer heterogeneity and associates with specific features of tumour biology thus offering a novel targetable molecular signature in cancer.

Tat IRES modulator of tat mRNA (TIM-TAM): a conserved RNA structure that controls Tat expression and acts as a switch for HIV productive and latent infection.

Tat protein is essential to fully activate HIV transcription and processing of viral mRNA, and therefore determines virus expression in productive replication and the establishment and maintenance of latent infection. Here, we used thermodynamic and structure analyses to define a highly conserved sequence-structure in tat mRNA that functions as Tat IRES modulator of tat mRNA (TIM-TAM). By impeding cap-dependent ribosome progression during authentic spliced tat mRNA translation, TIM-TAM stable structure impacts on timing and level of Tat protein hence controlling HIV production and infectivity along with promoting latency. TIM-TAM also adopts a conformation that mediates Tat internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent translation during the early phases of infection before provirus integration. Our results document the critical role of TIM-TAM in Tat expression to facilitate virus reactivation from latency, with implications for HIV treatment and drug development.

Graphical Workflow System for Modification Calling by Machine Learning of Reverse Transcription Signatures.

Modification mapping from cDNA data has become a tremendously important approach in epitranscriptomics. So-called reverse transcription signatures in cDNA contain information on the position and nature of their causative RNA modifications. Data mining of, e.g. Illumina-based high-throughput sequencing data, is therefore fast growing in importance, and the field is still lacking effective tools. Here we present a versatile user-friendly graphical workflow system for modification calling based on machine learning. The workflow commences with a principal module for trimming, mapping, and postprocessing. The latter includes a quantification of mismatch and arrest rates with single-nucleotide resolution across the mapped transcriptome. Further downstream modules include tools for visualization, machine learning, and modification calling. From the machine-learning module, quality assessment parameters are provided to gauge the suitability of the initial dataset for effective machine learning and modification calling. This output is useful to improve the experimental parameters for library preparation and sequencing. In summary, the automation of the bioinformatics workflow allows a faster turnaround of the optimization cycles in modification calling.

Diversity and heterogeneity of extracellular RNA in human plasma.

Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are secreted by nearly all cell types and are now known to play multiple physiological roles. In humans, exRNA populations are found in nearly any physiological liquid and are attracting growing interest as a potential source for biomarker discovery. Human plasma, a readily available sample for biomedical analysis, reported to contain various subpopulations of exRNA, some of which are most likely components of plasma ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), while others are encapsulated into extracellular vesicles (EVs) of different size, origin and composition. This variation explains the extreme complexity of the human exRNA fraction in plasma. In this work, we aimed to characterize exRNA species from blood samples of healthy human donors to achieve the most comprehensive overview of the species, sizes and origins of the exRNA present in plasma fractions. Unbiased analysis of exRNA composition was performed with prefractionation of plasma exRNA followed by library preparation, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to "mature", adaptor ligation-competent RNA species (5'-P/3'-OH), human plasma contains a substantial proportion of degraded RNA fragments (5'-OH/3'-P or cycloP), which can be made competent for ligation using appropriate treatments. These degraded RNAs represent the major fraction in the overall population and mostly correspond to rRNA, in contrast to mature products, which mostly contain miRNAs and hY4 RNA fragments. Precipitation polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based kits for EV isolation yield a fraction that is highly contaminated by large RNPs and by RNA loosely bound to EVs. Purer EV preparations are obtained by using proteinase K and RNase A treatment, as well as by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). These samples have rather distinct RNA compositions compared to PEG-precipitated EV preparations and contain a substantial proportion of exRNA of non-human origin, arising from human skin and gut microbiota, including viral microbiota. These exogenous exRNAs represent up to 75-80% of total RNA reads in highly purified extracellular vesicles, paving the way for biomedical exploitation of these non-human biomarkers.

Ribosomal Proteins Regulate MHC Class I Peptide Generation for Immunosurveillance.

The MHC class I antigen presentation system enables T cell immunosurveillance of cancers and viruses. A substantial fraction of the immunopeptidome derives from rapidly degraded nascent polypeptides (DRiPs). By knocking down each of the 80 ribosomal proteins, we identified proteins that modulate peptide generation without altering source protein expression. We show that 60S ribosomal proteins L6 (RPL6) and RPL28, which are adjacent on the ribosome, play opposite roles in generating an influenza A virus-encoded peptide. Depleting RPL6 decreases ubiquitin-dependent peptide presentation, whereas depleting RPL28 increases ubiquitin-dependent and -independent peptide presentation. 40S ribosomal protein S28 (RPS28) knockdown increases total peptide supply in uninfected cells by increasing DRiP synthesis from non-canonical translation of "untranslated" regions and non-AUG start codons and sensitizes tumor cells for T cell targeting. Our findings raise the possibility of modulating immunosurveillance by pharmaceutical targeting ribosomes.

RNA ribose methylation (2'-O-methylation): Occurrence, biosynthesis and biological functions.

Methylation of riboses at 2'-OH group is one of the most common RNA modifications found in number of cellular RNAs from almost any species which belong to all three life domains. This modification was extensively studied for decades in rRNAs and tRNAs, but recent data revealed the presence of 2'-O-methyl groups also in low abundant RNAs, like mRNAs. Ribose methylation is formed in RNA by two alternative enzymatic mechanisms: either by stand-alone protein enzymes or by complex assembly of proteins associated with snoRNA guides (sno(s)RNPs). In that case one catalytic subunit acts at various RNA sites, the specificity is provided by base pairing of the sno(s)RNA guide with the target RNA. In this review we compile available information on 2'-OH ribose methylation in different RNAs, enzymatic machineries involved in their biosynthesis and dynamics, as well as on the physiological functions of these modified residues.

Mapping and Quantification of tRNA 2'-O-Methylation by RiboMethSeq.

Current development of epitranscriptomics field requires efficient experimental protocols for precise mapping and quantification of various modified nucleotides in RNA. Despite important advances in the field during the last 10 years, this task is still extremely laborious and time-consuming, even when high-throughput analytical approaches are employed. Moreover, only a very limited subset of RNA modifications can be detected and only rarely be quantified by these powerful techniques. In the past, we developed and successfully applied alkaline fragmentation-based RiboMethSeq approach for mapping and precise quantification of multiple 2'-O-methylation residues in ribosomal RNA. Here we describe a RiboMethSeq protocol adapted for the analysis of bacterial and eukaryotic tRNA species, which also contain 2'-O-methylations at functionally important RNA regions.

AlkAniline-Seq: Profiling of m7 G and m3 C RNA Modifications at Single Nucleotide Resolution.

RNA modifications play essential roles in gene expression regulation. Only seven out of >150 known RNA modifications are detectable transcriptome-wide by deep sequencing. Here we describe a new principle of RNAseq library preparation, which relies on a chemistry based positive enrichment of reads in the resulting libraries, and therefore leads to unprecedented signal-to-noise ratios. The proposed approach eschews conventional RNA sequencing chemistry and rather exploits the generation of abasic sites and subsequent aniline cleavage. The newly generated 5'-phosphates are used as unique entry for ligation of an adapter in library preparation. This positive selection, embodied in the AlkAniline-Seq, enables a deep sequencing-based technology for the simultaneous detection of 7-methylguanosine (m7 G) and 3-methylcytidine (m3 C) in RNA at single nucleotide resolution. As a proof-of-concept, we used AlkAniline-Seq to comprehensively validate known m7 G and m3 C sites in bacterial, yeast, and human cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs and rRNAs, as well as for identifying previously unmapped positions.

Quantification of 2'-O-Me Residues in RNA Using Next-Generation Sequencing (Illumina RiboMethSeq Protocol).

RNA 2'-O-methylation is one of the ubiquitous nucleotide modifications found in many RNA types from bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. We and others have recently published accurate and sensitive detection of these modifications on native RNA at a single base resolution by high-throughput sequencing technologies. Relative quantification of these modifications is still under progress and would probably reduce the number of false positives due to 3D RNA structure. Therefore, here, we describe a reliable and optimized protocol for quantification of 2'-O-Methylations based on alkaline fragmentation of RNA coupled to a commonly used ligation approach followed by Illumina sequencing. For this purpose, we describe how to prepare in vitro transcribed yeast 18S and 25S rRNA used as a reference for unmodified rRNAs and to compare them to purified 18S and 25S rRNA from yeast total RNA preparation. These reconstructed rRNA mixes were combined at different ratios and processed for RiboMethseq protocol.This technique will be applicable for routine parallel treatment of biological and clinical samples to decipher the functions of 2'-O-methylations in normal and pathologic processes or during development.

High-Throughput Mapping of 2'-O-Me Residues in RNA Using Next-Generation Sequencing (Illumina RiboMethSeq Protocol).

Detection of RNA modifications in native RNAs is a tedious and laborious task, since the global level of these residues is low and most of the suitable physico-chemical methods require purification of the RNA of interest almost to homogeneity. To overcome these limitations, methods based on RT-driven primer extension have been developed and successfully used, sometimes in combination with a specific chemical treatment. Nowadays, some of these approaches have been coupled to high-throughput sequencing technologies, allowing the access to transcriptome-wide data. RNA 2'-O-methylation is one of the ubiquitous nucleotide modifications found in many RNA types from bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. Here, we describe a reliable and optimized protocol based on alkaline fragmentation of total RNA coupled to a commonly used ligation approach followed by Illumina sequencing. We describe the methodology for detection and relative quantification of 2'-O-methylations with a high sensitivity and reproducibility even with a limited amount of starting material (1 ng of total RNA). Altogether this technique unlocks a technological barrier since it will be applicable for routine parallel treatment of biological and clinical samples to decipher the functions of 2'-O-methylations in pathologies.

Next-Generation Sequencing-Based RiboMethSeq Protocol for Analysis of tRNA 2'-O-Methylation.

Analysis of RNA modifications by traditional physico-chemical approaches is labor  intensive,  requires  substantial  amounts  of  input  material  and  only  allows  site-by-site  measurements.  The  recent  development  of  qualitative  and  quantitative  approaches  based  on   next-generation sequencing (NGS) opens new perspectives for the analysis of various cellular RNA  species.  The  Illumina  sequencing-based  RiboMethSeq  protocol  was  initially  developed  and  successfully applied for mapping of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 2'-O-methylations. This method also  gives excellent results in the quantitative analysis of rRNA modifications in different species and  under varying growth conditions. However, until now, RiboMethSeq was only employed for rRNA,  and the whole sequencing and analysis pipeline was only adapted to this long and rather conserved  RNA species. A deep understanding of RNA modification functions requires large and global  analysis datasets for other important RNA species, namely for transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which are  well known to contain a great variety of functionally-important modified residues. Here, we  evaluated the application of the RiboMethSeq protocol for the analysis of tRNA 2'-O-methylation in  Escherichia coli and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After a careful optimization of the bioinformatic  pipeline, RiboMethSeq proved to be suitable for relative quantification of methylation rates for  known modified positions in different tRNA species.

Probing small non-coding RNAs structures.

The diverse roles of RNAs depend on their ability to fold so as to form biologically functional structures. Thus, understanding the function of a given RNA molecule often requires experimental analysis of its secondary structure by in vitro RNA probing, which is more accurate than using prediction programs only. This chapter presents in vitro RNA probing protocols that we routinely use, from RNA transcript production and purification to RNA structure determination using enzymatic (RNases T1, T2, and V1) and chemical (DMS, CMCT, kethoxal, and Pb(2+)) probing performed on both unlabeled and end-labeled RNAs.

Alternative splicing: regulation of HIV-1 multiplication as a target for therapeutic action.

The retroviral life cycle requires that significant amounts of RNA remain unspliced and perform several functions in the cytoplasm. Thus, the full-length RNA serves both the viral genetic material that will be encapsulated in viral particles and the mRNA encoding structural and enzymatic proteins required for viral replication. Simple retroviruses produce one single-spliced env RNA from the full-length precursor RNA, whereas complex retroviruses, such as HIV, are characterized by the production of multiple-spliced RNA species. In this review we will summarize the current acknowledge about the HIV-1 alternative splicing mechanism and will describe how this malleable process can help further understanding of infection, spread and dissemination through splicing regulation. Such studies coupled with the testing of splicing inhibitors should help the development of new therapeutic antiviral agents.