Biology subjects

Helwak, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Helwak, A..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Isotope-Free Mapping of protein:RNA Interactions Using fCRAC and trxtools

Defining high-confidence RNA interaction sites for specific proteins is essential to understand RNA biology, but existing methods face trade-offs between specificity, sensitivity, and experimental accessibility. Here, we present fluorescent Cross-linking and analysis of cDNAs (fCRAC), a mammalian-cell optimized update to the CRAC protocol. In fCRAC, a fluorescent adaptor is used, in place of radiolabeling, to visualize RNA-protein complexes during gel-purification. fCRAC retains the tandem affinity purification and stringent, denaturing conditions of classical CRAC, enabling nucleotide-resolution mapping of protein:RNA interactions with high signal to noise ratio. We initially tested fCRAC using RPP25L, a component the RNase MRP and RNase P complexes. RPP25L almost exclusively bound to predicted, single sites in the RNA components (RMRP and RPPH1), showing excellent selectivity with nucleotide resolution. To support analysis of UV cross-linking data for more complex targets, we developed the trxtools package and example pipeline for standardized processing, quality control, and analysis of data from fCRAC and related methods. We include tailored strategies for repetitive RNA classes, such as tRNA and rRNA, which can be challenging to analyze using other approaches. We applied fCRAC and trxtools to define the RNA interactome of human CYCLON/CCDC86, a nuclear protein previously implicated in oncogenesis. This revealed specific interactions with rRNA, tRNA and ncRNAs involved in pre-rRNA and pre-tRNA processing. HighlightsO_LINucleotide-resolution definition of RNAs interacting with specific proteins, including rRNA and tRNA C_LIO_LIStringent denaturing purifications and robust visualization steps, with no requirement for radioactive labelling C_LIO_LITrxtools provides an integrated analysis pipeline with approaches for analyzing both single and multi-copy RNA species C_LI

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Roles of SNORD115 and SNORD116 ncRNA clusters in neuronal differentiation

Prader-Willi syndrome shows features linked to brain development and hypothalamus-related endocrine abnormalities. The smallest clinical deletions fall within the large ([~]650Kb) SNHG14 gene, removing 29 consecutive introns that each generate SNORD116. SNHG14 also includes 48 tandem introns encoding SNORD115 and generates multiple, extended snoRNA-related species. SNORD115 and SNORD116 resemble box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) but lack known targets. Both snoRNAs strongly accumulated during neuronal differentiation. SNORD116 accumulation apparently reflected stabilization, potentially linked to the appearance of FBLL1, a homologue of the ubiquitous snoRNA-associated protein Fibrillarin (FBL). In contrast, SNORD115 was selectively transcribed, apparently due to regulated termination. For functional characterization we created cell lines lacking only the expressed, paternal, SNORD115 or SNORD116 cluster. Analyses during neuronal development indicated changes in RNA stability and protein synthesis. Altered mRNAs included MAGEL2, mutation of which causes the PWS-like disorder Schaaf-Yang syndrome. Comparison of SNORD115 and SNORD116 mutants indicated overlapping or interacting functions. Most changes in mRNA and protein abundance appeared relatively late in development, with roles including cytoskeleton formation, extracellular matrix, neuronal arborization. Comparison with human embryonic midbrain development suggested enhanced progression in neuronal development in the snoRNA mutants. Subtle impairment of relative neuronal maturation during development, might generate the clinical phenotypes.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

The RNA-binding landscape of HAX1 protein indicates its involvement in ribosome biogenesis and translation.

HAX1 is a human protein with no known homologues or structural domains, mutations in which cause severe congenital neutropenia through mechanisms that are poorly understood. Previous studies reported RNA-binding capacity of HAX1, but the role of this binding in physiology and pathology remains unexplained. Here we report transcriptome-wide characterization of HAX1 RNA targets using RIP-seq and CRAC, indicating that HAX1 binds transcripts involved in ribosome biogenesis and rRNA processing. Using CRISPR knockouts we find that RNA targets of HAX1 partially overlap with transcripts downregulated in HAX1 KO, implying a role in mRNA stabilization. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that genes differentially expressed in HAX1 KO (including genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and translation) are also enriched in a subset of genes whose expression correlates with HAX1 expression in four analyzed neoplasms. Functional connection to ribosome biogenesis was also demonstrated by gradient sedimentation ribosome profiles, which revealed differences in the small subunit:monosome ratio in HAX1 WT/KO. We speculate that changes in HAX1 expression may be important for the etiology of HAX1-linked diseases through dysregulation of translation.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

A disease-linked lncRNA mutation in RNase MRP inhibits ribosome synthesis

RMRP encodes a non-coding RNA forming the core of the RNase MRP ribonucleoprotein complex. Mutations cause Cartilage Hair Hypoplasia (CHH), characterized by skeletal abnormalities and impaired T cell activation. Yeast RNase MRP cleaves a specific site in the pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) during ribosome synthesis. CRISPR-mediated disruption of RMRP in human cells lines caused growth arrest, with pre-rRNA accumulation. Here, we analyzed disease-relevant primary cells, showing that mutations in RMRP impair mouse T cell activation and delay pre-rRNA processing. Patient-derived human fibroblasts with CHH-linked mutations showed similar pre-rRNA processing delay. Human cells engineered with the most common CHH mutation (70AG in RMRP) show specifically impaired pre-rRNA processing, resulting in reduced mature rRNA and a reduced ratio of cytosolic to mitochondrial ribosomes. Moreover, the 70AG mutation caused a reduction in intact RNase MRP complexes. Together, these results indicate that CHH is a ribosomopathy, and the first processing-specific human disorder to be described. HighlightsO_LIMutations in RMRP lncRNA impair pre-rRNA processing and T cell activation C_LIO_LIPatient derived fibroblasts show impaired pre-rRNA processing C_LIO_LICells with the most common disease-linked mutation have specific processing defects C_LIO_LICytoplasmic ribosomes and intact RNase MRP complexes are also reduced in these cells C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Integrative Vectors for Regulated Expression of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Implicated in RNA Metabolism

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is expected to result in substantial reorganization of host cell RNA metabolism. We identified 14 proteins that were predicted to interact with host RNAs or RNA binding proteins, based on published data for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe a series of affinity-tagged and codon-optimized expression constructs for each of these 14 proteins. Each viral gene was separately tagged at the N-terminus with Flag-His8, the C-terminus with His8-Flag, or left untagged. The resulting constructs were stably integrated into the HEK293 Flp-In TREx genome. Each viral gene was expressed under the control of an inducible Tet-On promoter, allowing expression levels to be tuned to match physiological conditions during infection. Expression time courses were successfully generated for most of the fusion proteins and quantified by western blot. A few fusion proteins were poorly expressed, whereas others, including Nsp1, Nsp12, and N protein, were toxic unless care was taken to minimize background expression. All plasmids can be obtained from Addgene and cell lines are available. We anticipate that availability of these resources will facilitate a more detailed understanding of coronavirus molecular biology.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Nascent transcript folding plays a major role in determining RNA polymerase elongation rates

Transcription elongation rates are important for RNA processing, but sequence-specific regulation is poorly understood. We addressed this in vivo, analyzing RNAPI in S.cerevisiae. Analysis of Miller chromatin spreads and mapping RNAPI using UV crosslinking, revealed a marked 5 bias and strikingly uneven local polymerase occupancy, indicating substantial variation in transcription speed. Two features of the nascent transcript correlated with RNAPI distribution; folding energy and G+C-content. In vitro experiments confirmed that strong RNA structures close to the polymerase promote forward translocation and limit backtracking, whereas high G+C within the transcription bubble slows elongation. We developed a mathematical model for RNAPI elongation, which confirmed the importance of nascent RNA folding in transcription. RNAPI from S.pombe was similarly sensitive to transcript folding, as were S.cerevisiae RNAPII and RNAPIII. For RNAPII, unstructured RNA, which favors slowed elongation, was associated with faster cotranscriptional splicing and proximal splice site usage indicating regulatory significance for transcript folding. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=194 SRC="FIGDIR/small/969709v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (76K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@f3f9fcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a133c8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4eae0dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18502b8_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HIGHLIGHTSStructures in the nascent RNA correlate with rapid elongation by RNAPI in vivo Stable RNA structures limit RNAPI backtracking in vitro GC content in the transcription bubble tunes transcription elongation rate Nascent transcript folding modulates dynamics of all three RNAPs in vivo

molecular biology↗