Genome-wide identification of short 2',3'-cyclic phosphate-containing RNAs and their regulation in aging

PLoS Genet. 2019 Nov 13;15(11):e1008469. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008469. eCollection 2019 Nov.

Abstract

RNA molecules generated by ribonuclease cleavage sometimes harbor a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate (cP) at their 3'-ends. Those cP-containing RNAs (cP-RNAs) form a hidden layer of transcriptome because standard RNA-seq cannot capture them as a result of cP's prevention of an adapter ligation reaction. Here we provide genome-wide analyses of short cP-RNA transcriptome across multiple mouse tissues. Using cP-RNA-seq that can exclusively sequence cP-RNAs, we identified numerous novel cP-RNA species which are mainly derived from cytoplasmic tRNAs, mRNAs, and rRNAs. Determination of the processing sites of substrate RNAs for cP-RNA generation revealed highly-specific RNA cleavage events between cytidine and adenosine in cP-RNA biogenesis. cP-RNAs were not evenly derived from the overall region of substrate RNAs but rather from specific sites, implying that cP-RNAs are not from random degradation but are produced through a regulated biogenesis pathway. The identified cP-RNAs were abundantly accumulated in mouse tissues, and the expression levels of cP-RNAs showed age-dependent reduction. These analyses of cP-RNA transcriptome unravel a novel, abundant class of non-coding RNAs whose expression could have physiological roles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Phosphates / metabolism
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / genetics*
  • RNA Cleavage / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcriptome / genetics*

Substances

  • Phosphates
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • RNA
  • RNA, Transfer