| Journal Title /掲載ジャーナル名 |
Nucleic Acids Research |
| Publication Year and Month /掲載年月 |
October, 2022 |
| Paper Title /論文タイトル |
Structure-based screening for functional non-cording RNAs in fission yeast identifies a factor repressing untimely initiation of sexual differentiation |
| DOI /論文DOI |
10.1093/nar/gkac825 |
| Author of Waseda University /本学の著者 |
SATO, Masamitsu(Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Advanced Science and Engineering):Corresponding Author, Last Author |
| Related Websites /関連Web |
– |
| Abstract /抄録 |
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) ubiquitously exist in normal and cancer cells. Despite their prevalent distribution, the functions of most long ncRNAs remain uncharacterized. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe expresses >1800 ncRNAs annotated to date, but most unconventional ncRNAs (excluding tRNA, rRNA, snRNA and snoRNA) remain uncharacterized. To discover the functional ncRNAs, here we performed a combinatory screening of computational and biological tests. First, all S. pombe ncRNAs were screened in silico for those showing conservation in sequence as well as in secondary structure with ncRNAs in closely related species. Almost a half of the 151 selected conserved ncRNA genes were uncharacterized. Twelve ncRNA genes that did not overlap with protein-coding sequences were next chosen for biological screening that examines defects in growth or sexual differentiation, as well as sensitivities to drugs and stresses. Finally, we highlighted an ncRNA transcribed from SPNCRNA.1669, which inhibited untimely initiation of sexual differentiation. A domain that was predicted as conserved secondary structure by the computational operations was essential for the ncRNA to function. Thus, this study demonstrates that in silico selection focusing on conservation of the secondary structure over species is a powerful method to pinpoint novel functional ncRNAs. |
