| 1. |
- Bramsen, Jesper B., et al.
(author)
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A large-scale chemical modification screen identifies design rules to generate siRNAs with high activity, high stability and low toxicity
- 2009
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In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 37:9, s. 2867-2881
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The use of chemically synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is currently the method of choice to manipulate gene expression in mammalian cell culture, yet improvements of siRNA design is expectably required for successful application in vivo. Several studies have aimed at improving siRNA performance through the introduction of chemical modifications but a direct comparison of these results is difficult. We have directly compared the effect of 21 types of chemical modifications on siRNA activity and toxicity in a total of 2160 siRNA duplexes. We demonstrate that siRNA activity is primarily enhanced by favouring the incorporation of the intended antisense strand during RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) loading by modulation of siRNA thermodynamic asymmetry and engineering of siRNA 3'-overhangs. Collectively, our results provide unique insights into the tolerance for chemical modifications and provide a simple guide to successful chemical modification of siRNAs with improved activity, stability and low toxicity.
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| 2. |
- Chammiran, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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A distant cis acting intronic element induces site-selective RNA editing
- 2012
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In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 40:19, s. 9876-9886
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transcripts have been found to be site selectively edited from adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) in the mammalian brain, mostly in genes involved in neurotransmission. While A-to-I editing occurs at double-stranded structures, other structural requirements are largely unknown. We have investigated the requirements for editing at the I/M site in the Gabra-3 transcript of the GABA(A) receptor. We identify an evolutionarily conserved intronic duplex, 150 nt downstream of the exonic hairpin where the I/M site resides, which is required for its editing. This is the first time a distant RNA structure has been shown to be important for A-to-I editing. We demonstrate that the element also can induce editing in related but normally not edited RNA sequences. In human, thousands of genes are edited in duplexes formed by inverted repeats in non-coding regions. It is likely that numerous such duplexes can induce editing of coding regions throughout the transcriptome.
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| 3. |
- Dahl, Mette, et al.
(author)
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Expression patterns and prognostic potential of circular RNAs in mantle cell lymphoma : a study of younger patients from the MCL2 and MCL3 clinical trials
- 2022
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In: Leukemia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0887-6924 .- 1476-5551. ; 36:1, s. 177-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is characterized by marked differences in outcome, emphasizing the need for strong prognostic biomarkers. Here, we explore expression patterns and prognostic relevance of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a group of endogenous non-coding RNA molecules, in MCL. We profiled the circRNA expression landscape using RNA-sequencing and explored the prognostic potential of 40 abundant circRNAs in samples from the Nordic MCL2 and MCL3 clinical trials, using NanoString nCounter Technology. We report a circRNA-based signature (circSCORE) developed in the training cohort MCL2 that is highly predictive of time to progression (TTP) and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS). The dismal outcome observed in the large proportion of patients assigned to the circSCORE high-risk group was confirmed in the independent validation cohort MCL3, both in terms of TTP (HR 3.0; P = 0.0004) and LSS (HR 3.6; P = 0.001). In Cox multiple regression analysis incorporating MIPI, Ki67 index, blastoid morphology and presence of TP53 mutations, circSCORE retained prognostic significance for TTP (HR 3.2; P = 0.01) and LSS (HR 4.6; P = 0.01). In conclusion, circRNAs are promising prognostic biomarkers in MCL and circSCORE improves identification of high-risk disease among younger patients treated with cytarabine-containing chemoimmunotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant.
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| 4. |
- Das Mahapatra, Kunal, et al.
(author)
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A comprehensive analysis of coding and non-coding transcriptomic changes in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
- 2020
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common and fastest-increasing cancer with metastatic potential. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel regulators of gene expression. To identify mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, which can be involved in cSCC, RNA-seq was performed on nine cSCCs and seven healthy skin samples. Representative transcripts were validated by NanoString nCounter assays using an extended cohort, which also included samples from pre-cancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis). 5,352 protein-coding genes, 908 lncRNAs and 55 circular RNAs were identified to be differentially expressed in cSCC. Targets of 519 transcription factors were enriched among differentially expressed genes, 105 of which displayed altered level in cSCCs, including fundamental regulators of skin development (MYC, RELA, ETS1, TP63). Pathways related to cell cycle, apoptosis, inflammation and epidermal differentiation were enriched. In addition to known oncogenic lncRNAs (PVT1, LUCAT1, CASC9), a set of skin-specific lncRNAs were were identified to be dysregulated. A global downregulation of circRNAs was observed in cSCC, and novel skin-enriched circRNAs, circ_IFFO2 and circ_POF1B, were identified and validated. In conclusion, a reference set of coding and non-coding transcripts were identified in cSCC, which may become potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers.
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| 5. |
- Ensterö, Mats, 1971-
(author)
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The multi-faceted RNA molecule : Characterization and Function in the regulation of Gene Expression
- 2008
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this thesis I have studied the RNA molecule and its function and characteristics in the regulation of gene expression. I have focused on two events that are important for the regulation of the transcriptome: Translational regulation through micro RNAs; and RNA editing through adenosine deaminations. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are ~22 nucleotides long RNA molecules that by semi complementarity bind to untranslated regions of a target messenger RNA (mRNA). The interaction manifests through an RNA/protein complex and act mainly by repressing translation of the target mRNA. I have shown that a pre-cursor miRNA molecule have significantly different information content of sequential composition of the two arms of the pre-cursor hairpin. I have also shown that sequential composition differs between species. Selective adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process whereby highly specific adenosines in a (pre-)messenger transcript are deaminated to inosines. The deamination is carried out by the ADAR family of proteins and require a specific sequential and structural landscape for target recognition. Only a handful of messenger substrates have been found to be site selectively edited in mammals. Still, most of these editing events have an impact on neurotransmission in the brain. In order to find novel substrates for A-to-I editing, an experimental setup was made to extract RNA targets of the ADAR2 enzyme. In concert with this experimental approach, I have constructed a computational screen to predict specific positions prone to A-to-I editing. Further, I have analyzed editing in the mouse brain at four different developmental stages by 454 amplicon sequencing. With high resolution, I present data supporting a general developmental regulation of A-to-I editing. I also present data of coupled editing events on single RNA transcripts suggesting an A-to-I editing mechanism that involve ADAR dimers to act in concert. A different editing pattern is seen for the serotonin receptor 5-ht2c.
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| 6. |
- Louw, Andrew M, et al.
(author)
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Chitosan polyplex mediated delivery of miRNA-124 reduces activation of microglial cells in vitro and in rat models of spinal cord injury
- 2016
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In: Nanomedicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1549-9634 .- 1549-9642. ; 12:3, s. 643-653
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) is further complicated by an increase in secondary neuronal damage imposed by activated microglia/macrophages. MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is responsible for mouse monocyte quiescence and reduction of their inflammatory cytokine production. We describe the formulation and ex vivo transfection of chitosan/miR-124 polyplex particles into rat microglia and the resulting reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and TNF-α and lower expression of MHC-II. Upon microinjection into uninjured rat spinal cords, particles formed with Cy3-labeled control sequence RNA, were specifically internalized by OX42 positive macrophages and microglia cells. Alternatively particles injected in the peritoneum were transported by macrophages to the site of spinal cord injury 72h post injection. Microinjections of chitosan/miR-124 particles significantly reduced the number of ED-1 positive macrophages in the injured spinal cord. Taken together, these data present a potential treatment technique to reduce inflammation for a multitude of CNS neurodegenerative conditions.
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| 7. |
- Rush, Margaret, 1977-
(author)
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Regulation of RNA Processing in Human Papillomavirus Type 16
- 2005
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is the major cause of cervical cancer. HPV-16 gene expression is tightly linked to the differentiation programme of the infected epithelium. Expression of the late genes, L1 and L2, encoding the capsid proteins, is delayed until the more terminally differentiated cells. Successful inhibition of HPV-16 late gene expression early in the viral life cycle is essential for persistence of infection, the highest risk factor for cervical cancer.The goal of this thesis was to identify regulatory RNA elements and cellular factors that influence RNA processing events, such as alternative splicing and polyadenylation, during late gene expression. For this purpose, transfection of plasmids containing almost the full-length HPV-16 genome into HeLa cells, followed by RNA analysis, was employed. An exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) was identified that firmly supported the use of the E4 3’ splice site. A key regulator of HPV-16 gene expression, the E4 ESE was required for early mRNA splicing and polyadenylation, as well as for inhibition of premature late gene expression. The early polyadenylation signal (pAE) is also an important block of premature late gene expression. An upstream polyadenylation element (USE) was identified in the early 3’ untranslated region that enhanced polyadenylation at pAE, and interacted specifically with the cellular factors CstF-64, hnRNP C1/C2, PTB and hFip1. With the help of adenoviral E4orf4, a protein which causes dephosphorylation of SR proteins, we found that overexpression of SRp30c activated HPV-16 late gene expression by an exon skipping mechanism, and that SRp30c may interfere with early mRNA terminal exon definition.This work identified a crucial splicing enhancer, as well as a number of cellular proteins binding to an USE in the early region of HPV-16. Furthermore, the cellular splicing factor SRp30c was shown to play a role in the regulation of HPV-16 late gene expression.
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| 8. |
- Stoll, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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A circular RNA generated from an intron of the insulin gene controls insulin secretion
- 2020
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fine-tuning of insulin release from pancreatic β-cells is essential to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Here, we report that insulin secretion is regulated by a circular RNA containing the lariat sequence of the second intron of the insulin gene. Silencing of this intronic circular RNA in pancreatic islets leads to a decrease in the expression of key components of the secretory machinery of β-cells, resulting in impaired glucose- or KCl-induced insulin release and calcium signaling. The effect of the circular RNA is exerted at the transcriptional level and involves an interaction with the RNA-binding protein TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). The level of this circularized intron is reduced in the islets of rodent diabetes models and of type 2 diabetic patients, possibly explaining their impaired secretory capacity. The study of this and other circular RNAs helps understanding β-cell dysfunction under diabetes conditions, and the etiology of this common metabolic disorder.
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