RNA G-quadruplex structures exist and function in vivo in plants

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Xiaofei Yang
  • Jitender Cheema
  • Yueying Zhang
  • Hongjing Deng
  • Susan Duncan
  • Qi Liu
  • Xiaofeng Cao
  • Yiliang Ding

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number226
Journal / PublicationGenome Biology
Volume21
Online published1 Sept 2020
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Link(s)

Abstract

Background: Guanine-rich sequences are able to form complex RNA structures termed RNA G-quadruplexes in vitro. Because of their high stability, RNA G-quadruplexes are proposed to exist in vivo and are suggested to be associated with important biological relevance. However, there is a lack of direct evidence for RNA G-quadruplex formation in living eukaryotic cells. Therefore, it is unclear whether any purported functions are associated with the specific sequence content or the formation of an RNA G-quadruplex structure. Results: Using rG4-seq, we profile the landscape of those guanine-rich regions with the in vitro folding potential in the Arabidopsis transcriptome. We find a global enrichment of RNA G-quadruplexes with two G-quartets whereby the folding potential is strongly influenced by RNA secondary structures. Using in vitro and in vivo RNA chemical structure profiling, we determine that hundreds of RNA G-quadruplex structures are strongly folded in both Arabidopsis and rice, providing direct evidence of RNA G-quadruplex formation in living eukaryotic cells. Subsequent genetic and biochemical analyses show that RNA G-quadruplex folding is able to regulate translation and modulate plant growth. Conclusions: Our study reveals the existence of RNA G-quadruplex in vivo and indicates that RNA G-quadruplex structures act as important regulators of plant development and growth.

Research Area(s)

  • Gene regulation, Plant development, rG4-seq, RNA G-quadruplex structure, Selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation with lithium ion-based primer extension (SHALiPE)

Citation Format(s)

RNA G-quadruplex structures exist and function in vivo in plants. / Yang, Xiaofei; Cheema, Jitender; Zhang, Yueying et al.
In: Genome Biology, Vol. 21, 226, 2020.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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