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Title: MicroRNAs form triplexes with double stranded DNA at sequence-specific binding sites; a eukaryotic mechanism via which microRNAs could directly alter gene expression

Abstract

MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, acting primarily by binding to sequence-specific locations on already transcribed messenger RNAs (mRNA). Recent studies indicate that microRNAs may also play a role in up-regulating mRNA transcription levels, although a definitive mechanism has not been established. Double-helical DNA is capable of forming triple-helical structures through Hoogsteen and reverse Hoogsteen interactions in the major groove of the duplex, and we show physical evidence that microRNAs form triple-helical structures with duplex DNA, and identify microRNA sequences that favor triplex formation. We developed an algorithm (Trident) to search genome-wide for potential triplex-forming sites and show that several mammalian and non-mammalian genomes are enriched for strong microRNA triplex binding sites. We show that those genes containing sequences favoring microRNA triplex formation are markedly enriched (3.3 fold, p<2.2 x 10-16) for genes whose expression is positively correlated with expression of microRNAs targeting triplex binding sequences. As a result, this work has thus revealed a new mechanism by which microRNAs can interact with gene promoter regions to modify gene transcription.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  3. Univ. of Oxford, Oxford (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1263831
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
PLoS Computational Biology (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: PLoS Computational Biology (Online); Journal Volume: 12; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1553-7358
Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; microRNAs; DNA structure; DNA; electrophoretic mobility shift assay; purines; gene expression; DNA methylation; RNA stem-loop structure

Citation Formats

Paugh, Steven W., Coss, David R., Bao, Ju, Laudermilk, Lucas T., Grace, Christy R., Ferreira, Antonio M., Waddell, M. Brett, Ridout, Granger, Naeve, Deanna, Leuze, Michael Rex, LoCascio, Philip F., Panetta, John C., Wilkinson, Mark R., Pui, Ching -Hon, Naeve, Clayton W., Uberbacher, Edward C., Bonten, Erik J., and Evans, William E. MicroRNAs form triplexes with double stranded DNA at sequence-specific binding sites; a eukaryotic mechanism via which microRNAs could directly alter gene expression. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004744.
Paugh, Steven W., Coss, David R., Bao, Ju, Laudermilk, Lucas T., Grace, Christy R., Ferreira, Antonio M., Waddell, M. Brett, Ridout, Granger, Naeve, Deanna, Leuze, Michael Rex, LoCascio, Philip F., Panetta, John C., Wilkinson, Mark R., Pui, Ching -Hon, Naeve, Clayton W., Uberbacher, Edward C., Bonten, Erik J., & Evans, William E. MicroRNAs form triplexes with double stranded DNA at sequence-specific binding sites; a eukaryotic mechanism via which microRNAs could directly alter gene expression. United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004744
Paugh, Steven W., Coss, David R., Bao, Ju, Laudermilk, Lucas T., Grace, Christy R., Ferreira, Antonio M., Waddell, M. Brett, Ridout, Granger, Naeve, Deanna, Leuze, Michael Rex, LoCascio, Philip F., Panetta, John C., Wilkinson, Mark R., Pui, Ching -Hon, Naeve, Clayton W., Uberbacher, Edward C., Bonten, Erik J., and Evans, William E. Thu . "MicroRNAs form triplexes with double stranded DNA at sequence-specific binding sites; a eukaryotic mechanism via which microRNAs could directly alter gene expression". United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004744. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1263831.
@article{osti_1263831,
title = {MicroRNAs form triplexes with double stranded DNA at sequence-specific binding sites; a eukaryotic mechanism via which microRNAs could directly alter gene expression},
author = {Paugh, Steven W. and Coss, David R. and Bao, Ju and Laudermilk, Lucas T. and Grace, Christy R. and Ferreira, Antonio M. and Waddell, M. Brett and Ridout, Granger and Naeve, Deanna and Leuze, Michael Rex and LoCascio, Philip F. and Panetta, John C. and Wilkinson, Mark R. and Pui, Ching -Hon and Naeve, Clayton W. and Uberbacher, Edward C. and Bonten, Erik J. and Evans, William E.},
abstractNote = {MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, acting primarily by binding to sequence-specific locations on already transcribed messenger RNAs (mRNA). Recent studies indicate that microRNAs may also play a role in up-regulating mRNA transcription levels, although a definitive mechanism has not been established. Double-helical DNA is capable of forming triple-helical structures through Hoogsteen and reverse Hoogsteen interactions in the major groove of the duplex, and we show physical evidence that microRNAs form triple-helical structures with duplex DNA, and identify microRNA sequences that favor triplex formation. We developed an algorithm (Trident) to search genome-wide for potential triplex-forming sites and show that several mammalian and non-mammalian genomes are enriched for strong microRNA triplex binding sites. We show that those genes containing sequences favoring microRNA triplex formation are markedly enriched (3.3 fold, p<2.2 x 10-16) for genes whose expression is positively correlated with expression of microRNAs targeting triplex binding sequences. As a result, this work has thus revealed a new mechanism by which microRNAs can interact with gene promoter regions to modify gene transcription.},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004744},
journal = {PLoS Computational Biology (Online)},
number = 2,
volume = 12,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Searching genomes for sequences with the potential to form intrastrand triple helices
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Triplex-forming DNAs in the human interphase nucleus visualized in situ by polypurine/polypyrimidine DNA probes and antitriplex antibodies
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Triplex DNA in the nucleus: direct binding of triplex-specific antibodies and their effect on transcription, replication and cell growth
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Small dsRNAs induce transcriptional activation in human cells
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Robust estimators for expression analysis
journal, December 2002


affy--analysis of Affymetrix GeneChip data at the probe level
journal, February 2004


Exclusion of RNA strands from a purine motif triple helix
journal, January 1994


Triplex-forming oligonucleotide target sequences in the human genome
journal, January 2004


Long homopurine*homopyrimidine sequences are characteristic of genes expressed in brain and the pseudoautosomal region
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  • Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 34, Issue 9
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The TTSMI database: a catalog of triplex target DNA sites associated with genes and regulatory elements in the human genome
journal, October 2014

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  • Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 43, Issue D1
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Interaction of noncoding RNA with the rDNA promoter mediates recruitment of DNMT3b and silencing of rRNA genes
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  • DOI: 10.1101/gr.094607.109

Stability and properties of double and triple helices: dramatic effects of RNA or DNA backbone composition
journal, November 1992


Gene Regulation for Higher Cells: A Theory
journal, July 1969


The mosaic genome of warm-blooded vertebrates
journal, May 1985


MicroRNA targets in Drosophila.
journalarticle, January 2003

  • Enright, Anton J.; John, Bino; Gaul, Ulrike
  • Springer Science and Business Media LLC
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Mature microRNAs identified in highly purified nuclei from HCT116 colon cancer cells
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  • Buske, Fabian A.; Mattick, John S.; Bailey, Timothy L.
  • RNA Biology, Vol. 8, Issue 3
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