Identification of functional long non-coding RNAs in C. elegans

Akay, Alper ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6825-4443, Jordan, David, Navarro, Isabela Cunha, Wrzesinski, Tomasz, Ponting, Chris P., Miska, Eric A. and Haerty, Wilfried (2019) Identification of functional long non-coding RNAs in C. elegans. BMC Biology, 17. ISSN 1741-7007

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Abstract

Background Functional characterisation of the compact genome of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans remains incomplete despite its sequencing 20 years ago. The last decade of research has seen a tremendous increase in the number of non-coding RNAs identified in various organisms. While we have mechanistic understandings of small non-coding RNA pathways, long non-coding RNAs represent a diverse class of active transcripts whose function remains less well characterised. Results By analysing hundreds of published transcriptome datasets, we annotated 3392 potential lncRNAs including 143 multi-exonic loci that showed increased nucleotide conservation and GC content relative to other non-coding regions. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we generated deletion mutants for ten long non-coding RNA loci. Using automated microscopy for in-depth phenotyping, we show that six of the long non-coding RNA loci are required for normal development and fertility. Using RNA interference-mediated gene knock-down, we provide evidence that for two of the long non-coding RNA loci, the observed phenotypes are dependent on the corresponding RNA transcripts. Conclusions Our results highlight that a large section of the non-coding regions of the C. elegans genome remains unexplored. Based on our in vivo analysis of a selection of high-confidence lncRNA loci, we expect that a significant proportion of these high-confidence regions is likely to have a biological function at either the genomic or the transcript level.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Cells and Tissues
Related URLs:	https://doi.org/10.1101/383919
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2019 16:30
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2023 00:10
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/72553
DOI:	10.1101/383919

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