Transient expression of intron-containing transgenes generates non-spliced aberrant pre-mRNAs that are processed into siRNAs
Main conclusionIn this study, we show that aberrant pre-mRNAs from non-spliced and non-polyadenylated intron-containing transgenes are channelled to the RNA silencing pathway.In plants, improperly processed transcripts are called aberrant RNAs (ab-RNAs) and are eliminated by either RNA silencing or...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
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| In: |
Planta
Year: 2019, Volume: 249, Issue: 2, Pages: 457-468 |
| ISSN: | 1432-2048 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00425-018-3015-6 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-3015-6
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| Author Notes: | Athanasios Dalakouras, Anja Lauter, Alexandra Bassler, Gabi Krczal, Michael Wassenegger |
| Summary: | Main conclusionIn this study, we show that aberrant pre-mRNAs from non-spliced and non-polyadenylated intron-containing transgenes are channelled to the RNA silencing pathway.In plants, improperly processed transcripts are called aberrant RNAs (ab-RNAs) and are eliminated by either RNA silencing or RNA decay mechanisms. Ab-RNAs transcribed from intronless genes are copied by RNA-directed RNA polymerases (RDRs) into double-stranded RNAs which are subsequently cleaved by DICER-LIKE endonucleases into small RNAs (sRNAs). In contrast, ab-RNAs from intron-containing genes are suggested to be channelled post-splicing to exonucleolytic degradation. Yet, it is not clear how non-spliced aberrant pre-mRNAs are eliminated. We reasoned that transient expression of agroinfiltrated intron-containing transgenes in Nicotiana benthamiana would allow us to study the steady-state levels of non-spliced pre-mRNAs. SRNA deep sequencing of the agroinfiltrated transgenes revealed the presence of sRNAs mapping to the entire non-spliced pre-mRNA suggesting that RDRs (most likely RDR6) processed aberrant non-spliced pre-mRNAs. Primary and secondary sRNAs with lengths of 18-25 nucleotides (nt) were detected, with the most prominent sRNA size class of 22 nt. SRNAs also mapped to the terminator sequence, indicating that RDR substrates also comprised read-through transcripts devoid of polyadenylation tail. Importantly, the occurring sRNAs efficiently targeted cognate mRNA for degradation but failed to cleave the non-spliced pre-mRNA, corroborating the notion that sRNAs are not triggering RNA cleavage in the nucleus. |
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| Item Description: | Published online: 24 September 2018 Gesehen am 22.07.2019 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1432-2048 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00425-018-3015-6 |