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Widespread A-to-I RNA editing of Alu-containing mRNAs in the human transcriptome.
- Source :
- PLoS Biology, Vol 2, Iss 12, p e391 (2004)
- Publication Year :
- 2004
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2004.
-
Abstract
- RNA editing by adenosine deamination generates RNA and protein diversity through the posttranscriptional modification of single nucleotides in RNA sequences. Few mammalian A-to-I edited genes have been identified despite evidence that many more should exist. Here we identify intramolecular pairs of Alu elements as a major target for editing in the human transcriptome. An experimental demonstration in 43 genes was extended by a broader computational analysis of more than 100,000 human mRNAs. We find that 1,445 human mRNAs (1.4%) are subject to RNA editing at more than 14,500 sites, and our data further suggest that the vast majority of pre-mRNAs (greater than 85%) are targeted in introns by the editing machinery. The editing levels of Alu-containing mRNAs correlate with distance and homology between inverted repeats and vary in different tissues. Alu-mediated RNA duplexes targeted by RNA editing are formed intramolecularly, whereas editing due to intermolecular base-pairing appears to be negligible. We present evidence that these editing events can lead to the posttranscriptional creation or elimination of splice signals affecting alternatively spliced Alu-derived exons. The analysis suggests that modification of repetitive elements is a predominant activity for RNA editing with significant implications for cellular gene expression.
- Subjects :
- Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15449173 and 15457885
- Volume :
- 2
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- PLoS Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.80f248d52b2c461c90a2580b719bd5b2
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0020391