Differential Gene Expression following DHX36/G4R1 Knockout Is Associated with G-Quadruplex Content and Cancer.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are secondary DNA and RNA structures stabilized by positive cations in a central channel formed by stacked tetrads of Hoogsteen base-paired guanines. G4s form from G-rich sequences across the genome, whose biased distribution in regulatory regions points towards a gene-regulatory role. G4s can themselves be regulated by helicases, such as DHX36 (aliases: G4R1 and RHAU), which possess the necessary activity to resolve these stable structures. G4s have been shown to both positively and negatively regulate gene expression when stabilized by ligands, or through the loss of helicase activity. Using DHX36 knockout Jurkat cell lines, we identified widespread, although often subtle, effects on gene expression that are associated with the presence or number of observed G-quadruplexes in promoters or gene regions. Genes that significantly change their expression, particularly those that show a significant increase in RNA abundance under DHX36 knockout, are associated with a range of cellular functions and processes, including numerous transcription factors and oncogenes, and are linked to several cancers. Our work highlights the direct and indirect role of DHX36 in the transcriptome of T-lymphocyte leukemia cells and the potential for DHX36 dysregulation in cancer.

The RNA helicase DHX36-G4R1 modulates C9orf72 GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat-associated translation.

GGGGCC (G4C2) hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the endosomal trafficking gene C9orf72 are the most common genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia. Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation of this expansion through near-cognate initiation codon usage and internal ribosomal entry generates toxic proteins that accumulate in patients' brains and contribute to disease pathogenesis. The helicase protein DEAH-box helicase 36 (DHX36-G4R1) plays active roles in RNA and DNA G-quadruplex (G4) resolution in cells. As G4C2 repeats are known to form G4 structures in vitro, we sought to determine the impact of manipulating DHX36 expression on repeat transcription and RAN translation. Using a series of luciferase reporter assays both in cells and in vitro, we found that DHX36 depletion suppresses RAN translation in a repeat length-dependent manner, whereas overexpression of DHX36 enhances RAN translation from G4C2 reporter RNAs. Moreover, upregulation of RAN translation that is typically triggered by integrated stress response activation is prevented by loss of DHX36. These results suggest that DHX36 is active in regulating G4C2 repeat translation, providing potential implications for therapeutic development in nucleotide repeat expansion disorders.

G-Quadruplex Helicase DHX36/G4R1 Engages Nuclear Lamina Proteins in Quiescent Breast Cancer Cells.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acid structures found enriched within gene regulatory sequences. G4s control fundamental cellular processes, including replication, transcription, and translation. Proto-oncogenes are enriched with G4 sequences, while tumor-suppressor genes are depleted, suggesting roles for G4s in cell survival and proliferation. Specialized helicases participate in G4-mediated gene regulation via enzymatic unwinding activity. One such enzyme, DHX36/G4R1, is the major G4-helicase and is a master regulator of G4-DNAs and mRNAs. G4-resolution promotes the expression of proproliferative genes; as such, DHX36/G4R1 promotes cell proliferation. Little is known about how DHX36/G4R1 itself is regulated in nondividing cells. We hypothesized that DHX36/G4R1 protein binding partners are altered when a cell transitions from a dividing to a quiescent state. We found that DHX36/G4R1 co-purifies with a distinct set of proteins under quiescent conditions, which may represent a novel complex that regulates DHX36/G4R1 during cell cycle transitions and have implications for development and cancer.

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity.

N6-isopentenyladenosine RNA modifications are functionally diverse and highly conserved among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. One of the most highly conserved N6-isopentenyladenosine modifications occurs at the A37 position in a subset of tRNAs. This modification improves translation efficiency and fidelity by increasing the affinity of the tRNA for the ribosome. Mutation of enzymes responsible for this modification in eukaryotes are associated with several disease states, including mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer. Therefore, understanding the substrate specificity and biochemical activities of these enzymes is important for understanding of normal and pathologic eukaryotic biology. A diverse array of methods has been employed to characterize i6A modifications. Herein is described a direct approach for the detection of isopentenylation by Mod5. This method utilizes incubation of RNAs with a recombinant isopentenyl transferase, followed by RNase T1 digestion, and 1-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis to detect i6A modifications. In addition, the potential adaptability of this protocol to characterize other RNA-modifying enzymes is discussed.

Restriction digest screening facilitates efficient detection of site-directed mutations introduced by CRISPR in C. albicans UME6.

Introduction of point mutations to a gene of interest is a powerful tool when determining protein function. CRISPR-mediated genome editing allows for more efficient transfer of a desired mutation into a wide range of model organisms. Traditionally, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing is used to determine if isolates contain the intended mutation. However, mutation efficiency is highly variable, potentially making sequencing costly and time consuming. To more efficiently screen for correct transformants, we have identified restriction enzymes sites that encode for two identical amino acids or one or two stop codons. We used CRISPR to introduce these restriction sites directly upstream of the Candida albicans UME6 Zn2+-binding domain, a known regulator of C. albicans filamentation. While repair templates coding for different restriction sites were not equally successful at introducing mutations, restriction digest screening enabled us to rapidly identify isolates with the intended mutation in a cost-efficient manner. In addition, mutated isolates have clear defects in filamentation and virulence compared to wild type C. albicans. Our data suggest restriction digestion screening efficiently identifies point mutations introduced by CRISPR and streamlines the process of identifying residues important for a phenotype of interest.