Identifying mRNA editing deaminase targets by RNA-Seq

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:718:103-19. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-018-8_6.

Abstract

RNA editing deaminases act on a variety of targets in different organisms. A number of such enzymes have been shown to act on mRNA, with the resultant nucleotide changes modifying a transcript's information content. Though the deaminase activity of mRNA editing enzymes is readily demonstrated in vitro, identifying their physiological targets has proved challenging. Recent advances in ultra high-throughput sequencing technologies have allowed for whole transcriptome sequencing and expression profiling (RNA-Seq). We have developed a system to identify novel mRNA editing deamination targets based on comparative analysis of RNA-Seq data. The efficacy and utility of this approach is demonstrated for APOBEC1, a cytidine deaminase with a known and well-characterized mRNA editing target in the mammalian small intestine.

MeSH terms

  • APOBEC-1 Deaminase
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • APOBEC-1 Deaminase
  • APOBEC1 protein, human
  • Cytidine Deaminase