We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Polypeptide Encoded by Non-Coding RNA Regulates Muscle Regeneration

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 11 Jan 2017
Print article
Image: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which extend longer than 200 nucleotides, have emerged as additional important players in the control of gene expression. They fine-tune the expression of numerous genes and direct the activity of complex regulatory pathways, often in a cell- and developmental-stage-specific manner (Photo courtesy of Julia Yellow).
Image: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which extend longer than 200 nucleotides, have emerged as additional important players in the control of gene expression. They fine-tune the expression of numerous genes and direct the activity of complex regulatory pathways, often in a cell- and developmental-stage-specific manner (Photo courtesy of Julia Yellow).
Their name notwithstanding, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to actually encode synthesis of small polypeptides that can fine-tune the activity of critical cellular components.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered to be non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. This somewhat arbitrary limit distinguishes lncRNAs from small regulatory RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and other short RNAs. LncRNAs have been found to be involved in numerous biological roles including imprinting, epigenetic gene regulation, cell cycle and apoptosis, and metastasis and prognosis in solid tumors. Most lncRNAs are expressed only in a few cells rather than whole tissues, or they are expressed at very low levels, making them difficult to study.

Investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA, USA) reported in the December 26, 2016, online edition of the journal Nature that they had identified and functionally characterized a novel 90 amino acid polypeptide encoded by the lncRNA LINC00961. This polypeptide was found to be conserved between human and mouse, was localized to the late endosome/lysosome, and interacted with the lysosomal enzyme v-ATPase to negatively regulate mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) activation. The role of mTORC1 is to activate translation of proteins. The downregulation of mTORC1 by the lncRNA polypeptide was specific to activation of mTORC1 by amino acid stimulation, rather than by growth factors. Therefore they called this polypeptide "small regulatory polypeptide of amino acid response" or SPAR.

The investigators showed that the SPAR-encoding lncRNA was highly expressed in a subset of tissues and used CRISPR/Cas9 engineering to develop a SPAR-polypeptide-specific knockout mouse while maintaining expression of the host lncRNA. They found that the SPAR-encoding lncRNA was downregulated in skeletal muscle upon acute injury. Using this in vivo model, they established that SPAR downregulation enabled efficient activation of mTORC1 and promoted muscle regeneration.

"Whether such small, hidden polypeptides are actually functional, or represent "translational noise" within the cell is still relatively unclear," said senior author Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, director of the cancer center and cancer research institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Our team set about trying to understand to what extent lncRNA molecules might actually encode functional polypeptides, and how important such peptides might be."

"We are very excited about this discovery," said Dr. Pandolfi. "It represents a new and startling mechanism by which important sensory pathways can be regulated within cells, and we believe it will have important implications for how we approach the design of therapies and treatments in the future."

Related Links:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
Gold Member
Real-time PCR System
GentierX3 Series

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.