University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

RNA in the nucleus: insight into location and biological function

Sridhar, Bharat

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SRIDHAR-DISSERTATION-2017.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/98111

Description

Title
RNA in the nucleus: insight into location and biological function
Author(s)
Sridhar, Bharat
Issue Date
2017-06-16
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Zhong, Sheng
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Bagchi, Milan K.
Committee Member(s)
  • Prasanth, Kannanganattu V.
  • Kemper, Jongsook K.
Department of Study
Molecular & Integrative Physl
Discipline
Molecular & Integrative Physi
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2017-09-29T16:37:50Z
Keyword(s)
  • Chromatin associated Ribonucleic acids (RNAs)
  • Mapping ribonucleic acid (RNA)-genome interactions (MARGI)
  • Ribonucleic acid (RNA) chromatin interactions
Abstract
RNA is an important constituent of the nucleus with functions including regulation of RNA biogenesis, regulation of gene expression, and dosage compensation. Currently used technologies to study RNA chromatin interactions pull down individual RNAs and sequence the associated DNA. However, it remains challenging to identify chromatin associated RNAs and their genomic target sites. In this thesis, I will describe MARGI-seq, a method to identify chromatin associated RNAs and their genomic target sites in one unbiased experiment. This method thus challenges the one-RNA-at-a-time paradigm of currently available technologies. The technique involves ligating RNA and DNA together via a novel linker and sequencing these chimeric molecules via paired end next generation sequencing. We have developed two variations to this protocol called proximity MARGI (pxMARGI) and direct MARGI (diMARGI). pxMARGI identifies all RNA and DNA in close proximity, while diMARGI prioritizes protein mediated direct interactions. We have applied this technique to study RNA-chromatin interactions in three cell types, mouse E14 embryonic stem cell line, human H9 embryonic stem cells and human HEK 293T cells. Among the top caRNAs identified by MARGI were several nuclear body associated RNAs including SNHG1, MALAT1, NEAT1 and XIST. 80 – 95% of the DNA targets of caRNA were observed to be connected to the loci of RNA transcription, 1-2% were observed to be on the same chromosome but distal to the loci of RNA transcription and about 5 – 10 % of the DNA targets were observed to be inter-chromosomal connections. RNA attachment levels were observed to be positively correlated to H3K4me3 and H3K27Ac levels and negatively correlated to H3K9me3 levels. We also developed a new plasmid called pCRISPTET as an easily clonable system to tether RNA of interest to specific genomic loci based on the CRISPR-display technique. Gibson assembly can be used to introduce RNA of interest, while golden gate cloning can be used to clone in the PAM sequence to provide information regarding the genomic loci of interest. We used pCRISTET to study the effect of tethering lncRNA EVX1as to the EVX1/ EVX1as promoter region.
Graduation Semester
2017-08
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98111
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2017 Bharat Sridhar

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Dissertations and Theses - Molecular and Integrative Physiology
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Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois