Structural RNA Homology Search and Alignment Using Covariance Models

Functional RNA elements do not encode proteins, but rather function directly as RNAs. Many different types of RNAs play important roles in a wide range of cellular processes, including protein synthesis, gene regulation, protein transport, splicing, and more. Because important sequence and structural features tend to be evolutionarily conserved, one way to learn about functional RNAs is through comparative sequence analysis - by collecting and aligning examples of homologous RNAs and comparing them. Covariance models: CMs) are powerful computational tools for homology search and alignment that score both the conserved sequence and secondary structure of an RNA family. However, due to the high computational complexity of their search and alignment algorithms, searches against large databases and alignment of large RNAs like small subunit ribosomal RNA: SSU rRNA) are prohibitively slow. Large-scale alignment of SSU rRNA is of particular utility for environmental survey studies of microbial diversity which often use the rRNA as a phylogenetic marker of microorganisms. In this work, we improve CM methods by making them faster and more sensitive to remote homology. To accelerate searches, we introduce a query-dependent banding: QDB) technique that makes scoring sequences more efficient by restricting the possible lengths of structural elements based on their probability given the model. We combine QDB with a complementary filtering method that quickly prunes away database subsequences deemed unlikely to receive high CM scores based on sequence conservation alone. To increase search sensitivity, we apply two model parameterization strategies from protein homology search tools to CMs. As judged by our benchmark, these combined approaches yield about a 250-fold speedup and significant increase in search sensitivity compared with previous implementations. To accelerate alignment, we apply a method that uses a fast sequence-based alignment of a target sequence to determine constraints for the more expensive CM sequence- and structure-based alignment. This technique reduces the time required to align one SSU rRNA sequence from about 15 minutes to 1 second with a negligible effect on alignment accuracy. Collectively, these improvements make CMs more powerful and practical tools for RNA homology search and alignment

Computational search for UV radiation resistance strategies in Deinococcus swuensis isolated from Paramo ecosystems

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is widely known as deleterious for many organisms since it can cause damage to biomolecules either directly or indirectly via the formation of reactive oxygen species. The goal of this study was to analyze the capacity of high-mountain Espeletia hartwegiana plant phyllosphere microorganisms to survive UVR and to identify genes related to resistance strategies. A strain of Deinococcus swuensis showed a high survival rate of up to 60% after UVR treatment at 800J/m2 and was used for differential expression analysis using RNA-seq after exposing cells to 400J/m2 of UVR (with \u3e95% survival rate). Differentially expressed genes were identified using the R-Bioconductor package NOISeq and compared with other reported resistance strategies reported for this genus. Genes identified as being overexpressed included transcriptional regulators and genes involved in protection against damage by UVR. Non-coding (nc)RNAs were also differentially expressed, some of which have not been previously implicated. This study characterized the immediate radiation response of D. swuensis and indicates the involvement of ncRNAs in the adaptation to extreme environmental conditions

Molecular modelling and Function Prediction of hABH7, human homologue of _E. coli_ ALKB7

Human homologues of ALKB protein have shown the prime role in DNA damaging drugs, used for cancer therapy. Little is known about structure and function of hABH7, one of the members of this superfamily. Therefore, in the present study we intend to predict its structure and function using various bioinformatics tools. Modeling was done with modeller 9v7 to predict the 3D structure of the hABH7 protein. The tertiary structure model of hABH7, ALKBH7.B99990002.pdb was predicted and evaluated. Validation results showed 97.8% residues in favored and additional allowed regions of Ramachandran plots. Ligand binding residues prediction showed four ligand clusters, having 25 ligands in cluster 1. Importantly, presence of a Phe120-Gly121-Gly122 conserved pattern in the functional domain was detected. In the predicted structural model of hABH7, amino acid residues, Arginine at 57, 58, 59 and 60 along with tyrosine at 61 were predicted in RNA binding sites of the model. The predicted and validated model of human homologue hABH7 resulting from this study may unveil the mechanism of DNA damage repair in humans and accelerate the research on designing appropriate inhibitors aiding in chemotherapy and cancer related diseases

Characterization of the Small RNA Transcriptome of the Marine Coccolithophorid, Emiliania huxleyi

Small RNAs (smRNAs) control a variety of cellular processes by silencing target genes at the transcriptional or post-transcription level. While extensively studied in plants, relatively little is known about smRNAs and their targets in marine phytoplankton, such as Emiliania huxleyi (E. huxleyi). Deep sequencing was performed of smRNAs extracted at different time points as E. huxleyi cells transition from logarithmic to stationary phase growth in batch culture. Computational analyses predicted 18 E. huxleyi specific miRNAs. The 18 miRNA candidates and their precursors vary in length (18-24 nt and 71-252 nt, respectively), genome copy number (3-1,459), and the number of genes targeted (2-107). Stem-loop real time reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR was used to validate miRNA expression which varied by nearly three orders of magnitude when growth slows and cells enter stationary phase. Stem-loop RT PCR was also used to examine the expression profiles of miRNA in calcifying and non-calcifying cultures, and a small subset was found to be differentially expressed when nutrients become limiting and calcification is enhanced. In addition to miRNAs, endogenous small RNAs such as ra-siRNAs, ta-siRNAs, nat-siRNAs, and piwiRNAs were predicted along with the machinery for the biogenesis and processing of si-RNAs. This study is the first genome-wide investigation smRNAs pathways in E. huxleyi. Results provide new insights into the importance of smRNAs in regulating aspects of physiological growth and adaptation in marine phytoplankton and further challenge the notion that smRNAs evolved with multicellularity, expanding our perspective of these ancient regulatory pathways

Structure and function prediction of human homologue hABH5 of _E. coli_ ALKB5 using in silico approach

Newly discovered human homologues of ALKB protein have shown the activity of DNA damaging drugs, used for cancer therapy. Little is known about the structure and function of hABH5, one of the members of this superfamily. Therefore, in the present study we intend to predict its structure and function using various bioinformatics tools. Modeling was done with modeler 9v7 to predict the 3D structure of the hABH5 protein. 3-D model of hABH5, ALKBH5.B99990005.pdb was predicted and evaluated. Validation results showed 96.8% residues in favor and an additional allowed region of the Ramachandran plot. Ligand binding residues prediction showed four ligand clusters, having 25 ligands in cluster 1. Importantly, conserved pattern of Pro158-X-Asp160-Xn-His266 in the functional domain was detected. DNA and RNA binding sites were also predicted in the model. The predicted and validated model of human homologue hABH5 resulting from this study may unveil the mechanism of DNA damage repair in humans and accelerate research on designing appropriate inhibitors, aiding in chemotherapy and cancer related diseases

Structure and function prediction of human homologue hABH5 of _E. coli_ ALKB5 using in silico approach

Newly discovered human homologues of ALKB protein have shown the activity of DNA damaging drugs, used for cancer therapy. Little is known about the structure and function of hABH5, one of the members of this superfamily. Therefore, in the present study we intend to predict its structure and function using various bioinformatics tools. Modeling was done with modeler 9v7 to predict the 3D structure of the hABH5 protein. 3-D model of hABH5, ALKBH5.B99990005.pdb was predicted and evaluated. Validation results showed 96.8% residues in favor and an additional allowed region of the Ramachandran plot. Ligand binding residues prediction showed four ligand clusters, having 25 ligands in cluster 1. Importantly, conserved pattern of Pro158-X-Asp160-Xn-His266 in the functional domain was detected. DNA and RNA binding sites were also predicted in the model. The predicted and validated model of human homologue hABH5 resulting from this study may unveil the mechanism of DNA damage repair in humans and accelerate research on designing appropriate inhibitors, aiding in chemotherapy and cancer related diseases

Transciptome Analysis Illuminates the Nature of the Intracellular Interaction in a Vertebrate-Algal Symbiosis

During embryonic development, cells of the green alga Oophila amblystomatis enter cells of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum forming an endosymbiosis. Here, using de novo dual-RNA seq, we compared the host salamander cells that harbored intracellular algae to those without algae and the algae inside the animal cells to those in the egg capsule. This two-by-two-way analysis revealed that intracellular algae exhibit hallmarks of cellular stress and undergo a striking metabolic shift from oxidative metabolism to fermentation. Culturing experiments with the alga showed that host glutamine may be utilized by the algal endosymbiont as a primary nitrogen source. Transcriptional changes in salamander cells suggest an innate immune response to the alga, with potential attenuation of NF-κB, and metabolic alterations indicative of modulation of insulin sensitivity. In stark contrast to its algal endosymbiont, the salamander cells did not exhibit major stress responses, suggesting that the host cell experience is neutral or beneficial