Name: use of alu element containing minigenes to analyze circular rnas
Uploaded: 2020-03-10T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Department of Defense DoD grant AZ180075. Stefan Stamm thanks Jacqueline Noonan Endowment. Anna Pawluchin was supported by the DAAD, German academic exchange program, Justin R. Welden was a recipient of the University of Kentucky Max Steckler Award.

1. Design of the constructs
<ol>
	<li>Use the UCSC genome browser24 to identify repetitive elements necessary for circular RNA formation and incorporate them in the constructs. Importantly, primers for amplification need to be outside the repetitive elements.</li>
	<li>Paste the circular RNA sequence (Supplemental Figure 1 is a test sequence) into <a href="https://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgBlat?command=start" target="_blank">https://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgBlat?command=start</...

<ol>
	<li>Jeck, W. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circular+RNAs+are+abundant,+conserved,+and+associated+with+ALU+repeats.">Circular RNAs are abundant, conserved, and associated with ALU repeats.</a> RNA. 19 (2), 141-157 (2013).</li><li>Zhang, X. O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complementary+sequence-mediated+exon+circularization.">Complementary sequence-mediated exon circularization.</a> Cell. 159 (1), 134-147 (2014).</li><li>Deininger, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alu+elements:+know+the+SINEs.">Alu elements: know the SINEs.</a> Genome Biology. 12 (12), 236 (2011).</li><li>Bazak, L., Levanon, E. Y., Eisenberg, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genome-wide+analysis+of+Alu+editability.">Genome-wide analysis of Alu editability.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 42 (11), 6876-6884 (2014).</li><li>Levanon, E. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systematic+identification+of+abundant+A-to-I+editing+sites+in+the+human+transcriptome.">Systematic identification of abundant A-to-I editing sites in the human transcriptome.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 22 (8), 1001-1005 (2004).</li><li>Hansen, T. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Natural+RNA+circles+function+as+efficient+microRNA+sponges.">Natural RNA circles function as efficient microRNA sponges.</a> Nature. 495 (7441), 384-388 (2013).</li><li>Kelly, S., Greenman, C., Cook, P. R., Papantonis, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exon+Skipping+Is+Correlated+with+Exon+Circularization.">Exon Skipping Is Correlated with Exon Circularization.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 427 (15), 2414-2417 (2015).</li><li>Li, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exon-intron+circular+RNAs+regulate+transcription+in+the+nucleus.">Exon-intron circular RNAs regulate transcription in the nucleus.</a> Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology. 22 (3), 256-264 (2015).</li><li>Yang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extensive+translation+of+circular+RNAs+driven+by+N(6)-methyladenosine.">Extensive translation of circular RNAs driven by N(6)-methyladenosine.</a> Cell Research. 27 (6), 626-641 (2017).</li><li>Abe, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rolling+Circle+Translation+of+Circular+RNA+in+Living+Human+Cells.">Rolling Circle Translation of Circular RNA in Living Human Cells.</a> Scientific Reports. 5, 16435 (2015).</li><li>Salzman, J., Chen, R. E., Olsen, M. N., Wang, P. L., Brown, P. O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-type+specific+features+of+circular+RNA+expression.">Cell-type specific features of circular RNA expression.</a> PLOS Genetics. 9 (9), 1003777 (2013).</li><li>Ottesen, E. W., Luo, D., Seo, J., Singh, N. N., Singh, R. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+Survival+Motor+Neuron+genes+generate+a+vast+repertoire+of+circular+RNAs.">Human Survival Motor Neuron genes generate a vast repertoire of circular RNAs.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 47 (6), 2884-2905 (2019).</li><li>Stoss, O., Stoilov, P., Hartmann, A. M., Nayler, O., Stamm, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+in+vivo+minigene+approach+to+analyze+tissue-specific+splicing.">The in vivo minigene approach to analyze tissue-specific splicing.</a> Brain Research Protocols. 4, 383-394 (1999).</li><li>Mardon, H. J., Sebastio, G., Baralle, F. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+role+for+exon+sequences+in+alternative+splicing+of+the+human+fibronectin+gene.">A role for exon sequences in alternative splicing of the human fibronectin gene.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 15, 7725-7733 (1987).</li><li>Gaildrat, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+splicing+reporter+minigene+assay+to+evaluate+the+effect+on+splicing+of+unclassified+genetic+variants.">Use of splicing reporter minigene assay to evaluate the effect on splicing of unclassified genetic variants.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 653, 249-257 (2010).</li><li>Cooper, T. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+minigene+systems+to+dissect+alternative+splicing+elements.">Use of minigene systems to dissect alternative splicing elements.</a> Methods. 37 (4), 331-340 (2005).</li><li>Baralle, D., Baralle, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Splicing+in+action:+assessing+disease+causing+sequence+changes.">Splicing in action: assessing disease causing sequence changes.</a> Journal of Medical Genetics. 42 (10), 737-748 (2005).</li><li>Percifield, R., Murphy, D., Stoilov, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Medium+throughput+analysis+of+alternative+splicing+by+fluorescently+labeled+RT-PCR.">Medium throughput analysis of alternative splicing by fluorescently labeled RT-PCR.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1126, 299-313 (2014).</li><li>Stoilov, P., Lin, C. H., Damoiseaux, R., Nikolic, J., Black, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+high-throughput+screening+strategy+identifies+cardiotonic+steroids+as+alternative+splicing+modulators.">A high-throughput screening strategy identifies cardiotonic steroids as alternative splicing modulators.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 105 (32), 11218-11223 (2008).</li><li>Shen, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pyrvinium+pamoate+changes+alternative+splicing+of+the+serotonin+receptor+2C+by+influencing+its+RNA+structure.">Pyrvinium pamoate changes alternative splicing of the serotonin receptor 2C by influencing its RNA structure.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 41 (6), 3819-3832 (2013).</li><li>Noto, J. J., Schmidt, C. A., Matera, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+and+expressing+circular+RNAs+via+tRNA+splicing.">Engineering and expressing circular RNAs via tRNA splicing.</a> RNA Biology. , 1-7 (2017).</li><li>Schmidt, C. A., Noto, J. J., Filonov, G. S., Matera, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Method+for+Expressing+and+Imaging+Abundant,+Stable,+Circular+RNAs+In+Vivo+Using+tRNA+Splicing.">A Method for Expressing and Imaging Abundant, Stable, Circular RNAs In Vivo Using tRNA Splicing.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 572, 215-236 (2016).</li><li>Welden, J. R., van Doorn, J., Nelson, P. T., Stamm, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+human+MAPT+locus+generates+circular+RNAs.">The human MAPT locus generates circular RNAs.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease. , 2753-2760 (2018).</li><li>Casper, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+UCSC+Genome+Browser+database:+2018+update.">The UCSC Genome Browser database: 2018 update.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 46, 762-769 (2018).</li><li>Grozdanov, P. N., MacDonald, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+plasmid+vectors+expressing+FLAG-tagged+proteins+under+the+regulation+of+human+elongation+factor-1alpha+promoter+using+Gibson+assembly.">Generation of plasmid vectors expressing FLAG-tagged proteins under the regulation of human elongation factor-1alpha promoter using Gibson assembly.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (96), (2015).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+strategy+to+engineer+DNA+polymerases+for+enhanced+processivity+and+improved+performance+in+vitro.">A novel strategy to engineer DNA polymerases for enhanced processivity and improved performance in vitro.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 32 (3), 1197-1207 (2004).</li><li>Gibson, D. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enzymatic+assembly+of+DNA+molecules+up+to+several+hundred+kilobases.">Enzymatic assembly of DNA molecules up to several hundred kilobases.</a> Nature Methods. 6 (5), 343-345 (2009).</li><li>Conn, S. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+RNA+binding+protein+quaking+regulates+formation+of+circRNAs.">The RNA binding protein quaking regulates formation of circRNAs.</a> Cell. 160 (6), 1125-1134 (2015).</li><li>Jeck, W. R., Sharpless, N. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Detecting+and+characterizing+circular+RNAs.">Detecting and characterizing circular RNAs.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 32 (5), 453-461 (2014).</li><li>Pamudurti, N. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translation+of+CircRNAs.">Translation of CircRNAs.</a> Molecular Cell. 66 (1), 9-21 (2017).</li><li>Kramer, M. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Combinatorial+control+of+Drosophila+circular+RNA+expression+by+intronic+repeats,+hnRNPs,+and+SR+proteins.">Combinatorial control of Drosophila circular RNA expression by intronic repeats, hnRNPs, and SR proteins.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 29 (20), 2168-2182 (2015).</li><li>Starke, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exon+circularization+requires+canonical+splice+signals.">Exon circularization requires canonical splice signals.</a> Cell Reports. 10 (1), 103-111 (2015).</li><li>Suzuki, H., Tsukahara, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+view+of+pre-mRNA+splicing+from+RNase+R+resistant+RNAs.">A view of pre-mRNA splicing from RNase R resistant RNAs.</a> International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 15 (6), 9331-9342 (2014).</li><li>Zhang, X. O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diverse+alternative+back-splicing+and+alternative+splicing+landscape+of+circular+RNAs.">Diverse alternative back-splicing and alternative splicing landscape of circular RNAs.</a> Genome Research. 26 (9), 1277-1287 (2016).</li><li>Liang, D., Wilusz, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Short+intronic+repeat+sequences+facilitate+circular+RNA+production.">Short intronic repeat sequences facilitate circular RNA production.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 28 (20), 2233-2247 (2014).</li><li>Wang, Y., Mandelkow, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tau+in+physiology+and+pathology.">Tau in physiology and pathology.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 17 (1), 5-21 (2016).</li><li>Fejes-Toth, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Post-transcriptional+processing+generates+a+diversity+of+5'-modified+long+and+short+RNAs.">Post-transcriptional processing generates a diversity of 5'-modified long and short RNAs.</a> Nature. 457 (7232), 1028-1032 (2009).</li><li>Gao, Q. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complex+regulation+of+tau+exon+10,+whose+missplicing+causes+frontotemporal+dementia.">Complex regulation of tau exon 10, whose missplicing causes frontotemporal dementia.</a> Journal of Neurochemistry. 74 (2), 490-500 (2000).</li><li>Hartmann, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+alternative+splicing+of+human+tau+exon+10+by+phosphorylation+of+splicing+factors.">Regulation of alternative splicing of human tau exon 10 by phosphorylation of splicing factors.</a> Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 18 (1), 80-90 (2001).</li><li>Wang, Y., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+backsplicing+produces+translatable+circular+mRNAs.">Efficient backsplicing produces translatable circular mRNAs.</a> RNA. 21 (2), 172-179 (2015).</li><li>Yang, Y., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Constructing+GFP-Based+Reporter+to+Study+Back+Splicing+and+Translation+of+Circular+RNA.">Constructing GFP-Based Reporter to Study Back Splicing and Translation of Circular RNA.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1724, 107-118 (2018).</li><li>Zheng, Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circular+RNA+profiling+reveals+an+abundant+circHIPK3+that+regulates+cell+growth+by+sponging+multiple+miRNAs.">Circular RNA profiling reveals an abundant circHIPK3 that regulates cell growth by sponging multiple miRNAs.</a> Nature Communications. 7, 11215 (2016).</li><li>Jia, W., Xu, B., Wu, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circular+RNA+expression+profiles+of+mouse+ovaries+during+postnatal+development+and+the+function+of+circular+RNA+epidermal+growth+factor+receptor+in+granulosa+cells.">Circular RNA expression profiles of mouse ovaries during postnatal development and the function of circular RNA epidermal growth factor receptor in granulosa cells.</a> Metabolism. 85, 192-204 (2018).</li><li>Liang, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Output+of+Protein-Coding+Genes+Shifts+to+Circular+RNAs+When+the+Pre-mRNA+Processing+Machinery+Is+Limiting.">The Output of Protein-Coding Genes Shifts to Circular RNAs When the Pre-mRNA Processing Machinery Is Limiting.</a> Molecular Cell. 68 (5), 940-954 (2017).</li><li>Legnini, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circ-ZNF609+Is+a+Circular+RNA+that+Can+Be+Translated+and+Functions+in+Myogenesis.">Circ-ZNF609 Is a Circular RNA that Can Be Translated and Functions in Myogenesis.</a> Molecular Cell. 66 (1), 22-37 (2017).</li><li>Li, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coordinated+circRNA+Biogenesis+and+Function+with+NF90/NF110+in+Viral+Infection.">Coordinated circRNA Biogenesis and Function with NF90/NF110 in Viral Infection.</a> Molecular Cell. 67 (2), 214-227 (2017).</li><li>Zhang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Biogenesis+of+Nascent+Circular+RNAs.">The Biogenesis of Nascent Circular RNAs.</a> Cell Reports. 15 (3), 611-624 (2016).</li></ol>

In general, circular RNAs are low abundant1, which complicates the study of their function and formation. Similar to linear RNAs13, the use of reporter minigenes allows the identification of cis and trans-acting factors that regulate the formation of circular RNAs. Thus, this approach generates hypotheses that can be further tested using the endogenous genes.
The most critical step is the design of the reporter gene. The enzymatic assembly of DNA...

Circular RNAs 
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed single stranded RNAs that are expressed in most organisms. They are generated by joining a downstream 5&#39; splice site to an upstream 3&#39; splice site, a process called back-splicing (Figure 1A)1. Sequences in the pre-mRNA that exhibit base complementary as short as 30-40 nt bring back-splice sites into proper alignment for circRNA formation2. In humans, Alu elements1, representing about 11% of the genome3, form extensive double stranded RNA structures in pre-mRNA due to their self-complementarity4,5 and thus promote the formation of circRNAs1.
Currently, three major functions of circRNAs have been described. Some circRNAs bind microRNAs (miRNAs) and through sequestration act like miRNA sponges6. CircRNAs have been implicated in transcriptional and post transcriptional regulation, through competition with linear splicing7 or modulation of transcription factor activity8. Finally, circRNAs contain short open reading frames and proof of principle studies show that they can be translated9,10. However, the function of most circRNAs remains enigmatic. The majority of circular RNAs have been detected using next-generation sequencing methods11. Detailed analyses of individual genes using targeted RT-PCR approaches reveal that a large number of circular RNAs remains to be discovered12.
Use of reporter genes to analyze pre-mRNA processing 
The analysis of mRNA derived from DNA reporter constructs transfected into cells is a well-established method to study alternative pre-mRNA splicing, which can be applied to circular RNAs. In general, the alternative exon, its surrounding introns, and constitutive exons are amplified and cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector. Frequently, the introns are shortened. The constructs are transfected into eukaryotic cells and usually analyzed by RT-PCR13,14. This approach has been extensively used to map regulatory splice sites and trans-acting factors in co-transfection experiments13,15,16,17,18. In addition, the generation of protein-expressing minigenes allowed for screening of substances that change alternative splicing19,20.
The method has been applied to circular RNAs. Currently, at least 12 minigene backbones have been described in the literature and are summarized in Table 1. With the exception of the tRNA based expression system21,22, they are all dependent on polymerase II promoters. Here, we describe a method to generate human reporter minigenes to determine cis and trans-acting factors involved in the generation of circular RNAs. An overview of the method using sequences of a published reporter gene23 is shown in Figure 1.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>(PEI) Hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>24765-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Builder tool</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="https://nebuilder.neb.com/#!/" target="_blank">https://nebuilder.neb.com/#!/</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dark Reader Transilluminator.</td>
			<td>Clare Chemical Research</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Enzymatic DNA assembly kit</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>E2621S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gel and PCR cleanup kit</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>A9282</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glyco Blue</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>AM9516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pcDNA3.1 cloning site</td>
			<td>Polycloning site</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/manuals/pcdna3_1_man.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/manuals/pcdna3_1_man.pdf</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polymerase 1</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>M0491L</td>
			<td>Q5 DNA polymerase</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polymerase 2</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>1725310</td>
			<td>Long range polymerase (NEB), iproof (BioRad)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polymerase 2</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>206402</td>
			<td>Qiagen long range polymerase kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reverse Transcriptase</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>18080044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNA isolation kit</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>12183025</td>
			<td>Ambion by Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNAse R</td>
			<td>Lucigen</td>
			<td>RNR07250</td>
			<td>Epicenter/Lucigen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stable competent cells</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>C3040H</td>
			<td>NEB stable cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Standard cloning bacteria</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>C2988J</td>
			<td>NEB5-alpha competent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Web tool to design primers</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="https://nebuilder.neb.com/#!/" target="_blank">https://nebuilder.neb.com/#!/</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Web-based temperature calculations</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="https://tmcalculator.neb.com/#!/main" target="_blank">https://tmcalculator.neb.com/#!/main</a></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

use of alu element containing minigenes to analyze circular rnas

In addition to linear mRNAs, many eukaryotic genes generate circular RNAs. Most circular RNAs are generated by joining a 5&#39; splice site with an upstream 3&#39; splice site within a pre-mRNA, a process called back-splicing. This circularization is likely aided by secondary structures in the pre-mRNA that bring the splice sites into close proximity. In human genes, Alu elements are thought to promote these secondary RNA structures, as Alu elements are abundant and exhibit base complementarities with each other when present in opposite directions in the pre-mRNA. Here, we describe the generation and analysis of large, Alu element containing reporter genes that form circular RNAs. Through optimization of cloning protocols, reporter genes with up to 20 kb insert length can be generated. Their analysis in co-transfection experiments allows the identification of regulatory factors. Thus, this method can identify RNA sequences and cellular components involved in circular RNA formation.

Reporter genes allow determination of regulatory factors that influence circular RNA formation. However, these reporter genes are large and contain repetitive elements that often make DNA constructs unstable. Due to their large size, it is often necessary to delete parts of the introns, which is achieved by amplifying genomic pieces containing the exons and smaller flanking intronic parts. These DNA pieces are enzymatically assembled, allowing construction without restriction enzymes.
The exam...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs at JoVE.com

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs

We clone and analyze reporter genes generating circular RNAs. These reporter genes are larger than constructs to analyze linear splicing and contain Alu elements. To investigate the circular RNAs, the constructs are transfected into cells and resulting RNA is analyzed using RT-PCR after removal of linear RNA.

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs

In addition to linear mRNAs, many eukaryotic genes generate circular RNAs. Most circular RNAs are generated by joining a 5&#39; splice site with an ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

Combining Wet and Dry Lab Techniques to Guide the Crystallization of Large Coiled-coil Containing Proteins

Obtaining crystals for structure determination can be a difficult and time consuming proposition for any protein. Coiled-coil proteins and domains are ...

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Monotopic proteins exert their function when attached to a membrane surface, and such interactions depend on the specific lipid composition and on the ...

Quantification of the Abundance and Charging Levels of Transfer RNAs in Escherichia coli

Quantification of the Abundance and Charging Levels of Transfer RNAs in Escherichia coli

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is an essential part of the translational machinery in any organism. tRNAs bind and transfer amino acids to the translating ribosome. ...

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases

It has been reported that mitochondria can contain up to 12 enzymatic sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A majority of these sites include ...

Use of Two Dimensional Semi-denaturing Detergent Agarose Gel Electrophoresis to Confirm Size Heterogeneity of Amyloid or Amyloid-like Fibers

Amyloid or amyloid-like fibers have been associated with many human diseases, and are now being discovered to be important for many signaling pathways. ...

Large-scale Production of Recombinant RNAs on a Circular Scaffold Using a Viroid-derived System in Escherichia coli

Large-scale Production of Recombinant RNAs on a Circular Scaffold Using a Viroid-derived System in Escherichia coli

With increasing interest in RNA biology and the use of RNA molecules in sophisticated biotechnological applications, the methods to produce large amounts ...

Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) domain-containing proteins (FAHD) are identified members of the FAH superfamily in eukaryotes. Enzymes of this ...

Use of Microscale Thermophoresis to Measure Protein-Lipid Interactions

The ability to determine the binding affinity of lipids to proteins is an essential part of understanding protein-lipid interactions in membrane ...

Quantification of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Humate Ores, DOC, Humified Materials and Humic Substance-Containing Commercial Products

The purpose of this method is to provide an accurate and precise concentration of humic (HA) and/or fulvic acids (FA) in soft coals, humic ores and ...

Ready-To-Use qPCR for Detection of DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi or Other Pathogenic Organisms

Ready-To-Use qPCR for Detection of DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi or Other Pathogenic Organisms

Real-time PCR (qPCR) is a remarkably sensitive and precise technique&#160;that allows for amplifying&#160;minute amounts of nucleic acid targets from a ...