Name: antibody-free assay for rna methyltransferase activity analysis
Uploaded: 2019-07-09T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Dr. Turja Kanti Debnath for his help with ChemDraw. Research in the Xhemal&#231;e lab is supported by the Department Of Defense -&#160;Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program -&#160;Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award (W81XWH-16-1-0352), NIH Grant R01 GM127802 and start-up funds from the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology and the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

1. In vitro transcription and gel purification of the target RNA
<ol>
	<li>Clone the sequence of interest into plasmids containing T7 and/or SP6 promoters using established molecular cloning techniques12 or kits.</li>
	<li>Linearizing the DNA template for in vitro transcription
	<ol>
		<li>Amplify the sequence of interest by PCR of the plasmid with primers designed to include the T7 promoter region through the insert, +20-30 bp upstream and downstream as previously described<sup...

<ol>
	<li>Xhemalce, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+histones+to+RNA:+role+of+methylation+in+cancer.">From histones to RNA: role of methylation in cancer.</a> Briefings in Functional Genomics. 12 (3), 244-253 (2013).</li><li>Shelton, S. B., Reinsborough, C., Xhemalce, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Who+Watches+the+Watchmen:+Roles+of+RNA+Modifications+in+the+RNA+Interference+Pathway.">Who Watches the Watchmen: Roles of RNA Modifications in the RNA Interference Pathway.</a> PLoS Genetics. 12 (7), 1006139 (2016).</li><li>Mauer, 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=Reversible+methylation+of+m(6)Am+in+the+5'+cap+controls+mRNA+stability.">Reversible methylation of m(6)Am in the 5' cap controls mRNA stability.</a> Nature. 541 (7637), 371-375 (2017).</li><li>Wang, 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=N6-methyladenosine-dependent+regulation+of+messenger+RNA+stability.">N6-methyladenosine-dependent regulation of messenger RNA stability.</a> Nature. 505 (7481), 117-120 (2014).</li><li>Pendleton, K. E., 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+U6+snRNA+m(6)A+Methyltransferase+METTL16+Regulates+SAM+Synthetase+Intron+Retention.">The U6 snRNA m(6)A Methyltransferase METTL16 Regulates SAM Synthetase Intron Retention.</a> Cell. 169 (5), 824-835 (2017).</li><li>Meyer, K. 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=5'+UTR+m(6)A+Promotes+Cap-Independent+Translation.">5' UTR m(6)A Promotes Cap-Independent Translation.</a> Cell. 163 (4), 999-1010 (2015).</li><li>Wang, 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=N(6)-methyladenosine+Modulates+Messenger+RNA+Translation+Efficiency.">N(6)-methyladenosine Modulates Messenger RNA Translation Efficiency.</a> Cell. 161 (6), 1388-1399 (2015).</li><li>Alarcon, C. R., Lee, H., Goodarzi, H., Halberg, N., Tavazoie, S. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=N6-methyladenosine+marks+primary+microRNAs+for+processing.">N6-methyladenosine marks primary microRNAs for processing.</a> Nature. 519 (7544), 482-485 (2015).</li><li>Xhemalce, B., Robson, S. C., Kouzarides, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+RNA+methyltransferase+BCDIN3D+regulates+microRNA+processing.">Human RNA methyltransferase BCDIN3D regulates microRNA processing.</a> Cell. 151 (2), 278-288 (2012).</li><li>Jeronimo, 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=Systematic+analysis+of+the+protein+interaction+network+for+the+human+transcription+machinery+reveals+the+identity+of+the+7SK+capping+enzyme.">Systematic analysis of the protein interaction network for the human transcription machinery reveals the identity of the 7SK capping enzyme.</a> Molecular Cell. 27 (2), 262-274 (2007).</li><li>Liu, W., 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=Brd4+and+JMJD6-associated+anti-pause+enhancers+in+regulation+of+transcriptional+pause+release.">Brd4 and JMJD6-associated anti-pause enhancers in regulation of transcriptional pause release.</a> Cell. 155 (7), 1581-1595 (2013).</li><li>JoVE Science Education Database. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Basic+Methods+in+Cellular+and+Molecular+Biology.+Molecular+Cloning.">Basic Methods in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Molecular Cloning.</a> Journal of Visual Experimentation. , (2019).</li><li>Lorenz, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymerase+chain+reaction:+basic+protocol+plus+troubleshooting+and+optimization+strategies.">Polymerase chain reaction: basic protocol plus troubleshooting and optimization strategies.</a> Journal of Visual Experimentation. (63), e3998 (2012).</li><li>Rong, M., Durbin, R. K., McAllister, W. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Template+strand+switching+by+T7+RNA+polymerase.">Template strand switching by T7 RNA polymerase.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273 (17), 10253-10260 (1998).</li><li>Rio, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression+and+purification+of+active+recombinant+T7+RNA+polymerase+from+E.+coli.">Expression and purification of active recombinant T7 RNA polymerase from E. coli.</a> Cold Spring Harb Protocols. 2013 (11), (2013).</li><li>Shelton, S. 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=Crosstalk+between+the+RNA+Methylation+and+Histone-Binding+Activities+of+MePCE+Regulates+P-TEFb+Activation+on+Chromatin.">Crosstalk between the RNA Methylation and Histone-Binding Activities of MePCE Regulates P-TEFb Activation on Chromatin.</a> Cell Reports. 22 (6), 1374-1383 (2018).</li><li>Walker, S. C., Avis, J. M., Conn, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=General+plasmids+for+producing+RNA+in+vitro+transcripts+with+homogeneous+ends.">General plasmids for producing RNA in vitro transcripts with homogeneous ends.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 31 (15), 82 (2003).</li><li>Blazer, L. L., 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+Suite+of+Biochemical+Assays+for+Screening+RNA+Methyltransferase+BCDIN3D.">A Suite of Biochemical Assays for Screening RNA Methyltransferase BCDIN3D.</a> SLAS Discovery. 22 (1), 32-39 (2017).</li><li>Arango, 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=Acetylation+of+Cytidine+in+mRNA+Promotes+Translation+Efficiency.">Acetylation of Cytidine in mRNA Promotes Translation Efficiency.</a> Cell. 175 (7), 1872-1886 (2018).</li><li>Ito, 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=Human+NAT10+is+an+ATP-dependent+RNA+acetyltransferase+responsible+for+N4-acetylcytidine+formation+in+18+S+ribosomal+RNA+(rRNA).">Human NAT10 is an ATP-dependent RNA acetyltransferase responsible for N4-acetylcytidine formation in 18 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA).</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289 (52), 35724-35730 (2014).</li></ol>

Here, a simple and robust method for in vitro verification of RNA methyltransferase activity towards specific transcripts is reported. The assay takes advantage of the fact that S-adenosyl methionine can be tritiated on the methyl group donor (Figure 1), allowing for the methylated RNA to be accurately detected without the use of antibodies. However, it is important to note that this assay cannot indicate which residue or chemical group is methylated by the enzyme. To identify or to verify t...

DNA, RNA and proteins are subject to modifications that tightly regulate gene expression1. Among these modifications, methylations occur on all three biopolymers. DNA and protein methylations have been very well studied during the last three decades. In contrast, interest in RNA methylation has been only recently reignited in light of the important roles that proteins that write, erase or bind RNA methylations play in development and disease2. In addition to better known functions in the abundant ribosomal and transfer RNAs, RNA methylation pathways regulate specific messenger RNA stability3,4, splicing5 and translation6,7, miRNA processing8,9 and transcriptional pausing and release10,11.
Here, a simple and robust method for in vitro verification of RNA methyltransferase activity in the setting of a molecular biology lab is reported (summarized in Figure 1). Many studies assess the activity of an RNA methyltransferase through dot-blot with an antibody against the RNA modification of interest. However, dot-blot does not verify the integrity of the RNA upon incubation with the RNA methyltransferase. This is important because even minor contaminations of recombinant proteins with nucleases can lead to partial RNA degradation and confounding results. Moreover, even highly specific RNA modification antibodies can recognize unmodified RNAs with specific sequences or structures. The in vitro RNA methyltransferase assay reported here takes advantage of the fact that the S-adenosyl methionine can be tritiated on the methyl group donor (Figure 1), allowing for the methylated RNA to be accurately detected without the use of antibodies. Instructions are provided for in vitro transcription and purification of a transcript of interest and testing of the methylation of said transcript by the enzyme of interest. This method is flexible and robust, and can be adjusted according to the needs of any given project. For example, in vitro transcribed and purified RNAs, chemically synthesized RNAs, but also cellular RNAs can be used. This assay provides quantitative information in the form of scintillation counts, as well as qualitative information by showing where exactly the methylated RNA runs on a gel. This can provide unique insight into the function of an RNA methyltransferase, particularly when using cellular RNAs as a substrate, as it provides a method to directly observe the size of the RNA or RNAs that are targeted for methylation.

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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">10 bp DNA Ladder</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">10821-015</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">10 bp DNA Ladder kit.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">10% Ammonium Persulfate (APS)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel (For 10 mL, dissolve 1g in 8 mL of milliQ water; adjust volume to 10 mL with milliQ water; filter the solution using a 10 mL syringe equiped with a 0.45 &#181;m filter).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="126">
			<td height="126" style="height:126px;">10X TBE Buffer</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel (For 1L, add 108 g of Tris Base, 55 g of Boric Acid to a cylinder with a stir bar; add 800 mL of distilled water and let dissolve; add 40mL of 0.5 M Na2EDTA (pH 8.0); adjust volume to 1L with milliQ water; filter the solution using a 0.22&#181;m filter).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="105">
			<td height="105" style="height:105px;width:216px;">10X TBS</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For 1L, add 60.5 g of Tris Base, 87.6 g of NaCl to a cylinder with a stir bar; add 800 mL of distilled water and let dissolve; adjust pH to 7.5 with concentrated HCl; adjust volume to 1L with milliQ water; filter the solution using a 0.22 &#181;m filter.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">Acrylamide: Bis-Acrylamide 29:1 (40% Solution/Electrophoresis), Fisher BioReagents</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">BP1408-1</td>
			<td>For urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="168">
			<td height="168" style="height:168px;width:216px;">ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE, S-[METHYL-3H]; (SAM[3H])</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Perkin Elmer</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">NET155V250UC</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For in vitro methylation of RNA; Concentration = 1.0 mCi/mL; Specific activity = 17.1 Ci/mmol; Molarity= 
			(1.0 Ci/L)/(83.2 Ci/mmol) = 0.0584 mmol/L = 58.4 &#181;M.&#160;&#160; Upon receipt of the frozen 3H-SAM tube, thaw it at 4&#176;C, make 20 &#181;L aliquots, and freeze them at -30&#176;C. Never refreeze and reuse a partially used aliquot.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Amersham Hypercassette Autoradiography Cassettes</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">RPN11649</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For autoradiogram gel exposure.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Amersham Hyperfilm MP</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">28906846</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For autoradiogram gel exposure.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Beckman Scintillation Counter</td>
			<td>Beckman</td>
			<td>LS6500</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For liquid scintillation count.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Biorad Mini Horizontal Electrophoresis System</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>1704466</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Mini Horizontal Electrophoresis System.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:216px;">cOmplete Mini EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail Tablets</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Roche Applied Science</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">4693159001</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For a 20X solution, dissolve 1 tablet in 0.525 mL of nuclease free water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Criterion Cell</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Biorad</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">345-9902</td>
			<td>RNase free empty cassette for polyacrylamide gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Criterion empty Cassettes</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Biorad</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">1656001</td>
			<td>Vertical midi-format electrophoresis cell.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">DeNovix DS-11 Microvolume Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">DeNovix</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">DS-11-S</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Microvolume Spectrophotometer for measuring DNA and RNA concentration.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ecoscint Original</td>
			<td>National Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">LS-271</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For liquid scintillation count.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Fisherbrand 7mL HDPE Scintillation Vials</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">03-337-1</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For liquid scintillation count.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Fluoro-Hance-Quick Acting Autoradiography Enhancer</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">RPI CORP</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">112600</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For autoradiogram gel pretreatment.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Gel dryer</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Biorad</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">1651745</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For drying gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">Gel Loading Buffer II</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Ambion</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">AM8547</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For loading RNA in denaturing polyacrylamide urea gel (composition: 95% Formamide, 18 mM EDTA, and 0.025% SDS, Xylene Cyanol, and Bromophenol Blue).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">GeneCatcher disposable gel excision tips</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Gel Company</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">NC9431993</td>
			<td>For removing bands from agarose and polyacrylamide gels.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Megascript Kit</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Ambion</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">AM1333</td>
			<td>For in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Perfectwestern Extralarge Container</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Genhunter Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">NC9226382 (clear)/ NC9965364 (black)</td>
			<td>Gel staining box.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">pRZ</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">#27663</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Plasmid for producing in vitro transcripts with homogeneous ends</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Qiagen RNeasy MinElute Cleanup</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Qiagen</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">74204</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For RNA clean-up, use modified protocol provided in the protocol.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (50)</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Qiagen</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">28704</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Kit for gel extraction and clean up of dsDNA fragment used for in vitro transcription.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Saran Premium Plastic Wrap</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Saran Wrap</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">Amazon</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For drying gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">SYBR Gold</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">S11494</td>
			<td>Ultra sensitive nucleic acid gel stain.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">SYBR Safe</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">S33102</td>
			<td>Nucleic acid gel stain.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">TE</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">93283-100ML</td>
			<td>10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM disodium EDTA, pH 8.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">TEMED</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">110-18-9</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Thermomixer with SMARTBLOCK 24X 1.5mL TUBES</td>
			<td>eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">5382000023/5361000038</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">For temperature controlled incubation of 1.5 mL tubes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">TOPO TA Cloning Kit</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:161px;"></td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Kits for fast cloning of Taq polymerase&#8211;amplified PCR products into vectors containing T7 and/or SP6 promoters for in vitro RNA transcription.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">TURBO DNase (2 U&#8260;&#181;L)</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Ambion</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">AM2238</td>
			<td>For DNA removal from in vitro transcription reactions.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Urea</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">51456-500G</td>
			<td>For urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Whatman 3MM paper</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:161px;">3030-154</td>
			<td style="width:353px;">Chromatography paper for drying gel.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

antibody-free assay for rna methyltransferase activity analysis

There are more than 100 chemically distinct modifications of RNA, two thirds of which consist of methylations. Interest in RNA modifications, and especially methylations, has re-emerged due to the important roles played by the enzymes that write and erase them in biological processes relevant to disease and cancer. Here, a sensitive in vitro assay for accurate analysis of RNA methylation writer activity on synthetic or in vitro transcribed RNAs is provided. This assay uses a tritiated form of S-adenosyl-methionine, resulting in direct labeling of methylated RNA with tritium. The low energy of tritium radiation makes the method safe, and pre-existing methods of tritium signal amplification, make it possible to quantify and to visualize the methylated RNA without the use of antibodies, which are commonly prone to artifacts. While this method is written for RNA methylation, few tweaks make it applicable to the study of other RNA modifications that can be radioactively labeled, such as RNA acetylation with 14C acetyl coenzyme A. Overall, this assay allows to quickly assess RNA methylation conditions, inhibition with small molecule inhibitors, or the effect of RNA or enzyme mutants, and provides a powerful tool to validate and expand results obtained in cells.

In vitro transcription reaction 
Figure 2A represents a typical run from an in vitro transcription reaction with the T7 RNA polymerase of the 7SK snRNA, which is a relatively short (331 nt) and highly structured RNA. As shown on that raw image, there are multiple undesired bands, both shorter and longer than 7SK, probably resulting from random transcriptional initiation or termination events. Because of this, gel purification following the in vitro tran...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis at JoVE.com

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Here, an antibody-free in vitro assay for direct analysis of methyltransferase activity on synthetic or in vitro transcribed RNA is described.

There are more than 100 chemically distinct modifications of RNA, two thirds of which consist of methylations. Interest in RNA modifications, and ...

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Genetics

Mapping RNA-RNA Interactions Globally Using Biotinylated Psoralen

Knowing how RNAs interact with themselves and with others is key to understanding RNA based gene regulation in the cell. While examples of RNA-RNA ...

Transcriptomic Analysis of C. elegans RNA Sequencing Data Through the Tuxedo Suite on the Galaxy Project

Transcriptomic Analysis of C. elegans RNA Sequencing Data Through the Tuxedo Suite on the Galaxy Project

Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized the nature of biological investigation. Of these, RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) has emerged ...

Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, and it elongates telomere through RNA-dependent DNA polymerase ...

RNA Pull-down Procedure to Identify RNA Targets of a Long Non-coding RNA

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), which are sequences of more than 200 nucleotides without a defined reading frame, belong to the regulatory non-coding ...

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing

Conventional next-generation sequencing techniques (NGS) have allowed for immense genomic characterization for over a decade. Specifically, NGS has been ...

Quantitative Analysis of Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing in Mouse Brain Sections Using RNA In Situ Hybridization Assay

Quantitative Analysis of Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing in Mouse Brain Sections Using RNA In Situ Hybridization Assay

Alternative splicing (AS) occurs in more than 90% of human genes. The expression pattern of an alternatively spliced exon is often regulated in a cell ...

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Metabolic Labeling with 4-thiouracil and the Quantification of Newly Synthesized mRNA As a Proxy for RNA Polymerase II Activity

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Metabolic Labeling with 4-thiouracil and the Quantification of Newly Synthesized mRNA As a Proxy for RNA Polymerase II Activity

Global defects in RNA polymerase II transcription might be overlooked by transcriptomic studies analyzing steady-state RNA. Indeed, the global decrease in ...

CRISPR Guide RNA Cloning for Mammalian Systems

The outlined protocol describes streamlined methods for the efficient and cost-effective generation of Cas9-associated guide RNAs. Two alternative ...

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Eukaryotic mRNA synthesis is a complex biochemical process requiring transcription of a DNA template into a precursor RNA by the multi-subunit enzyme RNA ...

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

In the initiation step of protein translation, the ribosome binds to the initiation region of the mRNA. Translation initiation can be blocked by binding ...