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>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:852px;" width="851">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<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 ...

There are more than 100 distinct modifications of RNA, two third of which are methylations. This protocol provides a method for sensitive and accurate analysis of RNA methylation writer activity. This easy-to-use technique allow us to quantify and to visualize methylated RNA without the use of antibodies, which are commonly prone to artifacts.Demonstrating the procedure will be Samantha Shelton, a grad student from my lab. To begin this procedure, set up the 100-microliter RNA methyltransferase assay in a 1.5-milliliter tube on ice, as outlined in the text protocol. Vortex the tube to mix thoroughly, and centrifuge at 200 times g for five seconds to collect the solution at the bottom of the tube.Incubate the tube at 37 degrees Celsius for two hours. Then, clean the reaction using column purification, as outlined in the text protocol. To perform the liquid scintillation count, set up the scintillation count rack with one vial per sample, one vial for a background measurement, and one vial for the swipe test.Fill the vials with five milliliters of scintillation counting solution. Add 10 microliters of each eluted radioactive RNA sample into one vial. Tighten the lid, and mix gently.To prepare the swipe test vials, thoroughly rub cotton swabs on all surfaces and equipment used during the procedure. Add these swabs to the vials filled with scintillation solution, and tighten the lid. To run the samples on the scintillation counter, open the counter hood, insert the rack into the machine, and close the hood.Select Count Single Rack. Choose Select User Program. Select or create a program that measures tritium for 60 seconds, and hit Count Rack.Repeat the scintillation count three times. After this, prepare and re-run a urea denaturing polyacrylamide gel, as outlined in the text protocol. Transfer 20 microliters of radioactive RNA material into a new 1.5-milliliter tube containing 20 microliters of 2X gel-loading buffer.After preparing the ladder, incubate the samples at 70 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Wash the wells of the gel once more immediately before sample loading by pipetting buffer from the gel tanks down into the wells of the gel. Then, load 20 microliters of the prepared ladder, 20 microliters of the samples, and 20 microliters of 1X gel-loading buffer into the lanes of the gel.Run the gel at 100 volts for 60 to 180 minutes, depending on the polyacrylamide percentage. Once the gel has finished running, remove the gel from the cassette and place it in a box containing 50 milliliters of 1X TBE buffer with five microliters of ultrasensitive nucleic acid gel stain. Incubate on a rocker for five minutes to stain the RNA.After this, carefully take the gel out of the box, and place it on the UV transilluminator of the gel imaging system with the wells up and the ladder on the left. Focus the camera on the gel, turn on the UV light, and take an image of the gel. Then, turn off the UV exposure, and save the image as a TIFF file.Place the gel back into the box, remove the TBE, and fix the gel with 50 milliliters of fixing solution on a rocker at room temperature for 30 minutes. Next, gently move the gel to a fresh black box containing 25 milliliters of the autoradiography enhancing solution. Incubate on the rocker at room temperature for 30 minutes.Gently lift the gel, and place it face-down on a sheet of plastic wrap with the wells up and the ladder on the right-hand side. Place two sheets of chromatography paper on the back of the gel, and flip the entire stack. Pre-heat the gel dryer to 80 degrees Celsius.Move the plastic cover on the gel dryer back. Insert the entire stack under the plastic cover, and move the plastic cover back down to create a seal. Dry the gel at 80 degrees Celsius for one hour.Then, turn off the gel dryer, and gently remove the stack. Remove the wrap and second chromatography paper. Tape the remaining chromatography paper with the dried gel in an autoradiogram cassette.In a dark room, add one sheet of autoradiography film. Store the cassette at negative 80 degrees Celsius, and develop the film at the appropriate time, depending on the signal intensity. Once the film is developed, place it on top of the cassette and use a lab marker to carefully mark the four edges of the gel, each well, and the position of the XC and BB dyes.Scan the film at a resolution of either 300 or 600 pixels per inch, and save the image as a TIFF file. In this study, an antibody-free assay is demonstrated to analyze RNA methyltransferase activity. A typical run from an in vitro transcription reaction with the T7 RNA polymerase of the 7SK small nuclear RNA shows relatively short and highly structured RNA.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 transcription reaction is important to obtain a clean RNA sample. At this point, the RNA of interest can be identified by its location relative to the ladder and purified by gel purification.A representative RNA methyltransferase assay using the lower limit of the recommended RNA and protein concentrations is shown here. This assay allows for both quantitative results from the scintillation counts, as well as qualitative results from the autoradiogram. Here, an RNA methyltransferase known to methylate 7SK is shown to be able to also methylate U6.Moreover, as recently shown for 7SK, binding of histone H4 to MePCE also inhibits U6 methylation.This can be observed in both the scintillation count and the autoradiogram, showing the robustness of this protocol. RNA is susceptible to degradation, so please ensure to use RNase-free reagents and to thoroughly clean all surfaces and equipment. The radioactively labeled RNA obtained from this methyltransferase assay can be directly used to assess RNA demethylase activity or RNA binding activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, for example.This method allows researchers to test the effect of different factors on RNA methyltransferase activity, including point mutations and small molecule inhibitor treatments. This method uses radioactive material, so be sure to wear the appropriate PPE, and be careful during handling and disposing of radioactive materials.

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Genetics

7.1K Views.  University of Texas at Austin. There are more than 100 distinct modifications of RNA, two third of which are methylations. This protocol provides a method for sensitive and accurate analysis of RNA methylation writer activity. This easy-to-use technique allow us to quantify and to visualize methylated RNA without the use of antibodies, which are commonly prone to artifacts.Demonstrating the procedure will be Samantha Shelton, a grad student from my lab. To begin this procedure, set up the 100-microliter RNA methyltr...