Multiplexed RNA structure characterization with selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension sequencing (SHAPE-Seq)

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jul 5;108(27):11063-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1106501108. Epub 2011 Jun 3.

Abstract

New regulatory roles continue to emerge for both natural and engineered noncoding RNAs, many of which have specific secondary and tertiary structures essential to their function. Thus there is a growing need to develop technologies that enable rapid characterization of structural features within complex RNA populations. We have developed a high-throughput technique, SHAPE-Seq, that can simultaneously measure quantitative, single nucleotide-resolution secondary and tertiary structural information for hundreds of RNA molecules of arbitrary sequence. SHAPE-Seq combines selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) chemistry with multiplexed paired-end deep sequencing of primer extension products. This generates millions of sequencing reads, which are then analyzed using a fully automated data analysis pipeline, based on a rigorous maximum likelihood model of the SHAPE-Seq experiment. We demonstrate the ability of SHAPE-Seq to accurately infer secondary and tertiary structural information, detect subtle conformational changes due to single nucleotide point mutations, and simultaneously measure the structures of a complex pool of different RNA molecules. SHAPE-Seq thus represents a powerful step toward making the study of RNA secondary and tertiary structures high throughput and accessible to a wide array of scientific pursuits, from fundamental biological investigations to engineering RNA for synthetic biological systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / enzymology
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Computational Biology
  • DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / statistics & numerical data
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Probes
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Point Mutation
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • RNA / genetics*
  • RNA, Catalytic / chemistry
  • RNA, Catalytic / genetics
  • Ribonuclease P / chemistry
  • Ribonuclease P / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Molecular Probes
  • RNA, Catalytic
  • RNA
  • Ribonuclease P