Identification of New Bacterial Small RNA Targets Using MS2 Affinity Purification Coupled to RNA Sequencing

Methods Mol Biol. 2018:1737:77-88. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7634-8_5.

Abstract

Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are ubiquitous regulatory molecules expressed in living cells. In prokaryotes, sRNAs usually bind to target mRNAs to either promote their degradation or interfere with translation initiation. Because a single sRNA can regulate a considerable number of target mRNAs, we seek to identify those targets rapidly and reliably. Here, we present a robust method based on the co-purification of target mRNAs bound to MS2-tagged sRNAs expressed in vivo. After purification of the tagged-sRNA, we use RNAseq to determine the identity of all RNA interacting partners and their enrichment level. We describe how to analyze the RNAseq data through the Galaxy Project Platform bioinformatics tools to identify new mRNA targets. This technique is applicable to most sRNAs of E. coli and Salmonella.

Keywords: Affinity purification; MAPS; MS2 aptamer; RNA–RNA interaction; Small regulatory RNAs; Targetome; sRNA targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromatography, Affinity / methods*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Small Untranslated / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Small Untranslated
  • RNA-Binding Proteins

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