uORF-Tools-Workflow for the determination of translation-regulatory upstream open reading frames

PLoS One. 2019 Sep 12;14(9):e0222459. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222459. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Ribosome profiling (ribo-seq) provides a means to analyze active translation by determining ribosome occupancy in a transcriptome-wide manner. The vast majority of ribosome protected fragments (RPFs) resides within the protein-coding sequence of mRNAs. However, commonly reads are also found within the transcript leader sequence (TLS) (aka 5' untranslated region) preceding the main open reading frame (ORF), indicating the translation of regulatory upstream ORFs (uORFs). Here, we present a workflow for the identification of translation-regulatory uORFs. Specifically, uORF-Tools uses Ribo-TISH to identify uORFs within a given dataset and generates a uORF annotation file. In addition, a comprehensive human uORF annotation file, based on 35 ribo-seq files, is provided, which can serve as an alternative input file for the workflow. To assess the translation-regulatory activity of the uORFs, stimulus-induced changes in the ratio of the RPFs residing in the main ORFs relative to those found in the associated uORFs are determined. The resulting output file allows for the easy identification of candidate uORFs, which have translation-inhibitory effects on their associated main ORFs. uORF-Tools is available as a free and open Snakemake workflow at https://github.com/Biochemistry1-FFM/uORF-Tools. It is easily installed and all necessary tools are provided in a version-controlled manner, which also ensures lasting usability. uORF-Tools is designed for intuitive use and requires only limited computing times and resources.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics*
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ribosomes / genetics*
  • Software
  • Workflow

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) SCHM 2663/3 (to T.S.) and by the High Performance and Cloud Computing Group, University Tübingen via bwHPC, DFG INST 37/935-1 FUGG (to R.B.). A.S. was supported by the MainCampus doctus program of the Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt, R.G. by DFG grant BA 2168/21-1 SPP 2002 Small Proteins in Prokaryotes. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.