Poster abstracts
Poster number 149 submitted by Megan Van Horn
Towards understanding the role of circRNAs in intracellular signaling pathways
Megan Van Horn (Carnegie Mellon University Department of Chemistry), Anna M. Kietrys (Carnegie Mellon University Department of Chemistry)
Abstract:
Non-coding RNAs like microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently been shown to play important roles in gene expression and regulation through their interactions with proteins and other RNAs. CircRNAs have been described as encoding functional proteins in cells and undergoing translation, and only recently were proven to influence neuron sensitivity and brain functionality. Interestingly, many circRNAs have been found in exosomes. These small extracellular vesicles are present in eukaryotic fluids and contain various bioactive cargoes, like proteins and RNAs, that are unique to the phenotype of their parent cell. Exosomes are already being studied as a potential RNA drug delivery system due to their modular nature, ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier, bioavailability, and biocompatibility.
Consequently, coupled with evidence that exosomes are involved in cell-cell transduction of biologically active molecules, exosomes become a prime vehicle by which to investigate the role of circRNAs in the intracellular signaling pathway. We will analyze published sets of RNAseq data to identify circRNAs enriched in both exosomal and neuronal RNAs pools. These selected circRNAs of interest will be isolated from exosomes enriched from mouse blood and from mouse brains and investigated in order to compare their sequence, structure, and epitranscriptomic profile. Finally, we will infuse exosomes with labeled circRNAs of interest and monitor their biological potential as information carriers. Our work will help to understand mechanisms of intracellular signaling and role of circRNA in this process.
Keywords: circRNA, exosome, intracellular signaling