Identification of proteins that bind extracellular microRNAs secreted by the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis
File(s)Brown et al. 2023.pdf (5.23 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Brown, Alice
Selkirk, Murray E
Sarkies, Peter
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved across eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. In many organisms, miRNAs are also secreted from cells, often encased within vesicles such as exosomes, and sometimes extravesicular. The mechanisms of miRNA secretion, how they are stabilised outside of cells and their functional importance are poorly understood. Recently, we characterised the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis as a model to study miRNA secretion. T. spiralis muscle-stage larvae (MSL) secrete abundant miRNAs which are largely extravesicular. Here, we investigated how T. spiralis miRNAs might remain stable outside of cells. Using proteomics, we identified two RNA binding proteins secreted by T. spiralis larvae and characterised their RNA binding properties. One, a homologue of the known RNA binding protein KSRP, binds miRNA in a selective and sequence-specific fashion. Another protein, which is likely a novel RNA binding protein, binds to miRNA without exhibiting sequence specificity. Our results suggest a possible mechanism for miRNA secretion by T. spiralis and may have relevance for understanding the biology of extracellular miRNA more widely.
Date Issued
2023-11
Date Acceptance
2023-10-13
Citation
Biology Open, 2023, 12 (11)
ISSN
2046-6390
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Journal / Book Title
Biology Open
Volume
12
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© 2023. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37906081
Subjects
Animals
MicroRNAs
Muscles
RNA-Binding Proteins
Trichinella spiralis
Extracellular
Helminth
MiRNA
Parasite
RNA binding protein
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
bio060096
Date Publish Online
2023-11-09