A method for analyzing dynamics of post-transcriptional modifications of small amounts of RNA

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H03079
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Analytical chemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Taoka Masato 東京都立大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (60271160)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 泉 友則 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (00261694) ; 中山 洋 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 環境資源科学研究センター, 専任研究員 (80321793)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: RNA / 転写後修飾 / 質量分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed a method for purification of trace RNAs and a method for determination of their primary structures including post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) regardless of their PTM species with high sensitivity. We also developed a high-throughput analytical method for quantifying the site-specific variation of PTM stoichiometry in femto-mol amount of RNAs. Using this method, we discovered novel PTM sites in low-molecular-weight RNAs in cells, and showed that the modification rates of several of them differ among cell lines.

Free Research Field

生体物質分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

RNAは様々な転写後修飾（PTM）を持っており、生体に重要なことが示されている。ところが、微量RNAのPTMやその動態を複数種のPTMに横断的に解析する方法は存在せず、研究が進んでいなかった。本研究はこれらの停滞を取り除く役割を持っていると考えている。