Studies on a novel non-coding RNA identified from a human neuro-epithelioma cell line

Abstract

Genome sequencing projects have come up with the startling revelation that 98% of the transcriptional output in higher eukaryotes is ncRNAs. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are non-protein coding RNAs usually transcribed by RNA pol II and code for functional RNAs. They are involved in a wide range of functions ranging from gene silencing, gene transcription, imprinting, dosage compensation, DNA demethylation to chromatin remodeling. Earlier, our lab has identified a novel noncoding RNA -M3TR (CloneM3 Transforming RNA) from the cDNA library of a mouse melanoma cell line CloneM3. Interestingly, M3TR upon over-expression shows transforming ability. This thesis deals with the study of human homologue of M3TR. The studies revolve around molecular and functional characterization of M3TR; and deciphering the molecular and signaling mechanisms mediated by M3TR. The human brain is uniquely evolved and constitutes about 30% of the complex gene expression network facilitating intricate signal transmission between the neurons. Nervous system is reported to be a rich source of ncRNAs. These ncRNAs are implicated in neurodevelopment and brain function, through mechanisms such as RNA editing. It was interesting to study if M3TR was present in neuronal cells. The expression analyses indicated that M3TR was present in fetal brain as well as in cell-lines derived from tumors of the neuroectodermal as well as of neuroepithelial origin. We cloned human M3TR (hM3TR) from a neuro-epithelioma cell line SK-N-MC and characterized it. The sequence analyses showed a total conservation of M3TR gene in human and mouse species.