Methods for the analysis of adenosine-to-inosine editing in RNA

In this work we describe methods for the analysis of RNAs that have been edited by the double-strand RNA-specific adenosine deaminase, ADAR. These RNAs contain inosine residues that can be detected and quantified by a variety of approaches, including base hydrolysis and thin-layer chromatography, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, primer extension, and inosine-specific base cleavage. The most common method for the analysis of editing will be described here. This method involves complete hydrolysis of edited RNAs to nucleoside monophosphates, followed by separation of the products using thin-layer chromatography.