Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

08:50
A Nonsequencing Approach for the Rapid Detection of RNA Editing
Published on: April 21, 2022
Transcriptome-wide sequencing reveals numerous APOBEC1 mRNA-editing targets in transcript 3' UTRs
Brad R Rosenberg1, Claire E Hamilton, Michael M Mwangi
1Laboratory of Lymphocyte Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|January 25, 2011
Summary
Apolipoprotein B-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-1 (APOBEC1) edits more than just apoB mRNA. This study identified 32 new mRNA targets, revealing a novel mechanism for modifying transcript 3' untranslated regions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Apolipoprotein B-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-1 (APOBEC1) is a cytidine deaminase.
- APOBEC1 converts cytidine to uridine in apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA, producing a truncated apoB isoform for lipid transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether APOBEC1 edits additional mRNAs beyond apoB.
- To identify novel mRNA targets of APOBEC1 and characterize the editing mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome-wide comparative RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) screen.
- Identification and validation of APOBEC1 mRNA editing targets.
- Bioinformatic analysis of sequence features in editing targets.
Main Results:
- Identified and validated 32 previously undescribed mRNA targets of APOBEC1 editing.
- All new targets are located in AU-rich segments of transcript 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs).
- Established sequence features predictive of APOBEC1 editing targets.
Conclusions:
- APOBEC1 has a broader range of mRNA targets than previously known.
- APOBEC1-mediated RNA editing represents a novel mechanism for transcript 3' UTR modification.
- This study significantly expands the known targets of APOBEC1 and provides insights into RNA editing regulation.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Editing
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
pre-mRNA Processing
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl guanosine). This 5’ cap helps the...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl guanosine). This 5’ cap helps the...
Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps the cell...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps the cell...
Ribosome Profiling
Ribosome profiling or ribo-sequencing is a deep sequencing technique that produces a snapshot of active translation in a cell. It selectively sequences the mRNAs protected by ribosomes to get an insight into a cell’s translation landscape at any given point in time.
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
RNA Splicing
Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Leaky Scanning
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...

