RNA editome in rhesus macaque shaped by purifying selection

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Next-generation sequencing has advanced RNA editing understanding.
• Key aspects like editome delineation, maintenance mechanisms, and functional relevance remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate an accurate and quantitative RNA editome profile for rhesus macaque.
• To investigate the mechanisms and evolutionary significance of RNA editing in primates.

Main Methods:

• Combined genome and transcriptome sequencing from multiple rhesus macaque tissues.
• Bioinformatic analysis to identify and verify RNA editing sites and their quantitative levels.
• Analysis of sequence context and ADAR expression profiles.

Main Results:

• Identified 31,250 RNA editing sites, with 99.8% being A-to-G transitions.
• Verified a high percentage of editing sites in both coding (96.6%) and non-coding (97.5%) regions.
• Found evidence linking adenosine deamination to the macaque editome, with sequence context and ADAR expression influencing editing levels.
• Detected evolutionary constraints around editing sites, suggesting functional importance.

Conclusions:

• The rhesus macaque RNA editome is extensive and primarily involves A-to-G transitions.
• Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) and sequence context are crucial for RNA editing.
• RNA editing is a significant functional regulation in primate evolution, offering insights into human RNA editing.