RNA-associated glycoconjugates highlight potential ambiguities in glycoRNA analysis
Sungchul Kim (Pohang University of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science, Yonsei University)
Zeshi Li (Universiteit Utrecht)
Yong Geun Choi (Institute for Basic Science (IBS))
Kirsten Janssen (Radboud University Medical Center)
Jan Willem H. Langenbach (Universiteit Utrecht)
Bhagyashree S. Joshi (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - Applied Sciences)
Adam Pomorski (TU Delft - Applied Sciences, University of Wroclaw, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Marvin E. Tanenbaum (Radboud University Medical Center, TU Delft - Applied Sciences, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Chirlmin Joo (Ewha Woman’s University, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - Applied Sciences)
undefined More Authors (External organisation)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
A recent ground-breaking study suggested that small RNA from mammalian cells can undergo N-glycan modifications (termed glycoRNA)1. The discovery relied upon a metabolic glycan labeling strategy in combination with commonly used phase-separation-based RNA isolation. Following the reported procedure, here we likewise identify an N-glycosylated species in the RNA fraction. However, our results suggest that the reported RNase sensitivity of the glycosylated species depends on the specific RNA purification method. This suggests the possibility of copurifying unexpected RNase-insensitive N-glycoconjugates during glycoRNA isolation. The co-existence of two independent, yet highly similar molecular entities, complicates biochemical assays on glycoRNA and calls for more specific approaches for glycoRNA analysis. To address this, we propose a control experiment that can help distinguish genuine glycoRNA species from copurified glycoconjugates.
help_outline