Two-Tailed RT-qPCR for the Quantification of A-to-I-Edited microRNA Isoforms. 2023

Gjendine Voss, and Yvonne Ceder
Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs with important functions in the regulation of gene expression in healthy and diseased tissues. To optimally utilize the biological and clinical information that is contained in microRNA expression levels, tools for their accurate and cost-effective quantification are needed. While the standard method, qPCR, allows for quick and cheap microRNA quantification, specificity is limited due to the short lengths of microRNAs and the high similarity between closely related microRNA family members. A-to-I editing can further diversify the microRNA pool by altering individual nucleotides. There is currently a lack of protocols for the accurate quantification of A-to-I-edited microRNA isoforms using qPCR. Here, we describe a protocol to quantify microRNA editing isoforms using two-tailed RT-qPCR, with either SYBR Green or hydrolysis probes. The user will perform reverse transcription of RNA samples, generate standard curves, and quantify the resulting cDNA in the following qPCR step. We also give guidelines for primer design and for the evaluation of assays using synthetic oligonucleotides. These tools are expected to be transferable to any A-to-I-edited microRNA and its isoforms. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Two-tailed reverse transcription of A-to-I-edited microRNAs Basic Protocol 2: SYBR Green-based qPCR for A-to-I-edited microRNAs Alternate Protocol: Hydrolysis probe-based qPCR for A-to-I-edited microRNAs Support Protocol: Preparation of standard curves using synthetic RNA oligonucleotides.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009841 Oligonucleotides Polymers made up of a few (2-20) nucleotides. In molecular genetics, they refer to a short sequence synthesized to match a region where a mutation is known to occur, and then used as a probe (OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES). (Dorland, 28th ed) Oligonucleotide
D001681 Biological Assay A method of measuring the effects of a biologically active substance using an intermediate in vivo or in vitro tissue or cell model under controlled conditions. It includes virulence studies in animal fetuses in utero, mouse convulsion bioassay of insulin, quantitation of tumor-initiator systems in mouse skin, calculation of potentiating effects of a hormonal factor in an isolated strip of contracting stomach muscle, etc. Bioassay,Assay, Biological,Assays, Biological,Biologic Assay,Biologic Assays,Assay, Biologic,Assays, Biologic,Bioassays,Biological Assays
D048348 Reverse Transcription The biosynthesis of DNA carried out on a template of RNA. Transcription, Reverse
D035683 MicroRNAs Small double-stranded, non-protein coding RNAs, 21-25 nucleotides in length generated from single-stranded microRNA gene transcripts by the same RIBONUCLEASE III, Dicer, that produces small interfering RNAs (RNA, SMALL INTERFERING). They become part of the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX and repress the translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) of target RNA by binding to homologous 3'UTR region as an imperfect match. The small temporal RNAs (stRNAs), let-7 and lin-4, from C. elegans, are the first 2 miRNAs discovered, and are from a class of miRNAs involved in developmental timing. RNA, Small Temporal,Small Temporal RNA,miRNA,stRNA,Micro RNA,MicroRNA,Primary MicroRNA,Primary miRNA,miRNAs,pre-miRNA,pri-miRNA,MicroRNA, Primary,RNA, Micro,Temporal RNA, Small,miRNA, Primary,pre miRNA,pri miRNA

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