Non-coding RNA structure change in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

摘要 慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)仍然是美国人死亡的主要原因。 吸烟人口。有趣的是，只有15%的吸烟者患上慢性阻塞性肺疾病，这表明有很强的 这种疾病的遗传成分。特定基因的突变，包括SERPINA1，它编码？- 1-抗胰蛋白酶，与患COPD的风险增加有关。基因以DNA形式存在(脱氧 核糖核酸)、核糖核酸和蛋白质。使用新的计算和实验 预测和验证RNA结构的技术，我们已经识别出一种与 COPD的SERPINA1非编码区的mRNA。RiboSNitch是中的结构化元素 如果特定的、与疾病相关的SNP(单核苷酸)采用另一种构象的RNA 多态)存在。我们在非编码区发现了与COPD相关的突变 影响mRNA非翻译区(UTRs)结构的SERPINA1。此外，这些 非编码区具有高度多态的剪接模式，我们已经证明这会影响RNA 结构。我们建议进一步研究非编码RNA结构在COPD中的作用。具体来说， 我们将开发高度预测SERPINA1 mRNA的模型，并确定 结构和功能上的突变。这将使我们能够将基因类型信息与 基因调控非编码区的结构和功能。通过确定功能 RiboSNitch构象变化对肺和肝细胞类型基因调控的影响 (在SERPINA1表达最高的地方)，我们将建立必要的结构/功能 获得对SERPINA1 mRNA在COPD中作用的预测性理解的关系。

Summary Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of mortality in the U.S. smoking population. Interestingly, only 15% of smokers develop COPD indicating that there is a strong genetic component to the disease. Mutations in specific genes including SERPINA1, which encodes ¿- 1-antitrypsin, are associated with increased risk of developing COPD. Genes exist as DNA (deoxy ribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid) and proteins. Using novel computational and experimental techniques that predict and validate RNA structure, we have identified a "RiboSNitch" associated with COPD in the SERPINA1 non-coding region of the mRNA. A RiboSNitch is a structured element in an RNA that adopts an alternative conformation if a specific, disease-associated SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) is present. We identified mutations associated with COPD in non-coding regions of SERPINA1 that affect the structure of the mRNA untranslated regions (UTRS). Furthermore, these non-coding regions have highly polymorphic splicing patterns, which we have shown affect RNA structure. We propose to further investigate the role of non-coding RNA structure in COPD. Specifically, we will develop highly predictive models of the SERPINA1 mRNA and determine the efects of mutations on structure and function. This will enable us to correlate genotypic information with the structure and function of the regulatory non-coding regions of genes. By determining the functional consequences of RiboSNitch conformational changes on gene regulation in lung and liver cel types (where SERPINA1 is most highly expressed), we will establish the necessary structure/function relationships to obtain a predictive understanding of the role of SERPINA1 mRNA in COPD.