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Structural characterization of the lncRNA WSPAR
Thesis   Open access

Structural characterization of the lncRNA WSPAR

Michael Carl Owens
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/nyr7-kj05
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Abstract

Chromatin Non-coding RNA RNA--Structure Biochemistry
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules of at least 200 nucleotides in length with no protein coding potential. While there is growing information about how lncRNAs function in a variety of biological processes, little structural information is known about these molecules. The first step of forming a structure-function relationship for RNA is the development of a secondary structure model. Such information about secondary structure is gathered via chemical structure probing and in silico folding. However, few secondary structures for lncRNAs have been published. Herein, we report a secondary structure model for the lncRNA WSPAR (Wnt Signaling Pathway Activating RNA), generated via SHAPE (Selective 2' Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension) probing and validated with DMS. This model allowed us to identify structural elements which are highly conserved across mammals. These findings indicate a functional importance for these elements of WSPAR in its role of upregulating wnt signaling in the context of several cancers.

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