Skip to main content

In Vitro Selection of External Guide Sequences for Directing Human RNase P to Cleave a Target mRNA

  • Protocol
Ribozymes and siRNA Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 252))

  • 1116 Accesses

Abstract

External guide sequences (EGSs) are oligonucleotides that consist of a sequence that is complementary to a target mRNA and recruit intracellular RNase P for specific degradation of the target RNA. Recent studies indicate that increasing the targeting activity of EGSs in directing human RNase P to cleave an mRNA in vitro can lead to better efficacies of the EGSs in inducing RNase P-mediated inhibition of the expression of the target mRNA in cultured cells. This chapter will describe the procedure for the generation of highly functional EGSs by in vitro selection. We also describe protocols for in vitro evaluation of the activity of the EGSs. These methods should provide general guidelines for using in vitro selection for generating highly active EGSs for gene-targeting applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Joyce, G. F. (1998) Nucleic acid enzymes: playing with a fuller deck. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 5845–5847.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Szostak, J. W. (1992) In vitro genetics. Trends Biochem. Sci. 17, 89–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gold, L., Polisky, B., Uhlenbeck, O., and Yarus, M. (1995) Diversity of oligonucleotide functions. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 64, 763–797.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Forster, A. C. and Altman, S. (1990) External guide sequences for an RNA enzyme. Science 249, 783–786.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yuan, Y., Hwang, E. S., and Altman, S. (1992) Targeted cleavage of mRNA by human RNase P. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 8006–8010.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee, N. S., Bertrand, E., and Rossi, J. (1999) mRNA localization signals can enhance the intracellular effectiveness of hammerhead ribozymes. RNA 5, 1200–1209.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pal, B. K., Scherer, L., Zelby, L., Bertrand, E., and Rossi, J. J. (1998) Monitoring retroviral RNA dimerization in vivo via hammerhead ribozyme cleavage. J. Virol. 72, 8349–8353.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sullenger, B. A. and Cech, T. R. (1993) Tethering ribozymes to a retroviral packaging signal for destruction of viral RNA. Science 262, 1566–1569.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. zu Putlitz, J., Yu, Q., Burke, J. M., and Wands, J. R. (1999) Combinatorial screening and intracellular antiviral activity of hairpin ribozymes directed against hepatitis B virus. J. Virol. 73, 5381–5387.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhou, T., Kim, J., Kilani, A. F., Kim, K., Dunn, W., Jo, S., Nepomuceno, E., and Liu, F. (2002) In vitro selection of external guide sequences for directing RNase P-mediated inhibition of viral gene expression. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 30,112–30,120.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Dunn, W., Trang, P., Khan, U., Zhu, J., and Liu, F. (2001) RNase P-mediated inhibition of cytomegalovirus protease expression and viral DNA encapsidation by oligonucleotide external guide sequences. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 14,831–14,836.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Plehn-Dujowich, D. and Altman, S. (1998) Effective inhibition of influenza virus production in cultured cells by external guide sequences and ribonuclease P. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 7327–7332.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kawa, D., Wang, J., Yuan, Y., and Liu, F. (1998) Inhibition of viral gene expression by human ribonuclease P. RNA 4, 1397–1406.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ma, M. Y., Jacob-Samuel, B., Dignam, J. C., Pace, U., Goldberg, A. R., and George, S. T. (1998) Nuclease-resistant external guide sequence-induced cleavage of target RNA by human ribonuclease P. Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 8, 415–426.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bertrand, E., Houser-Scott, F., Kendall, A., Singer, R. H., and Engelke, D. R. (1998) Nucleolar localization of early tRNA processing. Genes Dev. 12, 2463–2468.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bartkiewicz, M., Gold, H., and Altman, S. (1989) Identification and characterization of an RNA molecule that copurifies with RNase P activity from HeLa cells. Genes Dev. 3, 488–499.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Frank, D. N. and Pace, N. R. (1998) Ribonuclease P: unity and diversity in a tRNA processing ribozyme. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67, 153–180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Altman, S. and Kirsebom, L. (1999) in The RNA World (Gesteland, R.F., Cech, T.R., and Atkins, J.F., eds.), 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, pp. 351–380.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yuan, Y. and Altman, S. (1995) Substrate recognition by human RNase P: identification of small, model substrates for the enzyme. EMBO J. 14, 159–168.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yuan, Y. and Altman, S. (1994) Selection of guide sequences that direct efficient cleavage of mRNA by human ribonuclease P. Science 263, 1269–1273.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Raj, S., Liu, F. (2004). In Vitro Selection of External Guide Sequences for Directing Human RNase P to Cleave a Target mRNA. In: Sioud, M. (eds) Ribozymes and siRNA Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 252. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-746-7:413

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-746-7:413

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-226-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-746-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics