Studying the detection and distribution of an epitranscriptomic mark

: Dihydrouridine with nanopore sequencing: a new method for the detection of RNA modifications

Abstract

Epitranscriptomics, the study of chemical modifications on RNA molecules, plays a crucial role in elucidating the regulatory mechanisms involved in post-transcriptional gene expression. Dihydrouridine (D) has garnered significant attention due to its potential impact on RNA structure and function. In this master thesis, we explore the transcriptome-wide occupancy of D within the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe and compare the efficacy of the labor-intensive recent method Rho-Seq with nanopore sequencing. Indeed, Rho-seq presents certain limitations, including slow processing, variability, and complex procedural steps. These drawbacks hinder the efficiency and accuracy of D detection. On the other hand, nanopore sequencing, a state-of-the-art technology in the field of epitranscriptomics, offers numerous advantages over conventional techniques such as an enhanced sensitivity, enabling the detection of low-abundance D modifications but also the reduction of the processing time by eliminating the multiple-steps protocol involved in primer extension and Rho-sequencing and the potential of long-read sequencing, allowing for the identification of D modifications in full-length RNA molecules beyond tRNAs, particularly challenging to achieve using other methods.

Date of Award	15 Jan 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Namur
Supervisor	Carlo Yague-Sanz (Supervisor)