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A-Z junction formation drives recognition of Alu RNAs by ADAR1 and supports viral infectivity and replication

Award Number: F31AI167396
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

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A-Z junction formation drives recognition of Alu RNAs by ADAR1 and supports viral infectivity and replication - Project Summary Self and non-self RNA must be distinguished by the cell in order to avoid triggering the innate immune response when not needed. In humans, self RNAs are edited by adenosine deaminase that acts on RNA (ADAR1), which modifies adenosines to inosines. The vast majority of A-to-I editing events occur in primate- specific Alu elements, which are the most prolific retrotransposon found within the human genome. Alu elements have been shown to be the primary drivers of RIG-I, MDA-5, and TLR3 signaling suggesting that the primary function of ADAR1-dependent editing of Alu elements is to suppress the immune response. Editing is augmented upon infection by viruses primarily through the activity of the longer, interferon-induced, isoform of ADAR1 (ADAR1p150), which is unique from the short isoform in that it has a N-terminal Z-RNA binding domain (Zα) and that it is pro-viral. This suggests that the Z-RNA binding function of Zα plays a critical role in targeting ADAR1p150 to Z-RNA-forming regions within Alu elements along with a nearby structurally homologous Zβ domain, however, the RNA binding mechanisms and specificities of ADAR1p150 are poorly characterized. My hypothesis is that the N-terminal Zα domain and the closely related Zβ domain augment A-to-I editing by targeting ADAR1p150 to Z-RNA-forming regions within Alu elements during the interferon response. This increased editing in-turn “blunts” the interferon response and allows many types of viruses to proliferate unchallenged. In this proposal, I present a strategy which integrates structural biology, RNA-sequencing, and biochemistry techniques to uncover specific Z-RNA-forming sequences within Alu elements and during infection and answer basic questions about A-to-Z RNA transitions in Alu elements by the Zα and Zβ domains of ADAR1p150. My specific aims are (Aim 1) to characterize the transition from A- to Z-RNA in Alu RNAs through biochemical and structural techniques. I also plan (Aim 2) to investigate how the Z-RNA recognizing ability of Zα and Zβ contributes to recognition and editing of Alu elements in vivo and how it correlates to West Nile infection of HEK293T cells by RNA-sequencing techniques. Due to our lack of knowledge about the Z- DNA/RNA binding domain of ADAR1, we have likely vastly overlooked the repertoire of RNA segments able to adopt Z-conformations within the transcriptome. The results of my proposal will help to fill this gap in knowledge, laying the foundations for further research on the importance of Z-RNA in biological processes and help guide studies attempting to manipulate A-to-I editing as a tool for treating many types of diseases or inhibit the pro-viral characteristics of ADAR1p150.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	9/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $37,498 )
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	5/13/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,280
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	13001 E 17TH PLACE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	11/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,218
														Subtotal = $37,498

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $36,218 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	13001 E 17TH PLACE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/14/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$35,276
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	13001 E 17TH PLACE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	2/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$942
														Subtotal = $36,218

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $35,276 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	13001 E 17TH PLACE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	5/24/2022	NEW	$716
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	13001 E 17TH PLACE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	11/22/2021	NEW	$34,560
														Subtotal = $35,276

Grand Total All Awards = $108,992

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A-Z junction formation drives recognition of Alu RNAs by ADAR1 and supports viral infectivity and replication

Award Number: F31AI167396

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

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