Quantitative evaluation of alternatively spliced mRNA isoforms by label-free real-time plasmonic sensing

Alternative splicing of mRNA precursors enables cells to generate different protein outputs from the same gene depending on their developmental or homeostatic status. Its deregulation is strongly linked to disease onset and progression. Current methodologies for monitoring alternative splicing deman...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Huertas, César S.|||0000-0002-3100-4034, Carrascosa, Laura G.|||0000-0001-9147-5658, Bonnal, Sophie, Valcárcel, Juan|||0000-0001-5398-3571, Lechuga, Laura M|||0000-0001-5187-5358
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:212902
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/212902
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.bios.2015.11.023
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Alternative splicing
Mrna isosoforms
SPR
Biosensor
Biomarker
Diagnosis
Descripción
Sumario:Alternative splicing of mRNA precursors enables cells to generate different protein outputs from the same gene depending on their developmental or homeostatic status. Its deregulation is strongly linked to disease onset and progression. Current methodologies for monitoring alternative splicing demand elaborate procedures and often present difficulties in discerning between closely related isoforms, e.g. due to cross-hybridization during their detection. Herein, we report a general methodology using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor for label-free monitoring of alternative splicing events in real-time, without any cDNA synthesis or PCR amplification requirements. We applied this methodology to RNA isolated from HeLa cells for the quantification of alternatively spliced isoforms of the Fas gene, involved in cancer progression through regulation of programmed cell death. We demonstrate that our methodology is isoform-specific, with virtually no cross-hybridization, achieving limits of detection (LODs) in the picoMolar (pM) range. Similar results were obtained for the detection of the BCL-X gene mRNA isoforms. The results were independently validated by RT-qPCR, with excellent concordance in the determination of isoform ratios. The simplicity and robustness of this biosensor technology can greatly facilitate the exploration of alternative splicing biomarkers in disease diagnosis and therapy.