PARS-Seq

Parallel Analysis of RNA Structure

PARS-Seq mapping provides information about the secondary and tertiary structure of RNA (Wan et al., 2013). In this method, RNA is digested with RNases that are specific for double-stranded and single-stranded RNA, respectively. The resulting fragments are reverse-transcribed to cDNA. Deep sequencing of the cDNA provides high-resolution sequences of the RNA. The RNA structure can be deduced by comparing the digestion patterns of the various RNases.

Advantages:

  • Provides RNA structural information
  • Distinguishes between paired and unpaired bases
  • Alternative to mass spectrometry, NMR, and crystallography

Disadvantages:

  • Enzyme digestion can be nonspecific
  • Digestion conditions must be carefully controlled
  • RNA can be overdigested
  • Limited to in vitro applications


Reagents:

Illumina Library prep and Array Kit Selector



Reviews:

Nussbacher J. K., Batra R., Lagier-Tourenne C. and Yeo G. W. RNA-binding proteins in neurodegeneration: Seq and you shall receive. Trends Neurosci. 2015;38:226-236



References:

Righetti F., Nuss A. M., Twittenhoff C., et al. Temperature-responsive in vitro RNA structurome of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113:7237-7242