Metabolic labeling of RNA uncovers principles of RNA production and degradation dynamics in mammalian cells ; Nat Biotechnol

Cellular RNA levels are determined by the interplay of RNA production, processing and degradation. However, because most studies of RNA regulation do not distinguish the separate contributions of these processes, little is known about how they are temporally integrated. Here we combine metabolic labeling of RNA at high temporal resolution with advanced RNA quantification and computational modeling to estimate RNA transcription and degradation rates during the response of mouse dendritic cells to lipopolysaccharide. We find that changes in transcription rates determine the majority of temporal changes in RNA levels, but that changes in degradation rates are important for shaping sharp 'peaked' responses. We used sequencing of the newly transcribed RNA population to estimate temporally constant RNA processing and degradation rates genome wide. Degradation rates vary significantly between genes and contribute to the observed differences in the dynamic response. Certain transcripts, including those encoding cytokines and transcription factors, mature faster. Our study provides a quantitative approach to study the integrative process of RNA regulation. ; DP1 OD003958/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003958-04/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1-00003958-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; DP2 OD002230/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR026688/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U54 AI057159/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z ; 21516085 ; PMC3114636