A novel long non-coding natural antisense RNA is a negative regulator of Nos1 gene expression

• Published in: Scientific reports 2015-07, Vol.5 (1), p.11815-11815, Article 11815
• Main Authors: Korneev, Sergei A., Maconochie, Mark, Naskar, Souvik, Korneeva, Elena I., Richardson, Guy P., O’Shea, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13; 13/109; 13/44; 38; 38/1; 38/39; 38/77; 42; 45; 45/90; 631/337/384/2568; 631/378/340; Animals; Antisense RNA; Base Sequence; Brain - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell Line; Central nervous system; Down-Regulation; Embryogenesis; Embryonic growth stage; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humanities and Social Sciences; Memory; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; multidisciplinary; Neurogenesis; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I - genetics; Nitric-oxide synthase; Non-coding RNA; Protein Biosynthesis; Quantitative research; RNA, Antisense - chemistry; RNA, Antisense - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - chemistry; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Rodents; Science
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep11815

Long non-coding natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are widespread in eukaryotic species. Although recent studies indicate that long NATs are engaged in the regulation of gene expression, the precise functional roles of the vast majority of them are unknown. Here we report that a long NAT ( Mm-antiNos1 RNA) complementary to mRNA encoding the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (Nos1) is expressed in the mouse brain and is transcribed from the non-template strand of the Nos1 locus. Nos1 produces nitric oxide (NO), a major signaling molecule in the CNS implicated in many important functions including neuronal differentiation and memory formation. We show that the newly discovered NAT negatively regulates Nos1 gene expression. Moreover, our quantitative studies of the temporal expression profiles of Mm-antiNos1 RNA in the mouse brain during embryonic development and postnatal life indicate that it may be involved in the regulation of NO-dependent neurogenesis.