The Role of NSUN6 in RNA Sorting into Human Exosomes

Abstract

Exosomes are nanoscale phospholipid bilayer vesicles, secreted by all types of cells and are detected in all types of body fluids. They play a crucial role in cellular communication by transporting specific RNA molecules for specific biological purposes, such as tissue regeneration and cancer. Despite prior research highlighting the selectivity of RNA sorting into exosomes, the exact mechanism regulating this process remains elusive. Accumulating evidence suggests that post-transcriptional modifications play a role in RNA sorting into exosomes. This study aims to investigate whether or not post-transcriptional modifications, particularly m5C, carried out by NSUN6, selectively sort RNA into exosomes, providing an initial proof whether RNA post-translational modifications are involved in a selective or a random process of RNA sorting into exosomes. Here, NSUN6 was knocked down in KEK293T cells, exosomes and their RNA content (i.e, exosomal RNA) were isolated to study the effect of NSUN6 knockdown on RNA sorting into exosomes. Results showed a significant decrease in exosomal PLD3 mRNA after NSUN6 knockdown, indicating that NSUN6-mediated methylation selectively regulates sorting of RNA into exosomes.

Date of Award	20 May 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Sajini (Supervisor)