Genome-wide Identification of DEAD-box RNA Helicase Targets Reveals Roles for RNA Secondary Structure Remodeling in mRNA Processing (Structure-seq)

Accurate gene expression requires the coordination of RNA processing with assembly of messenger RNA-protein (mRNP) complex. RNA helicases are a class of enzymes that unwind RNA duplexes in vitro and have been are proposed to remodel RNA structure in vivo. Herein, we provide evidence that the DEAD-box protein Dbp2 remodels RNA structure to facilitate efficient pre-mRNA processing in S. cerevisiae. First, we find that Dbp2 associates with the 3’ ends and 3’ splice-sites of mRNAs genome-wide. Using structure-seq to map RNA secondary structure, we find altered secondary structures in dbp2∆ cells that overlap polyadenylation elements and correlate with inefficient termination. We also identify a role for Dbp2 in pre-mRNA splicing and show that both splicing and termination require Dbp2 helicase activity. This reveals that DEAD-box RNA helicases unwind structure in vivo and that structural alteration of pre-mRNA is essential for proper gene expression. Structure-seq libraries for the wild type and dbp2∆cells. For each strain, there are DMS-treated and untreated samples, with the untreated ones serving as a control. There are 3 biological replicates for the wild type and 2 for dbp2∆ in both DMS-treated and untreated condition.