Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States and the world, despite years of research and the development of different treatments. One reason for this is cancer cells are able to survive through adaptation to their environment and aberrantly activated growth signaling. As such, developing new therapies that overcome these hurdles are necessary to combat cancer. Previous work in our laboratory using RNA interference screening identified genes that regulate the survival of glioblastoma (GBM) or autophagy in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cancer cells. One screen identified Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisophosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta (PIK3CB) in the family of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) as a survival kinase gene in GBM. Work contained in this dissertation set out to study PIK3CB mediated GBM cell survival. We report that only PIK3CB, in its family of other PI3K genes, is a biomarker for GBM recurrence and is selectively important for GBM cell survival. Another screen identified the long non-coding RNA, Linc00467, as a gene that regulates autophagy in CML. Autophagy is a dynamic survival process used by all cells, benign and cancerous, where cellular components are broken down and re-assimilated to sustain survival. Work contained in this dissertation set out to characterize the role that Linc00467 serves in regulating autophagy in a myriad of cancers. Collectively our data have showed Linc00467 to actively repress levels of autophagy in cancer cells. Further, our data revealed an important role for Linc00467 in regulating the stability of the autophagy regulating protein serine-threonine kinase 11 (STK11). Because of the unique role that Linc00467 serves in regulating autophagy we renamed it as, autophagy regulating long intergenic noncoding RNA or ARLINC. Taken together the work in this dissertation unveils the inner-workings of two important cancer cell survival pathways and shows their potential for development into therapeutic targets to treat cancer. / Ph. D.

Pseudomonas brassicacearum a la particularité de générer une diversité intraclonale aussi bien in vitro qu'en conditions naturelles dans la rhizosphère de plantes. Ce phénomène de variation phénotypique commun chez les bactéries est un processus d'adaptation aux environnements changeants. Des données de transcriptomique issues de puces à ADN, contenant aussi bien des séquences codantes que non codantes, nous ont permis d'identifier les gènes dont l'expression est altérée et surtout de relier ce phénomène à l'expression d'ARN non codants régulateurs (ARNnc) de type Rsm qui sont sous le contrôle du système à deux composants GacS/GacA. Nous avons montré que des mutations ponctuelles dans les gènes gacS ou gacA sont à l'origine de cette variation phénotypique et que l'expression de l'un des trois gènes rsmX, rsmY ou rsmZ permet de restaurer le phénotype de la souche sauvage. L'importance de ces ARNnc dans la survie de la bactérie aux fluctuations de son environnement est dénotée par la duplication de rsmX en un gène que nous avons nommé rsmX-2, dont la fonction a été validée. Nos données suggèrent une activation exclusive des gènes rsmX-1 et rsmX-2 par GacA et l'intervention de régulateurs additionnels dans le cas de rsmY et rsmZ. Au vu de la redondance fonctionnelle de ces quatre ARNnc, nous avons investigué leur niveau d'expression et leur stabilité dans différentes conditions de culture et montré des différences pour les quatre ARNnc. En réponse à une carence en nutriments, l'expression des ARNnc Rsm est fortement activée et atteint son maximum quand le ppGpp est détecté dans le milieu, suggérant un lien entre le système Gac/Rsm et la réponse « stringente ». / The plant-beneficial bacterium Pseudomonas brassicacearum forms phenotypic variants in vitro as well as in planta during root colonisation under natural conditions. Transcriptome analysis of typical phenotypic variants using microarrays containing coding as well as non-coding DNA fragments showed differential expression of several genes relevant to secondary metabolism and of the small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes rsmX, rsmY and rsmZ, which was characterized by down-regulation. Naturally occurring mutations in the GacS/GacA two-component system accounted for phenotypic switching. The importance of these ncRNAs in the survival of the bacteria to changing environments is denoted by the duplication of rsmX gene, which we called rsmX-2 and whose function has been validated. Our data suggest an exclusive activation of rsmX-1 and rsmX-2 genes by GacA and the involvement of additional regulators in the case of rsmY and rsmZ. Given the functional redundancy of these ncRNAs, we investigated their expression level and stability in different culture conditions and showed differences for the four ncRNAs. In response to nutrient depletion, the four ncRNAs expression is strongly activated and reaches its maximum when the ppGpp is detected in bacterial cells, suggesting a link between the Gac/Rsm system and the "stringent" response. Determining the level of each Rsm ncRNA, which is defined by a balance between synthesis and degradation of each transcript, shows the maintenance of a very important pool of RsmZ compared to other ncRNAs.

Os genes MGC16121 e CR596471 localizam-se no cromossomo X (Xq26) entre os loci HPRT1 e PLAC1, uma região rica em genes associados com a reprodução humana. A importância de tais genes reside na possibilidade de estarem envolvidos no desenvolvimento placentário e fetal e de serem expressos em poucos tecidos normais. Camundongos portadores de deleções próximas do gene ortólogo HPRT1 de humanos apresentam cerca de um terço do tamanho dos camundongos selvagens ou em alguns casos são natimortos. No entanto, este fenótipo não é observado quando o gene está mutado. Assim, pode-se supor que o fenótipo anormal das cobaias não é resultado da deficiência do HPRT1, mas sim de genes e/ou microRNAs (miRNAs) próximos a ele. Estes resultados abrem perspectivas em relação ao estudo dos genes MGC16121, CR596471 e miRNAs das vizinhanças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a estrutura, a expressão e o mecanismo de regulação por metilação dos genes MGC16121 e CR596471. Adicionalmente foram analisados quanto ao perfil de expressão e regulação por metilação os miRNAs das vizinhanças (miR-424, 503, 450a, 450b-5p e 542-3p). O gene MGC16121 mostrou-se específico de placenta e também expresso em 50% das 18 linhagens tumorais analisadas. Já CR596471 e os miRNAs das vizinhanças foram mais expressos em placenta do que qualquer outro tecido normal analisado, sendo o primeiro expresso também em 100% das linhagens tumorais avaliadas. Houve correlação positiva e significativa entre todos os genes e miRNAs em relação à expressão em tecidos normais, porém o mesmo não foi observado para linhagens tumorais. A respeito da regulação, os genes CR596471 e MGC16121 e os miRNAs miR-424, 503 e 450a foram regulados negativamente por metilação do DNA em pelo menos uma das três linhagens tratadas com o agente demetilante 5-aza-2-deoxicitidina. Apoiando este fato, os dinucleotídeos CpG das ilhas CpGs situadas próximas às regiões 5 dos genes CR596471 e MGC16121 foram pelo menos em parte desmetilados após o mesmo tratamento.Os dados relativos à estrutura primária dos genes indicam que os transcritos, apesar de serem lncRNAs apresentaram características de mRNAs. Para MGC16121 foi determinado um transcrito composto de 3 éxons e, para CR596471, um transcrito composto de 3 éxons e outro composto de 2 éxons. Os transcritos aqui determinados são relativamente conservados quando comparados a sequências de RNA encontradas em outros mamíferos, principalmente em primatas. Adicionalmente, o transcrito de MGC16121 possui subestruturas secundárias visivelmente semelhantes com aquelas dos transcritos homólogos encontrados em alguns primatas. De acordo com os resultados, o gene MGC16121 pode ser considerado um possível bom marcador para diagnóstico, prognóstico e talvez para terapias contra cânceres. Todavia, mais experimentos devem ser realizados para verificar a função dos genes MGC16212 e CR5976471, além de avaliar mais robustamente a capacidade do gene MGC16121 ser utilizado como ferramenta na medicina contra o câncer. / CR596471 and MGC16121 genes lie on chromosome X (Xq26) between the HPRT1 and PLAC1 loci, a region rich in genes associated with human reproduction. The importance of such genes is the possibility that they might be involved in placental and fetal development, aware that they are expressed in few normal tissues. Deletions in mice around the orthologous gene of human HPRT1 affect their development or lead to stillbirth. However, this phenotype is not observed when this gene is mutated. So we can assume that the abnormal phenotype of mice cannot be due to HPRT1 deficiency, but to genes and/or microRNAs (miRNAs) nearby. These results support the idea of investigating the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the MGC16121 and CR596471 genes, and their neighbor miRNAs. This study aimed to characterize the structure, expression and regulation mechanism by methylation of genes MGC16121 and CR596471. In addition, the expression profile and methylation regulation of the neighbor miRNAs (miR-424, 503, 450a, 450b-5p and 542-3p) were analyzed. MGC16121 was demonstrated to be placenta specific and expressed in 50% of 18 tumor cell lines analyzed. CR596471 and the neighbor miRNAs were more expressed in placenta than in any other normal tissue analyzed. The former was also expressed in all tumor cell lines evaluated. There was significant and positive correlation between all genes and miRNAs regarding normal tissue expression. However, the same was not observed for the tumor cell lines. With respect to regulation, the genes CR596471 and MGC16121, and miRNAs miR-424, 503 and 450a were negatively regulated by DNA methylation at least in one of the three cell lines treated with the demethylating agent 5- aza-2-deoxycytidine. Supporting these results, the CpG dinucleotides from CpG islands located near the CR596471 and MGC16121 5 regions were at least partially demethylated after the same treatment. The data concerning to genes primary structures indicate that the transcripts, despite of being considered lncRNAs, presented mRNAs characteristics. It was determined one transcript for MGC16121 gene which consisted of three exons, and for CR596471 gene, two transcripts were found, one with three exons and other composed of two exons. The transcripts herein determined are relatively conserved when compared to RNAs sequences found in other mammals, mostly in primates. Besides, the MGC16121 transcript presents similar secondary substructures to those found in homologous transcripts from other primate species. According to the results, MGC16121 gene could be considered a possible good biomarker to diagnosis, prognosis and perhaps to therapies against cancers. Nevertheless, more experiments must be accomplished in order to verify the functions of MGC16121 and CR596471 genes, in addition to evaluate more robustly the competence of MGC16121 gene to be used as a tool in medicine against cancer.

Le développement du séquençage ARN, ou RNAseq, a permis l'essor de la recherche intensive de biomarqueurs dans de nombreux domaines de la biologie. L’information complète du transcriptome contenue dans les données de sorties, permet à un bioinformaticien assidu de dépasser les connaissances actuelles et d’accéder, grâce à des pipelines informatiques avancés, à d’innombrables signatures d’intérêts inédites. Dans cette thèse nous mettons en avant que ces marqueurs potentiels, essentiellement explorés pour répondre à des problématiques clinique en conditions pathologiques, peuvent être utilisés pour affiner la caractérisation de types de cellules sans marqueurs strictement spécifiques. Nous nous sommes intéressés aux cellules souches mésenchymateuses (MSCs), un type de cellules souches adultes multipotentes, fortement utilisées en clinique mais ne possédant pas de marqueurs positifs strictement spécifiques.Notre étude se concentre sur la recherche des ARN longs non-codants non annotés. Ces ARNs, aussi nommés "lncRNA", constituent une classe émergente de transcrits encore peu explorée à ce jour. De plus, cette catégorie démontre une spécificité conditionnelle et tissulaire élevée. Nous avons élaboré un pipeline d’analyse RNAseq optimisé pour la reconstruction et la quantification de lncRNAs non annotés.En utilisant les données publiques de RNAseq, venant de différentes sources de MSCs et d'autres types de cellules, nous avons identifié de nouveaux lncRNA non annotés exprimés spécifiquement dans les MSCs.Nous avons développé pour ce projet Kmerator.jl, un outil qui permet de décomposer un transcrit en sous séquences spécifiques (k-mers) afin de chercher et quantifier plus rapidement la signature de nos candidats dans un grand nombre de données RNAseq. Kmerator a également été utilisé dans d'autres applications pour tester la qualité des données RNA-seq disponibles en accés public.Après validation de ces nouveaux biomarqueurs de MSCs par qPCR, nous avons eu recours à plusieurs outils informatiques pour prédire leurs fonctions potentielles. Enfin, nous avons analysé des données RNAseq « single-cell » pour aborder l’hétérogénéité d’expression au sein des populations MSCs. / The development of RNA sequencing, or RNAseq, have opened the path of intensive biomarkers research in many areas of biology. The complete information of the transcriptome contained in the output data, allows a bioinformatician to surpass the current knowledge and to access, thanks to advanced computer pipelines, to signatures of new interest. In this thesis, we are showing that these potential markers, classically used in clinical and pathological conditions, can be used to characterize cell types without extensive markers profile. We have studied mesenchymal stem cells, a type of adult multipotent stem cells, strongly used in clinics but without strickly specific positive markers. Our study mainly focuses on the search for non-annotated, long non-coding RNAs. These RNAs, also called "lncRNA", constitute an emerging class of transcripts and are still lightly explored.In addition, this category presents a highly tissue-related specificity. We have developed an optimized RNAseq pipeline for the reconstruction and quantification of non-annotated lncRNAs.Using public data from RNAseq, coming from different sources of MSC and other cell types, we have identified new non-annotated lncRNAs clearly and specifically expressed in MSCs. to complete this project, we developed Kmerator.jl, a bioinformatical tool that allows to decompose a transcript in k-mer, and select specific sub-sequences, in order to search and quantify at a faster rate the signature of our candidates in a large number of RNAseq dataset. After validation of these new biomarkers of MSCs by qPCR, we used several computer tools to predict their potential functions. Finally, we analyzed single-cell RNAseq data to address the heterogeneity of expression within MSC populations.

Os elementos genéticos móveis (mobile genetic elements MGEs), são elementos extremamente importantes para plasticidade e evolução dos genomas. Uma das classes mais importantes de MGEs são as sequências de inserção (insertion sequences - IS). Estes elementos são encontrados em bactérias e archaea e apresentam grande diversidade de famílias e mecanismos de movimentação. Uma família interessante de IS é IS200/605, esta família encontra-se distribuída em bactérias, archaea e vírus e utiliza substratos de DNA de fita simples para seu processo de transposição. Neste trabalho, através da análise de dados públicos de transcritoma identificamos RNAs sobrepostos ao 3\' de genes tnpB de IS200/605 em archaea e bactérias, estes transcritos foram chamados de sense overlapping transcripts (sotRNAs). As extremidades 5\' e 3\' dos sotRNAs foram mapeadas através de dados de RNA-seq de pequenos RNAs (sRNA-seq) e validadas através da técnica de C-RACE. Análises de sequência e estrutura secundária demonstraram que estes RNAs apresentam um motivo conservado chamado de RE-like. Utilizando a sequência consenso deste motivo pudemos identificar RNAs intergênicos derivados de IS200/605 em H. salinarum NRC-1. Para caracterização funcional, construímos linhagens superexpressando os RNAs VNG_sot0042 e VNG_R0052, ambos contendo o motivo RE-like. Curvas de crescimento, utilizando as linhagens construídas demonstraram que a superexpressão destes RNAs aumenta o crescimento de H. salinarum demonstrando sua funcionalidade. Devido a presença do motivo RE-like, extremidades 5\' e 3\' determinadas e fenótipo visualizado em curva de crescimento padrão, o sotRNA VNG_sot0042 foi estudado mais a fundo. Realizamos experimentos de RNA-seq para avaliar o impacto desta superexpressão no transcritoma de H. salinarum NRC-1, assim como experimentos de SILAC para identificação de proteínas parceiras em larga escala. Nestes ensaios identificamos proteínas e genes associados ao processo de adesão, geração de células persistentes e resistência a metais pesados. Ensaios de adesão e sobrevivência a metais pesados demonstraram que a linhagem de superexpressão apresenta maior capacidade de aderir a vidro e maior sobrevivência em diversas condições de estresse. Deste modo, podemos sugerir que ncRNAs derivados de IS200/605 são importantes moléculas regulatórias em H. salinarum NRC-1 e nos ajudam a compreender a manutenção de IS200/605 e seus derivados nos genomas de procariotos. / Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are extremely important for plasticity and evolution of genomes. Their impacts are diverse and could be related to antibiotic resistence or symbiosis. One of the most important class of MGEs are insertion sequences (ISs). These elements are found widespread throughout bacteria and archaea, presenting a great diversity of families. An interesting family is the IS200/605, this family is found widespread in bacteria, archaea and viruses and is divided in three subgroups according to it\'s genetic composition: IS200 with tnpA gene alone, IS605 with tnpA and tnpB and IS1341 with tnpB only. Another interesting aspect is the utilization of single-stranded DNA as a substrate during the transposition process. In this work, through the analysis of public available transcriptomic data we identified transcripts that overlaps the 3\' end of tnpB in IS200/605 in both bacteria and archaea. These transcripts were named sense overlapping transcripts (sotRNAs). Sequence and secondary structure analysis showed a conserved motif present in sotRNAs, the RE-like motif. Using the consensus sequence of this motif we identified novel intergenic ncRNAs containing this motif that are derived from IS200/605. For functional characterization we overexpressed a sotRNA (VNG_sot0042) and a intergenic (VNG_R0052), both containing the RE-like motif. Standard growth curves demonstrated that the overexpression of these ncRNAs improve H. salinarum growth showing that this RNA is functional. To further evaluate the impact of the overexpressions we prepared RNA-seq libraries of the strain overexpressing VNG_sot0042 and in parallel performed SILAC experiments to identify potential protein-RNA interaction partners. Differentially regulated genes and interacting proteins associated with adhesion and persistent cells generation were found. Adhesion and survival assays showed that the lineage overexpressing VNG_sot0042 has a better capability to adhere in glass surfaces and survive more in diverse stressful conditions.

A regulação da expressão gênica ocorre como um fenômeno essencial nos processos celulares em resposta a dinamicidade mútua estabelecida entre um organismo e seu meio. Além dos elementos reguladores já conhecidos, como fatores de transcrição ou modificações pós-transcricionais, observa-se um crescente interesse no papel de regulação desempenhado por moléculas de RNA não codificadores (ncRNA), que podem atuar em vários níveis de processamento da informação biológica. Organismos modelos oferecem uma forma conveniente de pesquisa e diferentes grupos buscam direcionar seus estudos para um entendimento mais amplo no que se refere aos mecanismos celulares presentes nesses organismos. Apesar da existência de alguns elementos conhecidos para o organismo modelo Halobacterium salinarum, acreditamos que nem todos seus elementos de ncRNAs foram identificados. Nesse contexto, desenvolvemos uma análise in silico para a identificação de novos ncRNAs em H. salinarum NRC-1 e aplicamos metodologias para a predição de possíveis interações RNA-Proteína. Com base em uma pespectiva de integração de dados e diferentes metodologias existentes, modelos de Aprendizado de Máquina (AM) foram criados e utilizados para a definição de regiões candidatas a ncRNAs. De acordo com os resultados, 42 novos ncRNAs puderam ser identificados e possibilitaram completar o catálogo de genes ncRNAs de H. salinarum NRC-1 e aumentar o universo conhecido destes em 82%. A análise dos resultados obtidos por outras abordagens disponíveis para a identificação de ncRNAs corroboram com alguns dos candidatos sugeridos neste trabalho. Adicionalmente, foram aplicados e avaliados métodos, também baseados em AM, para a identificação de candidatos à interação com a proteína de interesse LSm, presente no organismo em estudo, no intuito de incluir uma possível caracterização funcional de ncRNAs. Os resultados alcançados na aplicação metodologias para a predição de interações RNA-Proteína não foram suficientes para a criação de um modelo com predições de alto grau de acurácia porém, contribuem como estudos preliminares e discussões para o desenvolvimento de outras estratégias. / The gene expression regulation occurs on different cell levels in response to dynamics established between an organism and its environment. In addition to the regulatory elements already known, for instance, transcription factors or post-translation modifications, there is growing interests in the regulatory role played by non-coding RNA molecules (ncRNA) whose functions can be performed on different level of biological information processing. Model organisms allow a convenient way to work on laboratory and different research groups aiming to guide their studies for a mutual and wide understanding of the cellular mechanisms present on these organisms. Although some ncRNAs elements have been found in Halobacterium salinarum model organism we believe that not enough is knowing about these genomic regions. In these context, an in silico analysis for ncRNAs identification and RNA-protein prediction approach were applied to H. salinarum NRC-1. Considering a data integration perspective and some available methodologies, several machine learning models was built and used to designate candidate ncRNAs genome regions. According to achieve results, 42 new ncRNAs could be identified, increasing 82% the total of known ncRNAs in H. salinarum NRC-1. Combing analysis with other available tools, it had been observed that some suggested candidates also was found with different methodologies and thus, it highlights the proposed results. Additionally, we developed and analyzed methods, also machine learning based, to predict ncRNAs candidates to interact with LSm protein, present on the interested model organism aiming a basic ncRNA characterization. The achieved results in this part was not satisfactory since the applied models were not substantially accurate predictions. However, we believe that these preliminary results can contribute with some discussions to new different approaches.

A regulação da expressão gênica ocorre como um fenômeno essencial nos processos celulares em resposta a dinamicidade mútua estabelecida entre um organismo e seu meio. Além dos elementos reguladores já conhecidos, como fatores de transcrição ou modificações pós-transcricionais, observa-se um crescente interesse no papel de regulação desempenhado por moléculas de RNA não codificadores (ncRNA), que podem atuar em vários níveis de processamento da informação biológica. Organismos modelos oferecem uma forma conveniente de pesquisa e diferentes grupos buscam direcionar seus estudos para um entendimento mais amplo no que se refere aos mecanismos celulares presentes nesses organismos. Apesar da existência de alguns elementos conhecidos para o organismo modelo Halobacterium salinarum, acreditamos que nem todos seus elementos de ncRNAs foram identificados. Nesse contexto, desenvolvemos uma análise in silico para a identificação de novos ncRNAs em H. salinarum NRC-1 e aplicamos metodologias para a predição de possíveis interações RNA-Proteína. Com base em uma pespectiva de integração de dados e diferentes metodologias existentes, modelos de Aprendizado de Máquina (AM) foram criados e utilizados para a definição de regiões candidatas a ncRNAs. De acordo com os resultados, 42 novos ncRNAs puderam ser identificados e possibilitaram completar o catálogo de genes ncRNAs de H. salinarum NRC-1 e aumentar o universo conhecido destes em 82%. A análise dos resultados obtidos por outras abordagens disponíveis para a identificação de ncRNAs corroboram com alguns dos candidatos sugeridos neste trabalho. Adicionalmente, foram aplicados e avaliados métodos, também baseados em AM, para a identificação de candidatos à interação com a proteína de interesse LSm, presente no organismo em estudo, no intuito de incluir uma possível caracterização funcional de ncRNAs. Os resultados alcançados na aplicação metodologias para a predição de interações RNA-Proteína não foram suficientes para a criação de um modelo com predições de alto grau de acurácia porém, contribuem como estudos preliminares e discussões para o desenvolvimento de outras estratégias. / The gene expression regulation occurs on different cell levels in response to dynamics established between an organism and its environment. In addition to the regulatory elements already known, for instance, transcription factors or post-translation modifications, there is growing interests in the regulatory role played by non-coding RNA molecules (ncRNA) whose functions can be performed on different level of biological information processing. Model organisms allow a convenient way to work on laboratory and different research groups aiming to guide their studies for a mutual and wide understanding of the cellular mechanisms present on these organisms. Although some ncRNAs elements have been found in Halobacterium salinarum model organism we believe that not enough is knowing about these genomic regions. In these context, an in silico analysis for ncRNAs identification and RNA-protein prediction approach were applied to H. salinarum NRC-1. Considering a data integration perspective and some available methodologies, several machine learning models was built and used to designate candidate ncRNAs genome regions. According to achieve results, 42 new ncRNAs could be identified, increasing 82% the total of known ncRNAs in H. salinarum NRC-1. Combing analysis with other available tools, it had been observed that some suggested candidates also was found with different methodologies and thus, it highlights the proposed results. Additionally, we developed and analyzed methods, also machine learning based, to predict ncRNAs candidates to interact with LSm protein, present on the interested model organism aiming a basic ncRNA characterization. The achieved results in this part was not satisfactory since the applied models were not substantially accurate predictions. However, we believe that these preliminary results can contribute with some discussions to new different approaches.

Proteins and RNAs are two of the most versatile macromolecules that carry out almost all functions within living organisms. In this thesis I have explored evolutionary and regulatory aspects of proteins and RNAs by studying their structures, modifications and interactions. In the first chapter of my thesis I investigate domain atrophy, a term I coined to describe large-scale deletions of core structural elements within protein domains. By looking into truncated domain boundaries across several domain families using Pfam, I was able to identify rare cases of domains that showed atrophy. Given that even point mutations can be deleterious, it is surprising that proteins can tolerate such large-scale deletions. Some of the structures of atrophied domains show novel protein-protein interaction interfaces that appear to compensate and stabilise their folds. Protein-protein interactions are largely influenced by the surface and charge complementarity, while RNA-RNA interactions are governed by base-pair complementarity; both interaction types are inherently different and these differences might be observed in their interaction networks. Based on this hypothesis I have explored the protein-protein, RNA-protein and the RNA-RNA interaction networks of yeast in the second chapter. By analysing the three networks I found no major differences in their network properties, which indicates an underlying uniformity in their interactomes despite their individual differences. In the third chapter I focus on RNA-protein interactions by investigating post-translational modifications (PTMs) in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). By comparing occurrences of PTMs, I observe that RBPs significantly undergo more PTMs than non-RBPs. I also found that within RBPs, PTMs are more frequently targeted at regions that directly interact with RNA compared to regions that do not. Moreover disorderedness and amino acid composition were not observed to significantly influence the differential PTMs observed between RBPs and nonRBPs. The results point to a direct regulatory role of PTMs in RNA-protein interactions of RBPs. In the last chapter, I explore regulatory RNA-RNA interactions. Using differential expression data of mRNAs and lncRNAs from mouse models of hereditary hemochromatosis, I investigated competing regulatory interactions between mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA. A mutual interaction network was created from the predicted miRNA interaction sites on mRNAs and lncRNAs to identify regulatory RNAs in the disease. I also observed interesting relations between the sense-antisense mRNA-lncRNA pairs that indicate mutual regulation of expression levels through a yet unknown mechanism.

The discovery of RNA in 1868 by Friedrich Miescher was meant to be the prologue to an exciting new era in Biology full of scientific breakthroughs and accomplishments. Since then, RNAs have been proven to play an indispensable role in biological processes such as coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. In particular, the discovery of small non-coding RNAs and especially miRNAs, in C. elegans first and thereafter to almost all animals and plants, started to fill in the puzzle of a complex gene regulatory network present within cells. The aim of this thesis is to shed more light on the features and functionality of small RNAs. In particular, we will focus on the function and biogenesis of miRNAs and piRNAs, across multiple species, by employing advanced computational methods and machine learning. We first introduce a novel method (Chimira) for the identification of miRNAs from sets of animal and plant hairpin precursors along with post-transcriptional terminal modifications that are not encoded by the genome. This method allows the characterisation of the prevalence of miRNA isoforms within different cell types and/or conditions. We have applied Chimira within a larger study that examines the effect of terminal uridylation in RNA degradation in oocytes and cells in either embryonic or adult stage. This study showed that uridylation is the predominant transcriptional regulation mechanism in oocytes while it does not retain the same functionality on mRNAs and miRNAs, both in embryonic and adult cells. We then move on to a large-scale analysis of small RNA-Seq datasets in order to identify potential modification signatures across specific conditions and cell types or tissues in Human and Mouse. We extracted the full modification profiles across 461 samples, unveiling the high prevalence of modification signatures of mainly 1 to 4 nucleotides. Additionally, samples of the same cell type and/or condition tend to cluster together based on their miRNA modification profiles while miRNA gene precursors with close genomic proximity showed a significant degree of co-expression. Finally, we elucidate the determinant factors in strand selection during miRNA biogenesis as well as update the miRBase annotation with corrected miRNA isoform sequences. Next, we introduce a novel computational method (mirnovo) for miRNA prediction from RNA-Seq data with or without a reference genome using machine learning. We demonstrate its efficiency by applying it to multiple datasets, including single cells and RNaseIII deficient samples, supporting previous studies for the existence of non-canonical miRNA biogenesis pathways. Following this, we explore and justify a novel piRNA biogenesis pathway in Mouse which is independent of the MILI enzyme. Finally, we explore the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 induced editing of miRNA targets based on the computationally predicted accessibility of the targeted regions in the genome. We have publicly released two web-based novel computational methods and one on-line resource with results regarding miRNA biogenesis and function. All findings presented in this study comprise another step forward within the journey of elucidation of RNA functionality and we believe they will be of benefit to the scientific community.

Os elementos genéticos móveis (mobile genetic elements MGEs), são elementos extremamente importantes para plasticidade e evolução dos genomas. Uma das classes mais importantes de MGEs são as sequências de inserção (insertion sequences - IS). Estes elementos são encontrados em bactérias e archaea e apresentam grande diversidade de famílias e mecanismos de movimentação. Uma família interessante de IS é IS200/605, esta família encontra-se distribuída em bactérias, archaea e vírus e utiliza substratos de DNA de fita simples para seu processo de transposição. Neste trabalho, através da análise de dados públicos de transcritoma identificamos RNAs sobrepostos ao 3\' de genes tnpB de IS200/605 em archaea e bactérias, estes transcritos foram chamados de sense overlapping transcripts (sotRNAs). As extremidades 5\' e 3\' dos sotRNAs foram mapeadas através de dados de RNA-seq de pequenos RNAs (sRNA-seq) e validadas através da técnica de C-RACE. Análises de sequência e estrutura secundária demonstraram que estes RNAs apresentam um motivo conservado chamado de RE-like. Utilizando a sequência consenso deste motivo pudemos identificar RNAs intergênicos derivados de IS200/605 em H. salinarum NRC-1. Para caracterização funcional, construímos linhagens superexpressando os RNAs VNG_sot0042 e VNG_R0052, ambos contendo o motivo RE-like. Curvas de crescimento, utilizando as linhagens construídas demonstraram que a superexpressão destes RNAs aumenta o crescimento de H. salinarum demonstrando sua funcionalidade. Devido a presença do motivo RE-like, extremidades 5\' e 3\' determinadas e fenótipo visualizado em curva de crescimento padrão, o sotRNA VNG_sot0042 foi estudado mais a fundo. Realizamos experimentos de RNA-seq para avaliar o impacto desta superexpressão no transcritoma de H. salinarum NRC-1, assim como experimentos de SILAC para identificação de proteínas parceiras em larga escala. Nestes ensaios identificamos proteínas e genes associados ao processo de adesão, geração de células persistentes e resistência a metais pesados. Ensaios de adesão e sobrevivência a metais pesados demonstraram que a linhagem de superexpressão apresenta maior capacidade de aderir a vidro e maior sobrevivência em diversas condições de estresse. Deste modo, podemos sugerir que ncRNAs derivados de IS200/605 são importantes moléculas regulatórias em H. salinarum NRC-1 e nos ajudam a compreender a manutenção de IS200/605 e seus derivados nos genomas de procariotos. / Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are extremely important for plasticity and evolution of genomes. Their impacts are diverse and could be related to antibiotic resistence or symbiosis. One of the most important class of MGEs are insertion sequences (ISs). These elements are found widespread throughout bacteria and archaea, presenting a great diversity of families. An interesting family is the IS200/605, this family is found widespread in bacteria, archaea and viruses and is divided in three subgroups according to it\'s genetic composition: IS200 with tnpA gene alone, IS605 with tnpA and tnpB and IS1341 with tnpB only. Another interesting aspect is the utilization of single-stranded DNA as a substrate during the transposition process. In this work, through the analysis of public available transcriptomic data we identified transcripts that overlaps the 3\' end of tnpB in IS200/605 in both bacteria and archaea. These transcripts were named sense overlapping transcripts (sotRNAs). Sequence and secondary structure analysis showed a conserved motif present in sotRNAs, the RE-like motif. Using the consensus sequence of this motif we identified novel intergenic ncRNAs containing this motif that are derived from IS200/605. For functional characterization we overexpressed a sotRNA (VNG_sot0042) and a intergenic (VNG_R0052), both containing the RE-like motif. Standard growth curves demonstrated that the overexpression of these ncRNAs improve H. salinarum growth showing that this RNA is functional. To further evaluate the impact of the overexpressions we prepared RNA-seq libraries of the strain overexpressing VNG_sot0042 and in parallel performed SILAC experiments to identify potential protein-RNA interaction partners. Differentially regulated genes and interacting proteins associated with adhesion and persistent cells generation were found. Adhesion and survival assays showed that the lineage overexpressing VNG_sot0042 has a better capability to adhere in glass surfaces and survive more in diverse stressful conditions.