Thread by @carninci

1- A key paper from our labs is finally out: nature.com/articles/s4146…. This work important because report a methodology: a new approach to globally detect where RNAs interact with chromatin.

2- A large number of lncRNAs are known to bind the chromatin: when their function is known, we see very interesting biology, but so far not many lncRNAs have been studied also because lack of any hint on their functions.

3- The new method is called RADICL-seq (RNA And DNA Interacting Complexes Ligated and sequenced) and allow to comprehensively detect interactions. While we expected to identify many lncRNAs, there are also unexpected observations.

4- For instance, many intronic RNAs that are not degraded but interact in cis along the locus where they are produced, and beyond. There are various observations, interactions in cis and in trans. Have a look!

5- We also improve a previous method (Grid-seq) by sequencing longer tags, which allows mapping of the interactome generated by expressed repeat elements, which shows specific distribution patterns along the chromosomes, which will be exciting to explore in the future.

6- One of the things that excites me more is that we do not know yet all the types of interactions that will be identified, because the data bring many surprises: there are many dimensions and type of interactions.

7- Exploring new dimensions is one of the most exciting thing that a new technology offer. Demonstrating and publishing their biological relevance will be, of course very, hard, as we know.

8- This work could be completed only thanks to stubborn and talented colleagues. We wrote the first grant with Valerio Orlando in 2008 and continued to develop the idea and experiments for years.

9- All the authors have been pushing so hard to solve technical problems, even in the darkest period when the idea did not seem to work. I’d like to thank all of them, for the many aspects of the project that they have developed. The project the work of a team, thanks to all!

9- There have been many supporters particularly, but not only at RIKEN. We look forward to continue this work into the FANTOM as well as other projects to explore the unknown aspects of RNA mediated genome regulation.

For those interested in comparing Biorxiv and final published paper, see the original manuscript here: biorxiv.org/content/10.110… ; which has helped to distribute the ideas behind this technology.

Thanking friends/colleagues/organizations on tweeter:
@GoCasteloBranco
@BorisLenhard
@erikarner
@kasukawa
@nickluscombe
@AleBon78 (Special thanks!!)
@muju79

@RIKEN_IMS
@riken_en
@RIKEN_JP
@KAUST_News

#FANTOM

Radicl-seq: the official press-release by RIKEN here.
riken.jp/en/news_pubs/r…

RADICL-seq news picked up also:
miragenews.com/new-rna-mappin…