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. 2019 May 30;6:1292–1304. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.05.014
Subject Area: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
More specific subject area: Protein-RNA Interactions
Protocol name: Quick-irCLIP – Rapid infrared adaptor based individual nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation
Reagents/tools:
  • 5’ DNA Adenylation Kit (NEB, Cat#:E2610L)

  • QIAquick Nucleotide Removal Kit (Qiagen, Cat#: 28304)

  • 1x Phosphate buffered saline (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AAJ61196AP)

  • Tris-HCL, pH 6.5(Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AAJ61787AP)

  • Tris-HCL, pH 7.4(Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AAJ62778AP)

  • Tris-HCL, pH 7.8(Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AAJ61944AP)

  • NaCl (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: S271-500)

  • Igepal CA-630 (Sigma Aldrich, Cat#: I8896 −50 ML)

  • SDS (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: BP166-100)

  • Soidum deoxycholate (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: PI89905)

  • Urea (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: U15-500)

  • EDTA pH 8.0 (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: BP118-500)

  • MgCl2 (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AA12315A1)

  • Tween 20 (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: BP337-100)

  • Dithiothreitol (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: BP172-5)

  • Polyethylene glycol 400 (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AAB2199230)

  • LDS-4x sample buffer (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0007)

  • Methanol (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: A412-500)

  • 20x MOPS-SDS running buffer (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0001)

  • 20x Transfer buffer (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0006)

  • Neutral phenol:chloroform (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: PI17908)

  • Sodium acetate (3 M), pH 5.5 (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AM9740)

  • Ethanol (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 07-678-003)

  • TBE buffer (Bio-Rad, Cat#: 161-0733)

  • Magnetic protein G/A beads (Bio-Rad, Cat#: 1614023)

  • Anti-hnRNP-C (positive control) (Santa Cruz, Cat#: sc-32308)

  • Protease inhibitor cocktail (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 78429)

  • RNase I (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: FEREN0601)

  • Turbo DNase (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: AM2238)

  • T4 PNK (NEB, Cat#: M0201S)

  • RNaseOUT Ribonuclease Inhibitor (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 10777019)

  • T4 RNA ligase I (NEB, Cat#: M0204S)

  • Near infrared protein marker (Bio-Rad, Cat#: 1610374)

  • Antioxidant (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0005)

  • Reducing agent (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0004)

  • Proteinase K (Qiagen, Cat#: 19131)

  • Glycogen, RNA grade (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: FERR0551)

  • 50bp DNA marker (NEB, Cat#: N3236S)

  • SYBR safe (Thermofisher Scientific, Cat#: S33012)

  • SMARTer® smRNA-seq kit for Illumina (Takara, Cat#: 635029)

  • 4–12% protein denaturing precast gels (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: NP0335BOX)

  • 6% TBE precast gels (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: EC6865BOX)

  • Irdye-800CW-DBCO (LiCor, Cat#: 929-50000)

  • QIAquick Nucleotide Removal Kit (Qiagen, Cat#: 28304)

  • Cell scrapers (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 08-771-1A)

  • 2 mL microcentrifuge tubes (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 05-402-95)

  • 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 05-402-94)

  • Low-binding 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 13-698-794)

  • 0.2 mL PCR tubes (Eppendorf, Cat#: 951010006)

  • Steriflip filters (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: SCGP00525)

  • Protran 0.45 nitrocellulose membrane (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 45-004-01

  • Western blotting filter paper (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: PI88600)

  • Razor blades (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 12-640)

  • 30 gauge needles (Sigma Aldrich, Cat#: Z192341)

  • Phase-lock heavy columns (VWR, Cat#: 10847-802)

  • Proteus clarification columns (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 50-107-8783)

  • Magnetic microcentrifuge tube rack (Bio-Rad, Cat#: 161-4916)

  • IP-grade Antibody targeting RBP of interest

  • /5Phos/CAAGCAGAAGACGGCATACGAAAAAAAAAAAA/iAzideN/AAAAAAAAAAAA oligonucleotide (synthesized at the 1 μmol scale (with an approximate yield of 20 nmol))

  • Nanodrop (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 13-400-519)

  • Thermal cycler (Agilent, Cat#: G8800A)

  • Thermomixer (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 13687717)

  • Microcentrifuge (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 05-401-203)

  • Acetate printing film (Office Depot, Cat#: 542290)

  • Printer (Office Depot, Cat#: 872049)

  • Near infrared imager (Bio-Rad, Cat#: 12003154)

  • UV crosslinker (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: 13-245-221)

  • Gel and transfer apparatus (Fisher Scientific, Cat#: EI0002)

Experimental design: Proteins and RNAs in the cells of interest are cross-linked through UV irradiation. The protein of interest is immunoprecipitated along with its cross-linked RNAs. An infrared RNA adaptor allows for visualization and isolation of protein-RNA complexes following Western blotting. Then the protein is digested, and the RNA is purified and used to create a sequencing library. During library preparation, frequent failure of the reverse transcriptase to read through the cross-link site, allows for the resolution of RNA regions involved in protein-RNA interactions at the nucleotide level.
Trial registration: n/a
Ethics: n/a