Integrated sequencing approach to probe rRNA modification landscape during human embryonic stem cell differentiation

The ribosome, long regarded as a passive, uniform machine, has only recently been recognised as a direct regulator of translation. Mass spectrometry and sequencing approaches have shown that heterogeneity in ribosome composition exists, which can actively regulate the translational process. One source of this heterogeneity is the modification of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily pseudouridylation (pseU) and 2'-O-methylation (2OMe), mediated by specific H/ACA and C/D box small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Here, we investigate how the stoichiometry of rRNA modifications varies during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Using the modification basecalling capability of Nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we have identified distinct stoichiometric changes in modification patterns between pluripotent and differentiated cells, revealing highly dynamic, site-specific regulation. Further, profiling of snoRNA expression during trilineage differentiation revealed differential expression of H/ACA and C/D box snoRNAs responsible for a subset of these dynamic modifications. By integrating rRNA and snoRNA sequencing approaches, we have built a comprehensive profile of rRNA modification dynamics during early embryonic cell fate decisions, highlighting potential regulatory mechanisms for ribosome heterogeneity during development. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=191 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/743918v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (26K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4f9b42org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@5a3f8eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@102a5aaorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ca560f_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG