Abstract
RNA is secreted from cells enclosed within extracellular vesicles (EVs). Defining the RNA composition of EVs is challenging due to their co-isolation with contaminants, a lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of RNA sorting into EVs and limitations of conventional RNA-seq methods. Here we present our observations using thermostable group II intron reverse transcriptase sequencing (TGIRT-seq) to characterize the RNA extracted from HEK293T cell EVs isolated by flotation gradient ultracentrifugation and from exosomes containing the tetraspannin CD63 further purified from the gradient fractions by immunoisolation. We found that EV-associated transcripts are dominated by full-length, mature tRNAs and other small non-coding RNAs encapsulated within vesicles. A substantial proportion of the reads mapping to protein-coding genes, long non-coding, and antisense RNAs were due to DNA contamination on the surface of vesicles. Nevertheless, sequences mapping to spliced mRNAs were identified within HEK293T cell EVs and exosomes, among the most abundant being transcripts containing a 5’ terminal oligopyrimidine (5’ TOP) motif. Our results indicate that the RNA-binding protein YBX1, which we showed previously is required for the sorting of selected miRNAs into exosomes, plays a role in the sorting of highly abundant small non-coding RNA species, including tRNAs, Y RNAs, and Vault RNAs. Finally, we obtained evidence for an EV-specific tRNA modification, perhaps indicating a role for post-transcriptional modification in the sorting of some RNA species into EVs. The identification of full-length small non-coding RNAs within EVs suggests a role for EVs in the export and possible intercellular functional transfer of abundant cellular transcripts.
Statement of Significance Cells release vesicles containing selectively packaged cargo, including RNA, into the extracellular environment. Prior studies have identified RNA inside extracellular vesicles (EVs) but, due to limitations of conventional sequencing methods, highly structured and post-transcriptionally modified RNA species were not effectively captured. Using an alternative sequencing approach (TGIRT-seq), we found that EVs contain abundant small non-coding RNA species, including full-length tRNAs and Y RNAs. Using a knockout cell line, we obtained evidence that the RNA-binding protein YBX1 plays a role in sorting small non-coding RNAs into a subpopulation of extracellular vesicles termed exosomes. These experiments expand our understanding of EV-RNA composition and provide insights into how RNA is sorted into EVs for export from the cell.
