Fission yeast cells with single mRNA particles of two ultra-low noise genes identified with fluorophores (green and magenta). The cell nucleus, where RNA is synthesized, and the cell details are labeled in blue. Credit: Photo courtesy of Silke Hauf
Silke Hauf and her research study team made a remarkably peaceful discovery during their research study on cell department. They observed that the expression of RNA in cells is always accompanied by a particular level of irregularity, or noise, in the amount of RNA produced. Interestingly, Hauf and her group recognized numerous genes that displayed variations in sound that fell below a previously defined limitation, referred to as the sound floor, during their expression.
” We have strong information for this phenomenon,” stated Hauf, associate teacher in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech. “There are some genes that are different and can have super low noise.”
Frequently upstaged by the more striking, well-publicized high-noise genes, Hauf and her group were fascinated by these ultra-low noise genes as they provide a window into the understanding of gene expression and gene expression sound.
The cell nucleus, where RNA is synthesized, and the cell lays out are identified in blue. Silke Hauf and her research group made a surprisingly quiet discovery throughout their study on cell division. Members of the Virginia Tech Hauf Lab involved in the low-noise gene discovery, from left Silke Hauf, Douglas Weidemann, Eric Esposito, and Tatiana Boluarte. Members of the Hauf Lab included in the low-noise gene discovery consist of (from left) Silke Hauf, Douglas Weidemann, Eric Esposito, and Tatiana Boluarte. Hauf said the discoverys significance lies in assisting acquire a standard understanding of how these cells do what they do.
This discovery, just recently published in the journal Science Advances, consists of contributions from co-authors Abhyudai Singh, teacher of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware, and Ramon Grima, professor of computational biology at the University of Edinburgh. Both Singh and Grima are also mathematical biologists.
Members of the Virginia Tech Hauf Lab involved in the low-noise gene discovery, from left Silke Hauf, Douglas Weidemann, Eric Esposito, and Tatiana Boluarte. Photo thanks to Silke Hauf Members of the Hauf Lab associated with the low-noise gene discovery include (from left) Silke Hauf, Douglas Weidemann, Eric Esposito, and Tatiana Boluarte. Credit: Photo courtesy of Silke Hauf.
Cells will be cells
Hauf said the discoverys value lies in helping acquire a basic understanding of how these cells do what they do. Cells cant avoid making sounds, however for them to function well, the sound needs to be minimized. She compared it with airports attempting to keep their flights on time in order to get maximum performance.” So its exciting to see that there are genes that operate with a minimum level of noise,” said Hauf. “Imagine there was a flight that constantly left within five minutes of the set up departure time. Would not you wish to know how the airline does it?”
Opens the door to more discoveries
Hauf is thrilled about comprehending how these cells express in such a peaceful manner and finding out more about the mechanisms behind them. She also wishes to find other genes in this category.
” We saw these minimal changes in one specific organism and cell type, however we truly need to check other cells to determine if it is universal,” Hauf said.
Reference: “The minimal intrinsic stochasticity of constitutively revealed eukaryotic genes is sub-Poissonian” by Douglas E. Weidemann, James Holehouse, Abhyudai Singh, Ramon Grima and Silke Hauf, 9 August 2023, Science Advances.DOI: 10.1126/ sciadv.adh5138.
This research study has actually been moneyed by grants from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a system within the National Institutes of Health, and Virginia Techs College of Science Lay Nam Chang Deans Discovery Fund.