Genome-Wide Repertoire of Transfer RNA-Derived Fragments in a Mouse Model of Age-Related Cataract

To investigate the roles of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) containing transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA halves in age-related cataracts (ARCs).Lens capsule tissue from Emory mice at 3 months and 8 months of age were dissected for integrated tsRNA and gene transcriptome sequencing. A quantitative real-time PCR assay (qRT-PCR) was performed for validating sequencing results. Bioinformatics analysis was constructed to reveal the roles of tsRNAs.A total of 422 differential expression (DE) tsRNAs were changed, in which 156 were elevated while 266 were declined in 8-month-old mice. Subsequently, the gene sequencing data exhibited 375 upregulated and 456 downregulated DE genes. Validation by qRT-PCR in 5 selected upregulated tRFs was consistent with tsRNAs sequencing results. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis identified 25 downregulated target genes of the 5 validated tRFs. Furthermore, GO analysis revealed that these target genes were mainly enriched in camera-type eye development, sensory organ development, and so on.Our study provides a novel perspective on the role of tsRNAs in the pathogenesis of ARC, and thus therapeutic potential targets for ARC.