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Urquidi-Camacho RA, Lokdarshi A, von Arnim AG. Translational gene regulation in plants: A green new deal. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2020; 11:e1597. [PMID: 32367681 PMCID: PMC9258721 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The molecular machinery for protein synthesis is profoundly similar between plants and other eukaryotes. Mechanisms of translational gene regulation are embedded into the broader network of RNA-level processes including RNA quality control and RNA turnover. However, over eons of their separate history, plants acquired new components, dropped others, and generally evolved an alternate way of making the parts list of protein synthesis work. Research over the past 5 years has unveiled how plants utilize translational control to defend themselves against viruses, regulate translation in response to metabolites, and reversibly adjust translation to a wide variety of environmental parameters. Moreover, during seed and pollen development plants make use of RNA granules and other translational controls to underpin developmental transitions between quiescent and metabolically active stages. The economics of resource allocation over the daily light-dark cycle also include controls over cellular protein synthesis. Important new insights into translational control on cytosolic ribosomes continue to emerge from studies of translational control mechanisms in viruses. Finally, sketches of coherent signaling pathways that connect external stimuli with a translational response are emerging, anchored in part around TOR and GCN2 kinase signaling networks. These again reveal some mechanisms that are familiar and others that are different from other eukaryotes, motivating deeper studies on translational control in plants. This article is categorized under: Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A. Urquidi-Camacho
- UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
| | - Ansul Lokdarshi
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
| | - Albrecht G von Arnim
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology and UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
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52
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Ursu A, Childs-Disney JL, Andrews RJ, O'Leary CA, Meyer SM, Angelbello AJ, Moss WN, Disney MD. Design of small molecules targeting RNA structure from sequence. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:7252-7270. [PMID: 32935689 PMCID: PMC7707016 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00455c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The design and discovery of small molecule medicines has largely been focused on a small number of druggable protein families. A new paradigm is emerging, however, in which small molecules exert a biological effect by interacting with RNA, both to study human disease biology and provide lead therapeutic modalities. Due to this potential for expanding target pipelines and treating a larger number of human diseases, robust platforms for the rational design and optimization of small molecules interacting with RNAs (SMIRNAs) are in high demand. This review highlights three major pillars in this area. First, the transcriptome-wide identification and validation of structured RNA elements, or motifs, within disease-causing RNAs directly from sequence is presented. Second, we provide an overview of high-throughput screening approaches to identify SMIRNAs as well as discuss the lead identification strategy, Inforna, which decodes the three-dimensional (3D) conformation of RNA motifs with small molecule binding partners, directly from sequence. An emphasis is placed on target validation methods to study the causality between modulating the RNA motif in vitro and the phenotypic outcome in cells. Third, emergent modalities that convert occupancy-driven mode of action SMIRNAs into event-driven small molecule chemical probes, such as RNA cleavers and degraders, are presented. Finally, the future of the small molecule RNA therapeutics field is discussed, as well as hurdles to overcome to develop potent and selective RNA-centric chemical probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ursu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Jessica L Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Ryan J Andrews
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
| | - Collin A O'Leary
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
| | - Samantha M Meyer
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Alicia J Angelbello
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Walter N Moss
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Abstract
RNA enzymes or ribozymes catalyze some of the most important reactions in biology and are thought to have played a central role in the origin and evolution of life on earth. Catalytic function in RNA has evolved in crowded cellular environments that are different from dilute solutions in which most in vitro assays are performed. The presence of molecules such as amino acids, polypeptides, alcohols, and sugars in the cell introduces forces that modify the kinetics and thermodynamics of ribozyme-catalyzed reactions. Synthetic molecules are routinely used in in vitro studies to better approximate the properties of biomolecules under in vivo conditions. This review discusses the various forces that operate within simulated crowded solutions in the context of RNA structure, folding, and catalysis. It also explores ideas about how crowding could have been beneficial to the evolution of functional RNAs and the development of primitive cellular systems in a prebiotic milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurja DasGupta
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
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54
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Gumna J, Zok T, Figurski K, Pachulska-Wieczorek K, Szachniuk M. RNAthor - fast, accurate normalization, visualization and statistical analysis of RNA probing data resolved by capillary electrophoresis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239287. [PMID: 33002005 PMCID: PMC7529196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs adopt specific structures to perform their functions, which are critical to fundamental cellular processes. For decades, these structures have been determined and modeled with strong support from computational methods. Still, the accuracy of the latter ones depends on the availability of experimental data, for example, chemical probing information that can define pseudo-energy constraints for RNA folding algorithms. At the same time, diverse computational tools have been developed to facilitate analysis and visualization of data from RNA structure probing experiments followed by capillary electrophoresis or next-generation sequencing. RNAthor, a new software tool for the fully automated normalization of SHAPE and DMS probing data resolved by capillary electrophoresis, has recently joined this collection. RNAthor automatically identifies unreliable probing data. It normalizes the reactivity information to a uniform scale and uses it in the RNA secondary structure prediction. Our web server also provides tools for fast and easy RNA probing data visualization and statistical analysis that facilitates the comparison of multiple data sets. RNAthor is freely available at http://rnathor.cs.put.poznan.pl/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Gumna
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Zok
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kacper Figurski
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Marta Szachniuk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
- * E-mail: (KPW); (MS)
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55
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Borchardt EK, Martinez NM, Gilbert WV. Regulation and Function of RNA Pseudouridylation in Human Cells. Annu Rev Genet 2020; 54:309-336. [PMID: 32870730 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in pseudouridine detection reveal a complex pseudouridine landscape that includes messenger RNA and diverse classes of noncoding RNA in human cells. The known molecular functions of pseudouridine, which include stabilizing RNA conformations and destabilizing interactions with varied RNA-binding proteins, suggest that RNA pseudouridylation could have widespread effects on RNA metabolism and gene expression. Here, we emphasize how much remains to be learned about the RNA targets of human pseudouridine synthases, their basis for recognizing distinct RNA sequences, and the mechanisms responsible for regulated RNA pseudouridylation. We also examine the roles of noncoding RNA pseudouridylation in splicing and translation and point out the potential effects of mRNA pseudouridylation on protein production, including in the context of therapeutic mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K Borchardt
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA; , ,
| | - Nicole M Martinez
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA; , ,
| | - Wendy V Gilbert
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA; , ,
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56
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Huston NC, Wan H, de Cesaris Araujo Tavares R, Wilen C, Pyle AM. Comprehensive in-vivo secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genome reveals novel regulatory motifs and mechanisms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.07.10.197079. [PMID: 32676598 PMCID: PMC7359520 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.10.197079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the positive-sense RNA virus that causes COVID-19, a disease that has triggered a major human health and economic crisis. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 is unique among viral RNAs in its vast potential to form stable RNA structures and yet, as much as 97% of its 30 kilobases have not been structurally explored in the context of a viral infection. Our limited knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 genomic architecture is a fundamental limitation to both our mechanistic understanding of coronavirus life cycle and the development of COVID-19 RNA-based therapeutics. Here, we apply a novel long amplicon strategy to determine for the first time the secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome probed in infected cells. In addition to the conserved structural motifs at the viral termini, we report new structural features like a conformationally flexible programmed ribosomal frameshifting pseudoknot, and a host of novel RNA structures, each of which highlights the importance of studying viral structures in their native genomic context. Our in-depth structural analysis reveals extensive networks of well-folded RNA structures throughout Orf1ab and reveals new aspects of SARS-CoV-2 genome architecture that distinguish it from other single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses. Evolutionary analysis of RNA structures in SARS-CoV-2 shows that several features of its genomic structure are conserved across beta coronaviruses and we pinpoint individual regions of well-folded RNA structure that merit downstream functional analysis. The native, complete secondary structure of SAR-CoV-2 presented here is a roadmap that will facilitate focused studies on mechanisms of replication, translation and packaging, and guide the identification of new RNA drug targets against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. Huston
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Han Wan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Craig Wilen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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57
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Twittenhoff C, Brandenburg VB, Righetti F, Nuss AM, Mosig A, Dersch P, Narberhaus F. Lead-seq: transcriptome-wide structure probing in vivo using lead(II) ions. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:e71. [PMID: 32463449 PMCID: PMC7337928 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic conformation of RNA molecules within living cells is key to their function. Recent advances in probing the RNA structurome in vivo, including the use of SHAPE (Selective 2'-Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension) or kethoxal reagents or DMS (dimethyl sulfate), provided unprecedented insights into the architecture of RNA molecules in the living cell. Here, we report the establishment of lead probing in a global RNA structuromics approach. In order to elucidate the transcriptome-wide RNA landscape in the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, we combined lead(II) acetate-mediated cleavage of single-stranded RNA regions with high-throughput sequencing. This new approach, termed 'Lead-seq', provides structural information independent of base identity. We show that the method recapitulates secondary structures of tRNAs, RNase P RNA, tmRNA, 16S rRNA and the rpsT 5'-untranslated region, and that it reveals global structural features of mRNAs. The application of Lead-seq to Y. pseudotuberculosis cells grown at two different temperatures unveiled the first temperature-responsive in vivo RNA structurome of a bacterial pathogen. The translation of candidate genes derived from this approach was confirmed to be temperature regulated. Overall, this study establishes Lead-seq as complementary approach to interrogate intracellular RNA structures on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aaron M Nuss
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 381214 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Axel Mosig
- Department of Biophysics, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 381214 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Infectiology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Franz Narberhaus
- Microbial Biology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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58
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Gawroński P, Pałac A, Scharff LB. Secondary Structure of Chloroplast mRNAs In Vivo and In Vitro. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E323. [PMID: 32143324 PMCID: PMC7154907 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
mRNA secondary structure can influence gene expression, e.g., by influencing translation initiation. The probing of in vivo mRNA secondary structures is therefore necessary to understand what determines the efficiency and regulation of gene expression. Here, in vivo mRNA secondary structure was analyzed using dimethyl sulfate (DMS)-MaPseq and compared to in vitro-folded RNA. We used an approach to analyze specific, full-length transcripts. To test this approach, we chose low, medium, and high abundant mRNAs. We included both monocistronic and multicistronic transcripts. Because of the slightly alkaline pH of the chloroplast stroma, we could probe all four nucleotides with DMS. The structural information gained was evaluated using the known structure of the plastid 16S rRNA. This demonstrated that the results obtained for adenosines and cytidines were more reliable than for guanosines and uridines. The majority of mRNAs analyzed were less structured in vivo than in vitro. The in vivo secondary structure of the translation initiation region of most tested genes appears to be optimized for high translation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Gawroński
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Pałac
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lars B. Scharff
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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59
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Lukasiewicz AJ, Contreras LM. Antisense probing of dynamic RNA structures. Methods 2020; 183:76-83. [PMID: 31991194 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA regulation is influenced by the dynamic changes in conformational accessibility on the transcript. Here we discuss the initial validation of a cell-free antisense probing method for structured RNAs, using the Tetrahymena group I intron as a control target. We observe changes in signal that qualitatively match prior traditional DMS footprinting experiments. Importantly, we have shown that application of this technique can elucidate new RNA information given its sensitivity for detecting rare intermediates that are not as readily observed by single-hit kinetics chemical probing techniques. Observing changes in RNA accessibility has broad applications in determining the effect that regulatory elements have on regional structures. We speculate that this method could be useful in quickly observing those interactions, along with other phenomena that influence RNA accessibility including RNA-RNA interactions and small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Lukasiewicz
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Lydia M Contreras
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States; McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
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