S-Adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Identification of a novel protein arginine methyltransferase

Genome mining for radical SAM protein determinants reveals multiple sactibiotic-like gene clusters

Thuricin CD is a two-component bacteriocin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis that kills a wide range of clinically significant Clostridium difficile. This bacteriocin has recently been characterized and consists of two distinct peptides, Trnβ and Trnα, which both possess 3 intrapeptide sulphur to α-carbon bridges and act synergistically. Indeed, thuricin CD and subtilosin A are the only antimicrobials known to possess these unusual structures and are known as the sactibiotics (sulplur to alpha carbon-containing antibiotics). Analysis of the thuricin CD-associated gene cluster revealed the presence of genes encoding two highly unusual SAM proteins (TrnC and TrnD) which are proposed to be responsible for these unusual post-translational modifications. On the basis of the frequently high conservation among enzymes responsible for the post-translational modification of specific antimicrobials, we performed an in silico screen for novel thuricin CD–like gene clusters using the TrnC and TrnD radical SAM proteins as driver sequences to perform an initial homology search against the complete non-redundant database. Fifteen novel thuricin CD–like gene clusters were identified, based on the presence of TrnC and TrnD homologues in the context of neighbouring genes encoding potential bacteriocin structural peptides. Moreover, metagenomic analysis revealed that TrnC or TrnD homologs are present in a variety of metagenomic environments, suggesting a widespread distribution of thuricin-like operons in a variety of environments. In-silico analysis of radical SAM proteins is sufficient to identify novel putative sactibiotic clusters.

Genetic identification of Arabidopsis RID2 as an essential factor involved in pre-rRNA processing

A temperature-sensitive mutant of Arabidopsis, root initiation defective 2-1 (rid2-1), is characterized by peculiar defects in callus formation. To gain insights into the requirements for the reactivation of cell division, we analyzed this mutant and isolated the gene responsible, RID2. The phenotypes of rid2-1 in tissue culture and in seedlings indicated that the rid2 mutation has various (acute and non-acute) inhibitory effects on different aspects of cell proliferation. This suggests that the RID2 function is not directly involved in every cycle of cell division, but is related to 'vitality', supporting cell proliferation. The rid2-1 mutation was shown to cause nucleolar vacuolation and excessive accumulation of various intermediates of pre-rRNA processing. Positional cloning of the RID2 gene revealed that it encodes an evolutionarily conserved methyltransferase-like protein, which was found to localize in the nucleus, with accumulation being most evident in the nucleolus. It can be inferred from these findings that RID2 contributes to the nucleolar activity for pre-rRNA processing, probably through some methylation reaction.

Protein arginine methylation in parasitic protozoa

Protozoa constitute the earliest branch of the eukaryotic lineage, and several groups of protozoans are serious parasites of humans and other animals. Better understanding of biochemical pathways that are either in common with or divergent from those of higher eukaryotes is integral in the defense against these parasites. In yeast and humans, the posttranslational methylation of arginine residues in proteins affects myriad cellular processes, including transcription, RNA processing, DNA replication and repair, and signal transduction. The protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) that catalyze these reactions, which are unique to the eukaryotic kingdom of organisms, first become evident in protozoa. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of arginine methylation in multiple species of parasitic protozoa, including Trichomonas, Entamoeba, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Trypanosoma spp., and discuss how arginine methylation may play important and unique roles in each type of parasite. We mine available genomic and transcriptomic data to inventory the families of PRMTs in different parasites and the changes in their abundance during the life cycle. We further review the limited functional studies on the roles of arginine methylation in parasites, including epigenetic regulation in Apicomplexa and RNA processing in trypanosomes. Interestingly, each of the parasites considered herein has significantly differing sets of PRMTs, and we speculate on the importance of this diversity in aspects of parasite biology, such as differentiation and antigenic variation.

The ribosomal l1 protuberance in yeast is methylated on a lysine residue catalyzed by a seven-beta-strand methyltransferase

Modification of proteins of the translational apparatus is common in many organisms. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we provide evidence for the methylation of Rpl1ab, a well conserved protein forming the ribosomal L1 protuberance of the large subunit that functions in the release of tRNA from the exit site. We show that the intact mass of Rpl1ab is 14 Da larger than its calculated mass with the previously described loss of the initiator methionine residue and N-terminal acetylation. We determined that the increase in mass of yeast Rpl1ab is consistent with the addition of a methyl group to lysine 46 using top-down mass spectrometry. Lysine modification was confirmed by detecting (3)H-N-ε-monomethyllysine in hydrolysates of Rpl1ab purified from yeast cells radiolabeled in vivo with S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-(3)H]methionine. Mass spectrometric analysis of intact Rpl1ab purified from 37 deletion strains of known and putative yeast methyltransferases revealed that only the deletion of the YLR137W gene, encoding a seven-β-strand methyltransferase, results in the loss of the +14-Da modification. We expressed the YLR137W gene as a His-tagged protein in Escherichia coli and showed that it catalyzes N-ε-monomethyllysine formation within Rpl1ab on ribosomes from the ΔYLR137W mutant strain lacking the methyltransferase activity but not from wild-type ribosomes. We also showed that the His-tagged protein could catalyze monomethyllysine formation on a 16-residue peptide corresponding to residues 38-53 of Rpl1ab. We propose that the YLR137W gene be given the standard name RKM5 (ribosomal lysine (K) methyltransferase 5). Orthologs of RKM5 are found only in fungal species, suggesting a role unique to their survival.

Identification of lysine 37 of histone H2B as a novel site of methylation

Recent technological advancements have allowed for highly-sophisticated mass spectrometry-based studies of the histone code, which predicts that combinations of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on histone proteins result in defined biological outcomes mediated by effector proteins that recognize such marks. While significant progress has been made in the identification and characterization of histone PTMs, a full appreciation of the complexity of the histone code will require a complete understanding of all the modifications that putatively contribute to it. Here, using the top-down mass spectrometry approach for identifying PTMs on full-length histones, we report that lysine 37 of histone H2B is dimethylated in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By generating a modification-specific antibody and yeast strains that harbor mutations in the putative site of methylation, we provide evidence that this mark exist in vivo. Importantly, we show that this lysine residue is highly conserved through evolution, and provide evidence that this methylation event also occurs in higher eukaryotes. By identifying a novel site of histone methylation, this study adds to our overall understanding of the complex number of histone modifications that contribute to chromatin function.

A novel 3-methylhistidine modification of yeast ribosomal protein Rpl3 is dependent upon the YIL110W methyltransferase

We have shown that Rpl3, a protein of the large ribosomal subunit from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is stoichiometrically monomethylated at position 243, producing a 3-methylhistidine residue. This conclusion is supported by top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry of Rpl3, as well as by biochemical analysis of Rpl3 radiolabeled in vivo with S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-(3)H]methionine. The results show that a +14-Da modification occurs within the GTKKLPRKTHRGLRKVAC sequence of Rpl3. Using high-resolution cation-exchange chromatography and thin layer chromatography, we demonstrate that neither lysine nor arginine residues are methylated and that a 3-methylhistidine residue is present. Analysis of 37 deletion strains of known and putative methyltransferases revealed that only the deletion of the YIL110W gene, encoding a seven β-strand methyltransferase, results in the loss of the +14-Da modification of Rpl3. We suggest that YIL110W encodes a protein histidine methyltransferase responsible for the modification of Rpl3 and potentially other yeast proteins, and now designate it Hpm1 (Histidine protein methyltransferase 1). Deletion of the YIL110W/HPM1 gene results in numerous phenotypes including some that may result from abnormal interactions between Rpl3 and the 25 S ribosomal RNA. This is the first report of a methylated histidine residue in yeast cells, and the first example of a gene required for protein histidine methylation in nature.

Identification of protein N-terminal methyltransferases in yeast and humans

Protein modification by methylation is important in cellular function. We show here that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae YBR261C/TAE1 gene encodes an N-terminal protein methyltransferase catalyzing the modification of two ribosomal protein substrates, Rpl12ab and Rps25a/Rps25b. The YBR261C/Tae1 protein is conserved across eukaryotes; all of these proteins share sequence similarity with known seven beta-strand class I methyltransferases. Wild-type yeast cytosol and mouse heart cytosol catalyze the methylation of a synthetic peptide (PPKQQLSKY) that contains the first eight amino acids of the processed N-terminus of Rps25a/Rps25b. However, no methylation of this peptide is seen in yeast cytosol from a DeltaYBR261C/tae1 deletion strain. Yeast YBR261C/TAE1 and the human orthologue METTL11A genes were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and were shown to be capable of stoichiometrically dimethylating the N-terminus of the synthetic peptide. Furthermore, the YBR261C/Tae1 and METTL11A recombinant proteins methylate variants of the synthetic peptide containing N-terminal alanine and serine residues. However, methyltransferase activity is largely abolished when the proline residue in position 2 or the lysine residue in position 3 is substituted. Thus, the methyltransferases described here specifically recognize the N-terminal X-Pro-Lys sequence motif, and we suggest designating the yeast enzyme Ntm1 and the human enzyme NTMT1. These enzymes may account for nearly all previously described eukaryotic protein N-terminal methylation reactions. A number of other yeast and human proteins also share the recognition motif and may be similarly modified. We conclude that protein X-Pro-Lys N-terminal methylation reactions catalyzed by the enzymes described here may be widespread in nature.

Trm112p is a 15-kDa zinc finger protein essential for the activity of two tRNA and one protein methyltransferases in yeast

The degenerate base at position 34 of the tRNA anticodon is the target of numerous modification enzymes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, five tRNAs exhibit a complex modification of uridine 34 (mcm(5)U(34) and mcm(5)s(2)U(34)), the formation of which requires at least 25 different proteins. The addition of the last methyl group is catalyzed by the methyltransferase Trm9p. Trm9p interacts with Trm112p, a 15-kDa protein with a zinc finger domain. Trm112p is essential for the activity of Trm11p, another tRNA methyltransferase, and for Mtq2p, an enzyme that methylates the translation termination factor eRF1/Sup45. Here, we report that Trm112p is required in vivo for the formation of mcm(5)U(34) and mcm(5)s(2)U(34). When produced in Escherichia coli, Trm112p forms a complex with Trm9p, which renders the latter soluble. This recombinant complex catalyzes the formation of mcm(5)U(34) on tRNA in vitro but not mcm(5)s(2)U(34). An mtq2-0 trm9-0 strain exhibits a synthetic growth defect, thus revealing the existence of an unexpected link between tRNA anticodon modification and termination of translation. Trm112p is associated with other partners involved in ribosome biogenesis and chromatin remodeling, suggesting that it has additional roles in the cell.

MidA is a putative methyltransferase that is required for mitochondrial complex I function

Dictyostelium and human MidA are homologous proteins that belong to a family of proteins of unknown function called DUF185. Using yeast two-hybrid screening and pull-down experiments, we showed that both proteins interact with the mitochondrial complex I subunit NDUFS2. Consistent with this, Dictyostelium cells lacking MidA showed a specific defect in complex I activity, and knockdown of human MidA in HEK293T cells resulted in reduced levels of assembled complex I. These results indicate a role for MidA in complex I assembly or stability. A structural bioinformatics analysis suggested the presence of a methyltransferase domain; this was further supported by site-directed mutagenesis of specific residues from the putative catalytic site. Interestingly, this complex I deficiency in a Dictyostelium midA− mutant causes a complex phenotypic outcome, which includes phototaxis and thermotaxis defects. We found that these aspects of the phenotype are mediated by a chronic activation of AMPK, revealing a possible role of AMPK signaling in complex I cytopathology.

TbPRMT6 is a type I protein arginine methyltransferase that contributes to cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei

Arginine methylation is a widespread posttranslational modification of proteins catalyzed by a family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammals, this modification affects multiple cellular processes, such as chromatin remodeling leading to transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, DNA repair, and cell signaling. The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei possesses five putative PRMTs in its genome. This is a large number of PRMTs relative to other unicellular eukaryotes, suggesting an important role for arginine methylation in trypanosomes. Here, we present the in vitro and in vivo characterization of a T. brucei enzyme homologous to human PRMT6, which we term TbPRMT6. Like human PRMT6, TbPRMT6 is a type I PRMT, catalyzing the production of monomethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine residues. In in vitro methylation assays, TbPRMT6 utilizes bovine histones as a substrate, but it does not methylate several T. brucei glycine/arginine-rich proteins. As such, it exhibits a relatively narrow substrate specificity compared to other T. brucei PRMTs. Knockdown of TbPRMT6 in both procyclic form and bloodstream form T. brucei leads to a modest but reproducible effect on parasite growth in culture. Moreover, upon TbPRMT6 depletion, both PF and BF exhibit aberrant morphologies indicating defects in cell division, and these defects differ in the two life cycle stages. Mass spectrometry of TbPRMT6-associated proteins reveals histones, components of the nuclear pore complex, and flagellar proteins that may represent TbPRMT6 substrates contributing to the observed growth and morphological defects.

Mammalian ALKBH8 possesses tRNA methyltransferase activity required for the biogenesis of multiple wobble uridine modifications implicated in translational decoding

Uridines in the wobble position of tRNA are almost invariably modified. Modifications can increase the efficiency of codon reading, but they also prevent mistranslation by limiting wobbling. In mammals, several tRNAs have 5-methoxycarbonylmethyluridine (mcm5U) or derivatives thereof in the wobble position. Through analysis of tRNA from Alkbh8-/- mice, we show here that ALKBH8 is a tRNA methyltransferase required for the final step in the biogenesis of mcm5U. We also demonstrate that the interaction of ALKBH8 with a small accessory protein, TRM112, is required to form a functional tRNA methyltransferase. Furthermore, prior ALKBH8-mediated methylation is a prerequisite for the thiolation and 2'-O-ribose methylation that form 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine (mcm5s2U) and 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2'-O-methyluridine (mcm5Um), respectively. Despite the complete loss of all of these uridine modifications, Alkbh8-/- mice appear normal. However, the selenocysteine-specific tRNA (tRNASec) is aberrantly modified in the Alkbh8-/- mice, and for the selenoprotein Gpx1, we indeed observed reduced recoding of the UGA stop codon to selenocysteine.

The Arabidopsis SMO2, a homologue of yeast TRM112, modulates progression of cell division during organ growth

Cell proliferation is integrated into developmental progression in multicellular organisms, including plants, and the regulation of cell division is of pivotal importance for plant growth and development. Here, we report the identification of an Arabidopsis SMALL ORGAN 2 (SMO2) gene that functions in regulation of the progression of cell division during organ growth. The smo2 knockout mutant displays reduced size of aerial organs and shortened roots, due to the decreased number of cells in these organs. Further analyses reveal that disruption of SMO2 does not alter the developmental timing but reduces the rate of cell production during leaf and root growth. Moreover, smo2 plants exhibit a constitutive activation of cell cycle-related genes and over-accumulation of cells expressing CYCB1;1:beta-glucuronidase (CYCB1;1:GUS) during organogenesis, suggesting that smo2 has a defect in G(2)-M phase progression in the cell cycle. SMO2 encodes a functional homologue of yeast TRM112, a plurifunctional component involved in a few cellular events, including tRNA and protein methylation. In addition, the mutation of SMO2 does not appear to affect endoreduplication in Arabidopsis leaf cells. Taken together we postulate that Arabidopsis SMO2 is a conserved yeast TRM112 homologue and SMO2-mediated cellular events are required for proper progression of cell division in plant growth and development.

Protein arginine methyltransferases: nuclear receptor coregulators and beyond

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes that play a crucial role in diverse cellular functions. Several PRMTs have been associated with gene expression regulation, in which PRMTs act as histone methyltransferases, secondary coregulators of transcription, or facilitate mRNA splicing and stability. Additional functions include modulation of protein localization, ribosomal assembly, and signal transduction. At the organismal level, several PRMTs appear to be important for development and may play an important role in cancer. The relationships between their cellular and organismal functions are poorly understood; at least in part due to the large body of enzymatic substrates for PRMTs and their transcriptional targets that remain to be determined. Specific PRMT inhibitors have been developed in recent years, which should help to shed light on their diverse biological roles. Connecting PRMT cellular functions with their global effects on an organism will facilitate development of novel treatments for human diseases.

Bioinformatic Identification of Novel Methyltransferases

Methylation of DNA, protein, and even RNA species are integral processes in epigenesis. Enzymes that catalyze these reactions using the donor S-adenosylmethionine fall into several structurally distinct classes. The members in each class share sequence similarity that can be used to identify additional methyltransferases. Here, we characterize these classes and in silico approaches to infer protein function. Computational methods such as hidden Markov model profiling and the Multiple Motif Scanning program can be used to analyze known methyltransferases and relay information into the prediction of new ones. In some cases, the substrate of methylation can be inferred from hidden Markov model sequence similarity networks. Functional identification of these candidate species is much more difficult; we discuss one biochemical approach.

The protein arginine methyltransferase family: an update about function, new perspectives and the physiological role in humans

Information about the family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) has been growing rapidly over the last few years and the emerging role of arginine methylation involved in cellular processes like signaling, RNA processing, gene transcription, and cellular transport function has been investigated. To date, 11 PRMTs gene transcripts have been identified in humans. Almost all PRMTs have been shown to have enzymatic activity and to catalyze arginine methylation. This review will summarize the overall function of human PRMTs and include novel highlights on each family member.

Multiple Motif Scanning to identify methyltransferases from the yeast proteome

A new program (Multiple Motif Scanning) was developed to scan the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome for Class I S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases. Conserved Motifs I, Post I, II, and III were identified and expanded in known methyltransferases by primary sequence and secondary structural analysis through hidden Markov model profiling of both a yeast reference database and a reference database of methyltransferases with solved three-dimensional structures. The roles of the conserved amino acids in the four motifs of the methyltransferase structure and function were then analyzed to expand the previously defined motifs. Fisher-based negative log statistical matrix sets were developed from the prevalence of amino acids in the motifs. Multiple Motif Scanning is able to scan the proteome and score different combinations of the top fitting sequences for each motif. In addition, the program takes into account the conserved number of amino acids between the motifs. The output of the program is a ranked list of proteins that can be used to identify new methyltransferases and to reevaluate the assignment of previously identified putative methyltransferases. The Multiple Motif Scanning program can be used to develop a putative list of enzymes for any type of protein that has one or more motifs conserved at variable spacings and is freely available (www.chem.ucla.edu/files/MotifSetup.Zip). Finally hidden Markov model profile clustering analysis was used to subgroup Class I methyltransferases into groups that reflect their methyl-accepting substrate specificity.

A type III protein arginine methyltransferase from the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei

Arginine methylation is a widespread post-translational modification of proteins catalyzed by a family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). The ancient protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma brucei, possesses five putative PRMTs, a relatively large number for a single-celled eukaryote. Trypanosomatids lack gene regulation at the level of transcription, instead relying on post-transcriptional control mechanisms that act at the levels of RNA turnover, translation, and editing, all processes that likely involve multiple RNA-binding proteins, which are common targets of arginine methylation. Here, we report the characterization of a trypanosome PRMT, TbPRMT7, which is homologous to human PRMT7. Interestingly, trypanosomatids are the only single-celled eukaryotes known to harbor a PRMT7 homologue. TbPRMT7 differs dramatically from all known metazoan PRMT7 homologues in lacking the second AdoMet binding-like domain that is required for activity of the human enzyme. Nevertheless, bacterially expressed TbPRMT7 exhibits robust methyltransferase activity toward multiple targets in vitro. High resolution ion exchange chromatography analysis of methylated substrates reveals that TbPRMT7 is a type III PRMT, catalyzing the formation of only monomethylarginine, thereby representing the only exclusively type III PRMT identified to date. TbPRMT7 is expressed in both mammalian and insect stage T. brucei and is apparently dispensable for growth in both life cycle stages. The enzyme is cytoplasmically localized and is a component of several higher order complexes in vivo. Together, our studies indicate that TbPRMT7 is a Type III PRMT, and its robust activity and presence in numerous complexes suggest it plays multiple roles during the complex T. brucei life cycle.

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteomic libraries to identify RNA-modifying proteins

Biochemical assay of proteomic libraries derived from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome provides a powerful new tool for the assignment of activities to proteins. Particular advantages of this approach include the speed with which a protein can be identified and the generality for any biological activity for which an assay can be developed. We discuss the utility of this approach for the identification of RNA-modifying enzymes using a yeast proteomic library derived from a genomic set of strains expressing GST-ORF fusion proteins. This technique is also broadly applicable to other classes of RNA-protein interactions, including RNA binding and RNA degradation, and can be used with any of the proteomic libraries that are available.

tRNA and protein methylase complexes mediate zymocin toxicity in yeast

Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae tRNA anticodons at the wobble uridine (U34) position is required for tRNA cleavage by the zymocin tRNase killer toxin from Kluyveromyces lactis. Hence, U34 modification defects including lack of the U34 tRNA methyltransferase Trm9 protect against tRNA cleavage and zymocin. Using zymocin as a tool, we have identified toxin-resistant mutations in TRM9 that are likely to affect the U34 methylation reaction. Most strikingly, C-terminal truncations in Trm9 abolish interaction with Trm112, a protein shown to individually purify with Lys9 and two more methylases, Trm11 and Mtq2. Downregulation of a GAL1-TRM112 allele protects against zymocin whereas LYS9, TRM11 and MTQ2 are dosage suppressors of zymocin. Based on immune precipitation studies, the latter scenario correlates with competition for Trm112 and in excess, some of these Trm112 partners interfere with formation of the toxin-relevant Trm9.Trm112 complex. In contrast to trm11Delta or lys9Delta cells, trm112Delta and mtq2Delta null mutants are zymocin resistant. In line with the identified role that methylation of Sup45 by Mtq2 has for translation termination by the release factor dimer Sup45.Sup35, we observe that SUP45 overexpression and sup45 mutants suppress zymocin. Intriguingly, this suppression correlates with upregulated levels of tRNA species targeted by zymocin's tRNase activity.

Microarray analysis of ncRNA expression patterns in Caenorhabditis elegans after RNAi against snoRNA associated proteins

Background

Short non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) perform their cellular functions in ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, which are also essential for maintaining the stability of the ncRNAs. Depletion of individual protein components of non-coding ribonucleoprotein (ncRNP) particles by RNA interference (RNAi) may therefore affect expression levels of the corresponding ncRNA, and depletion of candidate associated proteins may constitute an alternative strategy when investigating ncRNA-protein interactions and ncRNA functions. Therefore, we carried out a pilot study in which the effects of RNAi against protein components of small nucleolar RNPs (snoRNPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans were observed on an ncRNA microarray.

Results

RNAi against individual C. elegans protein components of snoRNPs produced strongly reduced mRNA levels and distinct phenotypes for all targeted proteins. For each type of snoRNP, individual depletion of at least three of the four protein components produced significant (P ≦ 1.2 × 10^-5) reductions in the expression levels of the corresponding small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), whereas the expression levels of other ncRNAs were largely unaffected. The effects of depletion of individual proteins were in accordance with snoRNP structure analyses obtained in other species for all but two of the eight targeted proteins. Variations in snoRNA size, sequence and secondary structure characteristics were not systematically reflected in the affinity for individual protein component of snoRNPs. The data supported the classification of nearly all annotated snoRNAs and suggested the presence of several novel snoRNAs among unclassified short ncRNA transcripts. A number of transcripts containing canonical Sm binding element sequences (Sm Y RNAs) also showed reduced expression after depletion of protein components of C/D box snoRNPs, whereas the expression of some stem-bulge RNAs (sbRNAs) was increased after depletion of the same proteins.

Conclusion

The study confirms observations made for other organisms, where reduced ncRNA levels after depletion of protein components of ncRNPs were noted, and shows that such reductions in expression levels occur across entire sets of ncRNA. Thereby, the study also demonstrates the feasibility of combining RNAi against candidate proteins with ncRNA microarray analysis to investigate ncRNA-protein interactions and hence ncRNA cellular functions.

Hsl7 is a substrate-specific type II protein arginine methyltransferase in yeast

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein Hsl7 is a regulator of the Swe1 protein kinase in cell cycle checkpoint control. Hsl7 has been previously described as a type III protein arginine methyltransferase, catalyzing the formation of omega-monomethylarginine residues on non-physiological substrates. However, we show here that Hsl7 can also display type II activity, generating symmetric dimethylarginine residues on calf thymus histone H2A. Symmetric dimethylation is only observed when enzyme and the methyl-accepting substrate were incubated for extended times. We confirmed the Hsl7-dependent formation of symmetric dimethylarginine by amino acid analysis and thin layer chromatography with wild-type and mutant recombinant enzymes expressed from both bacteria and yeast. This result is significant because no type II activity has been previously demonstrated in S. cerevisiae. We also show that Hsl7 has little or no activity on GST-GAR, a commonly used substrate for protein arginine methyltransferases, and only minimal activity on myelin basic protein. This enzyme thus may only recognize only a small subset of potential substrate proteins in yeast, in contrast to the situation with Rmt1, the major type I methyltransferase.

Bud23 methylates G1575 of 18S rRNA and is required for efficient nuclear export of pre-40S subunits

BUD23 was identified from a bioinformatics analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes involved in ribosome biogenesis. Deletion of BUD23 leads to severely impaired growth, reduced levels of the small (40S) ribosomal subunit, and a block in processing 20S rRNA to 18S rRNA, a late step in 40S maturation. Bud23 belongs to the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent Rossmann-fold methyltransferase superfamily and is related to small-molecule methyltransferases. Nevertheless, we considered that Bud23 methylates rRNA. Methylation of G1575 is the only mapped modification for which the methylase has not been assigned. Here, we show that this modification is lost in bud23 mutants. The nuclear accumulation of the small-subunit reporters Rps2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Rps3-GFP, as well as the rRNA processing intermediate, the 5' internal transcribed spacer 1, indicate that bud23 mutants are defective for small-subunit export. Mutations in Bud23 that inactivated its methyltransferase activity complemented a bud23Delta mutant. In addition, mutant ribosomes in which G1575 was changed to adenosine supported growth comparable to that of cells with wild-type ribosomes. Thus, Bud23 protein, but not its methyltransferase activity, is important for biogenesis and export of the 40S subunit in yeast.

Synthetic approaches to N(delta)-methylated L-arginine, N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine, L-citrulline, and N(delta)-cyano-L-ornithine

Nomega-Methylated arginines such as asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) and monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA) are known as potent physiological inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases (NOSs). To explore a possible physiological and pharmaceutical relevance of N(delta)-methylated analogues, a synthetic scheme had to be developed that would not lead to N(delta)-methyl-L-arginine only but also to its presumed metabolites of NOS catalysis. Two basic synthetic approaches have been pursued to obtain N(delta)-methylated derivatives of L-ornithine, L-citrulline, L-arginine, and N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine. A first attempt utilized conventionally protected L-ornithine, i.e., the tert-butyl ester and Boc-amine, and led to three end compounds in excellent yields. Simultaneous protection of the alpha-amino acid moiety by formation of boroxazolidinones, particularly by employing 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN-H), proved to be a convenient option to perform side chain modifications and led to all of the desired end compounds. Additionally, enantiomeric excess (ee, %) of crucial synthetic intermediates and end compounds was determined by chiral HPLC.

N(delta)-Methylated L-arginine derivatives and their effects on the nitric oxide generating system

So far N(delta)-methyl-l-arginine (MA) is only detected in yeast cells. Assuming that MA also exists in mammalians we examined possible physiological effects of N(delta)-methylated l-arginine derivatives on the nitric oxide generating system, that is, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), arginase and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). N(delta)-methyl-l-citrulline (MC) turned out to be a weak non-specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases. Moreover, MA is hydroxylated by all human NOS isoforms to N(omega)-hydroxy-N(delta)-methyl-l-arginine (NHAM) but not converted further. This hydroxylated intermediate, however, was detected to be a potent inhibitor of bovine liver arginase with a K(i) of 17.1+/-2.2 microM.

Regulation of protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) activity by its N-terminal domain

Human protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT8 has been recently described as a type I enzyme in brain that is localized to the plasma membrane by N-terminal myristoylation. The amino acid sequence of human PRMT8 is almost 80% identical to human PRMT1, the major protein arginine methyltransferase activity in mammalian cells. However, the activity of a recombinant PRMT8 GST fusion protein toward methyl-accepting substrates is much lower than that of a GST fusion of PRMT1. We show here that both His-tagged and GST fusion species lacking the initial 60 amino acid residues of PRMT8 have enhanced enzymatic activity, suggesting that the N-terminal domain may regulate PRMT8 activity. This conclusion is supported by limited proteolysis experiments showing an increase in the activity of the digested full-length protein, consistent with the loss of the N-terminal domain. In contrast, the activity of the N-terminal truncated protein was slightly diminished by limited proteolysis. Significantly, we detect automethylation at two sites in the N-terminal domain, as well as binding sites for SH3 domain-containing proteins. We suggest that the N-terminal domain may function as an autoregulator that may be displaced by interaction with one or more physiological inducers.

Methylation of proteins involved in translation

Methylation is one of the most common protein modifications. Many different prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins are methylated, including proteins involved in translation, including ribosomal proteins (RPs) and translation factors (TFs). Positions of the methylated residues in six Escherichia coli RPs and two Saccharomyces cerevisiae RPs have been determined. At least two RPs, L3 and L12, are methylated in both organisms. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic elongation TFs (EF1A) are methylated at lysine residues, while both release factors are methylated at glutamine residues. The enzymes catalysing methylation reactions, protein methyltransferases (MTases), generally use S-adenosylmethionine as the methyl donor to add one to three methyl groups that, in case of arginine, can be asymetrically positioned. The biological significance of RP and TF methylation is poorly understood, and deletions of the MTase genes usually do not cause major phenotypes. Apparently methylation modulates intra- or intermolecular interactions of the target proteins or affects their affinity for RNA, and, thus, influences various cell processes, including transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, ribosome assembly, translation accuracy, protein nuclear trafficking and metabolism, and cellular signalling. Differential methylation of specific RPs and TFs in a number of organisms at different physiological states indicates that this modification may play a regulatory role.

Protein arginine methylation in Candida albicans: role in nuclear transport

Protein arginine methylation plays a key role in numerous eukaryotic processes, such as protein transport and signal transduction. In Candida albicans, two candidate protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) have been identified from the genome sequencing project. Based on sequence comparison, C. albicans candidate PRMTs display similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hmt1 and Rmt2. Here we demonstrate functional homology of Hmt1 between C. albicans and S. cerevisiae: CaHmt1 supports growth of S. cerevisiae strains that require Hmt1, and CaHmt1 methylates Npl3, a major Hmt1 substrate, in S. cerevisiae. In C. albicans strains lacking CaHmt1, asymmetric dimethylarginine and omega-monomethylarginine levels are significantly decreased, indicating that Hmt1 is the major C. albicans type I PRMT1. Given the known effects of type I PRMTs on nuclear transport of RNA-binding proteins, we tested whether Hmt1 affects nuclear transport of a putative Npl3 ortholog in C. albicans. CaNpl3 allows partial growth of S. cerevisiae npl3Delta strains, but its arginine-glycine-rich C terminus can fully substitute for that of ScNpl3 and also directs methylation-sensitive association with ScNpl3. Expression of green fluorescent protein-tagged CaNpl3 proteins in C. albicans strains with and without CaHmt1 provides evidence for CaHmt1 facilitating export of CaNpl3 in this fungus. We have also identified the C. albicans Rmt2, a type IV fungus- and plant-specific PRMT, by amino acid analysis of an rmt2Delta/rmt2Delta strain, as well as biochemical evidence for additional cryptic PRMTs.

Evolutionarily divergent type II protein arginine methyltransferase in Trypanosoma brucei

Protein arginine methylation is a posttranslational modification that impacts cellular functions, such as RNA processing, transcription, DNA repair, and signal transduction. The majority of our knowledge regarding arginine methylation derives from studies of yeast and mammals. Here, we describe a protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT), TbPRMT5, from the early-branching eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei. TbPRMT5 shares the greatest sequence similarity with PRMT5 and Skb1 type II enzymes from humans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively, although it is significantly divergent at the amino acid level from its mammalian and yeast counterparts. Recombinant TbPRMT5 displays broad substrate specificity in vitro, including methylation of a mitochondrial-gene-regulatory protein, RBP16. TbPRMT5 catalyzes the formation of omega-N(G)-monomethylarginine and symmetric omega-N(G),N(G')-dimethylarginine and does not require trypanosome cofactors for this activity. These data establish that type II PRMTs evolved early in the eukaryotic lineage. In vivo, TbPRMT5 is constitutively expressed in the bloodstream form and procyclic-form (insect host) life stages of the parasite and localizes to the cytoplasm. Genetic disruption via RNA interference in procyclic-form trypanosomes indicates that TbPRMT5 is not essential for growth in this life cycle stage. TbPRMT5-TAP ectopically expressed in procyclic-form trypanosomes is present in high-molecular-weight complexes and associates with an RG domain-containing DEAD box protein related to yeast Ded1 and two kinetoplastid-specific proteins. Thus, TbPRMT5 is likely to be involved in novel methylation-regulated functions in trypanosomes, some of which may include RNA processing and/or translation.

Identification of a ubiG-like gene involved in ubiquinone biosynthesis from Chlamydophila pneumoniae AR39

AIMS

To investigate if one hypothetical protein from Chlamydophila pneumoniae AR39 exerts UbiG-like function by complementary experiments.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Proteins UbiG have a signature S-adenosylmethionine-binding motif compared with other methyltransferases. Probing with the conserved motif, one hypothetical protein from C. pneumoniae AR39 was proposed to be a UbiG-like protein. The protein encoding the gene was used to swap its counterpart in Escherichia coli, and its expression in resultant strain DYCG was confirmed by RT-PCR. Strain DYCG grew on succinate as a carbon source, and rescued ubiquinone content in vivo, while the ubiG deletion strain DYK did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that the putative protein from C. pneumoniae exerts a UbiG-like function involved in ubiquinone biosynthesis.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Identification of the ubiG-like gene will facilitate research on ubiquinone biosynthesis and aerobic respiration in the genus Chlamydophila owing to the important function of ubiquinone in vivo.

Expression of proteins with dimethylarginines in Escherichia coli for protein-protein interaction studies

Protein arginine methylation often modulates protein-protein interactions. To isolate a sufficient quantity of proteins enriched in methyl arginine(s) from natural sources for biochemical studies is laborious and difficult. We describe here an expression system that produces recombinant proteins that are enriched in omega-N(G),N(G)-asymmetry dimethylarginines. A yeast type I arginine methyltransferase gene (HMT1) is put on a plasmid under the control of the Escherichia coli methionine aminopeptidase promoter for constitutive expression. The protein targeted for post-translational modification is put on the same plasmid behind a T7 promoter for inducible expression of His(6)-tagged proteins. Sbp1p and Stm1p were used as model proteins to examine this expression system. The 13 arginines within the arginine-glycine-rich motif of Sbp1p and the RGG sequence near the C terminus of Stm1p were methylated. Unexpectedly, the arginine residue on the thrombin cleavage site (LVPRGS) of the fusion proteins can also be methylated by Hmt1p. Sbp1p and Sbp1p/hmt1 were covalently attached to solid supports for the isolation of interacting proteins. The results indicate that arginine methylation on Sbp1p exerts both positive and negative effects on protein-protein interaction.

2 The family of protein arginine metkyltransferases

Arginine methylation is a widespread posttranslational modification found on both nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. The methylation of arginine residues is catalyzed by the protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT) family of enzymes, of which there are at least nine members in mammals. PRMTs are evolutionarily conserved and are foundin organisms from yeast to man, but not in bacteria. Proteins that are arginine methylated are involved in a number of different cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, RNA metabolism, and DNA damage repair. How arginine methylation impacts these cellular actions is unclear, although it is likely through the regulation of protein-protein and protein-DNA/RNA interactions. The different PRMTs display varying degrees of substrate specificity, and a certain amount of redundancy is likely to exist between different PRMT family members. Most PRMTs methylate glycine- and arginine-rich patches within their substrates. These regions have been termed GAR motifs. The complexity of the methylarginine mark is enhanced by the ability of this residue to be methylated in three different fashions on the guanidino group (with different functional consequences for each methylated state): monomethylated, symmetrically dimethylated, and asymmetrically dimethylated. This chapter outlines the biochemistry of arginine methylation, including a detailed description of the enzymes involved, the motifs methylated, and the prospects of inhibiting these enzymes with small molecules.

Endogenous synthesis of coenzyme Q in eukaryotes

Coenzyme Q (Q) functions in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and serves as a lipophilic antioxidant. There is increasing interest in the use of Q as a nutritional supplement. Although, the physiological significance of Q is extensively investigated in eukaryotes, ranging from yeast to human, the eukaryotic Q biosynthesis pathway is best characterized in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At least ten genes (COQ1-COQ10) have been shown to be required for Q biosynthesis and function in respiration. This review highlights recent knowledge about the endogenous synthesis of Q in eukaryotes, with emphasis on S. cerevisiae as a model system.

The arginine methyltransferase Rmt2 is enriched in the nucleus and co-purifies with the nuclear porins Nup49, Nup57 and Nup100

Arginine methylation is a post-translational modification of proteins implicated in RNA processing, protein compartmentalization, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation and DNA repair. In a screen for proteins associated with the nuclear envelope in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have identified the arginine methyltransferase Rmt2, previously shown to methylate the ribosomal protein L12. By indirect immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionations we demonstrate here that Rmt2 has nuclear and cytoplasmic localizations. Biochemical analysis of a fraction enriched in nuclei reveals that nuclear Rmt2 is resistant to extractions with salt and detergent, indicating an association with structural components. This was supported by affinity purification experiments with TAP-tagged Rmt2. Rmt2 was found to co-purify with the nucleoporins Nup49, Nup57 and Nup100, revealing a novel link between arginine methyltransferases and the nuclear pore complex. In addition, a genome-wide transcription study of the rmt2Delta mutant shows significant downregulation of the transcription of MYO1, encoding the Type II myosin heavy chain required for cytokinesis and cell separation.

Protein arginine methyltransferases: Evolution and assessment of their pharmacological and therapeutic potential

Protein arginine N-methylation is a post-translational modification whose influence on cell function is becoming widely appreciated. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) catalyze the methylation of terminal nitrogen atoms of guanidinium side chains within arginine residues of proteins. Recently, several new members of the PRMT family have been cloned and their catalytic function determined. In this report, we present a review and phylogenetic analysis of the PRMT found so far in genomes. PRMT are found in nearly all groups of eukaryotes. Many human PRMT originated early in eukaryote evolution. Homologs of PRMT1 and PRMT5 are found in nearly every eukaryote studied. The gene structure of PRMT vary: most introns appear to be inserted randomly into the open reading frame. The change in catalytic specificity of some PRMT occurred with changes in the arginine binding pocket within the active site. Because of the high degree of conservation of sequence among the family throughout evolution, creation of specific PRMT inhibitors in pathogenic organisms may be difficult, but could be very effective if developed. Furthermore, because of the intricate involvement of several PRMT in cellular physiology, their inhibition may be fraught with unwanted side effects. Nevertheless, development of pharmaceutical agents to control PRMT functions could lead to significant new targets.

Molecular cloning and gene expression of a fibrillarin homolog of tobacco BY-2 cells

Fibrillarin is known to play an important role in precursor ribosomal RNA processing and ribosome assembly. The present study describes a fibrillarin homolog gene isolated from tobacco BY-2 cells and its expression during the cell cycle. The cDNA for a fibrillarin homolog, named NtFib1, was first cloned in Nicotiana tabacum with degenerate primers. It encodes 314 amino acids and the deduced amino acid sequence has some highly conserved functional domains, such as the glycine and arginine-rich (GAR) domain for nucleolar localization and the RNA-binding motif. The C-terminal region is highly conserved and has 7 beta-sheets and 7 alpha-helices which are peculiar to fibrillarin. Thus, it is suggested that the fibrillarin homolog of this plant species functions in the same way as the fibrillarin already known from human and yeast cells. Northern blot analysis of BY-2 cells synchronized with aphidicolin or a combination of aphidicolin and propyzamide showed that the histone H4 gene was specifically expressed in the S phase but NtFib1 mRNA remained at high levels during the cell cycle. Examination of the localization of NtFib1 protein tagged with green-fluorescent protein (GFP) suggested that some persisting in the mitotic apparatus was eventually incorporated into reconstructed nucleoli in late telophase. Newly synthesized GFP-tagged NtFib1 protein in the cytoplasm was added to the recycled protein in early mitosis. Highly concentrated actinomycin D completely inhibited the transcription of genes coding for rRNA (rDNA) but did not significantly suppress the amount of either NtFib1 mRNA or protein, although the NtFib1 protein was reversibly dislocated from nucleoli. Although hypoxic shock completely prohibited rDNA transcription, NtFib1 mRNA remained at the same level as in the control experiment, even after the 4 h treatment. These results indicate that the transcription of NtFib1 mRNA is not related to rDNA transcription and NtFib1 mRNA is resistant to disrupting factors during the cell cycle.

Yeast Hsl7 (histone synthetic lethal 7) catalyses the in vitro formation of omega-N(G)-monomethylarginine in calf thymus histone H2A

The HSL7 (histone synthetic lethal 7) gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a protein with close sequence similarity to the mammalian PRMT5 protein, a member of the class of protein arginine methyltransferases that catalyses the formation of omega-N(G)-monomethylarginine and symmetric omega-N(G),N'(G)-dimethylarginine residues in a number of methyl-accepting species. A full-length HSL7 construct was expressed as a FLAG-tagged protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that FLAG-tagged Hsl7 effectively catalyses the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-[methyl-3H]-L-methionine to calf thymus histone H2A. When the acid-hydrolysed radiolabelled protein products were separated by high-resolution cation-exchange chromatography, we were able to detect one tritiated species that co-migrated with an omega-N(G)-monomethylarginine standard. No radioactivity was observed that co-migrated with either the asymmetric or symmetric dimethylated derivatives. In control experiments, no methylation of histone H2A was found with two mutant constructs of Hsl7. Surprisingly, FLAG-Hsl7 does not appear to effectively catalyse the in vitro methylation of a GST (glutathione S-transferase)-GAR [glycine- and arginine-rich human fibrillarin-(1-148) peptide] fusion protein or bovine brain myelin basic protein, both good methyl-accepting substrates for the human homologue PRMT5. Additionally, FLAG-Hsl7 demonstrates no activity on purified calf thymus histones H1, H2B, H3 or H4. GST-Rmt1, the GST-fusion protein of the major yeast protein arginine methyltransferase, was also found to methylate calf thymus histone H2A. Although we detected Rmt1-dependent arginine methylation in vivo in purified yeast histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4, we found no evidence for Hsl7-dependent methylation of endogenous yeast histones. The physiological substrates of the Hsl7 enzyme remain to be identified.

Biosynthesis of wybutosine, a hyper-modified nucleoside in eukaryotic phenylalanine tRNA

Wybutosine (yW) is a tricyclic nucleoside with a large side chain found at the 3'-position adjacent to the anticodon of eukaryotic phenylalanine tRNA. yW supports codon recognition by stabilizing codon-anticodon interactions during decoding on the ribosome. To identify genes responsible for yW synthesis from uncharacterized genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we employed a systematic reverse genetic approach combined with mass spectrometry ('ribonucleome analysis'). Four genes YPL207w, YML005w, YGL050w and YOL141w (named TYW1, TYW2, TYW3 and TYW4, respectively) were essential for yW synthesis. Mass spectrometric analysis of each modification intermediate of yW revealed its sequential biosynthetic pathway. TYW1 is an iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster protein responsible for the tricyclic formation. Multistep enzymatic formation of yW from yW-187 could be reconstituted in vitro using recombinant TYW2, TYW3 and TYW4 with S-adenosylmethionine, suggesting that yW synthesis might proceed through sequential reactions in a complex formed by multiple components assembled with the precursor tRNA. This hypothesis is also supported by the fact that plant ortholog is a large fusion protein consisting of TYW2 and TYW3 with the C-terminal domain of TYW4.

Identification and characterization of the methyl arginines in the fragile X mental retardation protein Fmrp

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation and is caused by the absence of expression of the FMR1 gene. The protein encoded by this gene, Fmrp, is an RNA-binding protein that binds a subset of mRNAs and regulates their translation, leading to normal cognitive function. Although the association with RNAs is well established, it is still unknown how Fmrp finds and assembles with its RNA cargoes and how these activities are regulated. We show here that Fmrp is post-translationally methylated, primarily on its arginine-glycine-glycine box. We identify the four arginines that are methylated and show that cellular Fmrp is monomethylated and asymmetrically dimethylated. We also show that the autosomal paralog Fxr1 and the Drosophila ortholog dFmr1 are methylated post-translationally. Recombinant protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1) methylates Fmrp on the same arginines in vitro as in cells. In vitro methylation of Fmrp results in reduced binding to the minimal RNA sequence sc1, which encodes a stem loop G-quartet structure. Our data identify an additional mechanism, arginine methylation, for modifying Fmrp function and suggest that methylation occurs to limit or modulate RNA binding by Fmrp.

A novel methyltransferase required for the formation of the hypermodified nucleoside wybutosine in eucaryotic tRNA

We demonstrate that the product of the yeast open reading frame YML005w is required for wybutosine (yW) formation in the phenylalanine-accepting tRNA of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. tRNA isolated from a deletion mutant of the YML005w gene accumulates 4-demethylwyosine (ImG-14), a precursor lacking three of the methyl groups of the yW hypermodified base. Since the amino acid sequence of the YML005w gene contains the signature motifs of the seven beta-strand methyltransferases, we now designate the gene TRM12 for tRNA methyltransferase. Using pulse-chase labeling of intact yeast cells with S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-(3)H]methionine, we show that the methylesterified form of yW is metabolically stable.

In vitro and in vivo analysis of the major type I protein arginine methyltransferase from Trypanosoma brucei

In mammals and yeasts, arginine methylation, catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), has been implicated in regulation of diverse processes such as protein-protein interaction, protein localization, signal transduction, RNA processing, and transcription. A large number of PRMT substrates are RNA binding proteins. In trypanosomes, gene regulation is controlled primarily at the levels of RNA processing, stability, and translation, and likely involves numerous RNA binding proteins. Thus, arginine methylation may be especially important in controlling gene expression in this evolutionarily ancient group of organisms. To begin to understand the role of arginine methylation in trypanosomes, we identified and characterized a type I PRMT from Trypanosoma brucei, termed TbPRMT1. TbPRMT1 displays 51% amino acid identity to human PRMT1. It possesses an S-adenosylmethionine binding site and double E and THW loops, common and absolute features associated with other PRMTs. Recombinant TbPRMT1 methylates both an artificial RG-rich peptide and the T. brucei mitochondrial RNA binding protein, TBRGG1, and it exhibits differences in substrate specificity compared to rat PRMT1. TbPRMT1 is constitutively expressed during the T. brucei life cycle. Disruption of TbPRMT1 gene expression by RNA interference did not result in a significant growth defect in procyclic form T. brucei. Finally, we observe a dramatic decrease in the cellular level of asymmetric dimethylarginine upon TbPRMT1 knock down, indicating that TbPRMT1 is the predominant type I PRMT in T. brucei. The strong conservation of PRMT1 homologs between protozoa and humans highlights the importance of arginine methylation as a regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes.

Role of a 300-kilodalton nuclear complex in the maturation of Trypanosoma brucei initiator methionyl-tRNA

tRNAs are transcribed as precursors containing 5' leader and 3' extensions that are removed by a series of posttranscriptional processing reactions to yield functional mature tRNAs. Here, we examined the maturation pathway of tRNA(Met) in Trypanosoma brucei, an early divergent unicellular eukaryote. We identified an approximately 300-kDa complex located in the nucleus of T. brucei that is required for trimming the 5' leader of initiator tRNA(Met) precursors. One of the subunits of the complex (T. brucei MT40 [TbMT40]) is a putative methyltransferase and a homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gcd14, which is essential for 1-methyladenosine modification in tRNAs. Down-regulation of TbMT40 by RNA interference resulted in the accumulation of precursor initiator tRNA(Met) containing 5' extensions but processed 3' ends. In addition, immunoprecipitations with anti-La antibodies revealed initiator tRNA(Met) molecules with 5' and 3' extensions in TbMT40-silenced cells, albeit at a much lower level. Interestingly, silencing of TbMT40, as well as of TbMT53, a second subunit of the complex, led to an increase in the levels of mature elongator tRNA(Met). Taken together, our data provide a glance at the maturation of tRNAs in parasitic protozoa and suggest that at least for initiator tRNA(Met), 3' trimming precedes 5' processing.

Arginine Methylation of Yeast mRNA-binding Protein Npl3 Directly Affects Its Function, Nuclear Export, and Intranuclear Protein Interactions

Arginine methylation can affect both nucleocytoplasmic transport and protein-protein interactions of RNA-binding proteins. These effects are seen in cells that lack the yeast hnRNP methyltransferase (HMT1), raising the question of whether effects on specific proteins are direct or indirect. The presence of multiple arginines in individual methylated proteins also raises the question of whether overall methylation or methylation of a subset of arginines affects protein function. We have used the yeast mRNA-binding protein Npl3 to address these questions in vivo. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry was used to identify 17 methylated arginines in Npl3 purified from yeast: whereas 10 Arg-Gly-Gly (RGG) tripeptides were exclusively dimethylated, variable levels of methylation were found for 5 RGG and 2 RG motif arginines. We constructed a set of Npl3 proteins in which subsets of the RGG arginines were mutated to lysine. Expression of these mutant proteins as the sole form of Npl3 specifically affected growth of a strain that requires Hmt1. Although decreased growth generally correlated with increased numbers of Arg-to-Lys mutations, lysine substitutions in the N terminus of the RGG domain showed more severe effects. Npl3 with all 15 RGG arginines mutated to lysine exited the nucleus independent of Hmt1, indicating a direct effect of methylation on Npl3 transport. These mutations also resulted in a decreased, methylation-independent interaction of Npl3 with transcription elongation factor Tho2 and inhibited Npl3 self-association. These results support a model in which arginine methylation facilitates Npl3 export directly by weakening contacts with nuclear proteins.

Molecular basis for RNA kink-turn recognition by the h15.5K small RNP protein

The interaction between box C/D small nucleolar (sno)RNAs and the 15.5K protein nucleates snoRNP assembly. Many eukaryotic snoRNAs contain two potential binding sites for this protein, only one of which appears to be utilized in vivo. The binding site conforms to the consensus for a kink-turn motif. We have investigated the molecular basis for selection of one potential site over the other using in vitro mobility shift assays and nucleotide analog interference mapping of Xenopus U25 snoRNA and of a circularly permuted form. We find that preferential binding of human 15.5K is not dependent on the proximity of RNA ends, but instead appears to require a structural context beyond the kink-turn itself. Direct analysis of the energetic contributions to binding made by 18 functional groups within the kink-turn identified both backbone atoms and base functionalities as key for interaction. An intramolecular RNA-RNA contact via a 2'-hydroxyl may supercede a putative Type I A-minor interaction in stabilizing the RNA-protein complex.