51
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Wong HE, Huang CJ, Zhang Z. Amino acid misincorporation in recombinant proteins. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 36:168-181. [PMID: 29107148 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Proteins provide the molecular basis for cellular structure, catalytic activity, signal transduction, and molecular transport in biological systems. Recombinant protein expression is widely used to prepare and manufacture novel proteins that serve as the foundation of many biopharmaceutical products. However, protein translation bioprocesses are inherently prone to low-level errors. These sequence variants caused by amino acid misincorporation have been observed in both native and recombinant proteins. Protein sequence variants impact product quality, and their presence can be exacerbated through cellular stress, overexpression, and nutrient starvation. Therefore, the cell line selection process, which is used in the biopharmaceutical industry, is not only directed towards maximizing productivity, but also focuses on selecting clones which yield low sequence variant levels, thereby proactively avoiding potentially inauspicious patient safety and efficacy outcomes. Here, we summarize a number of hallmark studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms of amino acid misincorporation, as well as exacerbating factors, and mitigation strategies. We also describe key advances in analytical technologies in the identification and quantification of sequence variants, and some practical considerations when using LC-MS/MS for detecting sequence variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Edward Wong
- Process Development, Amgen Inc., 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, United States
| | - Chung-Jr Huang
- Process Development, Amgen Inc., 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, United States
| | - Zhongqi Zhang
- Process Development, Amgen Inc., 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, United States.
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52
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Xue X, Mutyam V, Thakerar A, Mobley J, Bridges RJ, Rowe SM, Keeling KM, Bedwell DM. Identification of the amino acids inserted during suppression of CFTR nonsense mutations and determination of their functional consequences. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:3116-3129. [PMID: 28575328 PMCID: PMC5886253 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In-frame premature termination codons (PTCs) account for ∼11% of all disease-associated mutations. PTC suppression therapy utilizes small molecules that suppress translation termination at a PTC to restore synthesis of a full-length protein. PTC suppression is mediated by the base pairing of a near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNA with a PTC and subsequently, the amino acid becomes incorporated into the nascent polypeptide at the site of the PTC. However, little is known about the identity of the amino acid(s) inserted at a PTC during this process in mammalian cells, or how the surrounding sequence context influences amino acid incorporation. Here, we determined the amino acids inserted at the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) W1282X PTC (a UGA codon) in the context of its three upstream and downstream CFTR codons during G418-mediated suppression. We found that leucine, cysteine and tryptophan are inserted during W1282X suppression. Interestingly, these amino acids (and their proportions) are significantly different from those recently identified following G418-mediated suppression of the CFTR G542X UGA mutation. These results demonstrate for the first time that local mRNA sequence context plays a key role in near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNA selection during PTC suppression. We also found that some variant CFTR proteins generated by PTC suppression exhibit reduced maturation and activity, indicating the complexity of nonsense suppression therapy. However, both a CFTR corrector and potentiator enhanced activity of protein variants generated by G418-mediated suppression. These results suggest that PTC suppression in combination with CFTR modulators may be beneficial for the treatment of CF patients with PTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiao Xue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
| | - Venkateshwar Mutyam
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Amita Thakerar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - James Mobley
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Robert J. Bridges
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Steven M. Rowe
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kim M. Keeling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
| | - David M. Bedwell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center
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53
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Massey SE. The identities of stop codon reassignments support ancestral tRNA stop codon decoding activity as a facilitator of gene duplication and evolution of novel function. Gene 2017; 619:37-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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54
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Running the Stop Sign: Readthrough of a Premature UAG Termination Signal in the Translation of a Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Taurine Biosynthetic Enzyme. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:md15060162. [PMID: 28587202 PMCID: PMC5484112 DOI: 10.3390/md15060162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The UAG termination codon is generally recognized as the least efficient and least frequently used of the three universal stop codons. This is substantiated by numerous studies in an array of organisms. We present here evidence of a translational readthrough of a mutant nonsense UAG codon in the transcript from the cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (csad) gene (ENSDARG00000026348) in zebrafish. The csad gene encodes the terminal enzyme in the taurine biosynthetic pathway. Taurine is a critical amino acid for all animals, playing several essential roles throughout the body, including modulation of the immune system. The sa9430 zebrafish strain (ZDB-ALT-130411-5055) has a point mutation leading to a premature stop codon (UAG) 20 amino acids 5' of the normal stop codon, UGA. Data from immunoblotting, enzyme activity assays, and mass spectrometry provide evidence that the mutant is making a CSAD protein identical to that of the wild-type (XP_009295318.1) in terms of size, activity, and amino acid sequence. UAG readthrough has been described in several species, but this is the first presentation of a case in fish. Also presented are the first data substantiating the ability of a fish CSAD to utilize cysteic acid, an alternative to the standard substrate cysteine sulfinic acid, to produce taurine.
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55
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Kompella PS, Moses AM, Peisajovich SG. Introduction of Premature Stop Codons as an Evolutionary Strategy To Rescue Signaling Network Function. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:446-454. [PMID: 27935292 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The cellular concentrations of key components of signaling networks are tightly regulated, as deviations from their optimal ranges can have negative effects on signaling function. For example, overexpression of the yeast mating pathway mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Fus3 decreases pathway output, in part by sequestering individual components away from functional multiprotein complexes. Using a synthetic biology approach, we investigated potential mechanisms by which selection could compensate for a decrease in signaling activity caused by overexpression of Fus3. We overexpressed a library of random mutants of Fus3 and used cell sorting to select variants that rescued mating pathway activity. Our results uncovered that one remarkable way in which selection can compensate for protein overexpression is by introducing premature stop codons at permitted positions. Because of the low efficiency with which premature stop codons are read through, the resulting cellular concentration of active Fus3 returns to values within the range required for proper signaling. Our results underscore the importance of interpreting genotypic variation at the systems rather than at the individual gene level, as mutations can have opposite effects on protein and network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purnima S. Kompella
- Department of Cell and Systems
Biology, University of Toronto 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Alan M. Moses
- Department of Cell and Systems
Biology, University of Toronto 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Sergio G. Peisajovich
- Department of Cell and Systems
Biology, University of Toronto 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada
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56
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Specific factor IX mRNA and protein features favor drug-induced readthrough over recurrent nonsense mutations. Blood 2017; 129:2303-2307. [PMID: 28196793 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-09-738641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced readthrough over premature stop codons (PTCs) is a potentially attractive therapy for genetic disorders, but a wide outcome variability has been observed. Through expression studies, we investigated the responsiveness to the readthrough-inducing drug geneticin of 11 rationally selected factor IX (FIX) nonsense mutations, present in 70% (324/469) of hemophilia B (HB) patients with PTCs. Among the predicted readthrough-permissive TGA variants, only 2 (p.W240X and p.R384X) responded with a remarkable rescue of FIX activity. The amounts of rescued full-length FIX protein for the p.W240X (∼9% of recombinant FIX [rFIX]-wild-type [WT]) slightly exceeded activity (5.2 ± 0.6%). FIX antigen for the p.R384X (1.9 ± 0.3%) was remarkably lower than activity (7.5 ± 0.7%). Data indicate novel specific mechanisms producing functional rescue: (1) prevalent reinsertion of the authentic residue (tryptophan), reverting the nonsense effects for the p.W240X, and (2) gain-of-function for the p.R384X, supported by the fourfold increased activity of the most probable readthrough-mediated missense variant (rFIX-R384W). For most PTCs, impaired secretion/function produced by readthrough-mediated amino acid substitutions prevented a significant functional rescue, which requires combinations of favorable FIX messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence and protein features. This rational approach, applicable to other coagulation disorders, helps with interpreting the poor response reported in the few investigated HB patients, and identifies candidate patients eligible for treatment.
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57
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Wei Y, Xia X. The Role of +4U as an Extended Translation Termination Signal in Bacteria. Genetics 2017; 205:539-549. [PMID: 27903612 PMCID: PMC5289835 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.193961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Termination efficiency of stop codons depends on the first 3' flanking (+4) base in bacteria and eukaryotes. In both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, termination read-through is reduced in the presence of +4U; however, the molecular mechanism underlying +4U function is poorly understood. Here, we perform comparative genomics analysis on 25 bacterial species (covering Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Cyanobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetae) with bioinformatics approaches to examine the influence of +4U in bacterial translation termination by contrasting highly- and lowly-expressed genes (HEGs and LEGs, respectively). We estimated gene expression using the recently formulated Index of Translation Elongation, ITE, and identified stop codon near-cognate transfer RNAs (tRNAs) from well-annotated genomes. We show that +4U was consistently overrepresented in UAA-ending HEGs relative to LEGs. The result is consistent with the interpretation that +4U enhances termination mainly for UAA. Usage of +4U decreases in GC-rich species where most stop codons are UGA and UAG, with few UAA-ending genes, which is expected if UAA usage in HEGs drives up +4U usage. In HEGs, +4U usage increases significantly with abundance of UAA nc_tRNAs (near-cognate tRNAs that decode codons differing from UAA by a single nucleotide), particularly those with a mismatch at the first stop codon site. UAA is always the preferred stop codon in HEGs, and our results suggest that UAAU is the most efficient translation termination signal in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Xuhua Xia
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
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58
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Bidou L, Bugaud O, Belakhov V, Baasov T, Namy O. Characterization of new-generation aminoglycoside promoting premature termination codon readthrough in cancer cells. RNA Biol 2017; 14:378-388. [PMID: 28145797 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1285480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense mutations, generating premature termination codons (PTCs), account for 10% to 30% of the mutations in tumor suppressor genes. Nonsense translational suppression, induced by small molecules including gentamicin and G418, has been suggested as a potential therapy to counteract the deleterious effects of nonsense mutations in several genetic diseases and cancers. We describe here that NB124, a synthetic aminoglycoside derivative recently developed especially for PTC suppression, strongly induces apoptosis in human tumor cells by promoting high level of PTC readthrough. Using a reporter system, we showed that NB124 suppressed several of the PTCs encountered in tumor suppressor genes, such as the p53 and APC genes. We also showed that NB124 counteracted p53 mRNA degradation by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Both PTC suppression and mRNA stabilization contributed to the production of a full-length p53 protein capable of activating p53-dependent genes, thereby specifically promoting high levels of apoptosis. This new-generation aminoglycoside thus outperforms the only clinically available readthrough inducer (gentamicin). These results have important implications for the development of personalised treatments of PTC-dependent diseases and for the development of new drugs modifying translation fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Bidou
- a Université Pierre et Marie Curie , Paris , France.,b Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette cedex , France
| | - Olivier Bugaud
- b Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette cedex , France
| | - Valery Belakhov
- c Edith and Joseph Fischer Enzyme Inhibitors Laboratory, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry Technion IIT , Haifa , Israel
| | - Timor Baasov
- c Edith and Joseph Fischer Enzyme Inhibitors Laboratory, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry Technion IIT , Haifa , Israel
| | - Olivier Namy
- b Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette cedex , France
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59
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Alkalaeva E, Mikhailova T. Reassigning stop codons via translation termination: How a few eukaryotes broke the dogma. Bioessays 2016; 39. [PMID: 28009453 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201600213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The genetic code determines how amino acids are encoded within mRNA. It is universal among the vast majority of organisms, although several exceptions are known. Variant genetic codes are found in ciliates, mitochondria, and numerous other organisms. All revealed genetic codes (standard and variant) have at least one codon encoding a translation stop signal. However, recently two new genetic codes with a reassignment of all three stop codons were revealed in studies examining the protozoa transcriptomes. Here, we discuss this finding and the recent studies of variant genetic codes in eukaryotes. We consider the possible molecular mechanisms allowing the use of certain codons as sense and stop signals simultaneously. The results obtained by studying these amazing organisms represent a new and exciting insight into the mechanism of stop codon decoding in eukaryotes. Also see the video abstract here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Alkalaeva
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Mikhailova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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60
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Keeling KM. Nonsense Suppression as an Approach to Treat Lysosomal Storage Diseases. Diseases 2016; 4:32. [PMID: 28367323 PMCID: PMC5370586 DOI: 10.3390/diseases4040032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In-frame premature termination codons (PTCs) (also referred to as nonsense mutations) comprise ~10% of all disease-associated gene lesions. PTCs reduce gene expression in two ways. First, PTCs prematurely terminate translation of an mRNA, leading to the production of a truncated polypeptide that often lacks normal function and/or is unstable. Second, PTCs trigger degradation of an mRNA by activating nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a cellular pathway that recognizes and degrades mRNAs containing a PTC. Thus, translation termination and NMD are putative therapeutic targets for the development of treatments for genetic diseases caused by PTCs. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the identification of compounds with the ability to suppress translation termination of PTCs (also referred to as readthrough). More recently, NMD inhibitors have also been explored as a way to enhance the efficiency of PTC suppression. Due to their relatively low threshold for correction, lysosomal storage diseases are a particularly relevant group of diseases to investigate the feasibility of nonsense suppression as a therapeutic approach. In this review, the current status of PTC suppression and NMD inhibition as potential treatments for lysosomal storage diseases will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Keeling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Gregory Fleming Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, Comprehensive Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, Bone, and Autoimmunity Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; ; Tel.: +1-205-975-6585
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61
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Ataluren stimulates ribosomal selection of near-cognate tRNAs to promote nonsense suppression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:12508-12513. [PMID: 27702906 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1605336113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A premature termination codon (PTC) in the ORF of an mRNA generally leads to production of a truncated polypeptide, accelerated degradation of the mRNA, and depression of overall mRNA expression. Accordingly, nonsense mutations cause some of the most severe forms of inherited disorders. The small-molecule drug ataluren promotes therapeutic nonsense suppression and has been thought to mediate the insertion of near-cognate tRNAs at PTCs. However, direct evidence for this activity has been lacking. Here, we expressed multiple nonsense mutation reporters in human cells and yeast and identified the amino acids inserted when a PTC occupies the ribosomal A site in control, ataluren-treated, and aminoglycoside-treated cells. We find that ataluren's likely target is the ribosome and that it produces full-length protein by promoting insertion of near-cognate tRNAs at the site of the nonsense codon without apparent effects on transcription, mRNA processing, mRNA stability, or protein stability. The resulting readthrough proteins retain function and contain amino acid replacements similar to those derived from endogenous readthrough, namely Gln, Lys, or Tyr at UAA or UAG PTCs and Trp, Arg, or Cys at UGA PTCs. These insertion biases arise primarily from mRNA:tRNA mispairing at codon positions 1 and 3 and reflect, in part, the preferred use of certain nonstandard base pairs, e.g., U-G. Ataluren's retention of similar specificity of near-cognate tRNA insertion as occurs endogenously has important implications for its general use in therapeutic nonsense suppression.
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62
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Branchini A, Ferrarese M, Lombardi S, Mari R, Bernardi F, Pinotti M. Differential functional readthrough over homozygous nonsense mutations contributes to the bleeding phenotype in coagulation factor VII deficiency. J Thromb Haemost 2016; 14:1994-2000. [PMID: 27513915 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Essentials Potentially null homozygous Factor(F)7 nonsense mutations are associated to variable bleeding symptoms. Readthrough of p.Ser112X (life-threatening) and p.Cys132X (moderate) stop codons was investigated. Readthrough-mediated insertion of wild-type or tolerated residues produce functional proteins. Functional readthrough over homozygous F7 nonsense mutations contributes to the bleeding phenotype. SUMMARY Background Whereas the rare homozygous nonsense mutations causing factor (F)VII deficiency may predict null conditions that are almost completely incompatible with life, they are associated with appreciable differences in hemorrhagic symptoms. The misrecognition of premature stop codons (readthrough) may account for variable levels of functional full-length proteins. Objectives To experimentally evaluate the basal and drug-induced levels of FVII resulting from the homozygous p.Cys132X and p.Ser112X nonsense mutations that are associated with moderate (132X) or life-threatening (112X) symptoms, and that are predicted to undergo readthrough with (132X) or without (112X) production of wild-type FVII. Methods We transiently expressed recombinant FVII (rFVII) nonsense and missense variants in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, and evaluated secreted FVII protein and functional levels by ELISA, activated FX generation, and coagulation assays. Results The levels of functional FVII produced by p.Cys132X and p.Ser112X mutants (rFVII-132X, 1.1% ± 0.2% of wild-type rFVII; rFVII-112X, 0.5% ± 0.1% of wild-type rFVII) were compatible with the occurrence of spontaneous readthrough, which was magnified by the addition of G418 - up to 12% of the wild-type value for the rFVII-132X nonsense variant. The predicted missense variants arising from readthrough abolished (rFVII-132Trp/Arg) or reduced (rFVII-112Trp/Cys/Arg, 22-45% of wild-type levels) secretion and function. These data suggest that the appreciable rescue of p.Cys132X function was driven by reinsertion of the wild-type residue, whereas the minimal p.Ser112X function was explained by missense changes permitting FVII secretion and function. Conclusions The extent of functional readthrough might explain differences in the bleeding phenotype of patients homozygous for F7 nonsense mutations, and prevent null conditions even for the most readthrough-unfavorable mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Branchini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - M Ferrarese
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - S Lombardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - R Mari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Hematology Section, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - F Bernardi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - M Pinotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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63
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Jungreis I, Chan CS, Waterhouse RM, Fields G, Lin MF, Kellis M. Evolutionary Dynamics of Abundant Stop Codon Readthrough. Mol Biol Evol 2016; 33:3108-3132. [PMID: 27604222 PMCID: PMC5100048 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational stop codon readthrough emerged as a major regulatory mechanism affecting hundreds of genes in animal genomes, based on recent comparative genomics and ribosomal profiling evidence, but its evolutionary properties remain unknown. Here, we leverage comparative genomic evidence across 21 Anopheles mosquitoes to systematically annotate readthrough genes in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, and to provide the first study of abundant readthrough evolution, by comparison with 20 Drosophila species. Using improved comparative genomics methods for detecting readthrough, we identify evolutionary signatures of conserved, functional readthrough of 353 stop codons in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, and of 51 additional Drosophila melanogaster stop codons, including several cases of double and triple readthrough and of readthrough of two adjacent stop codons. We find that most differences between the readthrough repertoires of the two species arose from readthrough gain or loss in existing genes, rather than birth of new genes or gene death; that readthrough-associated RNA structures are sometimes gained or lost while readthrough persists; that readthrough is more likely to be lost at TAA and TAG stop codons; and that readthrough is under continued purifying evolutionary selection in mosquito, based on population genetic evidence. We also determine readthrough-associated gene properties that predate readthrough, and identify differences in the characteristic properties of readthrough genes between clades. We estimate more than 600 functional readthrough stop codons in mosquito and 900 in fruit fly, provide evidence of readthrough control of peroxisomal targeting, and refine the phylogenetic extent of abundant readthrough as following divergence from centipede.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irwin Jungreis
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Clara S Chan
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA.,Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Manolis Kellis
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
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64
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Pancsa R, Macossay-Castillo M, Kosol S, Tompa P. Computational analysis of translational readthrough proteins in Drosophila and yeast reveals parallels to alternative splicing. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32142. [PMID: 27561673 PMCID: PMC4999894 DOI: 10.1038/srep32142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In translational readthrough (TR) the ribosome continues extending the nascent protein beyond the first in-frame termination codon. Due to the lack of dedicated analyses of eukaryotic TR cases, the associated functional-evolutionary advantages are still unclear. Here, based on a variety of computational methods, we describe the structural and functional properties of previously proposed D. melanogaster and S. cerevisiae TR proteins and extensions. We found that in D. melanogaster TR affects long proteins in mainly regulatory roles. Their TR-extensions are structurally disordered and rich in binding motifs, which, together with their cell-type- and developmental stage-dependent inclusion, suggest that similarly to alternatively spliced exons they rewire cellular interaction networks in a temporally and spatially controlled manner. In contrast, yeast TR proteins are rather short and fulfil mainly housekeeping functions, like translation. Yeast extensions usually lack disorder and linear motifs, which precludes elucidating their functional relevance with sufficient confidence. Therefore we propose that by being much more restricted and by lacking clear functional hallmarks in yeast as opposed to fruit fly, TR shows remarkable parallels with alternative splicing. Additionally, the lack of conservation of TR extensions among orthologous TR proteins suggests that TR-mediated functions may be generally specific to lower taxonomic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Pancsa
- Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mauricio Macossay-Castillo
- Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Simone Kosol
- Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.,Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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65
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Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is genetic autosomal recessive disease caused by reduced or absent function of CFTR protein. Treatments for patients with CF have primarily focused on the downstream end-organ consequences of defective CFTR. Since the discovery of the CFTR gene that causes CF in 1989 there have been tremendous advances in our understanding of the genetics and pathophysiology of CF. This has recently led to the development of new CFTR mutation-specific targeted therapies for select patients with CF. This review will discuss the characteristics of the CFTR gene, the CFTR mutations that cause CF and the new mutation specific pharmacological treatments including gene therapy that are contributing to the dawning of a new era in cystic fibrosis care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne C Carter
- National Referral Centre for Adult Cystic Fibrosis, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Edward F McKone
- National Referral Centre for Adult Cystic Fibrosis, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
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66
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Abstract
Translational readthrough (TR) has come into renewed focus because systems biology approaches have identified the first human genes undergoing functional translational readthrough (FTR). FTR creates functional extensions to proteins by continuing translation of the mRNA downstream of the stop codon. Here we review recent developments in TR research with a focus on the identification of FTR in humans and the systems biology methods that have spurred these discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schueren
- University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven Thoms
- University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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67
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Swart EC, Serra V, Petroni G, Nowacki M. Genetic Codes with No Dedicated Stop Codon: Context-Dependent Translation Termination. Cell 2016; 166:691-702. [PMID: 27426948 PMCID: PMC4967479 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevailing view of the nuclear genetic code is that it is largely frozen and unambiguous. Flexibility in the nuclear genetic code has been demonstrated in ciliates that reassign standard stop codons to amino acids, resulting in seven variant genetic codes, including three previously undescribed ones reported here. Surprisingly, in two of these species, we find efficient translation of all 64 codons as standard amino acids and recognition of either one or all three stop codons. How, therefore, does the translation machinery interpret a “stop” codon? We provide evidence, based on ribosomal profiling and “stop” codon depletion shortly before coding sequence ends, that mRNA 3′ ends may contribute to distinguishing stop from sense in a context-dependent manner. We further propose that such context-dependent termination/readthrough suppression near transcript ends enables genetic code evolution. Alternative nuclear genetic codes continue to be discovered in ciliates Genetic codes with stops and all their codons encoding standard amino acids exist Transcript ends may distinguish stop codons as such in ambiguous genetic codes The ability to resolve genetic code ambiguity may enable genetic code evolution
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Serra
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Mariusz Nowacki
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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68
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Rozov A, Demeshkina N, Westhof E, Yusupov M, Yusupova G. New Structural Insights into Translational Miscoding. Trends Biochem Sci 2016; 41:798-814. [PMID: 27372401 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The fidelity of translation depends strongly on the selection of the correct aminoacyl-tRNA that is complementary to the mRNA codon present in the ribosomal decoding center. The ribosome occasionally makes mistakes by selecting the wrong substrate from the pool of aminoacyl-tRNAs. Here, we summarize recent structural advances that may help to clarify the origin of missense errors that occur during decoding. These developments suggest that discrimination between tRNAs is based primarily on steric complementarity and shape acceptance rather than on the number of hydrogen bonds between the molding of the decoding center and the codon-anticodon duplex. They strengthen the hypothesis that spatial mimicry, due either to base tautomerism or ionization, drives infidelity in ribosomal translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Rozov
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, UMR7104/INSERM, U964/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Natalia Demeshkina
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, UMR7104/INSERM, U964/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eric Westhof
- Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the CNRS UPR9002/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marat Yusupov
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, UMR7104/INSERM, U964/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Gulnara Yusupova
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, UMR7104/INSERM, U964/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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69
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Rozov A, Westhof E, Yusupov M, Yusupova G. The ribosome prohibits the G•U wobble geometry at the first position of the codon-anticodon helix. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:6434-41. [PMID: 27174928 PMCID: PMC5291260 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise conversion of genetic information into proteins is essential to cellular health. However, a margin of error exists and is at its highest on the stage of translation of mRNA by the ribosome. Here we present three crystal structures of 70S ribosome complexes with messenger RNA and transfer RNAs and show that when a G•U base pair is at the first position of the codon-anticodon helix a conventional wobble pair cannot form because of inescapable steric clash between the guanosine of the A codon and the key nucleotide of decoding center adenosine 1493 of 16S rRNA. In our structure the rigid ribosomal decoding center, which is identically shaped for cognate or near-cognate tRNAs, forces this pair to adopt a geometry close to that of a canonical G•C pair. We further strengthen our hypothesis that spatial mimicry due either to base tautomerism or ionization dominates the translation infidelity mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Rozov
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM, U964; CNRS, UMR7104/University of Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Eric Westhof
- Architecture & Reactivity of RNA, University of Strasbourg, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the CNRS, UPR9002, 15 rue R. Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marat Yusupov
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM, U964; CNRS, UMR7104/University of Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Gulnara Yusupova
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM, U964; CNRS, UMR7104/University of Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
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70
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Beznosková P, Gunišová S, Valášek LS. Rules of UGA-N decoding by near-cognate tRNAs and analysis of readthrough on short uORFs in yeast. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 22:456-66. [PMID: 26759455 PMCID: PMC4748822 DOI: 10.1261/rna.054452.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of stop codon recognition by the release factor eRF1 in complex with eRF3 has been described in great detail; however, our understanding of what determines the difference in termination efficiencies among various stop codon tetranucleotides and how near-cognate (nc) tRNAs recode stop codons during programmed readthrough in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is still poor. Here, we show that UGA-C as the only tetranucleotide of all four possible combinations dramatically exacerbated the readthrough phenotype of the stop codon recognition-deficient mutants in eRF1. Since the same is true also for UAA-C and UAG-C, we propose that the exceptionally high readthrough levels that all three stop codons display when followed by cytosine are partially caused by the compromised sampling ability of eRF1, which specifically senses cytosine at the +4 position. The difference in termination efficiencies among the remaining three UGA-N tetranucleotides is then given by their varying preferences for nc-tRNAs. In particular, UGA-A allows increased incorporation of Trp-tRNA whereas UGA-G and UGA-C favor Cys-tRNA. Our findings thus expand the repertoire of general decoding rules by showing that the +4 base determines the preferred selection of nc-tRNAs and, in the case of cytosine, it also genetically interacts with eRF1. Finally, using an example of the GCN4 translational control governed by four short uORFs, we also show how the evolution of this mechanism dealt with undesirable readthrough on those uORFs that serve as the key translation reinitiation promoting features of the GCN4 regulation, as both of these otherwise counteracting activities, readthrough versus reinitiation, are mediated by eIF3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Beznosková
- Laboratory of Regulation of Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology ASCR, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 128 43 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislava Gunišová
- Laboratory of Regulation of Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology ASCR, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Leoš Shivaya Valášek
- Laboratory of Regulation of Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology ASCR, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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71
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Gabriel HB, de Azevedo MF, Palmisano G, Wunderlich G, Kimura EA, Katzin AM, Alves JMP. Single-target high-throughput transcription analyses reveal high levels of alternative splicing present in the FPPS/GGPPS from Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18429. [PMID: 26688062 PMCID: PMC4685265 DOI: 10.1038/srep18429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a tropical disease with significant morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the metabolism of its most important etiological agent, Plasmodium falciparum, is paramount to the development of better treatment and other mitigation measures. Farnesyldiphosphate synthase/geranylgeranyldiphosphate synthase (FPPS/GGPPS) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of isoprenic chains present in many essential structures. In P. falciparum, as well as a handful of other organisms, FPPS/GGPPS has been shown to be a bifunctional enzyme. By genetic tagging and microscopy, we observed a changing localization of FPPS/GGPPS in blood stage parasites. Given the great importance of alternative splicing and other transcriptional phenomena in gene regulation and the generation of protein diversity, we have investigated the processing of the FPPS/GGPPS transcript in P. falciparum by high-throughput sequencing methods in four time-points along the intraerythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum. We have identified levels of transcript diversity an order of magnitude higher than previously observed in this organism, as well as a few stage-specific splicing events. Our data suggest that alternative splicing in P. falciparum is an important feature for gene regulation and the generation of protein diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloisa B Gabriel
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauro F de Azevedo
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gerhard Wunderlich
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emília A Kimura
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alejandro M Katzin
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João M P Alves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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72
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Structural insights into the translational infidelity mechanism. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7251. [PMID: 26037619 PMCID: PMC4468848 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The decoding of mRNA on the ribosome is the least accurate process during genetic information transfer. Here we propose a unified decoding mechanism based on 11 high-resolution X-ray structures of the 70S ribosome that explains the occurrence of missense errors during translation. We determined ribosome structures in rare states where incorrect tRNAs were incorporated into the peptidyl-tRNA-binding site. These structures show that in the codon-anticodon duplex, a G·U mismatch adopts the Watson-Crick geometry, indicating a shift in the tautomeric equilibrium or ionization of the nucleobase. Additional structures with mismatches in the 70S decoding centre show that the binding of any tRNA induces identical rearrangements in the centre, which favours either isosteric or close to the Watson-Crick geometry codon-anticodon pairs. Overall, the results suggest that a mismatch escapes discrimination by preserving the shape of a Watson-Crick pair and indicate that geometric selection via tautomerism or ionization dominates the translational infidelity mechanism.
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73
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Blanchet S, Rowe M, Von der Haar T, Fabret C, Demais S, Howard MJ, Namy O. New insights into stop codon recognition by eRF1. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:3298-308. [PMID: 25735746 PMCID: PMC4381064 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, translation termination is performed by eRF1, which recognizes stop codons via its N-terminal domain. Many previous studies based on point mutagenesis, cross-linking experiments or eRF1 chimeras have investigated the mechanism by which the stop signal is decoded by eRF1. Conserved motifs, such as GTS and YxCxxxF, were found to be important for termination efficiency, but the recognition mechanism remains unclear. We characterized a region of the eRF1 N-terminal domain, the P1 pocket, that we had previously shown to be involved in termination efficiency. We performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of this region, and we quantified in vivo readthrough efficiency for each alanine mutant. We identified two residues, arginine 65 and lysine 109, as critical for recognition of the three stop codons. We also demonstrated a role for the serine 33 and serine 70 residues in UGA decoding in vivo. NMR analysis of the alanine mutants revealed that the correct conformation of this region was controlled by the YxCxxxF motif. By combining our genetic data with a structural analysis of eRF1 mutants, we were able to formulate a new model in which the stop codon interacts with eRF1 through the P1 pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Blanchet
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Batiment 400, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Michelle Rowe
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | | | - Céline Fabret
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Batiment 400, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Stéphane Demais
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Batiment 400, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Mark J Howard
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Olivier Namy
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Batiment 400, 91400 Orsay, France
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74
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Nonsense suppression by near-cognate tRNAs employs alternative base pairing at codon positions 1 and 3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:3038-43. [PMID: 25733896 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1424127112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Premature termination codons (PTCs) in an mRNA ORF inactivate gene function by causing production of a truncated protein and destabilization of the mRNA. Readthrough of a PTC allows ribosomal A-site insertion of a near-cognate tRNA, leading to synthesis of a full-length protein from otherwise defective mRNA. To understand the mechanism of such nonsense suppression, we developed a yeast system that allows purification and sequence analysis of full-length readthrough products arising as a consequence of endogenous readthrough or the compromised termination fidelity attributable to the loss of Upf (up-frameshift) factors, defective release factors, or the presence of the aminoglycoside gentamicin. Unlike classical "wobble" models, our analyses showed that three of four possible near-cognate tRNAs could mispair at position 1 or 3 of nonsense codons and that, irrespective of whether readthrough is endogenous or induced, the same sets of amino acids are inserted. We identified the insertion of Gln, Tyr, and Lys at UAA and UAG, whereas Trp, Arg, and Cys were inserted at UGA, and the frequency of insertion of individual amino acids was distinct for specific nonsense codons and readthrough-inducing agents. Our analysis suggests that the use of genetic or chemical means to increase readthrough does not promote novel or alternative mispairing events; rather, readthrough effectors cause quantitative enhancement of endogenous mistranslation events. Knowledge of the amino acids incorporated during readthrough not only elucidates the decoding process but also may allow predictions of the functionality of readthrough protein products.
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75
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Stiebler AC, Freitag J, Schink KO, Stehlik T, Tillmann BAM, Ast J, Bölker M. Ribosomal readthrough at a short UGA stop codon context triggers dual localization of metabolic enzymes in Fungi and animals. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004685. [PMID: 25340584 PMCID: PMC4207609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of mRNA into a polypeptide chain is a highly accurate process. Many prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, however, use leaky termination of translation to optimize their coding capacity. Although growing evidence indicates the occurrence of ribosomal readthrough also in higher organisms, a biological function for the resulting extended proteins has been elucidated only in very few cases. Here, we report that in human cells programmed stop codon readthrough is used to generate peroxisomal isoforms of cytosolic enzymes. We could show for NAD-dependent lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) and NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) that translational readthrough results in C-terminally extended protein variants containing a peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1). Efficient readthrough occurs at a short sequence motif consisting of a UGA termination codon followed by the dinucleotide CU. Leaky termination at this stop codon context was observed in fungi and mammals. Comparative genome analysis allowed us to identify further readthrough-derived peroxisomal isoforms of metabolic enzymes in diverse model organisms. Overall, our study highlights that a defined stop codon context can trigger efficient ribosomal readthrough to generate dually targeted protein isoforms. We speculate that beyond peroxisomal targeting stop codon readthrough may have also other important biological functions, which remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina C. Stiebler
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Freitag
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- LOEWE Excellence Cluster for Integrative Fungal Research (IPF), Senckenberg Society, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kay O. Schink
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thorsten Stehlik
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Julia Ast
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Bölker
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
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