101
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Canu N, Tellier C, Babin M, Thai R, Ajel I, Seguin J, Cinquin O, Vinck R, Moutiez M, Belin P, Cintrat JC, Gondry M. Flexizyme-aminoacylated shortened tRNAs demonstrate that only the aminoacylated acceptor arms of the two tRNA substrates are required for cyclodipeptide synthase activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 48:11615-11625. [PMID: 33095883 PMCID: PMC7672478 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclodipeptide synthases (CDPSs) use two aminoacyl-tRNAs (AA-tRNAs) to catalyse cyclodipeptide formation in a ping-pong mechanism. Despite intense studies of these enzymes in past years, the tRNA regions of the two substrates required for CDPS activity are poorly documented, mainly because of two limitations. First, previously studied CDPSs use two identical AA-tRNAs to produce homocyclodipeptides, thus preventing the discriminative study of the binding of the two substrates. Second, the range of tRNA analogues that can be aminoacylated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is limited. To overcome the limitations, we studied a new model CDPS that uses two different AA-tRNAs to produce an heterocyclodipeptide. We also developed a production pipeline for the production of purified shortened AA-tRNA analogues (AA-minitRNAs). This method combines the use of flexizymes to aminoacylate a diversity of minitRNAs and their subsequent purifications by anion-exchange chromatography. Finally, we were able to show that aminoacylated molecules mimicking the entire acceptor arms of tRNAs were as effective a substrate as entire AA-tRNAs, thereby demonstrating that the acceptor arms of the two substrates are the only parts of the tRNAs required for CDPS activity. The method developed in this study should greatly facilitate future investigations of the specificity of CDPSs and of other AA-tRNAs-utilizing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Canu
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Carine Tellier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Morgan Babin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Robert Thai
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Inès Ajel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Seguin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Olivier Cinquin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France.,Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SCBM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Robin Vinck
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SCBM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mireille Moutiez
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Pascal Belin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Cintrat
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SCBM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Muriel Gondry
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
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102
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Phillips JB, Ardell DH. Structural and Genetic Determinants of Convergence in the Drosophila tRNA Structure-Function Map. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:103-116. [PMID: 33528599 PMCID: PMC7884595 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-09995-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of tRNA multigene families remains poorly understood, exhibiting unusual phenomena such as functional conversions of tRNA genes through anticodon shift substitutions. We improved FlyBase tRNA gene annotations from twelve Drosophila species, incorporating previously identified ortholog sets to compare substitution rates across tRNA bodies at single-site and base-pair resolution. All rapidly evolving sites fell within the same metal ion-binding pocket that lies at the interface of the two major stacked helical domains. We applied our tRNA Structure-Function Mapper (tSFM) method independently to each Drosophila species and one outgroup species Musca domestica and found that, although predicted tRNA structure-function maps are generally highly conserved in flies, one tRNA Class-Informative Feature (CIF) within the rapidly evolving ion-binding pocket-Cytosine 17 (C17), ancestrally informative for lysylation identity-independently gained asparaginylation identity and substituted in parallel across tRNAAsn paralogs at least once, possibly multiple times, during evolution of the genus. In D. melanogaster, most tRNALys and tRNAAsn genes are co-arrayed in one large heterologous gene cluster, suggesting that heterologous gene conversion as well as structural similarities of tRNA-binding interfaces in the closely related asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) and lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) proteins may have played a role in these changes. A previously identified Asn-to-Lys anticodon shift substitution in D. ananassae may have arisen to compensate for the convergent and parallel gains of C17 in tRNAAsn paralogs in that lineage. Our results underscore the functional and evolutionary relevance of our tRNA structure-function map predictions and illuminate multiple genomic and structural factors contributing to rapid, parallel and compensatory evolution of tRNA multigene families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Baker Phillips
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
- Department of Biology, Cumberland University, 1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, TN, 37087, USA
| | - David H Ardell
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
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103
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Tang Z, Tang X, Xue L, Guan M. [A non-invasive method for detecting mitochondrial tRNA Thr15927G>A mutation]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2021; 41:151-156. [PMID: 33509769 DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2021.01.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility of detecting maternal hereditary mitochondrial tRNAThr15927G>A (m.15927G>A) mutation using buccal swabs. METHODS We performed sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA in blood samples from 2070 cases of maternal hereditary mitochondrial disease in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and identified 3 patients with m.15927G>A mutation.Buccal swabs and blood samples were obtained from the 3 patients (mutation group) and 3 normal volunteers (control group).After extracting whole genomic DNA from all the samples, the DNA concentration and purity were analyzed.The PCR products were subjected to dot blot hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and DNA sequencing analysis to verify the feasibility of detecting m.15927G>A mutation using buccal swabs. RESULTS There was no significant difference in DNA concentration extracted from buccal swabs and blood samples in either the mutation group or the control group (P > 0.05), but the purity of manually extracted oral mucosa DNA was significantly lower than that of whole blood and oral mucosa DNA extracted using commercial kits (P < 0.05).Dot blot hybridization and Southern blot hybridization both yielded positive results in the control group but negative results in the mutation group.DNA sequencing identified m.15927G>A mutation in all the samples from the mutation group. CONCLUSIONS Buccal swabs collection accurate is an accurate and sensitive method for the detection of m.15927G>A mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhining Tang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaowen Tang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ling Xue
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Minxin Guan
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Attardi Institute of Mitochondrial Biomedicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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104
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Schwark DG, Schmitt MA, Fisk JD. Directed Evolution of the Methanosarcina barkeri Pyrrolysyl tRNA/aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Pair for Rapid Evaluation of Sense Codon Reassignment Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E895. [PMID: 33477414 PMCID: PMC7830368 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion has largely focused on the reassignment of amber stop codons to insert single copies of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins. Increasing effort has been directed at employing the set of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) variants previously evolved for amber suppression to incorporate multiple copies of ncAAs in response to sense codons in Escherichia coli. Predicting which sense codons are most amenable to reassignment and which orthogonal translation machinery is best suited to each codon is challenging. This manuscript describes the directed evolution of a new, highly efficient variant of the Methanosarcina barkeri pyrrolysyl orthogonal tRNA/aaRS pair that activates and incorporates tyrosine. The evolved M. barkeri tRNA/aaRS pair reprograms the amber stop codon with 98.1 ± 3.6% efficiency in E. coli DH10B, rivaling the efficiency of the wild-type tyrosine-incorporating Methanocaldococcus jannaschii orthogonal pair. The new orthogonal pair is deployed for the rapid evaluation of sense codon reassignment potential using our previously developed fluorescence-based screen. Measurements of sense codon reassignment efficiencies with the evolved M. barkeri machinery are compared with related measurements employing the M. jannaschii orthogonal pair system. Importantly, we observe different patterns of sense codon reassignment efficiency for the M. jannaschii tyrosyl and M. barkeri pyrrolysyl systems, suggesting that particular codons will be better suited to reassignment by different orthogonal pairs. A broad evaluation of sense codon reassignment efficiencies to tyrosine with the M. barkeri system will highlight the most promising positions at which the M. barkeri orthogonal pair may infiltrate the E. coli genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John D. Fisk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Campus Box 194, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USA; (D.G.S.); (M.A.S.)
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105
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Singh T, Yadav SK, Vainstein A, Kumar V. Genome recoding strategies to improve cellular properties: mechanisms and advances. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:79-95. [PMID: 34377578 PMCID: PMC7675020 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-020-00030-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code, once believed to be universal and immutable, is now known to contain many variations and is not quite universal. The basis for genome recoding strategy is genetic code variation that can be harnessed to improve cellular properties. Thus, genome recoding is a promising strategy for the enhancement of genome flexibility, allowing for novel functions that are not commonly documented in the organism in its natural environment. Here, the basic concept of genetic code and associated mechanisms for the generation of genetic codon variants, including biased codon usage, codon reassignment, and ambiguous decoding, are extensively discussed. Knowledge of the concept of natural genetic code expansion is also detailed. The generation of recoded organisms and associated mechanisms with basic targeting components, including aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA pairs, elongation factor EF-Tu and ribosomes, are highlighted for a comprehensive understanding of this concept. The research associated with the generation of diverse recoded organisms is also discussed. The success of genome recoding in diverse multicellular organisms offers a platform for expanding protein chemistry at the biochemical level with non-canonical amino acids, genetically isolating the synthetic organisms from the natural ones, and fighting viruses, including SARS-CoV2, through the creation of attenuated viruses. In conclusion, genome recoding can offer diverse applications for improving cellular properties in the genome-recoded organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Singh
- Department of Botany, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151001 India
| | | | - Alexander Vainstein
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Botany, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151001 India
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106
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Abstract
The encoded biosynthesis of proteins provides the ultimate paradigm for high-fidelity synthesis of long polymers of defined sequence and composition, but it is limited to polymerizing the canonical amino acids. Recent advances have built on genetic code expansion - which commonly permits the cellular incorporation of one type of non-canonical amino acid into a protein - to enable the encoded incorporation of several distinct non-canonical amino acids. Developments include strategies to read quadruplet codons, use non-natural DNA base pairs, synthesize completely recoded genomes and create orthogonal translational components with reprogrammed specificities. These advances may enable the genetically encoded synthesis of non-canonical biopolymers and provide a platform for transforming the discovery and evolution of new materials and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason W Chin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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107
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Westhof E, Liang S, Tong X, Ding X, Zheng L, Dai F. Unusual tertiary pairs in eukaryotic tRNA Ala. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:1519-1529. [PMID: 32737189 PMCID: PMC7566577 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076299.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
tRNA molecules have well-defined sequence conservations that reflect the conserved tertiary pairs maintaining their architecture and functions during the translation processes. An analysis of aligned tRNA sequences present in the GtRNAdb database (the Lowe Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz) led to surprising conservations on some cytosolic tRNAs specific for alanine compared to other tRNA species, including tRNAs specific for glycine. First, besides the well-known G3oU70 base pair in the amino acid stem, there is the frequent occurrence of a second wobble pair at G30oU40, a pair generally observed as a Watson-Crick pair throughout phylogeny. Second, the tertiary pair R15/Y48 occurs as a purine-purine R15/A48 pair. Finally, the conserved T54/A58 pair maintaining the fold of the T-loop is observed as a purine-purine A54/A58 pair. The R15/A48 and A54/A58 pairs always occur together. The G30oU40 pair occurs alone or together with these other two pairs. The pairing variations are observed to a variable extent depending on phylogeny. Among eukaryotes, insects display all variations simultaneously, whereas mammals present either the G30oU40 pair or both R15/A48 and A54/A58. tRNAs with the anticodon 34A(I)GC36 are the most prone to display all those pair variations in mammals and insects. tRNAs with anticodon Y34GC36 have preferentially G30oU40 only. These unusual pairs are not observed in bacterial, nor archaeal, tRNAs, probably because of the avoidance of A34-containing anticodons in four-codon boxes. Among eukaryotes, these unusual pairing features were not observed in fungi and nematodes. These unusual structural features may affect, besides aminoacylation, transcription rates (e.g., 54/58) or ribosomal translocation (30/40).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Westhof
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut e Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UPR9002 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Shubo Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaoling Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Fangyin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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108
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Rivas E. RNA structure prediction using positive and negative evolutionary information. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008387. [PMID: 33125376 PMCID: PMC7657543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowing the structure of conserved structural RNAs is important to elucidate their function and mechanism of action. However, predicting a conserved RNA structure remains unreliable, even when using a combination of thermodynamic stability and evolutionary covariation information. Here we present a method to predict a conserved RNA structure that combines the following three features. First, it uses significant covariation due to RNA structure and removes spurious covariation due to phylogeny. Second, it uses negative evolutionary information: basepairs that have variation but no significant covariation are prevented from occurring. Lastly, it uses a battery of probabilistic folding algorithms that incorporate all positive covariation into one structure. The method, named CaCoFold (Cascade variation/covariation Constrained Folding algorithm), predicts a nested structure guided by a maximal subset of positive basepairs, and recursively incorporates all remaining positive basepairs into alternative helices. The alternative helices can be compatible with the nested structure such as pseudoknots, or overlapping such as competing structures, base triplets, or other 3D non-antiparallel interactions. We present evidence that CaCoFold predictions are consistent with structures modeled from crystallography. The availability of deeper comparative sequence alignments and recent advances in statistical analysis of RNA sequence covariation have made it possible to identify a reliable set of conserved base pairs, as well as a reliable set of non-basepairs (positions that vary without covarying). Predicting an overall consensus secondary structure consistent with a set of individual inferred pairs and non-pairs remains a problem. Current RNA structure prediction algorithms that predict nested secondary structures cannot use the full set of inferred covarying pairs, because covariation analysis also identifies important non-nested pairing interactions such as pseudoknots, base triples, and alternative structures. Moreover, although algorithms for incorporating negative constraints exist, negative information from covariation analysis (inferred non-pairs) has not been systematically exploited. Here I introduce an efficient approximate RNA structure prediction algorithm that incorporates all inferred pairs and excludes all non-pairs. Using this, and an improved visualization tool, I show that the method correctly identifies many non-nested structures in agreement with known crystal structures, and improves many curated consensus secondary structure annotations in RNA sequence alignment databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rivas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- * E-mail:
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109
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Krahn N, Fischer JT, Söll D. Naturally Occurring tRNAs With Non-canonical Structures. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:596914. [PMID: 33193279 PMCID: PMC7609411 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.596914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the central molecule in genetically encoded protein synthesis. Most tRNA species were found to be very similar in structure: the well-known cloverleaf secondary structure and L-shaped tertiary structure. Furthermore, the length of the acceptor arm, T-arm, and anticodon arm were found to be closely conserved. Later research discovered naturally occurring, active tRNAs that did not fit the established 'canonical' tRNA structure. This review discusses the non-canonical structures of some well-characterized natural tRNA species and describes how these structures relate to their role in translation. Additionally, we highlight some newly discovered tRNAs in which the structure-function relationship is not yet fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Krahn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jonathan T Fischer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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110
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Zhu Y, Berg MD, Yang P, Loll-Krippleber R, Brown GW, Brandl CJ. Mistranslating tRNA identifies a deleterious S213P mutation in theSaccharomyces cerevisiaeeco1-1allele. Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 98:624-630. [DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2020-0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mistranslation occurs when an amino acid not specified by the standard genetic code is incorporated during translation. Since the ribosome does not read the amino acid, tRNA variants aminoacylated with a non-cognate amino acid or containing a non-cognate anticodon dramatically increase the frequency of mistranslation. In a systematic genetic analysis, we identified a suppression interaction between tRNASerUGG, G26A, which mistranslates proline codons by inserting serine, and eco1-1, a temperature sensitive allele of the gene encoding an acetyltransferase required for sister chromatid cohesion. The suppression was partial, with a tRNA that inserts alanine at proline codons and not apparent for a tRNA that inserts serine at arginine codons. Sequencing of the eco1-1 allele revealed a mutation that would convert the highly conserved serine 213 within β7 of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase core to proline. Mutation of P213 in eco1-1 back to the wild-type serine restored the function of the enzyme at elevated temperatures. Our results indicate the utility of mistranslating tRNA variants to identify functionally relevant mutations and identify eco1 as a reporter for mistranslation. We propose that mistranslation could be used as a tool to treat genetic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanrui Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Matthew D. Berg
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Phoebe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Raphaël Loll-Krippleber
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Grant W. Brown
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Christopher J. Brandl
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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111
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Abstract
Within the broad field of synthetic biology, genetic code expansion (GCE) techniques enable creation of proteins with an expanded set of amino acids. This may be invaluable for applications in therapeutics, bioremediation, and biocatalysis. Central to GCE are aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) as they link a non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) to their cognate tRNA, allowing ncAA incorporation into proteins on the ribosome. The ncAA-acylating aaRSs and their tRNAs should not cross-react with 20 natural aaRSs and tRNAs in the host, i.e., they need to function as an orthogonal translating system. All current orthogonal aaRS•tRNA pairs have been engineered from naturally occurring molecules to change the aaRS's amino acid specificity or assign the tRNA to a liberated codon of choice. Here we discuss the importance of orthogonality in GCE, laboratory techniques employed to create designer aaRSs and tRNAs, and provide an overview of orthogonal aaRS•tRNA pairs for GCE purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Krahn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jeffery M Tharp
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ana Crnković
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
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112
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Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an essential and universally distributed family of enzymes that plays a critical role in protein synthesis, pairing tRNAs with their cognate amino acids for decoding mRNAs according to the genetic code. Synthetases help to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code by using both highly accurate cognate substrate recognition and stringent proofreading of noncognate products. While alterations in the quality control mechanisms of synthetases are generally detrimental to cellular viability, recent studies suggest that in some instances such changes facilitate adaption to stress conditions. Beyond their central role in translation, synthetases are also emerging as key players in an increasing number of other cellular processes, with far-reaching consequences in health and disease. The biochemical versatility of the synthetases has also proven pivotal in efforts to expand the genetic code, further emphasizing the wide-ranging roles of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family in synthetic and natural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Rubio Gomez
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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113
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Hibi K, Amikura K, Sugiura N, Masuda K, Ohno S, Yokogawa T, Ueda T, Shimizu Y. Reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis using in vitro transcribed tRNAs. Commun Biol 2020; 3:350. [PMID: 32620935 PMCID: PMC7334211 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Entire reconstitution of tRNAs for active protein production in a cell-free system brings flexibility into the genetic code engineering. It can also contribute to the field of cell-free synthetic biology, which aims to construct self-replicable artificial cells. Herein, we developed a system equipped only with in vitro transcribed tRNA (iVTtRNA) based on a reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis (PURE) system. The developed system, consisting of 21 iVTtRNAs without nucleotide modifications, is able to synthesize active proteins according to the redesigned genetic code. Manipulation of iVTtRNA composition in the system enabled genetic code rewriting. Introduction of modified nucleotides into specific iVTtRNAs demonstrated to be effective for both protein yield and decoding fidelity, where the production yield of DHFR reached about 40% of the reaction with native tRNA at 30°C. The developed system will prove useful for studying decoding processes, and may be employed in genetic code and protein engineering applications. Keita Hibi et al. develop a system to reconstitute cell-free protein synthesis using only in vitro transcribed tRNA (iVTtRNAs). They use 21 iVTtRNAs with and without nucleotide modifications to successfully synthesize functional proteins with about 40% production yield. Their system will be useful to study gene and protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Hibi
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Amikura
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan.,Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Naoki Sugiura
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Keiko Masuda
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Suita, Osaka, 565-0874, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ohno
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Takashi Yokogawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Takuya Ueda
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan.,Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Shinjuku, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Shimizu
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Suita, Osaka, 565-0874, Japan.
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114
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A search for the physical basis of the genetic code. Biosystems 2020; 195:104148. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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115
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Kuncha SK, Venkadasamy VL, Amudhan G, Dahate P, Kola SR, Pottabathini S, Kruparani SP, Shekar PC, Sankaranarayanan R. Genomic innovation of ATD alleviates mistranslation associated with multicellularity in Animalia. eLife 2020; 9:58118. [PMID: 32463355 PMCID: PMC7302879 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multicellularity in Animalia is associated with increase in ROS and expansion of tRNA-isodecoders. tRNA expansion leads to misselection resulting in a critical error of L-Ala mischarged onto tRNAThr, which is proofread by Animalia-specific-tRNA Deacylase (ATD) in vitro. Here we show that in addition to ATD, threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) can clear the error in cellular scenario. This two-tier functional redundancy for translation quality control breaks down during oxidative stress, wherein ThrRS is rendered inactive. Therefore, ATD knockout cells display pronounced sensitivity through increased mistranslation of threonine codons leading to cell death. Strikingly, we identify the emergence of ATD along with the error inducing tRNA species starting from Choanoflagellates thus uncovering an important genomic innovation required for multicellularity that occurred in unicellular ancestors of animals. The study further provides a plausible regulatory mechanism wherein the cellular fate of tRNAs can be switched from protein biosynthesis to non-canonical functions. The first animals evolved around 750 million years ago from single-celled ancestors that were most similar to modern-day organisms called the Choanoflagellates. As animals evolved they developed more complex body plans consisting of multiple cells organized into larger structures known as tissues and organs. Over time cells also evolved increased levels of molecules called reactive oxygen species, which are involved in many essential cell processes but are toxic at high levels. Animal cells also contain more types of molecules known as transfer ribonucleic acids, or tRNAs for short, than Choanoflagellate cells and other single-celled organisms. These molecules deliver building blocks known as amino acids to the machinery that produces new proteins. To ensure the proteins are made correctly, it is important that tRNAs deliver specific amino acids to the protein-building machinery in the right order. Each type of tRNA usually only pairs with a specific type of amino acid, but sometimes the enzymes involved in this process can make mistakes. Therefore, cells contain proofreading enzymes that help remove incorrect amino acids on tRNAs. One such enzyme – called ATD – is only found in animals. Experiments in test tubes reported that ATD removes an amino acid called alanine from tRNAs that are supposed to carry threonine, but its precise role in living cells remained unclear. To address this question, Kuncha et al. studied proofreading enzymes in human kidney cells. The experiments showed that, in addition to ATD, a second enzyme known as ThrRS was also able to correct alanine substitutions for threonines on tRNAs. However, reactive oxygen species inactivated the proofreading ability of ThrRS, suggesting ATD plays an essential role in correcting errors in cells containing high levels of reactive oxygen species. These findings suggest that as organisms evolved multiple cells and the levels of tRNA and oxidative stress increased, this led to the appearance of a new proofreading enzyme. Further studies found that ATD originated around 900 million years ago, before Choanoflagellates and animals diverged, indicating these enzymes might have helped to shape the evolution of animals. The next step following on from this work will be to understand the role of ATD in the cells of organs that are known to have particularly high levels of reactive oxygen species, such as testis and ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Kuncha
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | | | | | - Priyanka Dahate
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sankara Rao Kola
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | | | - P Chandra Shekar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
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116
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Lin BY, Chan PP, Lowe TM. tRNAviz: explore and visualize tRNA sequence features. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:W542-W547. [PMID: 31127306 PMCID: PMC6602477 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ubiquitous across the tree of life. Although tRNA structure is highly conserved, there is still significant variation in sequence features between clades, isotypes and even isodecoders. This variation not only impacts translation, but as shown by a variety of recent studies, nontranslation-associated functions are also sensitive to small changes in tRNA sequence. Despite the rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes, there is a lack of tools for both small- and large-scale comparative genomics analysis of tRNA sequence features. Here, we have integrated over 150 000 tRNAs spanning all domains of life into tRNAviz, a web application for exploring and visualizing tRNA sequence features. tRNAviz implements a framework for determining consensus sequence features and can generate sequence feature distributions by isotypes, clades and anticodons, among other tRNA properties such as score. All visualizations are interactive and exportable. The web server is publicly available at http://trna.ucsc.edu/tRNAviz/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Y Lin
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Patricia P Chan
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Todd M Lowe
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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117
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Pawliszak T, Chua M, Leung CK, Tremblay-Savard O. Operon-based approach for the inference of rRNA and tRNA evolutionary histories in bacteria. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:252. [PMID: 32299351 PMCID: PMC7160887 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In bacterial genomes, rRNA and tRNA genes are often organized into operons, i.e. segments of closely located genes that share a single promoter and are transcribed as a single unit. Analyzing how these genes and operons evolve can help us understand what are the most common evolutionary events affecting them and give us a better picture of ancestral codon usage and protein synthesis. Results We introduce BOPAL, a new approach for the inference of evolutionary histories of rRNA and tRNA genes in bacteria, which is based on the identification of orthologous operons. Since operons can move around in the genome but are rarely transformed (e.g. rarely broken into different parts), this approach allows for a better inference of orthologous genes in genomes that have been affected by many rearrangements, which in turn helps with the inference of more realistic evolutionary scenarios and ancestors. Conclusions From our comparisons of BOPAL with other gene order alignment programs using simulated data, we have found that BOPAL infers evolutionary events and ancestral gene orders more accurately than other methods based on alignments. An analysis of 12 Bacillus genomes also showed that BOPAL performs just as well as other programs at building ancestral histories in a minimal amount of events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Pawliszak
- Department of Computer Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Meghan Chua
- Department of Computer Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Carson K Leung
- Department of Computer Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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118
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Rapid discovery and evolution of orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA pairs. Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38:989-999. [PMID: 32284585 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0479-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A central challenge in expanding the genetic code of cells to incorporate noncanonical amino acids into proteins is the scalable discovery of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS)-tRNA pairs that are orthogonal in their aminoacylation specificity. Here we computationally identify candidate orthogonal tRNAs from millions of sequences and develop a rapid, scalable approach-named tRNA Extension (tREX)-to determine the in vivo aminoacylation status of tRNAs. Using tREX, we test 243 candidate tRNAs in Escherichia coli and identify 71 orthogonal tRNAs, covering 16 isoacceptor classes, and 23 functional orthogonal tRNA-cognate aaRS pairs. We discover five orthogonal pairs, including three highly active amber suppressors, and evolve new amino acid substrate specificities for two pairs. Finally, we use tREX to characterize a matrix of 64 orthogonal synthetase-orthogonal tRNA specificities. This work expands the number of orthogonal pairs available for genetic code expansion and provides a pipeline for the discovery of additional orthogonal pairs and a foundation for encoding the cellular synthesis of noncanonical biopolymers.
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119
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Warren JM, Sloan DB. Interchangeable parts: The evolutionarily dynamic tRNA population in plant mitochondria. Mitochondrion 2020; 52:144-156. [PMID: 32184120 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) remain one of the very few classes of genes still encoded in the mitochondrial genome. These key components of the protein translation system must interact with a large enzymatic network of nuclear-encoded gene products to maintain mitochondrial function. Plants have an evolutionarily dynamic mitochondrial tRNA population, including ongoing tRNA gene loss and replacement by both horizontal gene transfer from diverse sources and import of nuclear-expressed tRNAs from the cytosol. Thus, plant mitochondria represent an excellent model for understanding how anciently divergent genes can act as "interchangeable parts" during the evolution of complex molecular systems. In particular, understanding the integration of the mitochondrial translation system with elements of the corresponding machinery used in cytosolic protein synthesis is a key area for eukaryotic cellular evolution. Here, we review the increasingly detailed phylogenetic data about the evolutionary history of mitochondrial tRNA gene loss, transfer, and functional replacement that has created extreme variation in mitochondrial tRNA populations across plant species. We describe emerging tRNA-seq methods with promise for refining our understanding of the expression and subcellular localization of tRNAs. Finally, we summarize current evidence and identify open questions related to coevolutionary changes in nuclear-encoded enzymes that have accompanied turnover in mitochondrial tRNA populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Warren
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Daniel B Sloan
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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120
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Kelly P, Hadi-Nezhad F, Liu DY, Lawrence TJ, Linington RG, Ibba M, Ardell DH. Targeting tRNA-synthetase interactions towards novel therapeutic discovery against eukaryotic pathogens. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007983. [PMID: 32106219 PMCID: PMC7046186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of chemotherapies against eukaryotic pathogens is especially challenging because of both the evolutionary conservation of drug targets between host and parasite, and the evolution of strain-dependent drug resistance. There is a strong need for new nontoxic drugs with broad-spectrum activity against trypanosome parasites such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma. A relatively untested approach is to target macromolecular interactions in parasites rather than small molecular interactions, under the hypothesis that the features specifying macromolecular interactions diverge more rapidly through coevolution. We computed tRNA Class-Informative Features in humans and independently in eight distinct clades of trypanosomes, identifying parasite-specific informative features, including base pairs and base mis-pairs, that are broadly conserved over approximately 250 million years of trypanosome evolution. Validating these observations, we demonstrated biochemically that tRNA:aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) interactions are a promising target for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery. From a marine natural products extract library, we identified several fractions with inhibitory activity toward Leishmania major alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) but no activity against the human homolog. These marine natural products extracts showed cross-reactivity towards Trypanosoma cruzi AlaRS indicating the broad-spectrum potential of our network predictions. We also identified Leishmania major threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) inhibitors from the same library. We discuss why chemotherapies targeting multiple aaRSs should be less prone to the evolution of resistance than monotherapeutic or synergistic combination chemotherapies targeting only one aaRS. Trypanosome parasites pose a significant health risk worldwide. Conventional drug development strategies have proven challenging given the high conservation between humans and pathogens, with off-target toxicity being a common problem. Protein synthesis inhibitors have historically been an attractive target for antimicrobial discovery against bacteria, and more recently for eukaryotic pathogens. Here we propose that exploiting pathogen-specific tRNA-synthetase interactions offers the potential for highly targeted drug discovery. To this end, we improved tRNA gene annotations in trypanosome genomes, identified functionally informative trypanosome-specific tRNA features, and showed that these features are highly conserved over approximately 250 million years of trypanosome evolution. Highlighting the species-specific and broad-spectrum potential of our approach, we identified natural product inhibitors against the parasite translational machinery that have no effect on the homologous human enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kelly
- The Ohio State University Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Fatemeh Hadi-Nezhad
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Dennis Y. Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Travis J. Lawrence
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Roger G. Linington
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Ibba
- The Ohio State University Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MI); (DHA)
| | - David H. Ardell
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MI); (DHA)
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121
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Kuhle B, Chihade J, Schimmel P. Relaxed sequence constraints favor mutational freedom in idiosyncratic metazoan mitochondrial tRNAs. Nat Commun 2020; 11:969. [PMID: 32080176 PMCID: PMC7033119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14725-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Metazoan complexity and life-style depend on the bioenergetic potential of mitochondria. However, higher aerobic activity and genetic drift impose strong mutation pressure and risk of irreversible fitness decline in mitochondrial (mt)DNA-encoded genes. Bilaterian mitochondria-encoded tRNA genes, key players in mitochondrial activity, have accumulated mutations at significantly higher rates than their cytoplasmic counterparts, resulting in foreshortened and fragile structures. Here we show that fragility of mt tRNAs coincided with the evolution of bilaterian animals. We demonstrate that bilaterians compensated for this reduced structural complexity in mt tRNAs by sequence-independent induced-fit adaption to the cognate mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS). Structural readout by nuclear-encoded aaRS partners relaxed the sequence constraints on mt tRNAs and facilitated accommodation of functionally disruptive mutational insults by cis-acting epistatic compensations. Our results thus suggest that mutational freedom in mt tRNA genes is an adaptation to increased mutation pressure that was associated with the evolution of animal complexity. Bilaterian mitochondria-encoded tRNA genes accumulate mutations at higher rates than their cytoplasmic tRNA counterparts, resulting in idiosyncratic structures. Here the authors suggest an evolutionary basis for the observed mutational freedom of mitochondrial (mt) tRNAs and reveal the associated co-adaptive structural and functional changes in mt aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kuhle
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Joseph Chihade
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton College, 1 North College St., Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
| | - Paul Schimmel
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Florida Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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122
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Tawfik DS, Gruic-Sovulj I. How evolution shapes enzyme selectivity - lessons from aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and other amino acid utilizing enzymes. FEBS J 2020; 287:1284-1305. [PMID: 31891445 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) charge tRNA with their cognate amino acids. Many other enzymes use amino acids as substrates, yet discrimination against noncognate amino acids that threaten the accuracy of protein translation is a hallmark of AARSs. Comparing AARSs to these other enzymes allowed us to recognize patterns in molecular recognition and strategies used by evolution for exercising selectivity. Overall, AARSs are 2-3 orders of magnitude more selective than most other amino acid utilizing enzymes. AARSs also reveal the physicochemical limits of molecular discrimination. For example, amino acids smaller by a single methyl moiety present a discrimination ceiling of ~200, while larger ones can be discriminated by up to 105 -fold. In contrast, substrates larger by a hydroxyl group challenge AARS selectivity, due to promiscuous H-bonding with polar active site groups. This 'hydroxyl paradox' is resolved by editing. Indeed, when the physicochemical discrimination limits are reached, post-transfer editing - hydrolysis of tRNAs charged with noncognate amino acids, evolved. The editing site often selectively recognizes the edited noncognate substrate using the very same feature that the synthetic site could not efficiently discriminate against. Finally, the comparison to other enzymes also reveals that the selectivity of AARSs is an explicitly evolved trait, showing some clear examples of how selection acted not only to optimize catalytic efficiency with the target substrate, but also to abolish activity with noncognate threat substrates ('negative selection').
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ita Gruic-Sovulj
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
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123
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Gong S, Wang X, Meng F, Cui L, Yi Q, Zhao Q, Cang X, Cai Z, Mo JQ, Liang Y, Guan MX. Overexpression of mitochondrial histidyl-tRNA synthetase restores mitochondrial dysfunction caused by a deafness-associated tRNAHis mutation. J Biol Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(17)49906-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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124
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Qiu L, Zou X. Scoring Functions for Protein-RNA Complex Structure Prediction: Advances, Applications, and Future Directions. COMMUNICATIONS IN INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS 2020; 20:1-22. [PMID: 33867869 DOI: 10.4310/cis.2020.v20.n1.a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Protein-RNA interaction is among the most essential of biological events in living cells, being involved in protein synthesizing, RNA processing and transport, DNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression, and many other critical bio-molecular activities. A thorough understanding of this interaction is of paramount importance in fundamental study of a variety of vital cellular processes and therapeutic application for remedy of a broad range of diseases. Experimental high-resolution 3D structure determination is the primary source of knowledge for protein-RNA complexes. However, due to technical limitations, the existing techniques for experimental structure determination couldn't match the demand from fast growing interest in academia and industry. This problem necessitates the alternative high-throughput computational method for protein-RNA complex structure prediction. Similar to the in silico methods used for protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, a reliable prediction of protein-RNA complex structure requires a scoring function with commensurate discriminatory power. Derived from determined structures and purposed to predict the to-be-determined structures, the scoring function is not only a predictive tool but also a gauge of our knowledge of protein-RNA interaction. In this review, we present an overview of the status of existing scoring functions and the scientific principle behind their constructions as well as their strengths and limitations. Finally, we will discuss about future directions of the scoring function development for protein-RNA structure prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Qiu
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Xiaoqin Zou
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.,Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
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125
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Payea MJ, Hauke AC, De Zoysa T, Phizicky EM. Mutations in the anticodon stem of tRNA cause accumulation and Met22-dependent decay of pre-tRNA in yeast. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:29-43. [PMID: 31619505 PMCID: PMC6913130 DOI: 10.1261/rna.073155.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
During tRNA maturation in yeast, aberrant pre-tRNAs are targeted for 3'-5' degradation by the nuclear surveillance pathway, and aberrant mature tRNAs are targeted for 5'-3' degradation by the rapid tRNA decay (RTD) pathway. RTD is catalyzed by the 5'-3' exonucleases Xrn1 and Rat1, which act on tRNAs with an exposed 5' end due to the lack of certain body modifications or the presence of destabilizing mutations in the acceptor stem, T-stem, or tRNA fold. RTD is inhibited by mutation of MET22, likely due to accumulation of the Met22 substrate adenosine 3',5' bis-phosphate, which inhibits 5'-3' exonucleases. Here we provide evidence for a new tRNA quality control pathway in which intron-containing pre-tRNAs with destabilizing mutations in the anticodon stem are targeted for Met22-dependent pre-tRNA decay (MPD). Multiple SUP4οc anticodon stem variants that are subject to MPD each perturb the bulge-helix-bulge structure formed by the anticodon stem-loop and intron, which is important for splicing, resulting in substantial accumulation of end-matured unspliced pre-tRNA as well as pre-tRNA decay. Mutations that restore exon-intron structure commensurately reduce pre-tRNA accumulation and MPD. The MPD pathway can contribute substantially to decay of anticodon stem variants, since pre-tRNA decay is largely suppressed by removal of the intron or by restoration of exon-intron structure, each also resulting in increased tRNA levels. The MPD pathway is general as it extends to variants of tRNATyr(GUA) and tRNASer(CGA) These results demonstrate that the integrity of the anticodon stem-loop and the efficiency of tRNA splicing are monitored by a quality control pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Payea
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Alayna C Hauke
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Thareendra De Zoysa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Eric M Phizicky
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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126
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Mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Enzymes 2020. [PMID: 33837704 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
In all eukaryotic cells, protein synthesis occurs not only in the cytosol, but also in the mitochondria. Translation of mitochondrial genes requires a set of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, many of which are often specialized for organellar function. These enzymes have evolved unique mechanisms for tRNA recognition and for ensuring fidelity of translation. Mutations of human mitochondrial synthetases are associated with a wide range of pathogenic phenotypes, both highlighting the importance of their role in maintaining the cellular "powerhouse" and suggesting additional cellular roles.
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127
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Kuo ME, Antonellis A. Ubiquitously Expressed Proteins and Restricted Phenotypes: Exploring Cell-Specific Sensitivities to Impaired tRNA Charging. Trends Genet 2019; 36:105-117. [PMID: 31839378 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS) are ubiquitously expressed, essential enzymes that charge tRNA with cognate amino acids. Variants in genes encoding ARS enzymes lead to myriad human inherited diseases. First, missense alleles cause dominant peripheral neuropathy. Second, missense, nonsense, and frameshift alleles cause recessive multisystem disorders that differentially affect tissues depending on which ARS is mutated. A preponderance of evidence has shown that both phenotypic classes are associated with loss-of-function alleles, suggesting that tRNA charging plays a central role in disease pathogenesis. However, it is currently unclear how perturbation in the function of these ubiquitously expressed enzymes leads to tissue-specific or tissue-predominant phenotypes. Here, we review our current understanding of ARS-associated disease phenotypes and discuss potential explanations for the observed tissue specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E Kuo
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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128
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Gong S, Wang X, Meng F, Cui L, Yi Q, Zhao Q, Cang X, Cai Z, Mo JQ, Liang Y, Guan MX. Overexpression of mitochondrial histidyl-tRNA synthetase restores mitochondrial dysfunction caused by a deafness-associated tRNA His mutation. J Biol Chem 2019; 295:940-954. [PMID: 31819004 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The deafness-associated m.12201T>C mutation affects the A5-U68 base-pairing within the acceptor stem of mitochondrial tRNAHis The primary defect in this mutation is an alteration in tRNAHis aminoacylation. Here, we further investigate the molecular mechanism of the deafness-associated tRNAHis 12201T>C mutation and test whether the overexpression of the human mitochondrial histidyl-tRNA synthetase gene (HARS2) in cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cells carrying the m.12201T>C mutation reverses mitochondrial dysfunctions. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the m.12201T>C mutation perturbs the tRNAHis structure and function, supported by decreased melting temperature, conformational changes, and instability of mutated tRNA. We show that the m.12201T>C mutation-induced alteration of aminoacylation tRNAHis causes mitochondrial translational defects and respiratory deficiency. We found that the transfer of HARS2 into the cybrids carrying the m.12201T>C mutation raises the levels of aminoacylated tRNAHis from 56.3 to 75.0% but does not change the aminoacylation of other tRNAs. Strikingly, HARS2 overexpression increased the steady-state levels of tRNAHis and of noncognate tRNAs, including tRNAAla, tRNAGln, tRNAGlu, tRNALeu(UUR), tRNALys, and tRNAMet, in cells bearing the m.12201T>C mutation. This improved tRNA metabolism elevated the efficiency of mitochondrial translation, activities of oxidative phosphorylation complexes, and respiration capacity. Furthermore, HARS2 overexpression markedly increased mitochondrial ATP levels and membrane potential and reduced production of reactive oxygen species in cells carrying the m.12201T>C mutation. These results indicate that HARS2 overexpression corrects the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the tRNAHis mutation. These findings provide critical insights into the pathophysiology of mitochondrial disease and represent a step toward improved therapeutic interventions for mitochondrial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Gong
- Taizhou University Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, China.,Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Feilong Meng
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Limei Cui
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiuzi Yi
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaohui Cang
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Zhiyi Cai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, China
| | - Jun Qin Mo
- Department of Pathology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California School of Medicine, San Diego, California 92123
| | - Yong Liang
- Taizhou University Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, China
| | - Min-Xin Guan
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China .,Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of PRC, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine between Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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129
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Guo Q, Ng PQ, Shi S, Fan D, Li J, Zhao J, Wang H, David R, Mittal P, Do T, Bock R, Zhao M, Zhou W, Searle I. Arabidopsis TRM5 encodes a nuclear-localised bifunctional tRNA guanine and inosine-N1-methyltransferase that is important for growth. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225064. [PMID: 31756231 PMCID: PMC6874348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified nucleosides in tRNAs are critical for protein translation. N1-methylguanosine-37 and N1-methylinosine-37 in tRNAs, both located at the 3'-adjacent to the anticodon, are formed by Trm5. Here we describe Arabidopsis thaliana AtTRM5 (At3g56120) as a Trm5 ortholog. Attrm5 mutant plants have overall slower growth as observed by slower leaf initiation rate, delayed flowering and reduced primary root length. In Attrm5 mutants, mRNAs of flowering time genes are less abundant and correlated with delayed flowering. We show that AtTRM5 complements the yeast trm5 mutant, and in vitro methylates tRNA guanosine-37 to produce N1-methylguanosine (m1G). We also show in vitro that AtTRM5 methylates tRNA inosine-37 to produce N1-methylinosine (m1I) and in Attrm5 mutant plants, we show a reduction of both N1-methylguanosine and N1-methylinosine. We also show that AtTRM5 is localized to the nucleus in plant cells. Proteomics data showed that photosynthetic protein abundance is affected in Attrm5 mutant plants. Finally, we show tRNA-Ala aminoacylation is not affected in Attrm5 mutants. However the abundance of tRNA-Ala and tRNA-Asp 5' half cleavage products are deduced. Our findings highlight the bifunctionality of AtTRM5 and the importance of the post-transcriptional tRNA modifications m1G and m1I at tRNA position 37 in general plant growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Guo
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Qin Ng
- School of Biological Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint International Centre for Agriculture and Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Shanshan Shi
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Diwen Fan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Li
- School of Biological Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint International Centre for Agriculture and Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jing Zhao
- School of Biological Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint International Centre for Agriculture and Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hua Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Rakesh David
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Parul Mittal
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Trung Do
- School of Biological Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint International Centre for Agriculture and Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ming Zhao
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbin Zhou
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Iain Searle
- School of Biological Sciences, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint International Centre for Agriculture and Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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130
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Igloi GL. Molecular evidence for the evolution of the eukaryotic mitochondrial arginyl-tRNA synthetase from the prokaryotic suborder Cystobacterineae. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:951-957. [PMID: 31705651 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary origin of the family of eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that are essential to all living organisms is a matter of debate. In order to shed molecular light on the ancient source of arginyl-tRNA synthetase, a total of 1347 eukaryotic arginyl-tRNA synthetase sequences were mined from databases and analyzed. Their multiple sequence alignment reveals a signature sequence that is characteristic of the nuclear-encoded enzyme, which is imported into mitochondria. Using this molecular beacon, the origins of this gene can be traced to modern prokaryotes. In this way, a previous phylogenetic analysis linking Myxococcus to the emergence of the eukaryotic mitochondrial arginyl-tRNA synthetase is supported by the unique existence of the molecular signature within the suborder Cystobacterineae that includes Myxococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor L Igloi
- Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany
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131
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Fan W, Zheng J, Kong W, Cui L, Aishanjiang M, Yi Q, Wang M, Cang X, Tang X, Chen Y, Mo JQ, Sondheimer N, Ge W, Guan MX. Contribution of a mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase mutation to the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated tRNA Ser(UCN) 7511A>G mutation. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:19292-19305. [PMID: 31685661 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear modifier genes have been proposed to modify the phenotypic expression of mitochondrial DNA mutations. Using a targeted exome-sequencing approach, here we found that the p.191Gly>Val mutation in mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase 2 (YARS2) interacts with the tRNASer(UCN) 7511A>G mutation in causing deafness. Strikingly, members of a Chinese family bearing both the YARS2 p.191Gly>Val and m.7511A>G mutations displayed much higher penetrance of deafness than those pedigrees carrying only the m.7511A>G mutation. The m.7511A>G mutation changed the A4:U69 base-pairing to G4:U69 pairing at the aminoacyl acceptor stem of tRNASer(UCN) and perturbed tRNASer(UCN) structure and function, including an increased melting temperature, altered conformation, instability, and aberrant aminoacylation of mutant tRNA. Using lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from symptomatic and asymptomatic members of these Chinese families and control subjects, we show that cell lines harboring only the m.7511A>G or p.191Gly>Val mutation revealed relatively mild defects in tRNASer(UCN) or tRNATyr metabolism, respectively. However, cell lines harboring both m.7511A>G and p.191Gly>Val mutations displayed more severe defective aminoacylations and lower tRNASer(UCN) and tRNATyr levels, aberrant aminoacylation, and lower levels of other tRNAs, including tRNAThr, tRNALys, tRNALeu(UUR), and tRNASer(AGY), than those in the cell lines carrying only the m.7511A>G or p.191Gly>Val mutation. Furthermore, mutant cell lines harboring both m.7511A>G and p.191Gly>Val mutations exhibited greater decreases in the levels of mitochondrial translation, respiration, and mitochondrial ATP and membrane potentials, along with increased production of reactive oxygen species. Our findings provide molecular-level insights into the pathophysiology of maternally transmitted deafness arising from the synergy between tRNASer(UCN) and mitochondrial YARS mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlu Fan
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Attardi Institute of Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325600, China
| | - Jing Zheng
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Wanzhong Kong
- Attardi Institute of Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325600, China
| | - Limei Cui
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Maerhaba Aishanjiang
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiuzi Yi
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Min Wang
- Attardi Institute of Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325600, China
| | - Xiaohui Cang
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaowen Tang
- Attardi Institute of Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325600, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jun Qin Mo
- Department of Pathology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California School of Medicine, San Diego, California 92123
| | - Neal Sondheimer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto School of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Wanzhong Ge
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Min-Xin Guan
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China .,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of PRC, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Joint Institute of Genetics and Genome Medicine between Zhejiang University and the University of Toronto, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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132
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Berg MD, Zhu Y, Genereaux J, Ruiz BY, Rodriguez-Mias RA, Allan T, Bahcheli A, Villén J, Brandl CJ. Modulating Mistranslation Potential of tRNA Ser in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 2019; 213:849-863. [PMID: 31484688 PMCID: PMC6827378 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) read the genetic code, translating nucleic acid sequence into protein. For tRNASer the anticodon does not specify its aminoacylation. For this reason, mutations in the tRNASer anticodon can result in amino acid substitutions, a process called mistranslation. Previously, we found that tRNASer with a proline anticodon was lethal to cells. However, by incorporating secondary mutations into the tRNA, mistranslation was dampened to a nonlethal level. The goal of this work was to identify second-site substitutions in tRNASer that modulate mistranslation to different levels. Targeted changes to putative identity elements led to total loss of tRNA function or significantly impaired cell growth. However, through genetic selection, we identified 22 substitutions that allow nontoxic mistranslation. These secondary mutations are primarily in single-stranded regions or substitute G:U base pairs for Watson-Crick pairs. Many of the variants are more toxic at low temperature and upon impairing the rapid tRNA decay pathway. We suggest that the majority of the secondary mutations affect the stability of the tRNA in cells. The temperature sensitivity of the tRNAs allows conditional mistranslation. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that tRNASer variants mistranslate to different extents with diminished growth correlating with increased mistranslation. When combined with a secondary mutation, other anticodon substitutions allow serine mistranslation at additional nonserine codons. These mistranslating tRNAs have applications in synthetic biology, by creating "statistical proteins," which may display a wider range of activities or substrate specificities than the homogenous form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Berg
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Yanrui Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Julie Genereaux
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Bianca Y Ruiz
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | | | - Tyler Allan
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Alexander Bahcheli
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Judit Villén
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Christopher J Brandl
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
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133
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Di Giulio M. A comparison between two models for understanding the origin of the tRNA molecule. J Theor Biol 2019; 480:99-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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134
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Zeng QY, Peng GX, Li G, Zhou JB, Zheng WQ, Xue MQ, Wang ED, Zhou XL. The G3-U70-independent tRNA recognition by human mitochondrial alanyl-tRNA synthetase. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3072-3085. [PMID: 30952159 PMCID: PMC6451123 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alanyl-tRNA synthetases (AlaRSs) from three domains of life predominantly rely on a single wobble base pair, G3-U70, of tRNAAla as a major determinant. However, this base pair is divergent in human mitochondrial tRNAAla, but instead with a translocated G5-U68. How human mitochondrial AlaRS (hmtAlaRS) recognizes tRNAAla, in particular, in the acceptor stem region, remains unknown. In the present study, we found that hmtAlaRS is a monomer and recognizes mitochondrial tRNAAla in a G3-U70-independent manner, requiring several elements in the acceptor stem. In addition, we found that hmtAlaRS misactivates noncognate Gly and catalyzes strong transfer RNA (tRNA)-independent pre-transfer editing for Gly. A completely conserved residue outside of the editing active site, Arg663, likely functions as a tRNA translocation determinant to facilitate tRNA entry into the editing domain during editing. Finally, we investigated the effects of the severe infantile-onset cardiomyopathy-associated R592W mutation of hmtAlaRS on the canonical enzymatic activities of hmtAlaRS. Overall, our results provide fundamental information about tRNA recognition and deepen our understanding of translational quality control mechanisms by hmtAlaRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Gui-Xin Peng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Guang Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Zheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Mei-Qin Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - En-Duo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
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135
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Kuncha SK, Kruparani SP, Sankaranarayanan R. Chiral checkpoints during protein biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16535-16548. [PMID: 31591268 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.008166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein chains contain only l-amino acids, with the exception of the achiral glycine, making the chains homochiral. This homochirality is a prerequisite for proper protein folding and, hence, normal cellular function. The importance of d-amino acids as a component of the bacterial cell wall and their roles in neurotransmission in higher eukaryotes are well-established. However, the wider presence and the corresponding physiological roles of these specific amino acid stereoisomers have been appreciated only recently. Therefore, it is expected that enantiomeric fidelity has to be a key component of all of the steps in translation. Cells employ various molecular mechanisms for keeping d-amino acids away from the synthesis of nascent polypeptide chains. The major factors involved in this exclusion are aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), elongation factor thermo-unstable (EF-Tu), the ribosome, and d-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase (DTD). aaRS, EF-Tu, and the ribosome act as "chiral checkpoints" by preferentially binding to l-amino acids or l-aminoacyl-tRNAs, thereby excluding d-amino acids. Interestingly, DTD, which is conserved across all life forms, performs "chiral proofreading," as it removes d-amino acids erroneously added to tRNA. Here, we comprehensively review d-amino acids with respect to their occurrence and physiological roles, implications for chiral checkpoints required for translation fidelity, and potential use in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Kuncha
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-CCMB Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Shobha P Kruparani
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Rajan Sankaranarayanan
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
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136
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Kumar A, Åqvist J, Satpati P. Principles of tRNA Ala Selection by Alanyl-tRNA Synthetase Based on the Critical G3·U70 Base Pair. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:15539-15548. [PMID: 31572855 PMCID: PMC6761608 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Throughout evolution, the presence of a single G3·U70 mismatch in the acceptor stem of tRNAAla is the major determinant for aminoacylation with alanine by alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS). Recently reported crystal structures of the complexes AlaRS-tRNAAla/G3·U70 and AlaRS-tRNAAla/A3·U70 suggest two very different conformations, representing a reactive and a nonreactive state, respectively. On the basis of these structures, it has been proposed that the G3·U70 base pair guides the -CCA end of the tRNA acceptor stem into the active site of AlaRS, thereby enabling aminoacylation. The crystal structures open up the possibility of directly computing the energetics of tRNA specificity by AlaRS. We have carried out molecular dynamics free-energy simulations to quantitatively estimate tRNA discrimination by AlaRS, focusing on the mutations of the single critical base pair G3·U70 to uncover the energetics underlying the accuracy of tRNA selection. The calculations show that the reactive complex is highly selective in favor of the cognate tRNAAla/G3·U70 over its noncognate analogues (A3·U70/G3·C70/A3·C70). In contrast, the nonreactive complex is predicted to be unselective between tRNAAla/G3·U70 and tRNAAla/A3·U70. Utilizing our calculated relative binding free energies, we show how a simple three-step kinetic scheme for aminoacylation, involving both an initial nonspecific binding step and a subsequent transition to a selective reactive complex, accounts for the observed kinetics of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department
of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian
Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Johan Åqvist
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University,
Biomedical Center, Box 596, Uppsala SE-751 24, Sweden
| | - Priyadarshi Satpati
- Department
of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian
Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
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137
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Zamudio GS, Palacios-Pérez M, José MV. Information theory unveils the evolution of tRNA identity elements in the three domains of life. Theory Biosci 2019; 139:77-85. [PMID: 31535331 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-019-00301-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We determined the identity elements of each tRNA isoacceptor for the three domains of life: Eubacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Our analyses encompass the most updated and curated available databases using an information theory approach. We obtained a collection of identity clusters for each of the isoacceptors of the 20 canonical amino acids for the three major domains of life. The identity clusters for all isoacceptors are compared within and among the three domains to determine their pattern of differentiation and to shed light on the evolution of the identity elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Zamudio
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico.
| | - Miryam Palacios-Pérez
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Marco V José
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico.
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138
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Jia Z, Zhang Y, Li Q, Ye Z, Liu Y, Fu C, Cang X, Wang M, Guan MX. A coronary artery disease-associated tRNAThr mutation altered mitochondrial function, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2056-2074. [PMID: 30541130 PMCID: PMC6393294 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tissue specificity of mitochondrial tRNA mutations remains largely elusive. In this study, we demonstrated the deleterious effects of tRNAThr 15927G>A mutation that contributed to pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The m.15927G>A mutation abolished the highly conserved base-pairing (28C-42G) of anticodon stem of tRNAThr. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we showed that the m.15927G>A mutation caused unstable tRNAThr structure, supported by decreased melting temperature and slower electrophoretic mobility of mutated tRNA. Using cybrids constructed by transferring mitochondria from a Chinese family carrying the m.15927G>A mutation and a control into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-less human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we demonstrated that the m.15927G>A mutation caused significantly decreased efficiency in aminoacylation and steady-state levels of tRNAThr. The aberrant tRNAThr metabolism yielded variable decreases in mtDNA-encoded polypeptides, respiratory deficiency, diminished membrane potential and increased the production of reactive oxygen species. The m.15927G>A mutation promoted the apoptosis, evidenced by elevated release of cytochrome c into cytosol and increased levels of apoptosis-activated proteins: caspases 3, 7, 9 and PARP. Moreover, the lower wound healing cells and perturbed tube formation were observed in mutant cybrids, indicating altered angiogenesis. Our findings provide new insights into the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease, which is manifested by tRNAThr mutation-induced alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zidong Jia
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Zhenzhen Ye
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Yuqi Liu
- Cardiac Department, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Changzhu Fu
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiaohui Cang
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Min-Xin Guan
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Key lab of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of PRC, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,Joint Institute of Genetics and Genome Medicine between Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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139
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Chen L, Tanimoto A, So BR, Bakhtina M, Magliery TJ, Wysocki VH, Musier-Forsyth K. Stoichiometry of triple-sieve tRNA editing complex ensures fidelity of aminoacyl-tRNA formation. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:929-940. [PMID: 30418624 PMCID: PMC6344894 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze the attachment of cognate amino acids onto tRNAs. To avoid mistranslation, editing mechanisms evolved to maintain tRNA aminoacylation fidelity. For instance, while rejecting the majority of non-cognate amino acids via discrimination in the synthetic active site, prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) misactivates and mischarges Ala and Cys, which are similar in size to cognate Pro. Ala-tRNAPro is specifically hydrolyzed by the editing domain of ProRS in cis, while YbaK, a free-standing editing domain, clears Cys-tRNAPro in trans. ProXp-ala is another editing domain that clears Ala-tRNAPro in trans. YbaK does not appear to possess tRNA specificity, readily deacylating Cys-tRNACysin vitro. We hypothesize that YbaK binds to ProRS to gain specificity for Cys-tRNAPro and avoid deacylation of Cys-tRNACys in the cell. Here, in vivo evidence for ProRS-YbaK interaction was obtained using a split-green fluorescent protein assay. Analytical ultracentrifugation and native mass spectrometry were used to investigate binary and ternary complex formation between ProRS, YbaK, and tRNAPro. Our combined results support the hypothesis that the specificity of YbaK toward Cys-tRNAPro is determined by the formation of a three-component complex with ProRS and tRNAPro and establish the stoichiometry of a 'triple-sieve' editing complex for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Akiko Tanimoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Byung Ran So
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Marina Bakhtina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Thomas J Magliery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Vicki H Wysocki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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140
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Levi O, Garin S, Arava Y. RNA mimicry in post-transcriptional regulation by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2019; 11:e1564. [PMID: 31414576 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are well studied for their roles in tRNA charging with cognate amino acid. Nevertheless, numerous lines of evidence indicate that these proteins have roles other than tRNA charging. These include coordination of cellular signaling cascades, induction of cytokines outside the cell and transcription regulation. Herein, we focus on their roles in post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA expression. We describe functions that are related to antitermination of transcription, RNA splicing and mRNA translation. Cases were recognition of mRNA by the aaRS involves recognition of tRNA-like structures are described. Such recognition may be achieved by repurposing tRNA-binding domains or through domains added to the aaRS later in evolution. Furthermore, we describe cases in which binding by aaRS is implicated in autogenous regulation of expression. Overall, we propose RNA-mimicry as a common mode of interaction between aaRS and mRNA which allows efficient expression regulation. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > tRNA Processing RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications Translation > Translation Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofri Levi
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shahar Garin
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoav Arava
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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141
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Carter CW, Wills PR. Hierarchical groove discrimination by Class I and II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases reveals a palimpsest of the operational RNA code in the tRNA acceptor-stem bases. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9667-9683. [PMID: 30016476 PMCID: PMC6182185 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Class I and II aaRS recognition of opposite grooves was likely among the earliest determinants fixed in the tRNA acceptor stem bases. A new regression model identifies those determinants in bacterial tRNAs. Integral coefficients relate digital dependent to independent variables with perfect agreement between observed and calculated grooves for all twenty isoaccepting tRNAs. Recognition is mediated by the Discriminator base 73, the first base pair, and base 2 of the acceptor stem. Subsets of these coefficients also identically compute grooves recognized by smaller numbers of aaRS. Thus, the model is hierarchical, suggesting that new rules were added to pre-existing ones as new amino acids joined the coding alphabet. A thermodynamic rationale for the simplest model implies that Class-dependent aaRS secondary structures exploited differential tendencies of the acceptor stem to form the hairpin observed in Class I aaRS•tRNA complexes, enabling the earliest groove discrimination. Curiously, groove recognition also depends explicitly on the identity of base 2 in a manner consistent with the middle bases of the codon table, confirming a hidden ancestry of codon-anticodon pairing in the acceptor stem. That, and the lack of correlation with anticodon bases support prior productive coding interaction of tRNA minihelices with proto-mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
| | - Peter R Wills
- Department of Physics, Centre for Computational Evolution, and Te Ao Marama Centre for Fundamental Enquiry, University of Auckland, PB 92109, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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142
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Sharaf A, Gruber A, Jiroutová K, Oborník M. Characterization of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Chromerids. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E582. [PMID: 31370303 PMCID: PMC6723311 DOI: 10.3390/genes10080582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AaRSs) are enzymes that catalyze the ligation of tRNAs to amino acids. There are AaRSs specific for each amino acid in the cell. Each cellular compartment in which translation takes place (the cytosol, mitochondria, and plastids in most cases), needs the full set of AaRSs; however, individual AaRSs can function in multiple compartments due to dual (or even multiple) targeting of nuclear-encoded proteins to various destinations in the cell. We searched the genomes of the chromerids, Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, for AaRS genes: 48 genes encoding AaRSs were identified in C. velia, while only 39 AaRS genes were found in V. brassicaformis. In the latter alga, ArgRS and GluRS were each encoded by a single gene occurring in a single copy; only PheRS was found in three genes, while the remaining AaRSs were encoded by two genes. In contrast, there were nine cases for which C. velia contained three genes of a given AaRS (45% of the AaRSs), all of them representing duplicated genes, except AsnRS and PheRS, which are more likely pseudoparalogs (acquired via horizontal or endosymbiotic gene transfer). Targeting predictions indicated that AaRSs are not (or not exclusively), in most cases, used in the cellular compartment from which their gene originates. The molecular phylogenies of the AaRSs are variable between the specific types, and similar between the two investigated chromerids. While genes with eukaryotic origin are more frequently retained, there is no clear pattern of orthologous pairs between C. velia and V. brassicaformis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdoallah Sharaf
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | - Ansgar Gruber
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Jiroutová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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143
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Nishimura A, Nasuno R, Yoshikawa Y, Jung M, Ida T, Matsunaga T, Morita M, Takagi H, Motohashi H, Akaike T. Mitochondrial cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase is expressed via alternative transcriptional initiation regulated by energy metabolism in yeast cells. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:13781-13788. [PMID: 31350340 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes typically utilize two distinct aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase isoforms, one for cytosolic and one for mitochondrial protein synthesis. However, the genome of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) contains only one cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase gene (YNL247W, also known as CRS1). In this study, we report that CRS1 encodes both cytosolic and mitochondrial isoforms. The 5' complementary DNA end method and GFP reporter gene analyses indicated that yeast CRS1 expression yields two classes of mRNAs through alternative transcription starts: a long mRNA containing a mitochondrial targeting sequence and a short mRNA lacking this targeting sequence. We found that the mitochondrial Crs1 is the product of translation from the first initiation AUG codon on the long mRNA, whereas the cytosolic Crs1 is produced from the second in-frame AUG codon on the short mRNA. Genetic analysis and a ChIP assay revealed that the transcription factor heme activator protein (Hap) complex, which is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, determines the transcription start sites of the CRS1 gene. We also noted that Hap complex-dependent initiation is regulated according to the needs of mitochondrial energy production. The results of our study indicate energy-dependent initiation of alternative transcription of CRS1 that results in production of two Crs1 isoforms, a finding that suggests Crs1's potential involvement in mitochondrial energy metabolism in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Nishimura
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ryo Nasuno
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshikawa
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Minkyung Jung
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Ida
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Matsunaga
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masanobu Morita
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takagi
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takaaki Akaike
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
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144
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McIntyre W, Netzband R, Bonenfant G, Biegel JM, Miller C, Fuchs G, Henderson E, Arra M, Canki M, Fabris D, Pager CT. Positive-sense RNA viruses reveal the complexity and dynamics of the cellular and viral epitranscriptomes during infection. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:5776-5791. [PMID: 29373715 PMCID: PMC6009648 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 140 post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) are known to decorate cellular RNAs, but their incidence, identity and significance in viral RNA are still largely unknown. We have developed an agnostic analytical approach to comprehensively survey PTMs on viral and cellular RNAs. Specifically, we used mass spectrometry to analyze PTMs on total RNA isolated from cells infected with Zika virus, Dengue virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), poliovirus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1. All five RNA viruses significantly altered global PTM landscapes. Examination of PTM profiles of individual viral genomes isolated by affinity capture revealed a plethora of PTMs on viral RNAs, which far exceeds the handful of well-characterized modifications. Direct comparison of viral epitranscriptomes identified common and virus-specific PTMs. In particular, specific dimethylcytosine modifications were only present in total RNA from virus-infected cells, and in intracellular HCV RNA, and viral RNA from Zika and HCV virions. Moreover, dimethylcytosine abundance during viral infection was modulated by the cellular DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX6. By opening the Pandora's box on viral PTMs, this report presents numerous questions and hypotheses on PTM function and strongly supports PTMs as a new tier of regulation by which RNA viruses subvert the host and evade cellular surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will McIntyre
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Rachel Netzband
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Gaston Bonenfant
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jason M Biegel
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Clare Miller
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Gabriele Fuchs
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Eric Henderson
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Manoj Arra
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Mario Canki
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Daniele Fabris
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Cara T Pager
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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145
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Wang Y, Zeng QY, Zheng WQ, Ji QQ, Zhou XL, Wang ED. A natural non-Watson-Crick base pair in human mitochondrial tRNAThr causes structural and functional susceptibility to local mutations. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:4662-4676. [PMID: 29648639 PMCID: PMC5961198 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Six pathogenic mutations have been reported in human mitochondrial tRNAThr (hmtRNAThr); however, the pathogenic molecular mechanism remains unclear. Previously, we established an activity assay system for human mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase (hmThrRS). In the present study, we surveyed the structural and enzymatic effects of pathogenic mutations in hmtRNAThr and then focused on m.15915 G > A (G30A) and m.15923A > G (A38G). The harmful evolutionary gain of non-Watson–Crick base pair A29/C41 caused hmtRNAThr to be highly susceptible to mutations disrupting the G30–C40 base pair in various ways; for example, structural integrity maintenance, modification and aminoacylation of tRNAThr, and editing mischarged tRNAThr. A similar phenomenon was observed for hmtRNATrp with an A29/C41 non-Watson–Crick base pair, but not in bovine mtRNAThr with a natural G29–C41 base pair. The A38G mutation caused a severe reduction in Thr-acceptance and editing of hmThrRS. Importantly, A38 is a nucleotide determinant for the t6A modification at A37, which is essential for the coding properties of hmtRNAThr. In summary, our results revealed the crucial role of the G30–C40 base pair in maintaining the proper structure and function of hmtRNAThr because of A29/C41 non-Watson–Crick base pair and explained the molecular outcome of pathogenic G30A and A38G mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Qi-Yu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Qiang Zheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Quan-Quan Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
| | - En-Duo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
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146
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Rafels-Ybern À, Torres AG, Camacho N, Herencia-Ropero A, Roura Frigolé H, Wulff TF, Raboteg M, Bordons A, Grau-Bove X, Ruiz-Trillo I, Ribas de Pouplana L. The Expansion of Inosine at the Wobble Position of tRNAs, and Its Role in the Evolution of Proteomes. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:650-662. [PMID: 30590541 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The modification of adenosine to inosine at the first position of transfer RNA (tRNA) anticodons (I34) is widespread among bacteria and eukaryotes. In bacteria, the modification is found in tRNAArg and is catalyzed by tRNA adenosine deaminase A, a homodimeric enzyme. In eukaryotes, I34 is introduced in up to eight different tRNAs by the heterodimeric adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA. This substrate expansion significantly influenced the evolution of eukaryotic genomes in terms of codon usage and tRNA gene composition. However, the selective advantages driving this process remain unclear. Here, we have studied the evolution of I34, tRNA adenosine deaminase A, adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA, and their relevant codons in a large set of bacterial and eukaryotic species. We show that a functional expansion of I34 to tRNAs other than tRNAArg also occurred within bacteria, in a process likely initiated by the emergence of unmodified A34-containing tRNAs. In eukaryotes, we report on a large variability in the use of I34 in protists, in contrast to a more uniform presence in fungi, plans, and animals. Our data support that the eukaryotic expansion of I34-tRNAs was driven by the improvement brought by these tRNAs to the synthesis of proteins highly enriched in certain amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Àlbert Rafels-Ybern
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Adrian Gabriel Torres
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Noelia Camacho
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Andrea Herencia-Ropero
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Helena Roura Frigolé
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Thomas F Wulff
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marina Raboteg
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Albert Bordons
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xavier Grau-Bove
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Departament de Genètica, Microbiología i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Departament de Genètica, Microbiología i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,ICREA, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lluís Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,ICREA, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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147
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Lee YH, Lo YT, Chang CP, Yeh CS, Chang TH, Chen YW, Tseng YK, Wang CC. Naturally occurring dual recognition of tRNA His substrates with and without a universal identity element. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1275-1285. [PMID: 31179821 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1626663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The extra 5' guanine nucleotide (G-1) on tRNAHis is a nearly universal feature that specifies tRNAHis identity. The G-1 residue is either genome encoded or post-transcriptionally added by tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1). Despite Caenorhabditis elegans being a Thg1-independent organism, its cytoplasmic tRNAHis (CetRNAnHis) retains a genome-encoded G-1. Our study showed that this eukaryote possesses a histidyl-tRNA synthetase (CeHisRS) gene encoding two distinct HisRS isoforms that differ only at their N-termini. Most interestingly, its mitochondrial tRNAHis (CetRNAmHis) lacks G-1, a scenario never observed in any organelle. This tRNA, while lacking the canonical identity element, can still be efficiently aminoacylated in vivo. Even so, addition of G-1 to CetRNAmHis strongly enhanced its aminoacylation efficiency in vitro. Overexpression of CeHisRS successfully bypassed the requirement for yeast THG1 in the presence of CetRNAnHis without G-1. Mutagenesis assays showed that the anticodon takes a primary role in CetRNAHis identity recognition, being comparable to the universal identity element. Consequently, simultaneous introduction of both G-1 and the anticodon of tRNAHis effectively converted a non-cognate tRNA to a tRNAHis-like substrate. Our study suggests that a new balance between identity elements of tRNAHis relieves HisRS from the absolute requirement for G-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsueh Lee
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Lo
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chia-Pei Chang
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shu Yeh
- b Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica , Taipei , Taiwan
| | | | - Yu-Wei Chen
- c Department of Neurology, Landseed International Hospital , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Yi-Kuan Tseng
- d Graduate Institute of Statistics, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chia Wang
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
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Carter CW, Wills PR. Class I and II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase tRNA groove discrimination created the first synthetase-tRNA cognate pairs and was therefore essential to the origin of genetic coding. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1088-1098. [PMID: 31190358 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code likely arose when a bidirectional gene replicating as a quasi-species began to produce ancestral aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) capable of distinguishing between two distinct sets of amino acids. The synthetase class division therefore necessarily implies a mechanism by which the two ancestral synthetases could also discriminate between two different kinds of tRNA substrates. We used regression methods to uncover the possible patterns of base sequences capable of such discrimination and find that they appear to be related to thermodynamic differences in the relative stabilities of a hairpin necessary for recognition of tRNA substrates by Class I aaRS. The thermodynamic differences appear to be exploited by secondary structural differences between models for the ancestral aaRS called synthetase Urzymes and reinforced by packing of aromatic amino acid side chains against the nonpolar face of the ribose of A76 if and only if the tRNA CCA sequence forms a hairpin. The patterns of bases 1, 2, and 73 and stabilization of the hairpin by structural complementarity with Class I, but not Class II, aaRS Urzymes appear to be necessary and sufficient to have enabled the generation of the first two aaRS-tRNA cognate pairs, and the launch of a rudimentary binary genetic coding related recognizably to contemporary cognate pairs. As a consequence, it seems likely that nonrandom aminoacylation of tRNAs preceded the advent of the tRNA anticodon stem-loop. Consistent with this suggestion, coding rules in the acceptor-stem bases also reveal a palimpsest of the codon-anticodon interaction, as previously proposed. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019 © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(8):1088-1098, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter R Wills
- Department of Physics and Te Ao Marama Centre for Fundamental Inquiry, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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149
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Florentz C, Giegé R. History of tRNA research in strasbourg. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1066-1087. [PMID: 31185141 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The tRNA molecules, in addition to translating the genetic code into protein and defining the second genetic code via their aminoacylation by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, act in many other cellular functions and dysfunctions. This article, illustrated by personal souvenirs, covers the history of ~60 years tRNA research in Strasbourg. Typical examples point up how the work in Strasbourg was a two-way street, influenced by and at the same time influencing investigators outside of France. All along, research in Strasbourg has nurtured the structural and functional diversity of tRNA. It produced massive sequence and crystallographic data on tRNA and its partners, thereby leading to a deeper physicochemical understanding of tRNA architecture, dynamics, and identity. Moreover, it emphasized the role of nucleoside modifications and in the last two decades, highlighted tRNA idiosyncrasies in plants and organelles, together with cellular and health-focused aspects. The tRNA field benefited from a rich local academic heritage and a strong support by both university and CNRS. Its broad interlinks to the worldwide community of tRNA researchers opens to an exciting future. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019 © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(8):1066-1087, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Florentz
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, F-67084, 15 rue René Descartes, Strasbourg, France.,Direction de la Recherche et de la Valorisation, Université de Strasbourg, F-67084, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, Strasbourg, France
| | - Richard Giegé
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS and Université de Strasbourg, F-67084, 15 rue René Descartes, Strasbourg, France
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150
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Crnković A, Vargas-Rodriguez O, Söll D. Plasticity and Constraints of tRNA Aminoacylation Define Directed Evolution of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092294. [PMID: 31075874 PMCID: PMC6540133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) has become a powerful tool to enhance existing functions or introduce new ones into proteins through expanded chemistry. This technology relies on the process of nonsense suppression, which is made possible by directing aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) to attach an ncAA onto a cognate suppressor tRNA. However, different mechanisms govern aaRS specificity toward its natural amino acid (AA) substrate and hinder the engineering of aaRSs for applications beyond the incorporation of a single l-α-AA. Directed evolution of aaRSs therefore faces two interlinked challenges: the removal of the affinity for cognate AA and improvement of ncAA acylation. Here we review aspects of AA recognition that directly influence the feasibility and success of aaRS engineering toward d- and β-AAs incorporation into proteins in vivo. Emerging directed evolution methods are described and evaluated on the basis of aaRS active site plasticity and its inherent constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Crnković
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Oscar Vargas-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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