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Umuhire Juru A, Ghirlando R, Zhang J. Structural basis of tRNA recognition by the widespread OB fold. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6385. [PMID: 39075051 PMCID: PMC11286949 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50730-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The widespread oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB)-fold recognizes diverse substrates from sugars to nucleic acids and proteins, and plays key roles in genome maintenance, transcription, translation, and tRNA metabolism. OB-containing bacterial Trbp and yeast Arc1p proteins are thought to recognize the tRNA elbow or anticodon regions. Here we report a 2.6 Å co-crystal structure of Aquifex aeolicus Trbp111 bound to tRNAIle, which reveals that Trbp recognizes tRNAs solely by capturing their 3' ends. Structural, mutational, and biophysical analyses show that the Trbp/EMAPII-like OB fold precisely recognizes the single-stranded structure, 3' terminal location, and specific sequence of the 3' CA dinucleotide - a universal feature of mature tRNAs. Arc1p supplements its OB - tRNA 3' end interaction with additional contacts that involve an adjacent basic region and the tRNA body. This study uncovers a previously unrecognized mode of tRNA recognition by an ancient protein fold, and provides insights into protein-mediated tRNA aminoacylation, folding, localization, trafficking, and piracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Umuhire Juru
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jinwei Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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2
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Pitolli M, Cela M, Paulus C, Rudinger-Thirion J, Frugier M. RNA aptamers developed against tRip: A preliminary approach targeting tRNA entry in Plasmodium. Biochimie 2024; 217:106-115. [PMID: 37414209 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites that multiply inside host cells and can be lethal when P. falciparum is involved. We identified tRip as a membrane protein that facilitates the import of exogenous transfer RNA (tRNA) into the parasite. tRip encompasses a tRNA binding domain exposed on the parasite surface. We used the SELEX approach to isolate high-affinity and specific tRip-binding RNA motifs from a library of random 25 nucleotide-long sequences. In five rounds of combined negative and positive selections, an enriched pool of aptamers was obtained; sequencing revealed that they were all different in their primary sequence; only by comparing their structure predictions did most of the selected aptamers reveal a conserved 5-nucleotide motif sequence. We showed that the integral motif is essential for tRip-binding while the rest of the molecule can be significantly reduced or mutated as long as the motif is presented in a single-stranded region. Such RNA aptamers bind in place of the original tRNA substrate and act as an efficient competitor, suggesting that they can block tRip function and slow parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Pitolli
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marta Cela
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Caroline Paulus
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Joëlle Rudinger-Thirion
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Magali Frugier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67084, Strasbourg, France.
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3
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Zhang J. Recognition of the tRNA structure: Everything everywhere but not all at once. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:36-52. [PMID: 38159570 PMCID: PMC10843564 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
tRNAs are among the most abundant and essential biomolecules in cells. These spontaneously folding, extensively structured yet conformationally flexible anionic polymers literally bridge the worlds of RNAs and proteins, and serve as Rosetta stones that decipher and interpret the genetic code. Their ubiquitous presence, functional irreplaceability, and privileged access to cellular compartments and ribosomes render them prime targets for both endogenous regulation and exogenous manipulation. There is essentially no part of the tRNA that is not touched by another interaction partner, either as programmed or imposed by an external adversary. Recent progresses in genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses of the tRNA interactome produced a wealth of new knowledge into their interaction networks, regulatory functions, and molecular interfaces. In this review, I describe and illustrate the general principles of tRNA recognition by proteins and other RNAs, and discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms that deliver affinity, specificity, and functional competency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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4
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Davidge B, McDermott SM, Carnes J, Lewis I, Tracy M, Stuart KD. Multiple domains of the integral KREPA3 protein are critical for the structure and precise functions of RNA editing catalytic complexes in Trypanosoma brucei. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1591-1609. [PMID: 37474258 PMCID: PMC10578492 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079691.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The gRNA directed U-insertion and deletion editing of mitochondrial mRNAs that is essential in different life-cycle stages for the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is performed by three similar multiprotein catalytic complexes (CCs) that contain the requisite enzymes. These CCs also contain a common set of eight proteins that have no apparent direct catalytic function, including six that have an OB-fold domain. We show here that one of these OB-fold proteins, KREPA3 (A3), has structural homology to other editing proteins, is essential for editing, and is multifunctional. We investigated A3 function by analyzing the effects of single amino acid loss of function mutations, most of which were identified by screening bloodstream form (BF) parasites for loss of growth following random mutagenesis. Mutations in the zinc fingers (ZFs), an intrinsically disordered region (IDR), and several within or near the carboxy-terminal OB-fold domain variably impacted CC structural integrity and editing. Some mutations resulted in almost complete loss of CCs and its proteins and editing, whereas others retained CCs but had aberrant editing. All but a mutation which is near the OB-fold affected growth and editing in BF but not procyclic form (PF) parasites. These data indicate that multiple positions within A3 have essential functions that contribute to the structural integrity of CCs, the precision of editing and the developmental differences in editing between BF and PF stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Davidge
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Suzanne M McDermott
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Jason Carnes
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Isaac Lewis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Maxwell Tracy
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Kenneth D Stuart
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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5
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Davidge B, McDermott SM, Carnes J, Lewis I, Tracy M, Stuart KD. Multiple domains of the integral KREPA3 protein are critical for the structure and precise functions of RNA Editing Catalytic Complexes in Trypanosoma brucei. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537538. [PMID: 37131796 PMCID: PMC10153193 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The gRNA directed U-insertion and deletion editing of mitochondrial mRNAs that is essential in different life cycle stages for the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is performed by three similar multi-protein catalytic complexes (CCs) that contain the requisite enzymes. These CCs also contain a common set of eight proteins that have no apparent direct catalytic function, including six that have an OB-fold domain. We show here that one of these OB-fold proteins, KREPA3 (A3), has structural homology to other editing proteins, is essential for editing and is multifunctional. We investigated A3 function by analyzing the effects of single amino acid loss of function mutations most of which were identified by screening bloodstream form (BF) parasites for loss of growth following random mutagenesis. Mutations in the ZFs, an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) and several within or near the C-terminal OB-fold domain variably impacted CC structural integrity and editing. Some mutations resulted in almost complete loss of CCs and its proteins and editing whereas others retained CCs but had aberrant editing. All but a mutation which is near the OB-fold affected growth and editing in BF but not procyclic form (PF) parasites. These data indicate that multiple positions within A3 have essential functions that contribute to the structural integrity of CCs, the precision of editing and the developmental differences in editing between BF and PF stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Davidge
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Suzanne M McDermott
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Jason Carnes
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Isaac Lewis
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Maxwell Tracy
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Kenneth D Stuart
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Jaramillo Ponce JR, Kapps D, Paulus C, Chicher J, Frugier M. Discovery of two distinct aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes anchored to the Plasmodium surface tRNA import protein. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101987. [PMID: 35487244 PMCID: PMC9136112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) attach amino acids to their cognate transfer RNAs. In eukaryotes, a subset of cytosolic aaRSs is organized into a multisynthetase complex (MSC), along with specialized scaffolding proteins referred to as aaRS-interacting multifunctional proteins (AIMPs). In Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, the tRNA import protein (tRip), is a membrane protein that participates in tRNA trafficking; we show that tRip also functions as an AIMP. We identified three aaRSs, the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ERS), glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (QRS), and methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS), which were specifically coimmunoprecipitated with tRip in Plasmodium berghei blood stage parasites. All four proteins contain an N-terminal glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-like domain that was demonstrated to be involved in MSC assembly. In contrast to previous studies, further dissection of GST-like interactions identified two exclusive heterotrimeric complexes: the Q-complex (tRip-ERS-QRS) and the M-complex (tRip-ERS-MRS). Gel filtration and light scattering suggest a 2:2:2 stoichiometry for both complexes but with distinct biophysical properties and mutational analysis further revealed that the GST-like domains of QRS and MRS use different strategies to bind ERS. Taken together, our results demonstrate that neither the singular homodimerization of tRip nor its localization in the parasite plasma membrane prevents the formation of MSCs in Plasmodium. Besides, the extracellular localization of the tRNA-binding module of tRip is compensated by the presence of additional tRNA-binding modules fused to MRS and QRS, providing each MSC with two spatially distinct functions: aminoacylation of intraparasitic tRNAs and binding of extracellular tRNAs. This unique host-pathogen interaction is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José R Jaramillo Ponce
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Delphine Kapps
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Caroline Paulus
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Johana Chicher
- Strasbourg-Esplanade Proteomics Facility, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Magali Frugier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France.
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7
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Cela M, Théobald-Dietrich A, Rudinger-Thirion J, Wolff P, Geslain R, Frugier M. Identification of host tRNAs preferentially recognized by the Plasmodium surface protein tRip. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10618-10629. [PMID: 34530443 PMCID: PMC8501954 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening and devastating parasitic disease. Our previous work showed that parasite development requires the import of exogenous transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which represents a novel and unique form of host-pathogen interaction, as well as a potentially druggable target. This import is mediated by tRip (tRNA import protein), a membrane protein located on the parasite surface. tRip displays an extracellular domain homologous to the well-characterized OB-fold tRNA-binding domain, a structural motif known to indiscriminately interact with tRNAs. We used MIST (Microarray Identification of Shifted tRNAs), a previously established in vitro approach, to systematically assess the specificity of complexes between native Homo sapiens tRNAs and recombinant Plasmodium falciparum tRip. We demonstrate that tRip unexpectedly binds to host tRNAs with a wide range of affinities, suggesting that only a small subset of human tRNAs is preferentially imported into the parasite. In particular, we show with in vitro transcribed constructs that tRip does not bind specific tRNAs solely based on their primary sequence, hinting that post-transcriptional modifications modulate the formation of our host/parasite molecular complex. Finally, we discuss the potential utilization of the most efficient tRip ligands for the translation of the parasite's genetic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cela
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Théobald-Dietrich
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Joëlle Rudinger-Thirion
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Wolff
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Renaud Geslain
- Laboratory of tRNA Biology, Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Magali Frugier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000Strasbourg, France
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Lin ES, Huang YH, Huang CY. Characterization of the Chimeric PriB-SSBc Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910854. [PMID: 34639195 PMCID: PMC8509808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PriB is a primosomal protein required for the replication fork restart in bacteria. Although PriB shares structural similarity with SSB, they bind ssDNA differently. SSB consists of an N-terminal ssDNA-binding/oligomerization domain (SSBn) and a flexible C-terminal protein–protein interaction domain (SSBc). Apparently, the largest difference in structure between PriB and SSB is the lack of SSBc in PriB. In this study, we produced the chimeric PriB-SSBc protein in which Klebsiella pneumoniae PriB (KpPriB) was fused with SSBc of K. pneumoniae SSB (KpSSB) to characterize the possible SSBc effects on PriB function. The crystal structure of KpSSB was solved at a resolution of 2.3 Å (PDB entry 7F2N) and revealed a novel 114-GGRQ-117 motif in SSBc that pre-occupies and interacts with the ssDNA-binding sites (Asn14, Lys74, and Gln77) in SSBn. As compared with the ssDNA-binding properties of KpPriB, KpSSB, and PriB-SSBc, we observed that SSBc could significantly enhance the ssDNA-binding affinity of PriB, change the binding behavior, and further stimulate the PriA activity (an initiator protein in the pre-primosomal step of DNA replication), but not the oligomerization state, of PriB. Based on these experimental results, we discuss reasons why the properties of PriB can be retrofitted when fusing with SSBc.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Shyh Lin
- Department of Beauty Science, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, No. 193, Sec.1, San-Min Rd., Taichung City 403, Taiwan;
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec.1, Chien-Kuo N. Rd., Taichung City 402, Taiwan;
| | - Cheng-Yang Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec.1, Chien-Kuo N. Rd., Taichung City 402, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec.1, Chien-Kuo N. Rd., Taichung City 402, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Mukai T, Reynolds NM, Crnković A, Söll D. Bioinformatic Analysis Reveals Archaeal tRNA Tyr and tRNA Trp Identities in Bacteria. Life (Basel) 2017; 7:life7010008. [PMID: 28230768 PMCID: PMC5370408 DOI: 10.3390/life7010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The tRNA identity elements for some amino acids are distinct between the bacterial and archaeal domains. Searching in recent genomic and metagenomic sequence data, we found some candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria with archaeal tRNA identity for Tyr-tRNA and Trp-tRNA synthesis. These bacteria possess genes for tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) predicted to be derived from DPANN superphylum archaea, while the cognate tRNATyr and tRNATrp genes reveal bacterial or archaeal origins. We identified a trace of domain fusion and swapping in the archaeal-type TyrRS gene of a bacterial lineage, suggesting that CPR bacteria may have used this mechanism to create diverse proteins. Archaeal-type TrpRS of bacteria and a few TrpRS species of DPANN archaea represent a new phylogenetic clade (named TrpRS-A). The TrpRS-A open reading frames (ORFs) are always associated with another ORF (named ORF1) encoding an unknown protein without global sequence identity to any known protein. However, our protein structure prediction identified a putative HIGH-motif and KMSKS-motif as well as many α-helices that are characteristic of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) homologs. These results provide another example of the diversity of molecular components that implement the genetic code and provide a clue to the early evolution of life and the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Mukai
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Noah M Reynolds
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Ana Crnković
- 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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