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Benčić P, Keppler M, Kuge M, Qiu D, Schütte LM, Häner M, Strack K, Jessen HJ, Andexer JN, Loenarz C. Non-canonical nucleosides: Biomimetic triphosphorylation, incorporation into mRNA and effects on translation and structure. FEBS J 2023; 290:4899-4920. [PMID: 37329249 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16889] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in mRNA therapeutics demand efficient toolkits for the incorporation of nucleoside analogues into mRNA suitable for downstream applications. Herein, we report the application of a versatile enzyme cascade for the triphosphorylation of a broad range of nucleoside analogues, including unprotected nucleobases containing chemically labile moieties. Our biomimetic system was suitable for the preparation of nucleoside triphosphates containing adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, uridine and non-canonical core structures, as determined by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. This enabled us to establish an efficient workflow for transcribing and purifying functional mRNA containing these nucleoside analogues, combined with mass spectrometric verification of analogue incorporation. Our combined methodology allows for analyses of how incorporation of nucleoside analogues that are commercially unavailable as triphosphates affect mRNA properties: The translational fidelity of the produced mRNA was demonstrated in analyses of how incorporated adenosine analogues impact translational recoding. For the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting site, analyses of the mRNA pseudoknot structure using circular dichroism spectroscopy allowed insight into how the pharmacologically active 7-deazaadenosine destabilises RNA secondary structure, consistent with observed changes in recoding efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Benčić
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Keppler
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Kuge
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Danye Qiu
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lena M Schütte
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Häner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Strack
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christoph Loenarz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
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Sweeney KJ, Han X, Müller UF. A ribozyme that uses lanthanides as cofactor. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7163-7173. [PMID: 37326001 PMCID: PMC10415125 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad513] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To explore how an early, RNA-based life form could have functioned, in vitro selection experiments have been used to develop catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) with relevant functions. We previously identified ribozymes that use the prebiotically plausible energy source cyclic trimetaphosphate (cTmp) to convert their 5'-hydroxyl group to a 5'-triphosphate. While these ribozymes were developed in the presence of Mg2+, we tested here whether lanthanides could also serve as catalytic cofactors because lanthanides are ideal catalytic cations for this reaction. After an in vitro selection in the presence of Yb3+, several active sequences were isolated, and the most active RNA was analyzed in more detail. This ribozyme required lanthanides for activity, with highest activity at a 10:1 molar ratio of cTmp : Yb3+. Only the four heaviest lanthanides gave detectable signals, indicating a high sensitivity of ribozyme catalysis to the lanthanide ion radius. Potassium and Magnesium did not facilitate catalysis alone but they increased the lanthanide-mediated kOBS by at least 100-fold, with both K+ and Mg2+ modulating the ribozyme's secondary structure. Together, these findings show that RNA is able to use the unique properties of lanthanides as catalytic cofactor. The results are discussed in the context of early life forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Sweeney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ulrich F Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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3
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Gan D, Ying J, Zhao Y. Prebiotic Chemistry: The Role of Trimetaphosphate in Prebiotic Chemical Evolution. Front Chem 2022; 10:941228. [PMID: 35910738 PMCID: PMC9326000 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.941228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Life’s origins have always been a scientific puzzle. Understanding the production of biomolecules is crucial for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. Numerous studies on trimetaphosphate have been conducted in the field of prebiotic chemistry. However, its role in prebiotic chemistry has been documented infrequently in the review literature. The goal of this thesis is to review the role of trimetaphosphate in the early Earth’s biomolecule synthesis and phosphorylation. Additionally, various trimetaphosphate-mediated reaction pathways are discussed, as well as the role of trimetaphosphate in prebiotic chemistry. Finally, in our opinion, interactions between biomolecules should be considered in prebiotic synthesis scenarios since this may result in some advances in subsequent research on this subject. The research establishes an essential and opportune foundation for an in-depth examination of the “mystery of life".
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingwei Gan
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianxi Ying
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Jianxi Ying,
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Lin H, Jiménez EI, Arriola JT, Müller UF, Krishnamurthy R. Concurrent Prebiotic Formation of Nucleoside‐Amidophosphates and Nucleoside‐Triphosphates Potentiates Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huacan Lin
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Eddy I. Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Joshua T. Arriola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Ulrich F. Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Atlanta GA 30332 USA
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Lin H, Jiménez EI, Arriola JT, Müller UF, Krishnamurthy R. Concurrent Prebiotic Formation of Nucleoside-Amidophosphates and Nucleoside-Triphosphates Potentiates Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 61:e202113625. [PMID: 34738300 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Polymerization of nucleic acids in biology utilizes 5'-nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) as substrates. The prebiotic availability of NTPs has been unresolved and other derivatives of nucleoside-monophosphates (NMPs) have been studied. However, this latter approach necessitates a change in chemistries when transitioning to biology. Herein we show that diamidophosphate (DAP), in a one-pot amidophosphorylation-hydrolysis setting converts NMPs into the corresponding NTPs via 5'-nucleoside amidophosphates (NaPs). The resulting crude mixture of NTPs are accepted by proteinaceous- and ribozyme-polymerases as substrates for nucleic acid polymerization. This phosphorylation also operates at the level of oligonucleotides enabling ribozyme-mediated ligation. This one-pot protocol for simultaneous generation of NaPs and NTPs suggests that the transition from prebiotic-phosphorylation and oligomerization to an enzymatic processive-polymerization can be more continuous than previously anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huacan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Eddy I Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Joshua T Arriola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ulrich F Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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Akoopie A, Arriola JT, Magde D, Müller UF. A GTP-synthesizing ribozyme selected by metabolic coupling to an RNA polymerase ribozyme. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj7487. [PMID: 34613767 PMCID: PMC8494290 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis of RNA in early life forms required chemically activated nucleotides, perhaps in the same form of nucleoside 5′-triphosphates (NTPs) as in the contemporary biosphere. We show the development of a catalytic RNA (ribozyme) that generates the nucleoside triphosphate guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP) from the nucleoside guanosine and the prebiotically plausible cyclic trimetaphosphate. Ribozymes were selected from 1.6 × 1014 different randomized sequences by metabolically coupling 6-thio GTP synthesis to primer extension by an RNA polymerase ribozyme within 1016 emulsion droplets. Several functional RNAs were identified, one of which was characterized in more detail. Under optimized reaction conditions, this ribozyme produced GTP at a rate 18,000-fold higher than the uncatalyzed rate, with a turnover of 1.7-fold, and supported the incorporation of GTP into RNA oligomers in tandem with an RNA polymerase ribozyme. These results are discussed in the context of early life forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvin Akoopie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joshua T. Arriola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Douglas Magde
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ulrich F. Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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