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Olotu F, Tali MBT, Chepsiror C, Sheik Amamuddy O, Boyom FF, Tastan Bishop Ö. Repurposing DrugBank compounds as potential Plasmodium falciparum class 1a aminoacyl tRNA synthetase multi-stage pan-inhibitors with a specific focus on mitomycin. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100548. [PMID: 38805932 PMCID: PMC11152978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100548] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (PfaaRSs) are potent antimalarial targets essential for proteome fidelity and overall parasite survival in every stage of the parasite's life cycle. So far, some of these proteins have been singly targeted yielding inhibitor compounds that have been limited by incidences of resistance which can be overcome via pan-inhibition strategies. Hence, herein, for the first time, we report the identification and in vitro antiplasmodial validation of Mitomycin (MMC) as a probable pan-inhibitor of class 1a (arginyl(A)-, cysteinyl(C), isoleucyl(I)-, leucyl(L), methionyl(M), and valyl(V)-) PfaaRSs which hypothetically may underlie its previously reported activity on the ribosomal RNA to inhibit protein translation and biosynthesis. We combined multiple in silico structure-based discovery strategies that first helped identify functional and druggable sites that were preferentially targeted by the compound in each of the plasmodial proteins: Ins1-Ins2 domain in Pf-ARS; anticodon binding domain in Pf-CRS; CP1-editing domain in Pf-IRS and Pf-MRS; C-terminal domain in Pf-LRS; and CP-core region in Pf-VRS. Molecular dynamics studies further revealed that MMC allosterically induced changes in the global structures of each protein. Likewise, prominent structural perturbations were caused by the compound across the functional domains of the proteins. More so, MMC induced systematic alterations in the binding of the catalytic nucleotide and amino acid substrates which culminated in the loss of key interactions with key active site residues and ultimate reduction in the nucleotide-binding affinities across all proteins, as deduced from the binding energy calculations. These altogether confirmed that MMC uniformly disrupted the structure of the target proteins and essential substrates. Further, MMC demonstrated IC50 < 5 μM against the Dd2 and 3D7 strains of parasite making it a good starting point for malarial drug development. We believe that findings from our study will be important in the current search for highly effective multi-stage antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fisayo Olotu
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa
| | - Mariscal Brice Tchatat Tali
- Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit, Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry & Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science-University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon; Advanced Research and Health Innovation Hub (ARHIH), Magzi Street, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Curtis Chepsiror
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa
| | - Olivier Sheik Amamuddy
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa
| | - Fabrice Fekam Boyom
- Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit, Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry & Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science-University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon; Advanced Research and Health Innovation Hub (ARHIH), Magzi Street, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa.
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Nachiappan M, Jain V, Sharma A, Manickam Y, Jeyakanthan J. Conformational changes in glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases upon binding of the substrates and analogs using molecular docking and molecular dynamics approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:1575-1589. [PMID: 31084346 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1617787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are considered as important components in protein translation as they facilitate the attachment of specific transfer RNA (tRNA) to form aminoacyl-tRNAs. Our study focused on understanding the crystal structure of Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) from Thermus thermophilus HB8 (PDB ID:5ZDO) and mechanism of formation of enzyme-substrate complex using substrates and its analogs by applying molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) to investigate the conformational changes. Least energy structure of TtGlnRS was considered to dock the enzyme substrates such as glutamine (Gln), glutamic acid (Glu), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), QSI and various substrate analogs (2MA, 4SU and 5MU) onto the active site of the enzyme. We focused on comparative analysis of binding specificity between Gln and Glu; similarly, ATP and AMP. Active site organization as observed by MDS analysis showed interactive changes associated with substrate and catalytically important loops. Study found that when tRNAGln specific for GlnRS was docked into the active site of the TtGlnRS enzyme it interacts with 2' OH on the ribose acceptor end of the tRNA. Upon validation with 50 ns MDS, the maximum deviations and conformational changes of secondary structural elements were observed to be high in the loop regions of enzyme-substrate complexes. Binding affinity of ATP to TtGlnRS was further proved by isothermal titration calorimetry. AbbreviationsaaRSsaminoacyl-tRNA synthetasesAMPadenosine monophosphateATPadenosine triphosphateGlideGrid-based LIgand Docking with EnergeticGlnRSglutaminyl-tRNA synthetaseGRAVYGRand AVerage of hydropathicitYGROMACSGROingen Machine for Chemical SimulationsHADDOCKHigh Ambiguity Driven protein-protein DOCKingITCisothermal titration calorimetry2MA2-methyladenosine 5'-(dihydrogen phosphate)MDSmolecular dynamics simulation5MU5-methyluridine 5'-monophosphateNPTnumber of particles, pressure and temperatureNVTnumber of particles, volume and temperatureOPLS-AAoptimized potential for liquid simulation all atomPDBBrookhaven Protein DatabankPMEParticle-Mesh EwaldQSI5'-o-[n-(l-Glutaminyl)-sulfamoyl]adenosineRgradius of gyrationRMSDroot mean square deviationRMSFroot mean square fluctuation4SU4-thiouracil 5'-monophosphateSPCsimple point chargetRNAtransfer ribo nucleic acidTtThermus thermophilusXPextra precisionCommunicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutharasappan Nachiappan
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Vitul Jain
- Molecular Medicine - Structural Parasitology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Sharma
- Molecular Medicine - Structural Parasitology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Yogavel Manickam
- Molecular Medicine - Structural Parasitology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Jeyaraman Jeyakanthan
- Structural Biology and Bio-Computing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Science Block, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
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Characterization of tRNALeu binding interactions with Cu2+ and Pb2+ and their biological implications. J Inorg Biochem 2017; 171:90-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Väre VYP, Eruysal ER, Narendran A, Sarachan KL, Agris PF. Chemical and Conformational Diversity of Modified Nucleosides Affects tRNA Structure and Function. Biomolecules 2017; 7:E29. [PMID: 28300792 PMCID: PMC5372741 DOI: 10.3390/biom7010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs are central to all gene expression through the control of protein synthesis. Four major nucleosides, adenosine, guanosine, cytidine and uridine, compose RNAs and provide sequence variation, but are limited in contributions to structural variation as well as distinct chemical properties. The ability of RNAs to play multiple roles in cellular metabolism is made possible by extensive variation in length, conformational dynamics, and the over 100 post-transcriptional modifications. There are several reviews of the biochemical pathways leading to RNA modification, but the physicochemical nature of modified nucleosides and how they facilitate RNA function is of keen interest, particularly with regard to the contributions of modified nucleosides. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are the most extensively modified RNAs. The diversity of modifications provide versatility to the chemical and structural environments. The added chemistry, conformation and dynamics of modified nucleosides occurring at the termini of stems in tRNA's cloverleaf secondary structure affect the global three-dimensional conformation, produce unique recognition determinants for macromolecules to recognize tRNAs, and affect the accurate and efficient decoding ability of tRNAs. This review will discuss the impact of specific chemical moieties on the structure, stability, electrochemical properties, and function of tRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ville Y P Väre
- The RNA Institute, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Emily R Eruysal
- The RNA Institute, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Amithi Narendran
- The RNA Institute, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Kathryn L Sarachan
- The RNA Institute, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Paul F Agris
- The RNA Institute, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
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Aboelnga MM, Hayward JJ, Gauld JW. A water-mediated and substrate-assisted aminoacylation mechanism in the discriminating aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase GlnRS and non-discriminating GluRS. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:25598-25609. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02969a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Computational methods have been used to elucidate key differences and similarities between the distinct aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) GlnRS and non-discriminating-GluRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M. Aboelnga
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- University of Windsor
- Windsor
- Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
| | - John J. Hayward
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- University of Windsor
- Windsor
- Canada
| | - James W. Gauld
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- University of Windsor
- Windsor
- Canada
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Akiyama BM, Laurence HM, Massey AR, Costantino DA, Xie X, Yang Y, Shi PY, Nix JC, Beckham JD, Kieft JS. Zika virus produces noncoding RNAs using a multi-pseudoknot structure that confounds a cellular exonuclease. Science 2016; 354:1148-1152. [PMID: 27934765 PMCID: PMC5476369 DOI: 10.1126/science.aah3963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) and associated fetal microcephaly mandates efforts to understand the molecular processes of infection. Related flaviviruses produce noncoding subgenomic flaviviral RNAs (sfRNAs) that are linked to pathogenicity in fetal mice. These viruses make sfRNAs by co-opting a cellular exonuclease via structured RNAs called xrRNAs. We found that ZIKV-infected monkey and human epithelial cells, mouse neurons, and mosquito cells produce sfRNAs. The RNA structure that is responsible for ZIKV sfRNA production forms a complex fold that is likely found in many pathogenic flaviviruses. Mutations that disrupt the structure affect exonuclease resistance in vitro and sfRNA formation during infection. The complete ZIKV xrRNA structure clarifies the mechanism of exonuclease resistance and identifies features that may modulate function in diverse flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Akiyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Hannah M Laurence
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Aaron R Massey
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A Costantino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Yujiao Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jay C Nix
- Molecular Biology Consortium, Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - J David Beckham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
- RNA BioScience Initiative, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Zheng J, Kundrotas PJ, Vakser IA, Liu S. Template-Based Modeling of Protein-RNA Interactions. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1005120. [PMID: 27662342 PMCID: PMC5035060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-RNA complexes formed by specific recognition between RNA and RNA-binding proteins play an important role in biological processes. More than a thousand of such proteins in human are curated and many novel RNA-binding proteins are to be discovered. Due to limitations of experimental approaches, computational techniques are needed for characterization of protein-RNA interactions. Although much progress has been made, adequate methodologies reliably providing atomic resolution structural details are still lacking. Although protein-RNA free docking approaches proved to be useful, in general, the template-based approaches provide higher quality of predictions. Templates are key to building a high quality model. Sequence/structure relationships were studied based on a representative set of binary protein-RNA complexes from PDB. Several approaches were tested for pairwise target/template alignment. The analysis revealed a transition point between random and correct binding modes. The results showed that structural alignment is better than sequence alignment in identifying good templates, suitable for generating protein-RNA complexes close to the native structure, and outperforms free docking, successfully predicting complexes where the free docking fails, including cases of significant conformational change upon binding. A template-based protein-RNA interaction modeling protocol PRIME was developed and benchmarked on a representative set of complexes. Structures of protein-RNA complexes are important for characterization of biological processes. The number of experimentally determined protein-RNA complexes is limited. Thus modeling of these complexes is important. Reliable structural predictions of proteins and their complexes are provided by comparative modeling, which takes advantage of similar complexes with experimentally determined structures. Thus, in the case of protein-RNA complexes, it is important to determine if similar proteins and RNAs bind in a similar way. We show that, similarly to the earlier published results on protein-protein complexes, such correlation of the protein-RNA binding mode and the monomers similarity indeed exists, and is stronger when the similarity is determined by structure rather than sequence alignment. The data shows clear transition from random to similar binding mode with the increase of the structural similarity of the monomers. On the basis of the results we designed and implemented a predictive tool, which should be useful for the biological community interested in modeling of protein-RNA interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfang Zheng
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Petras J. Kundrotas
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Ilya A. Vakser
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (IAV); (SL)
| | - Shiyong Liu
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail: (IAV); (SL)
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8
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Koehler C, Round A, Simader H, Suck D, Svergun D. Quaternary structure of the yeast Arc1p-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex in solution and its compaction upon binding of tRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:667-76. [PMID: 23161686 PMCID: PMC3592460 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) GluRS and MetRS form a complex with the auxiliary protein cofactor Arc1p. The latter binds the N-terminal domains of both synthetases increasing their affinity for the transfer-RNA (tRNA) substrates tRNA(Met) and tRNA(Glu). Until now, structural information was available only on the enzymatic domains of the individual aaRSs but not on their complexes with associated cofactors. We have analysed the yeast Arc1p-complexes in solution by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The ternary complex of MetRS and GluRS with Arc1p, displays a peculiar extended star-like shape, implying possible flexibility of the complex. We reconstituted in vitro a pentameric complex and demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay that the complex is active and contains tRNA(Met) and tRNA(Glu), in addition to the three protein partners. SAXS reveals that binding of the tRNAs leads to a dramatic compaction of the pentameric complex compared to the ternary one. A hybrid low-resolution model of the pentameric complex is constructed rationalizing the compaction effect by the interactions of negatively charged tRNA backbones with the positively charged tRNA-binding domains of the synthetases.
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MESH Headings
- Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
- Glutamate-tRNA Ligase/chemistry
- Glutamate-tRNA Ligase/metabolism
- Methionine-tRNA Ligase/chemistry
- Methionine-tRNA Ligase/metabolism
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- RNA, Transfer, Glu/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Glu/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Met/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Met/metabolism
- RNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry
- RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/enzymology
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/chemistry
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism
- Scattering, Small Angle
- X-Ray Diffraction
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Koehler
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany, EMBL UVHCI, Grenoble, Cedex 9, 38042, France, Proteros Biostructure, Martinsried-München, 82152 and EMBL Outstation Hamburg, c/o/DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, 22603, Germany
| | - Adam Round
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany, EMBL UVHCI, Grenoble, Cedex 9, 38042, France, Proteros Biostructure, Martinsried-München, 82152 and EMBL Outstation Hamburg, c/o/DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, 22603, Germany
| | - Hannes Simader
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany, EMBL UVHCI, Grenoble, Cedex 9, 38042, France, Proteros Biostructure, Martinsried-München, 82152 and EMBL Outstation Hamburg, c/o/DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, 22603, Germany
| | - Dietrich Suck
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany, EMBL UVHCI, Grenoble, Cedex 9, 38042, France, Proteros Biostructure, Martinsried-München, 82152 and EMBL Outstation Hamburg, c/o/DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, 22603, Germany
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany, EMBL UVHCI, Grenoble, Cedex 9, 38042, France, Proteros Biostructure, Martinsried-München, 82152 and EMBL Outstation Hamburg, c/o/DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg, 22603, Germany
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Perona JJ, Hadd A. Structural diversity and protein engineering of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Biochemistry 2012; 51:8705-29. [PMID: 23075299 DOI: 10.1021/bi301180x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are the enzymes that ensure faithful transmission of genetic information in all living cells, and are central to the developing technologies for expanding the capacity of the translation apparatus to incorporate nonstandard amino acids into proteins in vivo. The 24 known aaRS families are divided into two classes that exhibit functional evolutionary convergence. Each class features an active site domain with a common fold that binds ATP, the amino acid, and the 3'-terminus of tRNA, embellished by idiosyncratic further domains that bind distal portions of the tRNA and enhance specificity. Fidelity in the expression of the genetic code requires that the aaRS be selective for both amino acids and tRNAs, a substantial challenge given the presence of structurally very similar noncognate substrates of both types. Here we comprehensively review central themes concerning the architectures of the protein structures and the remarkable dual-substrate selectivities, with a view toward discerning the most important issues that still substantially limit our capacity for rational protein engineering. A suggested general approach to rational design is presented, which should yield insight into the identities of the protein-RNA motifs at the heart of the genetic code, while also offering a basis for improving the catalytic properties of engineered tRNA synthetases emerging from genetic selections.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Perona
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207, United States.
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10
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Bharatham N, Bharatham K, Lee YN, Kim SM, Lazar P, Baek AY, Park CI, Eum HS, Ha HJ, Yun SY, Lee WK, Kim SH, Lee KW. Molecular Docking Study of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases with Ligand Molecules from Four Different Scaffolds. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2010. [DOI: 10.5012/bkcs.2010.31.03.606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Aminoacylation of tRNA by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is the essential reaction that matches protein amino acids with the trinucleotide sequences specified in mRNA. Direct electrostatic interactions made by tRNA synthetases with discriminating functional groups on the tRNA bases have long been known to determine aminoacylation specificity. However, structural and biochemical studies have revealed a second "indirect readout" mechanism that makes an important contribution as well. In indirect readout, the sequence-dependent conformations of tRNA are recognized through protein contacts with the sugar-phosphate backbone and with nonspecific portions of the bases. This mechanism appears to function in single-stranded regions, in canonical A-type duplex segments, and in the complex tertiary core portion of the tRNA. Operation of the indirect mechanism is not exclusive of the direct mechanism, and both are further mediated by induced-fit rearrangements, in which enzyme and tRNA undergo precise conformational changes after formation of an initial encounter complex. The examples of indirect readout in tRNA synthetase complexes extend the concept beyond its traditional application to DNA duplexes and serve as models for the operation of this mechanism in more complex systems such as the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Perona
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Interdepartmental Program in Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9510, USA.
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12
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Vasil'eva IA, Moor NA. Interaction of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases with tRNA: general principles and distinguishing characteristics of the high-molecular-weight substrate recognition. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2007; 72:247-63. [PMID: 17447878 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297907030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes results of numerous (mainly functional) studies that have been accumulated over recent years on the problem of tRNA recognition by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Development and employment of approaches that use synthetic mutant and chimeric tRNAs have demonstrated general principles underlying highly specific interaction in different systems. The specificity of interaction is determined by a certain number of nucleotides and structural elements of tRNA (constituting the set of recognition elements or specificity determinants), which are characteristic of each pair. Crystallographic structures available for many systems provide the details of the molecular basis of selective interaction. Diversity and identity of biochemical functions of the recognition elements make substantial contribution to the specificity of such interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Vasil'eva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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13
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Sanderson LE, Uhlenbeck OC. The 51-63 base pair of tRNA confers specificity for binding by EF-Tu. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2007; 13:835-40. [PMID: 17449728 PMCID: PMC1869040 DOI: 10.1261/rna.485307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) exhibits significant specificity for the different elongator tRNA bodies in order to offset its variable affinity to the esterified amino acid. Three X-ray cocrystal structures reveal that while most of the contacts with the protein involve the phosphodiester backbone of tRNA, a single hydrogen bond is observed between the Glu390 and the amino group of a guanine in the 51-63 base pair in the T-stem of tRNA. Here we show that the Glu390Ala mutation of Thermus thermophilus EF-Tu selectively destabilizes binding of those tRNAs containing a guanine at either position 51 or 63 and that mutagenesis of the 51-63 base pair in several tRNAs modulates their binding affinities to EF-Tu. A comparison of Escherichia coli tRNA sequences suggests that this specificity mechanism is conserved across the bacterial domain. While this contact is an important specificity determinant, it is clear that others remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee E Sanderson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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Gruic-Sovulj I, Uter N, Bullock T, Perona JJ. tRNA-dependent aminoacyl-adenylate hydrolysis by a nonediting class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:23978-86. [PMID: 15845536 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m414260200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase generates Gln-tRNA(Gln) 10(7)-fold more efficiently than Glu-tRNA(Gln) and requires tRNA to synthesize the activated aminoacyl adenylate in the first step of the reaction. To examine the role of tRNA in amino acid activation more closely, several assays employing a tRNA analog in which the 2'-OH group at the 3'-terminal A76 nucleotide is replaced with hydrogen (tRNA(2'HGln)) were developed. These experiments revealed a 10(4)-fold reduction in kcat/Km in the presence of the analog, suggesting a direct catalytic role for tRNA in the activation reaction. The catalytic importance of the A76 2'-OH group in aminoacylation mirrors a similar role for this moiety that has recently been demonstrated during peptidyl transfer on the ribosome. Unexpectedly, tracking of Gln-AMP formation utilizing an alpha-32P-labeled ATP substrate in the presence of tRNA(2'HGln) showed that AMP accumulates 5-fold more rapidly than Gln-AMP. A cold-trapping experiment revealed that the nonenzymatic rate of Gln-AMP hydrolysis is too slow to account for the rapid AMP formation; hence, the hydrolysis of Gln-AMP to form glutamine and AMP must be directly catalyzed by the GlnRS x tRNA(2'HGln) complex. This hydrolysis of glutaminyl adenylate represents a novel reaction that is directly analogous to the pre-transfer editing hydrolysis of noncognate aminoacyl adenylates by editing synthetases such as isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. Because glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase does not possess a spatially separate editing domain, these data demonstrate that a pre-transfer editing-like reaction can occur within the synthetic site of a class I tRNA synthetase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ita Gruic-Sovulj
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Interdepartmental Program in Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9510, USA
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Hauenstein S, Zhang CM, Hou YM, Perona JJ. Shape-selective RNA recognition by cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2004; 11:1134-41. [PMID: 15489861 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2004] [Accepted: 08/31/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of Escherichia coli cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS) bound to tRNA(Cys) at a resolution of 2.3 A reveals base-specific and shape-selective interactions across an extensive protein-RNA recognition interface. The complex contains a mixed alpha/beta C-terminal domain, which is disordered in the unliganded enzyme. This domain makes specific hydrogen bonding interactions with all three bases of the GCA anticodon. The tRNA anticodon stem is bent sharply toward the enzyme as compared with its conformation when bound to elongation factor Tu, providing an essential basis for shape-selective recognition. The CysRS structure also reveals interactions of conserved enzyme groups with the sugar-phosphate backbone in the D loop, adjacent to an unusual G15.G48 tertiary base pair previously implicated in tRNA aminoacylation. A combined mutational analysis of enzyme and tRNA groups at G15.G48 supports the notion that contacts between CysRS and the sugar-phosphate backbone contribute to recognition by indirect readout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hauenstein
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9510, USA
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16
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Connolly SA, Rosen AE, Musier-Forsyth K, Francklyn CS. G-1:C73 recognition by an arginine cluster in the active site of Escherichia coli histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Biochemistry 2004; 43:962-9. [PMID: 14744140 DOI: 10.1021/bi035708f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacylation of a transfer RNA (tRNA) by its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase relies upon the recognition of specific nucleotides as well as conformational features within the tRNA by the synthetase. In Escherichia coli, the aminoacylation of tRNA(His) by histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) is highly dependent upon the recognition of the unique G-1:C73 base pair and the 5'-monophosphate. This work investigates the RNA-protein interactions between the HisRS active site and these critical recognition elements. A homology model of the tRNA(His)-HisRS complex was generated and used to design site-specific mutants of possible G-1:C73 contacts. Aminoacylation assays were performed with these HisRS mutants and N-1:C73 tRNA(His) and microhelix(His) variants. Complete suppression of the negative effect of 5'-phosphate deletion by R123A HisRS, as well as the increased discrimination of Q118E HisRS against a 5'-triphosphate, suggests a possible interaction between the 5'-phosphate and active-site residues Arg123 and Gln118 in which these residues create a sterically and electrostatically favorable pocket for the binding of the negatively charged phosphate group. Additionally, a network of interactions appears likely between G-1 and Arg116, Arg123, and Gln118 because mutation of these residues significantly reduced the sensitivity of HisRS to changes at G-1. Our studies also support an interaction previously proposed between Gln118 and C73. Defining the RNA-protein interactions critical for efficient aminoacylation by E. coli HisRS helps to further characterize the active site of this enzyme and improves our understanding of how the unique identity elements in the acceptor stem of tRNA(His) confer specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Connolly
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, Health Sciences Complex, Burlington 05405, USA
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Evilia C, Ming X, DasSarma S, Hou YM. Aminoacylation of an unusual tRNA(Cys) from an extreme halophile. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2003; 9:794-801. [PMID: 12810913 PMCID: PMC1370446 DOI: 10.1261/rna.5320603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2003] [Accepted: 04/12/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The extreme halophile Halobacterium species NRC-1 overcomes external near-saturating salt concentrations by accumulating intracellular salts comparable to those of the medium. This raises the fundamental question of how halophiles can maintain the specificity of protein-nucleic acid interactions that are particularly sensitive to high salts in mesophiles. Here we address the specificity of the essential aminoacylation reaction of the halophile, by focusing on molecular recognition of tRNA(Cys) by the cognate cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase. Despite the high salt environments of the aminoacylation reaction, and despite an unusual structure of the tRNA with an exceptionally large dihydrouridine loop, we show that aminoacylation of the tRNA proceeds with a catalytic efficiency similar to that of its mesophilic counterparts. This is manifested by an essentially identical K(m) for tRNA to those of the mesophiles, and by recognition of the same nucleotide determinants that are conserved in evolution. Interestingly, aminoacylation of the halophile tRNA(Cys) is more closely related to that of bacteria than eukarya by placing a strong emphasis on features of the tRNA tertiary core. This suggests an adaptation to the highly negatively charged tRNA sugar-phosphate backbone groups that are the key elements of the tertiary core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn Evilia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
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18
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Bullock TL, Uter N, Nissan TA, Perona JJ. Amino acid discrimination by a class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase specified by negative determinants. J Mol Biol 2003; 328:395-408. [PMID: 12691748 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2836(03)00305-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The 2.5 A crystal structure of Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase in a quaternary complex with tRNA(Gln), an ATP analog and glutamate reveals that the non-cognate amino acid adopts a distinct binding mode within the active site cleft. In contrast to the binding of cognate glutamine, one oxygen of the charged glutamate carboxylate group makes a direct ion-pair interaction with the strictly conserved Arg30 residue located in the first half of the dinucleotide fold domain. The nucleophilic alpha-carboxylate moiety of glutamate is mispositioned with respect to both the ATP alpha-phosphate and terminal tRNA ribose groups, suggesting that a component of amino acid discrimination resides at the catalytic step of the reaction. Further, the other side-chain carboxylate oxygen of glutamate is found in a position identical to that previously proposed to be occupied by the NH(2) group of the cognate glutamine substrate. At this position, the glutamate oxygen accepts hydrogen bonds from the hydroxyl moiety of Tyr211 and a water molecule. These findings demonstrate that amino acid specificity by GlnRS cannot arise from hydrogen bonds donated by the cognate glutamine amide to these same moieties, as previously suggested. Instead, Arg30 functions as a negative determinant to drive binding of non-cognate glutamate into a non-productive orientation. The poorly differentiated cognate amino acid-binding site in GlnRS may be a consequence of the late emergence of this enzyme from the eukaryotic lineage of glutamyl-tRNA synthetases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy L Bullock
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Interdepartmental Program in Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9510, USA
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Ming X, Smith K, Suga H, Hou YM. Recognition of tRNA backbone for aminoacylation with cysteine: evolution from Escherichia coli to human. J Mol Biol 2002; 318:1207-20. [PMID: 12083512 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2836(02)00232-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The underlying basis of the genetic code is specific aminoacylation of tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Although the code is conserved, bases in tRNA that establish aminoacylation are not necessarily conserved. Even when the bases are conserved, positions of backbone groups that contribute to aminoacylation may vary. We show here that, although the Escherichia coli and human cysteinyl-tRNA synthetases both recognize the same bases (U73 and the GCA anticodon) of tRNA for aminoacylation, they have different emphasis on the tRNA backbone. The E. coli enzyme recognizes two clusters of phosphate groups. One is at A36 in the anticodon and the other is in the core of the tRNA structure and includes phosphate groups at positions 9, 12, 14, and 60. Metal-ion rescue experiments show that those at positions 9, 12, and 60 are involved with binding divalent metal ions that are important for aminoacylation. The E. coli enzyme also recognizes 2'-hydroxyl groups within the same two clusters: at positions 33, 35, and 36 in the anticodon loop, and at positions 49, 55, and 61 in the core. The human enzyme, by contrast, recognizes few phosphate or 2'-hydroxy groups for aminoacylation. The evolution from the backbone-dependent recognition by the E. coli enzyme to the backbone-independent recognition by the human enzyme demonstrates a previously unrecognized shift that nonetheless has preserved the specificity for aminoacylation with cysteine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Ming
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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20
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Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) are at the center of the question of the origin of life. They constitute a family of enzymes integrating the two levels of cellular organization: nucleic acids and proteins. AARSs arose early in evolution and are believed to be a group of ancient proteins. They are responsible for attaching amino acid residues to their cognate tRNA molecules, which is the first step in the protein synthesis. The role they play in a living cell is essential for the precise deciphering of the genetic code. The analysis of AARSs evolutionary history was not possible for a long time due to a lack of a sufficiently large number of their amino acid sequences. The emerging picture of synthetases' evolution is a result of recent achievements in genomics [Woese,C., Olsen,G.J., Ibba,M. and Söll,D. (2000) Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., 64, 202-236]. In this paper we present a short introduction to the AARSs database. The updated database contains 1047 AARS primary structures from archaebacteria, eubacteria, mitochondria, chloroplasts and eukaryotic cells. It is the compilation of amino acid sequences of all AARSs known to date, which are available as separate entries via the WWW at http://biobases.ibch.poznan.pl/aars/.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Szymanski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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21
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Abstract
The core of Escherichia coli tRNA(Cys) is important for aminoacylation of the tRNA by cysteine-tRNA synthetase. This core differs from the common tRNA core by having a G15:G48, rather than a G15:C48 base-pair. Substitution of G15:G48 with G15:C48 decreases the catalytic efficiency of aminoacylation by two orders of magnitude. This indicates that the design of the core is not compatible with G15:C48. However, the core of E. coli tRNA(Gln), which contains G15:C48, is functional for cysteine-tRNA synthetase. Here, guided by the core of E. coli tRNA(Gln), we sought to test and identify alternative functional design of the tRNA(Cys) core that contains G15:C48. Although analysis of the crystal structure of tRNA(Cys) and tRNA(Gln) implicated long-range tertiary base-pairs above and below G15:G48 as important for a functional core, we showed that this was not the case. The replacement of tertiary interactions involving 9, 21, and 59 in tRNA(Cys) with those in tRNA(Gln) did not construct a functional core that contained G15:C48. In contrast, substitution of nucleotides in the variable loop adjacent to 48 of the 15:48 base-pair created functional cores. Modeling studies of a functional core suggests that the re-constructed core arose from enhanced stacking interactions that compensated for the disruption caused by the G15:C48 base-pair. The repacked tRNA core displayed features that were distinct from those of the wild-type and provided evidence that stacking interactions are alternative means than long-range tertiary base-pairs to a functional core for aminoacylation.
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MESH Headings
- Acylation
- Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases/metabolism
- Anticodon/genetics
- Base Pairing/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Escherichia coli/enzymology
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Kinetics
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Mutation/genetics
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Cys/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Cys/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Cys/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Gln/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Gln/genetics
- Substrate Specificity
- Sulfuric Acid Esters/metabolism
- Thermodynamics
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Affiliation(s)
- T Christian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, BLSB 222, 19107, USA
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