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Akatsu Y, Mutsuro-Aoki H, Tamura K. Development of Allosteric Ribozymes for ATP and l-Histidine Based on the R3C Ligase Ribozyme. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:520. [PMID: 38672790 PMCID: PMC11051094 DOI: 10.3390/life14040520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During the evolution of the RNA, short RNAs are thought to have joined together to form long RNAs, enhancing their function as ribozymes. Previously, the artificial R3C ligase ribozyme (73 nucleotides) was successfully reduced to 46 nucleotides; however, its activity decreased significantly. Therefore, we aimed to develop allosteric ribozymes, whose activities could be regulated by effector compounds, based on the reduced R3C ligase ribozyme (R3C-A). Among the variants prepared by fusing an ATP-binding aptamer RNA with R3C-A, one mutant showed increased ligation activity in an ATP-dependent manner. Melting temperature measurements of the two RNA mutants suggested that the region around the aptamer site was stabilized by the addition of ATP. This resulted in a suitable conformation for the reaction at the ligation site. Another ribozyme was prepared by fusing R3C-A with a l-histidine-binding aptamer RNA, and the ligase activity increased with increasing l-histidine concentrations. Both ATP and l-histidine play prominent roles in current molecular biology and the interaction of RNAs and these molecules could be a key step in the evolution of the world of RNAs. Our results suggest promise in the development of general allosteric ribozymes that are independent of the type of effector molecule and provide important clues to the evolution of the RNA world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Akatsu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan; (Y.A.); (H.M.-A.)
| | - Hiromi Mutsuro-Aoki
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan; (Y.A.); (H.M.-A.)
| | - Koji Tamura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan; (Y.A.); (H.M.-A.)
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
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2
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Gomes RMODS, Silva KJGD, Theodoro RC. Group I introns: Structure, splicing and their applications in medical mycology. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 47Suppl 1:e20230228. [PMID: 38525907 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Group I introns are small RNAs (250-500 nt) capable of catalyzing their own splicing from the precursor RNA. They are widely distributed across the tree of life and have intricate relationships with their host genomes. In this work, we review its basic structure, self-splicing and its mechanisms of gene mobility. As they are widely found in unicellular eukaryotes, especially fungi, we gathered information regarding their possible impact on the physiology of fungal cells and the possible application of these introns in medical mycology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Raquel Cordeiro Theodoro
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia Celular de Genética, Natal, RN, Brazil
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3
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Tao Y, Zhang Q, Wang H, Yang X, Mu H. Alternative splicing and related RNA binding proteins in human health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:26. [PMID: 38302461 PMCID: PMC10835012 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01734-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) serves as a pivotal mechanism in transcriptional regulation, engendering transcript diversity, and modifications in protein structure and functionality. Across varying tissues, developmental stages, or under specific conditions, AS gives rise to distinct splice isoforms. This implies that these isoforms possess unique temporal and spatial roles, thereby associating AS with standard biological activities and diseases. Among these, AS-related RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an instrumental role in regulating alternative splicing events. Under physiological conditions, the diversity of proteins mediated by AS influences the structure, function, interaction, and localization of proteins, thereby participating in the differentiation and development of an array of tissues and organs. Under pathological conditions, alterations in AS are linked with various diseases, particularly cancer. These changes can lead to modifications in gene splicing patterns, culminating in changes or loss of protein functionality. For instance, in cancer, abnormalities in AS and RBPs may result in aberrant expression of cancer-associated genes, thereby promoting the onset and progression of tumors. AS and RBPs are also associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, the study of AS across different tissues holds significant value. This review provides a detailed account of the recent advancements in the study of alternative splicing and AS-related RNA-binding proteins in tissue development and diseases, which aids in deepening the understanding of gene expression complexity and offers new insights and methodologies for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200000, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200000, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiyu Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200000, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoran Mu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200000, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 200000, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Marasco LE, Kornblihtt AR. The physiology of alternative splicing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:242-254. [PMID: 36229538 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 116.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a substantial contributor to the high complexity of transcriptomes of multicellular eukaryotes. In this Review, we discuss the accumulated evidence that most of this complexity is reflected at the protein level and fundamentally shapes the physiology and pathology of organisms. This notion is supported not only by genome-wide analyses but, mainly, by detailed studies showing that global and gene-specific modulations of alternative splicing regulate highly diverse processes such as tissue-specific and species-specific cell differentiation, thermal regulation, neuron self-avoidance, infrared sensing, the Warburg effect, maintenance of telomere length, cancer and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We also discuss how mastering the control of alternative splicing paved the way to clinically approved therapies for hereditary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano E Marasco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alberto R Kornblihtt
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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5
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Analysis of Acanthamoeba genotypes from public freshwater sources in Thailand reveals a new genotype, T23 Acanthamoeba bangkokensis sp. nov. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17290. [PMID: 34453084 PMCID: PMC8397737 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96690-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A survey of Acanthamoeba in 100 public freshwater sources in 28 provinces across Thailand has identified 9 genotypes comprising T2/6, T3-T5, T9, T11, T12, T18 and a novel ‘T23’ among 131 isolates. Sequencing of the near complete 18S rRNA gene of Acanthamoeba of all isolates has shown that the most predominant genotype T4 found in 87 isolates (66.4%) contained 4 subtypes, i.e. T4A, T4B, T4C and T4F, while all isolates assigned to genotype T2/6 belonged to subtype B. Among intron-bearing genotypes, most isolates harbouring genotype T3 contained S516 introns, characterised by 3 distinct variants whilst all genotypes T4A and T5 were intronless. Identical 18S rRNA sequences of Acanthamoeba were identified across regions of the country and four isolates in this study shared the same sequences with those from remote nations, suggesting that some strains have reproductive success in diverse ecological niche. Nucleotide diversity of genotypes T2/6B, T3, T4, T9 and T11 in this study was significantly less than that among global isolates outside Thailand, implying that limited sequence diversity occurred within local populations. A remarkably higher level of nucleotide diversity in genotype T11 than those of other genotypes (0.041 vs. 0.012–0.024) could be due to cryptic subtypes. Recombination breakpoints have been detected within genotypes and subtypes as well as within isolates despite no evidence for sexual and parasexual cycles in the genus Acanthamoeba. Tajima’s D, Fu & Li’s D* and F* statistics revealed significantly negative deviation from neutrality across genotypes and subtypes, implying purifying selection in this locus. The 18S rRNA gene of the novel genotype ‘T23’ displayed 7.82% to 28.44% sequence differences in comparison with all known genotypes. Both Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees have placed genotype T23 as sister to the clade comprising genotypes T10, T12 and T14, all of these possess cyst structure belonging to morphological group III. Hence, Acanthamoeba bangkokensis sp. nov. is proposed for this novel genotype. It is likely that more genotypes of Acanthamoeba remain to be discovered while the evolution of the 18S rRNA gene of this pathogenic-free living amoeba seems to be ongoing.
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Mao JM, Wang Y, Yang L, Yao Q, Chen KP. An Intron of Invertebrate Microphthalmia Transcription Factor Gene Is Evolved from a Longer Ancestral Sequence. Evol Bioinform Online 2021; 17:1176934320988558. [PMID: 33551639 PMCID: PMC7841239 DOI: 10.1177/1176934320988558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introns are highly variable in number and size. Sequence simulation is an
effective method to elucidate intron evolution patterns. Previously, we have
reported that introns are more likely to evolve through mutation-and-deletion
(MD) rather than through mutation-and-insertion (MI). In the present study, we
further studied evolution models by allowing insertion in the MD model and by
allowing deletion in the MI model at various frequencies. It was found that all
deletion-biased models with proper parameter settings could generate sequences
with attributes matchable to 16 invertebrate introns from the microphthalmia
transcription factor gene, whereas all insertion-biased models with any
parameter settings failed to generate such sequences. We conclude that the
examined invertebrate introns may have evolved from a longer ancestral sequence
in a deletion-biased pattern. The constructed models are useful for studying the
evolution of introns from other genes and/or from other taxonomic groups. (C++
scripts of all deletion- and insertion-biased models are available upon
request.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ming Mao
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yong Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Liu Yang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Qin Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Ke-Ping Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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7
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Stepanov VG, Fox GE. Expansion segments in bacterial and archaeal 5S ribosomal RNAs. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:133-150. [PMID: 33184227 PMCID: PMC7812874 DOI: 10.1261/rna.077123.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The large ribosomal RNAs of eukaryotes frequently contain expansion sequences that add to the size of the rRNAs but do not affect their overall structural layout and are compatible with major ribosomal function as an mRNA translation machine. The expansion of prokaryotic ribosomal RNAs is much less explored. In order to obtain more insight into the structural variability of these conserved molecules, we herein report the results of a comprehensive search for the expansion sequences in prokaryotic 5S rRNAs. Overall, 89 expanded 5S rRNAs of 15 structural types were identified in 15 archaeal and 36 bacterial genomes. Expansion segments ranging in length from 13 to 109 residues were found to be distributed among 17 insertion sites. The strains harboring the expanded 5S rRNAs belong to the bacterial orders Clostridiales, Halanaerobiales, Thermoanaerobacterales, and Alteromonadales as well as the archael order Halobacterales When several copies of a 5S rRNA gene are present in a genome, the expanded versions may coexist with normal 5S rRNA genes. The insertion sequences are typically capable of forming extended helices, which do not seemingly interfere with folding of the conserved core. The expanded 5S rRNAs have largely been overlooked in 5S rRNA databases.
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MESH Headings
- Alteromonadaceae/classification
- Alteromonadaceae/genetics
- Alteromonadaceae/metabolism
- Base Pairing
- Base Sequence
- Clostridiales/classification
- Clostridiales/genetics
- Clostridiales/metabolism
- Firmicutes/classification
- Firmicutes/genetics
- Firmicutes/metabolism
- Genome, Archaeal
- Genome, Bacterial
- Halobacteriales/classification
- Halobacteriales/genetics
- Halobacteriales/metabolism
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Archaeal/chemistry
- RNA, Archaeal/genetics
- RNA, Archaeal/metabolism
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/metabolism
- Thermoanaerobacterium/classification
- Thermoanaerobacterium/genetics
- Thermoanaerobacterium/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor G Stepanov
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5001, USA
| | - George E Fox
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5001, USA
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8
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Bowman JC, Petrov AS, Frenkel-Pinter M, Penev PI, Williams LD. Root of the Tree: The Significance, Evolution, and Origins of the Ribosome. Chem Rev 2020; 120:4848-4878. [PMID: 32374986 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The ribosome is an ancient molecular fossil that provides a telescope to the origins of life. Made from RNA and protein, the ribosome translates mRNA to coded protein in all living systems. Universality, economy, centrality and antiquity are ingrained in translation. The translation machinery dominates the set of genes that are shared as orthologues across the tree of life. The lineage of the translation system defines the universal tree of life. The function of a ribosome is to build ribosomes; to accomplish this task, ribosomes make ribosomal proteins, polymerases, enzymes, and signaling proteins. Every coded protein ever produced by life on Earth has passed through the exit tunnel, which is the birth canal of biology. During the root phase of the tree of life, before the last common ancestor of life (LUCA), exit tunnel evolution is dominant and unremitting. Protein folding coevolved with evolution of the exit tunnel. The ribosome shows that protein folding initiated with intrinsic disorder, supported through a short, primitive exit tunnel. Folding progressed to thermodynamically stable β-structures and then to kinetically trapped α-structures. The latter were enabled by a long, mature exit tunnel that partially offset the general thermodynamic tendency of all polypeptides to form β-sheets. RNA chaperoned the evolution of protein folding from the very beginning. The universal common core of the ribosome, with a mass of nearly 2 million Daltons, was finalized by LUCA. The ribosome entered stasis after LUCA and remained in that state for billions of years. Bacterial ribosomes never left stasis. Archaeal ribosomes have remained near stasis, except for the superphylum Asgard, which has accreted rRNA post LUCA. Eukaryotic ribosomes in some lineages appear to be logarithmically accreting rRNA over the last billion years. Ribosomal expansion in Asgard and Eukarya has been incremental and iterative, without substantial remodeling of pre-existing basal structures. The ribosome preserves information on its history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Bowman
- Center for the Origins of Life, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Anton S Petrov
- Center for the Origins of Life, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Moran Frenkel-Pinter
- Center for the Origins of Life, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Petar I Penev
- Center for the Origins of Life, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Loren Dean Williams
- Center for the Origins of Life, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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9
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Dujon B. Mitochondrial genetics revisited. Yeast 2020; 37:191-205. [DOI: 10.1002/yea.3445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Dujon
- Department Genomes and GeneticsInstitut Pasteur Paris France
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10
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Rogers SO. Evolution of the genetic code based on conservative changes of codons, amino acids, and aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. J Theor Biol 2019; 466:1-10. [PMID: 30658052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code, as arranged in the standard tabular form, displays a non-random structure relating to the characteristics of the amino acids. An alternative arrangement can be made by organizing the code according to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), codons, and reverse complement codons, which illuminates a coevolutionary process that led to the contemporary genetic code. As amino acids were added to the genetic code, they were recognized by aaRSs that interact with stereochemically similar amino acids. Single nucleotide changes in the codons and anticodons were favored over more extensive changes, such that there was a logical stepwise progression in the evolution of the genetic code. The model presented traces the evolution of the genetic code accounting for these steps. Amino acid frequencies in ancient proteins and the preponderance of GNN codons in mRNAs for ancient proteins indicate that the genetic code began with alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine, and valine, with alanine being in the highest proportions. In addition to being consistent in terms of conservative changes in codon nucleotides, the model also is consistent with respect to aaRS classes, aaRS attachment to the tRNA, amino acid stereochemistry, and to a large extent with amino acid physicochemistry, and biochemical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott O Rogers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States.
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