1
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Cirzi C, Dyckow J, Legrand C, Schott J, Guo W, Perez Hernandez D, Hisaoka M, Parlato R, Pitzer C, van der Hoeven F, Dittmar G, Helm M, Stoecklin G, Schirmer L, Lyko F, Tuorto F. Queuosine-tRNA promotes sex-dependent learning and memory formation by maintaining codon-biased translation elongation speed. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112507. [PMID: 37609797 PMCID: PMC10548180 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Queuosine (Q) is a modified nucleoside at the wobble position of specific tRNAs. In mammals, queuosinylation is facilitated by queuine uptake from the gut microbiota and is introduced into tRNA by the QTRT1-QTRT2 enzyme complex. By establishing a Qtrt1 knockout mouse model, we discovered that the loss of Q-tRNA leads to learning and memory deficits. Ribo-Seq analysis in the hippocampus of Qtrt1-deficient mice revealed not only stalling of ribosomes on Q-decoded codons, but also a global imbalance in translation elongation speed between codons that engage in weak and strong interactions with their cognate anticodons. While Q-dependent molecular and behavioral phenotypes were identified in both sexes, female mice were affected more severely than males. Proteomics analysis confirmed deregulation of synaptogenesis and neuronal morphology. Together, our findings provide a link between tRNA modification and brain functions and reveal an unexpected role of protein synthesis in sex-dependent cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cansu Cirzi
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Faculty of BiosciencesHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Julia Dyckow
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Interdisciplinary Center for NeurosciencesHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Carine Legrand
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Université Paris Cité, Génomes, Biologie Cellulaire et Thérapeutique U944, INSERM, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Johanna Schott
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Biochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Wei Guo
- Faculty of BiosciencesHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Biochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | | | - Miharu Hisaoka
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Biochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Rosanna Parlato
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational NeurosciencesHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core (INBC), Medical Faculty HeidelbergHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | | | - Gunnar Dittmar
- Department of Infection and ImmunityLuxembourg Institute of HealthStrassenLuxembourg
- Department of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of LuxembourgLuxembourg
| | - Mark Helm
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science (IPBS)Johannes Gutenberg‐University MainzMainzGermany
| | - Georg Stoecklin
- Faculty of BiosciencesHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Biochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Interdisciplinary Center for NeurosciencesHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience and Institute for Innate Immunoscience, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Francesca Tuorto
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceHeidelbergGermany
- Division of Biochemistry, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
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2
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Huang G, Zhang F, Xie D, Ma Y, Wang P, Cao G, Chen L, Lin S, Zhao Z, Cai Z. High-throughput profiling of RNA modifications by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to complementary mass spectrometry: Methods, quality control, and applications. Talanta 2023; 263:124697. [PMID: 37262985 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124697] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although next-generation sequencing technology has been used to delineate RNA modifications in recent years, the paucity of appropriate converting reactions or specific antibodies impedes the accurate characterization and quantification of numerous RNA modifications, especially when these modifications demonstrate wide variations across developmental stages and cell types. In this study, we developed a high-throughput analytical platform coupling ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) with complementary mass spectrometry (MS) to identify and quantify RNA modifications in both synthetic and biological samples. Sixty-four types of RNA modifications, including positional isomers and hypermodified ribonucleosides, were successfully monitored within a 16-min single run of UPLC-MS. Two independent methods to cross-validate the purity of RNA extracted from Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were developed using the coexisting C. elegans and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a surveillance system. To test the validity of the method, we investigated the RNA modification landscape of three model organisms, C. elegans, E. coli, and Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana). Both the identity and molarity of modified ribonucleosides markedly varied among the species. Moreover, our platform is not only useful for exploring the dynamics of RNA modifications in response to environmental cues (e.g., cold shock) but can also help with the identification of RNA-modifying enzymes in genetic studies. Cumulatively, our method presents a novel platform for the comprehensive analysis of RNA modifications, which will be of benefit to both analytical chemists involved in biomarker discovery and biologists conducting functional studies of RNA modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Dongying Xie
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Yiming Ma
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Pengxi Wang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Guodong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Leijian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Siyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Zhongying Zhao
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
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3
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Sievers K, Welp L, Urlaub H, Ficner R. Structural and functional insights into human tRNA guanine transgylcosylase. RNA Biol 2021; 18:382-396. [PMID: 34241577 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1950980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic tRNA guanine transglycosylase (TGT) is an RNA modifying enzyme incorporating queuine, a hypermodified guanine derivative, into the tRNAsAsp,Asn,His,Tyr. While both subunits of the functional heterodimer have been crystallized individually, much of our understanding of its dimer interface or recognition of a target RNA has been inferred from its more thoroughly studied bacterial homolog. However, since bacterial TGT, by incorporating queuine precursor preQ1, deviates not only in function, but as a homodimer, also in its subunit architecture, any inferences regarding the subunit association of the eukaryotic heterodimer or the significance of its unique catalytically inactive subunit are based on unstable footing. Here, we report the crystal structure of human TGT in its heterodimeric form and in complex with a 25-mer stem loop RNA, enabling detailed analysis of its dimer interface and interaction with a minimal substrate RNA. Based on a model of bound tRNA, we addressed a potential functional role of the catalytically inactive subunit QTRT2 by UV-crosslinking and mutagenesis experiments, identifying the two-stranded βEβF-sheet of the QTRT2 subunit as an additional RNA-binding motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Sievers
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Luisa Welp
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.,Bioanalytics Group, Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Ficner
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (Mbexc), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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4
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Kulkarni S, Rubio MAT, Hegedűsová E, Ross RL, Limbach PA, Alfonzo JD, Paris Z. Preferential import of queuosine-modified tRNAs into Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrion is critical for organellar protein synthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8247-8260. [PMID: 34244755 PMCID: PMC8373054 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key players in protein synthesis. To be fully active, tRNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications, including queuosine (Q), a hypermodified 7-deaza-guanosine present in the anticodon of several tRNAs in bacteria and eukarya. Here, molecular and biochemical approaches revealed that in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, Q-containing tRNAs have a preference for the U-ending codons for asparagine, aspartate, tyrosine and histidine, analogous to what has been described in other systems. However, since a lack of tRNA genes in T. brucei mitochondria makes it essential to import a complete set from the cytoplasm, we surprisingly found that Q-modified tRNAs are preferentially imported over their unmodified counterparts. In turn, their absence from mitochondria has a pronounced effect on organellar translation and affects function. Although Q modification in T. brucei is globally important for codon selection, it is more so for mitochondrial protein synthesis. These results provide a unique example of the combined regulatory effect of codon usage and wobble modifications on protein synthesis; all driven by tRNA intracellular transport dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Kulkarni
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mary Anne T Rubio
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Eva Hegedűsová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert L Ross
- Metabolomics Mass Spectrometry Core, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zdeněk Paris
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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5
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Yuan Y, Zallot R, Grove TL, Payan DJ, Martin-Verstraete I, Šepić S, Balamkundu S, Neelakandan R, Gadi VK, Liu CF, Swairjo MA, Dedon PC, Almo SC, Gerlt JA, de Crécy-Lagard V. Discovery of novel bacterial queuine salvage enzymes and pathways in human pathogens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:19126-19135. [PMID: 31481610 PMCID: PMC6754566 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909604116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Queuosine (Q) is a complex tRNA modification widespread in eukaryotes and bacteria that contributes to the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis. Eukaryotes are not capable of Q synthesis and rely on salvage of the queuine base (q) as a Q precursor. While many bacteria are capable of Q de novo synthesis, salvage of the prokaryotic Q precursors preQ0 and preQ1 also occurs. With the exception of Escherichia coli YhhQ, shown to transport preQ0 and preQ1, the enzymes and transporters involved in Q salvage and recycling have not been well described. We discovered and characterized 2 Q salvage pathways present in many pathogenic and commensal bacteria. The first, found in the intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, uses YhhQ and tRNA guanine transglycosylase (TGT) homologs that have changed substrate specificities to directly salvage q, mimicking the eukaryotic pathway. The second, found in bacteria from the gut flora such as Clostridioides difficile, salvages preQ1 from q through an unprecedented reaction catalyzed by a newly defined subgroup of the radical-SAM enzyme family. The source of q can be external through transport by members of the energy-coupling factor (ECF) family or internal through hydrolysis of Q by a dedicated nucleosidase. This work reinforces the concept that hosts and members of their associated microbiota compete for the salvage of Q precursors micronutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Rémi Zallot
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Tyler L Grove
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Daniel J Payan
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Isabelle Martin-Verstraete
- Laboratoire de Pathogénèse des Bactéries Anaérobies, Institut Pasteur et Université de Paris, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Sara Šepić
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Seetharamsingh Balamkundu
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Research Group, 138602 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ramesh Neelakandan
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Research Group, 138602 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinod K Gadi
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Research Group, 138602 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chuan-Fa Liu
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Research Group, 138602 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manal A Swairjo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
- The Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
| | - Peter C Dedon
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Research Group, 138602 Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Engineering and Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Steven C Almo
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - John A Gerlt
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Valérie de Crécy-Lagard
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611;
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610
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6
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Filippova JA, Semenov DV, Juravlev ES, Komissarov AB, Richter VA, Stepanov GA. Modern Approaches for Identification of Modified Nucleotides in RNA. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 82:1217-1233. [PMID: 29223150 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297917110013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This review considers approaches for detection of modified monomers in the RNA structure of living organisms. Recently, some data on dynamic alterations in the pool of modifications of the key RNA species that depend on external factors affecting the cells and physiological conditions of the whole organism have been accumulated. The recent studies have presented experimental data on relationship between the mechanisms of formation of modified/minor nucleotides of RNA in mammalian cells and the development of various pathologies. The development of novel methods for detection of chemical modifications of RNA nucleotides in the cells of living organisms and accumulation of knowledge on the contribution of modified monomers to metabolism and functioning of individual RNA species establish the basis for creation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This review includes a short description of routine methods for determination of modified nucleotides in RNA and considers in detail modern approaches that enable not only detection but also quantitative assessment of the modification level of various nucleotides in individual RNA species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Filippova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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7
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Bednářová A, Hanna M, Durham I, VanCleave T, England A, Chaudhuri A, Krishnan N. Lost in Translation: Defects in Transfer RNA Modifications and Neurological Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:135. [PMID: 28536502 PMCID: PMC5422465 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key molecules participating in protein synthesis. To augment their functionality they undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications and, as such, are subject to regulation at multiple levels including transcription, transcript processing, localization and ribonucleoside base modification. Post-transcriptional enzyme-catalyzed modification of tRNA occurs at a number of base and sugar positions and influences specific anticodon-codon interactions and regulates translation, its efficiency and fidelity. This phenomenon of nucleoside modification is most remarkable and results in a rich structural diversity of tRNA of which over 100 modified nucleosides have been characterized. Most often these hypermodified nucleosides are found in the wobble position of tRNAs, where they play a direct role in codon recognition as well as in maintaining translational efficiency and fidelity, etc. Several recent studies have pointed to a link between defects in tRNA modifications and human diseases including neurological disorders. Therefore, defects in tRNA modifications in humans need intensive characterization at the enzymatic and mechanistic level in order to pave the way to understand how lack of such modifications are associated with neurological disorders with the ultimate goal of gaining insights into therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bednářová
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Academy of SciencesČeské Budějovice, Czechia.,Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Marley Hanna
- Molecular Biosciences Program, Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR, USA
| | - Isabella Durham
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Tara VanCleave
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Alexis England
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | | | - Natraj Krishnan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
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8
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Cross-Talk between Dnmt2-Dependent tRNA Methylation and Queuosine Modification. Biomolecules 2017; 7:biom7010014. [PMID: 28208632 PMCID: PMC5372726 DOI: 10.3390/biom7010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes of the Dnmt2 family of methyltransferases have yielded a number of unexpected discoveries. The first surprise came more than ten years ago when it was realized that, rather than being DNA methyltransferases, Dnmt2 enzymes actually are transfer RNA (tRNA) methyltransferases for cytosine-5 methylation, foremost C38 (m5C38) of tRNAAsp. The second unanticipated finding was our recent discovery of a nutritional regulation of Dnmt2 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Significantly, the presence of the nucleotide queuosine in tRNAAsp strongly stimulates Dnmt2 activity both in vivo and in vitro in S. pombe. Queuine, the respective base, is a hypermodified guanine analog that is synthesized from guanosine-5’-triphosphate (GTP) by bacteria. Interestingly, most eukaryotes have queuosine in their tRNA. However, they cannot synthesize it themselves, but rather salvage it from food or from gut microbes. The queuine obtained from these sources comes from the breakdown of tRNAs, where the queuine ultimately was synthesized by bacteria. Queuine thus has been termed a micronutrient. This review summarizes the current knowledge of Dnmt2 methylation and queuosine modification with respect to translation as well as the organismal consequences of the absence of these modifications. Models for the functional cooperation between these modifications and its wider implications are discussed.
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9
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Fergus C, Barnes D, Alqasem MA, Kelly VP. The queuine micronutrient: charting a course from microbe to man. Nutrients 2015; 7:2897-929. [PMID: 25884661 PMCID: PMC4425180 DOI: 10.3390/nu7042897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Micronutrients from the diet and gut microbiota are essential to human health and wellbeing. Arguably, among the most intriguing and enigmatic of these micronutrients is queuine, an elaborate 7-deazaguanine derivative made exclusively by eubacteria and salvaged by animal, plant and fungal species. In eubacteria and eukaryotes, queuine is found as the sugar nucleotide queuosine within the anticodon loop of transfer RNA isoacceptors for the amino acids tyrosine, asparagine, aspartic acid and histidine. The physiological requirement for the ancient queuine molecule and queuosine modified transfer RNA has been the subject of varied scientific interrogations for over four decades, establishing relationships to development, proliferation, metabolism, cancer, and tyrosine biosynthesis in eukaryotes and to invasion and proliferation in pathogenic bacteria, in addition to ribosomal frameshifting in viruses. These varied effects may be rationalized by an important, if ill-defined, contribution to protein translation or may manifest from other presently unidentified mechanisms. This article will examine the current understanding of queuine uptake, tRNA incorporation and salvage by eukaryotic organisms and consider some of the physiological consequence arising from deficiency in this elusive and lesser-recognized micronutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Fergus
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Dominic Barnes
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Mashael A Alqasem
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Vincent P Kelly
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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Zallot R, Brochier-Armanet C, Gaston KW, Forouhar F, Limbach PA, Hunt JF, de Crécy-Lagard V. Plant, animal, and fungal micronutrient queuosine is salvaged by members of the DUF2419 protein family. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:1812-25. [PMID: 24911101 PMCID: PMC4136680 DOI: 10.1021/cb500278k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Queuosine (Q) is a modification found
at the wobble position of
tRNAs with GUN anticodons. Although Q is present in most eukaryotes
and bacteria, only bacteria can synthesize Q de novo. Eukaryotes acquire queuine (q), the free base of Q, from diet and/or
microflora, making q an important but under-recognized micronutrient
for plants, animals, and fungi. Eukaryotic type tRNA-guanine transglycosylases
(eTGTs) are composed of a catalytic subunit (QTRT1) and a homologous
accessory subunit (QTRTD1) forming a complex that catalyzes q insertion
into target tRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis of eTGT subunits revealed
a patchy distribution pattern in which gene losses occurred independently
in different clades. Searches for genes co-distributing with eTGT
family members identified DUF2419 as a potential Q salvage protein
family. This prediction was experimentally validated in Schizosaccharomyces
pombe by confirming that Q was present by analyzing tRNAAsp with anticodon GUC purified from wild-type cells and by
showing that Q was absent from strains carrying deletions in the QTRT1
or DUF2419 encoding genes. DUF2419 proteins occur in most Eukarya
with a few possible cases of horizontal gene transfer to bacteria.
The universality of the DUF2419 function was confirmed by complementing
the S. pombe mutant with the Zea mays (maize), human, and Sphaerobacter thermophilus homologues.
The enzymatic function of this family is yet to be determined, but
structural similarity with DNA glycosidases suggests a ribonucleoside
hydrolase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Zallot
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Céline Brochier-Armanet
- Université
Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie
Evolutive, Université de Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Kirk W. Gaston
- Rieveschl
Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Farhad Forouhar
- Department
of Biological Sciences and Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Patrick A. Limbach
- Rieveschl
Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - John F. Hunt
- Department
of Biological Sciences and Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Valérie de Crécy-Lagard
- Department
of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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Miles ZD, McCarty RM, Molnar G, Bandarian V. Discovery of epoxyqueuosine (oQ) reductase reveals parallels between halorespiration and tRNA modification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:7368-72. [PMID: 21502530 PMCID: PMC3088584 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1018636108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNA is one of the most richly modified biological molecules. Biosynthetic pathways that introduce these modifications are underexplored, largely because their absence does not lead to obvious phenotypes under normal growth conditions. Queuosine (Q) is a hypermodified base found in the wobble positions of tRNA Asp, Asn, His, and Tyr from bacteria to mankind. Using liquid chromatography MS methods, we have screened 1,755 single gene knockouts of Escherichia coli and have identified the key final step in the biosynthesis of Q. The protein is homologous to B(12)-dependent iron-sulfur proteins involved in halorespiration. The recombinant Bacillus subtilis epoxyqueuosine (oQ) reductase catalyzes the conversion of oQ to Q in a synthetic substrate, as well as undermodified RNA isolated from an oQ reductase knockout strain. The activity requires inclusion of a reductant and a redox mediator. Finally, exogenously supplied cobalamin stimulates the activity. This work provides the framework for studies of the biosynthesis of other modified RNA components, where lack of accessible phenotype or obvious gene clustering has impeded discovery. Moreover, discovery of the elusive oQ reductase protein completes the biosynthetic pathway of Q.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D. Miles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1041 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
| | - Reid M. McCarty
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1041 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
| | - Gabriella Molnar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1041 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
| | - Vahe Bandarian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1041 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
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Rakovich T, Boland C, Bernstein I, Chikwana VM, Iwata-Reuyl D, Kelly VP. Queuosine deficiency in eukaryotes compromises tyrosine production through increased tetrahydrobiopterin oxidation. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:19354-63. [PMID: 21487017 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.219576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Queuosine is a modified pyrrolopyrimidine nucleoside found in the anticodon loop of transfer RNA acceptors for the amino acids tyrosine, asparagine, aspartic acid, and histidine. Because it is exclusively synthesized by bacteria, higher eukaryotes must salvage queuosine or its nucleobase queuine from food and the gut microflora. Previously, animals made deficient in queuine died within 18 days of withdrawing tyrosine, a nonessential amino acid, from the diet (Marks, T., and Farkas, W. R. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 230, 233-237). Here, we show that human HepG2 cells deficient in queuine and mice made deficient in queuosine-modified transfer RNA, by disruption of the tRNA guanine transglycosylase enzyme, are compromised in their ability to produce tyrosine from phenylalanine. This has similarities to the disease phenylketonuria, which arises from mutation in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase or from a decrease in the supply of its cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Immunoblot and kinetic analysis of liver from tRNA guanine transglycosylase-deficient animals indicates normal expression and activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase. By contrast, BH4 levels are significantly decreased in the plasma, and both plasma and urine show a clear elevation in dihydrobiopterin, an oxidation product of BH4, despite normal activity of the salvage enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. Our data suggest that queuosine modification limits BH4 oxidation in vivo and thereby potentially impacts on numerous physiological processes in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsiana Rakovich
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract
tRNAs possess a high content of modified nucleosides, which display an incredible structural variety. These modified nucleosides are conserved in their sequence and have important roles in tRNA functions. Most often, hypermodified nucleosides are found in the wobble position of tRNAs, which play a direct role in maintaining translational efficiency and fidelity, codon recognition, etc. One of such hypermodified base is queuine, which is a base analogue of guanine, found in the first anticodon position of specific tRNAs (tyrosine, histidine, aspartate and asparagine tRNAs). These tRNAs of the ‘Q-family’ originally contain guanine in the first position of anticodon, which is post-transcriptionally modified with queuine by an irreversible insertion during maturation. Queuine is ubiquitously present throughout the living system from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, including plants. Prokaryotes can synthesize queuine de novo by a complex biosynthetic pathway, whereas eukaryotes are unable to synthesize either the precursor or queuine. They utilize salvage system and acquire queuine as a nutrient factor from their diet or from intestinal microflora. The tRNAs of the Q-family are completely modified in terminally differentiated somatic cells. However, hypomodification of Q-tRNA (queuosine-modified tRNA) is closely associated with cell proliferation and malignancy. The precise mechanisms of queuine- and Q-tRNA-mediated action are still a mystery. Direct or indirect evidence suggests that queuine or Q-tRNA participates in many cellular functions, such as inhibition of cell proliferation, control of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, bacterial virulence, etc. The role of Q-tRNA modification in cellular machinery and the signalling pathways involved therein is the focus of this review.
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