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Agrawal A, Radakovic A, Vonteddu A, Rizvi S, Huynh VN, Douglas JF, Tirrell MV, Karim A, Szostak JW. Did the exposure of coacervate droplets to rain make them the first stable protocells? SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn9657. [PMID: 39167649 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn9657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Membraneless coacervate microdroplets have long been proposed as model protocells as they can grow, divide, and concentrate RNA by natural partitioning. However, the rapid exchange of RNA between these compartments, along with their rapid fusion, both within minutes, means that individual droplets would be unable to maintain their separate genetic identities. Hence, Darwinian evolution would not be possible, and the population would be vulnerable to collapse due to the rapid spread of parasitic RNAs. In this study, we show that distilled water, mimicking rain/freshwater, leads to the formation of electrostatic crosslinks on the interface of coacervate droplets that not only suppress droplet fusion indefinitely but also allow the spatiotemporal compartmentalization of RNA on a timescale of days depending on the length and structure of RNA. We suggest that these nonfusing membraneless droplets could potentially act as protocells with the capacity to evolve compartmentalized ribozymes in prebiotic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Agrawal
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Aleksandar Radakovic
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Anusha Vonteddu
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Syed Rizvi
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Vivian N Huynh
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Jack F Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Matthew V Tirrell
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439 USA
| | - Alamgir Karim
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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2
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Parra-Meneses V, Silva-Galleguillos V, Cepeda-Plaza M. Exploring the catalytic mechanism of the 10-23 DNAzyme: insights from pH-rate profiles. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:6833-6840. [PMID: 39115293 DOI: 10.1039/d4ob01125b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
The 10-23 DNAzyme, a catalytic DNA molecule with RNA-cleaving activity, has garnered significant interest for its potential therapeutic applications as a gene-silencing agent. However, the lack of a detailed understanding about its mechanism has hampered progress. A recent structural analysis has revealed a highly organized conformation thanks to the stabilization of specific interactions within the catalytic core of the 10-23 DNAzyme, which facilitate the cleavage of RNA. In this configuration, it has been shown that G14 is in good proximity to the cleavage site which suggests its role as a general base, by activating the 2'-OH nucleophile, in the catalysis of the 10-23 DNAzyme. Also, the possibility of a hydrated metal acting as a general acid has been proposed. In this study, through activity assays, we offer evidence of the involvement of general acid-base catalysis in the mechanism of the 10-23 DNAzyme by analyzing its pH-rate profiles and the role of G14, and metal cofactors like Mg2+ and Pb2+. By substituting G14 with its analogue 2-aminopurine and examining the resultant pH-rate profiles, we propose the participation of G14 in a catalytically relevant proton transfer event, acting as a general base. Further analysis, using Pb2+ as a cofactor, suggests the capability of the hydrated metal ion to act as a general acid. These functional results provide critical insights into the catalytic strategies of RNA-cleaving DNAzymes, revealing common mechanisms among nucleic acid enzymes that cleave RNA.
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3
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Bonilla SL, Jang K. Challenges, advances, and opportunities in RNA structural biology by Cryo-EM. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 88:102894. [PMID: 39121532 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
RNAs are remarkably versatile molecules that can fold into intricate three-dimensional (3D) structures to perform diverse cellular and viral functions. Despite their biological importance, relatively few RNA 3D structures have been solved, and our understanding of RNA structure-function relationships remains in its infancy. This limitation partly arises from challenges posed by RNA's complex conformational landscape, characterized by structural flexibility, formation of multiple states, and a propensity to misfold. Recently, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a powerful tool for the visualization of conformationally dynamic RNA-only 3D structures. However, RNA's characteristics continue to pose challenges. We discuss experimental methods developed to overcome these hurdles, including the engineering of modular modifications that facilitate the visualization of small RNAs, improve particle alignment, and validate structural models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve L Bonilla
- Laboratory of RNA Structural Biology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Karen Jang
- Laboratory of RNA Structural Biology and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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4
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Mamaghani S, Penna RR, Frei J, Wyss C, Mellett M, Look T, Weiss T, Guenova E, Kündig TM, Lauchli S, Pascolo S. Synthetic mRNAs Containing Minimalistic Untranslated Regions Are Highly Functional In Vitro and In Vivo. Cells 2024; 13:1242. [PMID: 39120273 PMCID: PMC11311775 DOI: 10.3390/cells13151242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA produced by in vitro transcription (ivt mRNA) is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of approved anti-COVID-19 vaccines and of many drugs under development. Such synthetic mRNA typically contains several hundred bases of non-coding "untranslated" regions (UTRs) that are involved in the stabilization and translation of the mRNA. However, UTRs are often complex structures, which may complicate the entire production process. To eliminate this obstacle, we managed to reduce the total amount of nucleotides in the UTRs to only four bases. In this way, we generate minimal ivt mRNA ("minRNA"), which is less complex than the usual optimized ivt mRNAs that are contained, for example, in approved vaccines. We have compared the efficacy of minRNA to common augmented mRNAs (with UTRs of globin genes or those included in licensed vaccines) in vivo and in vitro and could demonstrate equivalent functionalities. Our minimal mRNA design will facilitate the further development and implementation of ivt mRNA-based vaccines and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahab Mamaghani
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rocco Roberto Penna
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Frei
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Conrad Wyss
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark Mellett
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Look
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Emmanuella Guenova
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Thomas M. Kündig
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Severin Lauchli
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steve Pascolo
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (S.M.); (R.R.P.); (J.F.); (C.W.); (M.M.); (T.L.); (T.M.K.); (S.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Forget S, Juillé M, Duboué-Dijon E, Stirnemann G. Simulation-Guided Conformational Space Exploration to Assess Reactive Conformations of a Ribozyme. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:6263-6277. [PMID: 38958594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Self-splicing ribozymes are small ribonucleic acid (RNA) enzymes that catalyze their own cleavage through a transphosphoesterification reaction. While this process is involved in some specific steps of viral RNA replication and splicing, it is also of importance in the context of the (putative) first autocatalytic RNA-based systems that could have preceded the emergence of modern life. The uncatalyzed phosphoester bond formation is thermodynamically very unfavorable, and many experimental studies have focused on understanding the molecular features of catalysis in these ribozymes. However, chemical reaction paths are short-lived and not easily characterized by experimental approaches, so molecular simulation approaches appear as an ideal tool to unveil the molecular details of the reaction. Here, we focus on the model hairpin ribozyme. We show that identifying a relevant initial conformation for reactivity studies, which is frequently overlooked in mixed quantum-classical studies that predominantly concentrate on the chemical reaction itself, can be highly challenging. These challenges stem from limitations in both available experimental structures (which are chemically altered to prevent self-cleavage) and the accuracy of force fields, together with the necessity for comprehensive sampling. We show that molecular dynamics simulations, combined with extensive conformational phase space exploration with Hamiltonian replica-exchange simulations, enable us to characterize the relevant conformational basins of the minimal hairpin ribozyme in the ligated state prior to self-cleavage. We find that what is usually considered a canonical reactive conformation with active site geometries and hydrogen-bond patterns that are optimal for the addition-elimination reaction with general acid/general base catalysis is metastable and only marginally populated. The thermodynamically stable conformation appears to be consistent with the expectations of a mechanism that does not require the direct participation of ribozyme residues in the reaction. While these observations may suffer from forcefield inaccuracies, all investigated forcefields lead to the same conclusions upon proper sampling, contrasting with previous investigations on shorter timescales suggesting that at least one reparametrization of the Amber99 forcefield allowed to stabilize aligned active site conformations. Our study demonstrates that identifying the most pertinent reactant state conformation holds equal importance alongside the accurate determination of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the chemical steps of the reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sélène Forget
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marie Juillé
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Elise Duboué-Dijon
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Stirnemann
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
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6
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Žedaveinytė R, Meers C, Le HC, Mortman EE, Tang S, Lampe GD, Pesari SR, Gelsinger DR, Wiegand T, Sternberg SH. Antagonistic conflict between transposon-encoded introns and guide RNAs. Science 2024; 385:eadm8189. [PMID: 38991068 DOI: 10.1126/science.adm8189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
TnpB nucleases represent the evolutionary precursors to CRISPR-Cas12 and are widespread in all domains of life. IS605-family TnpB homologs function as programmable RNA-guided homing endonucleases in bacteria, driving transposon maintenance through DNA double-strand break-stimulated homologous recombination. In this work, we uncovered molecular mechanisms of the transposition life cycle of IS607-family elements that, notably, also encode group I introns. We identified specific features for a candidate "IStron" from Clostridium botulinum that allow the element to carefully control the relative levels of spliced products versus functional guide RNAs. Our results suggest that IStron transcripts evolved an ability to balance competing and mutually exclusive activities that promote selfish transposon spread while limiting adverse fitness costs on the host. Collectively, this work highlights molecular innovation in the multifunctional utility of transposon-encoded noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimantė Žedaveinytė
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edan E Mortman
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - George D Lampe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sanjana R Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Diego R Gelsinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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7
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Zhu J, Dierks D, Möller C, Balke D, Müller S. Two RNA Folds from One Sequence: A Ribozyme with Versatile Substrate Processing Abilities. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202409047. [PMID: 38940693 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202409047] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
We report the design of a single RNA sequence capable of adopting one of two ribozyme folds and catalyzing the cleavage and/or ligation of the respective substrates. The RNA is able to change its conformation in response to its environment, hence it is called chameleon ribozyme (CHR). Efficient RNA cleavage of two different substrates as well as RNA ligation by CHR is demonstrated in separate experiments and in a one pot reaction. Our study shows that sequence variants of the hairpin ribozyme intersect with the hammerhead ribozyme and that rather short RNA molecules can have comprehensive conformational flexibility, which is an important feature for the emergence of new functional folds in early evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jikang Zhu
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dorothea Dierks
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christina Möller
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Darko Balke
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabine Müller
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
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8
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Kirsebom LA, Liu F, McClain WH. The discovery of a catalytic RNA within RNase P and its legacy. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107318. [PMID: 38677513 PMCID: PMC11143913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Sidney Altman's discovery of the processing of one RNA by another RNA that acts like an enzyme was revolutionary in biology and the basis for his sharing the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas Cech. These breakthrough findings support the key role of RNA in molecular evolution, where replicating RNAs (and similar chemical derivatives) either with or without peptides functioned in protocells during the early stages of life on Earth, an era referred to as the RNA world. Here, we cover the historical background highlighting the work of Altman and his colleagues and the subsequent efforts of other researchers to understand the biological function of RNase P and its catalytic RNA subunit and to employ it as a tool to downregulate gene expression. We primarily discuss bacterial RNase P-related studies but acknowledge that many groups have significantly contributed to our understanding of archaeal and eukaryotic RNase P, as reviewed in this special issue and elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leif A Kirsebom
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Fenyong Liu
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.
| | - William H McClain
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
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9
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Digby B, Finn S, Ó Broin P. Computational approaches and challenges in the analysis of circRNA data. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:527. [PMID: 38807085 PMCID: PMC11134749 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a class of non-coding RNA, forming a single-stranded covalently closed loop structure generated via back-splicing. Advancements in sequencing methods and technologies in conjunction with algorithmic developments of bioinformatics tools have enabled researchers to characterise the origin and function of circRNAs, with practical applications as a biomarker of diseases becoming increasingly relevant. Computational methods developed for circRNA analysis are predicated on detecting the chimeric back-splice junction of circRNAs whilst mitigating false-positive sequencing artefacts. In this review, we discuss in detail the computational strategies developed for circRNA identification, highlighting a selection of tool strengths, weaknesses and assumptions. In addition to circRNA identification tools, we describe methods for characterising the role of circRNAs within the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, their interactions with RNA-binding proteins, and publicly available databases for rich circRNA annotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Digby
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Stephen Finn
- Discipline of Histopathology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and Cancer Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pilib Ó Broin
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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10
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Abulfaraj AA, Alshareef SA. Concordant Gene Expression and Alternative Splicing Regulation under Abiotic Stresses in Arabidopsis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:675. [PMID: 38927612 PMCID: PMC11202685 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The current investigation endeavors to identify differentially expressed alternatively spliced (DAS) genes that exhibit concordant expression with splicing factors (SFs) under diverse multifactorial abiotic stress combinations in Arabidopsis seedlings. SFs serve as the post-transcriptional mechanism governing the spatiotemporal dynamics of gene expression. The different stresses encompass variations in salt concentration, heat, intensive light, and their combinations. Clusters demonstrating consistent expression profiles were surveyed to pinpoint DAS/SF gene pairs exhibiting concordant expression. Through rigorous selection criteria, which incorporate alignment with documented gene functionalities and expression patterns observed in this study, four members of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) gene family were delineated as SFs concordantly expressed with six DAS genes. These regulated SF genes encompass cactin, SR1-like, SR30, and SC35-like. The identified concordantly expressed DAS genes encode diverse proteins such as the 26.5 kDa heat shock protein, chaperone protein DnaJ, potassium channel GORK, calcium-binding EF hand family protein, DEAD-box RNA helicase, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase 6. Among the concordantly expressed DAS/SF gene pairs, SR30/DEAD-box RNA helicase, and SC35-like/1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase 6 emerge as promising candidates, necessitating further examinations to ascertain whether these SFs orchestrate splicing of the respective DAS genes. This study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the varied responses of the splicing machinery to abiotic stresses. Leveraging these DAS/SF associations shows promise for elucidating avenues for augmenting breeding programs aimed at fortifying cultivated plants against heat and intensive light stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aala A. Abulfaraj
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science & Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahar A. Alshareef
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Arts at Khulis, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21921, Saudi Arabia;
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11
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Ramachandran V, Potoyan DA. Energy landscapes of homopolymeric RNAs revealed by deep unsupervised learning. Biophys J 2024; 123:1152-1163. [PMID: 38571310 PMCID: PMC11079944 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Conformational dynamics of RNA plays important roles in a variety of cellular functions such as transcriptional regulation, catalysis, scaffolding, and sensing. Recently, RNAs with low-complexity sequences have been shown to phase separate and form condensate phases similar to lowcomplexity protein domains. The affinity for phase separation and the material characteristics of RNA condensates are strongly dependent on sequence composition and patterning. We hypothesize that differences in the affinities for RNA phase separation can be uncovered by studying sequence-dependent conformational dynamics of single RNA chains. To this end, we have employed atomistic simulations and deep dimensionality reduction techniques to map temperature-dependent conformational free energy landscapes for 20 base-long homopolymeric RNA sequences: poly(U), poly(G), poly(C), and poly(A). The energy landscapes of homopolymeric RNAs reveal a plethora of metastable states with qualitatively different populations stemming from differences in base chemistry. Through detailed analysis of base, phosphate, and sugar interactions, we show that experimentally observed temperature-driven shifts in metastable state populations align with experiments on RNA phase transitions. Specifically, we find that the thermodynamics of unfolding of homopolymeric RNA follows the poly(G) > poly(A) > poly(C) > poly(U) order of stability, mirroring the propensity of RNA to form condensates. To conclude, this work shows that at least for homopolymeric RNA sequences the single-chain conformational dynamics contains sufficient information for predicting and quantifying condensate forming affinities of RNAs. Thus, we anticipate that atomically detailed studies of temeprature -dependent energy landscapes of RNAs will be a useful guide for understanding the propensity of various RNA molecules to form condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Davit A Potoyan
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Department of Biochemistry Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
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12
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Wang M, Liu Z, Liu C, He W, Qin D, You M. DNAzyme-based ultrasensitive immunoassay: Recent advances and emerging trends. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 251:116122. [PMID: 38382271 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Immunoassay, as the most commonly used method for protein detection, is simple to operate and highly specific. Sensitivity improvement is always the thrust of immunoassays, especially for the detection of trace quantities. The emergence of artificial enzyme, i.e., DNAzyme, provides a novel approach to improve the detection sensitivity of immunoassay. Simultaneously, its advantages of simple synthesis and high stability enable low cost, broad applicability and long shelf life for immunoassay. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in DNAzyme-based immunoassay. First, we summarized the existing different DNAzymes based on their catalytic activities. Next, the common signal amplification strategies used for DNAzyme-based immunoassays were reviewed to cater to diverse detection requirements. Following, the wide applications in disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring and food safety were discussed. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives on the future development of DNAzyme-based immunoassays were also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China
| | - Zhe Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, PR China
| | - Chang Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China
| | - Wanghong He
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China; Laboratory of Tissue Regeneration and Immunology and Department of Periodontics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Dui Qin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, PR China.
| | - Minli You
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China.
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13
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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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14
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McKnight SL. Protein domains of low sequence complexity-dark matter of the proteome. Genes Dev 2024; 38:205-212. [PMID: 38503517 PMCID: PMC11065162 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351465.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
This perspective begins with a speculative consideration of the properties of the earliest proteins to appear during evolution. What did these primitive proteins look like, and how were they of benefit to early forms of life? I proceed to hypothesize that primitive proteins have been preserved through evolution and now serve diverse functions important to the dynamics of cell morphology and biological regulation. The primitive nature of these modern proteins is easy to spot. They are composed of a limited subset of the 20 amino acids used by traditionally evolved proteins and thus are of low sequence complexity. This chemical simplicity limits protein domains of low sequence complexity to forming only a crude and labile type of protein structure currently hidden from the computational powers of machine learning. I conclude by hypothesizing that this structural weakness represents the underlying virtue of proteins that, at least for the moment, constitute the dark matter of the proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L McKnight
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9152, USA
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15
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Levintov L, Vashisth H. Adenine Methylation Enhances the Conformational Flexibility of an RNA Hairpin Tetraloop. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3157-3166. [PMID: 38535997 PMCID: PMC11000223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The N6-methyladenosine modification is one of the most abundant post-transcriptional modifications in ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. Using molecular dynamics simulations and alchemical free-energy calculations, we studied the structural and energetic implications of incorporating this modification in an adenine mononucleotide and an RNA hairpin structure. At the mononucleotide level, we found that the syn configuration is more favorable than the anti configuration by 2.05 ± 0.15 kcal/mol. The unfavorable effect of methylation was due to the steric overlap between the methyl group and a nitrogen atom in the purine ring. We then probed the effect of methylation in an RNA hairpin structure containing an AUCG tetraloop, which is recognized by a "reader" protein (YTHDC1) to promote transcriptional silencing of long noncoding RNAs. While methylation had no significant conformational effect on the hairpin stem, the methylated tetraloop showed enhanced conformational flexibility compared to the unmethylated tetraloop. The increased flexibility was associated with the outward flipping of two bases (A6 and U7) which formed stacking interactions with each other and with the C8 and G9 bases in the tetraloop, leading to a conformation similar to that in the RNA/reader protein complex. Therefore, methylation-induced conformational flexibility likely facilitates RNA recognition by the reader protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev Levintov
- Department of Chemical Engineering
and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
| | - Harish Vashisth
- Department of Chemical Engineering
and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
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16
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Paschek K, Lee M, Semenov DA, Henning TK. Prebiotic Vitamin B 3 Synthesis in Carbonaceous Planetesimals. Chempluschem 2024; 89:e202300508. [PMID: 37847591 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300508] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous chemistry within carbonaceous planetesimals is promising for synthesizing prebiotic organic matter essential to all life. Meteorites derived from these planetesimals delivered these life building blocks to the early Earth, potentially facilitating the origins of life. Here, we studied the formation of vitamin B3 as it is an important precursor of the coenzyme NAD(P)(H), which is essential for the metabolism of all life as we know it. We propose a new reaction mechanism based on known experiments in the literature that explains the synthesis of vitamin B3. It combines the sugar precursors glyceraldehyde or dihydroxyacetone with the amino acids aspartic acid or asparagine in aqueous solution without oxygen or other oxidizing agents. We performed thermochemical equilibrium calculations to test the thermodynamic favorability. The predicted vitamin B3 abundances resulting from this new pathway were compared with measured values in asteroids and meteorites. We conclude that competition for reactants and decomposition by hydrolysis are necessary to explain the prebiotic content of meteorites. In sum, our model fits well into the complex network of chemical pathways active in this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Paschek
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mijin Lee
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dmitry A Semenov
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5-13, House F, D-81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas K Henning
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Choi T, Li Z, Song G, Chen HF. Comprehensive Comparison and Critical Assessment of RNA-Specific Force Fields. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:2676-2688. [PMID: 38447040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations play a pivotal role in elucidating the dynamic behaviors of RNA structures, offering a valuable complement to traditional methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance or X-ray. Despite this, the current precision of RNA force fields lags behind that of protein force fields. In this work, we systematically compared the performance of four RNA force fields (ff99bsc0χOL3, AMBERDES, ff99OL3_CMAP1, AMBERMaxEnt) across diverse RNA structures. Our findings highlight significant challenges in maintaining stability, particularly with regard to cross-strand and cross-loop hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, we observed the limitations in accurately describing the conformations of nonhelical structural motif, terminal nucleotides, and also base pairing and base stacking interactions by the tested RNA force fields. The identified deficiencies in existing RNA force fields provide valuable insights for subsequent force field development. Concurrently, these findings offer recommendations for selecting appropriate force fields in RNA simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taeyoung Choi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhengxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ge Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hai-Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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18
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Tkachenko AV, Maslov S. Emergence of catalytic function in prebiotic information-coding polymers. eLife 2024; 12:RP91397. [PMID: 38530342 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Life as we know it relies on the interplay between catalytic activity and information processing carried out by biological polymers. Here we present a plausible pathway by which a pool of prebiotic information-coding oligomers could acquire an early catalytic function, namely sequence-specific cleavage activity. Starting with a system capable of non-enzymatic templated replication, we demonstrate that even non-catalyzed spontaneous cleavage would promote proliferation by generating short fragments that act as primers. Furthermore, we show that catalytic cleavage function can naturally emerge and proliferate in this system. Specifically, a cooperative catalytic network with four subpopulations of oligomers is selected by the evolution in competition with chains lacking catalytic activity. The cooperative system emerges through the functional differentiation of oligomers into catalysts and their substrates. The model is inspired by the structure of the hammerhead RNA enzyme as well as other DNA- and RNA-based enzymes with cleavage activity that readily emerge through natural or artificial selection. We identify the conditions necessary for the emergence of the cooperative catalytic network. In particular, we show that it requires the catalytic rate enhancement over the spontaneous cleavage rate to be at least 102-103, a factor consistent with the existing experiments. The evolutionary pressure leads to a further increase in catalytic efficiency. The presented mechanism provides an escape route from a relatively simple pairwise replication of oligomers toward a more complex behavior involving catalytic function. This provides a bridge between the information-first origin of life scenarios and the paradigm of autocatalytic sets and hypercycles, albeit based on cleavage rather than synthesis of reactants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei V Tkachenko
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, United States
| | - Sergei Maslov
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States
- Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States
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19
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Sayyed A, Chen B, Wang Y, Cao SK, Tan BC. PPR596 Is Required for nad2 Intron Splicing and Complex I Biogenesis in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3542. [PMID: 38542518 PMCID: PMC10971677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential organelles that generate energy via oxidative phosphorylation. Plant mitochondrial genome encodes some of the respiratory complex subunits, and these transcripts require accurate processing, including C-to-U RNA editing and intron splicing. Pentatricopeptide repeats (PPR) proteins are involved in various organellar RNA processing events. PPR596, a P-type PPR protein, was previously identified to function in the C-to-U editing of mitochondrial rps3 transcripts in Arabidopsis. Here, we demonstrate that PPR596 functions in the cis-splicing of nad2 intron 3 in mitochondria. Loss of the PPR596 function affects the editing at rps3eU1344SS, impairs nad2 intron 3 splicing and reduces the mitochondrial complex I's assembly and activity, while inducing alternative oxidase (AOX) gene expression. This defect in nad2 intron splicing provides a plausible explanation for the slow growth of the ppr595 mutants. Although a few P-type PPR proteins are involved in RNA C-to-U editing, our results suggest that the primary function of PPR596 is intron splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bao-Cai Tan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (A.S.); (B.C.); (Y.W.); (S.-K.C.)
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20
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Giese TJ, Ekesan Ş, McCarthy E, Tao Y, York DM. Surface-Accelerated String Method for Locating Minimum Free Energy Paths. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:2058-2073. [PMID: 38367218 PMCID: PMC11059188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
We present a surface-accelerated string method (SASM) to efficiently optimize low-dimensional reaction pathways from the sampling performed with expensive quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) Hamiltonians. The SASM accelerates the convergence of the path using the aggregate sampling obtained from the current and previous string iterations, whereas approaches like the string method in collective variables (SMCV) or the modified string method in collective variables (MSMCV) update the path only from the sampling obtained from the current iteration. Furthermore, the SASM decouples the number of images used to perform sampling from the number of synthetic images used to represent the path. The path is optimized on the current best estimate of the free energy surface obtained from all available sampling, and the proposed set of new simulations is not restricted to being located along the optimized path. Instead, the umbrella potential placement is chosen to extend the range of the free energy surface and improve the quality of the free energy estimates near the path. In this manner, the SASM is shown to improve the exploration for a minimum free energy pathway in regions where the free energy surface is relatively flat. Furthermore, it improves the quality of the free energy profile when the string is discretized with too few images. We compare the SASM, SMCV, and MSMCV using 3 QM/MM applications: a ribozyme methyltransferase reaction using 2 reaction coordinates, the 2'-O-transphosphorylation reaction of Hammerhead ribozyme using 3 reaction coordinates, and a tautomeric reaction in B-DNA using 5 reaction coordinates. We show that SASM converges the paths using roughly 3 times less sampling than the SMCV and MSMCV methods. All three algorithms have been implemented in the FE-ToolKit package made freely available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Giese
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Simulation Research, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Şölen Ekesan
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Simulation Research, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Erika McCarthy
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Simulation Research, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Yujun Tao
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Simulation Research, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Darrin M. York
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Simulation Research, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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21
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Li K, Zhang Q. Eliminating the HIV tissue reservoir: current strategies and challenges. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:165-182. [PMID: 38149977 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2298450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still one of the most widespread and harmful infectious diseases in the world. The presence of reservoirs housing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represents a significant impediment to the development of clinically applicable treatments on a large scale. The viral load in the blood can be effectively reduced to undetectable levels through antiretroviral therapy (ART), and a higher concentration of HIV is sequestered in various tissues throughout the body, forming the tissue reservoir - the source of viremia after interruption treatment. METHODS We take the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) as a guideline for this review. In June 2023, we used the Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases to search the relevant literature published in the last decade. RESULTS Here we review the current strategies and treatments for eliminating the HIV tissue reservoirs: early and intensive therapy, gene therapy (including ribozyme, RNA interference, RNA aptamer, zinc finger enzyme, transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)), 'Shock and Kill', 'Block and lock', immunotherapy (including therapeutic vaccines, broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy (CAR-T)), and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). CONCLUSION The existence of an HIV reservoir is the main obstacle to the complete cure of AIDS. Choosing the appropriate strategy to deplete the HIV reservoir and achieve a functional cure for AIDS is the focus and difficulty of current research. So far, there has been a lot of research and progress in reducing the HIV reservoir, but in general, the current research is still very preliminary. Much research is still needed to properly assess the reliability, effectiveness, and necessity of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangpeng Li
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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22
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Wilhelm CA, Kaitany K, Kelly A, Yacoub M, Koutmos M. The protein-only RNase Ps, endonucleases that cleave pre-tRNA: Biological relevance, molecular architectures, substrate recognition and specificity, and protein interactomes. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1836. [PMID: 38453211 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Protein-only RNase P (PRORP) is an essential enzyme responsible for the 5' maturation of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs). PRORPs are classified into three categories with unique molecular architectures, although all three classes of PRORPs share a mechanism and have similar active sites. Single subunit PRORPs, like those found in plants, have multiple isoforms with different localizations, substrate specificities, and temperature sensitivities. Most recently, Arabidopsis thaliana PRORP2 was shown to interact with TRM1A and B, highlighting a new potential role between these enzymes. Work with At PRORPs led to the development of a ribonuclease that is being used to protect against plant viruses. The mitochondrial RNase P complex, found in metazoans, consists of PRORP, TRMT10C, and SDR5C1, and has also been shown to have substrate specificity, although the cause is unknown. Mutations in mitochondrial tRNA and mitochondrial RNase P have been linked to human disease, highlighting the need to continue understanding this complex. The last class of PRORPs, homologs of Aquifex RNase P (HARPs), is found in thermophilic archaea and bacteria. This most recently discovered type of PRORP forms a large homo-oligomer complex. Although numerous structures of HARPs have been published, it is still unclear how HARPs bind pre-tRNAs and in what ratio. There is also little investigation into the substrate specificity and ideal conditions for HARPs. Moving forward, further work is required to fully characterize each of the three classes of PRORP, the pre-tRNA binding recognition mechanism, the rules of substrate specificity, and how these three distinct classes of PRORP evolved. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kipchumba Kaitany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Abigail Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew Yacoub
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Markos Koutmos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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23
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Simón D, Ramos N, Lamolle G, Musto H. Two decades ago, giant viruses were discovered: the fall of an old paradigm. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1356711. [PMID: 38463488 PMCID: PMC10920292 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1356711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Simón
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Evolución Experimental de Virus, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Ramos
- Sección Virología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Guillermo Lamolle
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Héctor Musto
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay
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24
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Saha R, Kao WL, Malady B, Heng X, Chen IA. Effect of montmorillonite K10 clay on RNA structure and function. Biophys J 2024; 123:451-463. [PMID: 37924206 PMCID: PMC10912936 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest living systems was likely based on RNA ("the RNA world"). Mineral surfaces have been postulated to be an important environment for the prebiotic chemistry of RNA. In addition to adsorbing RNA and thus potentially reducing the chance of parasitic takeover through limited diffusion, minerals have been shown to promote a range of processes related to the emergence of life, including RNA polymerization, peptide bond formation, and self-assembly of vesicles. In addition, self-cleaving ribozymes have been shown to retain activity when adsorbed to the clay mineral montmorillonite. However, simulation studies suggest that adsorption to minerals is likely to interfere with RNA folding and, thus, function. To further evaluate the plausibility of a mineral-adsorbed RNA world, here we studied the effect of the synthetic clay montmorillonite K10 on the malachite green RNA aptamer, including binding of the clay to malachite green and RNA, as well as on the formation of secondary structures in model RNA and DNA oligonucleotides. We evaluated the fluorescence of the aptamer complex, adsorption to the mineral, melting curves, Förster resonance energy transfer interactions, and 1H-NMR signals to study the folding and functionality of these nucleic acids. Our results indicate that while some base pairings are unperturbed, the overall folding and binding of the malachite green aptamer are substantially disrupted by montmorillonite. These findings suggest that minerals would constrain the structures, and possibly the functions, available to an adsorbed RNA world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranajay Saha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Wei-Ling Kao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Brandon Malady
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Xiao Heng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Irene A Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California.
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25
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Agmon I. Three Biopolymers and Origin of Life Scenarios. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:277. [PMID: 38398786 PMCID: PMC10890401 DOI: 10.3390/life14020277] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
To track down the possible roots of life, various models for the initial living system composed of different combinations of the three extant biopolymers, RNA, DNA, and proteins, are presented. The suitability of each molecular set is assessed according to its ability to emerge autonomously, sustain, and evolve continuously towards life as we know it. The analysis incorporates current biological knowledge gained from high-resolution structural data and large sequence datasets, together with experimental results concerned with RNA replication and with the activity demonstrated by standalone constructs of the ribosomal Peptidyl Transferase Center region. The scrutiny excludes the DNA-protein combination and assigns negligible likelihood to the existence of an RNA-DNA world, as well as to an RNA world that contained a replicase made of RNA. It points to the precedence of an RNA-protein system, whose model of emergence suggests specific processes whereby a coded proto-ribosome ribozyme, specifically aminoacylated proto-tRNAs and a proto-polymerase enzyme, could have autonomously emerged, cross-catalyzing the formation of each other. This molecular set constitutes a feasible starting point for a continuous evolutionary path, proceeding via natural processes from the inanimate matter towards life as we know it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Agmon
- Institute for Advanced Studies in Theoretical Chemistry, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel;
- Fritz Haber Research Center for Molecular Dynamics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
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Liu ZX, Zhang S, Zhu HZ, Chen ZH, Yang Y, Li LQ, Lei Y, Liu Y, Li DY, Sun A, Li CP, Tan SQ, Wang GL, Shen JY, Jin S, Gao C, Liu JJG. Hydrolytic endonucleolytic ribozyme (HYER) is programmable for sequence-specific DNA cleavage. Science 2024; 383:eadh4859. [PMID: 38301022 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh4859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs with diverse functions including self-splicing and polymerization. This work aims to discover natural ribozymes that behave as hydrolytic and sequence-specific DNA endonucleases, which could be repurposed as DNA manipulation tools. Focused on bacterial group II-C introns, we found that many systems without intron-encoded protein propagate multiple copies in their resident genomes. These introns, named HYdrolytic Endonucleolytic Ribozymes (HYERs), cleaved RNA, single-stranded DNA, bubbled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and plasmids in vitro. HYER1 generated dsDNA breaks in the mammalian genome. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis revealed a homodimer structure for HYER1, where each monomer contains a Mg2+-dependent hydrolysis pocket and captures DNA complementary to the target recognition site (TRS). Rational designs including TRS extension, recruiting sequence insertion, and heterodimerization yielded engineered HYERs showing improved specificity and flexibility for DNA manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xian Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shouyue Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Han-Zhou Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhi-Hang Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Long-Qi Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Lei
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dan-Yuan Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ao Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Cheng-Ping Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shun-Qing Tan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gao-Li Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jie-Yi Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuai Jin
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun-Jie Gogo Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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27
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Duran Ş, Üstüntanir Dede AF, Dündar Orhan Y, Arslanyolu M. Genome-wide identification and in-silico analysis of papain-family cysteine protease encoding genes in Tetrahymena thermophila. Eur J Protistol 2024; 92:126033. [PMID: 38088016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.126033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Tetrahymena thermophila is a promising host for recombinant protein production, but its utilization in biotechnology is mostly limited due to the presence of intracellular and extracellular papain-family cysteine proteases (PFCPs). In this study, we employed bioinformatics approaches to investigate the T. thermophila PFCP genes and their encoded proteases (TtPFCPs), the most prominent protease family in the genome. Results from the multiple sequence alignment, protein modeling, and conserved motif analyses revealed that all TtPFCPs showed considerably high homology with mammalian cysteine cathepsins and contained conserved amino acid motifs. The total of 121 TtPFCP-encoding genes, 14 of which were classified as non-peptidase homologs, were found. Remaining 107 true TtPFCPs were divided into four distinct subgroups depending on their homology with mammalian lysosomal cathepsins: cathepsin L-like (TtCATLs), cathepsin B-like (TtCATBs), cathepsin C-like (TtCATCs), and cathepsin X-like (TtCATXs) PFCPs. The majority of true TtPFCPs (96 out of the total) were in TtCATL-like peptidase subgroup. Both phylogenetic and chromosomal localization analyses of TtPFCPs supported the hypothesis that TtPFCPs likely evolved through tandem gene duplication events and predominantly accumulated on micronuclear chromosome 5. Additionally, more than half of the identified TtPFCP genes are expressed in considerably low quantities compared to the rest of the TtPFCP genes, which are expressed at a higher level. However, their expression patterns fluctuate based on the stage of the life cycle. In conclusion, this study provides the first comprehensive in-silico analysis of TtPFCP genes and encoded proteases. The results would help designing an effective strategy for protease knockout mutant cell lines to discover biological function and to improve the recombinant protein production in T. thermophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şeyma Duran
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunus Emre Campus, Eskişehir 26470, Türkiye.
| | - Ayça Fulya Üstüntanir Dede
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunus Emre Campus, Eskişehir 26470, Türkiye.
| | - Yeliz Dündar Orhan
- Department of Advanced Technologies, Graduate School of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunus Emre Campus, Eskişehir 26470, Türkiye.
| | - Muhittin Arslanyolu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University, Yunusemre Campus, Eskişehir 26470, Türkiye.
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Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. Flatworm Transcriptomes Reveal Widespread Parasitism by Histophagous Ciliates. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae007. [PMID: 38242711 PMCID: PMC10837001 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These "histophages" feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A co-phylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for the coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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29
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Rath WH, Göstl R, Herrmann A. Mechanochemical Activation of DNAzyme by Ultrasound. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306236. [PMID: 38308193 PMCID: PMC10885644 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Controlling the activity of DNAzymes by external triggers is an important task. Here a temporal control over DNAzyme activity through a mechanochemical pathway with the help of ultrasound (US) is demonstrated. The deactivation of the DNAzyme is achieved by hybridization to a complementary strand generated through rolling circle amplification (RCA), an enzymatic polymerization process. Due to the high molar mass of the resulting polynucleic acids, shear force can be applied on the RCA strand through inertial cavitation induced by US. This exerts mechanical force and leads to the cleavage of the base pairing between RCA strand and DNAzyme, resulting in the recovery of DNAzyme activity. This is the first time that this release mechanism is applied for the activation of catalytic nucleic acids, and it has multiple advantages over other stimuli. US has higher penetration depth into tissues compared to light, and it offers a more specific stimulus than heat, which has also limited use in biological systems due to cell damage caused by hyperthermia. This approach is envisioned to improve the control over DNAzyme activity for the development of reliable and specific sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang H. Rath
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsForckenbeckstr. 5052056AachenGermany
| | - Robert Göstl
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsForckenbeckstr. 5052056AachenGermany
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsForckenbeckstr. 5052056AachenGermany
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30
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Duong HQ, Hoang MC, Nguyen TH, Ngo VL, Le VT. RNA therapeutics history and future perspectives. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 203:99-114. [PMID: 38360008 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics have significantly used RNA-based drugs to the prevention and treatment of diseases as effective messenger RNA-based vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The RNA therapeutics with five classes including antisense oligonucleotide, small interfering RNA, microRNA, APTAMER and messenger RNAs are being quickly developed to treat various human diseases as neurological disease, cardiovascular disease, genetic and rare disease, cancer disease, coronavirus disease… which cannot be treated by other conventional drugs as small molecule-based drugs and antibodies. Therefore, the discovery of these RNA therapeutics created a new avenue for treatment of various human diseases. This chapter demonstrates the history of important discoveries in RNA biology and their impact on key developments in RNA therapeutics as well as the advantages of RNA therapeutics; RNA therapeutics describes the action mechanisms and examples of RNA-based drugs approved for treatment of various disease; and RNA therapeutics discusses delivery methods for RNA therapeutics to target organs and cells. In conclusion, this chapter is designed to offer an updated important development and advance of RNA therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Van-Lang Ngo
- Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Van-Thu Le
- Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
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31
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Liu J, Cui L, Shi X, Yan J, Wang Y, Ni Y, He J, Wang X. Generation of DNAzyme in Bacterial Cells by a Bacterial Retron System. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:300-309. [PMID: 38171507 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
DNAzymes are catalytically active single-stranded DNAs in which DNAzyme 10-23 (Dz 10-23) consists of a catalytic core and a substrate-binding arm that reduces gene expression through sequence-specific mRNA cleavage. However, the in vivo application of Dz 10-23 depends on exogenous delivery, which leads to its inability to be synthesized and stabilized in vivo, thus limiting its application. As a unique reverse transcription system, the bacterial retron system can synthesize single-stranded DNA in vivo using ncRNA msr/msd as a template. The objective of this work is to reduce target gene expression using Dz 10-23 generated in vivo by the retron system. In this regard, we successfully generated Dz 10-23 by cloning the Dz 10-23 coding sequence into the retron msd gene and tested its ability to reduce specific gene expression by examining the mRNA levels of cfp encoding cyan fluorescence protein and other functional genes such as mreB and ftsZ. We found that Dz had different repressive effects when targeting different mRNA regions, and in general, the repressive effect was stronger when targeting downstream of mRNAs. Our results also suggested that the reduction effect was due to cleavage of the substrate mRNA by Dz 10-23 rather than the antisense effect of the substrate-binding arm. Therefore, this study not only provided a retron-based method for the intracellular generation of Dz 10-23 but also demonstrated that Dz 10-23 could reduce gene expression by cleaving target mRNAs in cells. We believe that this new strategy would have great potential in the regulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Lina Cui
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xinyu Shi
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Jiahao Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Yifei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Yuyang Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao 334001, PR China
| | - Jin He
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xun Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
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Roy S, Sengupta S. The RNA-DNA world and the emergence of DNA-encoded heritable traits. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-9. [PMID: 38785360 PMCID: PMC11135857 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2355391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The RNA world hypothesis confers a central role to RNA molecules in information encoding and catalysis. Even though evidence in support of this hypothesis has accumulated from both experiments and computational modelling, the transition from an RNA world to a world where heritable genetic information is encoded in DNA remains an open question. Recent experiments show that both RNA and DNA templates can extend complementary primers using free RNA/DNA nucleotides, either non-enzymatically or in the presence of a replicase ribozyme. Guided by these experiments, we analyse protocellular evolution with an expanded set of reaction pathways made possible through the presence of DNA nucleotides. By encapsulating these reactions inside three different types of protocellular compartments, each subject to distinct modes of selection, we show how protocells containing DNA-encoded replicases in low copy numbers and replicases in high copy numbers can dominate the population. This is facilitated by a reaction that leads to auto-catalytic synthesis of replicase ribozymes from DNA templates encoding the replicase after the chance emergence of a replicase through non-enzymatic reactions. Our work unveils a pathway for the transition from an RNA world to a mixed RNA-DNA world characterized by Darwinian evolution, where DNA sequences encode heritable phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvam Roy
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchKolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Supratim Sengupta
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchKolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India
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Woodruff R, Parekh F, Lamb K, Mekkaoui L, Allen C, Smetanova K, Huang J, Williams A, Toledo GS, Lilova K, Roddie C, Sillibourne J, Pule M. Large-scale manufacturing of base-edited chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101123. [PMID: 37886606 PMCID: PMC10597784 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Base editing is a revolutionary gene-editing technique enabling the introduction of point mutations into the genome without generating detrimental DNA double-stranded breaks. Base-editing enzymes are commonly delivered in the form of modified linear messenger RNA (mRNA) that is costly to produce. Here, we address this problem by developing a simple protocol for manufacturing base-edited cells using circular RNA (circRNA), which is less expensive to synthesize. Compared with linear mRNA, higher editing efficiencies were achieved with circRNA, enabling an 8-fold reduction in the amount of RNA required. We used this protocol to manufacture a clinical dose (1 × 108 cells) of base-edited chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells lacking expression of the inhibitory receptor, PD-1. Editing efficiencies of up to 86% were obtained using 0.25 μg circRNA/1 × 106 cells. Increased editing efficiencies with circRNA were attributed to more efficient translation. These results suggest that circRNA, which is less expensive to produce than linear mRNA, is a viable option for reducing the cost of manufacturing base-edited cells at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Woodruff
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Farhaan Parekh
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Katarina Lamb
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Leila Mekkaoui
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Christopher Allen
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | | | - Jasmine Huang
- Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, UK
| | - Alex Williams
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | | | - Koki Lilova
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Claire Roddie
- Deparment of Haematology, Cancer Institute, 72 Huntley Street, WC1E 6BT London, UK
| | - James Sillibourne
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
| | - Martin Pule
- Autolus Therapeutics, The Mediaworks, 191 Wood Lane, W12 7FP London, UK
- Deparment of Haematology, Cancer Institute, 72 Huntley Street, WC1E 6BT London, UK
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34
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Palacios-Pérez M, José MV. A Proposal of the Ur-RNAome. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2158. [PMID: 38136981 PMCID: PMC10743229 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the earliest RNA molecules were folded into hairpins or mini-helixes. Herein, we depict the 2D and 3D conformations of those earliest RNA molecules with only RNY triplets, which Eigen proposed as the primeval genetic code. We selected 26 species (13 bacteria and 13 archaea). We found that the free energy of RNY hairpins was consistently lower than that of their corresponding shuffled controls. We found traces of the three ribosomal RNAs (16S, 23S, and 5S), tRNAs, 6S RNA, and the RNA moieties of RNase P and the signal recognition particle. Nevertheless, at this stage of evolution there was no genetic code (as seen in the absence of the peptidyl transferase centre and any vestiges of the anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence). Interestingly, we detected the anticodons of both glycine (GCC) and threonine (GGU) in the hairpins of proto-tRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miryam Palacios-Pérez
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life (NoRCEL), Leeds LS7 3RB, UK
- NoRCEL’s Latin America Hub, 113 Philosophy Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Marco V. José
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life (NoRCEL), Leeds LS7 3RB, UK
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35
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Man HSJ, Moosa VA, Singh A, Wu L, Granton JT, Juvet SC, Hoang CD, de Perrot M. Unlocking the potential of RNA-based therapeutics in the lung: current status and future directions. Front Genet 2023; 14:1281538. [PMID: 38075698 PMCID: PMC10703483 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1281538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Awareness of RNA-based therapies has increased after the widespread adoption of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These mRNA vaccines had a significant impact on reducing lung disease and mortality. They highlighted the potential for rapid development of RNA-based therapies and advances in nanoparticle delivery systems. Along with the rapid advancement in RNA biology, including the description of noncoding RNAs as major products of the genome, this success presents an opportunity to highlight the potential of RNA as a therapeutic modality. Here, we review the expanding compendium of RNA-based therapies, their mechanisms of action and examples of application in the lung. The airways provide a convenient conduit for drug delivery to the lungs with decreased systemic exposure. This review will also describe other delivery methods, including local delivery to the pleura and delivery vehicles that can target the lung after systemic administration, each providing access options that are advantageous for a specific application. We present clinical trials of RNA-based therapy in lung disease and potential areas for future directions. This review aims to provide an overview that will bring together researchers and clinicians to advance this burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. S. Jeffrey Man
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vaneeza A. Moosa
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anand Singh
- Thoracic Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Licun Wu
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John T. Granton
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen C. Juvet
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chuong D. Hoang
- Thoracic Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marc de Perrot
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Tieng FYF, Abdullah-Zawawi MR, Md Shahri NAA, Mohamed-Hussein ZA, Lee LH, Mutalib NSA. A Hitchhiker's guide to RNA-RNA structure and interaction prediction tools. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad421. [PMID: 38040490 PMCID: PMC10753535 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA biology has risen to prominence after a remarkable discovery of diverse functions of noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Most untranslated transcripts often exert their regulatory functions into RNA-RNA complexes via base pairing with complementary sequences in other RNAs. An interplay between RNAs is essential, as it possesses various functional roles in human cells, including genetic translation, RNA splicing, editing, ribosomal RNA maturation, RNA degradation and the regulation of metabolic pathways/riboswitches. Moreover, the pervasive transcription of the human genome allows for the discovery of novel genomic functions via RNA interactome investigation. The advancement of experimental procedures has resulted in an explosion of documented data, necessitating the development of efficient and precise computational tools and algorithms. This review provides an extensive update on RNA-RNA interaction (RRI) analysis via thermodynamic- and comparative-based RNA secondary structure prediction (RSP) and RNA-RNA interaction prediction (RIP) tools and their general functions. We also highlighted the current knowledge of RRIs and the limitations of RNA interactome mapping via experimental data. Then, the gap between RSP and RIP, the importance of RNA homologues, the relationship between pseudoknots, and RNA folding thermodynamics are discussed. It is hoped that these emerging prediction tools will deepen the understanding of RNA-associated interactions in human diseases and hasten treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Yew Fu Tieng
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | | | - Nur Alyaa Afifah Md Shahri
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Zeti-Azura Mohamed-Hussein
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), UKM, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Learn-Han Lee
- Sunway Microbiomics Centre, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City 47500, Malaysia
- Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group, Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University of Malaysia, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
- Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group, Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University of Malaysia, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
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Žedaveinytė R, Meers C, Le HC, Mortman EE, Tang S, Lampe GD, Pesari SR, Gelsinger DR, Wiegand T, Sternberg SH. Antagonistic conflict between transposon-encoded introns and guide RNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.20.567912. [PMID: 38045383 PMCID: PMC10690162 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
TnpB nucleases represent the evolutionary precursors to CRISPR-Cas12 and are widespread in all domains of life, presumably due to the critical roles they play in transposon proliferation. IS605family TnpB homologs function in bacteria as programmable homing endonucleases by exploiting transposon-encoded guide RNAs to cleave vacant genomic sites, thereby driving transposon maintenance through DSB-stimulated homologous recombination. Whether this pathway is conserved in other genetic contexts, and in association with other transposases, is unknown. Here we uncover molecular mechanisms of transposition and RNA-guided DNA cleavage by IS607-family elements that, remarkably, also encode catalytic, self-splicing group I introns. After reconstituting and systematically investigating each of these biochemical activities for a candidate 'IStron' derived from Clostridium botulinum, we discovered sequence and structural features of the transposon-encoded RNA that satisfy molecular requirements of a group I intron and TnpB guide RNA, while still retaining the ability to be faithfully mobilized at the DNA level by the TnpA transposase. Strikingly, intron splicing was strongly repressed not only by TnpB, but also by the secondary structure of ωRNA alone, allowing the element to carefully control the relative levels of spliced products versus functional guide RNAs. Our results suggest that IStron transcripts have evolved a sensitive equilibrium to balance competing and mutually exclusive activities that promote transposon maintenance while limiting adverse fitness costs on the host. Collectively, this work explains how diverse enzymatic activities emerged during the selfish spread of IS607-family elements and highlights molecular innovation in the multi-functional utility of transposon-encoded noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimantė Žedaveinytė
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hoang C. Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edan E. Mortman
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - George D. Lampe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sanjana R. Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
- Present address: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Program, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Diego R. Gelsinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Samuel H. Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
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Langeberg CJ, Kieft JS. A generalizable scaffold-based approach for structure determination of RNAs by cryo-EM. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e100. [PMID: 37791881 PMCID: PMC10639074 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can reveal the structures of large and often dynamic molecules, but smaller biomolecules (≤50 kDa) remain challenging targets due to their intrinsic low signal to noise ratio. Methods to help resolve small proteins have been applied but development of similar approaches to aid in structural determination of small, structured RNA elements have lagged. Here, we present a scaffold-based approach that we used to recover maps of sub-25 kDa RNA domains to 4.5-5.0 Å. While lacking the detail of true high-resolution maps, these maps are suitable for model building and preliminary structure determination. We demonstrate this method helped faithfully recover the structure of several RNA elements of known structure, and that it promises to be generalized to other RNAs without disturbing their native fold. This approach may streamline the sample preparation process and reduce the optimization required for data collection. This first-generation scaffold approach provides a robust system to aid in RNA structure determination by cryo-EM and lays the groundwork for further scaffold optimization to achieve higher resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner J Langeberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- RNA BioScience Initiative, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Mrnjavac N, Wimmer JLE, Brabender M, Schwander L, Martin WF. The Moon-Forming Impact and the Autotrophic Origin of Life. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300270. [PMID: 37812146 PMCID: PMC7615287 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The Moon-forming impact vaporized part of Earth's mantle, and turned the rest into a magma ocean, from which carbon dioxide degassed into the atmosphere, where it stayed until water rained out to form the oceans. The rain dissolved CO2 and made it available to react with transition metal catalysts in the Earth's crust so as to ultimately generate the organic compounds that form the backbone of microbial metabolism. The Moon-forming impact was key in building a planet with the capacity to generate life in that it converted carbon on Earth into a homogeneous and accessible substrate for organic synthesis. Today all ecosystems, without exception, depend upon primary producers, organisms that fix CO2 . According to theories of autotrophic origin, it has always been that way, because autotrophic theories posit that the first forms of life generated all the molecules needed to build a cell from CO2 , forging a direct line of continuity between Earth's initial CO2 -rich atmosphere and the first microorganisms. By modern accounts these were chemolithoautotrophic archaea and bacteria that initially colonized the crust and still inhabit that environment today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Mrnjavac
- Department of Biology Institute for Molecular Evolution Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf (Germany)
| | - Jessica L. E. Wimmer
- Department of Biology Institute for Molecular Evolution Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf (Germany)
| | - Max Brabender
- Department of Biology Institute for Molecular Evolution Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf (Germany)
| | - Loraine Schwander
- Department of Biology Institute for Molecular Evolution Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf (Germany)
| | - William F. Martin
- Department of Biology Institute for Molecular Evolution Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf (Germany)
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40
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Bartolucci G, Calaça Serrão A, Schwintek P, Kühnlein A, Rana Y, Janto P, Hofer D, Mast CB, Braun D, Weber CA. Sequence self-selection by cyclic phase separation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218876120. [PMID: 37847736 PMCID: PMC10614837 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218876120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of functional oligonucleotides on early Earth required a molecular selection mechanism to screen for specific sequences with prebiotic functions. Cyclic processes such as daily temperature oscillations were ubiquitous in this environment and could trigger oligonucleotide phase separation. Here, we propose sequence selection based on phase separation cycles realized through sedimentation in a system subjected to the feeding of oligonucleotides. Using theory and experiments with DNA, we show sequence-specific enrichment in the sedimented dense phase, in particular of short 22-mer DNA sequences. The underlying mechanism selects for complementarity, as it enriches sequences that tightly interact in the dense phase through base-pairing. Our mechanism also enables initially weakly biased pools to enhance their sequence bias or to replace the previously most abundant sequences as the cycles progress. Our findings provide an example of a selection mechanism that may have eased screening for auto-catalytic self-replicating oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Bartolucci
- Division Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden01187, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden01307, Germany
| | - Adriana Calaça Serrão
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Philipp Schwintek
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kühnlein
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Yash Rana
- Division Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden01187, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden01307, Germany
| | - Philipp Janto
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Dorothea Hofer
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Christof B. Mast
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Dieter Braun
- Ludwigs-Maximilian-Universität München and Center for NanoScience, Munich80799, Germany
| | - Christoph A. Weber
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Materials Engineering: Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg86159, Germany
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Chang T, Li G, Chang D, Amini R, Zhu X, Zhao T, Gu J, Li Z, Li Y. An RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme That Requires an Organic Solvent to Function. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202310941. [PMID: 37648674 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Engineering functional nucleic acids that are active under unusual conditions will not only reveal their hidden abilities but also lay the groundwork for pursuing them for unique applications. Although many DNAzymes have been derived to catalyze diverse chemical reactions in aqueous solutions, no prior study has been set up to purposely derive DNAzymes that require an organic solvent to function. Herein, we utilized in vitro selection to isolate RNA-cleaving DNAzymes from a random-sequence DNA pool that were "compelled" to accept 35 % dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a cosolvent, via counter selection in a purely aqueous solution followed by positive selection in the same solution containing 35 % DMSO. This experiment led to the discovery of a new DNAzyme that requires 35 % DMSO for its catalytic activity and exhibits drastically reduced activity without DMSO. This DNAzyme also requires divalent metal ions for catalysis, and its activity is enhanced by monovalent ions. A minimized, more efficient DNAzyme was also derived. This work demonstrates that highly functional, organic solvent-dependent DNAzymes can be isolated from random-sequence DNA libraries via forced in vitro selection, thus expanding the capability and potential utility of catalytic DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjun Chang
- School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Guangping Li
- School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Dingran Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ryan Amini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Xiaoni Zhu
- School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Tongqian Zhao
- School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Jimmy Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Zhongping Li
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Yingfu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
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42
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Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. FLATWORM TRANSCRIPTOMES REVEAL WIDESPREAD PARASITISM BY HISTOPHAGOUS CILIATES. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.17.558123. [PMID: 37745455 PMCID: PMC10516030 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.558123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These 'histophages' feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A cophylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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43
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Harpel Z, Chang WJ, Circelli J, Chen R, Chang I, Rivera J, Wu S, Wei R. Effects of six pyrimidine analogs on the growth of Tetrahymena thermophila and their implications in pyrimidine metabolism. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284309. [PMID: 37708236 PMCID: PMC10501602 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetrahymena are ciliated protists that have been used to study the effects of toxic chemicals, including anticancer drugs. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effects of six pyrimidine analogs (5-fluorouracil, floxuridine, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, 5-fluorouridine, gemcitabine, and cytarabine) on wild-type CU428 and conditional mutant NP1 Tetrahymena thermophila at room temperature and the restrictive temperature (37°C) where NP1 does not form the oral apparatus. We found that phagocytosis was not required for pyrimidine analog entry and that all tested pyrimidine analogs inhibited growth except for cytarabine. IC50 values did not significantly differ between CU428 and NP1 for the same analog at either room temperature or 37°C. To investigate the mechanism of inhibition, we used two pyrimidine bases (uracil and thymine) and three nucleosides (uridine, thymidine, and 5-methyluridine) to determine whether the inhibitory effects from the pyrimidine analogs were reversible. We found that the inhibitory effects from 5-fluorouracil could be reversed by uracil and thymine, from floxuridine could be reversed by thymidine, and from 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine could be reversed by uracil. None of the tested nucleobases or nucleosides could reverse the inhibitory effects of gemcitabine or 5-fluorouridine. Our results suggest that the five pyrimidine analogs act on different sites to inhibit T. thermophila growth and that nucleobases and nucleosides are metabolized differently in Tetrahymena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zander Harpel
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - Wei-Jen Chang
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - Jacob Circelli
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - Richard Chen
- College of Literature, Science, and Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Ian Chang
- Clinton Senior High School, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - Jason Rivera
- Clinton Senior High School, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Wu
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, United States of America
| | - RongHan Wei
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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44
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Montserrat Pagès A, Hertog M, Nicolaï B, Spasic D, Lammertyn J. Unraveling the Kinetics of the 10-23 RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13686. [PMID: 37761982 PMCID: PMC10531344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-based enzymes, or DNAzymes, are single-stranded DNA sequences with the ability to catalyze various chemical reactions, including the cleavage of the bond between two RNA nucleotides. Lately, an increasing interest has been observed in these RNA-cleaving DNAzymes in the biosensing and therapeutic fields for signal generation and the modulation of gene expression, respectively. Additionally, multiple efforts have been made to study the effects of the reaction environment and the sequence of the catalytic core on the conversion of the substrate into product. However, most of these studies have only reported alterations of the general reaction course, but only a few have focused on how each individual reaction step is affected. In this work, we present for the first time a mathematical model that describes and predicts the reaction of the 10-23 RNA-cleaving DNAzyme. Furthermore, the model has been employed to study the effect of temperature, magnesium cations and shorter substrate-binding arms of the DNAzyme on the different kinetic rate constants, broadening the range of conditions in which the model can be exploited. In conclusion, this work depicts the prospects of such mathematical models to study and anticipate the course of a reaction given a particular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Montserrat Pagès
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Hertog
- Department of Biosystems, Postharvest Group, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Nicolaï
- Department of Biosystems, Postharvest Group, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dragana Spasic
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Lammertyn
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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45
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Xu J, Hou J, Ding M, Wang Z, Chen T. Riboswitches, from cognition to transformation. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2023; 8:357-370. [PMID: 37325181 PMCID: PMC10265488 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2023.05.008] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Riboswitches are functional RNA elements that regulate gene expression by directly detecting metabolites. Twenty years have passed since it was first discovered, researches on riboswitches are becoming increasingly standardized and refined, which could significantly promote people's cognition of RNA function as well. Here, we focus on some representative orphan riboswitches, enumerate the structural and functional transformation and artificial design of riboswitches including the coupling with ribozymes, hoping to attain a comprehensive understanding of riboswitch research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingdong Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Junyuan Hou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Mengnan Ding
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Tao Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300350, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300350, China
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46
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Pisignano G, Michael DC, Visal TH, Pirlog R, Ladomery M, Calin GA. Going circular: history, present, and future of circRNAs in cancer. Oncogene 2023; 42:2783-2800. [PMID: 37587333 PMCID: PMC10504067 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02780-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
To date, thousands of highly abundant and conserved single-stranded RNA molecules shaped into ring structures (circRNAs) have been identified. CircRNAs are multifunctional molecules that have been shown to regulate gene expression transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally and exhibit distinct tissue- and development-specific expression patterns associated with a variety of normal and disease conditions, including cancer pathogenesis. Over the past years, due to their intrinsic stability and resistance to ribonucleases, particular attention has been drawn to their use as reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. However, there are some critical caveats to their utility in the clinic. Their circular shape limits their annotation and a complete functional elucidation is lacking. This makes their detection and biomedical application still challenging. Herein, we review the current knowledge of circRNA biogenesis and function, and of their involvement in tumorigenesis and potential utility in cancer-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Pisignano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - David C Michael
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Tanvi H Visal
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Radu Pirlog
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael Ladomery
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Kasuga M, Mutsuro-Aoki H, Ando T, Tamura K. Molecular Anatomy of the Class I Ligase Ribozyme for Elucidation of the Activity-Generating Unit. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1012. [PMID: 37508441 PMCID: PMC10376402 DOI: 10.3390/biology12071012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The class I ligase ribozyme consists of 121 nucleotides and shows a high catalytic rate comparable to that found in natural proteinaceous polymerases. In this study, we aimed to identify the smaller active unit of the class I ligase ribozyme comprising ~50 nucleotides, comparable to the estimated length of prebiotically synthesized RNA. Based on the three-dimensional structure of the class I ligase ribozyme, mutants were prepared and their ligation activities were analyzed. Sufficient ligation activity was maintained even when shortening to 94 nucleotides. However, because it would be difficult to approach the target of ~50 nucleotides by removing only the partial structure, the class I ligase ribozyme was then split into two molecules. The ligation activity was maintained even when splitting into two molecules of 55 and 39 nucleotides. Using a system with similar split ribozymes, we analyzed the ligation activity of mutants C30, C47, and A71, which have been previously identified as the positions that contribute to catalytic activity, and discussed the structural basis of the activity of these bases. Our findings suggest the rationale for the class I ligase ribozyme's assembling from multiple fragments that would be achievable with prebiotic synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Kasuga
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Hiromi Mutsuro-Aoki
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ando
- Department of Applied Electronics, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Koji Tamura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
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Langeberg CJ, Kieft JS. A Generalizable Scaffold-Based Approach for Structure Determination of RNAs by Cryo-EM. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.547879. [PMID: 37461535 PMCID: PMC10350027 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.547879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can reveal the structures of large and often dynamic molecules, but smaller biomolecules remain challenging targets due to their intrinsic low signal to noise ratio. Methods to resolve small proteins have been applied but development of similar approaches for small structured RNA elements have lagged. Here, we present a scaffold-based approach that we used to recover maps of sub-25 kDa RNA domains to 4.5 - 5.0 Å. While lacking the detail of true high-resolution maps, these are suitable for model building and preliminary structure determination. We demonstrate this method faithfully recovers the structure of several RNA elements of known structure, and it promises to be generalized to other RNAs without disturbing their native fold. This approach may streamline the sample preparation process and reduce the optimization required for data collection. This first-generation scaffold approach provides a system for RNA structure determination by cryo-EM and lays the groundwork for further scaffold optimization to achieve higher resolution.
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Pascolo S. Nonreplicating synthetic mRNA vaccines: A journey through the European (Journal of Immunology) history. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2249941. [PMID: 37029096 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202249941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
The first worldwide article reporting that injections of synthetic nonreplicating mRNA could be used as a vaccine, which originated from a French team located in Paris, was published in the European Journal of Immunology (EJI) in 1993. It relied on work conducted by several research groups in a handful of countries since the 1960s, which put forward the precise description of eukaryotic mRNA and the method to reproduce this molecule in vitro as well as how to transfect it into mammalian cells. Thereafter, the first industrial development of this technology began in Germany in 2000, with the founding of CureVac, which stemmed from another description of a synthetic mRNA vaccine published in EJI in 2000. The first clinical studies investigating mRNA vaccines in humans were performed as collaboration between CureVac and the University of Tübingen in Germany as early as 2003. Finally, the first worldwide approved mRNA vaccine (an anti-COVID-19 vaccine) is based on the mRNA technologies developed by BioNTech since its 2008 foundation in Mainz, Germany, and earlier by the pioneering academic work of its founders. In addition to the past, present, and future of mRNA-based vaccines, the article aims to present the geographical distribution of the early work, how the development of the technology was implemented by several independent and internationally distributed research teams, as well as the controversies on the optimal way to design or formulate and administer mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Pascolo
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Rangachari V. Biomolecular condensates - extant relics or evolving microcompartments? Commun Biol 2023; 6:656. [PMID: 37344557 PMCID: PMC10284869 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04963-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented discoveries during the past decade have unearthed the ubiquitous presence of biomolecular condensates (BCs) in diverse organisms and their involvement in a plethora of biological functions. A predominant number of BCs involve coacervation of RNA and proteins that demix from homogenous solutions by a process of phase separation well described by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which results in a phase with higher concentration and density from the bulk solution. BCs provide a simple and effective means to achieve reversible spatiotemporal control of cellular processes and adaptation to environmental stimuli in an energy-independent manner. The journey into the past of this phenomenon provides clues to the evolutionary origins of life itself. Here I assemble some current and historic discoveries on LLPS to contemplate whether BCs are extant biological hubs or evolving microcompartments. I conclude that BCs in biology could be extant as a phenomenon but are co-evolving as functionally and compositionally complex microcompartments in cells alongside the membrane-bound organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijayaraghavan Rangachari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402, USA.
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