Analyzing ATP utilization by DEAD-Box RNA helicases using kinetic and equilibrium methods

mRNA- and factor-driven dynamic variability controls eIF4F-cap recognition for translation initiation

mRNA 5′ cap recognition by eIF4F is a key element of eukaryotic translational control. Kinetic differences in eIF4F–mRNA interactions have long been proposed to mediate translation-efficiency differences between mRNAs, and recent transcriptome-wide studies have revealed significant heterogeneity in eIF4F engagement with differentially-translated mRNAs. However, detailed kinetic information exists only for eIF4F interactions with short model RNAs. We developed and applied single-molecule fluorescence approaches to directly observe real-time Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF4F subunit interactions with full-length polyadenylated mRNAs. We found that eIF4E–mRNA association rates linearly anticorrelate with mRNA length. eIF4G–mRNA interaction accelerates eIF4E–mRNA association in proportion to mRNA length, as does an eIF4F-independent activity of eIF4A, though cap-proximal secondary structure still plays an important role in defining the final association rates. eIF4F–mRNA interactions remained dominated by effects of eIF4G, but were modulated to different extents for different mRNAs by the presence of eIF4A and ATP. We also found that eIF4A-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis ejects eIF4E, and likely eIF4E•eIF4G from the mRNA after initial eIF4F•mRNA complex formation, suggesting a mechanism to prepare the mRNA 5′ end for ribosome recruitment. Our results support a role for mRNA-specific, factor-driven eIF4F association rates in kinetically controlling translation.

Measuring the impact of cofactors on RNA helicase activities

RNA helicases are the largest class of enzymes in eukaryotic RNA metabolism. In cells, protein cofactors regulate RNA helicase functions and impact biochemical helicase activities. Understanding how cofactors affect enzymatic activities of RNA helicases is thus critical for delineating physical roles and regulation of RNA helicases in cells. Here, we discuss approaches and conceptual considerations for the design of experiments to interrogate cofactor effects on RNA helicase activities in vitro. We outline the mechanistic frame for helicase reactions, discuss optimization of experimental setup and reaction parameters for measuring cofactor effects on RNA helicase activities, and provide basic guides to data analysis and interpretation. The described approaches are also instructive for determining the impact of small molecule inhibitors of RNA helicases.

Methods to assess helicase and translocation activities of human nuclear RNA exosome and RNA adaptor complexes

The nuclear RNA exosome collaborates with the MTR4 helicase and RNA adaptor complexes to process, surveil, and degrade RNA. Here we outline methods to characterize RNA translocation and strand displacement by exosome-associated helicases and adaptor complexes using fluorescence-based strand displacement assays. The design and preparation of substrates suitable for analysis of helicase and decay activities of reconstituted MTR4–exosome complexes are described. To aid structural and biophysical studies, we present strategies for engineering substrates that can stall helicases during translocation, providing a means to capture snapshots of interactions and molecular steps involved in substrate translocation and delivery to the exosome.

Single-Molecule Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 5' Cap Recognition by Human eIF4F

Coronaviruses initiate translation through recognition of the viral RNA 5' m ⁷ GpppA _m cap by translation factor eIF4F. eIF4F is a heterotrimeric protein complex with cap-binding, RNA-binding, and RNA helicase activities. Modulating eIF4F function through cellular regulation or small-molecule inhibition impacts coronavirus replication, including for SARS-CoV-2. Translation initiation involves highly coordinated dynamics of translation factors with messenger or viral RNA. However, how the eIF4F subunits coordinate on the initiation timescale to define cap-binding efficiency remains incompletely understood. Here we report that translation supported by the SARS-CoV-2 5'-UTR is highly sensitive to eIF4A inhibition by rocaglamide. Through a single-molecule fluorescence approach that reports on eIF4E-cap interaction, we dissect how eIF4F subunits contribute to cap-recognition efficiency on the SARS-CoV-2 5' UTR. We find that free eIF4A enhances cap accessibility for eIF4E binding, but eIF4G alone does not change the kinetics of eIF4E-RNA interaction. Conversely, formation of the full eIF4F complex significantly alters eIF4E-cap interaction, suggesting that coordinated eIF4E and eIF4A activities establish the net eIF4F-cap recognition efficiency. Moreover, the eIF4F complex formed with phosphomimetic eIF4E(S209D) binds the viral UTR more efficiently than with wild-type eIF4E. These results highlight a dynamic interplay of eIF4F subunits and mRNA that determines cap-recognition efficiency.

Rab34 GTPase mediates ciliary membrane formation in the intracellular ciliogenesis pathway

The primary cilium is an essential organizing center for signal transduction, and ciliary defects cause congenital disorders known collectively as ciliopathies.^1-3 Primary cilia form by two pathways that are employed in a cell-type- and tissue-specific manner: an extracellular pathway in which the cilium grows out from the cell surface and an intracellular pathway in which the nascent cilium first forms inside the cell.^4-8 After exposure to the external environment, cilia formed via the intracellular pathway may have distinct functional properties, as they often remain recessed within a ciliary pocket.^9,10 However, the precise mechanism of intracellular ciliogenesis and its relatedness to extracellular ciliogenesis remain poorly understood. Here we show that Rab34, a poorly characterized GTPase recently linked to cilia,^11-13 is a selective mediator of intracellular ciliogenesis. We find that Rab34 is required for formation of the ciliary vesicle at the mother centriole and that Rab34 marks the ciliary sheath, a unique sub-domain of assembling intracellular cilia. Rab34 activity is modulated by divergent residues within its GTPase domain, and ciliogenesis requires GTP binding and turnover by Rab34. Because Rab34 is found on assembly intermediates that are unique to intracellular ciliogenesis, we tested its role in the extracellular pathway used by polarized MDCK cells. Consistent with Rab34 acting specifically in the intracellular pathway, MDCK cells ciliate independently of Rab34 and its paralog Rab36. Together, these findings establish that different modes of ciliogenesis have distinct molecular requirements and reveal Rab34 as a new GTPase mediator of ciliary membrane biogenesis.

Examination of the Role of Mg2+ in the Mechanism of Nucleotide Binding to the Monomeric YME1L AAA+ Domain

The first line of defense in the mitochondrial quality control network involves the stress response from a family of ATP-dependent proteases. We have reported that a solubilized version of the mitochondrial inner membrane ATP-dependent protease YME1L displays nucleotide binding kinetics that are sensitive to the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide under a limiting ATP concentration. Our observations were consistent with an altered YME1L conformational ensemble leading to increased nucleotide binding site accessibility under oxidative stress conditions. To examine this hypothesis further, we report here the results of a comprehensive study of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties underlying the binding of nucleoside di- and triphosphate to the isolated YME1L AAA+ domain (YME1L-AAA+). A combination of fluorescence titrations, molecular dynamics, and stopped-flow fluorescence experiments have demonstrated similarity between nucleotide binding behaviors for YME1L under oxidative conditions and the isolated AAA+ domain. Our data demonstrate that YME1L-AAA+ binds ATP and ADP with affinities equal to ∼30 and 5 μM, respectively, in the absence of Mg2+. We note a negative heterotropic linkage effect between Mg2+ and ATP that arises as the MgCl2 concentration is increased such that the affinity of YME1L-AAA+ for ATP decreases to ∼60 μM in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2. Molecular dynamics methods allow for structural rationalization by revealing condition-dependent conformational populations for YME1L-AAA+. Taken together, these data suggest a preliminary model in which YME1L modulates its affinity for the nucleotide to stabilize against degradation or instability inherent to such stress conditions.

Characterization of Mitochondrial YME1L Protease Oxidative Stress-Induced Conformational State

Oxidative stress is a common challenge to mitochondrial function where reactive oxygen species are capable of significant organelle damage. The generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species occurs in the inner membrane and matrix compartments as a consequence of subunit function in the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle, respectively. Maintenance of mitochondrial proteostasis and stress response is facilitated by compartmentalized proteases that couple the energy of ATP hydrolysis to unfolding and the regulated removal of damaged, misfolded, or aggregated proteins. The mitochondrial protease YME1L functions in the maintenance of proteostasis in the intermembrane space. YME1L is an inner membrane-anchored hexameric protease with distinct N-terminal, transmembrane, AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities), and C-terminal M41 zinc-dependent protease domains. The effect of oxidative stress on enzymes such as YME1L tasked with maintaining proteostasis is currently unclear. We report here that recombinant YME1L undergoes a reversible conformational change in response to oxidative stress that involves the interaction of one hydrogen peroxide molecule per YME1L monomer with affinities equal to 31 ± 2 and 26 ± 1 mM for conditions lacking or including nucleotide, respectively. Our data also reveal that oxidative stress does not significantly impact nucleotide binding equilibria, but does stimulate a 2-fold increase in the rate constant for high-affinity ATP binding from (8.9 ± 0.2) × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 to (1.5 ± 0.1) × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1. Taken together, these data may suggest a mechanism for the regulated processing of YME1L by other inner membrane proteases such as OMA1.

Yeast eIF4A enhances recruitment of mRNAs regardless of their structural complexity

eIF4A is a DEAD-box RNA-dependent ATPase thought to unwind RNA secondary structure in the 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs to promote their recruitment to the eukaryotic translation pre-initiation complex (PIC). We show that eIF4A's ATPase activity is markedly stimulated in the presence of the PIC, independently of eIF4E•eIF4G, but dependent on subunits i and g of the heteromeric eIF3 complex. Surprisingly, eIF4A accelerated the rate of recruitment of all mRNAs tested, regardless of their degree of structural complexity. Structures in the 5'-UTR and 3' of the start codon synergistically inhibit mRNA recruitment in a manner relieved by eIF4A, indicating that the factor does not act solely to melt hairpins in 5'-UTRs. Our findings that eIF4A functionally interacts with the PIC and plays important roles beyond unwinding 5'-UTR structure is consistent with a recent proposal that eIF4A modulates the conformation of the 40S ribosomal subunit to promote mRNA recruitment.

Studying structure and function of spliceosomal helicases

The splicing of eukaryotic precursor mRNAs requires the activity of at least three DEAD-box helicases, one Ski2-like helicase and four DEAH-box helicases. High resolution structures for five of these spliceosomal helicases were obtained by means of X-ray crystallography. Additional low resolution structural information could be derived from single particle cryo electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering. The functional characterization includes biochemical methods to measure the ATPase and helicase activities. This review gives an overview on the techniques used to gain insights in to the structure and function of spliceosomal helicases.

P(I) Release Limits the Intrinsic and RNA-Stimulated ATPase Cycles of DEAD-Box Protein 5 (Dbp5)

mRNA export from the nucleus depends on the ATPase activity of the DEAD-box protein Dbp5/DDX19. Although Dbp5 has measurable ATPase activity alone, several regulatory factors (e.g., RNA, nucleoporin proteins, and the endogenous small molecule InsP₆) modulate catalytic activity in vitro and in vivo to facilitate mRNA export. An analysis of the intrinsic and regulator-activated Dbp5 ATPase cycle is necessary to define how these factors control Dbp5 and mRNA export. Here, we report a kinetic and equilibrium analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dbp5 ATPase cycle, including the influence of RNA on Dbp5 activity. These data show that ATP binds Dbp5 weakly in rapid equilibrium with a binding affinity (K_T ~ 4 mM) comparable to the K_M for steady-state cycling, while ADP binds an order of magnitude more tightly (K_D ~ 0.4 mM). The overall intrinsic steady-state cycling rate constant (k_cat) is limited by slow, near-irreversible ATP hydrolysis and even slower subsequent phosphate release. RNA increases k_cat and rate-limiting P_i release 20-fold, although P_i release continues to limit steady-state cycling in the presence of RNA, in conjunction with RNA binding. Together, this work identifies RNA binding and P_i release as important biochemical transitions within the Dbp5 ATPase cycle and provides a framework for investigating the means by which Dbp5 and mRNA export is modulated by regulatory factors.

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mRNA export from the nucleus requires DEAD-box protein Dbp5/DDX19 ATPase activity.

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Kinetics and thermodynamics of intrinsic Dbp5 ATPase reveal RNA's effect on Dbp5.

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Intrinsic Dbp5 ATPase is limited by slow ATP hydrolysis and slower P_i release.

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RNA activates P_i release, but it and RNA binding still limit RNA-stimulated ATPase.

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RNA binding and P_i release define RNA-stimulated Dbp5 ATPase for further regulation.

Monitoring RNA unwinding by the transcription termination factor Rho from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Transcription termination factor Rho is a ring-shaped, homo-hexamieric RNA translocase that dissociates transcription elongation complexes and transcriptional RNA-DNA duplexes (R-loops) in bacteria. The molecular mechanisms underlying these biological functions have been essentially studied with Rho enzymes from Escherichia coli or close Gram-negative relatives. However, phylo-divergent Rho factors may have distinct properties. Here, we describe methods for the preparation and in vitro characterization (ATPase and helicase activities) of the Rho factor from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a specimen with uncharacteristic molecular and enzymatic features. These methods set the stage for future studies aimed at better defining the diversity of enzymatic properties of Rho across the bacterial kingdom.

Quantitative full time course analysis of nonlinear enzyme cycling kinetics

Enzyme inhibition due to the reversible binding of reaction products is common and underlies the origins of negative feedback inhibition in many metabolic and signaling pathways. Product inhibition generates non-linearity in steady-state time courses of enzyme activity, which limits the utility of well-established enzymology approaches developed under the assumption of irreversible product release. For more than a century, numerous attempts to find a mathematical solution for analysis of kinetic time courses with product inhibition have been put forth. However, no practical general method capable of extracting common enzymatic parameters from such non-linear time courses has been successfully developed. Here we present a simple and practical method of analysis capable of efficiently extracting steady-state enzyme kinetic parameters and product binding constants from non-linear kinetic time courses with product inhibition and/or substrate depletion. The method is general and applicable to all enzyme systems, independent of reaction schemes and pathways.

The yeast ski complex: crystal structure and RNA channeling to the exosome complex

The Ski complex is a conserved multiprotein assembly required for the cytoplasmic functions of the exosome, including RNA turnover, surveillance, and interference. Ski2, Ski3, and Ski8 assemble in a tetramer with 1:1:2 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of an S. cerevisiae 370 kDa core complex shows that Ski3 forms an array of 33 TPR motifs organized in N-terminal and C-terminal arms. The C-terminal arm of Ski3 and the two Ski8 subunits position the helicase core of Ski2 centrally within the complex, enhancing RNA binding. The Ski3 N-terminal arm and the Ski2 insertion domain allosterically modulate the ATPase and helicase activities of the complex. Biochemical data suggest that the Ski complex can thread RNAs directly to the exosome, coupling the helicase and the exoribonuclease through a continuous RNA channel. Finally, we identify a Ski8-binding motif common to Ski3 and Spo11, rationalizing the moonlighting properties of Ski8 in mRNA decay and meiosis.

Take advantage of time in your experiments: a guide to simple, informative kinetics assays

Understanding virtually any process in cellular and molecular biology depends on knowledge of the rates of the biochemical reactions, so it is regrettable that few cellular and molecular biologists take advantage of kinetics experiments in their work. Fortunately, the kinetics experiments that are most useful for understanding cellular systems are within reach for everyone whose research would benefit from this information. This essay describes simple methods to measure the valuable kinetic parameters that characterize the dynamics of life processes. These “transient-state” methods not only differ in concept from traditional approaches used to analyze enzyme reactions at steady state, but they are also applicable to learning about the dynamics of any biological process.