1
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Wang H, Zhou Z, Zhang J, Hao T, Wang P, Wu P, Su R, Yang H, Deng G, Chen S, Gu L, He Y, Zeng L, Zhang C, Yin S. Pumilio1 regulates NPM3/NPM1 axis to promote PD-L1-mediated immune escape in gastric cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 581:216498. [PMID: 38029539 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216498] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal regulation of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) plays an essential role in tumorigenesis and progression, but their functions and mechanisms remain largely elusive. Previously, we reported that Pumilio 1 (PUM1), a RBP, could regulate glycolysis metabolism and promote the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the role of PUM1 in tumor immune regulation remains largely elusive. In this study, we report that PUM1 induces immune escape through posttranscriptional regulation of PD-L1 in GC. We used multiplexed immunohistochemistry to analyze the correlation between PUM1 expression and immune microenvironment in GC. The effect of PUM1 deficiency on tumor killing of T cells was examined in vitro and in vivo. The molecular mechanism of PUM1 was evaluated via RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, Western blot, co-immunoprecipitation, and RNA stability assays. Clinically, elevated PUM1 expression is associated with high-expression of PD-L1, lack of CD8+ T cell infiltration and poor prognosis in GC patients. PUM1 positively regulates PD-L1 expression and PUM1 reduction enhances T cell killing of tumors. Mechanistically, PUM1 directly binds to nucleophosmin/nucleoplasmin 3 (NPM3) mRNA and stabilizes NPM3. NPM3 interacts with NPM1 to promote NPM1 translocation into the nucleus and increase the transcription of PD-L1. PUM1 inhibits the anti-tumor activity of T cells through the PUM1/NPM3/PD-L1 axis. In summary, this study reveals the critical post-transcriptional effect of PUM1 in the modulation of PD-L1-dependent GC immune escape, thus provides a novel indicator and potential therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wang
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- Department of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Junchang Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tengfei Hao
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Pengliang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pei Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical university, Chongqing, China
| | - Rishun Su
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Guofei Deng
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Songyao Chen
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Gu
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Leli Zeng
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Changhua Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Songcheng Yin
- Digestive Diseases Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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2
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Yin S, Liu H, Zhou Z, Xu X, Wang P, Chen W, Deng G, Wang H, Yu H, Gu L, Huo M, Li M, Zeng L, He Y, Zhang C. PUM1 Promotes Tumor Progression by Activating DEPTOR-Meditated Glycolysis in Gastric Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301190. [PMID: 37469018 PMCID: PMC10520643 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301190] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play essential roles in tumorigenesis and progression, but their functions in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely elusive. Here, it is reported that Pumilio 1 (PUM1), an RBP, induces metabolic reprogramming through post-transcriptional regulation of DEP domain-containing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-interacting protein (DEPTOR) in GC. In clinical samples, elevated expression of PUM1 is associated with recurrence, metastasis, and poor survival. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that knockdown of PUM1 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells. In addition, RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analyses show that PUM1 is enriched in the glycolysis gene signature. Metabolomics studies confirm that PUM1 deficiency suppresses glycolytic metabolism. Mechanistically, PUM1 binds directly to DEPTOR mRNA pumilio response element to maintain the stability of the transcript and prevent DEPTOR degradation through post-transcriptional pathway. PUM1-mediated DEPTOR upregulation inhibits mTORC1 and alleviates the inhibitory feedback signal transmitted from mTORC1 to PI3K under normal conditions, thus activating the PI3K-Akt signal and glycolysis continuously. Collectively, these results reveal the critical epigenetic role of PUM1 in modulating DEPTOR-dependent GC progression. These conclusions support further clinical investigation of PUM1 inhibitors as a metabolic-targeting treatment strategy for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songcheng Yin
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Huifang Liu
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
- Department of RadiotherapyAffiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityHenan Cancer HospitalZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- Department of MedicineThe University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma CityOK 73104USA
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Pengliang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgerySun Yat‐sen Memorial HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510120China
| | - Wei Chen
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Guofei Deng
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Han Wang
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Hong Yu
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Liang Gu
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Mingyu Huo
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Min Li
- Department of MedicineThe University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma CityOK 73104USA
| | - Leli Zeng
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong510062China
| | - Changhua Zhang
- Digestive Diseases CenterGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer ResearchThe Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhenGuangdong518107China
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3
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Glasser E, Maji D, Biancon G, Puthenpeedikakkal A, Cavender C, Tebaldi T, Jenkins J, Mathews D, Halene S, Kielkopf C. Pre-mRNA splicing factor U2AF2 recognizes distinct conformations of nucleotide variants at the center of the pre-mRNA splice site signal. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5299-5312. [PMID: 35524551 PMCID: PMC9128377 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential pre-mRNA splicing factor U2AF2 (also called U2AF65) identifies polypyrimidine (Py) tract signals of nascent transcripts, despite length and sequence variations. Previous studies have shown that the U2AF2 RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2) preferentially bind uridine-rich RNAs. Nonetheless, the specificity of the RRM1/RRM2 interface for the central Py tract nucleotide has yet to be investigated. We addressed this question by determining crystal structures of U2AF2 bound to a cytidine, guanosine, or adenosine at the central position of the Py tract, and compared U2AF2-bound uridine structures. Local movements of the RNA site accommodated the different nucleotides, whereas the polypeptide backbone remained similar among the structures. Accordingly, molecular dynamics simulations revealed flexible conformations of the central, U2AF2-bound nucleotide. The RNA binding affinities and splicing efficiencies of structure-guided mutants demonstrated that U2AF2 tolerates nucleotide substitutions at the central position of the Py tract. Moreover, enhanced UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation of endogenous U2AF2 in human erythroleukemia cells showed uridine-sensitive binding sites, with lower sequence conservation at the central nucleotide positions of otherwise uridine-rich, U2AF2-bound splice sites. Altogether, these results highlight the importance of RNA flexibility for protein recognition and take a step towards relating splice site motifs to pre-mRNA splicing efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliezra Glasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
| | - Debanjana Maji
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
| | - Giulia Biancon
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine and
Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven,
CT 06520, USA
| | | | - Chapin E Cavender
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
| | - Toma Tebaldi
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine and
Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven,
CT 06520, USA
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology
(CIBIO), University of
Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jermaine L Jenkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
| | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
| | - Stephanie Halene
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine and
Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven,
CT 06520, USA
- Yale Center for RNA Science and Medicine, Yale University
School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT 06520, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of
Medicine, New Haven,
CT 06520, USA
| | - Clara L Kielkopf
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Center for
RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester School of
Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester,
NY 14642, USA
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4
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Raven SA, Payne B, Bruce M, Filipovska A, Rackham O. In silico evolution of nucleic acid-binding proteins from a nonfunctional scaffold. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:403-411. [PMID: 35210620 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-00967-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Directed evolution emulates the process of natural selection to produce proteins with improved or altered functions. These approaches have proven to be very powerful but are technically challenging and particularly time and resource intensive. To bypass these limitations, we constructed a system to perform the entire process of directed evolution in silico. We employed iterative computational cycles of mutation and evaluation to predict mutations that confer high-affinity binding activities for DNA and RNA to an initial de novo designed protein with no inherent function. Beneficial mutations revealed modes of nucleic acid recognition not previously observed in natural proteins, highlighting the ability of computational directed evolution to access new molecular functions. Furthermore, the process by which new functions were obtained closely resembles natural evolution and can provide insights into the contributions of mutation rate, population size and selective pressure on functionalization of macromolecules in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Raven
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Blake Payne
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mitchell Bruce
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Filipovska
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Northern Entrance, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Oliver Rackham
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. .,Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. .,Telethon Kids Institute, Northern Entrance, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia. .,Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
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5
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Chechetkin VR, Lobzin VV. Ribonucleocapsid assembly/packaging signals in the genomes of the coronaviruses SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2: detection, comparison and implications for therapeutic targeting. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:508-522. [PMID: 32901577 PMCID: PMC7544952 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1815581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The genomic ssRNA of coronaviruses is packaged within a helical nucleocapsid. Due to transitional symmetry of a helix, weakly specific cooperative interaction between ssRNA and nucleocapsid proteins leads to the natural selection of specific quasi-periodic assembly/packaging signals in the related genomic sequence. Such signals coordinated with the nucleocapsid helical structure were detected and reconstructed in the genomes of the coronaviruses SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The main period of the signals for both viruses was about 54 nt, that implies 6.75 nt per N protein. The complete coverage of the ssRNA genome of length about 30,000 nt by the nucleocapsid would need 4.4 × 103 N proteins, that makes them the most abundant among the structural proteins. The repertoires of motifs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were divergent but nearly coincided for different isolates of SARS-CoV-2. We obtained the distributions of assembly/packaging signals over the genomes with nonoverlapping windows of width 432 nt. Finally, using the spectral entropy, we compared the load from point mutations and indels during virus age for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We found the higher mutational load on SARS-CoV. In this sense, SARS-CoV-2 can be treated as a 'newborn' virus. These observations may be helpful in practical medical applications and are of basic interest. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir R. Chechetkin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of
Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow,
Russia
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6
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Homecoming: rewinding the reductive evolution of the chloroplast genome for increasing crop yields. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6734. [PMID: 34795241 PMCID: PMC8602674 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26975-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing more productive and sustainable crops will be essential to achieving food security in coming decades. A core process in plant evolution has been the transfer of chloroplast-encoded genes to the nuclear genome. We propose reverting this process as a new approach to improve plant disease resistance and photosynthesis in future crops.
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7
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Nakamura K, Nakao T, Mori T, Ohno S, Fujita Y, Masaoka K, Sakabayashi K, Mori K, Tobimatsu T, Sera T. Necessity of Flanking Repeats R1' and R8' of Human Pumilio1 Protein for RNA Binding. Biochemistry 2021; 60:3007-3015. [PMID: 34541851 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human Pumilio (hPUM) is a structurally well-analyzed RNA-binding protein that has been used recently for artificial RNA binding. Structural analysis revealed that amino acids at positions 12, 13, and 16 in the repeats from R1 to R8 each contact one specific RNA base in the eight-nucleotide RNA target. The functions of the N- and C-terminal flanking repeats R1' and R8', however, remain unclear. Here, we report how the repeats contribute to overall RNA binding. We first prepared three mutants in which R1' and/or R8' were deleted and then analyzed RNA binding using gel shift assays. The assays showed that all deletion mutants bound to their target less than the original hPUM, but that R1' contributed more than R8', unlike Drosophila PUM. We next investigated which amino acid residues of R1' or R8' were responsible for RNA binding. With detailed analysis of the protein tertiary structure, we found a hydrophobic core in each of the repeats. We therefore mutated all hydrophobic amino residues in each core to alanine. The gel shift assays with the resulting mutants revealed that both hydrophobic cores contributed to the RNA binding: especially the hydrophobic core of R1' had a significant influence. In the present study, we demonstrated that the flanking R1' and R8' repeats are indispensable for RNA binding of hPUM and suggest that hydrophobic R1'-R1 interactions may stabilize the whole hPUM structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Taishu Nakao
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Mori
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Serika Ohno
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fujita
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Keisuke Masaoka
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sakabayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Koichi Mori
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takamasa Tobimatsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takashi Sera
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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8
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Xu Z, Zhao J, Hong M, Zeng C, Guang S, Shi Y. Structural recognition of the mRNA 3' UTR by PUF-8 restricts the lifespan of C. elegans. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10082-10097. [PMID: 34478557 PMCID: PMC8464079 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of aging are unsolved fundamental biological questions. Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal model organism for investigating aging. PUF-8, a PUF (Pumilio and FBF) protein in C. elegans, is crucial for germline development through binding with the 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTR) in the target mRNAs. Recently, PUF-8 was reported to alter mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy by regulating MFF-1, a mitochondrial fission factor, and subsequently regulated longevity. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the PUF domain of PUF-8 with an RNA substrate. Mutagenesis experiments were performed to alter PUF-8 recognition of its target mRNAs. Those mutations reduced the fertility and extended the lifespan of C. elegans. Deep sequencing of total mRNAs from wild-type and puf-8 mutant worms as well as in vivo RNA Crosslinking and Immunoprecipitation (CLIP) experiments identified six PUF-8 regulated genes, which contain at least one PUF-binding element (PBE) at the 3′ UTR. One of the six genes, pqm-1, is crucial for lipid storage and aging process. Knockdown of pqm-1 could revert the lifespan extension of puf-8 mutant animals. We conclude that PUF-8 regulate the lifespan of C. elegans may not only via MFF but also via modulating pqm-1-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Minjie Hong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Chenming Zeng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Shouhong Guang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
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9
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Gerovac M, Vogel J, Smirnov A. The World of Stable Ribonucleoproteins and Its Mapping With Grad-Seq and Related Approaches. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:661448. [PMID: 33898526 PMCID: PMC8058203 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.661448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Macromolecular complexes of proteins and RNAs are essential building blocks of cells. These stable supramolecular particles can be viewed as minimal biochemical units whose structural organization, i.e., the way the RNA and the protein interact with each other, is directly linked to their biological function. Whether those are dynamic regulatory ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) or integrated molecular machines involved in gene expression, the comprehensive knowledge of these units is critical to our understanding of key molecular mechanisms and cell physiology phenomena. Such is the goal of diverse complexomic approaches and in particular of the recently developed gradient profiling by sequencing (Grad-seq). By separating cellular protein and RNA complexes on a density gradient and quantifying their distributions genome-wide by mass spectrometry and deep sequencing, Grad-seq charts global landscapes of native macromolecular assemblies. In this review, we propose a function-based ontology of stable RNPs and discuss how Grad-seq and related approaches transformed our perspective of bacterial and eukaryotic ribonucleoproteins by guiding the discovery of new RNA-binding proteins and unusual classes of noncoding RNAs. We highlight some methodological aspects and developments that permit to further boost the power of this technique and to look for exciting new biology in understudied and challenging biological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Gerovac
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexandre Smirnov
- UMR 7156—Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie (GMGM), University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
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10
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Teramoto T, Kaitany KJ, Kakuta Y, Kimura M, Fierke CA, Hall TMT. Pentatricopeptide repeats of protein-only RNase P use a distinct mode to recognize conserved bases and structural elements of pre-tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11815-11826. [PMID: 32719843 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motifs are α-helical structures known for their modular recognition of single-stranded RNA sequences with each motif in a tandem array binding to a single nucleotide. Protein-only RNase P 1 (PRORP1) in Arabidopsis thaliana is an endoribonuclease that uses its PPR domain to recognize precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs) as it catalyzes removal of the 5'-leader sequence from pre-tRNAs with its NYN metallonuclease domain. To gain insight into the mechanism by which PRORP1 recognizes tRNA, we determined a crystal structure of the PPR domain in complex with yeast tRNAPhe at 2.85 Å resolution. The PPR domain of PRORP1 bound to the structurally conserved elbow of tRNA and recognized conserved structural features of tRNAs using mechanisms that are different from the established single-stranded RNA recognition mode of PPR motifs. The PRORP1 PPR domain-tRNAPhe structure revealed a conformational change of the PPR domain upon tRNA binding and moreover demonstrated the need for pronounced overall flexibility in the PRORP1 enzyme conformation for substrate recognition and catalysis. The PRORP1 PPR motifs have evolved strategies for protein-tRNA interaction analogous to tRNA recognition by the RNA component of ribonucleoprotein RNase P and other catalytic RNAs, indicating convergence on a common solution for tRNA substrate recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamasa Teramoto
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.,Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kipchumba J Kaitany
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yoshimitsu Kakuta
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Makoto Kimura
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Carol A Fierke
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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11
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Effective RNA Regulation by Combination of Multiple Programmable RNA-Binding Proteins. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10196803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RNAs play important roles in gene expression through translation and RNA splicing. Regulation of specific RNAs is useful to understand and manipulate specific transcripts. Pumilio and fem-3 mRNA-binding factor (PUF) proteins, programmable RNA-binding proteins, are promising tools for regulating specific RNAs by fusing them with various functional domains. The key question is: How can PUF-based molecular tools efficiently regulate RNA functions? Here, we show that the combination of multiple PUF proteins, compared to using a single PUF protein, targeting independent RNA sequences at the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of a target transcript caused cooperative effects to regulate the function of the target RNA by luciferase reporter assays. It is worth noting that a higher efficacy was achieved with smaller amounts of each PUF expression vector introduced into the cells compared to using a single PUF protein. This strategy not only efficiently regulates target RNA functions but would also be effective in reducing off-target effects due to the low doses of each expression vector.
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12
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Piątkowski J, Golik P. Yeast pentatricopeptide protein Dmr1 (Ccm1) binds a repetitive AU-rich motif in the small subunit mitochondrial ribosomal RNA. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:1268-1282. [PMID: 32467310 PMCID: PMC7430664 DOI: 10.1261/rna.074880.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PPR proteins are a diverse family of RNA binding factors found in all Eukaryotic lineages. They perform multiple functions in the expression of organellar genes, mostly on the post-transcriptional level. PPR proteins are also significant determinants of evolutionary nucleo-organellar compatibility. Plant PPR proteins recognize their RNA substrates using a simple modular code. No target sequences recognized by animal or yeast PPR proteins were identified prior to the present study, making it impossible to assess whether this plant PPR code is conserved in other organisms. Dmr1p (Ccm1p, Ygr150cp) is a S. cerevisiae PPR protein essential for mitochondrial gene expression and involved in the stability of 15S ribosomal RNA. We demonstrate that in vitro Dmr1p specifically binds a motif composed of multiple AUA repeats occurring twice in the 15S rRNA sequence as the minimal 14 nt (AUA)4AU or longer (AUA)7 variant. Short RNA fragments containing this motif are protected by Dmr1p from exoribonucleolytic activity in vitro. Presence of the identified motif in mtDNA of different yeast species correlates with the compatibility between their Dmr1p orthologs and S. cerevisiae mtDNA. RNA recognition by Dmr1p is likely based on a rudimentary form of a PPR code specifying U at every third position, and depends on other factors, like RNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Piątkowski
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Paweł Golik
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
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13
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Criscuolo S, Gatti Iou M, Merolla A, Maragliano L, Cesca F, Benfenati F. Engineering REST-Specific Synthetic PUF Proteins to Control Neuronal Gene Expression: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2039-2054. [PMID: 32678979 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of gene transcription is an essential mechanism for differentiation and adaptation of organisms. A key actor in this regulation process is the repressor element 1 (RE1)-silencing transcription factor (REST), a transcriptional repressor that controls more than 2000 putative target genes, most of which are neuron-specific. With the purpose of modulating REST expression, we exploited synthetic, ad hoc designed, RNA binding proteins (RBPs) able to specifically target and dock to REST mRNA. Among the various families of RBPs, we focused on the Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins, present in all eukaryotic organisms and controlling a variety of cellular functions. Here, a combined experimental and computational approach was used to design and test 8- and 16-repeat PUF proteins specific for REST mRNA. We explored the conformational properties and atomic features of the PUF-RNA recognition code by Molecular Dynamics simulations. Biochemical assays revealed that the 8- and 16-repeat PUF-based variants specifically bind the endogenous REST mRNA without affecting its translational regulation. The data also indicate a key role of stacking residues in determining the binding specificity. The newly characterized REST-specific PUF-based constructs act as excellent RNA-binding modules and represent a versatile and functional platform to specifically target REST mRNA and modulate its endogenous expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Criscuolo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Mahad Gatti Iou
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Assunta Merolla
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- University of Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Luca Maragliano
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova 16132, Italy
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14
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Silva ILZ, Robert AW, Cabo GC, Spangenberg L, Stimamiglio MA, Dallagiovanna B, Gradia DF, Shigunov P. Effects of PUMILIO1 and PUMILIO2 knockdown on cardiomyogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells culture. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0222373. [PMID: 32437472 PMCID: PMC7241771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttranscriptional regulation plays a fundamental role in the biology of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Many studies have demonstrated that multiple mRNAs are coregulated by one or more RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that orchestrate mRNA expression. A family of RBPs, which is known as the Pumilio-FBF (PUF) family, is highly conserved among different species and has been associated with the undifferentiated and differentiated states of different cell lines. In humans, two homologs of the PUF family have been found: Pumilio 1 (PUM1) and Pumilio 2 (PUM2). To understand the role of these proteins in human ESCs (hESCs), we first assessed the influence of the silencing of PUM1 and PUM2 on pluripotency genes and found that the knockdown of Pumilio genes significantly decreased the OCT4 and NANOG mRNA levels and reduced the amount of nuclear OCT4, which suggests that Pumilio proteins play a role in the maintenance of pluripotency in hESCs. Furthermore, we observed that PUM1-and-PUM2-silenced hESCs exhibited improved efficiency of in vitro cardiomyogenic differentiation. Through an in silico analysis, we identified mRNA targets of PUM1 and PUM2 that are expressed at the early stages of cardiomyogenesis, and further investigation will determine whether these target mRNAs are active and involved in the progression of cardiomyogenesis. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of Pumilio proteins in hESC maintenance and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anny Waloski Robert
- Laboratory of Basic Biology of Stem Cells (LABCET), Instituto Carlos Chagas—FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Lucia Spangenberg
- Bioinformatics Unit, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marco Augusto Stimamiglio
- Laboratory of Basic Biology of Stem Cells (LABCET), Instituto Carlos Chagas—FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Bruno Dallagiovanna
- Laboratory of Basic Biology of Stem Cells (LABCET), Instituto Carlos Chagas—FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Daniela Fiori Gradia
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Shigunov
- Laboratory of Basic Biology of Stem Cells (LABCET), Instituto Carlos Chagas—FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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15
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Wang X, Voronina E. Diverse Roles of PUF Proteins in Germline Stem and Progenitor Cell Development in C. elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:29. [PMID: 32117964 PMCID: PMC7015873 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell development depends on post-transcriptional regulation mediated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) (Zhang et al., 1997; Forbes and Lehmann, 1998; Okano et al., 2005; Ratti et al., 2006; Kwon et al., 2013). Pumilio and FBF (PUF) family RBPs are highly conserved post-transcriptional regulators that are critical for stem cell maintenance (Wickens et al., 2002; Quenault et al., 2011). The RNA-binding domains of PUF proteins recognize a family of related sequence motifs in the target mRNAs, yet individual PUF proteins have clearly distinct biological functions (Lu et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2018). The C. elegans germline is a simple and powerful model system for analyzing regulation of stem cell development. Studies in C. elegans uncovered specific physiological roles for PUFs expressed in the germline stem cells ranging from control of proliferation and differentiation to regulation of the sperm/oocyte decision. Importantly, recent studies started to illuminate the mechanisms behind PUF functional divergence. This review summarizes the many roles of PUF-8, FBF-1, and FBF-2 in germline stem and progenitor cells (SPCs) and discusses the factors accounting for their distinct biological functions. PUF proteins are conserved in evolution, and insights into PUF-mediated regulation provided by the C. elegans model system are likely relevant for other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Ekaterina Voronina
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
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16
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Pei Y, Lu M. Programmable RNA manipulation in living cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:4861-4867. [PMID: 31367845 PMCID: PMC11105762 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03252-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RNAs are responsible for mediating genetic information flow within the cell. RNA splicing, modification, trafficking, translation, and stability are all controlled at the transcript level. However, biological tools to study and manipulate them in a programmable fashion are currently limited. In this review, we summarize recent advances regarding available RNA-targeting systems discovered so far, including CRISPR-based technologies-Cas9 and Cas13, and programmable RNA-binding proteins-PUF and PPR. These tools allow transcript-specific manipulation in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Pei
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mingxing Lu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
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17
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Yan J, Yao Y, Hong S, Yang Y, Shen C, Zhang Q, Zhang D, Zou T, Yin P. Delineation of pentatricopeptide repeat codes for target RNA prediction. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3728-3738. [PMID: 30753696 PMCID: PMC6468296 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family are sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins that play crucial roles in organelle RNA metabolism. Each PPR protein consists of a tandem array of PPR motifs, each of which aligns to one nucleotide of the RNA target. The di-residues in the PPR motif, which are referred to as the PPR codes, determine nucleotide specificity. Numerous PPR codes are distributed among the vast number of PPR motifs, but the correlation between PPR codes and RNA bases is poorly understood, which hinders target RNA prediction and functional investigation of PPR proteins. To address this issue, we developed a modular assembly method for high-throughput construction of designer PPRs, and by using this method, 62 designer PPR proteins containing various PPR codes were assembled. Then, the correlation between these PPR codes and RNA bases was systematically explored and delineated. Based on this correlation, the web server PPRCODE (http://yinlab.hzau.edu.cn/pprcode) was developed. Our study will not only serve as a platform for facilitating target RNA prediction and functional investigation of the large number of PPR family proteins but also provide an alternative strategy for the assembly of custom PPRs that can potentially be used for plant organelle RNA manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yinying Yao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sixing Hong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yan Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Cuicui Shen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qunxia Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Delin Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Tingting Zou
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ping Yin
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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18
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Hofmann NR. Designer PPR Proteins as Tools to Explore RNA Binding in Vivo. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:1674-1675. [PMID: 31189736 PMCID: PMC6713310 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.19.00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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19
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McDermott JJ, Watkins KP, Williams-Carrier R, Barkan A. Ribonucleoprotein Capture by in Vivo Expression of a Designer Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:1723-1733. [PMID: 31123048 PMCID: PMC6713294 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.19.00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins bind RNA via a mechanism that facilitates the customization of sequence specificity. However, natural PPR proteins have irregular features that limit the degree to which their specificity can be predicted and customized. We demonstrate here that artificial PPR proteins built from consensus PPR motifs selectively bind the intended RNA in vivo, and we use this property to develop a new tool for ribonucleoprotein characterization. We show by RNA coimmunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) that artificial PPR proteins designed to bind the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chloroplast psbA mRNA bind with high specificity to psbA mRNA in vivo. Analysis of coimmunoprecipitating proteins by mass spectrometry showed the psbA translational activator HCF173 and two RNA binding proteins of unknown function (CP33C and SRRP1) to be highly enriched. RIP-seq revealed that these proteins are bound primarily to psbA RNA in vivo, and precise mapping of the HCF173 and CP33C binding sites placed them in different locations on psbA mRNA. These results demonstrate that artificial PPR proteins can be tailored to bind specific endogenous RNAs in vivo, add to the toolkit for characterizing native ribonucleoproteins, and open the door to other applications that rely on the ability to target a protein to a specified RNA sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J McDermott
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Kenneth P Watkins
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | | | - Alice Barkan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
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20
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Miranda RG, McDermott JJ, Barkan A. RNA-binding specificity landscapes of designer pentatricopeptide repeat proteins elucidate principles of PPR-RNA interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:2613-2623. [PMID: 29294070 PMCID: PMC5861457 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are helical-repeat proteins that offer a promising scaffold for the engineering of proteins to bind specified RNAs. PPR tracts bind RNA in a modular 1-repeat, 1-nucleotide fashion. An amino acid code specifying the bound nucleotide has been elucidated. However, this code does not fully explain the sequence specificity of native PPR proteins. Furthermore, it does not address nuances such as the contribution toward binding affinity of various repeat-nucleotide pairs or the impact of mismatches between a repeat and aligning nucleotide. We used an in vitro bind-n-seq approach to describe the population of sequences bound by four artificial PPR proteins built from consensus scaffolds. The specificity of these proteins can be accounted for by canonical code-based nucleotide recognition. The results show, however, that interactions near the 3′-end of binding sites make less contribution to binding affinity than do those near the 5′-end, that proteins with 11 and 14 repeats exhibit similar affinity for their intended targets but 14-repeats are more permissive for mismatches, and that purine-binding repeats are less tolerant of transversion mismatches than are pyrimidine-binding motifs. These findings have implications for mechanisms that establish PPR–RNA interactions and for optimizing PPR design to minimize off-target interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael G Miranda
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - James J McDermott
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Alice Barkan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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21
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Mayya VK, Duchaine TF. Ciphers and Executioners: How 3'-Untranslated Regions Determine the Fate of Messenger RNAs. Front Genet 2019; 10:6. [PMID: 30740123 PMCID: PMC6357968 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequences and structures of 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs govern their stability, localization, and expression. 3'UTR regulatory elements are recognized by a wide variety of trans-acting factors that include microRNAs (miRNAs), their associated machinery, and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In turn, these factors instigate common mechanistic strategies to execute the regulatory programs encoded by 3'UTRs. Here, we review classes of factors that recognize 3'UTR regulatory elements and the effector machineries they guide toward mRNAs to dictate their expression and fate. We outline illustrative examples of competitive, cooperative, and coordinated interplay such as mRNA localization and localized translation. We further review the recent advances in the study of mRNP granules and phase transition, and their possible significance for the functions of 3'UTRs. Finally, we highlight some of the most recent strategies aimed at deciphering the complexity of the regulatory codes of 3'UTRs, and identify some of the important remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas F. Duchaine
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre and Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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22
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Kamba PF, Dickson DA, White NA, Ekstrom JL, Koslowsky DJ, Hoogstraten CG. The 27 kDa Trypanosoma brucei Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein is a G-tract Specific RNA Binding Protein. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16989. [PMID: 30451852 PMCID: PMC6242908 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34377-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, a helical repeat family of organellar RNA binding proteins, play essential roles in post-transcriptional RNA processing. In Trypanosoma brucei, an expanded family of PPR proteins localize to the parasite’s single mitochondrion, where they are believed to perform important roles in both RNA processing and translation. We studied the RNA binding specificity of the simplest T. brucei PPR protein (KRIPP11) using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, fluorescence anisotropy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and in vitro selection. We found KRIPP11 to be an RNA binding protein with specificity for sequences of four or more consecutive guanosine residues (G-tracts). Such G-tracts are dramatically enriched in T. brucei mitochondrial transcripts that are destined for extensive uridine insertion/deletion editing but are not present in mRNAs following editing. We further found that the quadruplex oligoguanosine RNA conformation is preferentially recognized by KRIPP11 over other conformational forms, and is bound without disruption of the quadruplex structure. In combination with prior data demonstrating association of KRIPP11 with the small ribosomal subunit, these results suggest possible roles for KRIPP11 in bridging mRNA maturation and translation or in facilitating translation of unusual dual-coded open reading frames.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pakoyo F Kamba
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David A Dickson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neil A White
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jennifer L Ekstrom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Donna J Koslowsky
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA
| | - Charles G Hoogstraten
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1319, USA.
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23
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Antagonistic and cooperative AGO2-PUM interactions in regulating mRNAs. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15316. [PMID: 30333515 PMCID: PMC6192998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33596-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 1500 RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) profoundly impact mammalian cellular function by controlling distinct sets of transcripts, often using sequence-specific binding to 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) to regulate mRNA stability and translation. Aside from their individual effects, higher-order combinatorial interactions between RBPs on specific mRNAs have been proposed to underpin the regulatory network. To assess the extent of such co-regulatory control, we took a global experimental approach followed by targeted validation to examine interactions between two well-characterized and highly conserved RBPs, Argonaute2 (AGO2) and Pumilio (PUM1 and PUM2). Transcriptome-wide changes in AGO2-mRNA binding upon PUM knockdown were quantified by CLIP-seq, and the presence of PUM binding on the same 3′UTR corresponded with cooperative and antagonistic effects on AGO2 occupancy. In addition, PUM binding sites that overlap with AGO2 showed differential, weakened binding profiles upon abrogation of AGO2 association, indicative of cooperative interactions. In luciferase reporter validation of candidate 3′UTR sites where AGO2 and PUM colocalized, three sites were identified to host antagonistic interactions, where PUM counteracts miRNA-guided repression. Interestingly, the binding sites for the two proteins are too far for potential antagonism due to steric hindrance, suggesting an alternate mechanism. Our data experimentally confirms the combinatorial regulatory model and indicates that the mostly repressive PUM proteins can change their behavior in a context-dependent manner. Overall, the approach underscores the importance of further elucidation of complex interactions between RBPs and their transcriptome-wide extent.
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24
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Gallagher C, Ramos A. Joining the dots - protein-RNA interactions mediating local mRNA translation in neurons. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2932-2947. [PMID: 29856909 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Establishing and maintaining the complex network of connections required for neuronal communication requires the transport and in situ translation of large groups of mRNAs to create local proteomes. In this Review, we discuss the regulation of local mRNA translation in neurons and the RNA-binding proteins that recognise RNA zipcode elements and connect the mRNAs to the cellular transport networks, as well as regulate their translation control. However, mRNA recognition by the regulatory proteins is mediated by the combinatorial action of multiple RNA-binding domains. This increases the specificity and affinity of the interaction, while allowing the protein to recognise a diverse set of targets and mediate a range of mechanisms for translational regulation. The structural and molecular understanding of the interactions can be used together with novel microscopy and transcriptome-wide data to build a mechanistic framework for the regulation of local mRNA translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gallagher
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Andres Ramos
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK
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25
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Wang M, Ogé L, Perez-Garcia MD, Hamama L, Sakr S. The PUF Protein Family: Overview on PUF RNA Targets, Biological Functions, and Post Transcriptional Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020410. [PMID: 29385744 PMCID: PMC5855632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression plays a crucial role in many processes. In cells, it is mediated by diverse RNA-binding proteins. These proteins can influence mRNA stability, translation, and localization. The PUF protein family (Pumilio and FBF) is composed of RNA-binding proteins highly conserved among most eukaryotic organisms. Previous investigations indicated that they could be involved in many processes by binding corresponding motifs in the 3′UTR or by interacting with other proteins. To date, most of the investigations on PUF proteins have been focused on Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while only a few have been conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana. The present article provides an overview of the PUF protein family. It addresses their RNA-binding motifs, biological functions, and post-transcriptional control mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Arabidopsis thaliana. These items of knowledge open onto new investigations into the relevance of PUF proteins in specific plant developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Wang
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QUASAV, F-49045 Angers, France.
| | - Laurent Ogé
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QUASAV, F-49045 Angers, France.
| | | | - Latifa Hamama
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QUASAV, F-49045 Angers, France.
| | - Soulaiman Sakr
- IRHS, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, Université d'Angers, SFR 4207 QUASAV, F-49045 Angers, France.
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26
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Bohn JA, Van Etten JL, Schagat TL, Bowman BM, McEachin RC, Freddolino PL, Goldstrohm AC. Identification of diverse target RNAs that are functionally regulated by human Pumilio proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:362-386. [PMID: 29165587 PMCID: PMC5758885 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Pumilio proteins, PUM1 and PUM2, are sequence specific RNA-binding proteins that regulate protein expression. We used RNA-seq, rigorous statistical testing and an experimentally derived fold change cut-off to identify nearly 1000 target RNAs-including mRNAs and non-coding RNAs-that are functionally regulated by PUMs. Bioinformatic analysis defined a PUM Response Element (PRE) that was significantly enriched in transcripts that increased in abundance and matches the PUM RNA-binding consensus. We created a computational model that incorporates PRE position and frequency within an RNA relative to the magnitude of regulation. The model reveals significant correlation of PUM regulation with PREs in 3' untranslated regions (UTRs), coding sequences and non-coding RNAs, but not 5' UTRs. To define direct, high confidence PUM targets, we cross-referenced PUM-regulated RNAs with all PRE-containing RNAs and experimentally defined PUM-bound RNAs. The results define nearly 300 direct targets that include both PUM-repressed and, surprisingly, PUM-activated target RNAs. Annotation enrichment analysis reveal that PUMs regulate genes from multiple signaling pathways and developmental and neurological processes. Moreover, PUM target mRNAs impinge on human disease genes linked to cancer, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disease. These discoveries pave the way for determining how the PUM-dependent regulatory network impacts biological functions and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Bohn
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jamie L Van Etten
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Trista L Schagat
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Promega Corporation, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Brittany M Bowman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Richard C McEachin
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter L Freddolino
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Aaron C Goldstrohm
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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27
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Shinoda K, Tsuji S, Futaki S, Imanishi M. Nested PUF Proteins: Extending Target RNA Elements for Gene Regulation. Chembiochem 2017; 19:171-176. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kouki Shinoda
- Institute for Chemical Research Kyoto University Uji Kyoto 611-0011 Japan
| | - Shogo Tsuji
- Institute for Chemical Research Kyoto University Uji Kyoto 611-0011 Japan
| | - Shiroh Futaki
- Institute for Chemical Research Kyoto University Uji Kyoto 611-0011 Japan
| | - Miki Imanishi
- Institute for Chemical Research Kyoto University Uji Kyoto 611-0011 Japan
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28
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Bao H, Wang N, Wang C, Jiang Y, Liu J, Xu L, Wu J, Shi Y. Structural basis for the specific recognition of 18S rRNA by APUM23. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:12005-12014. [PMID: 29036323 PMCID: PMC5714250 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PUF (Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor) proteins, a conserved family of RNA-binding proteins, recognize specific single-strand RNA targets in a specific modular way. Although plants have a greater number of PUF protein members than do animal and fungal systems, they have been the subject of fewer structural and functional investigations. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of APUM23, a nucleolar PUF protein in the plant Arabidopsis, in pre-rRNA processing. APUM23 is distinct from classical PUF family proteins, which are located in the cytoplasm and bind to 3'UTRs of mRNA to modulate mRNA expression and localization. We found that the complete RNA target sequence of APUM23 comprises 11 nt in 18S rRNA at positions 1141-1151. The complex structure shows that APUM23 has 10 PUF repeats; it assembles into a C-shape, with an insertion located within the inner concave surface. We found several different RNA recognition features. A notable structural feature of APUM23 is an insertion in the third PUF repeat that participates in nucleotide recognition and maintains the correct conformation of the target RNA. Our findings elucidate the mechanism for APUM23's-specific recognition of 18S rRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Bao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Na Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Chongyuan Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yiyang Jiang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Jiuyang Liu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Li Xu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Jihui Wu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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29
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Jourdain AA, Popow J, de la Fuente MA, Martinou JC, Anderson P, Simarro M. The FASTK family of proteins: emerging regulators of mitochondrial RNA biology. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:10941-10947. [PMID: 29036396 PMCID: PMC5737537 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The FASTK family proteins have recently emerged as key post-transcriptional regulators of mitochondrial gene expression. FASTK, the founding member and its homologs FASTKD1-5 are architecturally related RNA-binding proteins, each having a different function in the regulation of mitochondrial RNA biology, from mRNA processing and maturation to ribosome assembly and translation. In this review, we outline the structure, evolution and function of these FASTK proteins and discuss the individual role that each has in mitochondrial RNA biology. In addition, we highlight the aspects of FASTK research that still require more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis A Jourdain
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Popow
- Department of Cancer Cell Signalling, Boehringer-Ingelheim Regional Center Vienna, 1121 Vienna, Austria
| | - Miguel A de la Fuente
- Departamento de Biología, Histología y Farmacología, Universidad de Valladolid, Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Valladolid 47003, Spain
| | | | - Paul Anderson
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria Simarro
- Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Valladolid, Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Valladolid 47003, Spain
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30
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Meurer J, Schmid LM, Stoppel R, Leister D, Brachmann A, Manavski N. PALE CRESS binds to plastid RNAs and facilitates the biogenesis of the 50S ribosomal subunit. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 92:400-413. [PMID: 28805278 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The plant-specific PALE CRESS (PAC) protein has previously been shown to be essential for photoautotrophic growth. Here we further investigated the molecular function of the PAC protein. PAC localizes to plastid nucleoids and forms large proteinaceous and RNA-containing megadalton complexes. It co-immunoprecipitates with a specific subset of chloroplast RNAs including psbK-psbI, ndhF, ndhD, and 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), as demonstrated by RNA immunoprecipitation in combination with high throughput RNA sequencing (RIP-seq) analyses. Furthermore, it co-migrates with premature 50S ribosomal particles and specifically binds to 23S rRNA in vitro. This coincides with severely reduced levels of 23S rRNA in pac leading to translational deficiencies and related alterations of plastid transcript patterns and abundance similar to plants treated with the translation inhibitor lincomycin. Thus, we conclude that deficiency in plastid ribosomes accounts for the pac phenotype. Moreover, the absence or reduction of PAC levels in the corresponding mutants induces structural changes of the 23S rRNA, as demonstrated by in vivo RNA structure probing. Our results indicate that PAC binds to the 23S rRNA to promote the biogenesis of the 50S subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Meurer
- Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Schmid
- Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rhea Stoppel
- Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dario Leister
- Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Andreas Brachmann
- Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nikolay Manavski
- Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Straße 2-4, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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31
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Li X, Liu S, Jiang J, Zhang L, Espinosa S, Hill RC, Hansen KC, Zhou ZH, Zhao R. CryoEM structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae U1 snRNP offers insight into alternative splicing. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1035. [PMID: 29051543 PMCID: PMC5648754 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01241-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
U1 snRNP plays a critical role in 5'-splice site recognition and is a frequent target of alternative splicing factors. These factors transiently associate with human U1 snRNP and are not amenable for structural studies, while their Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) homologs are stable components of U1 snRNP. Here, we report the cryoEM structure of yeast U1 snRNP at 3.6 Å resolution with atomic models for ten core proteins, nearly all essential domains of its RNA, and five stably associated auxiliary proteins. The foot-shaped yeast U1 snRNP contains a core in the "ball-and-toes" region architecturally similar to the human U1 snRNP. All auxiliary proteins are in the "arch-and-heel" region and connected to the core through the Prp42/Prp39 paralogs. Our demonstration that homodimeric human PrpF39 directly interacts with U1C-CTD, mirroring yeast Prp42/Prp39, supports yeast U1 snRNP as a model for understanding how transiently associated auxiliary proteins recruit human U1 snRNP in alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueni Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Shiheng Liu
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jiansen Jiang
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Lingdi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sara Espinosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ryan C Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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32
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Arvola RM, Weidmann CA, Tanaka Hall TM, Goldstrohm AC. Combinatorial control of messenger RNAs by Pumilio, Nanos and Brain Tumor Proteins. RNA Biol 2017; 14:1445-1456. [PMID: 28318367 PMCID: PMC5785226 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1306168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes possess a vast array of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that affect mRNAs in diverse ways to control protein expression. Combinatorial regulation of mRNAs by RBPs is emerging as the rule. No example illustrates this as vividly as the partnership of 3 Drosophila RBPs, Pumilio, Nanos and Brain Tumor, which have overlapping functions in development, stem cell maintenance and differentiation, fertility and neurologic processes. Here we synthesize 30 y of research with new insights into their molecular functions and mechanisms of action. First, we provide an overview of the key properties of each RBP. Next, we present a detailed analysis of their collaborative regulatory mechanism using a classic example of the developmental morphogen, hunchback, which is spatially and temporally regulated by the trio during embryogenesis. New biochemical, structural and functional analyses provide insights into RNA recognition, cooperativity, and regulatory mechanisms. We integrate these data into a model of combinatorial RNA binding and regulation of translation and mRNA decay. We then use this information, transcriptome wide analyses and bioinformatics predictions to assess the global impact of Pumilio, Nanos and Brain Tumor on gene regulation. Together, the results support pervasive, dynamic post-transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- René M Arvola
- a Department of Biological Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.,d Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota , USA
| | - Chase A Weidmann
- b Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- c Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences , National Institutes of Health , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina , USA
| | - Aaron C Goldstrohm
- d Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota , USA
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33
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Miranda RG, Rojas M, Montgomery MP, Gribbin KP, Barkan A. RNA-binding specificity landscape of the pentatricopeptide repeat protein PPR10. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:586-599. [PMID: 28108520 PMCID: PMC5340921 DOI: 10.1261/rna.059568.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins comprise a large family of helical repeat proteins that influence gene expression in mitochondria and chloroplasts. PPR tracts can bind RNA via a modular one repeat-one nucleotide mechanism in which the nucleotide is specified by the identities of several amino acids in each repeat. This mode of recognition, the so-called PPR code, offers opportunities for the prediction of native PPR binding sites and the design of proteins to bind specified RNAs. However, a deep understanding of the parameters that dictate the affinity and specificity of PPR-RNA interactions is necessary to realize these goals. We report a comprehensive analysis of the sequence specificity of PPR10, a protein that binds similar RNA sequences of ∼18 nucleotides (nt) near the chloroplast atpH and psaJ genes in maize. We assessed the contribution of each nucleotide in the atpH binding site to PPR10 affinity in vitro by analyzing the effects of single-nucleotide changes at each position. In a complementary approach, the RNAs bound by PPR10 from partially randomized RNA pools were analyzed by deep sequencing. The results revealed three patches in which nucleotide identity has a major impact on binding affinity. These include 5 nt for which protein contacts were not observed in a PPR10-RNA crystal structure and 4 nt that are not explained by current views of the PPR code. These findings highlight aspects of PPR-RNA interactions that pose challenges for binding site prediction and design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael G Miranda
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Margarita Rojas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | | | - Kyle P Gribbin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Alice Barkan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
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34
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Ferrari R, Tadini L, Moratti F, Lehniger MK, Costa A, Rossi F, Colombo M, Masiero S, Schmitz-Linneweber C, Pesaresi P. CRP1 Protein: (dis)similarities between Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:163. [PMID: 28261232 PMCID: PMC5309229 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Biogenesis of chloroplasts in higher plants is initiated from proplastids, and involves a series of processes by which a plastid able to perform photosynthesis, to synthesize amino acids, lipids, and phytohormones is formed. All plastid protein complexes are composed of subunits encoded by the nucleus and chloroplast genomes, which require a coordinated gene expression to produce the correct concentrations of organellar proteins and to maintain organelle function. To achieve this, hundreds of nucleus-encoded factors are imported into the chloroplast to control plastid gene expression. Among these factors, members of the Pentatricopeptide Repeat (PPR) containing protein family have emerged as key regulators of the organellar post-transcriptional processing. PPR proteins represent a large family in plants, and the extent to which PPR functions are conserved between dicots and monocots deserves evaluation, in light of differences in photosynthetic metabolism (C3 vs. C4) and localization of chloroplast biogenesis (mesophyll vs. bundle sheath cells). In this work we investigated the role played in the process of chloroplast biogenesis by At5g42310, a member of the Arabidopsis PPR family which we here refer to as AtCRP1 (Chloroplast RNA Processing 1), providing a comparison with the orthologous ZmCRP1 protein from Zea mays. Loss-of-function atcrp1 mutants are characterized by yellow-albinotic cotyledons and leaves owing to defects in the accumulation of subunits of the thylakoid protein complexes. As in the case of ZmCRP1, AtCRP1 associates with the 5' UTRs of both psaC and, albeit very weakly, petA transcripts, indicating that the role of CRP1 as regulator of chloroplast protein synthesis has been conserved between maize and Arabidopsis. AtCRP1 also interacts with the petB-petD intergenic region and is required for the generation of petB and petD monocistronic RNAs. A similar role has been also attributed to ZmCRP1, although the direct interaction of ZmCRP1 with the petB-petD intergenic region has never been reported, which could indicate that AtCRP1 and ZmCRP1 differ, in part, in their plastid RNA targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
| | - Luca Tadini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
| | - Fabio Moratti
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare PflanzenphysiologiePotsdam-Golm, Germany
| | | | - Alex Costa
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
| | - Fabio Rossi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
| | - Monica Colombo
- Centro Ricerca e Innovazione, Fondazione Edmund MachSan Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Simona Masiero
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Pesaresi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli studi di MilanoMilano, Italy
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