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Nainytė M, Müller F, Ganazzoli G, Chan CY, Crisp A, Globisch D, Carell T. Amino Acid Modified RNA Bases as Building Blocks of an Early Earth RNA-Peptide World. Chemistry 2020; 26:14856-14860. [PMID: 32573861 PMCID: PMC7756884 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202002929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fossils of extinct species allow us to reconstruct the process of Darwinian evolution that led to the species diversity we see on Earth today. The origin of the first functional molecules able to undergo molecular evolution and thus eventually able to create life, are largely unknown. The most prominent idea in the field posits that biology was preceded by an era of molecular evolution, in which RNA molecules encoded information and catalysed their own replication. This RNA world concept stands against other hypotheses, that argue for example that life may have begun with catalytic peptides and primitive metabolic cycles. The question whether RNA or peptides were first is addressed by the RNA‐peptide world concept, which postulates a parallel existence of both molecular species. A plausible experimental model of how such an RNA‐peptide world may have looked like, however, is absent. Here we report the synthesis and physicochemical evaluation of amino acid containing adenosine bases, which are closely related to molecules that are found today in the anticodon stem‐loop of tRNAs from all three kingdoms of life. We show that these adenosines lose their base pairing properties, which allow them to equip RNA with amino acids independent of the sequence context. As such we may consider them to be living molecular fossils of an extinct molecular RNA‐peptide world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milda Nainytė
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Felix Müller
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Giacomo Ganazzoli
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Chun-Yin Chan
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Antony Crisp
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Daniel Globisch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thomas Carell
- Department of Chemistry, LMU München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
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2
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Pichard-Kostuch A, Zhang W, Liger D, Daugeron MC, Létoquart J, Li de la Sierra-Gallay I, Forterre P, Collinet B, van Tilbeurgh H, Basta T. Structure-function analysis of Sua5 protein reveals novel functional motifs required for the biosynthesis of the universal t 6A tRNA modification. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 24:926-938. [PMID: 29650678 PMCID: PMC6004061 DOI: 10.1261/rna.066092.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
N6-threonyl-carbamoyl adenosine (t6A) is a universal tRNA modification found at position 37, next to the anticodon, in almost all tRNAs decoding ANN codons (where N = A, U, G, or C). t6A stabilizes the codon-anticodon interaction and hence promotes translation fidelity. The first step of the biosynthesis of t6A, the production of threonyl-carbamoyl adenylate (TC-AMP), is catalyzed by the Sua5/TsaC family of enzymes. While TsaC is a single domain protein, Sua5 enzymes are composed of the TsaC-like domain, a linker and an extra domain called SUA5 of unknown function. In the present study, we report structure-function analysis of Pyrococcus abyssi Sua5 (Pa-Sua5). Crystallographic data revealed binding sites for bicarbonate substrate and pyrophosphate product. The linker of Pa-Sua5 forms a loop structure that folds into the active site gorge and closes it. Using structure-guided mutational analysis, we established that the conserved sequence motifs in the linker and the domain-domain interface are essential for the function of Pa-Sua5. We propose that the linker participates actively in the biosynthesis of TC-AMP by binding to ATP/PPi and by stabilizing the N-carboxy-l-threonine intermediate. Hence, TsaC orthologs which lack such a linker and SUA5 domain use a different mechanism for TC-AMP synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Pichard-Kostuch
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Wenhua Zhang
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Dominique Liger
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Marie-Claire Daugeron
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Juliette Létoquart
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Ines Li de la Sierra-Gallay
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Patrick Forterre
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
- Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles, Département de Microbiologie, Institut Pasteur, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Collinet
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Herman van Tilbeurgh
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Tamara Basta
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
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3
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Function and Biosynthesis of the Universal tRNA Modification N6-Threonylcarbamoyl-Adenosine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-65795-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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4
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Wan LCK, Pillon MC, Thevakumaran N, Sun Y, Chakrabartty A, Guarné A, Kurinov I, Durocher D, Sicheri F. Structural and functional characterization of KEOPS dimerization by Pcc1 and its role in t6A biosynthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:6971-80. [PMID: 27302132 PMCID: PMC5001605 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEOPS is an ancient protein complex required for the biosynthesis of N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A), a universally conserved tRNA modification found on all ANN-codon recognizing tRNAs. KEOPS consist minimally of four essential subunits, namely the proteins Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121 and Pcc1, with yeast possessing the fifth essential subunit Gon7. Bud32, Cgi121, Pcc1 and Gon7 appear to have evolved to regulate the central t6A biosynthesis function of Kae1, but their precise function and mechanism of action remains unclear. Pcc1, in particular, binds directly to Kae1 and by virtue of its ability to form dimers in solution and in crystals, Pcc1 was inferred to function as a dimerization module for Kae1 and therefore KEOPS. We now present a 3.4 Å crystal structure of a dimeric Kae1–Pcc1 complex providing direct evidence that Pcc1 can bind and dimerize Kae1. Further biophysical analysis of a complete archaeal KEOPS complex reveals that Pcc1 facilitates KEOPS dimerization in vitro. Interestingly, while Pcc1-mediated dimerization of KEOPS is required to support the growth of yeast, it is dispensable for t6A biosynthesis by archaeal KEOPS in vitro, raising the question of how precisely Pcc1-mediated dimerization impacts cellular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo C K Wan
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Monica C Pillon
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Neroshan Thevakumaran
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yulong Sun
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1L7, Canada
| | - Avi Chakrabartty
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1L7, Canada
| | - Alba Guarné
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Igor Kurinov
- Cornell University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, NE-CAT, Building 436E, Advanced Photon Source, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Daniel Durocher
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Frank Sicheri
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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5
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Thiaville PC, Iwata-Reuyl D, de Crécy-Lagard V. Diversity of the biosynthesis pathway for threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t(6)A), a universal modification of tRNA. RNA Biol 2015; 11:1529-39. [PMID: 25629598 PMCID: PMC4615747 DOI: 10.4161/15476286.2014.992277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The tRNA modification field has a rich literature covering biochemical analysis going back more than 40 years, but many of the corresponding genes were only identified in the last decade. In recent years, comparative genomic-driven analysis has allowed for the identification of the genes and subsequent characterization of the enzymes responsible for N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A). This universal modification, located in the anticodon stem-loop at position 37 adjacent to the anticodon of tRNAs, is found in nearly all tRNAs that decode ANN codons. The t6A biosynthesis enzymes and synthesis pathways have now been identified, revealing both a core set of enzymes and kingdom-specific variations. This review focuses on the elucidation of the pathway, diversity of the synthesis genes, and proposes a new nomenclature for t6A synthesis enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Thiaville
- a Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program ; University of Florida ; Gainesville , FL USA
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Wan LCK, Mao DYL, Neculai D, Strecker J, Chiovitti D, Kurinov I, Poda G, Thevakumaran N, Yuan F, Szilard RK, Lissina E, Nislow C, Caudy AA, Durocher D, Sicheri F. Reconstitution and characterization of eukaryotic N6-threonylcarbamoylation of tRNA using a minimal enzyme system. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:6332-46. [PMID: 23620299 PMCID: PMC3695523 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The universally conserved Kae1/Qri7/YgjD and Sua5/YrdC protein families have been implicated in growth, telomere homeostasis, transcription and the N6-threonylcarbamoylation (t6A) of tRNA, an essential modification required for translational fidelity by the ribosome. In bacteria, YgjD orthologues operate in concert with the bacterial-specific proteins YeaZ and YjeE, whereas in archaeal and eukaryotic systems, Kae1 operates as part of a larger macromolecular assembly called KEOPS with Bud32, Cgi121, Gon7 and Pcc1 subunits. Qri7 orthologues function in the mitochondria and may represent the most primitive member of the Kae1/Qri7/YgjD protein family. In accordance with previous findings, we confirm that Qri7 complements Kae1 function and uncover that Qri7 complements the function of all KEOPS subunits in growth, t6A biosynthesis and, to a partial degree, telomere maintenance. These observations suggest that Kae1 provides a core essential function that other subunits within KEOPS have evolved to support. Consistent with this inference, Qri7 alone is sufficient for t6A biosynthesis with Sua5 in vitro. In addition, the 2.9 Å crystal structure of Qri7 reveals a simple homodimer arrangement that is supplanted by the heterodimerization of YgjD with YeaZ in bacteria and heterodimerization of Kae1 with Pcc1 in KEOPS. The partial complementation of telomere maintenance by Qri7 hints that KEOPS has evolved novel functions in higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo C K Wan
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
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7
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Lauhon CT. Mechanism of N6-threonylcarbamoyladenonsine (t(6)A) biosynthesis: isolation and characterization of the intermediate threonylcarbamoyl-AMP. Biochemistry 2012; 51:8950-63. [PMID: 23072323 DOI: 10.1021/bi301233d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and biochemical studies have recently implicated four proteins required in bacteria for the biosynthesis of the universal tRNA modified base N6-threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t(6)A). In this work, t(6)A biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis has been reconstituted in vitro and found to indeed require the four proteins YwlC (TsaC), YdiB (TsaE), YdiC (TsaB) and YdiE (TsaD). YwlC was found to catalyze the conversion of L-threonine, bicarbonate/CO(2) and ATP to give the intermediate L-threonylcarbamoyl-AMP (TC-AMP) and pyrophosphate as products. TC-AMP was isolated by HPLC and characterized by mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR. NMR analysis showed that TC-AMP decomposes to give AMP and a nearly equimolar mixture of L-threonine and 5-methyl-2-oxazolidinone-4-carboxylate as final products. Under physiological conditions (pH 7.5, 37 °C, 2 mM MgCl(2)), the half-life of TC-AMP was measured to be 3.5 min. Both YwlC (in the presence of pyrophosphatase) and its Escherichia coli homologue YrdC catalyze the formation of TC-AMP while producing only a small molar fraction of AMP. This suggests that CO(2) and not an activated form of bicarbonate is the true substrate for these enzymes. In the presence of pyrophosphate, both enzymes catalyze clean conversion of TC-AMP back to ATP. Purified TC-AMP is efficiently processed to t(6)A by the YdiBCE proteins in the presence of tRNA substrates. This reaction is ATP independent in vitro, despite the known ATPase activity of YdiB. The estimated rate of conversion of TC-AMP by YdiBCE to t(6)A is somewhat lower than the initial rate from L-threonine, bicarbonate and ATP, which together with the stability data, is consistent with previous studies that suggest channeling of this intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles T Lauhon
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.
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8
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Deutsch C, El Yacoubi B, de Crécy-Lagard V, Iwata-Reuyl D. Biosynthesis of threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t6A), a universal tRNA nucleoside. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:13666-73. [PMID: 22378793 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.344028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The anticodon stem-loop (ASL) of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) drives decoding by interacting directly with the mRNA through codon/anticodon pairing. Chemically complex nucleoside modifications found in the ASL at positions 34 or 37 are known to be required for accurate decoding. Although over 100 distinct modifications have been structurally characterized in tRNAs, only a few are universally conserved, among them threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t(6)A), found at position 37 in the anticodon loop of a subset of tRNA. Structural studies predict an important role for t(6)A in translational fidelity, and in vivo work supports this prediction. Although pioneering work in the 1970s identified the fundamental substrates for t(6)A biosynthesis, the enzymes responsible for its biosynthesis have remained an enigma. We report here the discovery that in bacteria four proteins (YgjD, YrdC, YjeE, and YeaZ) are both necessary and sufficient for t(6)A biosynthesis in vitro. Notably, YrdC and YgjD are members of universally conserved families that were ranked among the top 10 proteins of unknown function in need of functional characterization, while YeaZ and YjeE are specific to bacteria. This latter observation, coupled with the essentiality of all four proteins in bacteria, establishes this pathway as a compelling new target for antimicrobial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Deutsch
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207, USA
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Vendeix FAP, Murphy FV, Cantara WA, Leszczyńska G, Gustilo EM, Sproat B, Malkiewicz A, Agris PF. Human tRNA(Lys3)(UUU) is pre-structured by natural modifications for cognate and wobble codon binding through keto-enol tautomerism. J Mol Biol 2011; 416:467-85. [PMID: 22227389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.12.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Human tRNA(Lys3)(UUU) (htRNA(Lys3)(UUU)) decodes the lysine codons AAA and AAG during translation and also plays a crucial role as the primer for HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) reverse transcription. The posttranscriptional modifications 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine (mcm(5)s(2)U(34)), 2-methylthio-N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (ms(2)t(6)A(37)), and pseudouridine (Ψ(39)) in the tRNA's anticodon domain are critical for ribosomal binding and HIV-1 reverse transcription. To understand the importance of modified nucleoside contributions, we determined the structure and function of this tRNA's anticodon stem and loop (ASL) domain with these modifications at positions 34, 37, and 39, respectively (hASL(Lys3)(UUU)-mcm(5)s(2)U(34);ms(2)t(6)A(37);Ψ(39)). Ribosome binding assays in vitro revealed that the hASL(Lys3)(UUU)-mcm(5)s(2)U(34);ms(2)t(6)A(37);Ψ(39) bound AAA and AAG codons, whereas binding of the unmodified ASL(Lys3)(UUU) was barely detectable. The UV hyperchromicity, the circular dichroism, and the structural analyses indicated that Ψ(39) enhanced the thermodynamic stability of the ASL through base stacking while ms(2)t(6)A(37) restrained the anticodon to adopt an open loop conformation that is required for ribosomal binding. The NMR-restrained molecular-dynamics-derived solution structure revealed that the modifications provided an open, ordered loop for codon binding. The crystal structures of the hASL(Lys3)(UUU)-mcm(5)s(2)U(34);ms(2)t(6)A(37);Ψ(39) bound to the 30S ribosomal subunit with each codon in the A site showed that the modified nucleotides mcm(5)s(2)U(34) and ms(2)t(6)A(37) participate in the stability of the anticodon-codon interaction. Importantly, the mcm(5)s(2)U(34)·G(3) wobble base pair is in the Watson-Crick geometry, requiring unusual hydrogen bonding to G in which mcm(5)s(2)U(34) must shift from the keto to the enol form. The results unambiguously demonstrate that modifications pre-structure the anticodon as a key prerequisite for efficient and accurate recognition of cognate and wobble codons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck A P Vendeix
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7622, USA.
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Harris KA, Jones V, Bilbille Y, Swairjo MA, Agris PF. YrdC exhibits properties expected of a subunit for a tRNA threonylcarbamoyl transferase. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2011; 17:1678-1687. [PMID: 21775474 PMCID: PMC3162333 DOI: 10.1261/rna.2592411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The post-transcriptional nucleoside modifications of tRNA's anticodon domain form the loop structure and dynamics required for effective and accurate recognition of synonymous codons. The N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine modification at position 37 (t(6)A(37)), 3'-adjacent to the anticodon, of many tRNA species in all organisms ensures the accurate recognition of ANN codons by increasing codon affinity, enhancing ribosome binding, and maintaining the reading frame. However, biosynthesis of this complex modification is only partially understood. The synthesis requires ATP, free threonine, a single carbon source for the carbamoyl, and an enzyme yet to be identified. Recently, the universal protein family Sua5/YciO/YrdC was associated with t(6)A(37) biosynthesis. To further investigate the role of YrdC in t(6)A(37) biosynthesis, the interaction of the Escherichia coli YrdC with a heptadecamer anticodon stem and loop of lysine tRNA (ASL(Lys)(UUU)) was examined. YrdC bound the unmodified ASL(Lys)(UUU) with high affinity compared with the t(6)A(37)-modified ASL(Lys)(UUU) (K(d) = 0.27 ± 0.20 μM and 1.36 ± 0.39 μM, respectively). YrdC also demonstrated specificity toward the unmodified versus modified anticodon pentamer UUUUA and toward threonine and ATP. The protein did not significantly alter the ASL architecture, nor was it able to base flip A(37), as determined by NMR, circular dichroism, and fluorescence of 2-aminopuine at position 37. Thus, current data support the hypothesis that YrdC, with many of the properties of a putative threonylcarbamoyl transferase, most likely functions as a component of a heteromultimeric protein complex for t(6)A(37) biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A. Harris
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7622, USA
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, USA
| | - Victoria Jones
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7622, USA
| | - Yann Bilbille
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7622, USA
| | - Manal A. Swairjo
- Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
| | - Paul F. Agris
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, USA
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11
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Gerdes S, El Yacoubi B, Bailly M, Blaby IK, Blaby-Haas CE, Jeanguenin L, Lara-Núñez A, Pribat A, Waller JC, Wilke A, Overbeek R, Hanson AD, de Crécy-Lagard V. Synergistic use of plant-prokaryote comparative genomics for functional annotations. BMC Genomics 2011; 12 Suppl 1:S2. [PMID: 21810204 PMCID: PMC3223725 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-s1-s2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying functions for all gene products in all sequenced organisms is a central challenge of the post-genomic era. However, at least 30-50% of the proteins encoded by any given genome are of unknown or vaguely known function, and a large number are wrongly annotated. Many of these 'unknown' proteins are common to prokaryotes and plants. We set out to predict and experimentally test the functions of such proteins. Our approach to functional prediction integrates comparative genomics based mainly on microbial genomes with functional genomic data from model microorganisms and post-genomic data from plants. This approach bridges the gap between automated homology-based annotations and the classical gene discovery efforts of experimentalists, and is more powerful than purely computational approaches to identifying gene-function associations. RESULTS Among Arabidopsis genes, we focused on those (2,325 in total) that (i) are unique or belong to families with no more than three members, (ii) occur in prokaryotes, and (iii) have unknown or poorly known functions. Computer-assisted selection of promising targets for deeper analysis was based on homology-independent characteristics associated in the SEED database with the prokaryotic members of each family. In-depth comparative genomic analysis was performed for 360 top candidate families. From this pool, 78 families were connected to general areas of metabolism and, of these families, specific functional predictions were made for 41. Twenty-one predicted functions have been experimentally tested or are currently under investigation by our group in at least one prokaryotic organism (nine of them have been validated, four invalidated, and eight are in progress). Ten additional predictions have been independently validated by other groups. Discovering the function of very widespread but hitherto enigmatic proteins such as the YrdC or YgfZ families illustrates the power of our approach. CONCLUSIONS Our approach correctly predicted functions for 19 uncharacterized protein families from plants and prokaryotes; none of these functions had previously been correctly predicted by computational methods. The resulting annotations could be propagated with confidence to over six thousand homologous proteins encoded in over 900 bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic genomes currently available in public databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Gerdes
- Fellowship for Interpretation of Genomes, Burr Ridge, IL, USA
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12
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Kuratani M, Kasai T, Akasaka R, Higashijima K, Terada T, Kigawa T, Shinkai A, Bessho Y, Yokoyama S. Crystal structure of Sulfolobus tokodaii Sua5 complexed with L-threonine and AMPPNP. Proteins 2011; 79:2065-75. [PMID: 21538543 DOI: 10.1002/prot.23026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2010] [Revised: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The hypermodified nucleoside N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine resides at position 37 of tRNA molecules bearing U at position 36 and maintains translational fidelity in the three kingdoms of life. The N(6)-threonylcarbamoyl moiety is composed of L-threonine and bicarbonate, and its synthesis was genetically shown to require YrdC/Sua5. YrdC/Sua5 binds to tRNA and ATP. In this study, we analyzed the L-threonine-binding mode of Sua5 from the archaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements revealed that S. tokodaii Sua5 binds L-threonine more strongly than L-serine and glycine. The Kd values of Sua5 for L-threonine and L-serine are 9.3 μM and 2.6 mM, respectively. We determined the crystal structure of S. tokodaii Sua5, complexed with AMPPNP and L-threonine, at 1.8 Å resolution. The L-threonine is bound next to AMPPNP in the same pocket of the N-terminal domain. Thr118 and two water molecules form hydrogen bonds with AMPPNP in a unique manner for adenine-specific recognition. The carboxyl group and the side-chain hydroxyl and methyl groups of L-threonine are buried deep in the pocket, whereas the amino group faces AMPPNP. The L-threonine is located in a suitable position to react together with ATP for the synthesis of N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuo Kuratani
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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Daugeron MC, Lenstra TL, Frizzarin M, El Yacoubi B, Liu X, Baudin-Baillieu A, Lijnzaad P, Decourty L, Saveanu C, Jacquier A, Holstege FCP, de Crécy-Lagard V, van Tilbeurgh H, Libri D. Gcn4 misregulation reveals a direct role for the evolutionary conserved EKC/KEOPS in the t6A modification of tRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:6148-60. [PMID: 21459853 PMCID: PMC3152333 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The EKC/KEOPS complex is universally conserved in Archaea and Eukarya and has been implicated in several cellular processes, including transcription, telomere homeostasis and genomic instability. However, the molecular function of the complex has remained elusive so far. We analyzed the transcriptome of EKC/KEOPS mutants and observed a specific profile that is highly enriched in targets of the Gcn4p transcriptional activator. GCN4 expression was found to be activated at the translational level in mutants via the defective recognition of the inhibitory upstream ORFs (uORFs) present in its leader. We show that EKC/KEOPS mutants are defective for the N6-threonylcarbamoyl adenosine modification at position 37 (t6A37) of tRNAs decoding ANN codons, which affects initiation at the inhibitory uORFs and provokes Gcn4 de-repression. Structural modeling reveals similarities between Kae1 and bacterial enzymes involved in carbamoylation reactions analogous to t6A37 formation, supporting a direct role for the EKC in tRNA modification. These findings are further supported by strong genetic interactions of EKC mutants with a translation initiation factor and with threonine biosynthesis genes. Overall, our data provide a novel twist to understanding the primary function of the EKC/KEOPS and its impact on several essential cellular functions like transcription and telomere homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claire Daugeron
- LEA Laboratory of Nuclear RNA metabolism, Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS-FRE3144, 1 av de la Terrasse, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
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Soma A, Ikeuchi Y, Kanemasa S, Kobayashi K, Ogasawara N, Ote T, Kato JI, Watanabe K, Sekine Y, Suzuki T. An RNA-modifying enzyme that governs both the codon and amino acid specificities of isoleucine tRNA. Mol Cell 2003; 12:689-98. [PMID: 14527414 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(03)00346-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The AUA codon-specific isoleucine tRNA (tRNA(Ile)) in eubacteria has the posttranscriptionally modified nucleoside lysidine (L) at the wobble position of the anticodon (position 34). This modification is a lysine-containing cytidine derivative that converts both the codon specificity of tRNA(Ile) from AUG to AUA and its amino acid specificity from methionine to isoleucine. We identified an essential gene (tilS; tRNA(Ile)-lysidine synthetase) that is responsible for lysidine formation in both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme complexed specifically with tRNA(Ile) and synthesized L by utilizing ATP and lysine as substrates. The lysidine synthesis of this enzyme was shown to directly convert the amino acid specificity of tRNA(Ile) from methionine to isoleucine in vitro. Partial inactivation of tilS in vivo resulted in an AUA codon-dependent translational defect, which supports the notion that TilS is an RNA-modifying enzyme that plays a critical role in the accurate decoding of genetic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Soma
- Department of Life Science, College of Science, Rikkyo (St. Paul's) University, 3-34-1 Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan
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Reddy DM, Crain PF, Edmonds CG, Gupta R, Hashizume T, Stetter KO, Widdel F, McCloskey JA. Structure determination of two new amino acid-containing derivatives of adenosine from tRNA of thermophilic bacteria and archaea. Nucleic Acids Res 1992; 20:5607-15. [PMID: 1280806 PMCID: PMC334393 DOI: 10.1093/nar/20.21.5607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Two new nucleosides have been identified in unfractionated transfer RNA of two thermophilic bacteria, Thermodesulfobacterium commune, and Thermotoga maritima, six hyperthermophilic archaea, including Pyrobaculum islandicum, Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus sp. and two mesophilic archaea, Methanococcus vannielii and Methanolobus tindarius. Structures were determined primarily by mass spectrometry, as 3-hydroxy-N-[[(9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-9H-purin-6- yl)amino]carbonyl]norvaline, (hn6A), structure 1, and 3-hydroxy-N-[[(9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-9H-2-methylthiopurin-6- yl)amino]carbonyl]norvaline (ms2hn6A), 2. The amino acid side chain was characterized as 3-hydroxynorvaline (3) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl derivative after cleavage from 1 and 2 by alkaline hydrolysis. Evidence for the amino acid-purine carbamoyl linkage was obtained from the collision-induced dissociation mass spectrum of trimethylsilylated 1, and the total structure was confirmed by chemical synthesis of 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Reddy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112
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Chapter 1 Synthesis and Function of Modified Nucleosides in tRNA. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1990. [DOI: 10.1016/s0301-4770(08)61487-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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Ajitkumar P, Cherayil JD. Thionucleosides in transfer ribonucleic acid: diversity, structure, biosynthesis, and function. Microbiol Rev 1988; 52:103-13. [PMID: 3280963 PMCID: PMC372707 DOI: 10.1128/mr.52.1.103-113.1988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Katze JR, Simonian MH, Mosteller RD. Role of methionine in the synthesis of nucleoside Q in Escherichia coli transfer ribonucleic acid. J Bacteriol 1977; 132:174-9. [PMID: 334722 PMCID: PMC221842 DOI: 10.1128/jb.132.1.174-179.1977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that starvation of Rel Escherichia coli for methionine, but not leucine or histidine, results in chromatographically unique species of aspartyl-specific transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNAAsp) lacking the modified nucleoside Q. The present studies demonstrate that methionine starvation of Rel+ E. coli yields a qualitatively similar, but less pronounced, effect. Furthermore, during recovery from methionine starvation in Rel E. coli, the chromatographic elution pattern of tRNAAsp shifts towards that observed for unstarved cells after 1 h of recovery, and the shift appears complete after 2 h of recovery. This shift is inhibited by rifampin. Incorporation of [2-14C]methionine or [methyl-3H]methionine into growing cells of E. coli does not result in labeling of nucleoside Q. We interpret these findings to indicate that methionine has an indirect role in Q formation and that Q-deficient tRNA can be modified slowly to contain Q but that transcription is required. The chromatographic elution patterns of tRNAAsp from Rel E. coli starved for arginine, lysine, or glutamic acid indicate that these amino acids are not the source of the three- or five-carbon sequences in the modified portion of Q.
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Kitchingman GR, Fournier MJ. In vivo maturation of an undermodified Escherichia coli leucine transfer RNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1976; 73:314-22. [PMID: 793597 DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(76)90709-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Fournier MJ, Webb E, Kitchingman GR. General and specific effects of amino acid starvation on the formation of undermodified Escherichia coli phenylalanine tRNA. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1976; 454:97-113. [PMID: 791374 DOI: 10.1016/0005-2787(76)90358-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of undermodified phenylalanine tRNA produced in relaxed control E. coli during amino acid starvation was investigated. Examination of the RPC-5 elution profiles of tRNAPhe prepared from non-starved cells and cells starved of a variety of amino acids, including some known to be involved in the formation of modified bases revealed that: (1) only one species of fully modified tRNAPhe appears to occur in cells grown in enriched medium; (2) at least two chromatographically unique isoacceptor species are observed in addition to the normal tRNAPhe in starved cells; (3) the unique, undermodified species of tRNAPhe from leucine-starved cells, known to be deficient in dihydrouridine, pseudouridine, 2-thiomethyl-N6-(delta2-isopentenyl) adenosine and 3-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl) uridine, co-elute with the unique species produced in cells starved of histidine or arginine or treated with puromycin or chloramphenicol; (4) additional unique species of tRNAPhe can be detected in methyl- and sulfur-deficient tRNA from methionine- and cysteine-starved cells; (5) analysis of phenoxyacetylated tRNA revealed that the chromatographically unique and normal species from starved cells contain subspecies deficient in 3-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl) uridine; and (6) using phenoxyacetylation as a means of effecting the resolution of undermodified subspecies, a total of at least ten chromatographically unique subspecies of rRNAPhe were detected in an organism that appears to posses only one gene for tRNAPhe. Taken together, the results support the view that there are both general and specific effects of amino acid starvation on the post-transcriptional modification of tRNA.
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Kitchingman GR, Fournier MJ. Unbalanced growth and the production of unique transfer ribonucleic acids in relaxed-control Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 1975; 124:1382-94. [PMID: 1104585 PMCID: PMC236051 DOI: 10.1128/jb.124.3.1382-1394.1975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique leucine-, arginine-, valine-, and phenylalanine-specific transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNA's) produced in relaxed-control (rel-) Escherichia coli during leucine or arginine starvation are chromatographically similar to those produced by chloramphenicol treatment. The major unique rel- leucine-specific and phenylalanine-specific tRNA's are heterogeneous, accumulate with time of starvation, and can account for up to 70% of the respective amino acid acceptor activities. The changes which occur in the isoacceptor profiles for tRNALeu and tRNAPhe as a function of starvation time suggest that the unique species are undermodified precursors to the major isoacceptor species observed in nonstarved cells. Analyses of the isoacceptor patterns of tRNA from cells recovering from starvation suggest that the unique species of tRNALeu and tRNAPhe may not be normally occurring precursors. When leucine-starved cells were incubated in fresh, fully supplemented medium, the major unique tRNALeu and tRNAPhe appeared to be converted to normal species only slowly or not at all. The results are consistent with the view that some of the events in the post-transcriptional modification of tRNA may occur in an ordered sequence. An examination of the subcellular distribution of the unique leucine and phenylalanine tRNA's revealed that these species occur on the ribosome at about the same frequency as the major, normally occurring isoacceptor species. This result provides additional evidence of a precursor-product relationship for the unique and normal tRNA's and further indicates that there is no discrimination against the unique species by the ribosome.
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Körner A, Söll D. N-(purin-6-ylcarbamoyl)threonine: biosynthesis in vitro in transfer RNA by an enzyme purified from Escherichia coli. FEBS Lett 1974; 39:301-6. [PMID: 4604806 DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(74)80135-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Hong CI, Chheda GB, Murphy GP, Mittelman A. Metabolism of N-(purin-6-ylcarbamoyl)-L-threonine riboside in rat and man. Biochem Pharmacol 1973; 22:1927-36. [PMID: 4722460 DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(73)90053-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Powers DM, Peterkofsky A. The Presence of N-(Purin-6-ylcarbamoyl)threonine in Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Species Whose Codons Begin with Adenine. J Biol Chem 1972. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)44706-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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