The Structure and Coding Specificity of a Lysine Transfer Ribonucleic Acid from the Haploid Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae αS288C

Selection of RNA aptamers imported into yeast and human mitochondria

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nuclear DNA-encoded is partially imported into mitochondria. We previously found that the synthetic transcripts of yeast tRNA(Lys) and a number of their mutant versions could be specifically internalized by isolated yeast and human mitochondria. The mitochondrial targeting of tRNA(Lys) in yeast was shown to depend on the cytosolic precursor of mitochondrial lysyl-tRNA synthetase and the glycolytic enzyme enolase. Here we applied the approach of in vitro selection (SELEX) to broaden the spectrum of importable tRNA-derived molecules. We found that RNAs selected for their import into isolated yeast mitochondria have lost the potential to acquire a classical tRNA-shape. Analysis of conformational rearrangements in the importable RNAs by in-gel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach permitted us to suggest that protein factor binding and subsequent import require formation of an alternative structure, different from a classic L-form tRNA model. We show that in the complex with targeting protein factor, enolase 2, tRK1 adopts a particular conformation characterized by bringing together the 3'-end and the TPsiC loop. This is a first evidence for implication of RNA secondary structure rearrangement in the mechanism of mitochondrial import selectivity. Based on these data, a set of small RNA molecules with significantly improved efficiency of import into yeast and human mitochondria was constructed, opening the possibility of creating a new mitochondrial vector system able to target therapeutic oligoribonucleotides into deficient human mitochondria.

Targeting of tRNA into yeast and human mitochondria: the role of anticodon nucleotides

In vivo, yeast mitochondria import a single cytoplasmic tRNA, tRNA(CUU)Lys, while human mitochondria do not import any cytoplasmic tRNA. We have previously demonstrated that both yeast and human isolated mitochondria can specifically internalize tRNA(CUU)Lys, several of its mutant versions and some mutant versions of yeast cytosolic tRNA(UUU)Lys (not imported in vivo). Aminoacylation of tRNA(CUU)Lys by the cytoplasmic lysyl-tRNA synthetase was a prerequisite for its import. Here we are studying the influence of one-base replacements in the anticodon of tRNAs(Lys) on their aminoacylation, on binding to the precursor of the mitochondrial lysyl-tRNA synthetase (carrier protein directing the import), and on the efficiency of import into isolated yeast and human mitochondria. We show that the base U35 is the main identity element for the yeast cytoplasmic lysyl-tRNA synthetase. The single replacement that abolished import was C34G, while all the others only modulated the import efficiency. The need of aminoacylation for import and for interaction with the carrier protein was shown only for a subset of mutant versions, while the others could be recognized and internalized without aminoacylation or in misacylated forms.

A hot-spot for transposition of various Ty elements on chromosome V in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ty4 is a novel transposable element in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is present in only a few copies in the genome (Stucka et al. 1989). In strain C836 one of the three copies (Ty4-90) is contained in cosmid clone c90, where it resides on chromosome V. Analysis of this region reveals a "hot-spot" of transposition: in addition to Ty4-90, the locus contains a complete Ty3 element and seven singular delta, sigma and tau elements. Three tRNA genes (for His, Lys, and Ile) are located in this region, and these are closely associated with one or the other of the elements, a phenomenon commonly observed in yeast. A comparison of c90 with corresponding regions from other strains shows that the locus is highly polymorphic and that this polymorphism is explicitly associated with Ty transposition and recombination events.

A small-angle X-ray scattering study of the complex formation between elongation factor Tu . GTP and valyl-tRNA Val I from Escherichia coli

The complex formation between elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) . GTP and valyl-tRNA Val 1 has been investigated using the small-angle X-ray scattering titration technique. The main species observed is a 1:1 complex with a stability constant log K greater than or equal to 6. The corresponding interaction between EF-Tu . GTP and non-aminoacylated tRNA appears to be much weaker with an estimated log K approximately equal to 4. The radius of gyration determined for the EF-Tu . GTP -- valyl-tRNA Val 1 complex is larger (R = 3.6 nm) than that of EF-Tu . GTP (R = 2.5 nm). Likewise, the maximum distance within this complex is larger (Dmax = 12.5 nm) than the one within EF-Tu . GTP (Dmax = 8.5 nm). These data as well as the p(r) curve are consistent with a multiellipsoid model for the complex. From this model it is indicated that the acceptor stem of tRNA is attached to EF-Tu and that the anticodon stem and loop protrude into the solution.

Nucleotide sequence of a lysine transfer ribonucleic Acid from bakers' yeast

The nucleotide sequence of one of the two major lysine transfer RNA's from bakers' yeast has been determined. Its structure is compared to that of a lysine tRNA from a haploid yeast. A total of 21 nucleotides differ in the two molecules. Only the T-psi-C-G (thymidine-pseudouridine-cytidine-guanosine) loop and its supporting stem are identical.