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Orthogonal translation enables heterologous ribosome engineering in E. coli. Nat Commun 2021; 12:599. [PMID: 33500394 PMCID: PMC7838251 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20759-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The ribosome represents a promising avenue for synthetic biology, but its complexity and essentiality have hindered significant engineering efforts. Heterologous ribosomes, comprising rRNAs and r-proteins derived from different microorganisms, may offer opportunities for novel translational functions. Such heterologous ribosomes have previously been evaluated in E. coli via complementation of a genomic ribosome deficiency, but this method fails to guide the engineering of refractory ribosomes. Here, we implement orthogonal ribosome binding site (RBS):antiRBS pairs, in which engineered ribosomes are directed to researcher-defined transcripts, to inform requirements for heterologous ribosome functionality. We discover that optimized rRNA processing and supplementation with cognate r-proteins enhances heterologous ribosome function for rRNAs derived from organisms with ≥76.1% 16S rRNA identity to E. coli. Additionally, some heterologous ribosomes undergo reduced subunit exchange with E. coli-derived subunits. Cumulatively, this work provides a general framework for heterologous ribosome engineering in living cells.
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D'Ascenzo L, Vicens Q, Auffinger P. Identification of receptors for UNCG and GNRA Z-turns and their occurrence in rRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:7989-7997. [PMID: 29986118 PMCID: PMC6125677 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to GNRA tetraloop receptors that are common in RNA, receptors for the more thermostable UNCG loops have remained elusive for almost three decades. An analysis of all RNA structures with resolution ≤3.0 Å from the PDB allowed us to identify three previously unnoticed receptors for UNCG and GNRA tetraloops that adopt a common UNCG fold, named ‘Z-turn’ in agreement with our previously published nomenclature. These receptors recognize the solvent accessible second Z-turn nucleotide in different but specific ways. Two receptors participating in a complex network of tertiary interactions are associated with the rRNA UUCG and GAAA Z-turns capping helices H62 and H35a in rRNA large subunits. Structural comparison of fully assembled ribosomes and comparative sequence analysis of >6500 rRNA sequences helped us recognize that these motifs are almost universally conserved in rRNA, where they may contribute to organize the large subunit around the subdomain-IV four-way junction. The third UCCG receptor was identified in a rRNA/protein construct crystallized at acidic pH. These three non-redundant Z-turn receptors are relevant for our understanding of the assembly of rRNA and other long-non-coding RNAs, as well as for the design of novel folding motifs for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi D'Ascenzo
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France.,Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Quentin Vicens
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Pascal Auffinger
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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Abstract
The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is a single layer of polarized epithelial cells which plays many important roles for visual function. One of such roles is production of visual chromophore, 11-cis-retinal through the visual cycle. The visual cycle consists of biochemical processes for regenerating chromophore by a collective action of the RPE and photoreceptor. Photoreceptors harbor the G protein-coupled receptors, opsin which enables to receive light when it bounds to 11-cis-retinal. With absorption of a photon of light, 11-cis-retinal photoisomerizes to all-trans-retinal. All-trans-retinal reduces to all-trans-retinol in the photoreceptor and further recycles back to 11-cis-retinal in the RPE. Acyltransferases and isomerohydrolase(s) along with retinol dehydrogenases sequentially convert all-trans-retinol to 11-cis-retinal in the RPE. Dysfunctions of any retinoid cycle enzymes in the RPE can cause retinal diseases. Phenotyping RPE functions by the use of mutant mouse models will provide great detailed biochemical insights of the visual cycle and further manipulative strategies to protect against retinal degeneration. Here, we describe biochemical analyses of the visual cycle in mouse models using RPE cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhubanananda Sahu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Akiko Maeda
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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d'Aquino AE, Kim DS, Jewett MC. Engineered Ribosomes for Basic Science and Synthetic Biology. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2018; 9:311-340. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-060817-084129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ribosome is the cell's factory for protein synthesis. With protein synthesis rates of up to 20 amino acids per second and at an accuracy of 99.99%, the extraordinary catalytic capacity of the bacterial translation machinery has attracted extensive efforts to engineer, reconstruct, and repurpose it for biochemical studies and novel functions. Despite these efforts, the potential for harnessing the translation apparatus to manufacture bio-based products beyond natural limits remains underexploited, and fundamental constraints on the chemistry that the ribosome's RNA-based active site can carry out are unknown. This review aims to cover the past and present advances in ribosome design and engineering to understand the fundamental biology of the ribosome to facilitate the construction of synthetic manufacturing machines. The prospects for the development of engineered, or designer, ribosomes for novel polymer synthesis are reviewed, future challenges are considered, and promising advances in a variety of applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E. d'Aquino
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Do Soon Kim
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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Carr CE, Marky LA. Effect of GCAA stabilizing loops on three- and four-way intramolecular junctions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:5046-5056. [PMID: 29388988 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp08329g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Tetraloops are a common way of changing the melting behavior of a DNA or RNA structure without changing the sequence of the stem. Because of the ubiquitous nature of tetraloops, our goal is to understand the effect a GCAA tetraloop, which belongs to the GNRA family of tetraloops, has on the unfolding thermodynamics of intramolecular junctions. Specifically, we have described the melting behavior of intramolecular three-way and four-way junctions where a T5 loop has been replaced with a GCAA tetraloops in different positions. Their thermodynamic profiles, including ΔnNa+ and ΔnW, were analyzed based on the position of the tetraloop. We obtained between -16.7 and -27.5 kcal mol-1 for all junctions studied. The experimental data indicates the influence of the GCAA tetraloop is primarily dictated by the native unfolding of the junction; if the tetraloop is placed on a stem that unfolds as a single domain when the tetraloop is not present, it will unfold as a single domain when the tetraloop is present but with a higher thermal stability. Conversely, if the tetraloop is placed on a stem which unfolds cooperatively with other stems when the tetraloop is not present, the tetraloop will increase the thermal stability of all the stems in the melting domain. The oligonucleotide structure and not the tetraloop itself affects ion uptake; three-way junctions do not gain an increase in ion uptake, but four-way junctions do. This is not the case for water immobilization, where the position of the tetraloop dictates the amount of water immobilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn E Carr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986025 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6025, USA.
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Mukherjee D, Bhattacharyya D. Intrinsic structural variability in GNRA-like tetraloops: insight from molecular dynamics simulation. J Mol Model 2017; 23:300. [DOI: 10.1007/s00894-017-3470-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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D'Ascenzo L, Leonarski F, Vicens Q, Auffinger P. Revisiting GNRA and UNCG folds: U-turns versus Z-turns in RNA hairpin loops. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:259-269. [PMID: 27999116 PMCID: PMC5311481 DOI: 10.1261/rna.059097.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
When thinking about RNA three-dimensional structures, coming across GNRA and UNCG tetraloops is perceived as a boon since their folds have been extensively described. Nevertheless, analyzing loop conformations within RNA and RNP structures led us to uncover several instances of GNRA and UNCG loops that do not fold as expected. We noticed that when a GNRA does not assume its "natural" fold, it adopts the one we typically associate with a UNCG sequence. The same folding interconversion may occur for loops with UNCG sequences, for instance within tRNA anticodon loops. Hence, we show that some structured tetranucleotide sequences starting with G or U can adopt either of these folds. The underlying structural basis that defines these two fold types is the mutually exclusive stacking of a backbone oxygen on either the first (in GNRA) or the last nucleobase (in UNCG), generating an oxygen-π contact. We thereby propose to refrain from using sequences to distinguish between loop conformations. Instead, we suggest using descriptors such as U-turn (for "GNRA-type" folds) and a newly described Z-turn (for "UNCG-type" folds). Because tetraloops adopt for the largest part only two (inter)convertible turns, we are better able to interpret from a structural perspective loop interchangeability occurring in ribosomes and viral RNA. In this respect, we propose a general view on the inclination for a given sequence to adopt (or not) a specific fold. We also suggest how long-noncoding RNAs may adopt discrete but transient structures, which are therefore hard to predict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi D'Ascenzo
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Filip Leonarski
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Quentin Vicens
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Auffinger
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
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Haldar S, Kührová P, Banáš P, Spiwok V, Šponer J, Hobza P, Otyepka M. Insights into Stability and Folding of GNRA and UNCG Tetraloops Revealed by Microsecond Molecular Dynamics and Well-Tempered Metadynamics. J Chem Theory Comput 2016; 11:3866-77. [PMID: 26574468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5b00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RNA hairpins capped by 5'-GNRA-3' or 5'-UNCG-3' tetraloops (TLs) are prominent RNA structural motifs. Despite their small size, a wealth of experimental data, and recent progress in theoretical simulations of their structural dynamics and folding, our understanding of the folding and unfolding processes of these small RNA elements is still limited. Theoretical description of the folding and unfolding processes requires robust sampling, which can be achieved by either an exhaustive time scale in standard molecular dynamics simulations or sophisticated enhanced sampling methods, using temperature acceleration or biasing potentials. Here, we study structural dynamics of 5'-GNRA-3' and 5'-UNCG-3' TLs by 15-μs-long standard simulations and a series of well-tempered metadynamics, attempting to accelerate sampling by bias in a few chosen collective variables (CVs). Both methods provide useful insights. The unfolding and refolding mechanisms of the GNRA TL observed by well-tempered metadynamics agree with the (reverse) folding mechanism suggested by recent replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. The orientation of the glycosidic bond of the GL4 nucleobase is critical for the UUCG TL folding pathway, and our data strongly support the hypothesis that GL4-anti forms a kinetic trap along the folding pathway. Along with giving useful insight, our study also demonstrates that using only a few CVs apparently does not capture the full folding landscape of the RNA TLs. Despite using several sophisticated selections of the CVs, formation of the loop appears to remain a hidden variable, preventing a full convergence of the metadynamics. Finally, our data suggest that the unfolded state might be overstabilized by the force fields used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanta Haldar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Gilead Science Research Center, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague , Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Kührová
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc , tř. 17. Listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Banáš
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc , tř. 17. Listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Spiwok
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague , Technická 3, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hobza
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Gilead Science Research Center, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic.,Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc , tř. 17. Listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc , tř. 17. Listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Abeyrathne PD, Koh CS, Grant T, Grigorieff N, Korostelev AA. Ensemble cryo-EM uncovers inchworm-like translocation of a viral IRES through the ribosome. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27159452 PMCID: PMC4896748 DOI: 10.7554/elife.14874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) mediate cap-independent translation of viral mRNAs. Using electron cryo-microscopy of a single specimen, we present five ribosome structures formed with the Taura syndrome virus IRES and translocase eEF2•GTP bound with sordarin. The structures suggest a trajectory of IRES translocation, required for translation initiation, and provide an unprecedented view of eEF2 dynamics. The IRES rearranges from extended to bent to extended conformations. This inchworm-like movement is coupled with ribosomal inter-subunit rotation and 40S head swivel. eEF2, attached to the 60S subunit, slides along the rotating 40S subunit to enter the A site. Its diphthamide-bearing tip at domain IV separates the tRNA-mRNA-like pseudoknot I (PKI) of the IRES from the decoding center. This unlocks 40S domains, facilitating head swivel and biasing IRES translocation via hitherto-elusive intermediates with PKI captured between the A and P sites. The structures suggest missing links in our understanding of tRNA translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cha San Koh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Timothy Grant
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Nikolaus Grigorieff
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Andrei A Korostelev
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
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Liu Q, Fredrick K. Intersubunit Bridges of the Bacterial Ribosome. J Mol Biol 2016; 428:2146-64. [PMID: 26880335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The ribosome is a large two-subunit ribonucleoprotein machine that translates the genetic code in all cells, synthesizing proteins according to the sequence of the mRNA template. During translation, the primary substrates, transfer RNAs, pass through binding sites formed between the two subunits. Multiple interactions between the ribosomal subunits, termed intersubunit bridges, keep the ribosome intact and at the same time govern dynamics that facilitate the various steps of translation such as transfer RNA-mRNA movement. Here, we review the molecular nature of these intersubunit bridges, how they change conformation during translation, and their functional roles in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, Department of Microbiology, and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kurt Fredrick
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, Department of Microbiology, and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Clabbers MTB, Olsthoorn RCL, Gultyaev AP. Tospovirus ambisense genomic RNA segments use almost complete repertoire of stable tetraloops in the intergenic region. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 30:1800-4. [PMID: 24590440 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btu122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The intergenic regions of the ambisense RNA segments of viruses from the Tospovirus genus form large extended RNA structures that regulate virus replication. Using comparative structure analysis, we show the presence of conserved alternative conformations at the apical parts of these structures. In one conformation, a branched Y-shape, the 5'-proximal hairpin arms are mostly capped by exceptionally stable tetraloop motifs. The tetraloop hairpins are folded in both virus and virus-complementary sense RNAs, and different tetraloops can functionally replace each other. Folding simulations show that the branched Y-shape structures can undergo a conformational transition to alternative extended rod-like conformations. Functional importance of both alternatives is supported by nucleotide covariations. The balanced equilibrium between alternative structures is evidenced by native gel electrophoresis of mutant RNA transcripts with shifted equilibria. The tetraloops play a role in the stability and dynamics of structures but may also be recognized by proteins involved in translation and/or replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T B Clabbers
- Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden and Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rene C L Olsthoorn
- Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden and Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander P Gultyaev
- Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden and Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsInstitute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden and Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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