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Ding D, Fang Z, Kim SC, O’Flaherty DK, Jia X, Stone TB, Zhou L, Szostak JW. Unusual Base Pair between Two 2-Thiouridines and Its Implication for Nonenzymatic RNA Copying. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3861-3871. [PMID: 38293747 PMCID: PMC10870715 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
2-Thiouridine (s2U) is a nucleobase modification that confers enhanced efficiency and fidelity both on modern tRNA codon translation and on nonenzymatic and ribozyme-catalyzed RNA copying. We have discovered an unusual base pair between two 2-thiouridines that stabilizes an RNA duplex to a degree that is comparable to that of a native A:U base pair. High-resolution crystal structures indicate similar base-pairing geometry and stacking interactions in duplexes containing s2U:s2U compared to those with U:U pairs. Notably, the C═O···H-N hydrogen bond in the U:U pair is replaced with a C═S···H-N hydrogen bond in the s2U:s2U base pair. The thermodynamic stability of the s2U:s2U base pair suggested that this self-pairing might lead to an increased error frequency during nonenzymatic RNA copying. However, competition experiments show that s2U:s2U base-pairing induces only a low level of misincorporation during nonenzymatic RNA template copying because the correct A:s2U base pair outcompetes the slightly weaker s2U:s2U base pair. In addition, even if an s2U is incorrectly incorporated, the addition of the next base is greatly hindered. This strong stalling effect would further increase the effective fidelity of nonenzymatic RNA copying with s2U. Our findings suggest that s2U may enhance the rate and extent of nonenzymatic copying with only a minimal cost in fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Ding
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ziyuan Fang
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Seohyun Chris Kim
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Derek K. O’Flaherty
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Xiwen Jia
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Talbot B. Stone
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn
Institute for RNA Innovation, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Lijun Zhou
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn
Institute for RNA Innovation, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jack W. Szostak
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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2
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Gibaut QR, Bush JA, Tong Y, Baisden JT, Taghavi A, Olafson H, Yao X, Childs-Disney JL, Wang ET, Disney MD. Transcriptome-Wide Studies of RNA-Targeted Small Molecules Provide a Simple and Selective r(CUG) exp Degrader in Myotonic Dystrophy. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1342-1353. [PMID: 37521782 PMCID: PMC10375898 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by a highly structured RNA repeat expansion, r(CUG)exp, harbored in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) mRNA and drives disease through a gain-of-function mechanism. A panel of low-molecular-weight fragments capable of reacting with RNA upon UV irradiation was studied for cross-linking to r(CUG)expin vitro, affording perimidin-2-amine diazirine (1) that bound to r(CUG)exp. The interactions between the small molecule and RNA were further studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Binding of 1 in DM1 myotubes was profiled transcriptome-wide, identifying 12 transcripts including DMPK that were bound by 1. Augmenting the functionality of 1 with cleaving capability created a chimeric degrader that specifically targets r(CUG)exp for elimination. The degrader broadly improved DM1-associated defects as assessed by RNA-seq, while having limited effects on healthy myotubes. This study (i) provides a platform to investigate molecular recognition of ligands directly in disease-affected cells; (ii) illustrates that RNA degraders can be more specific than the binders from which they are derived; and (iii) suggests that repeating transcripts can be selectively degraded due to the presence of multiple ligand binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin
M. R. Gibaut
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bush
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Yuquan Tong
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jared T. Baisden
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Amirhossein Taghavi
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Hailey Olafson
- Center
for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Department
of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Xiyuan Yao
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica L. Childs-Disney
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Eric T. Wang
- Center
for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Department
of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- The
Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical
Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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3
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Hoy A, Zheng YY, Sheng J, Royzen M. Bio-Orthogonal Chemistry Conjugation Strategy Facilitates Investigation of N-methyladenosine and Thiouridine Guide RNA Modifications on CRISPR Activity. CRISPR J 2022; 5:787-798. [PMID: 36378256 PMCID: PMC9805849 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2022.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas9 system is an important genome editing tool that holds enormous potential toward the treatment of human genetic diseases. Clinical success of CRISPR technology is dependent on the incorporation of modifications into the single-guide RNA (sgRNA). However, chemical synthesis of modified sgRNAs, which are over 100 nucleotides in length, is difficult and low-yielding. We developed a conjugation strategy that utilized bio-orthogonal chemistry to efficiently assemble functional sgRNAs containing nucleobase modifications. The described approach entails the chemical synthesis of two shorter RNA oligonucleotides: a 31-mer containing tetrazine (Tz) group and a 70-mer modified with a trans-cyclooctene (TCO) moiety. The two oligonucleotides were conjugated to form functional sgRNAs. The two-component conjugation methodology was utilized to synthesize a library of sgRNAs containing nucleobase modifications such as N1-methyladenosine (m1A), N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 2-thiouridine (s2U), and 4-thiouridine (s4U). The impact of these RNA modifications on overall CRISPR activity were investigated in vitro and in Cas9-expressing HEK293T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Hoy
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Ya Ying Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Jia Sheng
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA.,Address correspondence to: Jia Sheng, Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12222, USA,
| | - Maksim Royzen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA.,Address correspondence to: Maksim Royzen, Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12222, USA,
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4
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Jouravleva K, Golovenko D, Demo G, Dutcher RC, Hall TMT, Zamore PD, Korostelev AA. Structural basis of microRNA biogenesis by Dicer-1 and its partner protein Loqs-PB. Mol Cell 2022; 82:4049-4063.e6. [PMID: 36182693 PMCID: PMC9637774 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In animals and plants, Dicer enzymes collaborate with double-stranded RNA-binding domain (dsRBD) proteins to convert precursor-microRNAs (pre-miRNAs) into miRNA duplexes. We report six cryo-EM structures of Drosophila Dicer-1 that show how Dicer-1 and its partner Loqs‑PB cooperate (1) before binding pre-miRNA, (2) after binding and in a catalytically competent state, (3) after nicking one arm of the pre-miRNA, and (4) following complete dicing and initial product release. Our reconstructions suggest that pre-miRNA binds a rare, open conformation of the Dicer‑1⋅Loqs‑PB heterodimer. The Dicer-1 dsRBD and three Loqs‑PB dsRBDs form a tight belt around the pre-miRNA, distorting the RNA helix to place the scissile phosphodiester bonds in the RNase III active sites. Pre-miRNA cleavage shifts the dsRBDs and partially closes Dicer-1, which may promote product release. Our data suggest a model for how the Dicer‑1⋅Loqs‑PB complex affects a complete cycle of pre-miRNA recognition, stepwise endonuclease cleavage, and product release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Jouravleva
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dmitrij Golovenko
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gabriel Demo
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Robert C Dutcher
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Phillip D Zamore
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Andrei A Korostelev
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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5
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Haruehanroengra P, Zheng YY, Ma G, Lan TH, Hassan AEA, Zhou Y, Sheng J. Probing the Substrate Requirements of the in vitro Geranylation Activity of Selenouridine Synthase (SelU). Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200089. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ya Ying Zheng
- University at Albany Chemistry 1400 Washington Ave.Life Science 2033B 12222 Albany UNITED STATES
| | - Guolin Ma
- Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine: Texas A&M University College of Medicine Bioscience and Technology UNITED STATES
| | - Tien-Hung Lan
- Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine: Texas A&M University College of Medicine Bioscience and Technology UNITED STATES
| | | | - Yubin Zhou
- Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine: Texas A&M University College of Medicine Bioscience and Technology UNITED STATES
| | - Jia Sheng
- University at Albany State University of New York Chemistry 1400 Washington Ave.LSRB 2033B 12222 Albany UNITED STATES
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6
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Han J, Kervio E, Richert C. High Fidelity Enzyme-Free Primer Extension with an Ethynylpyridone Thymidine Analog. Chemistry 2021; 27:15918-15921. [PMID: 34559417 PMCID: PMC9293356 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202102996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
High fidelity base pairing is important for the transmission of genetic information. Weak base pairs can lower fidelity, complicating sequencing, amplification and replication of DNA. Thymidine 5′‐monophosphate (TMP) is the most weakly pairing nucleotide among the canonical deoxynucleotides, causing high errors rates in enzyme‐free primer extension. Here we report the synthesis of an ethynylpyridone C‐nucleoside analog of 3′‐amino‐2′,3′‐dideoxythymidine monophosphate and its incorporation in a growing strand by enzyme‐free primer extension. The ethynylpyridone C‐nucleotide accelerates extension more than five‐fold, reduces misincorporation and readily displaces TMP in competition experiments. The results bode well for the use of the C‐nucleoside as replacements for thymidine in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Han
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Eric Kervio
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Clemens Richert
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
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7
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Caruso ÍP, Sanches K, Da Poian AT, Pinheiro AS, Almeida FCL. Dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein N-terminal domain triggers RNA duplex destabilization. Biophys J 2021; 120:2814-2827. [PMID: 34197802 PMCID: PMC8239202 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.003] [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: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of betacoronaviruses is responsible for nucleocapsid assembly and other essential regulatory functions. The N protein N-terminal domain (N-NTD) interacts and melts the double-stranded transcriptional regulatory sequences (dsTRSs), regulating the discontinuous subgenome transcription process. Here, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the binding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 N-NTD to nonspecific (NS) and TRS dsRNAs. We probed dsRNAs' Watson-Crick basepairing over 25 replicas of 100 ns MD simulations, showing that only one N-NTD of dimeric N is enough to destabilize dsRNAs, triggering melting initiation. dsRNA destabilization driven by N-NTD was more efficient for dsTRSs than dsNS. N-NTD dynamics, especially a tweezer-like motion of β2-β3 and Δ2-β5 loops, seems to play a key role in Watson-Crick basepairing destabilization. Based on experimental information available in the literature, we constructed kinetics models for N-NTD-mediated dsRNA melting. Our results support a 1:1 stoichiometry (N-NTD/dsRNA), matching MD simulations and raising different possibilities for N-NTD action: 1) two N-NTD arms of dimeric N would bind to two different RNA sites, either closely or spatially spaced in the viral genome, in a cooperative manner; and 2) monomeric N-NTD would be active, opening up the possibility of a regulatory dissociation event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ícaro P Caruso
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation and Department of Physics, Institute of Biosciences, Letters and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Karoline Sanches
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation and Department of Physics, Institute of Biosciences, Letters and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea T Da Poian
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anderson S Pinheiro
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio C L Almeida
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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8
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Duzdevich D, Carr CE, Ding D, Zhang SJ, Walton TS, Szostak JW. Competition between bridged dinucleotides and activated mononucleotides determines the error frequency of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3681-3691. [PMID: 33744957 PMCID: PMC8053118 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates with activated nucleotides is a useful model for studying the emergence of heredity at the origin of life. Previous experiments with defined-sequence templates have pointed to the poor fidelity of primer extension as a major problem. Here we examine the origin of mismatches during primer extension on random templates in the simultaneous presence of all four 2-aminoimidazole-activated nucleotides. Using a deep sequencing approach that reports on millions of individual template-product pairs, we are able to examine correct and incorrect polymerization as a function of sequence context. We have previously shown that the predominant pathway for primer extension involves reaction with imidazolium-bridged dinucleotides, which form spontaneously by the reaction of two mononucleotides with each other. We now show that the sequences of correctly paired products reveal patterns that are expected from the bridged dinucleotide mechanism, whereas those associated with mismatches are consistent with direct reaction of the primer with activated mononucleotides. Increasing the ratio of bridged dinucleotides to activated mononucleotides, either by using purified components or by using isocyanide-based activation chemistry, reduces the error frequency. Our results point to testable strategies for the accurate nonenzymatic copying of arbitrary RNA sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Duzdevich
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 617 726 5102; Fax: +1 617 643 332;
| | - Christopher E Carr
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Dian Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Stephanie J Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Travis S Walton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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9
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Berg MD, Brandl CJ. Transfer RNAs: diversity in form and function. RNA Biol 2021; 18:316-339. [PMID: 32900285 PMCID: PMC7954030 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1809197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As the adaptor that decodes mRNA sequence into protein, the basic aspects of tRNA structure and function are central to all studies of biology. Yet the complexities of their properties and cellular roles go beyond the view of tRNAs as static participants in protein synthesis. Detailed analyses through more than 60 years of study have revealed tRNAs to be a fascinatingly diverse group of molecules in form and function, impacting cell biology, physiology, disease and synthetic biology. This review analyzes tRNA structure, biosynthesis and function, and includes topics that demonstrate their diversity and growing importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Berg
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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10
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Khan MT, Irfan M, Ahsan H, Ahmed A, Kaushik AC, Khan AS, Chinnasamy S, Ali A, Wei DQ. Structures of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Binding Proteins and Therapeutic Targets. Intervirology 2021; 64:55-68. [PMID: 33454715 PMCID: PMC7900486 DOI: 10.1159/000513686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic has resulted in thousands of infections and deaths worldwide. Several therapies are currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the development of new drugs and the repositioning of existing drugs can only be achieved after the identification of potential therapeutic targets within structures, as this strategy provides the most precise solution for developing treatments for sudden epidemic infectious diseases. Summary In the current investigation, crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structures encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genome were systematically examined for the identification of potential drug targets. These structures include nonstructural proteins (Nsp-9; Nsp-12; and Nsp-15), nucleocapsid (N) proteins, and the main protease (Mpro). Key Message The structural information reveals the presence of many potential alternative therapeutic targets, primarily involved in interaction between N protein and Nsp3, forming replication-transcription complexes (RTCs) which might be a potential drug target for effective control of current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RTCs consist of 16 nonstructural proteins (Nsp1-16) that play the most essential role in the synthesis of viral RNA. Targeting the physical linkage between the envelope and single-stranded positive RNA, a process facilitated by matrix proteins may provide a good alternative strategy. Our current study provides useful information for the development of new lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tahir Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.,School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hina Ahsan
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Abrar Ahmed
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Anwar Sheed Khan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan
| | - Sathishkumar Chinnasamy
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Arif Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, .,Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China,
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11
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Dinesh DC, Chalupska D, Silhan J, Koutna E, Nencka R, Veverka V, Boura E. Structural basis of RNA recognition by the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009100. [PMID: 33264373 PMCID: PMC7735635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 has an unusually large genome that encodes four structural proteins and sixteen nonstructural proteins. The structural nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N is essential for linking the viral genome to the viral membrane. Both N-terminal RNA binding (N-NTD) and C-terminal dimerization domains are involved in capturing the RNA genome and, the intrinsically disordered region between these domains anchors the ribonucleoprotein complex to the viral membrane. Here, we characterized the structure of the N-NTD and its interaction with RNA using NMR spectroscopy. We observed a positively charged canyon on the surface of the N-NTD that might serve as a putative RNA binding site similarly to other coronaviruses. The subsequent NMR titrations using single-stranded and double-stranded RNA revealed a much more extensive U-shaped RNA-binding cleft lined with regularly distributed arginines and lysines. The NMR data supported by mutational analysis allowed us to construct hybrid atomic models of the N-NTD/RNA complex that provided detailed insight into RNA recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominika Chalupska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Silhan
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eliska Koutna
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Nencka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Veverka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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12
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Dinesh DC, Chalupska D, Silhan J, Koutna E, Nencka R, Veverka V, Boura E. Structural basis of RNA recognition by the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein. PLoS Pathog 2020. [PMID: 33264373 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.02.022194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 has an unusually large genome that encodes four structural proteins and sixteen nonstructural proteins. The structural nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N is essential for linking the viral genome to the viral membrane. Both N-terminal RNA binding (N-NTD) and C-terminal dimerization domains are involved in capturing the RNA genome and, the intrinsically disordered region between these domains anchors the ribonucleoprotein complex to the viral membrane. Here, we characterized the structure of the N-NTD and its interaction with RNA using NMR spectroscopy. We observed a positively charged canyon on the surface of the N-NTD that might serve as a putative RNA binding site similarly to other coronaviruses. The subsequent NMR titrations using single-stranded and double-stranded RNA revealed a much more extensive U-shaped RNA-binding cleft lined with regularly distributed arginines and lysines. The NMR data supported by mutational analysis allowed us to construct hybrid atomic models of the N-NTD/RNA complex that provided detailed insight into RNA recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominika Chalupska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Silhan
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eliska Koutna
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Nencka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Veverka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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13
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Khan A, Tahir Khan M, Saleem S, Junaid M, Ali A, Shujait Ali S, Khan M, Wei DQ. Structural insights into the mechanism of RNA recognition by the N-terminal RNA-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2174-2184. [PMID: 32837710 PMCID: PMC7419326 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of recent SARS-CoV-2 has become a global health issue. This single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus is continuously spreading with increasing morbidities and mortalities. The proteome of this virus contains four structural and sixteen nonstructural proteins that ensure the replication of the virus in the host cell. However, the role of phosphoprotein (N) in RNA recognition, replicating, transcribing the viral genome, and modulating the host immune response is indispensable. Recently, the NMR structure of the N-terminal domain of the Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein has been reported, but its precise structural mechanism of how the ssRNA interacts with it is not reported yet. Therefore, here, we have used an integrated computational pipeline to identify the key residues, which play an essential role in RNA recognition. We generated multiple variants by using an alanine scanning strategy and performed an extensive simulation for each system to signify the role of each interfacial residue. Our analyses suggest that residues T57A, H59A, S105A, R107A, F171A, and Y172A significantly affected the dynamics and binding of RNA. Furthermore, per-residue energy decomposition analysis suggests that residues T57, H59, S105 and R107 are the key hotspots for drug discovery. Thus, these residues may be useful as potential pharmacophores in drug designing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Khan
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Muhammad Tahir Khan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shoaib Saleem
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320 Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Arif Ali
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Syed Shujait Ali
- Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mazhar Khan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- State Key Lab of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center on Antibacterial Resistances, Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Vanke Cloud City Phase I Building 8, Xili Street, Nashan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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14
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Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the single-stranded positive-sense RNA family. The virus contains a large genome that encodes four structural proteins, small envelope (E), matrix (M), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N), spike (S), and 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp1-16) that together, ensure replication of the virus in the host cell. Among these proteins, the interactions of N and Nsp3 are essential that links the viral genome for processing. The N proteins reside at CoV RNA synthesis sites known as the replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). The N-terminal of N has RNA-binding domain (N-NTD), capturing the RNA genome while the C-terminal domain (N-CTD) anchors the viral Nsp3, a component of RTCs. Although the structural information has been recently released, the residues involved in contacts between N-CTD with Nsp3 are still unknown. To find the residues involved in interactions between two proteins, three-dimensional structures of both proteins were retrieved and docked using HADDOCK. Residues at N-CTD were detected in interaction with L499, R500, K501, V502, P503, T504, D505, N506, Y507, I508, T509, K529, K530K532, S533 of Nsp3 and N-NTD to synthesize SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The interaction between Nsp3 and CTD of N protein may be a potential drug target. The current study provides information for better understanding the interaction between N protein and Nsp3 that could be a possible target for future inhibitors.
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15
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SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and Nsp3 binding: an in silico study. Arch Microbiol 2020; 203:59-66. [PMID: 32749662 PMCID: PMC7401470 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the single-stranded positive-sense RNA family. The virus contains a large genome that encodes four structural proteins, small envelope (E), matrix (M), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N), spike (S), and 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp1-16) that together, ensure replication of the virus in the host cell. Among these proteins, the interactions of N and Nsp3 are essential that links the viral genome for processing. The N proteins reside at CoV RNA synthesis sites known as the replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). The N-terminal of N has RNA-binding domain (N-NTD), capturing the RNA genome while the C-terminal domain (N-CTD) anchors the viral Nsp3, a component of RTCs. Although the structural information has been recently released, the residues involved in contacts between N-CTD with Nsp3 are still unknown. To find the residues involved in interactions between two proteins, three-dimensional structures of both proteins were retrieved and docked using HADDOCK. Residues at N-CTD were detected in interaction with L499, R500, K501, V502, P503, T504, D505, N506, Y507, I508, T509, K529, K530K532, S533 of Nsp3 and N-NTD to synthesize SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The interaction between Nsp3 and CTD of N protein may be a potential drug target. The current study provides information for better understanding the interaction between N protein and Nsp3 that could be a possible target for future inhibitors.
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16
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Ong AAL, Toh DFK, Krishna MS, Patil KM, Okamura K, Chen G. Incorporating 2-Thiouracil into Short Double-Stranded RNA-Binding Peptide Nucleic Acids for Enhanced Recognition of A-U Pairs and for Targeting a MicroRNA Hairpin Precursor. Biochemistry 2019; 58:3444-3453. [PMID: 31318532 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemically modified short peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) recognize RNA duplexes under near physiological conditions by major-groove PNA·RNA-RNA triplex formation and show great promise for the development of RNA-targeting probes and therapeutics. Thymine (T) and uracil (U) are often incorporated into PNAs to recognize A-U pairs through major-groove T·A-U and U·A-U base triple formation. Incorporation of a modified nucleobase, 2-thiouracil (s2U), into triplex-forming oligonucleotides stabilizes both DNA and RNA triplexes. Thiolation of uracil causes a decrease in the dehydration energy penalty for triplex formation as well as a decrease in the pKa of the N3 atom, which may result in improved hydrogen bonding in addition to enhanced base stacking interactions, similar to the previously reported thiolation effect of pseudoisocytosine (J to L substitution). Here, we incorporated s2U into short PNAs, followed by binding studies of a series of s2U-modified PNAs. We demonstrated by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and thermal melting experiments that s2U and L incorporated into dsRNA-binding PNAs (dbPNAs) enhance the recognition of A-U and G-C pairs, respectively, in RNA duplexes in a position-independent manner, with no appreciable binding to the DNA duplex. Combining s2U and L modifications in dbPNAs facilitates enhanced recognition of dsRNAs and maintains selective binding to dsRNAs over ssRNAs. We further demonstrated through a cell-free assay the application of the s2U- and L-modified dbPNAs (8-mer, with a molecular mass of ∼2.3 kDa) in the inhibition of the pre-microRNA-198 maturation in a substrate-specific manner. Thus, s2U-modified dbPNAs may be generally useful for the enhanced and selective recognition of RNA duplexes and for the regulation of RNA functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ann Lerk Ong
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies (HeathTech NTU), Interdisciplinary Graduate School , Nanyang Technological University , 50 Nanyang Drive , Singapore 637553.,Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Desiree-Faye Kaixin Toh
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Manchugondanahalli S Krishna
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Kiran M Patil
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Katsutomo Okamura
- Division of Biological Sciences , Nara Institute of Science and Technology , 8916-5 Takayama , Ikoma , Nara 630-0192 , Japan
| | - Gang Chen
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
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17
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Zhu L, Kandasamy SK, Fukunaga R. Dicer partner protein tunes the length of miRNAs using base-mismatch in the pre-miRNA stem. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:3726-3741. [PMID: 29373753 PMCID: PMC5909426 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dicer partner proteins Drosophila Loquacious-PB (Loqs-PB) and human TRBP tune the length of miRNAs produced by Dicer from a subset of pre-miRNAs and thereby alter their target repertoire, by an unknown mechanism. Here, we developed a novel high-throughput method that we named Dram-seq (Dice randomized pre-miRNA pool and seq) to study length distributions of miRNAs produced from thousands of different pre-miRNA variants. Using Dram-seq, we found that a base-mismatch in the pre-miRNA stem can alter the length of miRNAs compared with a base-pair at the same position in both Drosophila and human, and is important for the miRNA length tuning by Loqs-PB. Loqs-PB directly bound base-mismatched nucleotides in the pre-miRNA stem. We speculate that Loqs-PB tunes miRNA length by changing the conformation of base-mismatched nucleotides in the pre-miRNA stem to that of base-paired ones and thereby altering the distance of the pre-miRNA stem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, 521A Physiology Building, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Suresh K Kandasamy
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, 521A Physiology Building, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ryuya Fukunaga
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, 521A Physiology Building, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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18
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Habuchi T, Yamaguchi T, Aoyama H, Horiba M, Ito KR, Obika S. Hybridization and Mismatch Discrimination Abilities of 2',4'-Bridged Nucleic Acids Bearing 2-Thiothymine or 2-Selenothymine Nucleobase. J Org Chem 2019; 84:1430-1439. [PMID: 30632750 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b02863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Oligonucleotides modified with 2'- O,4'- C-spirocyclopropylene-bridged nucleic acid (scpBNA) exhibit excellent duplex-forming ability with their complementary single-stranded RNA (ssRNA). Here, we demonstrate that scpBNA bearing a 2-thiothymine (scpBNA-S2T) or 2-selenothymine (scpBNA-Se2T) nucleobase provides robust mismatch discrimination capabilities to oligonucleotides without compromising their high binding affinities toward the full complementary ssRNA. X-ray crystallographic analysis of a self-assembling oligonucleotide featuring 2',4'-BNA/LNA-2-thiothymine (2',4'-BNA/LNA-S2T, where 2',4'-BNA and LNA stand for "2'- O,4'- C-methylene-bridged nucleic acid" and "locked nucleic acid", respectively), a prototype of scpBNA-S2T, revealed that the 2-thiocarbonyl moiety plays a crucial role in the destabilization of thymine-guanine mismatched wobble base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaki Habuchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
| | - Takao Yamaguchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
| | - Hiroshi Aoyama
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
| | - Masahiko Horiba
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
| | - Kosuke Ramon Ito
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
| | - Satoshi Obika
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Osaka University , 1-6 Yamadaoka , Suita , Osaka 565-0871 , Japan
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19
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Jabgunde AM, Jaziri F, Bande O, Froeyen M, Abramov M, Nguyen H, Schepers G, Lescrinier E, Pinheiro VB, Pezo V, Marlière P, Herdewijn P. Methylated Nucleobases: Synthesis and Evaluation for Base Pairing In Vitro and In Vivo. Chemistry 2018; 24:12695-12707. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit M. Jabgunde
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Faten Jaziri
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope; Institut François Jacob; CEA; CNRS; Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay; 91057 Evry France
| | - Omprakash Bande
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Hoai Nguyen
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Guy Schepers
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Vitor B. Pinheiro
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology; University College London; Darwin Building, Gower Street London WC1E 6BT United Kingdom
| | - Valérie Pezo
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope; Institut François Jacob; CEA; CNRS; Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay; 91057 Evry France
| | - Philippe Marlière
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope; Institut François Jacob; CEA; CNRS; Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay; 91057 Evry France
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- KU Leuven; Rega Institute; Medicinal Chemistry; Herestraat 49 box 1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
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20
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Yang Y, Wang S. RNA Characterization by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy. Chemistry 2018; 24:8698-8707. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201705583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering and Beijing NMR Center; Peking University; No.5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100871 P. R. China
| | - Shenlin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering and Beijing NMR Center; Peking University; No.5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing 100871 P. R. China
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21
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Prywes N, Michaels YS, Pal A, Oh SS, Szostak JW. Thiolated uridine substrates and templates improve the rate and fidelity of ribozyme-catalyzed RNA copying. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 52:6529-32. [PMID: 27109314 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc02692c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ribozyme-catalyzed RNA polymerization is inefficient and error prone. Here we demonstrate that two alternative bases, 2-thio-uridine (s(2)U) and 2-thio-ribo-thymidine (s(2)T), improve the rate and fidelity of ribozyme catalyzed nucleotide addition as NTP substrates and as template bases. We also demonstrate the functionality of s(2)U and s(2)T-containing ribozymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Prywes
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Yale S Michaels
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA and Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ayan Pal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
| | - Seung Soo Oh
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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22
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Sochacka E, Lodyga-Chruscinska E, Pawlak J, Cypryk M, Bartos P, Ebenryter-Olbinska K, Leszczynska G, Nawrot B. C5-substituents of uridines and 2-thiouridines present at the wobble position of tRNA determine the formation of their keto-enol or zwitterionic forms - a factor important for accuracy of reading of guanosine at the 3΄-end of the mRNA codons. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:4825-4836. [PMID: 28088758 PMCID: PMC5416851 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified nucleosides present in the wobble position of the tRNA anticodons regulate protein translation through tuning the reading of mRNA codons. Among 40 of such nucleosides, there are modified uridines containing either a sulfur atom at the C2 position and/or a substituent at the C5 position of the nucleobase ring. It is already evidenced that tRNAs with 2-thiouridines at the wobble position preferentially read NNA codons, while the reading mode of the NNG codons by R5U/R5S2U-containing anticodons is still elusive. For a series of 18 modified uridines and 2-thiouridines, we determined the pKa values and demonstrated that both modifying elements alter the electron density of the uracil ring and modulate the acidity of their N3H proton. In aqueous solutions at physiological pH the 2-thiouridines containing aminoalkyl C5-substituents are ionized in ca. 50%. The results, confirmed also by theoretical calculations, indicate that the preferential binding of the modified units bearing non-ionizable 5-substituents to guanosine in the NNG codons may obey the alternative C-G-like (Watson–Crick) mode, while binding of those bearing aminoalkyl C5-substituents (protonated under physiological conditions) and especially those with a sulfur atom at the C2 position, adopt a zwitterionic form and interact with guanosine via a ‘new wobble’ pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Sochacka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Lodyga-Chruscinska
- Institute of General Food Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Justyna Pawlak
- Institute of General Food Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Marek Cypryk
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363 Lodz, Poland
| | - Paulina Bartos
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ebenryter-Olbinska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland.,Department of Computer Modeling, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363 Lodz, Poland
| | - Grazyna Leszczynska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Barbara Nawrot
- Department of Computer Modeling, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363 Lodz, Poland
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23
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Chen JL, VanEtten DM, Fountain MA, Yildirim I, Disney MD. Structure and Dynamics of RNA Repeat Expansions That Cause Huntington's Disease and Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Biochemistry 2017; 56:3463-3474. [PMID: 28617590 PMCID: PMC5810133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RNA repeat expansions cause a host of incurable, genetically defined diseases. The most common class of RNA repeats consists of trinucleotide repeats. These long, repeating transcripts fold into hairpins containing 1 × 1 internal loops that can mediate disease via a variety of mechanism(s) in which RNA is the central player. Two of these disorders are Huntington's disease and myotonic dystrophy type 1, which are caused by r(CAG) and r(CUG) repeats, respectively. We report the structures of two RNA constructs containing three copies of a r(CAG) [r(3×CAG)] or r(CUG) [r(3×CUG)] motif that were modeled with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and simulated annealing with restrained molecular dynamics. The 1 × 1 internal loops of r(3×CAG) are stabilized by one-hydrogen bond (cis Watson-Crick/Watson-Crick) AA pairs, while those of r(3×CUG) prefer one- or two-hydrogen bond (cis Watson-Crick/Watson-Crick) UU pairs. Assigned chemical shifts for the residues depended on the identity of neighbors or next nearest neighbors. Additional insights into the dynamics of these RNA constructs were gained by molecular dynamics simulations and a discrete path sampling method. Results indicate that the global structures of the RNA are A-form and that the loop regions are dynamic. The results will be useful for understanding the dynamic trajectory of these RNA repeats but also may aid in the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Damian M. VanEtten
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063, United States
| | - Matthew A. Fountain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063, United States
| | - Ilyas Yildirim
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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24
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Insight into the mechanism of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension from the structure of an RNA-GpppG complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7659-7664. [PMID: 28673998 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1704006114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates with imidazole-activated nucleotides is a well-studied model for the emergence of RNA self-replication during the origin of life. We have recently discovered that this reaction can proceed through the formation of an imidazolium-bridged dinucleotide intermediate that reacts rapidly with the primer. To gain insight into the relationship between the structure of this intermediate and its reactivity, we cocrystallized an RNA primer-template complex with a close analog of the intermediate, the triphosphate-bridged guanosine dinucleotide GpppG, and solved a high-resolution X-ray structure of the complex. The structure shows that GpppG binds the RNA template through two Watson-Crick base pairs, with the primer 3'-hydroxyl oriented to attack the 5'-phosphate of the adjacent G residue. Thus, the GpppG structure suggests that the bound imidazolium-bridged dinucleotide intermediate would be preorganized to react with the primer by in-line SN2 substitution. The structures of bound GppG and GppppG suggest that the length and flexibility of the 5'-5' linkage are important for optimal preorganization of the complex, whereas the position of the 5'-phosphate of bound pGpG explains the slow rate of oligonucleotide ligation reactions. Our studies provide a structural interpretation for the observed reactivity of the imidazolium-bridged dinucleotide intermediate in nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.
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25
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Houlihan G, Arangundy-Franklin S, Holliger P. Engineering and application of polymerases for synthetic genetics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 48:168-179. [PMID: 28601700 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Organic chemistry has systematically probed the chemical determinants of function in nucleic acids by variation to the nucleobase, sugar ring and backbone moieties to build synthetic genetic polymers. Concomitantly, protein engineering has advanced to allow the discovery of polymerases capable of utilizing modified nucleotide analogs. A conjunction of these two lines of investigation in nucleotide chemistry and molecular biology has given rise to a new field of synthetic genetics dedicated to the exploration of the capacity of these novel, synthetic nucleic acids for the storage and propagation of genetic information, for evolution and for crosstalk, that is, information exchange with the natural genetic system. Here we summarize recent progress in synthetic genetics, specifically in the design of novel unnatural basepairs to expand the genetic alphabet as well as progress in engineering polymerases capable of templated synthesis, reverse transcription and evolution of synthetic genetic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Houlihan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
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26
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Lu N, Bu Y. Computational design of three Cu-induced triangular pyrimidines based DNA motifs with improved conductivity. CAN J CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2016-0595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Novel DNA triangular pyrimidine derivatives are designed by metal decoration through replacement of H by Cu in the Watson–Crick hydrogen bond region. The DFT method is used to examine the coordination of triangle-arranged Cu with three pyrimidines in nonplanar three-bladed turbine geometries. The Cu···Cu cuprophilic bonds are ascribed to the partially occupied d orbitals without direct molecular orbital (MO) interactions. Four-center bonds depend on Cu–N/O bonds, which are contributed by p orbitals of N/O atoms along or perpendicular to the bond axis. The activity of frontier MOs is modulated, leading to the decrease of gaps, ionization potentials (IPs), and electron affinities (EAs) desired for the improvement of conductivity. The hole trapping ability is assured by virtue of the spin density distributed on Cu. On average, the single electron density is located on π orbitals of three aromatic base rings. There is paramagnetic electron delocalization on the inner d orbitals of triangle region. The analysis of electron localization function ELF-π and electrostatic potential maps reveals that the outer strong π–π stacking interaction together with the inner d orbital channel enable effective transduction of electrical signals along the Cu–DNA nanowires. The 3Cu-induced triangular pyrimidines have important potential applications as structural motifs of molecular electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Lu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P. R. China, 271018
| | - Yuxiang Bu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, P. R. China, 250100
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27
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Agris PF, Narendran A, Sarachan K, Väre VYP, Eruysal E. The Importance of Being Modified: The Role of RNA Modifications in Translational Fidelity. Enzymes 2017; 41:1-50. [PMID: 28601219 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The posttranscriptional modifications of tRNA's anticodon stem and loop (ASL) domain represent a third level, a third code, to the accuracy and efficiency of translating mRNA codons into the correct amino acid sequence of proteins. Modifications of tRNA's ASL domain are enzymatically synthesized and site specifically located at the anticodon wobble position-34 and 3'-adjacent to the anticodon at position-37. Degeneracy of the 64 Universal Genetic Codes and the limitation in the number of tRNA species require some tRNAs to decode more than one codon. The specific modification chemistries and their impact on the tRNA's ASL structure and dynamics enable one tRNA to decode cognate and "wobble codons" or to expand recognition to synonymous codons, all the while maintaining the translational reading frame. Some modified nucleosides' chemistries prestructure tRNA to read the two codons of a specific amino acid that shares a twofold degenerate codon box, and other chemistries allow a different tRNA to respond to all four codons of a fourfold degenerate codon box. Thus, tRNA ASL modifications are critical and mutations in genes for the modification enzymes and tRNA, the consequences of which is a lack of modification, lead to mistranslation and human disease. By optimizing tRNA anticodon chemistries, structure, and dynamics in all organisms, modifications ensure translational fidelity of mRNA transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Agris
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States.
| | - Amithi Narendran
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Kathryn Sarachan
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Ville Y P Väre
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Emily Eruysal
- The RNA Institute, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States
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28
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Li L, Prywes N, Tam CP, O'Flaherty DK, Lelyveld VS, Izgu EC, Pal A, Szostak JW. Enhanced Nonenzymatic RNA Copying with 2-Aminoimidazole Activated Nucleotides. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:1810-1813. [PMID: 28117989 PMCID: PMC6326525 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Achieving efficient nonenzymatic replication of RNA is an important step toward the synthesis of self-replicating protocells that may mimic early forms of life. Despite recent progress, the nonenzymatic copying of templates containing mixed sequences remains slow and inefficient. Here we demonstrate that activating nucleotides with 2-aminoimidazole results in superior reaction kinetics and improved yields of primer extension reaction products. This new leaving group significantly accelerates monomer addition as well as trimer-assisted RNA primer extension, allowing efficient copying of a variety of short RNA templates with mixed sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Noam Prywes
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Chun Pong Tam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Derek K O'Flaherty
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Victor S Lelyveld
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Enver Cagri Izgu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ayan Pal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
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29
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Zhang W, Tam CP, Wang J, Szostak JW. Unusual Base-Pairing Interactions in Monomer-Template Complexes. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2016; 2:916-926. [PMID: 28058281 PMCID: PMC5200924 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.6b00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Many high-resolution crystal structures have contributed to our understanding of the reaction pathway for catalysis by DNA and RNA polymerases, but the structural basis of nonenzymatic template-directed RNA replication has not been studied in comparable detail. Here we present crystallographic studies of the binding of ribonucleotide monomers to RNA primer-template complexes, with the goal of improving our understanding of the mechanism of nonenzymatic RNA copying, and of catalysis by polymerases. To explore how activated ribonucleotides recognize and bind to RNA templates, we synthesized an unreactive phosphonate-linked pyrazole analogue of guanosine 5'-phosphoro-2-methylimidazolide (2-MeImpG), a highly activated nucleotide that has been used extensively to study nonenzymatic primer extension. We cocrystallized this analogue with structurally rigidified RNA primer-template complexes carrying single or multiple monomer binding sites, and obtained high-resolution X-ray structures of these complexes. In addition to Watson-Crick base pairing, we repeatedly observed noncanonical guanine:cytidine base pairs in our crystal structures. In most structures, the phosphate and leaving group moieties of the monomers were highly disordered, while in others the distance from O3' of the primer to the phosphorus of the incoming monomer was too great to allow for reaction. We suggest that these effects significantly influence the rate and fidelity of nonenzymatic RNA replication, and that even primitive ribozyme polymerases could enhance RNA replication by enforcing Watson-Crick base pairing between monomers and primer-template complexes, and by bringing the reactive functional groups into closer proximity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Chun Pong Tam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Jiawei Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jack W. Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department
of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative
Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard
University, 12 Oxford
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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30
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Wang R, Ranganathan SV, Basanta-Sanchez M, Shen F, Chen A, Sheng J. Synthesis and base pairing studies of geranylated 2-thiothymidine, a natural variant of thymidine. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 51:16369-72. [PMID: 26405057 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc07479g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and base pairing of DNA duplexes containing the geranylated 2-thiothymidine have been investigated. This naturally existing hydrophobic modification could grant better base pairing stability to the T-G pair over normal T-A and other mismatched pairs in the duplex context. This study provides a potential explanation for the different codon recognition preferences of the geranylated tRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA. and The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Srivathsan V Ranganathan
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Maria Basanta-Sanchez
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Fusheng Shen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA. and The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Alan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA. and The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jia Sheng
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA. and The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222, USA
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31
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Hwang CS, Xu L, Wang W, Ulrich S, Zhang L, Chong J, Shin JH, Huang X, Kool ET, McKenna CE, Wang D. Functional interplay between NTP leaving group and base pair recognition during RNA polymerase II nucleotide incorporation revealed by methylene substitution. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:3820-8. [PMID: 27060150 PMCID: PMC4857003 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (pol II) utilizes a complex interaction network to select and incorporate correct nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) substrates with high efficiency and fidelity. Our previous 'synthetic nucleic acid substitution' strategy has been successfully applied in dissecting the function of nucleic acid moieties in pol II transcription. However, how the triphosphate moiety of substrate influences the rate of P-O bond cleavage and formation during nucleotide incorporation is still unclear. Here, by employing β,γ-bridging atom-'substituted' NTPs, we elucidate how the methylene substitution in the pyrophosphate leaving group affects cognate and non-cognate nucleotide incorporation. Intriguingly, the effect of the β,γ-methylene substitution on the non-cognate UTP/dT scaffold (∼3-fold decrease in kpol) is significantly different from that of the cognate ATP/dT scaffold (∼130-fold decrease in kpol). Removal of the wobble hydrogen bonds in U:dT recovers a strong response to methylene substitution of UTP. Our kinetic and modeling studies are consistent with a unique altered transition state for bond formation and cleavage for UTP/dT incorporation compared with ATP/dT incorporation. Collectively, our data reveals the functional interplay between NTP triphosphate moiety and base pair hydrogen bonding recognition during nucleotide incorporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candy S Hwang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0744, USA
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0625, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0625, USA
| | - Sébastien Ulrich
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5017, USA Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 CNRS, Université Montpellier, ENSCM, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, 8 Rue de l'Ecole Normale, 34296 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Systems Biology and Human Health, School of Science and Institute for Advance Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Jenny Chong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0625, USA
| | - Ji Hyun Shin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0625, USA
| | - Xuhui Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Systems Biology and Human Health, School of Science and Institute for Advance Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Eric T Kool
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5017, USA
| | - Charles E McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0744, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0625, USA
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32
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McKenney KM, Alfonzo JD. From Prebiotics to Probiotics: The Evolution and Functions of tRNA Modifications. Life (Basel) 2016; 6:E13. [PMID: 26985907 PMCID: PMC4810244 DOI: 10.3390/life6010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
All nucleic acids in cells are subject to post-transcriptional chemical modifications. These are catalyzed by a myriad of enzymes with exquisite specificity and that utilize an often-exotic array of chemical substrates. In no molecule are modifications more prevalent than in transfer RNAs. In the present document, we will attempt to take a chemical rollercoaster ride from prebiotic times to the present, with nucleoside modifications as key players and tRNA as the centerpiece that drove the evolution of biological systems to where we are today. These ideas will be put forth while touching on several examples of tRNA modification enzymes and their modus operandi in cells. In passing, we submit that the choice of tRNA is not a whimsical one but rather highlights its critical function as an essential invention for the evolution of protein enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M McKenney
- The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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33
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Lu N, Bu Y, Wang H. Intensified effects of multi-Cu modification on the electronic properties of the modified base pairs containing hetero-ring-expanded pyrimidine bases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:2913-23. [PMID: 26733396 DOI: 10.1039/c5cp06133d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Novel DNA base pair derivatives (A2CunU, A2CunC, G3CunU, and G3CunC) are designed by aromatic expansion of pyrimidine bases with four kinds of hetero-rings (denoted by nC and nU, n = 1, 2, 3, and 4) and metal-decoration through Cu replacement of hydrogens in the Watson-Crick hydrogen bond region. Their structures and properties are calculated for examining the cooperative effects of the two modification ways. The calculated results reveal that multiple Cu decoration makes up the deficiencies of size-expansion, and exhibits not only increase of structural stability and reduction of ionization potentials, but also ideal shrink of the HOMO-LUMO gaps, notable enhancement of interbase coupling as well as remarkable redshifts of π → π* transitions for all M-x modified base pairs. The decrease extents of the gaps and ionization potentials follow the same order G3CunU > G3CunC > A2CunU > A2CunC, and in each series (denoted by different n), the gaps, ionization potentials and first π → π* transition energies have an order of 4 < 1 < 2 < 3. The Cu d orbitals function as bridges for π electron delocalization on the conjugated aromatic rings of two bases, leading to an enhancement of transverse electronic communication, as verified by spin density delocalization, orbital composition changes, redshift of the π → π* transition and also advocated by the electron-sharing indexes such as delocalization index, Mayer bond orders and multicenter bonding. Electron localization function ELF-π isosurfaces above the molecular plane further suggested that effective longitudinal conduction is closely relevant with the bicyclic domain involving good electron delocalization and strong π-π stacking between layers. This work presents theoretical evidence for the cooperative effects of metal decoration and ring-expansion modifications on the electronic properties of the modified base pairs and also proves that the base pairs designed here could be competent building blocks for the DNA-based nanowires with improved electron activity and excellent conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Lu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, P. R. China and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China.
| | - Yuxiang Bu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China.
| | - Huatian Wang
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, P. R. China
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Manickam N, Joshi K, Bhatt MJ, Farabaugh PJ. Effects of tRNA modification on translational accuracy depend on intrinsic codon-anticodon strength. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:1871-81. [PMID: 26704976 PMCID: PMC4770228 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular health and growth requires protein synthesis to be both efficient to ensure sufficient production, and accurate to avoid producing defective or unstable proteins. The background of misreading error frequency by individual tRNAs is as low as 2 × 10−6 per codon but is codon-specific with some error frequencies above 10−3 per codon. Here we test the effect on error frequency of blocking post-transcriptional modifications of the anticodon loops of four tRNAs in Escherichia coli. We find two types of responses to removing modification. Blocking modification of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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}{}${\rm tRNA}_{{\rm UUC}}^{{\rm Glu}}$\end{document} and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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}{}${\rm tRNA}^{\rm Asp}_{\rm QUC}$\end{document} increases errors, suggesting that the modifications act at least in part to maintain accuracy. Blocking even identical modifications of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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}{}${\rm tRNA}^{\rm Lys}_{\rm UUU}$\end{document} and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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}{}${\rm tRNA}^{\rm Tyr}_{\rm QUA}$\end{document} has the opposite effect of decreasing errors. One explanation could be that the modifications play opposite roles in modulating misreading by the two classes of tRNAs. Given available evidence that modifications help preorder the anticodon to allow it to recognize the codons, however, the simpler explanation is that unmodified ‘weak’ tRNAs decode too inefficiently to compete against cognate tRNAs that normally decode target codons, which would reduce the frequency of misreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Manickam
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Kartikeya Joshi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Monika J Bhatt
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Philip J Farabaugh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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35
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Lelyveld VS, Björkbom A, Ransey EM, Sliz P, Szostak JW. Pinpointing RNA-Protein Cross-Links with Site-Specific Stable Isotope-Labeled Oligonucleotides. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:15378-81. [PMID: 26583201 PMCID: PMC4697197 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b10596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
![]()
High affinity RNA-protein interactions
are critical to cellular
function, but directly identifying the determinants of binding within
these complexes is often difficult. Here, we introduce a stable isotope
mass labeling technique to assign specific interacting nucleotides
in an oligonucleotide-protein complex by photo-cross-linking. The
method relies on generating site-specific oxygen-18-labeled phosphodiester
linkages in oligonucleotides, such that covalent peptide-oligonucleotide
cross-link sites arising from ultraviolet irradiation can be assigned
to specific sequence positions in both RNA and protein simultaneously
by mass spectrometry. Using Lin28A and a let-7 pre-element RNA, we
demonstrate that mass labeling permits unambiguous identification
of the cross-linked sequence positions in the RNA-protein complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor S Lelyveld
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Anders Björkbom
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University , Åbo FI-20520, Finland
| | | | | | - Jack W Szostak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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36
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Francuski BM, Novaković SB, Ostojić BD, Francuski DD, Bogdanović GA. Electronic features and hydrogen bonding capacity of the sulfur acceptor in thioureido-based compounds. Part 2. Further insight by theoretical charge density study. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2015.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Larsen AT, Fahrenbach AC, Sheng J, Pian J, Szostak JW. Thermodynamic insights into 2-thiouridine-enhanced RNA hybridization. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:7675-87. [PMID: 26240387 PMCID: PMC4652770 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleobase modifications dramatically alter nucleic acid structure and thermodynamics. 2-thiouridine (s(2)U) is a modified nucleobase found in tRNAs and known to stabilize U:A base pairs and destabilize U:G wobble pairs. The recently reported crystal structures of s(2)U-containing RNA duplexes do not entirely explain the mechanisms responsible for the stabilizing effect of s(2)U or whether this effect is entropic or enthalpic in origin. We present here thermodynamic evaluations of duplex formation using ITC and UV thermal denaturation with RNA duplexes containing internal s(2)U:A and s(2)U:U pairs and their native counterparts. These results indicate that s(2)U stabilizes both duplexes. The stabilizing effect is entropic in origin and likely results from the s(2)U-induced preorganization of the single-stranded RNA prior to hybridization. The same preorganizing effect is likely responsible for structurally resolving the s(2)U:U pair-containing duplex into a single conformation with a well-defined H-bond geometry. We also evaluate the effect of s(2)U on single strand conformation using UV- and CD-monitored thermal denaturation and on nucleoside conformation using (1)H NMR spectroscopy, MD and umbrella sampling. These results provide insights into the effects that nucleobase modification has on RNA structure and thermodynamics and inform efforts toward improving both ribozyme-catalyzed and nonenzymatic RNA copying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron T Larsen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Department of Molecular Biology, Simches Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Albert C Fahrenbach
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Department of Molecular Biology, Simches Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Jia Sheng
- University at Albany, State University of New York, Department of Chemistry, The RNA Institute, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Julia Pian
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Department of Molecular Biology, Simches Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Department of Molecular Biology, Simches Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
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