Poly(U) polymerase in rat brain

Gradual processing of the ITS1 from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm during synthesis of the human 18S rRNA

Defects in ribosome biogenesis trigger stress response pathways, which perturb cell proliferation and differentiation in several genetic diseases. In Diamond–Blackfan anemia (DBA), a congenital erythroblastopenia, mutations in ribosomal protein genes often interfere with the processing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), the mechanism of which remains elusive in human cells. Using loss-of-function experiments and extensive RNA analysis, we have defined the precise position of the endonucleolytic cleavage E in the ITS1, which generates the 18S-E intermediate, the last precursor to the 18S rRNA. Unexpectedly, this cleavage is followed by 3′–5′ exonucleolytic trimming of the 18S-E precursor during nuclear export of the pre-40S particle, which sets a new mechanism for 18S rRNA formation clearly different from that established in yeast. In addition, cleavage at site E is also followed by 5′–3′ exonucleolytic trimming of the ITS1 by exonuclease XRN2. Perturbation of this step on knockdown of the large subunit ribosomal protein RPL26, which was recently associated to DBA, reveals the putative role of a highly conserved cis-acting sequence in ITS1 processing. These data cast new light on the original mechanism of ITS1 elimination in human cells and provide a mechanistic framework to further study the interplay of DBA-linked ribosomal proteins in this process.

Identification of terminal adenylyl transferase activity of the poliovirus polymerase 3Dpol

A terminal adenylyl transferase (TATase) activity has been identified in preparations of purified poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (3Dpol). Highly purified 3Dpol is capable of adding [32P]AMP to the 3' ends of chemically synthesized 12-nucleotide (nt)-long RNAs. The purified 52-kDa polypeptide, isolated after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and renatured, retained the TATase activity. Two 3Dpol mutants, purified from Escherichia coli expression systems, displayed no detectable polymerase activity and were unable to catalyze TATase activity. Likewise, extracts from the parental E. coli strain that harbored no expression plasmid were unable to catalyze formation of the TATase products. With the RNA oligonucleotide 5'-CCUGCUUUUGCA-3' used as an acceptor, the products formed by wild-type 3Dpol were 9 and 18 nt longer than the 12-nt oligomer. GTP, CTP, and UTP did not serve as substrates for transfer to this RNA, either by themselves or when all deoxynucleoside triphosphates were present in the reaction. Results from kinetic and stoichiometric analyses suggest that the reaction is catalytic and shows substrate and enzyme dependence. The 3'-terminal 13 nt of poliovirus minus-strand RNA also served as an acceptor for TATase activity, raising the possibility that this activity functions in poliovirus RNA replication. The efficiency of utilization and the nature of the products formed during the reaction were dependent on the acceptor RNA.

RNA end-labeling and RNA ligase activities can produce a circular rRNA in whole cell extracts from trypanosomes

We have found two enzymatic activities in whole cell extracts from Trypanosoma brucei; an end-labeling reaction involving a single uridine at the 3' end of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and an RNA ligase activity joining 5' monophosphates to 3' hydroxyl groups. The RNA ligase acts upon one of the small rRNAs (180 nucleotides) from the trypanosome ribosomal repeat unit, forming a circular RNA. The specific circularization of this small rRNA is probably dependent on the secondary structure of the molecule and is not detectable in vivo.

Characterization of West Nile virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and cellular terminal adenylyl and uridylyl transferases in cell-free extracts

To facilitate further studies of flavivirus transcription, cell extraction methods and in vitro reaction conditions which increased West Nile virus (WNV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity were determined. Subcellular fractions from WNV-infected BHK-21/W12 cells were characterized with regard to their protein and RNA content and in vitro polymerase activity. In both a cytoplasmic fraction, designated S1, and a fraction enriched for outer nuclear membranes, designated S2, seven virus-specific proteins, NS5 (96 kilodaltons [kDa]), NS3 (67 kDa), E (48 kDa), NS1 (47 kDa), ns4a (26 kDa), ns2a (17 kDa), and ns2b (14.5 kDa), were detected. The fractions also contained virus-specific RNA and cellular rRNA and mRNA. Polymerase activity in S1 and S2 fractions from WNV-infected cells was concentrated by pelleting and consisted of two types of enzyme activities: the WNV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and terminal transferases of cellular origin. Enhanced levels of WNV polymerase activity were obtained from these cell fractions by altering several of the in vitro reaction conditions. Although Mg2+ was the divalent cation preferred by WNV polymerase, virus-specific in vitro transcription was detected at reduced levels when Mn2+ (0.05 or 0.5 mM) was present as the sole divalent cation. Product analysis revealed that the viral polymerase incorporated radiolabeled ribonucleotides into three distinct RNA species. Free single-stranded genome-sized RNA which was LiCl insoluble and RNase sensitive was found by fingerprint analysis to have an oligonucleotide pattern similar to that of WNV genomic RNA. RNA molecules which comigrated as a broad band near the top of the gel were separable into LiCl-insoluble, partially RNase-sensitive replicative-intermediate RNA and LiCl-soluble, RNase-resistant replicative-form RNA. The cellular transferases added UMP or AMP residues to the 3'-termini of cellular mRNA, tRNA, and 18S and 28S rRNA. Although a cellular terminal transferase has been reported to function in initiation of poliovirus transcription, no labeling of the WNV RNA by either of these cellular enzymes was detected. Therefore, they appear to play no specific role in flavivirus RNA synthesis.

Purification of a terminal uridylyltransferase that acts as host factor in the in vitro poliovirus replicase reaction

Poliovirus RNA polymerase requires a host factor to initiate RNA synthesis in vitro. The host factor was previously purified to near homogeneity from HeLa cells but was not assigned an enzymatic activity. This report describes the purification of a terminal uridylyltransferase that can act as host factor. By all criteria examined it is identical to the factor purified previously. It has the same molecular weight (68,000), chromatographic properties, and cellular localization. We present evidence that terminal uridylyltransferase can add uridine residues to the 3' poly(A) end of virion RNA and that these anneal back to the poly(A) and form a hairpin primer for polymerase.

Terminal uridylyl transferase of Vigna unguiculata: purification and characterization of an enzyme catalyzing the addition of a single UMP residue to the 3'-end of an RNA primer

An enzyme which catalyzes the addition of a single UMP residue from UTP to the 3'-end of an RNA primer and which is referred to as terminal uridylyl transferase (TUT) has been extensively purified from the membrane fraction of vigna unguiculata leaves. The purification procedure involved (i) solubilization by cation depletion (ii) DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography (iii) affinity chromatography of poly(U)-Sepharose 4B and (iv) glycerol gradient centrifugation. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was approximately 50,000 as determined by velocity sedimentation. Under conditions that were optimal for UMP-incorporation (5 mM Mg2+, low salt, 30 degrees C) TUT displayed a marked specificity for UTP as substrate, was unable to incorporate deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and required a single-stranded oligo- or polyribonucleotide as primer. When oligoA20, tRNAasp of E. coli or alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 were used as primers at various substrate to primer ratio's, the vast majority of the product appeared to consist of primer molecules elongated with a single UMP residue as shown by polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis and nearest neighbour analysis. We believe TUT to be a novel enzyme which has not been reported before and which may be a feasible tool in RNA sequencing as it enables the specific 3'-terminal labeling of RNA molecules.