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Sabalette KB, Makarova L, Marcia M. G·U base pairing motifs in long non-coding RNAs. Biochimie 2023; 214:123-140. [PMID: 37353139 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently-discovered transcripts involved in gene expression regulation and associated with diseases. Despite the unprecedented molecular complexity of these transcripts, recent studies of the secondary and tertiary structure of lncRNAs are starting to reveal the principles of lncRNA structural organization, with important functional implications. It therefore starts to be possible to analyze lncRNA structures systematically. Here, using a set of prototypical and medically-relevant lncRNAs of known secondary structure, we specifically catalogue the distribution and structural environment of one of the first-identified and most frequently occurring non-canonical Watson-Crick interactions, the G·U base pair. We compare the properties of G·U base pairs in our set of lncRNAs to those of the G·U base pairs in other well-characterized transcripts, like rRNAs, tRNAs, ribozymes, and riboswitches. Furthermore, we discuss how G·U base pairs in these targets participate in establishing interactions with proteins or miRNAs, and how they enable lncRNA tertiary folding by forming intramolecular or metal-ion interactions. Finally, by identifying highly-G·U-enriched regions of yet unknown function in our target lncRNAs, we provide a new rationale for future experimental investigation of these motifs, which will help obtain a more comprehensive understanding of lncRNA functions and molecular mechanisms in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Belen Sabalette
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, 38042, France
| | - Liubov Makarova
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, 38042, France
| | - Marco Marcia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, 38042, France.
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Tournier JN, Kononchik J. Virus Eradication and Synthetic Biology: Changes with SARS-CoV-2? Viruses 2021; 13:569. [PMID: 33800626 PMCID: PMC8066276 DOI: 10.3390/v13040569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The eradication of infectious diseases has been achieved only once in history, in 1980, with smallpox. Since 1988, significant effort has been made to eliminate poliomyelitis viruses, but eradication is still just out of reach. As the goal of viral disease eradication approaches, the ability to recreate historically eradicated viruses using synthetic biology has the potential to jeopardize the long-term sustainability of eradication. However, the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 pandemic has highlighted our ability to swiftly and resolutely respond to a potential outbreak. This virus has been synthetized faster than any other in the past and is resulting in vaccines before most attenuated candidates reach clinical trials. Here, synthetic biology has the opportunity to demonstrate its truest potential to the public and solidify a footing in the world of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Nicolas Tournier
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
- CNRS UMR-3569, Innovative Vaccine Laboratory, Virology Department, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
- Ecole du Val-de-Grâce, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Joseph Kononchik
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), 8350 Ricketts Point Rd., Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010, USA
- Toxicology and Chemical Risk Department, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
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Šponer J, Bussi G, Krepl M, Banáš P, Bottaro S, Cunha RA, Gil-Ley A, Pinamonti G, Poblete S, Jurečka P, Walter NG, Otyepka M. RNA Structural Dynamics As Captured by Molecular Simulations: A Comprehensive Overview. Chem Rev 2018; 118:4177-4338. [PMID: 29297679 PMCID: PMC5920944 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With both catalytic and genetic functions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) is perhaps the most pluripotent chemical species in molecular biology, and its functions are intimately linked to its structure and dynamics. Computer simulations, and in particular atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), allow structural dynamics of biomolecular systems to be investigated with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. We here provide a comprehensive overview of the fast-developing field of MD simulations of RNA molecules. We begin with an in-depth, evaluatory coverage of the most fundamental methodological challenges that set the basis for the future development of the field, in particular, the current developments and inherent physical limitations of the atomistic force fields and the recent advances in a broad spectrum of enhanced sampling methods. We also survey the closely related field of coarse-grained modeling of RNA systems. After dealing with the methodological aspects, we provide an exhaustive overview of the available RNA simulation literature, ranging from studies of the smallest RNA oligonucleotides to investigations of the entire ribosome. Our review encompasses tetranucleotides, tetraloops, a number of small RNA motifs, A-helix RNA, kissing-loop complexes, the TAR RNA element, the decoding center and other important regions of the ribosome, as well as assorted others systems. Extended sections are devoted to RNA-ion interactions, ribozymes, riboswitches, and protein/RNA complexes. Our overview is written for as broad of an audience as possible, aiming to provide a much-needed interdisciplinary bridge between computation and experiment, together with a perspective on the future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Kralovopolska 135 , Brno 612 65 , Czech Republic
| | - Giovanni Bussi
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Kralovopolska 135 , Brno 612 65 , Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Banáš
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Sandro Bottaro
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen 2200 , Denmark
| | - Richard A Cunha
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Alejandro Gil-Ley
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Giovanni Pinamonti
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Simón Poblete
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Petr Jurečka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Nils G Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
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4
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Šponer J, Krepl M, Banáš P, Kührová P, Zgarbová M, Jurečka P, Havrila M, Otyepka M. How to understand atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of RNA and protein-RNA complexes? WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2016; 8. [PMID: 27863061 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We provide a critical assessment of explicit-solvent atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of RNA and protein/RNA complexes, written primarily for non-specialists with an emphasis to explain the limitations of MD. MD simulations can be likened to hypothetical single-molecule experiments starting from single atomistic conformations and investigating genuine thermal sampling of the biomolecules. The main advantage of MD is the unlimited temporal and spatial resolution of positions of all atoms in the simulated systems. Fundamental limitations are the short physical time-scale of simulations, which can be partially alleviated by enhanced-sampling techniques, and the highly approximate atomistic force fields describing the simulated molecules. The applicability and present limitations of MD are demonstrated on studies of tetranucleotides, tetraloops, ribozymes, riboswitches and protein/RNA complexes. Wisely applied simulations respecting the approximations of the model can successfully complement structural and biochemical experiments. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1405. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1405 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Banáš
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Kührová
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Zgarbová
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jurečka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Havrila
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Lee TS, Radak BK, Harris ME, York DM. A Two-Metal-Ion-Mediated Conformational Switching Pathway for HDV Ribozyme Activation. ACS Catal 2016; 6:1853-1869. [PMID: 27774349 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5b02158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RNA enzymes serve as a potentially powerful platform from which to design catalysts and engineer new biotechnology. A fundamental understanding of these systems provides insight to guide design. The hepatitis delta virus ribozyme (HDVr) is a small, self-cleaving RNA motif widely distributed in nature, that has served as a paradigm for understanding basic principles of RNA catalysis. Nevertheless, questions remain regarding the precise roles of divalent metal ions and key nucleotides in catalysis. In an effort to establish a reaction mechanism model consistent with available experimental data, we utilize molecular dynamics simulations to explore different conformations and metal ion binding modes along the HDVr reaction path. Building upon recent crystallographic data, our results provide a dynamic model of the HDVr reaction mechanism involving a conformational switch between multiple non-canonical G25:U20 base pair conformations in the active site. These local nucleobase dynamics play an important role in catalysis by modulating the metal binding environments of two Mg2+ ions that support catalysis at different steps of the reaction pathway. The first ion plays a structural role by inducing a base pair flip necessary to obtain the catalytic fold in which C75 moves towards to the scissile phosphate in the active site. Ejection of this ion then permits a second ion to bind elsewhere in the active site and facilitate nucleophile activation. The simulations collectively describe a mechanistic scenario that is consistent with currently available experimental data from crystallography, phosphorothioate substitutions, and chemical probing studies. Avenues for further experimental verification are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Sung Lee
- Center for Integrative Proteomics Research and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Brian K. Radak
- Center for Integrative Proteomics Research and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United State
| | - Michael E. Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Darrin M. York
- Center for Integrative Proteomics Research and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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