1
|
Aboelnga MM, Gauld JW. Screening a library of potential competitive inhibitors against bacterial threonyl-tRNA synthetase: DFT calculations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37909495 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2276878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to the growing interest in directing aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for antimicrobial therapies, evaluating the binding proficiency of potential inhibitors against this target holds significant importance. In this work, we proposed potential ligands that could properly bind to the crucial Zn(II) cofactor located in the active site of Threonyl-tRNA synthetases (ThrRS), potentially functioning as competitive inhibitors. Initially, detailed DFT quantum chemical study was conducted to examine the binding ability of threonine against unnatural amino acids to cofactor Zn(II). Then, the binding energy value for each suggested ligand has been determined and compared to the value determined for the native substrate, threonine. Our screening investigation showed that the native threonine should coordinate in a bidentate fashion to this Zn(II) which lead to the highest (binding energy) BE Thereby, the synthetic site of ThrRS rejects unnatural amino acids that cannot afford this type of coordination to Zn(II) ion which has been supported by our calculations. Moreover, based on their binding to the Zn(II) and the obtained BE values compared to the cognate threonine, many potent ligands have been suggested. Importantly, ligands with deprotonated warheads showed the highest binding ability amongst a list of potential hits. Further investigation on the selected ligands using molecular docking and QM/MM calculations confirmed our findings of the suggested ligands being able to bind efficiently in the active site of ThrRS. The suggested hits from this study should be valuable in paving routs for developing candidates as competitive inhibitors against the bacterial ThrRS.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M Aboelnga
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt
| | - James W Gauld
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gupta S, Jani J, Vijayasurya, Mochi J, Tabasum S, Sabarwal A, Pappachan A. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase - a molecular multitasker. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23219. [PMID: 37776328 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202202024rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AaRSs) are valuable "housekeeping" enzymes that ensure the accurate transmission of genetic information in living cells, where they aminoacylated tRNA molecules with their cognate amino acid and provide substrates for protein biosynthesis. In addition to their translational or canonical function, they contribute to nontranslational/moonlighting functions, which are mediated by the presence of other domains on the proteins. This was supported by several reports which claim that AaRS has a significant role in gene transcription, apoptosis, translation, and RNA splicing regulation. Noncanonical/ nontranslational functions of AaRSs also include their roles in regulating angiogenesis, inflammation, cancer, and other major physio-pathological processes. Multiple AaRSs are also associated with a broad range of physiological and pathological processes; a few even serve as cytokines. Therefore, the multifunctional nature of AaRSs suggests their potential as viable therapeutic targets as well. Here, our discussion will encompass a range of noncanonical functions attributed to Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases (AaRSs), highlighting their links with a diverse array of human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Swadha Gupta
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Jaykumar Jani
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Vijayasurya
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Jigneshkumar Mochi
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Saba Tabasum
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Akash Sabarwal
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anju Pappachan
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zeng QY, Zhang F, Zhang JH, Hei Z, Li ZH, Huang MH, Fang P, Wang ED, Sun XJ, Zhou XL. Loss of threonyl-tRNA synthetase-like protein Tarsl2 has little impact on protein synthesis but affects mouse development. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104704. [PMID: 37059185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are essential components for mRNA translation. Two sets of aaRSs are required for cytoplasmic and mitochondrial translation in vertebrates. Interestingly, TARSL2 is a recently evolved duplicated gene of TARS1 (encoding cytoplasmic threonyl-tRNA synthetase) and represents the only duplicated aaRS gene in vertebrates. Although TARSL2 retains the canonical aminoacylation and editing activities in vitro, whether it is a true tRNA synthetase for mRNA translation in vivo is unclear. In this study, we showed that Tars1 is an essential gene since homozygous Tars1 knockout mice were lethal. In contrast, when Tarsl2 was deleted in mice and zebrafish, neither the abundance nor the charging levels of tRNAThrs were changed, indicating that cells relied on Tars1 but not on Tarsl2 for mRNA translation. Furthermore, Tarsl2 deletion did not influence the integrity of the multiple tRNA synthetase complex (MSC), suggesting that Tarsl2 is a peripheral member of the MSC. Finally, we observed that Tarsl2-deleted mice exhibited severe developmental retardation, elevated metabolic capacity, and abnormal bone and muscle development after 3 weeks. Collectively, these data suggest that, despite its intrinsic activity, loss of Tarsl2 has little influence on protein synthesis but does affect mouse development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031
| | - Fan Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200010
| | - Jian-Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031; School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024
| | - Zhoufei Hei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Zi-Han Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031
| | - Meng-Han Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031
| | - Pengfei Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| | - En-Duo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031.
| | - Xiao-Jian Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200010.
| | - Xiao-Long Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031; School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Figuccia S, Degiorgi A, Ceccatelli Berti C, Baruffini E, Dallabona C, Goffrini P. Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase and Disease: The Yeast Contribution for Functional Analysis of Novel Variants. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094524. [PMID: 33926074 PMCID: PMC8123711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In most eukaryotes, mitochondrial protein synthesis is essential for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as some subunits of the respiratory chain complexes are encoded by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations affecting the mitochondrial translation apparatus have been identified as a major cause of mitochondrial diseases. These mutations include either heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations in genes encoding for the mitochondrial rRNA (mtrRNA) and tRNAs (mttRNAs) or mutations in nuclear genes encoding ribosomal proteins, initiation, elongation and termination factors, tRNA-modifying enzymes, and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (mtARSs). Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the attachment of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. Differently from most mttRNAs, which are encoded by mitochondrial genome, mtARSs are encoded by nuclear genes and then imported into the mitochondria after translation in the cytosol. Due to the extensive use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), an increasing number of mtARSs variants associated with large clinical heterogeneity have been identified in recent years. Being most of these variants private or sporadic, it is crucial to assess their causative role in the disease by functional analysis in model systems. This review will focus on the contributions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the functional validation of mutations found in mtARSs genes associated with human disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cristina Dallabona
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (P.G.); Tel.: +39-0521-905600 (C.D.); +39-0521-905107 (P.G.)
| | - Paola Goffrini
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (P.G.); Tel.: +39-0521-905600 (C.D.); +39-0521-905107 (P.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Garin S, Levi O, Cohen B, Golani-Armon A, Arava YS. Localization and RNA Binding of Mitochondrial Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11101185. [PMID: 33053729 PMCID: PMC7600831 DOI: 10.3390/genes11101185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria contain a complete translation machinery that is used to translate its internally transcribed mRNAs. This machinery uses a distinct set of tRNAs that are charged with cognate amino acids inside the organelle. Interestingly, charging is executed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS) that are encoded by the nuclear genome, translated in the cytosol, and need to be imported into the mitochondria. Here, we review import mechanisms of these enzymes with emphasis on those that are localized to both mitochondria and cytosol. Furthermore, we describe RNA recognition features of these enzymes and their interaction with tRNA and non-tRNA molecules. The dual localization of mitochondria-destined aaRSs and their association with various RNA types impose diverse impacts on cellular physiology. Yet, the breadth and significance of these functions are not fully resolved. We highlight here possibilities for future explorations.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kuzmishin Nagy AB, Bakhtina M, Musier-Forsyth K. Trans-editing by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-like editing domains. Enzymes 2020; 48:69-115. [PMID: 33837712 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are ubiquitous enzymes responsible for aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) synthesis. Correctly formed aa-tRNAs are necessary for proper decoding of mRNA and accurate protein synthesis. tRNAs possess specific nucleobases that promote selective recognition by cognate aaRSs. Selecting the cognate amino acid can be more challenging because all amino acids share the same peptide backbone and several are isosteric or have similar side chains. Thus, aaRSs can misactivate non-cognate amino acids and produce mischarged aa-tRNAs. If left uncorrected, mischarged aa-tRNAs deliver their non-cognate amino acid to the ribosome resulting in misincorporation into the nascent polypeptide chain. This changes the primary protein sequence and potentially causes misfolding or formation of non-functional proteins that impair cell survival. A variety of proofreading or editing pathways exist to prevent and correct mistakes in aa-tRNA formation. Editing may occur before the amino acid transfer step of aminoacylation via hydrolysis of the aminoacyl-adenylate. Alternatively, post-transfer editing, which occurs after the mischarged aa-tRNA is formed, may be carried out via a distinct editing site on the aaRS where the mischarged aa-tRNA is deacylated. In recent years, it has become clear that most organisms also encode factors that lack aminoacylation activity but resemble aaRS editing domains and function to clear mischarged aa-tRNAs in trans. This review focuses on these trans-editing factors, which are encoded in all three domains of life and function together with editing domains present within aaRSs to ensure that the accuracy of protein synthesis is sufficient for cell survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra B Kuzmishin Nagy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Marina Bakhtina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Enzymes 2020. [PMID: 33837704 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2020.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
In all eukaryotic cells, protein synthesis occurs not only in the cytosol, but also in the mitochondria. Translation of mitochondrial genes requires a set of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, many of which are often specialized for organellar function. These enzymes have evolved unique mechanisms for tRNA recognition and for ensuring fidelity of translation. Mutations of human mitochondrial synthetases are associated with a wide range of pathogenic phenotypes, both highlighting the importance of their role in maintaining the cellular "powerhouse" and suggesting additional cellular roles.
Collapse
|
8
|
Aboelnga MM, Gauld JW. Roles of the Active Site Zn(II) and Residues in Substrate Discrimination by Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase: An MD and QM/MM Investigation. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:6163-6174. [PMID: 28592109 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b03782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) is a Zn(II) containing enzyme that catalyzes the activation of threonine and its subsequent transfer to the cognate tRNA. This process is accomplished with remarkable fidelity, with ThrRS being able to discriminate its cognate substrate from similar analogues such as serine and valine. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods have been used to elucidate the role of Zn(II) in the aminoacylation mechanism of ThrRS. More specifically, the role of Zn(II) and active site residues in ThrRS's ability to discriminate between its cognate substrate l-threonine and the noncognate l-serine, l-valine, and d-threonine has been examined. The present results suggest that a role of the Zn(II) ion, with its Lewis acidity, is to facilitate deprotonation of the side chain hydroxyl groups of the aminoacyl moieties of cognate Thr-AMP and noncognate Ser-AMP substrates. In their deprotonated forms, these substrates are able to adopt a conformation preferable for aminoacyl transfer from aa-AMP onto the Ado-3'OH of the tRNAThr cosubstrate. Relative to the neutral substrates, when the substrates are first deprotonated with the assistance of the Zn(II) ion, the barrier for the rate-limiting step is decreased significantly by 42.0 and 39.2 kJ mol-1 for l-Thr-AMP and l-Ser-AMP, respectively. An active site arginyl also plays a key role in stabilizing the buildup of negative charge on the substrate's bridging phosphate oxygen during the mechanism. For the enantiomeric substrate analogue d-Thr-AMP, product formation is highly disfavored, and as a result, the reverse reaction has a very low barrier of 16.0 kJ mol-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M Aboelnga
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor , Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Damietta , New Damietta, Damietta Governorate 34511, Egypt
| | - James W Gauld
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor , Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wei W, Gauld JW, Monard G. Pretransfer Editing in Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase: Roles of Differential Solvent Accessibility and Intermediate Stabilization. ACS Catal 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.6b03051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wanlei Wei
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - James W. Gauld
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Gerald Monard
- Université de Lorraine, UMR 7565 SRSMC, Boulevard des Aiguillettes B.P. 70239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rewiring protein synthesis: From natural to synthetic amino acids. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:3024-3029. [PMID: 28095316 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protein synthesis machinery uses 22 natural amino acids as building blocks that faithfully decode the genetic information. Such fidelity is controlled at multiple steps and can be compromised in nature and in the laboratory to rewire protein synthesis with natural and synthetic amino acids. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the major quality control mechanisms during protein synthesis, including aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, elongation factors, and the ribosome. We will discuss evolution and engineering of such components that allow incorporation of natural and synthetic amino acids at positions that deviate from the standard genetic code. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The protein synthesis machinery is highly selective, yet not fixed, for the correct amino acids that match the mRNA codons. Ambiguous translation of a codon with multiple amino acids or complete reassignment of a codon with a synthetic amino acid diversifies the proteome. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Expanding the genetic code with synthetic amino acids through rewiring protein synthesis has broad applications in synthetic biology and chemical biology. Biochemical, structural, and genetic studies of the translational quality control mechanisms are not only crucial to understand the physiological role of translational fidelity and evolution of the genetic code, but also enable us to better design biological parts to expand the proteomes of synthetic organisms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biochemistry of Synthetic Biology - Recent Developments" Guest Editor: Dr. Ilka Heinemann and Dr. Patrick O'Donoghue.
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhou XL, Chen Y, Fang ZP, Ruan ZR, Wang Y, Liu RJ, Xue MQ, Wang ED. Translational Quality Control by Bacterial Threonyl-tRNA Synthetases. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:21208-21221. [PMID: 27542414 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.740472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Translational fidelity mediated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ensures the generation of the correct aminoacyl-tRNAs, which is critical for most species. Threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) contains multiple domains, including an N2 editing domain. Of the ThrRS domains, N1 is the last to be assigned a function. Here, we found that ThrRSs from Mycoplasma species exhibit differences in their domain composition and editing active sites compared with the canonical ThrRSs. The Mycoplasma mobile ThrRS, the first example of a ThrRS naturally lacking the N1 domain, displays efficient post-transfer editing activity. In contrast, the Mycoplasma capricolum ThrRS, which harbors an N1 domain and a degenerate N2 domain, is editing-defective. Only editing-capable ThrRSs were able to support the growth of a yeast thrS deletion strain (ScΔthrS), thus suggesting that ScΔthrS is an excellent tool for studying the in vivo editing of introduced bacterial ThrRSs. On the basis of the presence or absence of an N1 domain, we further revealed the crucial importance of the only absolutely conserved residue within the N1 domain in regulating editing by mediating an N1-N2 domain interaction in Escherichia coli ThrRS. Our results reveal the translational quality control of various ThrRSs and the role of the N1 domain in translational fidelity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Zhou
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - Yun Chen
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - Zhi-Peng Fang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - Zhi-Rong Ruan
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - Yong Wang
- the School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Ru-Juan Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - Mei-Qin Xue
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and
| | - En-Duo Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China and the School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 200031 Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Y, Zhou XL, Ruan ZR, Liu RJ, Eriani G, Wang ED. A Human Disease-causing Point Mutation in Mitochondrial Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase Induces Both Structural and Functional Defects. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:6507-20. [PMID: 26811336 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.700849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria require all translational components, including aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), to complete organelle protein synthesis. Some aaRS mutations cause mitochondrial disorders, including human mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase (hmtThrRS) (encoded by TARS2), the P282L mutation of which causes mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. However, its catalytic and structural consequences remain unclear. Herein, we cloned TARS2 and purified the wild-type and P282L mutant hmtThrRS. hmtThrRS misactivates non-cognate Ser and uses post-transfer editing to clear erroneously synthesized products. In vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that the mutation induces a decrease in Thr activation, aminoacylation, and proofreading activities and a change in the protein structure and/or stability, which might cause reduced catalytic efficiency. We also identified a splicing variant of TARS2 mRNA lacking exons 8 and 9, the protein product of which is targeted into mitochondria. In HEK293T cells, the variant does not dimerize and cannot complement the ThrRS knock-out strain in yeast, suggesting that the truncated protein is inactive and might have a non-canonical function, as observed for other aaRS fragments. The present study describes the aminoacylation and editing properties of hmtThrRS, clarifies the molecular consequences of the P282L mutation, and shows that the yeast ThrRS-deletion model is suitable to test pathology-associated point mutations or alternative splicing variants of mammalian aaRS mRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China, the School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 319 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China, and
| | - Xiao-Long Zhou
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China,
| | - Zhi-Rong Ruan
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ru-Juan Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Gilbert Eriani
- the Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR9002 CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - En-Duo Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China, the School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 319 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China, and
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Holman KM, Wu J, Ling J, Simonović M. The crystal structure of yeast mitochondrial ThrRS in complex with the canonical threonine tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:1428-39. [PMID: 26704982 PMCID: PMC4756836 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a single aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS), MST1, aminoacylates two isoacceptor tRNAs, tRNA1Thr and tRNA2Thr, that harbor anticodon loops of different size and sequence. As a result of this promiscuity, reassignment of the CUN codon box from leucine to threonine is facilitated. However, the mechanism by which a single aaRS binds distinct anticodon loops with high specificity is not well understood. Herein, we present the crystal structure of MST1 in complex with the canonical tRNA2Thr and non-hydrolyzable analog of threonyl adenylate. Our structure reveals that the dimeric arrangement of MST1 is essential for binding the 5′-phosphate, the second base pair of the acceptor stem, the first two base pairs of the anticodon stem and the first nucleotide of the variable arm. Further, in contrast to the bacterial ortholog that ‘reads’ the entire anticodon sequence, MST1 recognizes bases in the second and third position and the nucleotide upstream of the anticodon sequence. We speculate that a flexible loop linking strands β4 and β5 may be allosteric regulator that establishes cross-subunit communication between the aminoacylation and tRNA-binding sites. We also propose that structural features of the anticodon-binding domain in MST1 permit binding of the enlarged anticodon loop of tRNA1Thr.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Holman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jiang Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Miljan Simonović
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bezerra AR, Guimarães AR, Santos MAS. Non-Standard Genetic Codes Define New Concepts for Protein Engineering. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:1610-28. [PMID: 26569314 PMCID: PMC4695839 DOI: 10.3390/life5041610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential feature of the genetic code is the strict one-to-one correspondence between codons and amino acids. The canonical code consists of three stop codons and 61 sense codons that encode 20% of the amino acid repertoire observed in nature. It was originally designated as immutable and universal due to its conservation in most organisms, but sequencing of genes from the human mitochondrial genomes revealed deviations in codon assignments. Since then, alternative codes have been reported in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and genetic code engineering has become an important research field. Here, we review the most recent concepts arising from the study of natural non-standard genetic codes with special emphasis on codon re-assignment strategies that are relevant to engineering genetic code in the laboratory. Recent tools for synthetic biology and current attempts to engineer new codes for incorporation of non-standard amino acids are also reviewed in this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Bezerra
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
| | - Ana R Guimarães
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
| | - Manuel A S Santos
- Health Sciences Department, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rubio MÁ, Napolitano M, Ochoa de Alda JAG, Santamaría-Gómez J, Patterson CJ, Foster AW, Bru-Martínez R, Robinson NJ, Luque I. Trans-oligomerization of duplicated aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases maintains genetic code fidelity under stress. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:9905-17. [PMID: 26464444 PMCID: PMC4787780 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) play a key role in deciphering the genetic message by producing charged tRNAs and are equipped with proofreading mechanisms to ensure correct pairing of tRNAs with their cognate amino acid. Duplicated aaRSs are very frequent in Nature, with 25,913 cases observed in 26,837 genomes. The oligomeric nature of many aaRSs raises the question of how the functioning and oligomerization of duplicated enzymes is organized. We characterized this issue in a model prokaryotic organism that expresses two different threonyl-tRNA synthetases, responsible for Thr-tRNA(Thr) synthesis: one accurate and constitutively expressed (T1) and another (T2) with impaired proofreading activity that also generates mischarged Ser-tRNA(Thr). Low zinc promotes dissociation of dimeric T1 into monomers deprived of aminoacylation activity and simultaneous induction of T2, which is active for aminoacylation under low zinc. T2 either forms homodimers or heterodimerizes with T1 subunits that provide essential proofreading activity in trans. These findings evidence that in organisms with duplicated genes, cells can orchestrate the assemblage of aaRSs oligomers that meet the necessities of the cell in each situation. We propose that controlled oligomerization of duplicated aaRSs is an adaptive mechanism that can potentially be expanded to the plethora of organisms with duplicated oligomeric aaRSs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Rubio
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, C.S.I.C. and Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Mauro Napolitano
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, C.S.I.C. and Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Jesús A G Ochoa de Alda
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado. Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n. E-10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Javier Santamaría-Gómez
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, C.S.I.C. and Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Seville, Spain
| | | | | | - Roque Bru-Martínez
- Department of Agrochemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Alicante, E-03080, Spain
| | | | - Ignacio Luque
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, C.S.I.C. and Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ling J, O'Donoghue P, Söll D. Genetic code flexibility in microorganisms: novel mechanisms and impact on physiology. Nat Rev Microbiol 2015; 13:707-721. [PMID: 26411296 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code, initially thought to be universal and immutable, is now known to contain many variations, including biased codon usage, codon reassignment, ambiguous decoding and recoding. As a result of recent advances in the areas of genome sequencing, biochemistry, bioinformatics and structural biology, our understanding of genetic code flexibility has advanced substantially in the past decade. In this Review, we highlight the prevalence, evolution and mechanistic basis of genetic code variations in microorganisms, and we discuss how this flexibility of the genetic code affects microbial physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Patrick O'Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhou XL, Ruan ZR, Wang M, Fang ZP, Wang Y, Chen Y, Liu RJ, Eriani G, Wang ED. A minimalist mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase exhibits tRNA-isoacceptor specificity during proofreading. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:13873-86. [PMID: 25414329 PMCID: PMC4267643 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Yeast mitochondria contain a minimalist threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) composed only of the catalytic core and tRNA binding domain but lacking the entire editing domain. Besides the usual tRNAThr2, some budding yeasts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also contain a non-canonical tRNAThr1 with an enlarged 8-nucleotide anticodon loop, reprograming the usual leucine CUN codons to threonine. This raises interesting questions about the aminoacylation fidelity of such ThrRSs and the possible contribution of the two tRNAThrs during editing. Here, we found that, despite the absence of the editing domain, S. cerevisiae mitochondrial ThrRS (ScmtThrRS) harbors a tRNA-dependent pre-transfer editing activity. Remarkably, only the usual tRNAThr2 stimulated pre-transfer editing, thus, establishing the first example of a synthetase exhibiting tRNA-isoacceptor specificity during pre-transfer editing. We also showed that the failure of tRNAThr1 to stimulate tRNA-dependent pre-transfer editing was due to the lack of an editing domain. Using assays of the complementation of a ScmtThrRS gene knockout strain, we showed that the catalytic core and tRNA binding domain of ScmtThrRS co-evolved to recognize the unusual tRNAThr1. In combination, the results provide insights into the tRNA-dependent editing process and suggest that tRNA-dependent pre-transfer editing takes place in the aminoacylation catalytic core.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Peng Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 319 Yue Yang Road, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Ru-Juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Gilbert Eriani
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, UPR9002 CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - En-Duo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, China School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 319 Yue Yang Road, 200031 Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Diodato D, Melchionda L, Haack TB, Dallabona C, Baruffini E, Donnini C, Granata T, Ragona F, Balestri P, Margollicci M, Lamantea E, Nasca A, Powell CA, Minczuk M, Strom TM, Meitinger T, Prokisch H, Lamperti C, Zeviani M, Ghezzi D. VARS2 and TARS2 mutations in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. Hum Mutat 2014; 35:983-9. [PMID: 24827421 PMCID: PMC4140549 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
By way of whole-exome sequencing, we identified a homozygous missense mutation in VARS2 in one subject with microcephaly and epilepsy associated with isolated deficiency of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complex I and compound heterozygous mutations in TARS2 in two siblings presenting with axial hypotonia and severe psychomotor delay associated with multiple MRC defects. The nucleotide variants segregated within the families, were absent in Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) databases and are predicted to be deleterious. The amount of VARS2 and TARS2 proteins and valyl-tRNA and threonyl-tRNA levels were decreased in samples of afflicted patients according to the genetic defect. Expression of the corresponding wild-type transcripts in immortalized mutant fibroblasts rescued the biochemical impairment of mitochondrial respiration and yeast modeling of the VARS2 mutation confirmed its pathogenic role. Taken together, these data demonstrate the role of the identified mutations for these mitochondriopathies. Our study reports the first mutations in the VARS2 and TARS2 genes, which encode two mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, as causes of clinically distinct, early-onset mitochondrial encephalopathies.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Cell Line
- Child
- DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
- DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism
- Electron Transport Complex I/genetics
- Electron Transport Complex I/metabolism
- Fibroblasts/cytology
- Fibroblasts/metabolism
- HLA Antigens/genetics
- HLA Antigens/metabolism
- Heterozygote
- Homozygote
- Humans
- Infant
- Isoenzymes/genetics
- Isoenzymes/metabolism
- Male
- Mitochondria/enzymology
- Mitochondria/genetics
- Mitochondria/pathology
- Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/enzymology
- Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/genetics
- Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/pathology
- Mutation
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Val/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Val/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism
- Threonine-tRNA Ligase/genetics
- Threonine-tRNA Ligase/metabolism
- Valine-tRNA Ligase/genetics
- Valine-tRNA Ligase/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Diodato
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Melchionda
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Tobias B Haack
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenNeuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universitat MünchenMunich, Germany
| | | | | | - Claudia Donnini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of ParmaParma, Italy
| | - Tiziana Granata
- Unit of Child Neurology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragona
- Unit of Child Neurology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Balestri
- Department of Pediatrics, University of SienaSiena, Italy
| | | | - Eleonora Lamantea
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Nasca
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenNeuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universitat MünchenMunich, Germany
| | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenNeuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universitat MünchenMunich, Germany
| | - Holger Prokisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenNeuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universitat MünchenMunich, Germany
| | - Costanza Lamperti
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Zeviani
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology UnitCambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniele Ghezzi
- Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Istituto Neurologico “Carlo Besta”Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gadakh B, Vondenhoff G, Lescrinier E, Rozenski J, Froeyen M, Van Aerschot A. Base substituted 5'-O-(N-isoleucyl)sulfamoyl nucleoside analogues as potential antibacterial agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 22:2875-86. [PMID: 24746466 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-sulfamoyl adenosines are well-known nanomolar inhibitors of the corresponding prokaryotic and eukaryotic tRNA synthetases in vitro. Inspired by the aryl-tetrazole containing compounds of Cubist Pharmaceuticals and the modified base as found in the natural antibiotic albomycin, the selectivity issue of the sulfamoylated adenosines prompted us to investigate the pharmacophoric importance of the adenine base. We therefore synthesized and evaluated several isoleucyl-sulfamoyl nucleoside analogues with either uracil, cytosine, hypoxanthine, guanine, 1,3-dideaza-adenine (benzimidazole) or 4-nitro-benzimidazole as the heterocyclic base. Based on the structure and antibacterial activity of microcin C, we also prepared their hexapeptidyl conjugates in an effort to improve their uptake potential. We further compared their antibacterial activity with the parent isoleucyl-sulfamoyl adenosine (Ile-SA), both in in vitro and in cellular assays. Surprisingly, the strongest in vitro inhibition was found for the uracil containing analogue 16f. Unfortunately, only very weak growth inhibitory properties were found as of low uptake. The results are discussed in the light of previous literature findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Gadakh
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gaston Vondenhoff
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jef Rozenski
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mathy Froeyen
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arthur Van Aerschot
- KU Leuven, Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu WR. Reports from the Chemical Biology of Texas Symposium at the 69th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:319-22. [PMID: 24556200 DOI: 10.1021/cb500046f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenshe R Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Genetic validation of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases as drug targets in Trypanosoma brucei. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2014; 13:504-16. [PMID: 24562907 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00017-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an important public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa. Current drugs are unsatisfactory, and new drugs are being sought. Few validated enzyme targets are available to support drug discovery efforts, so our goal was to obtain essentiality data on genes with proven utility as drug targets. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are known drug targets for bacterial and fungal pathogens and are required for protein synthesis. Here we survey the essentiality of eight Trypanosoma brucei aaRSs by RNA interference (RNAi) gene expression knockdown, covering an enzyme from each major aaRS class: valyl-tRNA synthetase (ValRS) (class Ia), tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS-1) (class Ib), arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS) (class Ic), glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) (class 1c), threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) (class IIa), asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) (class IIb), and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (α and β) (PheRS) (class IIc). Knockdown of mRNA encoding these enzymes in T. brucei mammalian stage parasites showed that all were essential for parasite growth and survival in vitro. The reduced expression resulted in growth, morphological, cell cycle, and DNA content abnormalities. ThrRS was characterized in greater detail, showing that the purified recombinant enzyme displayed ThrRS activity and that the protein localized to both the cytosol and mitochondrion. Borrelidin, a known inhibitor of ThrRS, was an inhibitor of T. brucei ThrRS and showed antitrypanosomal activity. The data show that aaRSs are essential for T. brucei survival and are likely to be excellent targets for drug discovery efforts.
Collapse
|
22
|
Ling J, Daoud R, Lajoie MJ, Church GM, Söll D, Lang BF. Natural reassignment of CUU and CUA sense codons to alanine in Ashbya mitochondria. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:499-508. [PMID: 24049072 PMCID: PMC3874161 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of diverse codon reassignment events has demonstrated that the canonical genetic code is not universal. Studying coding reassignment at the molecular level is critical for understanding genetic code evolution, and provides clues to genetic code manipulation in synthetic biology. Here we report a novel reassignment event in the mitochondria of Ashbya (Eremothecium) gossypii, a filamentous-growing plant pathogen related to yeast (Saccharomycetaceae). Bioinformatics studies of conserved positions in mitochondrial DNA-encoded proteins suggest that CUU and CUA codons correspond to alanine in A. gossypii, instead of leucine in the standard code or threonine in yeast mitochondria. Reassignment of CUA to Ala was confirmed at the protein level by mass spectrometry. We further demonstrate that a predicted tRNA(Ala)UAG is transcribed and accurately processed in vivo, and is responsible for Ala reassignment. Enzymatic studies reveal that tRNA(Ala)UAG is efficiently recognized by A. gossypii mitochondrial alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AgAlaRS). AlaRS typically recognizes the G3:U70 base pair of tRNA(Ala); a G3A change in Ashbya tRNA(Ala)UAG abolishes its recognition by AgAlaRS. Conversely, an A3G mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae tRNA(Thr)UAG confers tRNA recognition by AgAlaRS. Our work highlights the dynamic feature of natural genetic codes in mitochondria, and the relative simplicity by which tRNA identity may be switched.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Département de Biochimie, Centre Robert-Cedergren, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard Montpetit, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada, Program in Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are essential components of the protein synthesis machinery responsible for defining the genetic code by pairing the correct amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. The aaRSs are an ancient enzyme family believed to have origins that may predate the last common ancestor and as such they provide insights into the evolution and development of the extant genetic code. Although the aaRSs have long been viewed as a highly conserved group of enzymes, findings within the last couple of decades have started to demonstrate how diverse and versatile these enzymes really are. Beyond their central role in translation, aaRSs and their numerous homologs have evolved a wide array of alternative functions both inside and outside translation. Current understanding of the emergence of the aaRSs, and their subsequent evolution into a functionally diverse enzyme family, are discussed in this chapter.
Collapse
|
24
|
Perona JJ, Gruic-Sovulj I. Synthetic and editing mechanisms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2013; 344:1-41. [PMID: 23852030 DOI: 10.1007/128_2013_456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) ensure the faithful transmission of genetic information in all living cells. The 24 known aaRS families are divided into 2 structurally distinct classes (class I and class II), each featuring a catalytic domain with a common fold that binds ATP, amino acid, and the 3'-terminus of tRNA. In a common two-step reaction, each aaRS first uses the energy stored in ATP to synthesize an activated aminoacyl adenylate intermediate. In the second step, either the 2'- or 3'-hydroxyl oxygen atom of the 3'-A76 tRNA nucleotide functions as a nucleophile in synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA. Ten of the 24 aaRS families are unable to distinguish cognate from noncognate amino acids in the synthetic reactions alone. These enzymes possess additional editing activities for hydrolysis of misactivated amino acids and misacylated tRNAs, with clearance of the latter species accomplished in spatially separate post-transfer editing domains. A distinct class of trans-acting proteins that are homologous to class II editing domains also perform hydrolytic editing of some misacylated tRNAs. Here we review essential themes in catalysis with a view toward integrating the kinetic, stereochemical, and structural mechanisms of the enzymes. Although the aaRS have now been the subject of investigation for many decades, it will be seen that a significant number of questions regarding fundamental catalytic functioning still remain unresolved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John J Perona
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, 751, Portland, OR, 97207, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Perona JJ, Hadd A. Structural diversity and protein engineering of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Biochemistry 2012; 51:8705-29. [PMID: 23075299 DOI: 10.1021/bi301180x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) are the enzymes that ensure faithful transmission of genetic information in all living cells, and are central to the developing technologies for expanding the capacity of the translation apparatus to incorporate nonstandard amino acids into proteins in vivo. The 24 known aaRS families are divided into two classes that exhibit functional evolutionary convergence. Each class features an active site domain with a common fold that binds ATP, the amino acid, and the 3'-terminus of tRNA, embellished by idiosyncratic further domains that bind distal portions of the tRNA and enhance specificity. Fidelity in the expression of the genetic code requires that the aaRS be selective for both amino acids and tRNAs, a substantial challenge given the presence of structurally very similar noncognate substrates of both types. Here we comprehensively review central themes concerning the architectures of the protein structures and the remarkable dual-substrate selectivities, with a view toward discerning the most important issues that still substantially limit our capacity for rational protein engineering. A suggested general approach to rational design is presented, which should yield insight into the identities of the protein-RNA motifs at the heart of the genetic code, while also offering a basis for improving the catalytic properties of engineered tRNA synthetases emerging from genetic selections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John J Perona
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207, United States.
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhou XL, Ruan ZR, Huang Q, Tan M, Wang ED. Translational fidelity maintenance preventing Ser mis-incorporation at Thr codon in protein from eukaryote. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 41:302-14. [PMID: 23093606 PMCID: PMC3592468 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) catalyzes the first step of protein synthesis, producing aminoacyl-tRNAs as building blocks. Eukaryotic aaRS differs from its prokaryotic counterpart in terminal extension or insertion. Moreover, the editing function of aaRSs is an indispensable checkpoint excluding non-cognate amino acids at a given codon and ensuring overall translational fidelity. We found higher eukaryotes encode two cytoplasmic threonyl-tRNA synthetases (ThrRSs) with difference in N-terminus. The longer isoform is more closely related to the ThrRSs of higher eukaryotes than to those of lower eukaryotes. A yeast strain was generated to include deletion of the thrS gene encoding ThrRS. Combining in vitro biochemical and in vivo genetic data, ThrRSs from eukaryotic cytoplasm were systematically analyzed, and role of the eukaryotic cytoplasmic ThrRS-specific N-terminal extension was elucidated. Furthermore, the mechanisms of aminoacylation and editing activity mediated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae ThrRS (ScThrRS) were clarified. Interestingly, yeast cells were tolerant of variation at the editing active sites of ScThrRS without significant Thr-to-Ser conversion in the proteome even under significant environmental stress, implying checkpoints downstream of aminoacylation to provide a further quality control mechanism for the yeast translation system. This study has provided the first comprehensive elucidation of the translational fidelity control mechanism of eukaryotic ThrRS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Zhou
- Center for RNA research, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ling J, Peterson KM, Simonovic I, Söll D, Simonovic M. The mechanism of pre-transfer editing in yeast mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:28518-25. [PMID: 22773845 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.372920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate translation of mRNA into protein is a fundamental biological process critical for maintaining normal cellular functions. To ensure translational fidelity, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) employ pre-transfer and post-transfer editing activities to hydrolyze misactivated and mischarged amino acids, respectively. Whereas post-transfer editing, which requires either a specialized domain in aaRS or a trans-protein factor, is well described, the mechanism of pre-transfer editing is less understood. Here, we show that yeast mitochondrial threonyl-tRNA synthetase (MST1), which lacks an editing domain, utilizes pre-transfer editing to discriminate against serine. MST1 misactivates serine and edits seryl adenylate (Ser-AMP) in a tRNA-independent manner. MST1 hydrolyzes 80% of misactivated Ser-AMP at a rate 4-fold higher than that for the cognate threonyl adenylate (Thr-AMP) while releasing 20% of Ser-AMP into the solution. To understand the mechanism of pre-transfer editing, we solved the crystal structure of MST1 complexed with an analog of Ser-AMP. The binding of the Ser-AMP analog to MST1 induces conformational changes in the aminoacylation active site, and it positions a potential hydrolytic water molecule more favorably for nucleophilic attack. In addition, inhibition results reveal that the Ser-AMP analog binds the active site 100-fold less tightly than the Thr-AMP analog. In conclusion, we propose that the plasticity of the aminoacylation site in MST1 allows binding of Ser-AMP and the appropriate positioning of the hydrolytic water molecule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|