1
|
Lee BST, Sinha A, Dedon P, Preiser P. Charting new territory: The Plasmodium falciparum tRNA modification landscape. Biomed J 2024:100745. [PMID: 38734409 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100745] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribonucleoside modifications comprising the epitranscriptome are present in all organisms and all forms of RNA, including mRNA, rRNA and tRNA, the three major RNA components of the translational machinery. Of these, tRNA is the most heavily modified and the tRNA epitranscriptome has the greatest diversity of modifications. In addition to their roles in tRNA biogenesis, quality control, structure, cleavage, and codon recognition, tRNA modifications have been shown to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including humans. However, studies investigating the impact of tRNA modifications on gene expression in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are currently scarce. Current evidence shows that the parasite has a limited capacity for transcriptional control, which points to a heavier reliance on strategies for posttranscriptional regulation such as tRNA epitranscriptome reprogramming. This review addresses the known functions of tRNA modifications in the biology of P. falciparum while highlighting the potential therapeutic opportunities and the value of using P. falciparum as a model organism for addressing several open questions related to the tRNA epitranscriptome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Sian Teck Lee
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - Ameya Sinha
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Peter Dedon
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA.
| | - Peter Preiser
- Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore;; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore;.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
de Crécy-Lagard V, Hutinet G, Cediel-Becerra JDD, Yuan Y, Zallot R, Chevrette MG, Ratnayake RMMN, Jaroch M, Quaiyum S, Bruner S. Biosynthesis and function of 7-deazaguanine derivatives in bacteria and phages. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0019923. [PMID: 38421302 PMCID: PMC10966956 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00199-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYDeazaguanine modifications play multifaceted roles in the molecular biology of DNA and tRNA, shaping diverse yet essential biological processes, including the nuanced fine-tuning of translation efficiency and the intricate modulation of codon-anticodon interactions. Beyond their roles in translation, deazaguanine modifications contribute to cellular stress resistance, self-nonself discrimination mechanisms, and host evasion defenses, directly modulating the adaptability of living organisms. Deazaguanine moieties extend beyond nucleic acid modifications, manifesting in the structural diversity of biologically active natural products. Their roles in fundamental cellular processes and their presence in biologically active natural products underscore their versatility and pivotal contributions to the intricate web of molecular interactions within living organisms. Here, we discuss the current understanding of the biosynthesis and multifaceted functions of deazaguanines, shedding light on their diverse and dynamic roles in the molecular landscape of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valérie de Crécy-Lagard
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Geoffrey Hutinet
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Yifeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Rémi Zallot
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Marc G. Chevrette
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Marshall Jaroch
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Samia Quaiyum
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Steven Bruner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rashad S, Al-Mesitef S, Mousa A, Zhou Y, Ando D, Sun G, Fukuuchi T, Iwasaki Y, Xiang J, Byrne SR, Sun J, Maekawa M, Saigusa D, Begley TJ, Dedon PC, Niizuma K. Translational response to mitochondrial stresses is orchestrated by tRNA modifications. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580389. [PMID: 38405984 PMCID: PMC10888749 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial stress and dysfunction play important roles in many pathologies. However, how cells respond to mitochondrial stress is not fully understood. Here, we examined the translational response to electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition and arsenite induced mitochondrial stresses. Our analysis revealed that during mitochondrial stress, tRNA modifications (namely f5C, hm5C, queuosine and its derivatives, and mcm5U) dynamically change to fine tune codon decoding, usage, and optimality. These changes in codon optimality drive the translation of many pathways and gene sets, such as the ATF4 pathway and selenoproteins, involved in the cellular response to mitochondrial stress. We further examined several of these modifications using targeted approaches. ALKBH1 knockout (KO) abrogated f5C and hm5C levels and led to mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced proliferation, and impacted mRNA translation rates. Our analysis revealed that tRNA queuosine (tRNA-Q) is a master regulator of the mitochondrial stress response. KO of QTRT1 or QTRT2, the enzymes responsible for tRNA-Q synthesis, led to mitochondrial dysfunction, translational dysregulation, and metabolic alterations in mitochondria-related pathways, without altering cellular proliferation. In addition, our analysis revealed that tRNA-Q loss led to a domino effect on various tRNA modifications. Some of these changes could be explained by metabolic profiling. Our analysis also revealed that utilizing serum deprivation or alteration with Queuine supplementation to study tRNA-Q or stress response can introduce various confounding factors by altering many other tRNA modifications. In summary, our data show that tRNA modifications are master regulators of the mitochondrial stress response by driving changes in codon decoding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherif Rashad
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shadi Al-Mesitef
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Abdulrahman Mousa
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ando
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku university Graduate school of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Guangxin Sun
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
| | - Tomoko Fukuuchi
- Laboratory of Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Iwasaki
- Laboratory of Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jingdong Xiang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
| | - Shane R Byrne
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
- Codomax Inc, 17 Briden St STE 219, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Jingjing Sun
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise, Singapore
| | - Masamitsu Maekawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daisuke Saigusa
- Laboratory of Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma-Science, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas J Begley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Peter C Dedon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Antimicrobial Resistance IRG, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise, Singapore
| | - Kuniyasu Niizuma
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mitchener M, Begley TJ, Dedon PC. Molecular Coping Mechanisms: Reprogramming tRNAs To Regulate Codon-Biased Translation of Stress Response Proteins. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:3504-3514. [PMID: 37992267 PMCID: PMC10702489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
As part of the classic central dogma of molecular biology, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are integral to protein translation as the adaptor molecules that link the genetic code in messenger RNA (mRNA) to the amino acids in the growing peptide chain. tRNA function is complicated by the existence of 61 codons to specify 20 amino acids, with most amino acids coded by two or more synonymous codons. Further, there are often fewer tRNAs with unique anticodons than there are synonymous codons for an amino acid, with a single anticodon able to decode several codons by "wobbling" of the base pairs arising between the third base of the codon and the first position on the anticodon. The complications introduced by synonymous codons and wobble base pairing began to resolve in the 1960s with the discovery of dozens of chemical modifications of the ribonucleotides in tRNA, which, by analogy to the epigenome, are now collectively referred to as the epitranscriptome for not changing the genetic code inherent to all RNA sequences. tRNA modifications were found to stabilize codon-anticodon interactions, prevent misinitiation of translation, and promote translational fidelity, among other functions, with modification deficiencies causing pathological phenotypes. This led to hypotheses that modification-dependent tRNA decoding efficiencies might play regulatory roles in cells. However, it was only with the advent of systems biology and convergent "omic" technologies that the higher level function of synonymous codons and tRNA modifications began to emerge.Here, we describe our laboratories' discovery of tRNA reprogramming and codon-biased translation as a mechanism linking tRNA modifications and synonymous codon usage to regulation of gene expression at the level of translation. Taking a historical approach, we recount how we discovered that the 8-10 modifications in each tRNA molecule undergo unique reprogramming in response to cellular stresses to promote translation of mRNA transcripts with unique codon usage patterns. These modification tunable transcripts (MoTTs) are enriched with specific codons that are differentially decoded by modified tRNAs and that fall into functional families of genes encoding proteins necessary to survive the specific stress. By developing and applying systems-level technologies, we showed that cells lacking specific tRNA modifications are sensitized to certain cellular stresses by mistranslation of proteins, disruption of mitochondrial function, and failure to translate critical stress response proteins. In essence, tRNA reprogramming serves as a cellular coping strategy, enabling rapid translation of proteins required for stress-specific cell response programs. Notably, this phenomenon has now been characterized in all organisms from viruses to humans and in response to all types of environmental changes. We also elaborate on recent findings that cancer cells hijack this mechanism to promote their own growth, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. We close by discussing how understanding of codon-biased translation in various systems can be exploited to develop new therapeutics and biomanufacturing processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle
M. Mitchener
- Antimicrobial
Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Thomas J. Begley
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, United States
- RNA
Institute, University at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Peter C. Dedon
- Antimicrobial
Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre, Singapore 138602, Singapore
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ammann G, Berg M, Dalwigk JF, Kaiser SM. Pitfalls in RNA Modification Quantification Using Nucleoside Mass Spectrometry. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:3121-3131. [PMID: 37944919 PMCID: PMC10666278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00402] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a high interest in researching RNA modifications, as they are involved in many cellular processes and in human diseases. A substantial set of enzymes within the cell, called RNA writers, place RNA modifications selectively and site-specifically. Another set of enzymes, called readers, recognize these modifications which guide the fate of the modified RNA. Although RNA is a transient molecule and RNA modification could be removed by RNA degradation, a subclass of enzymes, called RNA erasers, remove RNA modifications selectively and site-specifically to alter the characteristics of the RNA. The detection of RNA modifications can be done by various methods including second and next generation sequencing but also mass spectrometry. An approach capable of both qualitative and quantitative RNA modification analysis is liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry of enzymatic hydrolysates of RNA into nucleosides. However, for successful detection and quantification, various factors must be considered to avoid biased identification and inaccurate quantification. In this Account, we identify three classes of errors that may distort the analysis. These classes comprise (I) errors related to chemical instabilities, (II) errors revolving around enzymatic hydrolysis to nucleosides, and (III) errors arising from issues with chromatographic separation and/or subsequent mass spectrometric analysis.A prominent example for class 1 is Dimroth rearrangement of m1A to m6A, but class 1 also comprises hydrolytic reactions and reactions with buffer components. Here, we also present the conversion of m3C to m3U under mild alkaline conditions and propose a practical solution to overcome these instabilities. Class 2 errors-such as contaminations in hydrolysis reagents or nuclease specificities-have led to erroneous discoveries of nucleosides in the past and possess the potential for misquantification of nucleosides. Impurities in the samples may also lead to class 3 errors: For instance, issues with chromatographic separation may arise from residual organic solvents, and salt adducts may hamper mass spectrometric quantification. This Account aims to highlight various errors connected to mass spectrometry analysis of nucleosides and presents solutions for how to overcome or circumnavigate those issues. Therefore, the authors anticipate that many scientists, but especially those who plan on doing nucleoside mass spectrometry, will benefit from the collection of data presented in this Account as a raised awareness, toward the variety of potential pitfalls, may further enhance the quality of data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Ammann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Maximilian Berg
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan Felix Dalwigk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefanie M. Kaiser
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sun Y, Piechotta M, Naarmann-de Vries I, Dieterich C, Ehrenhofer-Murray A. Detection of queuosine and queuosine precursors in tRNAs by direct RNA sequencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11197-11212. [PMID: 37811872 PMCID: PMC10639084 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad826] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Queuosine (Q) is a complex tRNA modification found in bacteria and eukaryotes at position 34 of four tRNAs with a GUN anticodon, and it regulates the translational efficiency and fidelity of the respective codons that differ at the Wobble position. In bacteria, the biosynthesis of Q involves two precursors, preQ0 and preQ1, whereas eukaryotes directly obtain Q from bacterial sources. The study of queuosine has been challenging due to the limited availability of high-throughput methods for its detection and analysis. Here, we have employed direct RNA sequencing using nanopore technology to detect the modification of tRNAs with Q and Q precursors. These modifications were detected with high accuracy on synthetic tRNAs as well as on tRNAs extracted from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Escherichia coli by comparing unmodified to modified tRNAs using the tool JACUSA2. Furthermore, we present an improved protocol for the alignment of raw sequence reads that gives high specificity and recall for tRNAs ex cellulo that, by nature, carry multiple modifications. Altogether, our results show that 7-deazaguanine-derivatives such as queuosine are readily detectable using direct RNA sequencing. This advancement opens up new possibilities for investigating these modifications in native tRNAs, furthering our understanding of their biological function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Institut für Biologie, Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Piechotta
- Klaus Tschira Institute for Integrative Computational Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology), University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)-Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Isabel Naarmann-de Vries
- Klaus Tschira Institute for Integrative Computational Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology), University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)-Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Dieterich
- Klaus Tschira Institute for Integrative Computational Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology), University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)-Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ann E Ehrenhofer-Murray
- Institut für Biologie, Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
The study of eukaryotic tRNA processing has given rise to an explosion of new information and insights in the last several years. We now have unprecedented knowledge of each step in the tRNA processing pathway, revealing unexpected twists in biochemical pathways, multiple new connections with regulatory pathways, and numerous biological effects of defects in processing steps that have profound consequences throughout eukaryotes, leading to growth phenotypes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to neurological and other disorders in humans. This review highlights seminal new results within the pathways that comprise the life of a tRNA, from its birth after transcription until its death by decay. We focus on new findings and revelations in each step of the pathway including the end-processing and splicing steps, many of the numerous modifications throughout the main body and anticodon loop of tRNA that are so crucial for tRNA function, the intricate tRNA trafficking pathways, and the quality control decay pathways, as well as the biogenesis and biology of tRNA-derived fragments. We also describe the many interactions of these pathways with signaling and other pathways in the cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Phizicky
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Anita K Hopper
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43235, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dysfunctional tRNA reprogramming and codon-biased translation in cancer. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:964-978. [PMID: 36241532 PMCID: PMC10071289 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Many cancers hijack translation to increase the synthesis of tumor-driving proteins, the messenger mRNAs of which have specific codon usage patterns. Termed 'codon-biased translation' and originally identified in stress response regulation, this mechanism is supported by diverse studies demonstrating how the 50 RNA modifications of the epitranscriptome, specific tRNAs, and codon-biased mRNAs are used by oncogenic programs to promote proliferation and chemoresistance. The epitranscriptome writers METTL1-WDR4, Elongator complex protein (ELP)1-6, CTU1-2, and ALKBH8-TRM112 illustrate the principal mechanism of codon-biased translation, with gene amplifications, increased RNA modifications, and enhanced tRNA stability promoting cancer proliferation. Furthermore, systems-level analyses of 34 tRNA writers and 493 tRNA genes highlight the theme of tRNA epitranscriptome dysregulation in many cancers and identify candidate tRNA writers, tRNA modifications, and tRNA molecules as drivers of pathological codon-biased translation.
Collapse
|