1
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Goovaerts Q, Shen J, De Wijngaert B, Basu U, Patel SS, Das K. Structures illustrate step-by-step mitochondrial transcription initiation. Nature 2023; 622:872-879. [PMID: 37821701 PMCID: PMC10600007 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06643-y] [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] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Transcription initiation is a key regulatory step in gene expression during which RNA polymerase (RNAP) initiates RNA synthesis de novo, and the synthesized RNA at a specific length triggers the transition to the elongation phase. Mitochondria recruit a single-subunit RNAP and one or two auxiliary factors to initiate transcription. Previous studies have revealed the molecular architectures of yeast1 and human2 mitochondrial RNAP initiation complexes (ICs). Here we provide a comprehensive, stepwise mechanism of transcription initiation by solving high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of yeast mitochondrial RNAP and the transcription factor Mtf1 catalysing two- to eight-nucleotide RNA synthesis at single-nucleotide addition steps. The growing RNA-DNA is accommodated in the polymerase cleft by template scrunching and non-template reorganization, creating stressed intermediates. During early initiation, non-template strand scrunching and unscrunching destabilize the short two- and three-nucleotide RNAs, triggering abortive synthesis. Subsequently, the non-template reorganizes into a base-stacked staircase-like structure supporting processive five- to eight-nucleotide RNA synthesis. The expanded non-template staircase and highly scrunched template in IC8 destabilize the promoter interactions with Mtf1 to facilitate initiation bubble collapse and promoter escape for the transition from initiation to the elongation complex (EC). The series of transcription initiation steps, each guided by the interplay of multiple structural components, reveal a finely tuned mechanism for potential regulatory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinten Goovaerts
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jiayu Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Brent De Wijngaert
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Urmimala Basu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Smita S Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Kalyan Das
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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2
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Martinez SE, Singh A, De Wijngaert B, Sultana S, Dharia C, Vanbuel H, Shen J, Vasilchuk D, Patel SS, Das K. Assembly and Cryo-EM structure determination of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase initiation complex intermediates. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100431. [PMID: 33870232 PMCID: PMC8044712 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In yeast mitochondria, transcription initiation requires assembly of mitochondrial RNA polymerase and transcription initiation factor MTF1 at the DNA promoter initiation site. This protocol describes the purification of the component proteins and assembly of partially melted and fully melted initiation complex states. Both states co-exist in equilibrium in the same sample as seen by cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) and allow elucidation of MTF1's structural roles in controlling the transition into elongation. We further outline how analysis of the complex by light scattering, thermal shift assay, and ultrafiltration assay exhibits reproducible results. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to De Wijngaert et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E. Martinez
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anupam Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Brent De Wijngaert
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shemaila Sultana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Chhaya Dharia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Hans Vanbuel
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jiayu Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Daniel Vasilchuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Smita S. Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kalyan Das
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Basu U, Bostwick AM, Das K, Dittenhafer-Reed KE, Patel SS. Structure, mechanism, and regulation of mitochondrial DNA transcription initiation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18406-18425. [PMID: 33127643 PMCID: PMC7939475 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.011202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are specialized compartments that produce requisite ATP to fuel cellular functions and serve as centers of metabolite processing, cellular signaling, and apoptosis. To accomplish these roles, mitochondria rely on the genetic information in their small genome (mitochondrial DNA) and the nucleus. A growing appreciation for mitochondria's role in a myriad of human diseases, including inherited genetic disorders, degenerative diseases, inflammation, and cancer, has fueled the study of biochemical mechanisms that control mitochondrial function. The mitochondrial transcriptional machinery is different from nuclear machinery. The in vitro re-constituted transcriptional complexes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and humans, aided with high-resolution structures and biochemical characterizations, have provided a deeper understanding of the mechanism and regulation of mitochondrial DNA transcription. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in the structure and mechanism of mitochondrial transcription initiation. We will follow up with recent discoveries and formative findings regarding the regulatory events that control mitochondrial DNA transcription, focusing on those involved in cross-talk between the mitochondria and nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urmimala Basu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Kalyan Das
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Smita S Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
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4
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De Wijngaert B, Sultana S, Singh A, Dharia C, Vanbuel H, Shen J, Vasilchuk D, Martinez SE, Kandiah E, Patel SS, Das K. Cryo-EM Structures Reveal Transcription Initiation Steps by Yeast Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase. Mol Cell 2020; 81:268-280.e5. [PMID: 33278362 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial RNA polymerase (mtRNAP) is crucial in cellular energy production, yet understanding of mitochondrial DNA transcription initiation lags that of bacterial and nuclear DNA transcription. We report structures of two transcription initiation intermediate states of yeast mtRNAP that explain promoter melting, template alignment, DNA scrunching, abortive synthesis, and transition into elongation. In the partially melted initiation complex (PmIC), transcription factor MTF1 makes base-specific interactions with flipped non-template (NT) nucleotides "AAGT" at -4 to -1 positions of the DNA promoter. In the initiation complex (IC), the template in the expanded 7-mer bubble positions the RNA and NTP analog UTPαS, while NT scrunches into an NT loop. The scrunched NT loop is stabilized by the centrally positioned MTF1 C-tail. The IC and PmIC states coexist in solution, revealing a dynamic equilibrium between two functional states. Frequent scrunching/unscruching transitions and the imminent steric clashes of the inflating NT loop and growing RNA:DNA with the C-tail explain abortive synthesis and transition into elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent De Wijngaert
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shemaila Sultana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Anupam Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Chhaya Dharia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Hans Vanbuel
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jiayu Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Daniel Vasilchuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Sergio E Martinez
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eaazhisai Kandiah
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Smita S Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Kalyan Das
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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5
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Gupta A, Shrivastava D, Shakya AK, Gupta K, Pratap JV, Habib S. PfKsgA1 functions as a transcription initiation factor and interacts with the N-terminal region of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase of Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol 2020; 51:23-37. [PMID: 32896572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The small mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of the malaria parasite is known to transcribe its genes polycistonically, although promoter element(s) have not yet been identified. An unusually large Plasmodium falciparum candidate mitochondrial phage-like RNA polymerase (PfmtRNAP) with an extended N-terminal region is encoded by the parasite nuclear genome. Using specific antibodies against the enzyme, we established that PfmtRNAP was targeted exclusively to the mitochondrion and interacted with mtDNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it is part of a separate apicomplexan clade. A search for PfmtRNAP-associated transcription initiation factors using sequence homology and in silico protein-protein interaction network analysis identified PfKsgA1. PfKsgA1 is a dual cytosol- and mitochondrion-targeted protein that functions as a small subunit rRNA dimethyltransferase in ribosome biogenesis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that PfKsgA1 interacts with mtDNA, and in vivo crosslinking and pull-down experiments confirmed PfmtRNAP-PfKsgA1 interaction. The ability of PfKsgA1 to serve as a transcription initiation factor was demonstrated by complementation of yeast mitochondrial transcription factor Mtf1 function in Rpo41-driven in vitro transcription. Pull-down experiments using PfKsgA1 and PfmtRNAP domains indicated that the N-terminal region of PfmtRNAP interacts primarily with the PfKsgA1 C-terminal domain with some contacts being made with the linker and N-terminal domain of PfKsgA1. In the absence of full-length recombinant PfmtRNAP, solution structures of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase Rpo41 complexes with Mtf1 or PfKsgA1 were determined by small-angle X-ray scattering. Protein interaction interfaces thus identified matched with those reported earlier for Rpo41-Mtf1 interaction and overlaid with the PfmtRNAP-interfacing region identified experimentally for PfKsgA1. Our results indicate that in addition to a role in mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis, PfKsgA1 has an independent function as a transcription initiation factor for PfmtRNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Gupta
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Deepti Shrivastava
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Anil Kumar Shakya
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Kirti Gupta
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - J V Pratap
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Saman Habib
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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6
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Posse V, Gustafsson CM. Human Mitochondrial Transcription Factor B2 Is Required for Promoter Melting during Initiation of Transcription. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:2637-2645. [PMID: 28028173 PMCID: PMC5314162 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.751008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial transcription initiation machinery in humans consists of three proteins: the RNA polymerase (POLRMT) and two accessory factors, transcription factors A and B2 (TFAM and TFB2M, respectively). This machinery is required for the expression of mitochondrial DNA and the biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Previous experiments suggested that TFB2M is required for promoter melting, but conclusive experimental proof for this effect has not been presented. Moreover, the role of TFB2M in promoter unwinding has not been discriminated from that of TFAM. Here we used potassium permanganate footprinting, DNase I footprinting, and in vitro transcription from the mitochondrial light-strand promoter to study the role of TFB2M in transcription initiation. We demonstrate that a complex composed of TFAM and POLRMT was readily formed at the promoter but alone was insufficient for promoter melting, which only occurred when TFB2M joined the complex. We also show that mismatch bubble templates could circumvent the requirement of TFB2M, but TFAM was still required for efficient initiation. Our findings support a model in which TFAM first recruits POLRMT to the promoter, followed by TFB2M binding and induction of promoter melting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Posse
- From the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, P. O. Box 440, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Claes M Gustafsson
- From the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, P. O. Box 440, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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7
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Kruszewski J, Golik P. Pentatricopeptide Motifs in the N-Terminal Extension Domain of Yeast Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase Rpo41p Are Not Essential for Its Function. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2016; 81:1101-1110. [PMID: 27908235 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297916100084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The core mitochondrial RNA polymerase is a single-subunit enzyme that in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is encoded by the nuclear RPO41 gene. It is an evolutionary descendant of the bacteriophage RNA polymerases, but it includes an additional unconserved N-terminal extension (NTE) domain that is unique to the organellar enzymes. This domain mediates interactions between the polymerase and accessory regulatory factors, such as yeast Sls1p and Nam1p. Previous studies demonstrated that deletion of the entire NTE domain results only in a temperature-dependent respiratory deficiency. Several sequences related to the pentatricopeptide (PPR) motifs were identified in silico in Rpo41p, three of which are located in the NTE domain. PPR repeat proteins are a large family of organellar RNA-binding factors, mostly involved in posttranscriptional gene expression mechanisms. To study their function, we analyzed the phenotype of strains bearing Rpo41p variants where each of these motifs was deleted. We found that deletion of any of the three PPR motifs in the NTE domain does not affect respiratory growth at normal temperature, and it results in a moderate decrease in mtDNA stability. Steady-state levels of COX1 and COX2 mRNAs are also moderately affected. Only the deletion of the second motif results in a partial respiratory deficiency, manifested only at elevated temperature. Our results thus indicate that the PPR motifs do not play an essential role in the function of the NTE domain of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kruszewski
- University of Warsaw, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland.
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8
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Ramachandran A, Basu U, Sultana S, Nandakumar D, Patel SS. Human mitochondrial transcription factors TFAM and TFB2M work synergistically in promoter melting during transcription initiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 45:861-874. [PMID: 27903899 PMCID: PMC5314767 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human mitochondrial DNA is transcribed by POLRMT with the help of two initiation factors, TFAM and TFB2M. The current model postulates that the role of TFAM is to recruit POLRMT and TFB2M to melt the promoter. However, we show that TFAM has ‘post-recruitment’ roles in promoter melting and RNA synthesis, which were revealed by studying the pre-initiation steps of promoter binding, bending and melting, and abortive RNA synthesis. Our 2-aminopurine mapping studies show that the LSP (Light Strand Promoter) is melted from −4 to +1 in the open complex with all three proteins and from −4 to +3 with addition of ATP. Our equilibrium binding studies show that POLRMT forms stable complexes with TFB2M or TFAM on LSP with low-nanomolar Kd values, but these two-component complexes lack the mechanism to efficiently melt the promoter. This indicates that POLRMT needs both TFB2M and TFAM to melt the promoter. Additionally, POLRMT+TFB2M makes 2-mer abortives on LSP, but longer RNAs are observed only with TFAM. These results are explained by TFAM playing a role in promoter melting and/or stabilization of the open complex on LSP. Based on our results, we propose a refined model of transcription initiation by the human mitochondrial transcription machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Ramachandran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Urmimala Basu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shemaila Sultana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Divya Nandakumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Smita S Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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9
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Velazquez G, Sousa R, Brieba LG. The thumb subdomain of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase is involved in processivity, transcript fidelity and mitochondrial transcription factor binding. RNA Biol 2016; 12:514-24. [PMID: 25654332 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1014283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Single subunit RNA polymerases have evolved 2 mechanisms to synthesize long transcripts without falling off a DNA template: binding of nascent RNA and interactions with an RNA:DNA hybrid. Mitochondrial RNA polymerases share a common ancestor with T-odd bacteriophage single subunit RNA polymerases. Herein we characterized the role of the thumb subdomain of the yeast mtRNA polymerase gene (RPO41) in complex stability, processivity, and fidelity. We found that deletion and point mutants of the thumb subdomain of yeast mtRNA polymerase increase the synthesis of abortive transcripts and the probability that the polymerase will disengage from the template during the formation of the late initial transcription and elongation complexes. Mutations in the thumb subdomain increase the amount of slippage products from a homopolymeric template and, unexpectedly, thumb subdomain deletions decrease the binding affinity for mitochondrial transcription factor (Mtf1). The latter suggests that the thumb subdomain is part of an extended binding surface area involved in binding Mtf1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Velazquez
- a Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad ; Centro de Investigación y de Estudios ; Irapuato , Guanajuato , México
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10
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Yang X, Chang HR, Yin YW. Yeast Mitochondrial Transcription Factor Mtf1 Determines the Precision of Promoter-Directed Initiation of RNA Polymerase Rpo41. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136879. [PMID: 26332125 PMCID: PMC4558008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their clear T7-bacteriophage origin, mitochondrial RNA polymerases have evolved to require transcription factors. All mitochondrial polymerases contain an extra N-terminal domain that has no counterpart in the self-proficient phage enzyme, which is therefore hypothesized to interact with transcription factors. We studied a series of N-terminal deletion mutants of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase, Rpo41, and have found that the N-terminal region does not abolish the effects of Mtf1; rather it contributes directly to enzyme catalysis. Mtf1 can rescue the defective Rpo41 enzymes resulted from N-terminal domain deletions. Although Rpo41 appears to have retained all promoter recognition elements found in T7 RNAP, the elements are not independently functional, and Mtf1 is necessary and sufficient for holoenzyme promoter-directed transcription activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yang
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States of America
| | - Hae Ryung Chang
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States of America
| | - Y. Whitney Yin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, United States of America
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11
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Sanchez-Sandoval E, Diaz-Quezada C, Velazquez G, Arroyo-Navarro LF, Almanza-Martinez N, Trasviña-Arenas CH, Brieba LG. Yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase primes mitochondrial DNA polymerase at origins of replication and promoter sequences. Mitochondrion 2015; 24:22-31. [PMID: 26184436 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Three proteins phylogenetically grouped with proteins from the T7 replisome localize to yeast mitochondria: DNA polymerase γ (Mip1), mitochondrial RNA polymerase (Rpo41), and a single-stranded binding protein (Rim1). Human and T7 bacteriophage RNA polymerases synthesize primers for their corresponding DNA polymerases. In contrast, DNA replication in yeast mitochondria is explained by two models: a transcription-dependent model in which Rpo41 primes Mip1 and a model in which double stranded breaks create free 3' OHs that are extended by Mip1. Herein we found that Rpo41 transcribes RNAs that can be extended by Mip1 on single and double-stranded DNA. In contrast to human mitochondrial RNA polymerase, which primes DNA polymerase γ using transcripts from the light-strand and heavy-strand origins of replication, Rpo41 primes Mip1 at replication origins and promoter sequences in vitro. Our results suggest that in ori1, short transcripts serve as primers, whereas in ori5 an RNA transcript longer than 29 nucleotides is used as primer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Sanchez-Sandoval
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Corina Diaz-Quezada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Gilberto Velazquez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Luis F Arroyo-Navarro
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Norineli Almanza-Martinez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Carlos H Trasviña-Arenas
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Luis G Brieba
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
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12
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Drakulic S, Wang L, Cuéllar J, Guo Q, Velázquez G, Martín-Benito J, Sousa R, Valpuesta JM. Yeast mitochondrial RNAP conformational changes are regulated by interactions with the mitochondrial transcription factor. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:11246-60. [PMID: 25183523 PMCID: PMC4176174 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial RNA polymerases (MtRNAPs) are members of the single-subunit RNAP family, the most well-characterized member being the RNAP from T7 bacteriophage. MtRNAPs are, however, functionally distinct in that they depend on one or more transcription factors to recognize and open the promoter and initiate transcription, while the phage RNAPs are capable of performing these tasks alone. Since the transcriptional mechanisms that are conserved in phage and mitochondrial RNAPs have been so effectively characterized in the phage enzymes, outstanding structure-mechanism questions concern those aspects that are distinct in the MtRNAPs, particularly the role of the mitochondrial transcription factor(s). To address these questions we have used both negative staining and cryo-EM to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of yeast MtRNAP initiation complexes with and without the mitochondrial transcription factor (MTF1), and of the elongation complex. Together with biochemical experiments, these data indicate that MTF1 uses multiple mechanisms to drive promoter opening, and that its interactions with the MtRNAP regulate the conformational changes undergone by the latter enzyme as it traverses the template strand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srdja Drakulic
- Department for Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Jorge Cuéllar
- Department for Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Qing Guo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Gilberto Velázquez
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Jaime Martín-Benito
- Department for Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Rui Sousa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - José M Valpuesta
- Department for Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain
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13
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Posse V, Hoberg E, Dierckx A, Shahzad S, Koolmeister C, Larsson NG, Wilhelmsson LM, Hällberg BM, Gustafsson CM. The amino terminal extension of mammalian mitochondrial RNA polymerase ensures promoter specific transcription initiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:3638-47. [PMID: 24445803 PMCID: PMC3973307 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian mitochondrial transcription is executed by a single subunit mitochondrial RNA polymerase (Polrmt) and its two accessory factors, mitochondrial transcription factors A and B2 (Tfam and Tfb2m). Polrmt is structurally related to single-subunit phage RNA polymerases, but it also contains a unique N-terminal extension (NTE) of unknown function. We here demonstrate that the NTE functions together with Tfam to ensure promoter-specific transcription. When the NTE is deleted, Polrmt can initiate transcription in the absence of Tfam, both from promoters and non-specific DNA sequences. Additionally, when in presence of Tfam and a mitochondrial promoter, the NTE-deleted mutant has an even higher transcription activity than wild-type polymerase, indicating that the NTE functions as an inhibitory domain. Our studies lead to a model according to which Tfam specifically recruits wild-type Polrmt to promoter sequences, relieving the inhibitory effect of the NTE, as a first step in transcription initiation. In the second step, Tfb2m is recruited into the complex and transcription is initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Posse
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 440, Gothenburg, Sweden, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering/Physical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, S-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Gleueler Str. 50 a D-50931 Cologne, Germany, Centre for Structural Systems Biology, DESY-Campus, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany and European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Yakubovskaya E, Guja KE, Eng ET, Choi WS, Mejia E, Beglov D, Lukin M, Kozakov D, Garcia-Diaz M. Organization of the human mitochondrial transcription initiation complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:4100-12. [PMID: 24413562 PMCID: PMC3973321 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiation of transcription in human mitochondria involves two factors, TFAM and TFB2M, in addition to the mitochondrial RNA polymerase, POLRMT. We have investigated the organization of the human mitochondrial transcription initiation complex on the light-strand promoter (LSP) through solution X-ray scattering, electron microscopy (EM) and biochemical studies. Our EM results demonstrate a compact organization of the initiation complex, suggesting that protein–protein interactions might help mediate initiation. We demonstrate that, in the absence of DNA, only POLRMT and TFAM form a stable interaction, albeit one with low affinity. This is consistent with the expected transient nature of the interactions necessary for initiation and implies that the promoter DNA acts as a scaffold that enables formation of the full initiation complex. Docking of known crystal structures into our EM maps results in a model for transcriptional initiation that strongly correlates with new and existing biochemical observations. Our results reveal the organization of TFAM, POLRMT and TFB2M around the LSP and represent the first structural characterization of the entire mitochondrial transcriptional initiation complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Yakubovskaya
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027 and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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15
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Fluorescent methods to study transcription initiation and transition into elongation. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2014; 105:105-30. [PMID: 25095993 PMCID: PMC4430081 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0348-0856-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The DNA-dependent RNA polymerases induce specific conformational changes in the promoter DNA during transcription initiation. Fluorescence spectroscopy sensitively monitors these DNA conformational changes in real time and at equilibrium providing powerful ways to estimate interactions in transcriptional complexes and to assess how transcription is regulated by the promoter DNA sequence, transcription factors, and small ligands. Ensemble fluorescence methods described here probe the individual steps of promoter binding, bending, opening, and transition into the elongation using T7 phage and mitochondrial transcriptional systems as examples.
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16
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Velazquez G, Guo Q, Wang L, Brieba LG, Sousa R. Conservation of promoter melting mechanisms in divergent regions of the single-subunit RNA polymerases. Biochemistry 2012; 51:3901-10. [PMID: 22524540 DOI: 10.1021/bi300074j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The single-subunit RNA polymerases make up a widespread family of proteins found in phage, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. Unlike the phage RNAPs, the eukaryotic RNAPs require accessory factors to melt their promoters and diverge from the phage RNAPs in the regions where functions associated with promoter melting in the latter have been mapped, suggesting that promoter melting mechanisms in the eukaryotic RNAPs diverge from those in the phage enzymes. However, here we show that an element in the yeast mitochondrial RNAP, identified by sequence alignment with the T7 phage RNAP, fulfills a role in promoter melting similar to that filled by the T7RNAP "intercalating hairpin". The yeast mitochondrial RNAP intercalating hairpin appears to be as important in promoter melting as the mitochondrial transcription factor, MTF1, and both a structurally integral hairpin and MTF1 are required to achieve high levels of transcription on a duplex promoter. Deletions from the hairpin also relieve MTF1 inhibition of promoter escape on premelted promoters, likely because such deletions disrupt interactions with the upstream edge of the transcription bubble. These results are consistent with recent structural and functional studies of human mitochondrial RNAP and further reveal the surprising extent of mechanistic conservation between the eukaryotic and phage-encoded members of the single-subunit RNAP family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Velazquez
- Langebio/Cinvestav, Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carr., Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato Gto., Mexico
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17
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Arnold JJ, Smidansky ED, Moustafa IM, Cameron CE. Human mitochondrial RNA polymerase: structure-function, mechanism and inhibition. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2012; 1819:948-60. [PMID: 22551784 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2012] [Revised: 04/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Transcription of the human mitochondrial genome is required for the expression of 13 subunits of the respiratory chain complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, which is responsible for meeting the cells' energy demands in the form of ATP. Also transcribed are the two rRNAs and 22 tRNAs required for mitochondrial translation. This process is accomplished, with the help of several accessory proteins, by the human mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT, also known as h-mtRNAP), a nuclear-encoded single-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (DdRp or RNAP) that is distantly related to the bacteriophage T7 class of single-subunit RNAPs. In addition to its role in transcription, POLRMT serves as the primase for mitochondrial DNA replication. Therefore, this enzyme is of fundamental importance for both expression and replication of the human mitochondrial genome. Over the past several years rapid progress has occurred in understanding POLRMT and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial transcription. Important accomplishments include development of recombinant systems that reconstitute human mitochondrial transcription in vitro, determination of the X-ray crystal structure of POLRMT, identification of distinct mechanisms for promoter recognition and transcription initiation, elucidation of the kinetic mechanism for POLRMT-catalyzed nucleotide incorporation and discovery of unique mechanisms of mitochondrial transcription inhibition including the realization that POLRMT is an off target for antiviral ribonucleoside analogs. This review summarizes the current understanding of POLRMT structure-function, mechanism and inhibition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Gene Expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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18
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Mechanism of transcription initiation by the yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2012; 1819:930-8. [PMID: 22353467 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2012.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2011] [Revised: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are the major supplier of cellular energy in the form of ATP. Defects in normal ATP production due to dysfunctions in mitochondrial gene expression are responsible for many mitochondrial and aging related disorders. Mitochondria carry their own DNA genome which is transcribed by relatively simple transcriptional machinery consisting of the mitochondrial RNAP (mtRNAP) and one or more transcription factors. The mtRNAPs are remarkably similar in sequence and structure to single-subunit bacteriophage T7 RNAP but they require accessory transcription factors for promoter-specific initiation. Comparison of the mechanisms of T7 RNAP and mtRNAP provides a framework to better understand how mtRNAP and the transcription factors work together to facilitate promoter selection, DNA melting, initiating nucleotide binding, and promoter clearance. This review focuses primarily on the mechanistic characterization of transcription initiation by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae mtRNAP (Rpo41) and its transcription factor (Mtf1) drawing insights from the homologous T7 and the human mitochondrial transcription systems. We discuss regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial transcription and the idea that the mtRNAP acts as the in vivo ATP "sensor" to regulate gene expression. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Gene Expression.
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