1
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Xu F, Suyama R, Inada T, Kawaguchi S, Kai T. HemK2 functions for sufficient protein synthesis and RNA stability through eRF1 methylation during Drosophila oogenesis. Development 2024; 151:dev202795. [PMID: 38881530 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202795] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
HemK2 is a highly conserved methyltransferase, but the identification of its genuine substrates has been controversial, and its biological importance in higher organisms remains unclear. We elucidate the role of HemK2 in the methylation of eukaryotic Release Factor 1 (eRF1), a process that is essential for female germline development in Drosophila melanogaster. Knockdown of hemK2 in the germline cells (hemK2-GLKD) induces apoptosis, accompanied by a pronounced decrease in both eRF1 methylation and protein synthesis. Overexpression of a methylation-deficient eRF1 variant recapitulates the defects observed in hemK2-GLKD, suggesting that eRF1 is a primary methylation target of HemK2. Furthermore, hemK2-GLKD leads to a significant reduction in mRNA levels in germline cell. These defects in oogenesis and protein synthesis can be partially restored by inhibiting the No-Go Decay pathway. In addition, hemK2 knockdown is associated with increased disome formation, suggesting that disruptions in eRF1 methylation may provoke ribosomal stalling, which subsequently activates translation-coupled mRNA surveillance mechanisms that degrade actively translated mRNAs. We propose that HemK2-mediated methylation of eRF1 is crucial for ensuring efficient protein production and mRNA stability, which are vital for the generation of high-quality eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmei Xu
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ritsuko Suyama
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Inada
- Division of RNA and Gene regulation, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Shinichi Kawaguchi
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshie Kai
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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2
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Mutso M, Brūmele B, Serova E, Väärtnõu F, Suija M, Kurg R. The methyltransferase N6AMT1 participates in the cell cycle by regulating cyclin E levels. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298884. [PMID: 38394175 PMCID: PMC10889616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298884] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The methyltransferase N6AMT1 has been associated with the progression of different pathological conditions, such as tumours and neurological malfunctions, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Analysis of N6AMT1-depleted cells revealed that N6AMT1 is involved in the cell cycle and cell proliferation. In N6AMT1-depleted cells, the cell doubling time was increased, and cell progression out of mitosis and the G0/G1 and S phases was disrupted. It was discovered that in N6AMT1-depleted cells, the transcription of cyclin E was downregulated, which indicates that N6AMT1 is involved in the regulation of cyclin E transcription. Understanding the functions and importance of N6AMT1 in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation is essential for developing treatments and strategies to control diseases that are associated with N6AMT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Mutso
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Baiba Brūmele
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Evgeniia Serova
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Fred Väärtnõu
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mihkel Suija
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Reet Kurg
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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3
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Weirich S, Ulu GT, Chandrasekaran TT, Kehl J, Schmid J, Dorscht F, Kublanovsky M, Levy D, Jeltsch A. Distinct specificities of the HEMK2 protein methyltransferase in methylation of glutamine and lysine residues. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4897. [PMID: 38284488 PMCID: PMC10804810 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4897] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The HEMK2 protein methyltransferase has been described as glutamine methyltransferase catalyzing ERF1-Q185me1 and lysine methyltransferase catalyzing H4K12me1. Methylation of two distinct target residues is unique for this class of enzymes. To understand the specific catalytic adaptations of HEMK2 allowing it to master this chemically challenging task, we conducted a detailed investigation of the substrate sequence specificities of HEMK2 for Q- and K-methylation. Our data show that HEMK2 prefers methylation of Q over K at peptide and protein level. Moreover, the ERF1 sequence is strongly preferred as substrate over the H4K12 sequence. With peptide SPOT array methylation experiments, we show that Q-methylation preferentially occurs in a G-Q-X3 -R context, while K-methylation prefers S/T at the first position of the motif. Based on this, we identified novel HEMK2 K-methylation peptide substrates with sequences taken from human proteins which are methylated with high activity. Since H4K12 methylation by HEMK2 was very low, other protein lysine methyltransferases were examined for their ability to methylate the H4K12 site. We show that SETD6 has a high H4K12me1 methylation activity (about 1000-times stronger than HEMK2) and this enzyme is mainly responsible for H4K12me1 in DU145 prostate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Weirich
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Gizem T. Ulu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Thyagarajan T. Chandrasekaran
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Jana Kehl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Jasmin Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Franziska Dorscht
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
| | - Margarita Kublanovsky
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and GeneticsBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er‐ShevaIsrael
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Dan Levy
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and GeneticsBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er‐ShevaIsrael
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBe'er‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of BiochemistryUniversity of StuttgartStuttgartGermany
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4
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Arkhipova IR, Yushenova IA, Rodriguez F. Shaping eukaryotic epigenetic systems by horizontal gene transfer. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200232. [PMID: 37339822 PMCID: PMC10287040 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200232] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation constitutes one of the pillars of epigenetics, relying on covalent bonds for addition and/or removal of chemically distinct marks within the major groove of the double helix. DNA methyltransferases, enzymes which introduce methyl marks, initially evolved in prokaryotes as components of restriction-modification systems protecting host genomes from bacteriophages and other invading foreign DNA. In early eukaryotic evolution, DNA methyltransferases were horizontally transferred from bacteria into eukaryotes several times and independently co-opted into epigenetic regulatory systems, primarily via establishing connections with the chromatin environment. While C5-methylcytosine is the cornerstone of plant and animal epigenetics and has been investigated in much detail, the epigenetic role of other methylated bases is less clear. The recent addition of N4-methylcytosine of bacterial origin as a metazoan DNA modification highlights the prerequisites for foreign gene co-option into the host regulatory networks, and challenges the existing paradigms concerning the origin and evolution of eukaryotic regulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina R Arkhipova
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Irina A Yushenova
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fernando Rodriguez
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
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5
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Xuan W, Yang X. Semisynthesis of Glutamine-Methylated Proteins Enabled by Genetic Code Expansion. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2676:147-156. [PMID: 37277630 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3251-2_10] [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: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Gln methylation is a newly identified histone mark and mediates ribosomal biogenesis. Site-specifically Gln-methylated proteins are valuable tools to elucidate the biological implications of this modification. Herein, we describe a protocol to generate histones with site-specific Gln methylation in a semisynthetic manner. Firstly, an esterified glutamic acid analogue (BnE) is genetically encoded into proteins by genetic code expansion with high efficiency, which can be quantitatively converted into an acyl hydrazide via hydrazinolysis. Then, through a reaction with acetyl acetone, the acyl hydrazide is converted to reactive Knorr pyrazole. Finally, the in situ generated Knorr pyrazole is incubated with methylamine to give Gln methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weimin Xuan
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xiaochen Yang
- State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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6
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Biziaev NS, Shuvalov AV, Alkalaeva EZ. HEMK-Like Methyltransferases in the Regulation of Cellular Processes. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322030025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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7
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Mammalian HEMK1 methylates glutamine residue of the GGQ motif of mitochondrial release factors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4104. [PMID: 35260756 PMCID: PMC8904536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08061-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite limited reports on glutamine methylation, methylated glutamine is found to be highly conserved in a "GGQ" motif in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In bacteria, glutamine methylation of peptide chain release factors 1/2 (RF1/2) by the enzyme PrmC is essential for translational termination and transcript recycling. Two PrmC homologs, HEMK1 and HEMK2, are found in mammals. In contrast to those of HEMK2, the biochemical properties and biological significance of HEMK1 remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that HEMK1 is an active methyltransferase for the glutamine residue of the GGQ motif of all four putative mitochondrial release factors (mtRFs)-MTRF1, MTRF1L, MRPL58, and MTRFR. In HEMK1-deficient HeLa cells, GGQ motif glutamine methylation was absent in all the mtRFs. We examined cell growth and mitochondrial properties, but disruption of the HEMK1 gene had no considerable impact on the overall cell growth, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial protein synthesis under regular culture condition with glucose as a carbon source. Furthermore, cell growth potential of HEMK1 KO cells was still maintained in the respiratory condition with galactose medium. Our results suggest that HEMK1 mediates the GGQ methylation of all four mtRFs in human cells; however, this specific modification seems mostly dispensable in cell growth and mitochondrial protein homeostasis at least for HeLa cells under fermentative culture condition.
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8
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Bacterial N4-methylcytosine as an epigenetic mark in eukaryotic DNA. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1072. [PMID: 35228526 PMCID: PMC8885841 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28471-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA modifications are used to regulate gene expression and defend against invading genetic elements. In eukaryotes, modifications predominantly involve C5-methylcytosine (5mC) and occasionally N6-methyladenine (6mA), while bacteria frequently use N4-methylcytosine (4mC) in addition to 5mC and 6mA. Here we report that 4mC can serve as an epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. Bdelloid rotifers, tiny freshwater invertebrates with transposon-poor genomes rich in foreign genes, lack canonical eukaryotic C5-methyltransferases for 5mC addition, but encode an amino-methyltransferase, N4CMT, captured from bacteria >60 Mya. N4CMT deposits 4mC at active transposons and certain tandem repeats, and fusion to a chromodomain shapes its “histone-read-DNA-write” architecture recognizing silent chromatin marks. Furthermore, amplification of SETDB1 H3K9me3 histone methyltransferases yields variants preferentially binding 4mC-DNA, suggesting “DNA-read-histone-write” partnership to maintain chromatin-based silencing. Our results show how non-native DNA methyl groups can reshape epigenetic systems to silence transposons and demonstrate the potential of horizontal gene transfer to drive regulatory innovation in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic DNA can be methylated as 5-methylcytosine and N6-methyladenine, but whether other forms of DNA methylation occur has been controversial. Here the authors show that a bacterial DNA methyltransferase was acquired >60 Mya in bdelloid rotifers that catalyzes N4-methylcytosine addition and is involved in suppression of transposon proliferation.
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Sepich-Poore C, Zheng Z, Schmitt E, Wen K, Zhang ZS, Cui XL, Dai Q, Zhu AC, Zhang L, Sanchez Castillo A, Tan H, Peng J, Zhuang X, He C, Nachtergaele S. The METTL5-TRMT112 N 6-methyladenosine methyltransferase complex regulates mRNA translation via 18S rRNA methylation. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101590. [PMID: 35033535 PMCID: PMC8857481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) have long been known to carry chemical modifications, including 2'O-methylation, pseudouridylation, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), and N6,6-dimethyladenosine. While the functions of many of these modifications are unclear, some are highly conserved and occur in regions of the ribosome critical for mRNA decoding. Both 28S rRNA and 18S rRNA carry single m6A sites, and while the methyltransferase ZCCHC4 has been identified as the enzyme responsible for the 28S rRNA m6A modification, the methyltransferase responsible for the 18S rRNA m6A modification has remained unclear. Here, we show that the METTL5-TRMT112 methyltransferase complex installs the m6A modification at position 1832 of human 18S rRNA. Our work supports findings that TRMT112 is required for METTL5 stability and reveals that human METTL5 mutations associated with microcephaly and intellectual disability disrupt this interaction. We show that loss of METTL5 in human cancer cell lines and in mice regulates gene expression at the translational level; additionally, Mettl5 knockout mice display reduced body size and evidence of metabolic defects. While recent work has focused heavily on m6A modifications in mRNA and their roles in mRNA processing and translation, we demonstrate here that deorphanizing putative methyltransferase enzymes can reveal previously unappreciated regulatory roles for m6A in noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caraline Sepich-Poore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; University of Chicago Medical Scientist Training Program, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zhong Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Emily Schmitt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kailong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zijie Scott Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Xiao-Long Cui
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Qing Dai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Allen C Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; University of Chicago Medical Scientist Training Program, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Linda Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Arantxa Sanchez Castillo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Zhuang
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Sigrid Nachtergaele
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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10
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Weirich S, Jeltsch A. Specificity Analysis of Protein Methyltransferases and Discovery of Novel Substrates Using SPOT Peptide Arrays. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2529:313-325. [PMID: 35733022 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2481-4_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Posttranslational methylation of amino acid side chains in proteins mainly occurs on lysine, arginine, glutamine, and histidine residues. It is introduced by different protein methyltransferases (PMTs) and regulates many aspects of protein function including stability, activity, localization, and protein/protein interactions. Although the biological effects of PMTs are mediated by their methylation substrates, the full substrate spectrum of most PMTs is not known. For many PMTs, their activity on a particular potential substrate depends, among other factors, on the peptide sequence containing the target residue for methylation. In this protocol, we describe the application of SPOT peptide arrays to investigate the substrate specificity of PMTs and identify novel substrates. Methylation of SPOT peptide arrays makes it possible to study the methylation of many different peptides in one experiment at reasonable costs and thereby provides detailed information about the specificity of the PMT under investigation. In these experiments, a known substrate sequence is used as template to design a SPOT peptide array containing peptides with single amino acid exchanges at all positions of the sequence. Methylation of the array with the PMT provides detailed preferences for each amino acid at each position in the substrate sequence, yielding a substrate sequence specificity profile. This information can then be used to identify novel potential PMT substrates by in silico data base searches. Methylation of novel substrate candidates can be validated in SPOT arrays at peptide level, followed by validation at protein level in vitro and in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Weirich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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11
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Zhang F, Kerbl-Knapp J, Rodriguez Colman MJ, Meinitzer A, Macher T, Vujić N, Fasching S, Jany-Luig E, Korbelius M, Kuentzel KB, Mack M, Akhmetshina A, Pirchheim A, Paar M, Rinner B, Hörl G, Steyrer E, Stelzl U, Burgering B, Eisenberg T, Pertschy B, Kratky D, Madl T. Global analysis of protein arginine methylation. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100016. [PMID: 35475236 PMCID: PMC9017121 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative information about the levels and dynamics of post-translational modifications (PTMs) is critical for an understanding of cellular functions. Protein arginine methylation (ArgMet) is an important subclass of PTMs and is involved in a plethora of (patho)physiological processes. However, because of the lack of methods for global analysis of ArgMet, the link between ArgMet levels, dynamics, and (patho)physiology remains largely unknown. We utilized the high sensitivity and robustness of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to develop a general method for the quantification of global protein ArgMet. Our NMR-based approach enables the detection of protein ArgMet in purified proteins, cells, organoids, and mouse tissues. We demonstrate that the process of ArgMet is a highly prevalent PTM and can be modulated by small-molecule inhibitors and metabolites and changes in cancer and during aging. Thus, our approach enables us to address a wide range of biological questions related to ArgMet in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrong Zhang
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Jakob Kerbl-Knapp
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Maria J. Rodriguez Colman
- Oncode Institute and Department of Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas Meinitzer
- Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Therese Macher
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Nemanja Vujić
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sandra Fasching
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Evelyne Jany-Luig
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Melanie Korbelius
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina B. Kuentzel
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Maximilian Mack
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Alena Akhmetshina
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anita Pirchheim
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Margret Paar
- Otto-Loewi Research Center, Physiological Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Beate Rinner
- Division of Biomedical Research, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Gerd Hörl
- Otto-Loewi Research Center, Physiological Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ernst Steyrer
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ulrich Stelzl
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Boudewijn Burgering
- Oncode Institute and Department of Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tobias Eisenberg
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Brigitte Pertschy
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Dagmar Kratky
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/6, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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12
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Lukinović V, Biggar KK. Deconvoluting complex protein interaction networks through reductionist strategies in peptide biochemistry: Modern approaches and research questions. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 256:110616. [PMID: 34000427 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Following the decoding of the first human genome, researchers have vastly improved their understanding of cell biology and its regulation. As a result, it has become clear that it is not merely genetic information, but the aberrant changes in the functionality and connectivity of its encoded proteins that drive cell response to periods of stress and external cues. Therefore, proper utilization of refined methods that help to describe protein signalling or regulatory networks (i.e., functional connectivity), can help us understand how change in the signalling landscape effects the cell. However, given the vast complexity in 'how and when' proteins communicate or interact with each other, it is extremely difficult to define, characterize, and understand these interaction networks in a tangible manner. Herein lies the challenge of tackling the functional proteome; its regulation is encoded in multiple layers of interaction, chemical modification and cell compartmentalization. To address and refine simple research questions, modern reductionist strategies in protein biochemistry have successfully used peptide-based experiments; their summation helping to simplify the overall complexity of these protein interaction networks. In this way, peptides are powerful tools used in fundamental research that can be readily applied to comparative biochemical research. Understanding and defining how proteins interact is one of the key aspects towards understanding how the proteome functions. To date, reductionist peptide-based research has helped to address a wide range of proteome-related research questions, including the prediction of enzymes substrates, identification of posttranslational modifications, and the annotation of protein interaction partners. Peptide arrays have been used to identify the binding specificity of reader domains, which are able to recognise the posttranslational modifications; forming dynamic protein interactions that are dependent on modification state. Finally, representing one of the fastest growing classes of inhibitor molecules, peptides are now begin explored as "disruptors" of protein-protein interactions or enzyme activity. Collectively, this review will discuss the use of peptides, peptide arrays, peptide-oriented computational biochemistry as modern reductionist strategies in deconvoluting the functional proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Lukinović
- Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kyle K Biggar
- Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
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Structural insight into HEMK2-TRMT112-mediated glutamine methylation. Biochem J 2021; 477:3833-3838. [PMID: 32969463 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications play important roles in mediating protein functions in a wide variety of cellular events in vivo. HEMK2-TRMT112 heterodimer has been reported to be responsible for both histone lysine methylation and eukaryotic release factor 1 (eRF1) glutamine methylation. However, how HEMK2-TRMT112 complex recognizes and catalyzes eRF1 glutamine methylation is largely unknown. Here, we present two structures of HEMK2-TRMT112, with one bound to SAM and the other bound with SAH and methylglutamine (Qme). Structural analyses of the post-catalytic complex, complemented by mass spectrometry experiments, indicate that the HEMK2 utilizes a specific pocket to accommodate the substrate glutamine and catalyzes the subsequent methylation. Therefore, our work not only throws light on the protein glutamine methylation mechanism, but also reveals the dual activity of HEMK2 by catalyzing the methylation of both Lys and Gln residues.
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14
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Kwiatkowski S, Drozak J. Protein Histidine Methylation. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 21:675-689. [PMID: 32188384 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721666200318161330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein histidine methylation is a rarely studied posttranslational modification in eukaryotes. Although the presence of N-methylhistidine was demonstrated in actin in the early 1960s, so far, only a limited number of proteins containing N-methylhistidine have been reported, including S100A9, myosin, skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK 2), and ribosomal protein Rpl3. Furthermore, the role of histidine methylation in the functioning of the protein and in cell physiology remains unclear due to a shortage of studies focusing on this topic. However, the molecular identification of the first two distinct histidine-specific protein methyltransferases has been established in yeast (Hpm1) and in metazoan species (actin-histidine N-methyltransferase), giving new insights into the phenomenon of protein methylation at histidine sites. As a result, we are now beginning to recognize protein histidine methylation as an important regulatory mechanism of protein functioning whose loss may have deleterious consequences in both cells and in organisms. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent advances in the understanding of the chemical, enzymological, and physiological aspects of protein histidine methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kwiatkowski
- Department of Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Drozak
- Department of Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Bhat KP, Ümit Kaniskan H, Jin J, Gozani O. Epigenetics and beyond: targeting writers of protein lysine methylation to treat disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:265-286. [PMID: 33469207 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-00108-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein lysine methylation is a crucial post-translational modification that regulates the functions of both histone and non-histone proteins. Deregulation of the enzymes or 'writers' of protein lysine methylation, lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), is implicated in the cause of many diseases, including cancer, mental health disorders and developmental disorders. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in developing drugs to target KMTs that are involved in histone methylation and epigenetic regulation. The first of these inhibitors, tazemetostat, was recently approved for the treatment of epithelioid sarcoma and follicular lymphoma, and several more are in clinical and preclinical evaluation. Beyond chromatin, the many KMTs that regulate protein synthesis and other fundamental biological processes are emerging as promising new targets for drug development to treat diverse diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamakoti P Bhat
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Or Gozani
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Lacoux C, Wacheul L, Saraf K, Pythoud N, Huvelle E, Figaro S, Graille M, Carapito C, Lafontaine DLJ, Heurgué-Hamard V. The catalytic activity of the translation termination factor methyltransferase Mtq2-Trm112 complex is required for large ribosomal subunit biogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12310-12325. [PMID: 33166396 PMCID: PMC7708063 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mtq2-Trm112 methyltransferase modifies the eukaryotic translation termination factor eRF1 on the glutamine side chain of a universally conserved GGQ motif that is essential for release of newly synthesized peptides. Although this modification is found in the three domains of life, its exact role in eukaryotes remains unknown. As the deletion of MTQ2 leads to severe growth impairment in yeast, we have investigated its role further and tested its putative involvement in ribosome biogenesis. We found that Mtq2 is associated with nuclear 60S subunit precursors, and we demonstrate that its catalytic activity is required for nucleolar release of pre-60S and for efficient production of mature 5.8S and 25S rRNAs. Thus, we identify Mtq2 as a novel ribosome assembly factor important for large ribosomal subunit formation. We propose that Mtq2-Trm112 might modify eRF1 in the nucleus as part of a quality control mechanism aimed at proof-reading the peptidyl transferase center, where it will subsequently bind during translation termination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lacoux
- UMR8261 (CNRS, Université de Paris), Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ludivine Wacheul
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Université Libre de Bruxelles Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Kritika Saraf
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Université Libre de Bruxelles Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Pythoud
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Bio-Organique (LSMBO), UMR 7178, IPHC, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Emmeline Huvelle
- UMR8261 (CNRS, Université de Paris), Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sabine Figaro
- UMR8261 (CNRS, Université de Paris), Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marc Graille
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Christine Carapito
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse Bio-Organique (LSMBO), UMR 7178, IPHC, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Denis L J Lafontaine
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Université Libre de Bruxelles Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Valérie Heurgué-Hamard
- UMR8261 (CNRS, Université de Paris), Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
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Posttranslational Methylation of Arginine in Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase Has a Profound Impact on both Methanogenesis and Growth of Methanococcus maripaludis. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00654-19. [PMID: 31740491 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00654-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Catalyzing the key step for anaerobic production and/or oxidation of methane and likely other short-chain alkanes, methyl coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) and its homologs play a key role in the global carbon cycle. The McrA subunit possesses up to five conserved posttranslational modifications (PTMs) at its active site. It was previously suggested that methanogenesis marker protein 10 (Mmp10) could play an important role in methanogenesis. To systematically examine its physiological role, mmpX (locus tag MMP1554), the gene encoding Mmp10 in Methanococcus maripaludis, was deleted with a new genetic tool, resulting in the complete loss of the 5-C-(S)-methylarginine PTM of residue 275 in the McrA subunit. When the ΔmmpX mutant was complemented with the wild-type gene expressed by either a strong or a weak promoter, methylation was fully restored. Compared to the parental strain, maximal rates of methane formation by whole cells were reduced by 40 to 60% in the ΔmmpX mutant. The reduction in activity was fully reversed by the complement with the strong promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis of mmpX resulted in a differential loss of arginine methylation among the mutants in vivo, suggesting that activities of Mmp10 directly modulated methylation. R275 was present in a highly conserved PXRR275(A/S)R(G/A) signature sequence in McrAs. The only other protein in M. maripaludis containing a similar sequence was not methylated, suggesting that Mmp10 is specific for McrA. In conclusion, Mmp10 modulates the methyl-Arg PTM on McrA in a highly specific manner, which has a profound impact on Mcr activity.IMPORTANCE Mcr is the key enzyme in methanogenesis and a promising candidate for bioengineering the conversion of methane to liquid fuel. Our knowledge of Mcr is still limited. In terms of complexity, uniqueness, and environmental importance, Mcr is more comparable to photosynthetic reaction centers than conventional enzymes. PTMs have long been hypothesized to play key roles in modulating Mcr activity. Here, we directly link the mmpX gene to the arginine PTM of Mcr, demonstrate its association with methanogenesis activity, and offer insights into its substrate specificity and putative cofactor binding sites. This is also the first time that a PTM of McrA has been shown to have a substantial impact on both methanogenesis and growth in the absence of additional stressors.
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18
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Dai S, Horton JR, Wilkinson AW, Gozani O, Zhang X, Cheng X. An engineered variant of SETD3 methyltransferase alters target specificity from histidine to lysine methylation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2582-2589. [PMID: 31911441 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.012319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Most characterized SET domain (SETD) proteins are protein lysine methyltransferases, but SETD3 was recently demonstrated to be a protein (i.e. actin) histidine-N3 methyltransferase. Human SETD3 shares a high structural homology with two known protein lysine methyltransferases-human SETD6 and the plant LSMT-but differs in the residues constituting the active site. In the SETD3 active site, Asn255 engages in a unique hydrogen-bonding interaction with the target histidine of actin that likely contributes to its >1300-fold greater catalytic efficiency (k cat/Km ) on histidine than on lysine. Here, we engineered active-site variants to switch the SETD3 target specificity from histidine to lysine. Substitution of Asn255 with phenylalanine (N255F), together with substitution of Trp273 with alanine (W273A), generated an active site mimicking that of known lysine methyltransferases. The doubly substituted SETD3 variant exhibited a 13-fold preference for lysine over histidine. We show, by means of X-ray crystallography, that the two target nitrogen atoms-the N3 atom of histidine and the terminal ϵ-amino nitrogen of lysine-occupy the same position and point toward and are within a short distance of the incoming methyl group of SAM for a direct methyl transfer during catalysis. In contrast, SETD3 and its Asn255 substituted derivatives did not methylate glutamine (another potentially methylated amino acid). However, the glutamine-containing peptide competed with the substrate peptide, and glutamine bound in the active site, but too far away from SAM to be methylated. Our results provide insight into the structural parameters defining the target amino acid specificity of SET enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaobo Dai
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - John R Horton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Alex W Wilkinson
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Or Gozani
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
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19
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Yang J, Zhang X, Blumenthal RM, Cheng X. Detection of DNA Modifications by Sequence-Specific Transcription Factors. J Mol Biol 2019:S0022-2836(19)30568-6. [PMID: 31626807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The establishment, detection, and alteration or elimination of epigenetic DNA modifications are essential to controlling gene expression ranging from bacteria to mammals. The DNA methylations occurring at cytosine and adenine are carried out by SAM-dependent methyltransferases. Successive oxidations of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) by Tet dioxygenases generate 5-hydroxymethyl (5hmC), 5-formyl (5fC), and 5-carboxyl (5caC) derivatives; thus, DNA elements with multiple methylation sites can have a wide range of modification states. In contrast, oxidation of N6-methyladenine by homologs of Escherichia coli AlkB removes the methyl group directly. Both Tet and AlkB enzymes are 2-oxoglutarate- and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases. DNA-binding proteins decode the modification status of specific genomic regions. This article centers on two families of sequence-specific transcription factors: bZIP (basic leucine-zipper) proteins, exemplified by the AP-1 and CEBPβ recognition of 5mC; and bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) proteins, exemplified by MAX and TCF4 recognition of 5caC. We discuss the impact of template strand DNA modification on the activities of DNA and RNA polymerases, and the varied tendencies of modifications to alter base pairing and their interactions with DNA repair enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Woodcock CB, Yu D, Zhang X, Cheng X. Human HemK2/KMT9/N6AMT1 is an active protein methyltransferase, but does not act on DNA in vitro, in the presence of Trm112. Cell Discov 2019; 5:50. [PMID: 31632689 PMCID: PMC6796829 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-019-0119-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Clayton B. Woodcock
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
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Structural insight into human N6amt1-Trm112 complex functioning as a protein methyltransferase. Cell Discov 2019; 5:51. [PMID: 31636962 PMCID: PMC6796863 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-019-0121-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification in many organisms and can occur on cytosine or adenine. N6-methyladenine (6mA) exists widespreadly in bacterial genomes, which plays a vital role in the bacterial restriction-modification system. Recently, 6mA has also been reported to exist in the genomes of a variety of eukaryotes from unicellular organisms to metazoans. There were controversial reports on whether human N6amt1, which was originally reported as a glutamine MTase for eRF1, is a putative 6mA DNA MTase. We report here the crystal structure of human N6amt1–Trm112 in complex with cofactor SAM. Structural analysis shows that Trm112 binds to a hydrophobic surface of N6amt1 to stabilize its structure but does not directly contribute to substrate binding and catalysis. The active site and potential substrate-binding site of N6amt1 are dominantly negatively charged and thus are unsuitable for DNA binding. The biochemical data confirm that the complex cannot bind DNA and has no MTase activity for DNA, but exhibits activity for the methylation of Gln185 of eRF1. Our structural and biochemical data together demonstrate that N6amt1 is a bona fide protein MTase rather than a DNA MTase.
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The Common Partner of Several Methyltransferases TRMT112 Regulates the Expression of N6AMT1 Isoforms in Mammalian Cells. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9090422. [PMID: 31466382 PMCID: PMC6769652 DOI: 10.3390/biom9090422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylation is a widespread modification occurring in DNA, RNA and proteins. The N6AMT1 (HEMK2) protein has DNA N6-methyladenine as well as the protein glutamine and histone lysine methyltransferase activities. The human genome encodes two different isoforms of N6AMT1, the major isoform and the alternatively spliced isoform, where the substrate binding motif is missing. Several RNA methyltransferases involved in ribosome biogenesis, tRNA methylation and translation interact with the common partner, the TRMT112 protein. In this study, we show that TRMT112 regulates the expression of N6AMT1 isoforms in mammalian cells. Both isoforms are equally expressed on mRNA level, but only isoform 1 is detected on the protein level in human cells. We show that the alternatively spliced isoform is not able to interact with TRMT112 and when translated, is rapidly degraded from the cells. This suggests that TRMT112 is involved in cellular quality control ensuring that N6AMT1 isoform with missing substrate binding domain is eliminated from the cells. The down-regulation of TRMT112 does not affect the N6AMT1 protein levels in cells, suggesting that the two proteins of TRMT112 network, WBSCR22 and N6AMT1, are differently regulated by their common cofactor.
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23
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KMT9 monomethylates histone H4 lysine 12 and controls proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:361-371. [PMID: 31061526 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0219-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Histone lysine methylation is generally performed by SET domain methyltransferases and regulates chromatin structure and gene expression. Here, we identify human C21orf127 (HEMK2, N6AMT1, PrmC), a member of the seven-β-strand family of putative methyltransferases, as a novel histone lysine methyltransferase. C21orf127 functions as an obligate heterodimer with TRMT112, writing the methylation mark on lysine 12 of histone H4 (H4K12) in vitro and in vivo. We characterized H4K12 recognition by solving the crystal structure of human C21orf127-TRMT112, hereafter termed 'lysine methyltransferase 9' (KMT9), in complex with S-adenosyl-homocysteine and H4K12me1 peptide. Additional analyses revealed enrichment for KMT9 and H4K12me1 at the promoters of numerous genes encoding cell cycle regulators and control of cell cycle progression by KMT9. Importantly, KMT9 depletion severely affects the proliferation of androgen receptor-dependent, as well as that of castration- and enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells and xenograft tumors. Our data link H4K12 methylation with KMT9-dependent regulation of androgen-independent prostate tumor cell proliferation, thereby providing a promising paradigm for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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Kweon SM, Chen Y, Moon E, Kvederaviciutė K, Klimasauskas S, Feldman DE. An Adversarial DNA N 6-Methyladenine-Sensor Network Preserves Polycomb Silencing. Mol Cell 2019; 74:1138-1147.e6. [PMID: 30982744 PMCID: PMC6591016 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adenine N6 methylation in DNA (6mA) is widespread among bacteria and phage and is detected in mammalian genomes, where its function is largely unexplored. Here we show that 6mA deposition and removal are catalyzed by the Mettl4 methyltransferase and Alkbh4 dioxygenase, respectively, and that 6mA accumulation in genic elements corresponds with transcriptional silencing. Inactivation of murine Mettl4 depletes 6mA and causes sublethality and craniofacial dysmorphism in incross progeny. We identify distinct 6mA sensor domains of prokaryotic origin within the MPND deubiquitinase and ASXL1, a component of the Polycomb repressive deubiquitinase (PR-DUB) complex, both of which act to remove monoubiquitin from histone H2A (H2A-K119Ub), a repressive mark. Deposition of 6mA by Mettl4 triggers the proteolytic destruction of both sensor proteins, preserving genome-wide H2A-K119Ub levels. Expression of the bacterial 6mA methyltransferase Dam, in contrast, fails to destroy either sensor. These findings uncover a native, adversarial 6mA network architecture that preserves Polycomb silencing. 6mA deposition and erasure by mammalian Mettl4 and Alkbh4, respectively Mettl4-deficient mice display craniofacial dysmorphism 6mA triggers proteolysis of its cognate sensor proteins ASXL1 and MPND Adversarial 6mA network architecture preserves Polycomb silencing
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Mi Kweon
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yibu Chen
- Bioinformatics Service, Department of Health Sciences Libraries, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Eugene Moon
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kotryna Kvederaviciutė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Klimasauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Douglas E Feldman
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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25
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Vasilieva EN, Laptev IG, Sergiev PV, Dontsova OA. The Common Partner of Several Methyltransferases Modifying the Components of The Eukaryotic Translation Apparatus. Mol Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893318060171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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26
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Hamey JJ, Separovich RJ, Wilkins MR. MT-MAMS: Protein Methyltransferase Motif Analysis by Mass Spectrometry. J Proteome Res 2018; 17:3485-3491. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Hamey
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Ryan J. Separovich
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Marc R. Wilkins
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
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Systematic Functional Characterization of Human 21st Chromosome Orthologs in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2018; 8:967-979. [PMID: 29367452 PMCID: PMC5844316 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome have neurological and muscle impairments due to an additional copy of the human 21st chromosome (HSA21). Only a few of ∼200 HSA21 genes encoding proteins have been linked to specific Down syndrome phenotypes, while the remainder are understudied. To identify poorly characterized HSA21 genes required for nervous system function, we studied behavioral phenotypes caused by loss-of-function mutations in conserved HSA21 orthologs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified 10 HSA21 orthologs that are required for neuromuscular behaviors: cle-1 (COL18A1), cysl-2 (CBS), dnsn-1 (DONSON), eva-1 (EVA1C), mtq-2 (N6ATM1), ncam-1 (NCAM2), pad-2 (POFUT2), pdxk-1 (PDXK), rnt-1 (RUNX1), and unc-26 (SYNJ1). We also found that three of these genes are required for normal release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This includes a known synaptic gene unc-26 (SYNJ1), as well as uncharacterized genes pdxk-1 (PDXK) and mtq-2 (N6ATM1). As the first systematic functional analysis of HSA21 orthologs, this study may serve as a platform to understand genes that underlie phenotypes associated with Down syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey C. Szymczak
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Hsin-Yu Kuo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Milan Mrksich
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Bourgeois G, Létoquart J, van Tran N, Graille M. Trm112, a Protein Activator of Methyltransferases Modifying Actors of the Eukaryotic Translational Apparatus. Biomolecules 2017; 7:biom7010007. [PMID: 28134793 PMCID: PMC5372719 DOI: 10.3390/biom7010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications are very important for the control and optimal efficiency of messenger RNA (mRNA) translation. Among these, methylation is the most widespread modification, as it is found in all domains of life. These methyl groups can be grafted either on nucleic acids (transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), mRNA, etc.) or on protein translation factors. This review focuses on Trm112, a small protein interacting with and activating at least four different eukaryotic methyltransferase (MTase) enzymes modifying factors involved in translation. The Trm112-Trm9 and Trm112-Trm11 complexes modify tRNAs, while the Trm112-Mtq2 complex targets translation termination factor eRF1, which is a tRNA mimic. The last complex formed between Trm112 and Bud23 proteins modifies 18S rRNA and participates in the 40S biogenesis pathway. In this review, we present the functions of these eukaryotic Trm112-MTase complexes, the molecular bases responsible for complex formation and substrate recognition, as well as their implications in human diseases. Moreover, as Trm112 orthologs are found in bacterial and archaeal genomes, the conservation of this Trm112 network beyond eukaryotic organisms is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Bourgeois
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Ecole polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau CEDEX, France.
| | - Juliette Létoquart
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Ecole polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau CEDEX, France.
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Nhan van Tran
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Ecole polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau CEDEX, France.
| | - Marc Graille
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Ecole polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau CEDEX, France.
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Schuhmacher MK, Kudithipudi S, Jeltsch A. Investigation of H2AX methylation by the SUV39H2 protein lysine methyltransferase. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:1713-9. [PMID: 27177470 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12216] [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] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The H3K9 protein lysine methyltransferase SUV39H2 was reported to methylate K134 of H2AX and stimulate H2AX phosphorylation during DNA damage response [Sone K et al. (2014) Nat Commun 5, 5691]. However, the sequence context of H2AX-K134 differs from the specificity of SUV39H2. We performed in vitro methylation reactions with SUV39H2 (and its homolog SUV39H1) using H2AX protein and peptides, but no methylation at K134 or any other lysine in H2AX was detected. Positive controls demonstrated the functionality of the assays. While our data cannot finally exclude H2AX methylation of SUV39H2 in cells, additional experimental evidence is required to validate this claim.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry, Stuttgart University, Germany
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