1
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Bohnsack KE, Yi S, Venus S, Jankowsky E, Bohnsack MT. Cellular functions of eukaryotic RNA helicases and their links to human diseases. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:749-769. [PMID: 37474727 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00628-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
RNA helicases are highly conserved proteins that use nucleoside triphosphates to bind or remodel RNA, RNA-protein complexes or both. RNA helicases are classified into the DEAD-box, DEAH/RHA, Ski2-like, Upf1-like and RIG-I families, and are the largest class of enzymes active in eukaryotic RNA metabolism - virtually all aspects of gene expression and its regulation involve RNA helicases. Mutation and dysregulation of these enzymes have been linked to a multitude of diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. In this Review, we discuss the regulation and functional mechanisms of RNA helicases and their roles in eukaryotic RNA metabolism, including in transcription regulation, pre-mRNA splicing, ribosome assembly, translation and RNA decay. We highlight intriguing models that link helicase structure, mechanisms of function (such as local strand unwinding, translocation, winching, RNA clamping and displacing RNA-binding proteins) and biological roles, including emerging connections between RNA helicases and cellular condensates formed through liquid-liquid phase separation. We also discuss associations of RNA helicases with human diseases and recent efforts towards the design of small-molecule inhibitors of these pivotal regulators of eukaryotic gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Soon Yi
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sarah Venus
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Eckhard Jankowsky
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Markus T Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Göttingen Centre for Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
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2
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Dörner K, Ruggeri C, Zemp I, Kutay U. Ribosome biogenesis factors-from names to functions. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112699. [PMID: 36762427 PMCID: PMC10068337 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly of ribosomal subunits is a highly orchestrated process that involves a huge cohort of accessory factors. Most eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis factors were first identified by genetic screens and proteomic approaches of pre-ribosomal particles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Later, research on human ribosome synthesis not only demonstrated that the requirement for many of these factors is conserved in evolution, but also revealed the involvement of additional players, reflecting a more complex assembly pathway in mammalian cells. Yet, it remained a challenge for the field to assign a function to many of the identified factors and to reveal their molecular mode of action. Over the past decade, structural, biochemical, and cellular studies have largely filled this gap in knowledge and led to a detailed understanding of the molecular role that many of the players have during the stepwise process of ribosome maturation. Such detailed knowledge of the function of ribosome biogenesis factors will be key to further understand and better treat diseases linked to disturbed ribosome assembly, including ribosomopathies, as well as different types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Dörner
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Molecular Life Sciences Ph.D. Program, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Ruggeri
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,RNA Biology Ph.D. Program, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Zemp
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Kutay
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Selicky T, Jurcik M, Mikolaskova B, Pitelova A, Mayerova N, Kretova M, Osadska M, Jurcik J, Holic R, Kohutova L, Bellova J, Benko Z, Gregan J, Bagelova Polakova S, Barath P, Cipak L, Cipakova I. Defining the Functional Interactome of Spliceosome-Associated G-Patch Protein Gpl1 in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12800. [PMID: 36361590 PMCID: PMC9658070 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing plays a fundamental role in securing protein diversity by generating multiple transcript isoforms from a single gene. Recently, it has been shown that specific G-patch domain-containing proteins are critical cofactors involved in the regulation of splicing processes. In this study, using the knock-out strategy, affinity purification and the yeast-two-hybrid assay, we demonstrated that the spliceosome-associated G-patch protein Gpl1 of the fission yeast S. pombe mediates interactions between putative RNA helicase Gih35 (SPAC20H4.09) and WD repeat protein Wdr83, and ensures their binding to the spliceosome. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis of the splicing efficiency of deletion mutants indicated that the absence of any of the components of the Gpl1-Gih35-Wdr83 complex leads to defective splicing of fet5 and pwi1, the reference genes whose unspliced isoforms harboring premature stop codons are targeted for degradation by the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway. Together, our results shed more light on the functional interactome of G-patch protein Gpl1 and revealed that the Gpl1-Gih35-Wdr83 complex plays an important role in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing in S. pombe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Selicky
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Matus Jurcik
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Mikolaskova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alexandra Pitelova
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Nina Mayerova
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Kretova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michaela Osadska
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jan Jurcik
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Roman Holic
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Kohutova
- Department of Glycobiology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Bellova
- Department of Glycobiology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zsigmond Benko
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Juraj Gregan
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Silvia Bagelova Polakova
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Barath
- Department of Glycobiology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Medirex Group Academy, Novozamocka 67, 949 05 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Lubos Cipak
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ingrid Cipakova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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4
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Kleiber N, Lemus-Diaz N, Stiller C, Heinrichs M, Mai MMQ, Hackert P, Richter-Dennerlein R, Höbartner C, Bohnsack KE, Bohnsack MT. The RNA methyltransferase METTL8 installs m 3C 32 in mitochondrial tRNAs Thr/Ser(UCN) to optimise tRNA structure and mitochondrial translation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:209. [PMID: 35017528 PMCID: PMC8752778 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27905-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified nucleotides in tRNAs are important determinants of folding, structure and function. Here we identify METTL8 as a mitochondrial matrix protein and active RNA methyltransferase responsible for installing m3C32 in the human mitochondrial (mt-)tRNAThr and mt-tRNASer(UCN). METTL8 crosslinks to the anticodon stem loop (ASL) of many mt-tRNAs in cells, raising the question of how methylation target specificity is achieved. Dissection of mt-tRNA recognition elements revealed U34G35 and t6A37/(ms2)i6A37, present concomitantly only in the ASLs of the two substrate mt-tRNAs, as key determinants for METTL8-mediated methylation of C32. Several lines of evidence demonstrate the influence of U34, G35, and the m3C32 and t6A37/(ms2)i6A37 modifications in mt-tRNAThr/Ser(UCN) on the structure of these mt-tRNAs. Although mt-tRNAThr/Ser(UCN) lacking METTL8-mediated m3C32 are efficiently aminoacylated and associate with mitochondrial ribosomes, mitochondrial translation is mildly impaired by lack of METTL8. Together these results define the cellular targets of METTL8 and shed new light on the role of m3C32 within mt-tRNAs.
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MESH Headings
- Anticodon/chemistry
- Anticodon/metabolism
- Base Pairing
- Cytosine/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Methylation
- Methyltransferases/genetics
- Methyltransferases/metabolism
- Mitochondria/genetics
- Mitochondria/metabolism
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Protein Binding
- Protein Biosynthesis
- RNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry
- RNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
- RNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Ser/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Ser/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Ser/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kleiber
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Lemus-Diaz
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carina Stiller
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marleen Heinrichs
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mandy Mong-Quyen Mai
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Hackert
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ricarda Richter-Dennerlein
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Höbartner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katherine E Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Markus T Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Göttingen, Germany.
- Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.
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5
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Mitterer V, Pertschy B. RNA folding and functions of RNA helicases in ribosome biogenesis. RNA Biol 2022; 19:781-810. [PMID: 35678541 PMCID: PMC9196750 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2079890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis involves the synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and its stepwise folding into the unique structure present in mature ribosomes. rRNA folding starts already co-transcriptionally in the nucleolus and continues when pre-ribosomal particles further maturate in the nucleolus and upon their transit to the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. While the approximate order of folding of rRNA subdomains is known, especially from cryo-EM structures of pre-ribosomal particles, the actual mechanisms of rRNA folding are less well understood. Both small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and proteins have been implicated in rRNA folding. snoRNAs hybridize to precursor rRNAs (pre-rRNAs) and thereby prevent premature folding of the respective rRNA elements. Ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) and ribosome assembly factors might have a similar function by binding to rRNA elements and preventing their premature folding. Besides that, a small group of ribosome assembly factors are thought to play a more active role in rRNA folding. In particular, multiple RNA helicases participate in individual ribosome assembly steps, where they are believed to coordinate RNA folding/unfolding events or the release of proteins from the rRNA. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on mechanisms of RNA folding and on the specific function of the individual RNA helicases involved. As the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the organism in which ribosome biogenesis and the role of RNA helicases in this process is best studied, we focused our review on insights from this model organism, but also make comparisons to other organisms where applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Mitterer
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, Heidelberg, Germany
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Brigitte Pertschy
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, Graz, Austria
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6
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Aquino GRR, Hackert P, Krogh N, Pan KT, Jaafar M, Henras AK, Nielsen H, Urlaub H, Bohnsack KE, Bohnsack MT. The RNA helicase Dbp7 promotes domain V/VI compaction and stabilization of inter-domain interactions during early 60S assembly. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6152. [PMID: 34686661 PMCID: PMC8536713 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26208-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Early pre-60S ribosomal particles are poorly characterized, highly dynamic complexes that undergo extensive rRNA folding and compaction concomitant with assembly of ribosomal proteins and exchange of assembly factors. Pre-60S particles contain numerous RNA helicases, which are likely regulators of accurate and efficient formation of appropriate rRNA structures. Here we reveal binding of the RNA helicase Dbp7 to domain V/VI of early pre-60S particles in yeast and show that in the absence of this protein, dissociation of the Npa1 scaffolding complex, release of the snR190 folding chaperone, recruitment of the A3 cluster factors and binding of the ribosomal protein uL3 are impaired. uL3 is critical for formation of the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) and is responsible for stabilizing interactions between the 5′ and 3′ ends of the 25S, an essential pre-requisite for subsequent pre-60S maturation events. Highlighting the importance of pre-ribosome remodeling by Dbp7, our data suggest that in the absence of Dbp7 or its catalytic activity, early pre-ribosomal particles are targeted for degradation. Early steps of large 60S ribosomal subunit biogenesis are not well understood. Here, the authors combine biochemical experiments with protein-RNA crosslinking and mass spectrometry to show that the RNA helicase Dbp7 is key player during early 60S ribosomal assembly. Dbp7 regulates a series of events driving compaction of domain V/VI in early pre60S ribosomal particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Ryan R Aquino
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Hackert
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicolai Krogh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kuan-Ting Pan
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mariam Jaafar
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Anthony K Henras
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Henrik Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Genomics Group, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049, Bodø, Norway
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katherine E Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Markus T Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany. .,Göttingen Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-University, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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7
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Donsbach P, Klostermeier D. Regulation of RNA helicase activity: principles and examples. Biol Chem 2021; 402:529-559. [PMID: 33583161 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
RNA helicases are a ubiquitous class of enzymes involved in virtually all processes of RNA metabolism, from transcription, mRNA splicing and export, mRNA translation and RNA transport to RNA degradation. Although ATP-dependent unwinding of RNA duplexes is their hallmark reaction, not all helicases catalyze unwinding in vitro, and some in vivo functions do not depend on duplex unwinding. RNA helicases are divided into different families that share a common helicase core with a set of helicase signature motives. The core provides the active site for ATP hydrolysis, a binding site for non-sequence-specific interaction with RNA, and in many cases a basal unwinding activity. Its activity is often regulated by flanking domains, by interaction partners, or by self-association. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activities of the helicase core. Case studies on selected helicases with functions in translation, splicing, and RNA sensing illustrate the various modes and layers of regulation in time and space that harness the helicase core for a wide spectrum of cellular tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Donsbach
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 30, D-48149Münster, Germany
| | - Dagmar Klostermeier
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 30, D-48149Münster, Germany
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8
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Bohnsack KE, Ficner R, Bohnsack MT, Jonas S. Regulation of DEAH-box RNA helicases by G-patch proteins. Biol Chem 2021; 402:561-579. [PMID: 33857358 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RNA helicases of the DEAH/RHA family form a large and conserved class of enzymes that remodel RNA protein complexes (RNPs) by translocating along the RNA. Driven by ATP hydrolysis, they exert force to dissociate hybridized RNAs, dislocate bound proteins or unwind secondary structure elements in RNAs. The sub-cellular localization of DEAH-helicases and their concomitant association with different pathways in RNA metabolism, such as pre-mRNA splicing or ribosome biogenesis, can be guided by cofactor proteins that specifically recruit and simultaneously activate them. Here we review the mode of action of a large class of DEAH-specific adaptor proteins of the G-patch family. Defined only by their eponymous short glycine-rich motif, which is sufficient for helicase binding and stimulation, this family encompasses an immensely varied array of domain compositions and is linked to an equally diverse set of functions. G-patch proteins are conserved throughout eukaryotes and are even encoded within retroviruses. They are involved in mRNA, rRNA and snoRNA maturation, telomere maintenance and the innate immune response. Only recently was the structural and mechanistic basis for their helicase enhancing activity determined. We summarize the molecular and functional details of G-patch-mediated helicase regulation in their associated pathways and their involvement in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Ficner
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus T Bohnsack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Jonas
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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