1
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Dong X, Sheng K, Gebert LFR, Aiyer S, MacRae IJ, Lyumkis D, Williamson JR. Assembly of the bacterial ribosome with circularly permuted rRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae636. [PMID: 39036963 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Co-transcriptional assembly is an integral feature of the formation of RNA-protein complexes that mediate translation. For ribosome synthesis, prior studies have indicated that the strict order of transcription of rRNA domains may not be obligatory during bacterial ribosome biogenesis, since a series of circularly permuted rRNAs are viable. In this work, we report the structural insights into assembly of the bacterial ribosome large subunit (LSU) based on cryo-EM density maps of intermediates that accumulate during in vitro ribosome synthesis using a set of circularly permuted (CiPer) rRNAs. The observed ensemble of 23 resolved ribosome large subunit intermediates reveals conserved assembly routes with an underlying hierarchy among cooperative assembly blocks. There are intricate interdependencies for the formation of key structural rRNA helices revealed from the circular permutation of rRNA. While the order of domain synthesis is not obligatory, the order of domain association does appear to proceed with a particular order, likely due to the strong evolutionary pressure on efficient ribosome synthesis. This work reinforces the robustness of the known assembly hierarchy of the bacterial large ribosomal subunit and offers a coherent view of how efficient assembly of CiPer rRNAs can be understood in that context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyu Dong
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kai Sheng
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Luca F R Gebert
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sriram Aiyer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ian J MacRae
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dmitry Lyumkis
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James R Williamson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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2
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Flemmich L, Bereiter R, Micura R. Chemical Synthesis of Modified RNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403063. [PMID: 38529723 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403063] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play a vital role in living organisms. Many of their cellular functions depend critically on chemical modification. Methods to modify RNA in a controlled manner-both in vitro and in vivo-are thus essential to evaluate and understand RNA biology at the molecular and mechanistic levels. The diversity of modifications, combined with the size and uniformity of RNA (made up of only 4 nucleotides) makes its site-specific modification a challenging task that needs to be addressed by complementary approaches. One such approach is solid-phase RNA synthesis. We discuss recent developments in this field, starting with new protection concepts in the ongoing effort to overcome current size limitations. We continue with selected modifications that have posed significant challenges for their incorporation into RNA. These include deazapurine bases required for atomic mutagenesis to elucidate mechanistic aspects of catalytic RNAs, and RNA containing xanthosine, N4-acetylcytidine, 5-hydroxymethylcytidine, 3-methylcytidine, 2'-OCF3, and 2'-N3 ribose modifications. We also discuss the all-chemical synthesis of 5'-capped mRNAs and the enzymatic ligation of chemically synthesized oligoribonucleotides to obtain long RNA with multiple distinct modifications, such as those needed for single-molecule FRET studies. Finally, we highlight promising developments in RNA-catalyzed RNA modification using cofactors that transfer bioorthogonal functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurin Flemmich
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Raphael Bereiter
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ronald Micura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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3
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Dong X, Sheng K, Gebert LFR, Aiyer S, MacRae IJ, Lyumkis D, Williamson JR. Assembly of the Bacterial Ribosome with Circularly Permuted rRNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588894. [PMID: 38644992 PMCID: PMC11030442 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Co-transcriptional assembly is an integral feature of the formation of RNA-protein complexes that mediate translation. For ribosome synthesis, prior studies have indicated that the strict order of transcription of rRNA domains may not be obligatory during bacterial ribosome biogenesis, since a series of circularly permuted rRNAs are viable. In this work, we report the insights into assembly of the bacterial ribosome large subunit (LSU) based on cryo-EM density maps of intermediates that accumulate during in vitro ribosome synthesis using a set of circularly permuted (CiPer) rRNAs. The observed ensemble of twenty-three resolved ribosome large subunit intermediates reveals conserved assembly routes with an underlying hierarchy among cooperative assembly blocks. There are intricate interdependencies for the formation of key structural rRNA helices revealed from the circular permutation of rRNA. While the order of domain synthesis is not obligatory, the order of domain association does appear to proceed with a particular order, likely due to the strong evolutionary pressure on efficient ribosome synthesis. This work reinforces the robustness of the known assembly hierarchy of the bacterial large ribosomal subunit, and offers a coherent view of how efficient assembly of CiPer rRNAs can be understood in that context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyu Dong
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kai Sheng
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Luca F R Gebert
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sriram Aiyer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ian J MacRae
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dmitry Lyumkis
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James R Williamson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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4
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Byju S, Hassan A, Whitford PC. The energy landscape of the ribosome. Biopolymers 2024; 115:e23570. [PMID: 38051695 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23570] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The ribosome is a prototypical assembly that can be used to establish general principles and techniques for the study of biological molecular machines. Motivated by the fact that the dynamics of every biomolecule is governed by an underlying energy landscape, there has been great interest to understand and quantify ribosome energetics. In the present review, we will focus on theoretical and computational strategies for probing the interactions that shape the energy landscape of the ribosome, with an emphasis on more recent studies of the elongation cycle. These efforts include the application of quantum mechanical methods for describing chemical kinetics, as well as classical descriptions to characterize slower (microsecond to millisecond) large-scale (10-100 Å) rearrangements, where motion is described in terms of diffusion across an energy landscape. Together, these studies provide broad insights into the factors that control a diverse range of dynamical processes in this assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Byju
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Asem Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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5
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Wang Q, Su H. A Tale of Water Molecules in the Ribosomal Peptidyl Transferase Reaction. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2241-2247. [PMID: 36178262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) in the large subunit of the ribosome plays a critical role in protein synthesis by catalyzing the formation of peptide bonds with an astounding speed of about 15 to 20 peptide bonds per second. The ribosome coordinates the nucleophilic attack and deprotonation in the rate-limiting step at the PTC. However, the details of peptide bond formation within the ribosome, particularly the precise role of the two water molecules in the PTC, remain unclear. Here, we propose a novel stepwise "proton shuttle" mechanism which corroborates all the reported experimental measurements so far. In this mechanism, a water molecule close to A76 of peptidyl-tRNA 2'- and 3'-O stabilizes the transition state. The other one adjacent to the carbonyl oxygen of peptidyl-tRNA actively participates in the proton shuttle, playing the catalytic role of ribosome-catalyzed peptide bond formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Haibin Su
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong 999077, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong 999077, China.,HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Futian, Shenzhen 518048, China
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6
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Bereiter R, Renard E, Breuker K, Kreutz C, Ennifar E, Micura R. 1-Deazaguanosine-Modified RNA: The Missing Piece for Functional RNA Atomic Mutagenesis. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:10344-10352. [PMID: 35666572 PMCID: PMC9204769 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Atomic mutagenesis
is the key to advance our understanding of RNA
recognition and RNA catalysis. To this end, deazanucleosides are utilized
to evaluate the participation of specific atoms in these processes.
One of the remaining challenges is access to RNA-containing 1-deazaguanosine
(c1G). Here, we present the synthesis of this nucleoside
and its phosphoramidite, allowing first time access to c1G-modified RNA. Thermodynamic analyses revealed the base pairing
parameters for c1G-modified RNA. Furthermore, by NMR spectroscopy,
a c1G-triggered switch of Watson-Crick into Hoogsteen pairing
in HIV-2 TAR RNA was identified. Additionally, using X-ray structure
analysis, a guanine–phosphate backbone interaction affecting
RNA fold stability was characterized, and finally, the critical impact
of an active-site guanine in twister ribozyme on the phosphodiester
cleavage was revealed. Taken together, our study lays the synthetic
basis for c1G-modified RNA and demonstrates the power of
the completed deazanucleoside toolbox for RNA atomic mutagenesis needed
to achieve in-depth understanding of RNA recognition and catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Bereiter
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Eva Renard
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN - CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 2 Allée Conrad Roentgen, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Kathrin Breuker
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Christoph Kreutz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Eric Ennifar
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN - CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 2 Allée Conrad Roentgen, Strasbourg 67084, France
| | - Ronald Micura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
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7
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Tirumalai MR, Rivas M, Tran Q, Fox GE. The Peptidyl Transferase Center: a Window to the Past. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:e0010421. [PMID: 34756086 PMCID: PMC8579967 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00104-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In his 2001 article, "Translation: in retrospect and prospect," the late Carl Woese made a prescient observation that there was a need for the then-current view of translation to be "reformulated to become an all-embracing perspective about which 21st century Biology can develop" (RNA 7:1055-1067, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355838201010615). The quest to decipher the origins of life and the road to the genetic code are both inextricably linked with the history of the ribosome. After over 60 years of research, significant progress in our understanding of how ribosomes work has been made. Particularly attractive is a model in which the ribosome may facilitate an ∼180° rotation of the CCA end of the tRNA from the A-site to the P-site while the acceptor stem of the tRNA would then undergo a translation from the A-site to the P-site. However, the central question of how the ribosome originated remains unresolved. Along the path from a primitive RNA world or an RNA-peptide world to a proto-ribosome world, the advent of the peptidyl transferase activity would have been a seminal event. This functionality is now housed within a local region of the large-subunit (LSU) rRNA, namely, the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). The PTC is responsible for peptide bond formation during protein synthesis and is usually considered to be the oldest part of the modern ribosome. What is frequently overlooked is that by examining the origins of the PTC itself, one is likely going back even further in time. In this regard, it has been proposed that the modern PTC originated from the association of two smaller RNAs that were once independent and now comprise a pseudosymmetric region in the modern PTC. Could such an association have survived? Recent studies have shown that the extant PTC is largely depleted of ribosomal protein interactions. It is other elements like metallic ion coordination and nonstandard base/base interactions that would have had to stabilize the association of RNAs. Here, we present a detailed review of the literature focused on the nature of the extant PTC and its proposed ancestor, the proto-ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhan R. Tirumalai
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mario Rivas
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Quyen Tran
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - George E. Fox
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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8
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Bereiter R, Himmelstoß M, Renard E, Mairhofer E, Egger M, Breuker K, Kreutz C, Ennifar E, Micura R. Impact of 3-deazapurine nucleobases on RNA properties. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:4281-4293. [PMID: 33856457 PMCID: PMC8096147 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deazapurine nucleosides such as 3-deazaadenosine (c3A) are crucial for atomic mutagenesis studies of functional RNAs. They were the key for our current mechanistic understanding of ribosomal peptide bond formation and of phosphodiester cleavage in recently discovered small ribozymes, such as twister and pistol RNAs. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the impact of c3A and the thus far underinvestigated 3-deazaguanosine (c3G) on RNA properties. We found that these nucleosides can decrease thermodynamic stability of base pairing to a significant extent. The effects are much more pronounced for 3-deazapurine nucleosides compared to their constitutional isomers of 7-deazapurine nucleosides (c7G, c7A). We furthermore investigated base pair opening dynamics by solution NMR spectroscopy and revealed significantly enhanced imino proton exchange rates. Additionally, we solved the X-ray structure of a c3A-modified RNA and visualized the hydration pattern of the minor groove. Importantly, the characteristic water molecule that is hydrogen-bonded to the purine N3 atom and always observed in a natural double helix is lacking in the 3-deazapurine-modified counterpart. Both, the findings by NMR and X-ray crystallographic methods hence provide a rationale for the reduced pairing strength. Taken together, our comparative study is a first major step towards a comprehensive understanding of this important class of nucleoside modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Bereiter
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maximilian Himmelstoß
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva Renard
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN - CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elisabeth Mairhofer
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Egger
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Breuker
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Kreutz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eric Ennifar
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN - CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ronald Micura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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9
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Tanaka M, Chock PB. Oxidative Modifications of RNA and Its Potential Roles in Biosystem. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:685331. [PMID: 34055897 PMCID: PMC8149912 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.685331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated level of oxidized RNA was detected in vulnerable neurons in Alzheimer patients. Subsequently, several diseases and pathological conditions were reported to be associated with RNA oxidation. In addition to several oxidized derivatives, cross-linking and unique strand breaks are generated by RNA oxidation. With a premise that dysfunctional RNA mediated by oxidation is the pathogenetic molecular mechanism, intensive investigations have revealed the mechanism for translation errors, including premature termination, which gives rise to aberrant polypeptides. To this end, we and others revealed that mRNA oxidation could compromise its translational activity and fidelity. Under certain conditions, oxidized RNA can also induce several signaling pathways, to mediate inflammatory response and induce apoptosis. In this review, we focus on the oxidative modification of RNA and its resulting effect on protein synthesis as well as cell signaling. In addition, we will also discuss the potential roles of enzymatic oxidative modification of RNA in mediating cellular effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikiei Tanaka
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - P Boon Chock
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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10
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Guzel P, Yildirim HZ, Yuce M, Kurkcuoglu O. Exploring Allosteric Signaling in the Exit Tunnel of the Bacterial Ribosome by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Residue Network Model. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:586075. [PMID: 33102529 PMCID: PMC7545307 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.586075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial ribosomal tunnel is equipped with numerous sites highly sensitive to the course of the translation process. This study investigates allosteric pathways linking distant functional sites that collaboratively play a role either in translation regulation or recruitment of chaperones. We apply perturbation response scanning (PRS) analysis to 700 ns long and 500 ns long coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of E. coli and T. thermophilus large subunits, respectively, to reveal nucleotides/residues with the ability to transmit perturbations by dynamic rationale. We also use the residue network model with the k-shortest pathways method to calculate suboptimal pathways based on the contact topology of the ribosomal tunnel of E. coli crystal structure and 101 ClustENM generated conformers of T. thermophilus large subunit. In the upper part of the tunnel, results suggest that A2062 and A2451 can communicate in both directions for translation stalling, mostly through dynamically coupled C2063, C2064, and A2450. For a similar purpose, U2585 and U2586 are coupled with A2062, while they are also sensitive to uL4 and uL22 at the constriction region through two different pathways at the opposite sides of the tunnel wall. In addition, the constriction region communicates with the chaperone binding site on uL23 at the solvent side but through few nucleotides. Potential allosteric communication pathways between the lower part of the tunnel and chaperone binding site mostly use the flexible loop of uL23, while A1336–G1339 provide a suboptimal pathway. Both species seem to employ similar mechanisms in the long tunnel, where a non-conserved cavity at the bacterial uL23 and 23S rRNA interface is proposed as a novel drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Guzel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Science and Advanced Technology Research and Application Center, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hatice Zeynep Yildirim
- Polymer Research Center and Graduate Program in Computational Science and Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merve Yuce
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Kurkcuoglu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
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11
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Willi J, Küpfer P, Evéquoz D, Fernandez G, Katz A, Leumann C, Polacek N. Oxidative stress damages rRNA inside the ribosome and differentially affects the catalytic center. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:1945-1957. [PMID: 29309687 PMCID: PMC5829716 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase as a consequence of oxidative stress and represent a major source of damage to biomolecules. Due to its high cellular abundance RNA is more frequently the target for oxidative damage than DNA. Nevertheless the functional consequences of damage on stable RNA are poorly understood. Using a genome-wide approach, based on 8-oxo-guanosine immunoprecipitation, we present evidence that the most abundant non-coding RNA in a cell, the ribosomal RNA (rRNA), is target for oxidative nucleobase damage by ROS. Subjecting ribosomes to oxidative stress, we demonstrate that oxidized 23S rRNA inhibits the ribosome during protein biosynthesis. Placing single oxidized nucleobases at specific position within the ribosome's catalytic center by atomic mutagenesis resulted in markedly different functional outcomes. While some active site nucleobases tolerated oxidative damage well, oxidation at others had detrimental effects on protein synthesis by inhibiting different sub-steps of the ribosomal elongation cycle. Our data provide molecular insight into the biological consequences of RNA oxidation in one of the most central cellular enzymes and reveal mechanistic insight on the role of individual active site nucleobases during translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Willi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Küpfer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Damien Evéquoz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Guillermo Fernandez
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Assaf Katz
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Christian Leumann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Polacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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12
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Fricker R, Brogli R, Luidalepp H, Wyss L, Fasnacht M, Joss O, Zywicki M, Helm M, Schneider A, Cristodero M, Polacek N. A tRNA half modulates translation as stress response in Trypanosoma brucei. Nat Commun 2019; 10:118. [PMID: 30631057 PMCID: PMC6328589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07949-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of extensive transcription control mechanisms the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei crucially depends on translation regulation to orchestrate gene expression. However, molecular insight into regulating protein biosynthesis is sparse. Here we analyze the small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) interactome of ribosomes in T. brucei during different growth conditions and life stages. Ribosome-associated ncRNAs have recently been recognized as unprecedented regulators of ribosome functions. Our data show that the tRNAThr 3´half is produced during nutrient deprivation and becomes one of the most abundant tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tdRs). tRNAThr halves associate with ribosomes and polysomes and stimulate translation by facilitating mRNA loading during stress recovery once starvation conditions ceased. Blocking or depleting the endogenous tRNAThr halves mitigates this stimulatory effect both in vivo and in vitro. T. brucei and its close relatives lack the well-described mammalian enzymes for tRNA half processing, thus hinting at a unique tdR biogenesis in these parasites.
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MESH Headings
- Polyribosomes/genetics
- Polyribosomes/metabolism
- Protein Biosynthesis/genetics
- Protozoan Proteins/genetics
- Protozoan Proteins/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Protozoan/genetics
- RNA, Protozoan/metabolism
- RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics
- RNA, Small Untranslated/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/genetics
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Thr/metabolism
- Ribosomes/genetics
- Ribosomes/metabolism
- Stress, Physiological
- Trypanosoma brucei brucei/genetics
- Trypanosoma brucei brucei/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Fricker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Brogli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Luidalepp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Leander Wyss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michel Fasnacht
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Joss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marek Zywicki
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mark Helm
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - André Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marina Cristodero
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Norbert Polacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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13
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Abstract
The ribosome is a major antibiotic target. Many types of inhibitors can stop cells from growing by binding at functional centers of the ribosome and interfering with its ability to synthesize proteins. These antibiotics were usually viewed as general protein synthesis inhibitors, which indiscriminately stop translation at every codon of every mRNA, preventing the ribosome from making any protein. However, at each step of the translation cycle, the ribosome interacts with multiple ligands (mRNAs, tRNA substrates, translation factors, etc.), and as a result, the properties of the translation complex vary from codon to codon and from gene to gene. Therefore, rather than being indiscriminate inhibitors, many ribosomal antibiotics impact protein synthesis in a context-specific manner. This review presents a snapshot of the growing body of evidence that some, and possibly most, ribosome-targeting antibiotics manifest site specificity of action, which is modulated by the nature of the nascent protein, the mRNA, or the tRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Vázquez-Laslop
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA; ,
| | - Alexander S Mankin
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA; ,
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14
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Hoernes TP, Clementi N, Juen MA, Shi X, Faserl K, Willi J, Gasser C, Kreutz C, Joseph S, Lindner H, Hüttenhofer A, Erlacher MD. Atomic mutagenesis of stop codon nucleotides reveals the chemical prerequisites for release factor-mediated peptide release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E382-E389. [PMID: 29298914 PMCID: PMC5776981 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1714554115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Termination of protein synthesis is triggered by the recognition of a stop codon at the ribosomal A site and is mediated by class I release factors (RFs). Whereas in bacteria, RF1 and RF2 promote termination at UAA/UAG and UAA/UGA stop codons, respectively, eukaryotes only depend on one RF (eRF1) to initiate peptide release at all three stop codons. Based on several structural as well as biochemical studies, interactions between mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA have been proposed to be required for stop codon recognition. In this study, the influence of these interactions was investigated by using chemically modified stop codons. Single functional groups within stop codon nucleotides were substituted to weaken or completely eliminate specific interactions between the respective mRNA and RFs. Our findings provide detailed insight into the recognition mode of bacterial and eukaryotic RFs, thereby revealing the chemical groups of nucleotides that define the identity of stop codons and provide the means to discriminate against noncognate stop codons or UGG sense codons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Philipp Hoernes
- Division of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nina Clementi
- Division of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Andreas Juen
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Xinying Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0314
| | - Klaus Faserl
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jessica Willi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Catherina Gasser
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Kreutz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Simpson Joseph
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0314
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Hüttenhofer
- Division of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias David Erlacher
- Division of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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15
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Koch M, Willi J, Pradère U, Hall J, Polacek N. Critical 23S rRNA interactions for macrolide-dependent ribosome stalling on the ErmCL nascent peptide chain. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:6717-6728. [PMID: 28369621 PMCID: PMC5499644 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The nascent peptide exit tunnel has recently been identified as a functional region of ribosomes contributing to translation regulation and co-translational protein folding. Inducible expression of the erm resistance genes depends on ribosome stalling at specific codons of an upstream open reading frame in the presence of an exit tunnel-bound macrolide antibiotic. The molecular basis for this translation arrest is still not fully understood. Here, we used a nucleotide analog interference approach to unravel important functional groups on 23S rRNA residues in the ribosomal exit tunnel for ribosome stalling on the ErmC leader peptide. By replacing single nucleobase functional groups or even single atoms we were able to demonstrate the importance of A2062, A2503 and U2586 for drug-dependent ribosome stalling. Our data show that the universally conserved A2062 and A2503 are capable of forming a non-Watson–Crick base pair that is critical for sensing and transmitting the stalling signal from the exit tunnel back to the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome. The nucleobases of A2062, A2503 as well as U2586 do not contribute significantly to the overall mechanism of protein biosynthesis, yet their elaborate role for co-translational monitoring of nascent peptide chains inside the exit tunnel can explain their evolutionary conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Koch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Willi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ugo Pradère
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Hall
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Polacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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16
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Identification of potential allosteric communication pathways between functional sites of the bacterial ribosome by graph and elastic network models. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:3131-3141. [PMID: 28917952 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulated evidence indicates that bacterial ribosome employs allostery throughout its structure for protein synthesis. The nature of the allosteric communication between remote functional sites remains unclear, but the contact topology and dynamics of residues may play role in transmission of a perturbation to distant sites. METHODS/RESULTS We employ two computationally efficient approaches - graph and elastic network modeling to gain insights about the allosteric communication in ribosome. Using graph representation of the structure, we perform k-shortest pathways analysis between peptidyl transferase center-ribosomal tunnel, decoding center-peptidyl transferase center - previously reported functional sites having allosteric communication. Detailed analysis on intact structures points to common and alternative shortest pathways preferred by different states of translation. All shortest pathways capture drug target sites and allosterically important regions. Elastic network model further reveals that residues along all pathways have the ability of quickly establishing pair-wise communication and to help the propagation of a perturbation in long-ranges during functional motions of the complex. CONCLUSIONS Contact topology and inherent dynamics of ribosome configure potential communication pathways between functional sites in different translation states. Inter-subunit bridges B2a, B3 and P-tRNA come forward for their high potential in assisting allostery during translation. Especially B3 emerges as a potential druggable site. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This study indicates that the ribosome topology forms a basis for allosteric communication, which can be disrupted by novel drugs to kill drug-resistant bacteria. Our computationally efficient approach not only overlaps with experimental evidence on allosteric regulation in ribosome but also proposes new druggable sites.
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17
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Lehmann J. Induced fit of the peptidyl-transferase center of the ribosome and conformational freedom of the esterified amino acids. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:229-239. [PMID: 27879432 PMCID: PMC5238797 DOI: 10.1261/rna.057273.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The catalytic site of most enzymes can efficiently handle only one substrate. In contrast, the ribosome is capable of polymerizing at a similar rate at least 20 different kinds of amino acids from aminoacyl-tRNA carriers while using just one catalytic site, the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC). An induced-fit mechanism has been uncovered in the PTC, but a possible connection between this mechanism and the uniform handling of the substrates has not been investigated. We present an analysis of published ribosome structures supporting the hypothesis that the induced fit eliminates unreactive rotamers predominantly populated for some A-site aminoacyl esters before induction. We show that this hypothesis is fully consistent with the wealth of kinetic data obtained with these substrates. Our analysis reveals that induction constrains the amino acids into a reactive conformation in a side-chain independent manner. It allows us to highlight the rationale of the PTC structural organization, which confers to the ribosome the very unusual ability to handle large as well as small substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Lehmann
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Campus Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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18
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Abstract
Ribosomal decoding is an essential process in every living cell. During protein synthesis the 30S ribosomal subunit needs to accomplish binding and accurate decoding of mRNAs. From mutational studies and high-resolution crystal structures nucleotides G530, A1492 and A1493 of the 16S rRNA came into focus as important elements for the decoding process. Recent crystallographic data challenged the so far accepted model for the decoding mechanism. To biochemically investigate decoding in greater detail we applied an in vitro reconstitution approach to modulate single chemical groups at A1492 and A1493. The modified ribosomes were subsequently tested for their ability to efficiently decode the mRNA. Unexpectedly, the ribosome was rather tolerant toward modifications of single groups either at the base or at the sugar moiety in terms of translation activity. Concerning translation fidelity, the elimination of single chemical groups involved in a hydrogen bonding network between the tRNA, mRNA and rRNA did not change the accuracy of the ribosome. These results indicate that the contribution of those chemical groups and the formed hydrogen bonds are not crucial for ribosomal decoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pius Schrode
- a Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Paul Huter
- a Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Nina Clementi
- a Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
| | - Matthias Erlacher
- a Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria
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19
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Context-specific inhibition of translation by ribosomal antibiotics targeting the peptidyl transferase center. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:12150-12155. [PMID: 27791002 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613055113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The first broad-spectrum antibiotic chloramphenicol and one of the newest clinically important antibacterials, linezolid, inhibit protein synthesis by targeting the peptidyl transferase center of the bacterial ribosome. Because antibiotic binding should prevent the placement of aminoacyl-tRNA in the catalytic site, it is commonly assumed that these drugs are universal inhibitors of peptidyl transfer and should readily block the formation of every peptide bond. However, our in vitro experiments showed that chloramphenicol and linezolid stall ribosomes at specific mRNA locations. Treatment of bacterial cells with high concentrations of these antibiotics leads to preferential arrest of translation at defined sites, resulting in redistribution of the ribosomes on mRNA. Antibiotic-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis is most efficient when the nascent peptide in the ribosome carries an alanine residue and, to a lesser extent, serine or threonine in its penultimate position. In contrast, the inhibitory action of the drugs is counteracted by glycine when it is either at the nascent-chain C terminus or at the incoming aminoacyl-tRNA. The context-specific action of chloramphenicol illuminates the operation of the mechanism of inducible resistance that relies on programmed drug-induced translation arrest. In addition, our findings expose the functional interplay between the nascent chain and the peptidyl transferase center.
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20
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Abstract
RNA with site-specific modification is a useful tool for RNA biology studies. However, generating kilobase (kb) -long RNA with internal modification at a site distant from RNA termini remains challenging. Here we report an enhanced splint ligation technique, proximal disruptor aided ligation (ProDAL), which allows adequate efficiency toward this purpose. The key to our approach is using multiple DNA oligonucleotides, 'proximal disruptors', to target the RNA substrate sequence next to the ligation site. The binding of disruptors helps to free the ligation site from intramolecular RNA basepairing, and consequently promotes more efficient formation of the pre-ligation complex and a higher overall ligation yield. We used naturally occurring 1.0 kb renilla and 1.9 kb firefly luciferase mRNA sequences to test the efficacy of our approach. ProDAL yielded 9-14% efficiency for the ligation between two RNA substrates, both of which were between 414 and 1313 nucleotides (nt) long. ProDAL also allowed similarly high efficiency for generating kb-long RNA with site-specific internal modification by a simple three-part ligation between two long RNA substrates and a modification-carrying RNA oligonucleotide. In comparison, classical splint ligation yielded a significantly lower efficiency of 0-2% in all cases. We expect that ProDAL will benefit studies involving kb-long RNAs, including translation, long non-coding RNAs, RNA splicing and modification, and large ribonucleoprotein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Zhovmer
- a Molecular Biology Program , Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York , USA
| | - Xiaohui Qu
- a Molecular Biology Program , Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York , USA
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21
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Luidalepp H, Berger S, Joss O, Tenson T, Polacek N. Ribosome Shut-Down by 16S rRNA Fragmentation in Stationary-Phase Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol 2016; 428:2237-47. [PMID: 27067112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Stationary-phase bacterial cells are characterized by vastly reduced metabolic activities yielding a dormant-like phenotype. Several hibernation programs ensure the establishment and maintenance of this resting growth state. Some of the stationary phase-specific modulations affect the ribosome and its translational activity directly. In stationary-phase Escherichia coli, we observed the appearance of a 16S rRNA fragmentation event at the tip of helix 6 within the small ribosomal subunit (30S). Stationary-phase 30S subunits showed markedly reduced activities in protein biosynthesis. On the other hand, the functional performance of stationary-phase large ribosomal subunits (50S) was indistinguishable from particles isolated from exponentially growing cells. Introduction of the 16S rRNA cut in vitro at helix 6 of exponential phase 30S subunits renders them less efficient in protein biosynthesis. This indicates that the helix 6 fragmentation is necessary and sufficient to attenuate translational activities of 30S ribosomal subunits. These results suggest that stationary phase-specific cleavage of 16S rRNA within the 30S subunit is an efficient means to reduce global translation activities under non-proliferating growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Luidalepp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Berger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Joss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tanel Tenson
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Norbert Polacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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22
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Abstract
Engineering biology is especially challenging given our relatively poor ability to rationally design within life's complex design landscape. Thus, moving through the engineering "design, build, test" cycle multiple times accumulates system knowledge and hopefully yields a successful design. Here I discuss the engineering process behind our recently published work creating a ribosome with tethered subunits, Ribo-T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D. Carlson
- Department
of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech E-136, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Chemistry of Life
Processes
Institute, Northwestern University, 2170 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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23
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Koch M, Clementi N, Rusca N, Vögele P, Erlacher M, Polacek N. The integrity of the G2421-C2395 base pair in the ribosomal E-site is crucial for protein synthesis. RNA Biol 2015; 12:70-81. [PMID: 25826414 PMCID: PMC4615901 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1017218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During the elongation cycle of protein biosynthesis, tRNAs traverse through the ribosome by consecutive binding to the 3 ribosomal binding sites (A-, P-, and E- sites). While the ribosomal A- and P-sites have been functionally well characterized in the past, the contribution of the E-site to protein biosynthesis is still poorly understood in molecular terms. Previous studies suggested an important functional interaction of the terminal residue A76 of E-tRNA with the nucleobase of the universally conserved 23S rRNA residue C2394. Using an atomic mutagenesis approach to introduce non-natural nucleoside analogs into the 23S rRNA, we could show that removal of the nucleobase or the ribose 2'-OH at C2394 had no effect on protein synthesis. On the other hand, our data disclose the importance of the highly conserved E-site base pair G2421-C2395 for effective translation. Ribosomes with a disrupted G2421-C2395 base pair are defective in tRNA binding to the E-site. This results in an impaired translation of genuine mRNAs, while homo-polymeric templates are not affected. Cumulatively our data emphasize the importance of E-site tRNA occupancy and in particular the intactness of the 23S rRNA base pair G2421-C2395 for productive protein biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Koch
- a Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of Bern ; Bern , Switzerland
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24
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Abstract
The ribosome is a ribonucleoprotein machine responsible for protein synthesis. In all kingdoms of life it is composed of two subunits, each built on its own ribosomal RNA (rRNA) scaffold. The independent but coordinated functions of the subunits, including their ability to associate at initiation, rotate during elongation, and dissociate after protein release, are an established model of protein synthesis. Furthermore, the bipartite nature of the ribosome is presumed to be essential for biogenesis, since dedicated assembly factors keep immature ribosomal subunits apart and prevent them from translation initiation. Free exchange of the subunits limits the development of specialized orthogonal genetic systems that could be evolved for novel functions without interfering with native translation. Here we show that ribosomes with tethered and thus inseparable subunits (termed Ribo-T) are capable of successfully carrying out protein synthesis. By engineering a hybrid rRNA composed of both small and large subunit rRNA sequences, we produced a functional ribosome in which the subunits are covalently linked into a single entity by short RNA linkers. Notably, Ribo-T was not only functional in vitro, but was also able to support the growth of Escherichia coli cells even in the absence of wild-type ribosomes. We used Ribo-T to create the first fully orthogonal ribosome-messenger RNA system, and demonstrate its evolvability by selecting otherwise dominantly lethal rRNA mutations in the peptidyl transferase centre that facilitate the translation of a problematic protein sequence. Ribo-T can be used for exploring poorly understood functions of the ribosome, enabling orthogonal genetic systems, and engineering ribosomes with new functions.
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25
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Role of a ribosomal RNA phosphate oxygen during the EF-G-triggered GTP hydrolysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E2561-8. [PMID: 25941362 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1505231112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elongation factor-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis is a key reaction during the ribosomal elongation cycle. Recent crystal structures of G proteins, such as elongation factor G (EF-G) bound to the ribosome, as well as many biochemical studies, provide evidence that the direct interaction of translational GTPases (trGTPases) with the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is pivotal for hydrolysis. However, the precise mechanism remains elusive and is intensively debated. Based on the close proximity of the phosphate oxygen of A2662 of the SRL to the supposedly catalytic histidine of EF-G (His87), we probed this interaction by an atomic mutagenesis approach. We individually replaced either of the two nonbridging phosphate oxygens at A2662 with a methyl group by the introduction of a methylphosphonate instead of the natural phosphate in fully functional, reconstituted bacterial ribosomes. Our major finding was that only one of the two resulting diastereomers, the SP methylphosphonate, was compatible with efficient GTPase activation on EF-G. The same trend was observed for a second trGTPase, namely EF4 (LepA). In addition, we provide evidence that the negative charge of the A2662 phosphate group must be retained for uncompromised activity in GTP hydrolysis. In summary, our data strongly corroborate that the nonbridging proSP phosphate oxygen at the A2662 of the SRL is critically involved in the activation of GTP hydrolysis. A mechanistic scenario is supported in which positioning of the catalytically active, protonated His87 through electrostatic interactions with the A2662 phosphate group and H-bond networks are key features of ribosome-triggered activation of trGTPases.
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26
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A theoretical model investigation of peptide bond formation involving two water molecules in ribosome supports the two-step and eight membered ring mechanism. Chem Phys 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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27
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Monajemi H, Mohd Zain S, Wan Abdullah WAT. The P-site A76 2′-OH acts as a peptidyl shuttle in a stepwise peptidyl transfer mechanism. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra02767e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The P-site-A76-2′OH transfers the polypeptide chain to the A-site α-amine and A2451 facilitates this transfer by acting as proton shuttle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadieh Monajemi
- Department of Physics
- Faculty of Science
- Universiti Malaya
- 50603 Kuala Lumpur
- Malaysia
| | - Sharifuddin Mohd Zain
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- Universiti Malaya
- 50603 Kuala Lumpur
- Malaysia
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28
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Affiliation(s)
| | - V. Ramakrishnan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom; ,
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29
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Byun BJ, Kang YK. A mechanistic study supports a two-step mechanism for peptide bond formation on the ribosome. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:14931-5. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp51082d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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30
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tRNA-derived fragments target the ribosome and function as regulatory non-coding RNA in Haloferax volcanii. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2012; 2012:260909. [PMID: 23326205 PMCID: PMC3544259 DOI: 10.1155/2012/260909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonprotein coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules have been recognized recently as major contributors to regulatory networks in controlling gene expression in a highly efficient manner. These RNAs either originate from their individual transcription units or are processing products from longer precursor RNAs. For example, tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) have been identified in all domains of life and represent a growing, yet functionally poorly understood, class of ncRNA candidates. Here we present evidence that tRFs from the halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii directly bind to ribosomes. In the presented genomic screen of the ribosome-associated RNome, a 26-residue-long fragment originating from the 5′ part of valine tRNA was by far the most abundant tRF. The Val-tRF is processed in a stress-dependent manner and was found to primarily target the small ribosomal subunit in vitro and in vivo. As a consequence of ribosome binding, Val-tRF reduces protein synthesis by interfering with peptidyl transferase activity. Therefore this tRF functions as ribosome-bound small ncRNA capable of regulating gene expression in H. volcanii under environmental stress conditions probably by fine tuning the rate of protein production.
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31
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Xu J, Zhang JZH, Xiang Y. Ab Initio QM/MM Free Energy Simulations of Peptide Bond Formation in the Ribosome Support an Eight-Membered Ring Reaction Mechanism. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:16424-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ja3076605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision
Spectroscopy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Science,
Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - John Z. H. Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision
Spectroscopy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Science,
Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United
States
| | - Yun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision
Spectroscopy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Science,
Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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32
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Acosta-Silva C, Bertran J, Branchadell V, Oliva A. Quantum-Mechanical Study on the Mechanism of Peptide Bond Formation in the Ribosome. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:5817-31. [DOI: 10.1021/ja209558d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carles Acosta-Silva
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Joan Bertran
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Vicenç Branchadell
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antoni Oliva
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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33
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Abstract
The ability of RNA to both store genetic information and catalyse chemical reactions has led to the hypothesis that it predates DNA and proteins. While there is no doubt that RNA is capable of storing the genetic information of a primitive organism, only two classes of reactions-phosphoryl transfer and peptide bond formation-have been observed to be catalysed by RNA in nature. However, these naturally occurring ribozymes use a wide range of catalytic strategies that could be applied to other reactions. Furthermore, RNA can bind several cofactors that are used by protein enzymes to facilitate a wide variety of chemical processes. Despite its limited functional groups, these observations indicate RNA is a versatile molecule that could, in principle, catalyse the myriad reactions necessary to sustain life.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Hiller
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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34
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Sergiev PV, Lesnyak DV, Burakovsky DE, Svetlov M, Kolb VA, Serebryakova MV, Demina IA, Govorun VM, Dontsova OA, Bogdanov AA. Non-stressful death of 23S rRNA mutant G2061C defective in puromycin reaction. J Mol Biol 2012; 416:656-67. [PMID: 22245576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Revised: 12/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Catalysis of peptide bond formation in the peptidyl transferase center is a major enzymatic activity of the ribosome. Mutations limiting peptidyl transferase activity are mostly lethal. However, cellular processes triggered by peptidyl transferase deficiency in the bacterial cell are largely unknown. Here we report a study of the lethal G2061C mutant of Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The G2061C mutation completely impaired the puromycin reaction and abolished formation of the active firefly luciferase in an in vitro translation system, while poly(U)- and short synthetic mRNA-directed peptidyl transferase reaction with aminoacylated tRNAs in vitro was seemingly unaffected. Study of the cellular proteome upon expression of the 23S rRNA gene carrying the G2061C mutation compared to cells expressing wild-type 23S rRNA gene revealed substantial differences. Most of the observed effects in the mutant were associated with reduced expression of stress response proteins and particularly proteins associated with the ppGpp-mediated stringent response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr V Sergiev
- Department of Chemistry and A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia
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35
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Erlacher MD, Polacek N. Probing functions of the ribosomal peptidyl transferase center by nucleotide analog interference. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 848:215-26. [PMID: 22315072 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-545-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The ribosome is a huge ribonucleoprotein complex in charge of protein synthesis in every living cell. The catalytic center of this dynamic molecular machine is entirely built up of 23S ribosomal RNA and therefore the ribosome can be referred to as the largest natural ribozyme known so far. The in vitro reconstitution approach of large ribosomal subunits described herein allows nucleotide analog interference studies to be performed. The approach is based on the site-specific introduction of nonnatural nucleotide analogs into the peptidyl transferase center, the active site located on the interface side of the large ribosomal subunit. This method combined with standard tests of ribosomal functions broadens the biochemical repertoire to investigate the mechanism of diverse aspects of translation considerably and adds another layer of molecular information on top of structural and mutational studies of the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias D Erlacher
- Division of Genomics and RNomics, Innsbruck Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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36
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Polacek
- Innsbruck Biocenter, Medical University, Division of Genomics and RNomics, Fritz-Pregl-Strasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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37
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A two-step chemical mechanism for ribosome-catalysed peptide bond formation. Nature 2011; 476:236-9. [PMID: 21765427 PMCID: PMC3154986 DOI: 10.1038/nature10248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The chemical step of natural protein synthesis, peptide bond formation, is catalysed by the large subunit of the ribosome. Crystal structures have shown that the active site for peptide bond formation is composed entirely of RNA. Recent work has focused on how an RNA active site is able to catalyse this fundamental biological reaction at a suitable rate for protein synthesis. On the basis of the absence of important ribosomal functional groups, lack of a dependence on pH, and the dominant contribution of entropy to catalysis, it has been suggested that the role of the ribosome is limited to bringing the substrates into close proximity. Alternatively, the importance of the 2'-hydroxyl of the peptidyl-transfer RNA and a Brønsted coefficient near zero have been taken as evidence that the ribosome coordinates a proton-transfer network. Here we report the transition state of peptide bond formation, based on analysis of the kinetic isotope effect at five positions within the reaction centre of a peptidyl-transfer RNA mimic. Our results indicate that in contrast to the uncatalysed reaction, formation of the tetrahedral intermediate and proton transfer from the nucleophilic nitrogen both occur in the rate-limiting step. Unlike in previous proposals, the reaction is not fully concerted; instead, breakdown of the tetrahedral intermediate occurs in a separate fast step. This suggests that in addition to substrate positioning, the ribosome is contributing to chemical catalysis by changing the rate-limiting transition state.
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38
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Leung EKY, Suslov N, Tuttle N, Sengupta R, Piccirilli JA. The Mechanism of Peptidyl Transfer Catalysis by the Ribosome. Annu Rev Biochem 2011; 80:527-55. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-082108-165150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolai Suslov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chicago, Illinois 60637
| | - Nicole Tuttle
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637;
| | - Raghuvir Sengupta
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Joseph Anthony Piccirilli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chicago, Illinois 60637
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637;
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39
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Zaher HS, Shaw JJ, Strobel SA, Green R. The 2'-OH group of the peptidyl-tRNA stabilizes an active conformation of the ribosomal PTC. EMBO J 2011; 30:2445-53. [PMID: 21552203 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2011.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ribosome accelerates the rate of peptidyl transfer by >10(6)-fold relative to the background rate. A widely accepted model for this rate enhancement invokes entropic effects whereby the ribosome and the 2'-OH of the peptidyl-tRNA substrate precisely position the reactive moieties through an extensive network of hydrogen bonds that allows proton movement through them. Some studies, however, have called this model into question because they find the 2'-OH of the peptidyl-tRNA to be dispensable for catalysis. Here, we use an in vitro reconstituted translation system to resolve these discrepancies. We find that catalysis is at least 100-fold slower with the dA76-substituted peptidyl-tRNA substrate and that the peptidyl transferase centre undergoes a slow inactivation when the peptidyl-tRNA lacks the 2'-OH group. Additionally, the 2'-OH group was found to be critical for EFTu binding and peptide release. These findings reconcile the conflict in the literature, and support a model where interactions between active site residues and the 2'-OH of A76 of the peptidyl-tRNA are pivotal in orienting substrates in this active site for optimal catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani S Zaher
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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40
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Rakauskaite R, Dinman JD. Mutations of highly conserved bases in the peptidyltransferase center induce compensatory rearrangements in yeast ribosomes. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2011; 17:855-864. [PMID: 21441349 PMCID: PMC3078735 DOI: 10.1261/rna.2593211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulation identified three highly conserved rRNA bases in the large subunit of the ribosome that form a three-dimensional (3D) "gate" that induces pausing of the aa-tRNA acceptor stem during accommodation into the A-site. A nearby fourth base contacting the "tryptophan finger" of yeast protein L3, which is involved in the coordinating elongation factor recruitment to the ribosome with peptidyltransfer, is also implicated in this process. To better understand the functional importance of these bases, single base substitutions as well as deletions at all four positions were constructed and expressed as the sole forms of ribosomes in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. None of the mutants had strong effects on cell growth, translational fidelity, or on the interactions between ribosomes and tRNAs. However, the mutants did promote strong effects on cell growth in the presence of translational inhibitors, and differences in viability between yeast and Escherichia coli mutants at homologous positions suggest new targets for antibacterial therapeutics. Mutant ribosomes also promoted changes in 25S rRNA structure, all localized to the core of peptidyltransferase center (i.e., the proto-ribosome area). We suggest that a certain degree of structural plasticity is built into the ribosome, enabling it to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code while providing it with the flexibility to adapt and evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Rakauskaite
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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41
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Generation of chemically engineered ribosomes for atomic mutagenesis studies on protein biosynthesis. Nat Protoc 2011; 6:580-92. [PMID: 21527916 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2011.306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The protocol describes the site-specific chemical modification of 23S rRNA of Thermus aquaticus ribosomes. The centerpiece of this 'atomic mutagenesis' approach is the site-specific incorporation of non-natural nucleoside analogs into 23S rRNA in the context of the entire 70S ribosome. This technique exhaustively makes use of the available crystallographic structures of the ribosome for designing detailed biochemical experiments aiming at unraveling molecular insights of ribosomal functions. The generation of chemically engineered ribosomes carrying a particular non-natural 23S rRNA residue at the site of interest, a procedure that typically takes less than 2 d, allows the study of translation at the molecular level and goes far beyond the limits of standard mutagenesis approaches. This methodology, in combination with the presented tests for ribosomal functions adapted to chemically engineered ribosomes, allows unprecedented molecular insight into the mechanisms of protein biosynthesis.
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42
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Abstract
Metal ions are the salt in the soup of essentially every biological system. Also in the ribosome, the largest natural ribozyme that produces all proteins in every living cell, metal ions have been found contributing significantly to the highly dynamic and accurate process of translation. The ribosome is considered a molecular fossil of the 'RNA world' and it could be shown that the evolutionarily oldest parts of the particle, which build the catalytic center and surrounding domains, are densely packed with divalent metal ions. Nevertheless, metal ions do not seem to directly participate in ribosomal catalysis, their important roles in the ribosome, however, cannot be denied. It is probable that mono- and divalent metal ions primarily promote the functionally competent architecture of the ribosomal RNAs, but more direct roles in mRNA decoding and reading frame maintenance are likely. Decades of biochemical studies and the recent high resolution crystallographic structures of the ribosome strongly indicate that metal ions are involved in essentially every phase of the ribosomal elongation cycle, thus contributing significantly to the precise translation of the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Trappl
- Innsbruck Biocenter, Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Strasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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43
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Krishnakumar KS, Michel BY, Nguyen-Trung NQ, Fenet B, Strazewski P. Intrinsic pKa values of 3′-N-α-l-aminoacyl-3′-aminodeoxyadenosines determined by pH dependent 1H NMR in H2O. Chem Commun (Camb) 2011; 47:3290-2. [DOI: 10.1039/c0cc05136e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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44
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Hiller DA, Zhong M, Singh V, Strobel SA. Transition states of uncatalyzed hydrolysis and aminolysis reactions of a ribosomal P-site substrate determined by kinetic isotope effects. Biochemistry 2010; 49:3868-78. [PMID: 20359191 PMCID: PMC2864349 DOI: 10.1021/bi901458x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The ester bond of peptidyl-tRNA undergoes nucleophilic attack in solution and when catalyzed by the ribosome. To characterize the uncatalyzed hydrolysis reaction, a model of peptide release, the transition state structure for hydrolysis of a peptidyl-tRNA mimic was determined. Kinetic isotope effects were measured at several atoms that potentially undergo a change in bonding in the transition state. Large kinetic isotope effects of carbonyl (18)O and alpha-deuterium substitutions on uncatalyzed hydrolysis indicate the transition state is nearly tetrahedral. Kinetic isotope effects were also measured for aminolysis by hydroxylamine to study a reaction similar to the formation of a peptide bond. In contrast to hydrolysis, the large leaving group (18)O isotope effect indicates the C-O3' bond has undergone significant scission in the transition state. The smaller carbonyl (18)O and alpha-deuterium effects are consistent with a later transition state. The assay developed here can also be used to measure isotope effects for the ribosome-catalyzed reactions. These uncatalyzed reactions serve as a basis for determining what aspects of the transition states are stabilized by the ribosome to achieve a rate enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Hiller
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | | | - Vipender Singh
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - Scott A Strobel
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven CT 06511 USA
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45
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Chirkova A, Erlacher MD, Clementi N, Zywicki M, Aigner M, Polacek N. The role of the universally conserved A2450-C2063 base pair in the ribosomal peptidyl transferase center. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:4844-55. [PMID: 20375101 PMCID: PMC2919715 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that all 23S rRNA nucleotides that build the ribosomal peptidyl transferase ribozyme are universally conserved, standard and atomic mutagenesis studies revealed the nucleobase identities being non-critical for catalysis. This indicates that these active site residues are highly conserved for functions distinct from catalysis. To gain insight into potential contributions, we have manipulated the nucleobases via an atomic mutagenesis approach and have utilized these chemically engineered ribosomes for in vitro translation reactions. We show that most of the active site nucleobases could be removed without significant effects on polypeptide production. Our data however highlight the functional importance of the universally conserved non-Watson-Crick base pair at position A2450-C2063. Modifications that disrupt this base pair markedly impair translation activities, while having little effects on peptide bond formation, tRNA drop-off and ribosome-dependent EF-G GTPase activity. Thus it seems that disruption of the A2450-C2063 pair inhibits a reaction following transpeptidation and EF-G action during the elongation cycle. Cumulatively our data are compatible with the hypothesis that the integrity of this A-C wobble base pair is essential for effective tRNA translocation through the peptidyl transferase center during protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Chirkova
- Innsbruck Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Division of Genomics and RNomics, Innsbruck, Austria
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46
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Clementi N, Chirkova A, Puffer B, Micura R, Polacek N. Atomic mutagenesis reveals A2660 of 23S ribosomal RNA as key to EF-G GTPase activation. Nat Chem Biol 2010; 6:344-51. [PMID: 20348921 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2009] [Accepted: 01/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Following ribosomal peptide bond formation, the reaction products, peptidyl-tRNA and deacylated tRNA, need to be translocated from the A- and P-sites to the P- and E-sites, respectively. This process is facilitated by the GTPase elongation factor G (EF-G). The mechanism describing how the ribosome activates GTP hydrolysis is poorly understood in molecular terms. By using an 'atomic mutagenesis' approach, which allows the manipulation of specific functional groups on 23S rRNA nucleotides in the context of the entire ribosome, we disclose the adenine exocyclic N6 amino group at A2660 of the sarcin-ricin loop as a key determinant for triggering GTP hydrolysis on EF-G. We show that the purine pi system-expanding characteristics of the exocyclic functional group at the C6 position of A2660 are essential. We propose that stacking interactions of A2660 with EF-G may act as a molecular trigger to induce repositioning of suspected functional amino acids in EF-G that in turn promote GTP hydrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Clementi
- Innsbruck Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Division of Genomics and RNomics, Innsbruck, Austria
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47
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The transition state for peptide bond formation reveals the ribosome as a water trap. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:1888-93. [PMID: 20080677 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914192107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in elucidating the peptide bond formation process on the ribosome has led to notion of a proton shuttle mechanism where the 2'-hydroxyl group of the P-site tRNA plays a key role in mediating proton transfer between the nucleophile and leaving group, whereas ribosomal groups do not actively participate in the reaction. Despite these advances, the detailed nature of the transition state for peptidyl transfer and the role of several trapped water molecules in the peptidyl transferase center remain major open questions. Here, we employ high-level quantum chemical ab initio calculations to locate and characterize global transition states for the reaction, described by a molecular model encompassing all the key elements of the reaction center. The calculated activation enthalpy as well as structures are in excellent agreement with experimental data and point to feasibility of an eight-membered "double proton shuttle" mechanism in which an auxiliary water molecule, observed both in computer simulations and crystal structures, actively participates. A second conserved water molecule is found to be of key importance for stabilizing developing negative charge on the substrate oxyanion and its presence is catalytically favorable both in terms of activation enthalpy and entropy. Transition states calculated both for six- and eight-membered mechanisms are invariably late and do not involve significant charge development on the attacking amino group. Predicted kinetic isotope effects consistent with this picture are similar to those observed for uncatalyzed ester aminolysis reactions in solution.
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48
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Kitahara K, Suzuki T. The ordered transcription of RNA domains is not essential for ribosome biogenesis in Escherichia coli. Mol Cell 2009; 34:760-6. [PMID: 19560426 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2009.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2009] [Revised: 03/31/2009] [Accepted: 05/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ribosome biogenesis is coupled to the transcription of ribosomal (r)RNAs, which enables an ordered and hierarchical assembly of the ribosome starting with the 5'-terminal domain. We constructed four circular permutants (CPs) of Escherichia coli rRNAs in which the original termini of 16S or 23S rRNAs were genetically connected, and new termini were created elsewhere within the same rRNAs (in helix 33 of 16S rRNA, or in helices 45, 63, and 78 of 23S rRNA). Unexpectedly, all CPs tested were able to rescue E. coli strain Delta7 prrn, which lacks all chromosomal rRNA operons. This result demonstrates that hierarchical assembly from the 5'-terminal domain of both 16S and 23S rRNAs is not essential for ribosomal formation in the cell. However, severe growth defects of all CPs were found in the absence of the DEAD box RNA helicase deaD, indicating that DeaD assists in the efficient assembly of each subunit in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kitahara
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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49
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Simonović M, Steitz TA. A structural view on the mechanism of the ribosome-catalyzed peptide bond formation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2009; 1789:612-23. [PMID: 19595805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2009] [Revised: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 06/25/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The ribosome is a large ribonucleoprotein particle that translates genetic information encoded in mRNA into specific proteins. Its highly conserved active site, the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC), is located on the large (50S) ribosomal subunit and is comprised solely of rRNA, which makes the ribosome the only natural ribozyme with polymerase activity. The last decade witnessed a rapid accumulation of atomic-resolution structural data on both ribosomal subunits as well as on the entire ribosome. This has allowed studies on the mechanism of peptide bond formation at a level of detail that surpasses that for the classical protein enzymes. A current understanding of the mechanism of the ribosome-catalyzed peptide bond formation is the focus of this review. Implications on the mechanism of peptide release are discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miljan Simonović
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, MBRB 1170, 900 S Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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50
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Purta E, O'Connor M, Bujnicki JM, Douthwaite S. YgdE is the 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase RlmM specific for nucleotide C2498 in bacterial 23S rRNA. Mol Microbiol 2009; 72:1147-58. [PMID: 19400805 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06709.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The rRNAs of Escherichia coli contain four 2'-O-methylated nucleotides. Similar to other bacterial species and in contrast with Archaea and Eukaryota, the E. coli rRNA modifications are catalysed by specific methyltransferases that find their nucleotide targets without being guided by small complementary RNAs. We show here that the ygdE gene encodes the methyltransferase that catalyses 2'-O-methylation at nucleotide C2498 in the peptidyl transferase loop of E. coli 23S rRNA. Analyses of rRNAs using MALDI mass spectrometry showed that inactivation of the ygdE gene leads to loss of methylation at nucleotide C2498. The loss of ygdE function causes a slight reduction in bacterial fitness. Methylation at C2498 was restored by complementing the knock-out strain with a recombinant copy of ygdE. The recombinant YgdE methyltransferase modifies C2498 in naked 23S rRNA, but not in assembled 50S subunits or ribosomes. Nucleotide C2498 is situated within a highly conserved and heavily modified rRNA sequence, and YgdE's activity is influenced by other modification enzymes that target this region. Phylogenetically, YgdE is placed in the cluster of orthologous groups COG2933 together with S-adenosylmethionine-dependent, Rossmann-fold methyltransferases such as the archaeal and eukaryotic RNA-guided fibrillarins. The ygdE gene has been redesignated rlmM for rRNA large subunit methyltransferase M.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Purta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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