1
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Mullins EA, Salay LE, Durie CL, Bradley NP, Jackman JE, Ohi MD, Chazin WJ, Eichman BF. A mechanistic model of primer synthesis from catalytic structures of DNA polymerase α-primase. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:777-790. [PMID: 38491139 PMCID: PMC11102853 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01227-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The mechanism by which polymerase α-primase (polα-primase) synthesizes chimeric RNA-DNA primers of defined length and composition, necessary for replication fidelity and genome stability, is unknown. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of Xenopus laevis polα-primase in complex with primed templates representing various stages of DNA synthesis. Our data show how interaction of the primase regulatory subunit with the primer 5' end facilitates handoff of the primer to polα and increases polα processivity, thereby regulating both RNA and DNA composition. The structures detail how flexibility within the heterotetramer enables synthesis across two active sites and provide evidence that termination of DNA synthesis is facilitated by reduction of polα and primase affinities for the varied conformations along the chimeric primer-template duplex. Together, these findings elucidate a critical catalytic step in replication initiation and provide a comprehensive model for primer synthesis by polα-primase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elwood A Mullins
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren E Salay
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Clarissa L Durie
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Noah P Bradley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jane E Jackman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Melanie D Ohi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Walter J Chazin
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Brandt F Eichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
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2
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Mullins EA, Salay LE, Durie CL, Bradley NP, Jackman JE, Ohi MD, Chazin WJ, Eichman BF. A mechanistic model of primer synthesis from catalytic structures of DNA polymerase α-primase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.16.533013. [PMID: 36993335 PMCID: PMC10055150 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.16.533013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism by which polymerase α-primase (polα-primase) synthesizes chimeric RNA-DNA primers of defined length and composition, necessary for replication fidelity and genome stability, is unknown. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of polα-primase in complex with primed templates representing various stages of DNA synthesis. Our data show how interaction of the primase regulatory subunit with the primer 5'-end facilitates handoff of the primer to polα and increases polα processivity, thereby regulating both RNA and DNA composition. The structures detail how flexibility within the heterotetramer enables synthesis across two active sites and provide evidence that termination of DNA synthesis is facilitated by reduction of polα and primase affinities for the varied conformations along the chimeric primer/template duplex. Together, these findings elucidate a critical catalytic step in replication initiation and provide a comprehensive model for primer synthesis by polα-primase.
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3
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Abstract
The study of eukaryotic tRNA processing has given rise to an explosion of new information and insights in the last several years. We now have unprecedented knowledge of each step in the tRNA processing pathway, revealing unexpected twists in biochemical pathways, multiple new connections with regulatory pathways, and numerous biological effects of defects in processing steps that have profound consequences throughout eukaryotes, leading to growth phenotypes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to neurological and other disorders in humans. This review highlights seminal new results within the pathways that comprise the life of a tRNA, from its birth after transcription until its death by decay. We focus on new findings and revelations in each step of the pathway including the end-processing and splicing steps, many of the numerous modifications throughout the main body and anticodon loop of tRNA that are so crucial for tRNA function, the intricate tRNA trafficking pathways, and the quality control decay pathways, as well as the biogenesis and biology of tRNA-derived fragments. We also describe the many interactions of these pathways with signaling and other pathways in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Phizicky
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Anita K Hopper
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43235, USA
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4
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Lee YH, Lo YT, Chang CP, Yeh CS, Chang TH, Chen YW, Tseng YK, Wang CC. Naturally occurring dual recognition of tRNA His substrates with and without a universal identity element. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1275-1285. [PMID: 31179821 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1626663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The extra 5' guanine nucleotide (G-1) on tRNAHis is a nearly universal feature that specifies tRNAHis identity. The G-1 residue is either genome encoded or post-transcriptionally added by tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1). Despite Caenorhabditis elegans being a Thg1-independent organism, its cytoplasmic tRNAHis (CetRNAnHis) retains a genome-encoded G-1. Our study showed that this eukaryote possesses a histidyl-tRNA synthetase (CeHisRS) gene encoding two distinct HisRS isoforms that differ only at their N-termini. Most interestingly, its mitochondrial tRNAHis (CetRNAmHis) lacks G-1, a scenario never observed in any organelle. This tRNA, while lacking the canonical identity element, can still be efficiently aminoacylated in vivo. Even so, addition of G-1 to CetRNAmHis strongly enhanced its aminoacylation efficiency in vitro. Overexpression of CeHisRS successfully bypassed the requirement for yeast THG1 in the presence of CetRNAnHis without G-1. Mutagenesis assays showed that the anticodon takes a primary role in CetRNAHis identity recognition, being comparable to the universal identity element. Consequently, simultaneous introduction of both G-1 and the anticodon of tRNAHis effectively converted a non-cognate tRNA to a tRNAHis-like substrate. Our study suggests that a new balance between identity elements of tRNAHis relieves HisRS from the absolute requirement for G-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsueh Lee
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Lo
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chia-Pei Chang
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shu Yeh
- b Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica , Taipei , Taiwan
| | | | - Yu-Wei Chen
- c Department of Neurology, Landseed International Hospital , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Yi-Kuan Tseng
- d Graduate Institute of Statistics, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chia Wang
- a Department of Life Sciences, National Central University , Taoyuan , Taiwan
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5
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Matlock AO, Smith BA, Jackman JE. Chemical footprinting and kinetic assays reveal dual functions for highly conserved eukaryotic tRNA His guanylyltransferase residues. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:8885-8893. [PMID: 31000629 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1) adds a single guanine to the -1 position of tRNAHis as part of its maturation. This seemingly modest addition of one nucleotide to tRNAHis ensures translational fidelity by providing a critical identity element for the histidyl aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (HisRS). Like HisRS, Thg1 utilizes the GUG anticodon for selective tRNAHis recognition, and Thg1-tRNA complex structures have revealed conserved residues that interact with anticodon nucleotides. Separately, kinetic analysis of alanine variants has demonstrated that many of these same residues are required for catalytic activity. A model in which loss of activity with the variants was attributed directly to loss of the critical anticodon interaction has been proposed to explain the combined biochemical and structural results. Here we used RNA chemical footprinting and binding assays to test this model and further probe the molecular basis for the requirement for two critical tRNA-interacting residues, His-152 and Lys-187, in the context of human Thg1 (hThg1). Surprisingly, we found that His-152 and Lys-187 alanine-substituted variants maintain a similar overall interaction with the anticodon region, arguing against the sufficiency of this interaction for driving catalysis. Instead, conservative mutagenesis revealed a new direct function for these residues in recognition of a non-Watson-Crick G-1:A73 bp, which had not been described previously. These results have important implications for the evolution of eukaryotic Thg1 from a family of ancestral promiscuous RNA repair enzymes to the highly selective enzymes needed for their essential function in tRNAHis maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashanti O Matlock
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Brian A Smith
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Jane E Jackman
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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6
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The Role of 3' to 5' Reverse RNA Polymerization in tRNA Fidelity and Repair. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10030250. [PMID: 30917604 PMCID: PMC6471195 DOI: 10.3390/genes10030250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1) superfamily includes enzymes that are found in all three domains of life that all share the common ability to catalyze the 3′ to 5′ synthesis of nucleic acids. This catalytic activity, which is the reverse of all other known DNA and RNA polymerases, makes this enzyme family a subject of biological and mechanistic interest. Previous biochemical, structural, and genetic investigations of multiple members of this family have revealed that Thg1 enzymes use the 3′ to 5′ chemistry for multiple reactions in biology. Here, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the catalytic features and biological functions that have been so far associated with Thg1 and its homologs. Progress toward the exciting possibility of utilizing this unusual protein activity for applications in biotechnology is also discussed.
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7
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A Temporal Order in 5'- and 3'- Processing of Eukaryotic tRNA His. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061384. [PMID: 30893886 PMCID: PMC6470698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
For flawless translation of mRNA sequence into protein, tRNAs must undergo a series of essential maturation steps to be properly recognized and aminoacylated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, and subsequently utilized by the ribosome. While all tRNAs carry a 3'-terminal CCA sequence that includes the site of aminoacylation, the additional 5'-G-1 position is a unique feature of most histidine tRNA species, serving as an identity element for the corresponding synthetase. In eukaryotes including yeast, both 3'-CCA and 5'-G-1 are added post-transcriptionally by tRNA nucleotidyltransferase and tRNAHis guanylyltransferase, respectively. Hence, it is possible that these two cytosolic enzymes compete for the same tRNA. Here, we investigate substrate preferences associated with CCA and G-1-addition to yeast cytosolic tRNAHis, which might result in a temporal order to these important processing events. We show that tRNA nucleotidyltransferase accepts tRNAHis transcripts independent of the presence of G-1; however, tRNAHis guanylyltransferase clearly prefers a substrate carrying a CCA terminus. Although many tRNA maturation steps can occur in a rather random order, our data demonstrate a likely pathway where CCA-addition precedes G-1 incorporation in S. cerevisiae. Evidently, the 3'-CCA triplet and a discriminator position A73 act as positive elements for G-1 incorporation, ensuring the fidelity of G-1 addition.
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8
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Lee YH, Chang CP, Cheng YJ, Kuo YY, Lin YS, Wang CC. Evolutionary gain of highly divergent tRNA specificities by two isoforms of human histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:2663-2677. [PMID: 28321488 PMCID: PMC11107585 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2491-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The discriminator base N73 is a key identity element of tRNAHis. In eukaryotes, N73 is an "A" in cytoplasmic tRNAHis and a "C" in mitochondrial tRNAHis. We present evidence herein that yeast histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) recognizes both A73 and C73, but somewhat prefers A73 even within the context of mitochondrial tRNAHis. In contrast, humans possess two distinct yet closely related HisRS homologues, with one encoding the cytoplasmic form (with an extra N-terminal WHEP domain) and the other encoding its mitochondrial counterpart (with an extra N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal). Despite these two isoforms sharing high sequence similarities (81% identity), they strongly preferred different discriminator bases (A73 or C73). Moreover, only the mitochondrial form recognized the anticodon as a strong identity element. Most intriguingly, swapping the discriminator base between the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAHis isoacceptors conveniently switched their enzyme preferences. Similarly, swapping seven residues in the active site between the two isoforms readily switched their N73 preferences. This study suggests that the human HisRS genes, while descending from a common ancestor with dual function for both types of tRNAHis, have acquired highly specialized tRNA recognition properties through evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsueh Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jungli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Pei Chang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jungli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ju Cheng
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jungli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yi Kuo
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jungli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Yeong-Shin Lin
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chia Wang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jungli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan.
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9
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Shigematsu M, Kirino Y. 5'-Terminal nucleotide variations in human cytoplasmic tRNAHisGUG and its 5'-halves. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:161-168. [PMID: 27879434 PMCID: PMC5238791 DOI: 10.1261/rna.058024.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are fundamental adapter components of translational machinery. tRNAs can further serve as a source of tRNA-derived noncoding RNAs that play important roles in various biological processes beyond translation. Among all species of tRNAs, tRNAHisGUG has been known to uniquely contain an additional guanosine residue at the -1 position (G-1) of its 5'-end. To analyze this -1 nucleotide in detail, we developed a TaqMan qRT-PCR method that can distinctively quantify human mature cytoplasmic tRNAHisGUG containing G-1, U-1, A-1, or C-1 or lacking the -1 nucleotide (starting from G1). Application of this method to the mature tRNA fraction of BT-474 breast cancer cells revealed the presence of tRNAHisGUG containing U-1 as well as the one containing G-1 Moreover, tRNA lacking the -1 nucleotide was also detected, thus indicating the heterogeneous expression of 5'-tRNAHisGUG variants. A sequence library of sex hormone-induced 5'-tRNA halves (5'-SHOT-RNAs), identified via cP-RNA-seq of a BT-474 small RNA fraction, also demonstrated the expression of 5'-tRNAHisGUG halves containing G-1, U-1, or G1 as 5'-terminal nucleotides. Although the detected 5'-nucleotide species were identical, the relative abundances differed widely between mature tRNA and 5'-half from the same BT-474 cells. The majority of mature tRNAs contained the -1 nucleotide, whereas the majority of 5'-halves lacked this nucleotide, which was biochemically confirmed using a primer extension assay. These results reveal the novel identities of tRNAHisGUG molecules and provide insights into tRNAHisGUG maturation and the regulation of tRNA half production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Shigematsu
- Computational Medicine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
| | - Yohei Kirino
- Computational Medicine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
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10
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Abstract
The removal of transcriptional 5' and 3' extensions is an essential step in tRNA biogenesis. In some bacteria, tRNA 5'- and 3'-end maturation require no further steps, because all their genes encode the full tRNA sequence. Often however, the ends are incomplete, and additional maturation, repair or editing steps are needed. In all Eukarya, but also many Archaea and Bacteria, e.g., the universal 3'-terminal CCA is not encoded and has to be added by the CCA-adding enzyme. Apart from such widespread "repair/maturation" processes, tRNA genes in some cases apparently cannot give rise to intact, functional tRNA molecules without further, more specific end repair or editing. Interestingly, the responsible enzymes as far as identified appear to be polymerases usually involved in regular tRNA repair after damage. Alternatively, enzymes are recruited from other non-tRNA pathways; e.g., in animal mitochondria, poly(A) polymerase plays a crucial role in the 3'-end repair/editing of tRNAs. While these repair/editing pathways apparently allowed peculiar tRNA-gene overlaps or mismatching mutations in the acceptor stem to become genetically fixed in some present-day organisms, they may have also driven some global changes in tRNA maturation on a greater evolutionary scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Rammelt
- a Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle , Germany
| | - Walter Rossmanith
- b Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria
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11
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Long Y, Abad MG, Olson ED, Carrillo EY, Jackman JE. Identification of distinct biological functions for four 3'-5' RNA polymerases. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:8395-406. [PMID: 27484477 PMCID: PMC5041481 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The superfamily of 3'-5' polymerases synthesize RNA in the opposite direction to all other DNA/RNA polymerases, and its members include eukaryotic tRNA(His) guanylyltransferase (Thg1), as well as Thg1-like proteins (TLPs) of unknown function that are broadly distributed, with family members in all three domains of life. Dictyostelium discoideum encodes one Thg1 and three TLPs (DdiTLP2, DdiTLP3 and DdiTLP4). Here, we demonstrate that depletion of each of the genes results in a significant growth defect, and that each protein catalyzes a unique biological reaction, taking advantage of specialized biochemical properties. DdiTLP2 catalyzes a mitochondria-specific tRNA(His) maturation reaction, which is distinct from the tRNA(His) maturation reaction typically catalyzed by Thg1 enzymes on cytosolic tRNA. DdiTLP3 catalyzes tRNA repair during mitochondrial tRNA 5'-editing in vivo and in vitro, establishing template-dependent 3'-5' polymerase activity of TLPs as a bona fide biological activity for the first time since its unexpected discovery more than a decade ago. DdiTLP4 is cytosolic and, surprisingly, catalyzes robust 3'-5' polymerase activity on non-tRNA substrates, strongly implying further roles for TLP 3'-5' polymerases in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Long
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Maria G Abad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Erik D Olson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Elisabeth Y Carrillo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jane E Jackman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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12
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Inhibition of endosomal fusion activity of influenza virus by Rheum tanguticum (da-huang). Sci Rep 2016; 6:27768. [PMID: 27302738 PMCID: PMC4908592 DOI: 10.1038/srep27768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhubarb (Rheum tanguticum; da-huang in Chinese medicine) is a herbal medicine that has been used widely for managing fever and removing toxicity. In this study, we investigated how rhubarb inhibits influenza virus during the early stage of the infectious cycle using different functional assays. A non-toxic ethanolic extract of rhubarb (Rex) inhibited several H1N1 subtypes of influenza A viruses in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells, including strains that are clinically resistant to oseltamivir. Time course analysis of Rex addition showed that viral entry was one of the steps that was inhibited by Rex. We also confirmed that Rex effectively inhibited viral attachment and penetration into the host cells. The inhibition of red blood cell haemolysis and cell–cell fusion by Rex suggests that Rex may block haemagglutinin-mediated fusion (virus–endosome fusion) during the fusion/uncoating step. Rex has the capacity to inhibit influenza viruses by blocking viral endocytosis. Thus, rhubarb might provide an alternative therapeutic approach when resistant viruses become more prevalent.
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13
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Long Y, Jackman JE. In vitro substrate specificities of 3'-5' polymerases correlate with biological outcomes of tRNA 5'-editing reactions. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:2124-30. [PMID: 26143376 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs) are repaired by a process known as 5'-editing. Mt-tRNA sequencing revealed organism-specific patterns of editing G-U base pairs, wherein some species remove G-U base pairs during 5'-editing, while others retain G-U pairs in the edited tRNA. We tested whether 3'-5' polymerases that catalyze the repair step of 5'-editing exhibit organism-specific preferences that explain the treatment of G-U base pairs. Biochemical and kinetic approaches revealed that a 3'-5' polymerase from Acanthamoeba castellanii tolerates G-U wobble pairs in editing substrates much more readily than several other enzymes, consistent with its biological pattern of editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Long
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Jane E Jackman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States.
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14
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Rao BS, Jackman JE. Life without post-transcriptional addition of G-1: two alternatives for tRNAHis identity in Eukarya. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2015; 21:243-53. [PMID: 25505023 PMCID: PMC4338351 DOI: 10.1261/rna.048389.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The identity of tRNA(His) is strongly associated with the presence of an additional 5'-guanosine residue (G-1) in all three domains of life. The critical nature of the G-1 residue is underscored by the fact that two entirely distinct mechanisms for its acquisition are observed, with cotranscriptional incorporation observed in Bacteria, while post-transcriptional addition of G-1 occurs in Eukarya. Here, through our investigation of eukaryotes that lack obvious homologs of the post-transcriptional G-1-addition enzyme Thg1, we identify alternative pathways to tRNA(His) identity that controvert these well-established rules. We demonstrate that Trypanosoma brucei, like Acanthamoeba castellanii, lacks the G-1 identity element on tRNA(His) and utilizes a noncanonical G-1-independent histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS). Purified HisRS enzymes from A. castellanii and T. brucei exhibit a mechanism of tRNA(His) recognition that is distinct from canonical G-1-dependent synthetases. Moreover, noncanonical HisRS enzymes genetically complement the loss of THG1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, demonstrating the biological relevance of the G-1-independent aminoacylation activity. In contrast, in Caenorhabditis elegans, which is another Thg1-independent eukaryote, the G-1 residue is maintained, but here its acquisition is noncanonical. In this case, the G-1 is encoded and apparently retained after 5' end processing, which has so far only been observed in Bacteria and organelles. Collectively, these observations unearth a widespread and previously unappreciated diversity in eukaryotic tRNA(His) identity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhalchandra S Rao
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, Center for RNA Biology and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Jane E Jackman
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, Center for RNA Biology and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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15
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Betat H, Long Y, Jackman JE, Mörl M. From end to end: tRNA editing at 5'- and 3'-terminal positions. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:23975-98. [PMID: 25535083 PMCID: PMC4284800 DOI: 10.3390/ijms151223975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During maturation, tRNA molecules undergo a series of individual processing steps, ranging from exo- and endonucleolytic trimming reactions at their 5'- and 3'-ends, specific base modifications and intron removal to the addition of the conserved 3'-terminal CCA sequence. Especially in mitochondria, this plethora of processing steps is completed by various editing events, where base identities at internal positions are changed and/or nucleotides at 5'- and 3'-ends are replaced or incorporated. In this review, we will focus predominantly on the latter reactions, where a growing number of cases indicate that these editing events represent a rather frequent and widespread phenomenon. While the mechanistic basis for 5'- and 3'-end editing differs dramatically, both reactions represent an absolute requirement for generating a functional tRNA. Current in vivo and in vitro model systems support a scenario in which these highly specific maturation reactions might have evolved out of ancient promiscuous RNA polymerization or quality control systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Betat
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Yicheng Long
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Jane E Jackman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Mario Mörl
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Abad MG, Long Y, Kinchen RD, Schindel ET, Gray MW, Jackman JE. Mitochondrial tRNA 5'-editing in Dictyostelium discoideum and Polysphondylium pallidum. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:15155-65. [PMID: 24737330 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.561514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) 5'-editing was first described more than 20 years ago; however, the first candidates for 5'-editing enzymes were only recently identified in a eukaryotic microbe (protist), the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. In this organism, eight of 18 mt-tRNAs are predicted to be edited based on the presence of genomically encoded mismatched nucleotides in their aminoacyl-acceptor stem sequences. Here, we demonstrate that mt-tRNA 5'-editing occurs at all predicted sites in D. discoideum as evidenced by changes in the sequences of isolated mt-tRNAs compared with the expected sequences encoded by the mitochondrial genome. We also identify two previously unpredicted editing events in which G-U base pairs are edited in the absence of any other genomically encoded mismatches. A comparison of 5'-editing in D. discoideum with 5'-editing in another slime mold, Polysphondylium pallidum, suggests organism-specific idiosyncrasies in the treatment of U-G/G-U pairs. In vitro activities of putative D. discoideum editing enzymes are consistent with the observed editing reactions and suggest an overall lack of tRNA substrate specificity exhibited by the repair component of the editing enzyme. Although the presence of terminal mismatches in mt-tRNA sequences is highly predictive of the occurrence of mt-tRNA 5'-editing, the variability in treatment of U-G/G-U base pairs observed here indicates that direct experimental evidence of 5'-editing must be obtained to understand the complete spectrum of mt-tRNA editing events in any species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Abad
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and
| | - Yicheng Long
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 and
| | - R Dimitri Kinchen
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and
| | - Elinor T Schindel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Michael W Gray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jane E Jackman
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for RNA Biology and Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 and
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Wende S, Platzer EG, Jühling F, Pütz J, Florentz C, Stadler PF, Mörl M. Biological evidence for the world's smallest tRNAs. Biochimie 2013; 100:151-8. [PMID: 23958440 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Due to their function as adapters in translation, tRNA molecules share a common structural organization in all kingdoms and organelles with ribosomal protein biosynthesis. A typical tRNA has a cloverleaf-like secondary structure, consisting of acceptor stem, D-arm, anticodon arm, a variable region, and T-arm, with an average length of 73 nucleotides. In several mitochondrial genomes, however, tRNA genes encode transcripts that show a considerable deviation of this standard, having reduced D- or T-arms or even completely lack one of these elements, resulting in tRNAs as small as 66 nts. An extreme case of such truncations is found in the mitochondria of Enoplea. Here, several tRNA genes are annotated that lack both the D- and the T-arm, suggesting even shorter transcripts with a length of only 42 nts. However, direct evidence for these exceptional tRNAs, which were predicted by purely computational means, has been lacking so far. Here, we demonstrate that several of these miniaturized armless tRNAs consisting only of acceptor- and anticodon-arms are indeed transcribed and correctly processed by non-encoded CCA addition in the mermithid Romanomermis culicivorax. This is the first direct evidence for the existence and functionality of the smallest tRNAs ever identified so far. It opens new possibilities towards exploration/assessment of minimal structural motifs defining a functional tRNA and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Wende
- University of Leipzig, Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Edward G Platzer
- University of California, Riverside, Department of Nematology, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Frank Jühling
- University of Leipzig, Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joern Pütz
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Catherine Florentz
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Peter F Stadler
- University of Leipzig, Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Fraunhofer Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie - IZI, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Center for Non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - Mario Mörl
- University of Leipzig, Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig, Germany.
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