Crosslinking-MS analysis reveals RNA polymerase I domain architecture and basis of rRNA cleavage

Features of yeast RNA polymerase I with special consideration of the lobe binding subunits

Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are structural components of ribosomes and represent the most abundant cellular RNA fraction. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, they account for more than 60 % of the RNA content in a growing cell. The major amount of rRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). This enzyme transcribes exclusively the rRNA gene which is tandemly repeated in about 150 copies on chromosome XII. The high number of transcribed rRNA genes, the efficient recruitment of the transcription machinery and the dense packaging of elongating Pol I molecules on the gene ensure that enough rRNA is generated. Specific features of Pol I and of associated factors confer promoter selectivity and both elongation and termination competence. Many excellent reviews exist about the state of research about function and regulation of Pol I and how Pol I initiation complexes are assembled. In this report we focus on the Pol I specific lobe binding subunits which support efficient, error-free, and correctly terminated rRNA synthesis.

Synthesis of the ribosomal RNA precursor in human cells: mechanisms, factors and regulation

The ribosomal RNA precursor (pre-rRNA) comprises three of the four ribosomal RNAs and is synthesized by RNA polymerase (Pol) I. Here, we describe the mechanisms of Pol I transcription in human cells with a focus on recent insights gained from structure-function analyses. The comparison of Pol I-specific structural and functional features with those of other Pols and with the excessively studied yeast system distinguishes organism-specific from general traits. We explain the organization of the genomic rDNA loci in human cells, describe the Pol I transcription cycle regarding structural changes in the enzyme and the roles of human Pol I subunits, and depict human rDNA transcription factors and their function on a mechanistic level. We disentangle information gained by direct investigation from what had apparently been deduced from studies of the yeast enzymes. Finally, we provide information about how Pol I mutations may contribute to developmental diseases, and why Pol I is a target for new cancer treatment strategies, since increased rRNA synthesis was correlated with rapidly expanding cell populations.

Regulation of ribosomal RNA gene copy number, transcription and nucleolus organization in eukaryotes

One of the first biological machineries to be created seems to have been the ribosome. Since then, organisms have dedicated great efforts to optimize this apparatus. The ribosomal RNA (rRNA) contained within ribosomes is crucial for protein synthesis and maintenance of cellular function in all known organisms. In eukaryotic cells, rRNA is produced from ribosomal DNA clusters of tandem rRNA genes, whose organization in the nucleolus, maintenance and transcription are strictly regulated to satisfy the substantial demand for rRNA required for ribosome biogenesis. Recent studies have elucidated mechanisms underlying the integrity of ribosomal DNA and regulation of its transcription, including epigenetic mechanisms and a unique recombination and copy-number control system to stably maintain high rRNA gene copy number. In this Review, we disucss how the crucial maintenance of rRNA gene copy number through control of gene amplification and of rRNA production by RNA polymerase I are orchestrated. We also discuss how liquid-liquid phase separation controls the architecture and function of the nucleolus and the relationship between rRNA production, cell senescence and disease.

Snapshots of RNA polymerase III in action - A mini review

RNA polymerase (Pol) III is responsible for the transcription of tRNAs, 5S rRNA, U6 snRNA, and other non-coding RNAs. Transcription factors such as TFIIIA, -B, -C, SNAPc, and Maf1 are required for promoter recognition, promoter opening, and Pol III activity regulation. Recent developments in cryo-electron microscopy and advanced purification approaches for endogenous multi-subunit complexes accelerated structural studies resulting in detailed structural insights which allowed an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Pol III transcription. Here, we summarize structural data on Pol III and its regulating factors providing a three-dimensional framework to guide further analysis of RNA polymerase III.

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) lobe-binding subunit Rpa12.2 promotes RNA cleavage and proofreading

Elongating nuclear RNA polymerases (Pols) frequently pause, backtrack, and are then reactivated by endonucleolytic cleavage. Pol backtracking and RNA cleavage are also crucial for proofreading, which contributes to transcription fidelity. RNA polymerase I (Pol I) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthesizes exclusively 35S rRNA, the precursor transcript of mature ribosomal 5.8S, 18S, and 25S rRNA. Pol I contains the specific heterodimeric subunits Rpa34.5/49 and subunit Rpa12.2, which have been implicated in RNA cleavage and elongation activity, respectively. These subunits are associated with the Pol I lobe structure and encompass different structural domains, but the contribution of these domains to RNA elongation is unclear. Here, we used Pol I mutants or reconstituted Pol I enzymes to study the effects of these subunits and/or their distinct domains on RNA cleavage, backtracking, and transcription fidelity in defined in vitro systems. Our findings suggest that the presence of the intact C-terminal domain of Rpa12.2 is sufficient to support the cleavage reaction, but that the N-terminal domains of Rpa12.2 and the heterodimer facilitate backtracking and RNA cleavage. Since both N-terminal and C-terminal domains of Rpa12.2 were also required to faithfully incorporate NTPs in the growing RNA chain, efficient backtracking and RNA cleavage might be a prerequisite for transcription fidelity. We propose that RNA Pols containing efficient RNA cleavage activity are able to add and remove nucleotides until the matching nucleotide supports RNA chain elongation, whereas cleavage-deficient enzymes can escape this proofreading process by incorporating incorrect nucleotides.

Specialization of RNA Polymerase I in Comparison to Other Nuclear RNA Polymerases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In archaea and bacteria the major classes of RNAs are synthesized by one DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP). In contrast, most eukaryotes have three highly specialized RNAPs to transcribe the nuclear genome. RNAP I synthesizes almost exclusively ribosomal (r)RNA, RNAP II synthesizes mRNA as well as many noncoding RNAs involved in RNA processing or RNA silencing pathways and RNAP III synthesizes mainly tRNA and 5S rRNA. This review discusses functional differences of the three nuclear core RNAPs in the yeast S. cerevisiae with a particular focus on RNAP I transcription of nucleolar ribosomal (r)DNA chromatin.

Structural Studies of Eukaryotic RNA Polymerase I Using Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Technical advances have pushed the resolution limit of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) throughout the past decade and made the technique accessible to a wide range of samples. Among them, multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols) are a prominent example. This review aims at briefly summarizing the architecture and structural adaptations of Pol I, highlighting the importance of cryo-electron microscopy in determining the structures of transcription complexes.

Targeted Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry on Single-Step Affinity Purified Molecular Complexes in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) has been developed into a powerful and robust tool that is now well implemented and routinely used by an increasing number of laboratories. While bulk cross-linking of complexes provides useful information on whole complexes, it is limiting for the probing of specific protein "neighbourhoods," or vicinity interactomes. For example, it is not unusual to find cross-linked peptide pairs that are disproportionately overrepresented compared to the surface areas of complexes, while very few or no cross-links are identified in other regions. When studying dynamic complexes along their pathways, some vicinity cross-links may be of too low abundance in the pool of heterogenous complexes of interest to be efficiently identified by standard XL-MS. In this chapter, we describe a targeted XL-MS approach from single-step affinity purified (ssAP) complexes that enables the investigation of specific protein "neighbourhoods" within molecular complexes in yeast, using a small cross-linker anchoring tag, the CH-tag. One advantage of this method over a general cross-linking strategy is the possibility to significantly enrich for localized anchored-cross-links within complexes, thus yielding a higher sensitivity to detect highly dynamic or low abundance protein interactions within a specific protein "neighbourhood" occurring along the pathway of a selected bait protein. Moreover, many variations of the method can be employed; the ssAP-tag and the CH-tag can either be fused to the same or different proteins in the complex, or the CH-tag can be fused to multiple protein components in the same cell line to explore dynamic vicinity interactions along a pathway.

Charting the landscape of RNA polymerases to unleash their potential in strain improvement

One major mission of microbial cell factory is overproduction of desired chemicals. To this end, it is necessary to orchestrate enzymes that affect metabolic fluxes. However, only modification of a small number of enzymes in most cases cannot maximize desired metabolites, and global regulation is required. Of myriad enzymes influencing global regulation, RNA polymerase (RNAP) may be the most versatile enzyme in biological realm because it not only serves as the workhorse of central dogma but also participates in a plethora of biochemical events. In fact, recent years have witnessed extensive exploitation of RNAPs for phenotypic engineering. While a few impressive reviews showcase the structures and functionalities of RNAPs, this review not only summarizes the state-of-the-art advance in the structures of RNAPs but also points out their enormous potentials in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. This review aims to provide valuable insights for strain improvement.

The N-terminal domain of the A12.2 subunit stimulates RNA polymerase I transcription elongation

Eukaryotes express three DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols) that are responsible for the entirety of cellular genomic expression. The three Pols have evolved to express specific cohorts of RNAs and thus have diverged both structurally and functionally to efficiently execute their specific transcriptional roles. One example of this divergence is Pol I's inclusion of a proofreading factor as a bona fide subunit, as opposed to Pol II, which recruits a transcription factor, TFIIS, for proofreading. The A12.2 (A12) subunit of Pol I shares homology with both the Rpb9 subunit of Pol II as well as the transcription factor TFIIS, which promotes RNA cleavage and proofreading by Pol II. In this study, the functional contribution of the TFIIS-like C-terminal domain and the Rpb9-like N-terminal domain of the A12 subunit are probed through mutational analysis. We found that a Pol I mutant lacking the C-terminal domain of the A12 subunit (ΔA12CTD Pol I) is slightly faster than wild-type Pol I in single-nucleotide addition, but ΔA12CTD Pol I lacks RNA cleavage activity. ΔA12CTD Pol I is likewise similar to wild-type Pol I in elongation complex stability, whereas removal of the entire A12 subunit (ΔA12 Pol I) was previously demonstrated to stabilize transcription elongation complexes. Furthermore, the ΔA12CTD Pol I is sensitive to downstream sequence context, as ΔA12CTD Pol I exposed to AT-rich downstream DNA is more arrest prone than ΔA12 Pol I. These data demonstrate that the N-terminal domain of A12 does not stimulate Pol I intrinsic RNA cleavage activity, but rather contributes to core transcription elongation properties of Pol I.

Dynamics of the RNA polymerase I TFIIF/TFIIE-like subcomplex: a mini-review

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is the most specialized eukaryotic Pol. It is only responsible for the synthesis of pre-ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the precursor of 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNA, the most abundant cellular RNA types. Aberrant Pol I transcription is observed in a wide variety of cancers and its down-regulation is associated with several genetic disorders. The regulation and mechanism of Pol I transcription is increasing in clarity given the numerous high-resolution Pol I structures that have helped bridge seminal genetic and biochemical findings in the field. Here, we review the multifunctional roles of an important TFIIF- and TFIIE-like subcomplex composed of the Pol I subunits A34.5 and A49 in yeast, and PAF49 and PAF53 in mammals. Recent analyses have revealed a dynamic interplay between this subcomplex at nearly every step of the Pol I transcription cycle in addition to new roles in chromatin traversal and the existence of a new helix-turn-helix (HTH) within the A49/PAF53 linker domain that expands its dynamic functions during the Pol I transcription process.

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) passage through nucleosomes depends on Pol I subunits binding its lobe structure

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a highly efficient enzyme specialized in synthesizing most ribosomal RNAs. After nucleosome deposition at each round of rDNA replication, the Pol I transcription machinery has to deal with nucleosomal barriers. It has been suggested that Pol I-associated factors facilitate chromatin transcription, but it is unknown whether Pol I has an intrinsic capacity to transcribe through nucleosomes. Here, we used in vitro transcription assays to study purified WT and mutant Pol I variants from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and compare their abilities to pass a nucleosomal barrier with those of yeast Pol II and Pol III. Under identical conditions, purified Pol I and Pol III, but not Pol II, could transcribe nucleosomal templates. Pol I mutants lacking either the heterodimeric subunit Rpa34.5/Rpa49 or the C-terminal part of the specific subunit Rpa12.2 showed a lower processivity on naked DNA templates, which was even more reduced in the presence of a nucleosome. Our findings suggest that the lobe-binding subunits Rpa34.5/Rpa49 and Rpa12.2 facilitate passage through nucleosomes, suggesting possible cooperation among these subunits. We discuss the contribution of Pol I-specific subunit domains to efficient Pol I passage through nucleosomes in the context of transcription rate and processivity.

Conditional depletion of the RNA polymerase I subunit PAF53 reveals that it is essential for mitosis and enables identification of functional domains

Our knowledge of the mechanism of rDNA transcription has benefited from the combined application of genetic and biochemical techniques in yeast. Nomura's laboratory (Nogi, Y., Vu, L., and Nomura, M. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 7026-7030 and Nogi, Y., Yano, R., and Nomura, M. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 3962-3966) developed a system in yeast to identify genes essential for ribosome biogenesis. Such systems have allowed investigators to determine whether a gene was essential and to determine its function in rDNA transcription. However, there are significant differences in both the structures and components of the transcription apparatus and the patterns of regulation between mammals and yeast. Thus, there are significant deficits in our understanding of mammalian rDNA transcription. We have developed a system combining CRISPR/Cas9 and an auxin-inducible degron that enables combining a "genetics-like"approach with biochemistry to study mammalian rDNA transcription. We now show that the mammalian orthologue of yeast RPA49, PAF53, is required for rDNA transcription and mitotic growth. We have studied the domains of the protein required for activity. We have found that the C-terminal, DNA-binding domain (tandem-winged helix), the heterodimerization, and the linker domain were essential. Analysis of the linker identified a putative helix-turn-helix (HTH) DNA-binding domain. This HTH constitutes a second DNA-binding domain within PAF53. The HTH of the yeast and mammalian orthologues is essential for function. In summary, we show that an auxin-dependent degron system can be used to rapidly deplete nucleolar proteins in mammalian cells, that PAF53 is necessary for rDNA transcription and cell growth, and that all three PAF53 domains are necessary for its function.

Structure and Function of RNA Polymerases and the Transcription Machineries

In all living organisms, the flow of genetic information is a two-step process: first DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is subsequently used as template for protein synthesis during translation. In bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes, transcription is carried out by multi-subunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) sharing a conserved architecture of the RNAP core. RNAPs catalyse the highly accurate polymerisation of RNA from NTP building blocks, utilising DNA as template, being assisted by transcription factors during the initiation, elongation and termination phase of transcription. The complexity of this highly dynamic process is reflected in the intricate network of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions in transcription complexes and the substantial conformational changes of the RNAP as it progresses through the transcription cycle.In this chapter, we will first briefly describe the early work that led to the discovery of multisubunit RNAPs. We will then discuss the three-dimensional organisation of RNAPs from the bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic domains of life, highlighting the conserved nature, but also the domain-specific features of the transcriptional apparatus. Another section will focus on transcription factors and their role in regulating the RNA polymerase throughout the different phases of the transcription cycle. This includes a discussion of the molecular mechanisms and dynamic events that govern transcription initiation, elongation and termination.

Structural and biochemical analyses of the nuclear pore complex component ELYS identify residues responsible for nucleosome binding

The nuclear pore complex embedded within the nuclear envelope is the essential architecture for trafficking macromolecules, such as proteins and RNAs, between the cytoplasm and nucleus. The nuclear pore complex assembly occurs on chromatin in the post-mitotic phase of the cell cycle. ELYS (MEL-28/AHCTF1) binds to the nucleosome, which is the basic chromatin unit, and promotes assembly of the complex around the chromosomes in cells. Here we show that the Arg-Arg-Lys (RRK) stretch of the C-terminal ELYS region plays an essential role in the nucleosome binding. The cryo-EM structure and the crosslinking mass spectrometry reveal that the ELYS C-terminal region directly binds to the acidic patch of the nucleosome. These results provide mechanistic insight into the ELYS-nucleosome interaction, which promotes the post-mitotic nuclear pore complex formation around chromosomes in cells.

The Vaccinia virion: Filling the gap between atomic and ultrastructure

We have investigated the molecular-level structure of the Vaccinia virion in situ by protein-protein chemical crosslinking, identifying 4609 unique-mass crosslink ions at an effective FDR of 0.33%, covering 2534 unique pairs of crosslinked protein positions, 625 of which were inter-protein. The data were statistically non-random and rational in the context of known structures, and showed biological rationality. Crosslink density strongly tracked the individual proteolytic maturation products of p4a and p4b, the two major virion structural proteins, and supported the prediction of transmembrane domains within membrane proteins. A clear sub-network of four virion structural proteins provided structural insights into the virion core wall, and proteins VP8 and A12 formed a strongly-detected crosslinked pair with an apparent structural role. A strongly-detected sub-network of membrane proteins A17, H3, A27 and A26 represented an apparent interface of the early-forming virion envelope with structures added later during virion morphogenesis. Protein H3 seemed to be the central hub not only for this sub-network but also for an 'attachment protein' sub-network comprising membrane proteins H3, ATI, CAHH(D8), A26, A27 and G9. Crosslinking data lent support to a number of known interactions and interactions within known complexes. Evidence is provided for the membrane targeting of genome telomeres. In covering several orders of magnitude in protein abundance, this study may have come close to the bottom of the protein-protein crosslinkome of an intact organism, namely a complex animal virus.

Distinct Mechanisms of Transcription Initiation by RNA Polymerases I and II

RNA polymerases I and II (Pol I and Pol II) are the eukaryotic enzymes that catalyze DNA-dependent synthesis of ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA, respectively. Recent work shows that the transcribing forms of both enzymes are similar and the fundamental mechanisms of RNA chain elongation are conserved. However, the mechanisms of transcription initiation and its regulation differ between Pol I and Pol II. Recent structural studies of Pol I complexes with transcription initiation factors provided insights into how the polymerase recognizes its specific promoter DNA, how it may open DNA, and how initiation may be regulated. Comparison with the well-studied Pol II initiation system reveals a distinct architecture of the initiation complex and visualizes promoter- and gene-class-specific aspects of transcription initiation. On the basis of new structural studies, we derive a model of the Pol I transcription cycle and provide a molecular movie of Pol I transcription that can be used for teaching.

An AP-MS- and BioID-compatible MAC-tag enables comprehensive mapping of protein interactions and subcellular localizations

Protein-protein interactions govern almost all cellular functions. These complex networks of stable and transient associations can be mapped by affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) and complementary proximity-based labeling methods such as BioID. To exploit the advantages of both strategies, we here design and optimize an integrated approach combining AP-MS and BioID in a single construct, which we term MAC-tag. We systematically apply the MAC-tag approach to 18 subcellular and 3 sub-organelle localization markers, generating a molecular context database, which can be used to define a protein’s molecular location. In addition, we show that combining the AP-MS and BioID results makes it possible to obtain interaction distances within a protein complex. Taken together, our integrated strategy enables the comprehensive mapping of the physical and functional interactions of proteins, defining their molecular context and improving our understanding of the cellular interactome.

AP-MS and BioID provide complementary insights into cellular protein interaction networks. To facilitate their combined use, the authors here present an AP-MS- and BioID-compatible affinity tag, enabling efficient determination of cellular protein locations and interaction distances.

Functions of the TFIIE-Related Tandem Winged-Helix Domain of Rpc34 in RNA Polymerase III Initiation and Elongation

Rpc34 is a subunit of the Rpc82/34/31 subcomplex residing on the DNA-binding cleft of RNA polymerase (Pol) III. Rpc34 contains a structurally flexible N-terminal tandem winged-helix (tWH) domain related to the TFIIE transcription factor. While the second WH (WH2) fold of the tWH domain is known to function in DNA melting activity during transcription initiation, the functional role of the WH1 fold is unknown. In this study, we generated a series of new Rpc34 tWH mutants conferring a cold-sensitive growth phenotype. We found that the tWH mutations severely compromised in vitro transcription activity due to destabilization of the preinitiation complex (PIC). Site-specific protein photo-cross-linking analysis indicated that the tWH domain persistently interacts with protein subunits of the Pol III cleft in the PIC and the ternary elongation complex (TEC). Furthermore, purified Pol III proteins with tWH mutations also showed reduced efficiency in RNA elongation. Our study results suggest that the tWH domain is an important protein module above the Pol III cleft that integrates protein and nucleic acid interactions for initiation and elongation.

Structure determination of transient transcription complexes

The determination of detailed 3D structures of large and transient multicomponent complexes remains challenging. Here I describe the approaches that were used and developed by our laboratory to achieve structure solution of eukaryotic transcription complexes. I hope this collection serves as a resource for structural biologists seeking solutions for difficult structure determination projects.

Modeling Protein Excited-state Structures from "Over-length" Chemical Cross-links

Chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectroscopy (CXMS) provides proximity information for the cross-linked residues and is used increasingly for modeling protein structures. However, experimentally identified cross-links are sometimes incompatible with the known structure of a protein, as the distance calculated between the cross-linked residues far exceeds the maximum length of the cross-linker. The discrepancies may persist even after eliminating potentially false cross-links and excluding intermolecular ones. Thus the "over-length" cross-links may arise from alternative excited-state conformation of the protein. Here we present a method and associated software DynaXL for visualizing the ensemble structures of multidomain proteins based on intramolecular cross-links identified by mass spectrometry with high confidence. Representing the cross-linkers and cross-linking reactions explicitly, we show that the protein excited-state structure can be modeled with as few as two over-length cross-links. We demonstrate the generality of our method with three systems: calmodulin, enzyme I, and glutamine-binding protein, and we show that these proteins alternate between different conformations for interacting with other proteins and ligands. Taken together, the over-length chemical cross-links contain valuable information about protein dynamics, and our findings here illustrate the relationship between dynamic domain movement and protein function.

The diverse and expanding role of mass spectrometry in structural and molecular biology

The emergence of proteomics has led to major technological advances in mass spectrometry (MS). These advancements not only benefitted MS-based high-throughput proteomics but also increased the impact of mass spectrometry on the field of structural and molecular biology. Here, we review how state-of-the-art MS methods, including native MS, top-down protein sequencing, cross-linking-MS, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange-MS, nowadays enable the characterization of biomolecular structures, functions, and interactions. In particular, we focus on the role of mass spectrometry in integrated structural and molecular biology investigations of biological macromolecular complexes and cellular machineries, highlighting work on CRISPR-Cas systems and eukaryotic transcription complexes.

Molecular Structures of Transcribing RNA Polymerase I

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a 14-subunit enzyme that solely synthesizes pre-ribosomal RNA. Recently, the crystal structure of apo Pol I gave unprecedented insight into its molecular architecture. Here, we present three cryo-EM structures of elongating Pol I, two at 4.0 Å and one at 4.6 Å resolution, and a Pol I open complex at 3.8 Å resolution. Two modules in Pol I mediate the narrowing of the DNA-binding cleft by closing the clamp domain. The DNA is bound by the clamp head and by the protrusion domain, allowing visualization of the upstream and downstream DNA duplexes in one of the elongation complexes. During formation of the Pol I elongation complex, the bridge helix progressively folds, while the A12.2 C-terminal domain is displaced from the active site. Our results reveal the conformational changes associated with elongation complex formation and provide additional insight into the Pol I transcription cycle.

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Pol I gradually closes its DNA-binding cleft during elongation complex formation

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Pol I bridge helix folds into a conformation similar to that in other RNA polymerases

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During elongation, the Pol I A12.2 C-terminal domain is excluded from the cleft

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A49 tandem winged helix domain contacts upstream DNA, similar to TFIIE

Structure of RNA polymerase I transcribing ribosomal DNA genes

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a highly processive enzyme that transcribes ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and regulates growth of eukaryotic cells. Crystal structures of free Pol I from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have revealed dimers of the enzyme stabilized by a 'connector' element and an expanded cleft containing the active centre in an inactive conformation. The central bridge helix was unfolded and a Pol-I-specific 'expander' element occupied the DNA-template-binding site. The structure of Pol I in its active transcribing conformation has yet to be determined, whereas structures of Pol II and Pol III have been solved with bound DNA template and RNA transcript. Here we report structures of active transcribing Pol I from yeast solved by two different cryo-electron microscopy approaches. A single-particle structure at 3.8 Å resolution reveals a contracted active centre cleft with bound DNA and RNA, and a narrowed pore beneath the active site that no longer holds the RNA-cleavage-stimulating domain of subunit A12.2. A structure at 29 Å resolution that was determined from cryo-electron tomograms of Pol I enzymes transcribing cellular rDNA confirms contraction of the cleft and reveals that incoming and exiting rDNA enclose an angle of around 150°. The structures suggest a model for the regulation of transcription elongation in which contracted and expanded polymerase conformations are associated with active and inactive states, respectively.

Resolution of protein structure by mass spectrometry

Typically, mass spectrometry is used to identify the peptides present in a complex peptide mixture and subsequently the precursor proteins. As such, mass spectrometry focuses mainly on the primary structure, the (modified) amino acid sequence of peptides and proteins. In contrast, the three-dimensional structure of a protein is typically determined with protein X-ray crystallography or NMR. Despite the close relationship between these two aspects of protein studies (sequence and structure), mass spectrometry and structure determination are not frequently combined. Nevertheless, this combination of approaches, dubbed conformational proteomics, can offer insight into the function, working mechanism, and conformational status of a protein. In this review, we will discuss the developments at the intersection of mass spectrometry-based proteomics and protein structure determination and start from a brief overview of the classic approaches to identify protein structure along with their advantages and disadvantages. We will subsequently discuss the ability of mass spectrometry to overcome some of the hurdles of these classic methods. Finally, we will provide an outlook on the interplay of mass spectrometry and protein structure determination, and highlight several recent experiments in which mass spectrometry was successfully used to either aid or complement structure elucidation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 35:653-665, 2016.

Structure of the initiation-competent RNA polymerase I and its implication for transcription

Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is specialized in rRNA gene transcription synthesizing up to 60% of cellular RNA. High level rRNA production relies on efficient binding of initiation factors to the rRNA gene promoter and recruitment of Pol I complexes containing initiation factor Rrn3. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structure of the Pol I-Rrn3 complex at 7.5 Å resolution, and compare it with Rrn3-free monomeric and dimeric Pol I. We observe that Rrn3 contacts the Pol I A43/A14 stalk and subunits A190 and AC40, that association re-organizes the Rrn3 interaction interface, thereby preventing Pol I dimerization; and Rrn3-bound and monomeric Pol I differ from the dimeric enzyme in cleft opening, and localization of the A12.2 C-terminus in the active centre. Our findings thus support a dual role for Rrn3 in transcription initiation to stabilize a monomeric initiation competent Pol I and to drive pre-initiation complex formation.

Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is responsible for the transcription of rRNA genes. Here the authors determine the cryo-EM structure of the Pol I-Rrn3 complex, providing insight into how Rrn3 stabilizes the monomeric initiation competent Pol I to drive pre-initiation complex formation.

TFE and Spt4/5 open and close the RNA polymerase clamp during the transcription cycle

Transcription is an intrinsically dynamic process and requires the coordinated interplay of RNA polymerases (RNAPs) with nucleic acids and transcription factors. Classical structural biology techniques have revealed detailed snapshots of a subset of conformational states of the RNAP as they exist in crystals. A detailed view of the conformational space sampled by the RNAP and the molecular mechanisms of the basal transcription factors E (TFE) and Spt4/5 through conformational constraints has remained elusive. We monitored the conformational changes of the flexible clamp of the RNAP by combining a fluorescently labeled recombinant 12-subunit RNAP system with single-molecule FRET measurements. We measured and compared the distances across the DNA binding channel of the archaeal RNAP. Our results show that the transition of the closed to the open initiation complex, which occurs concomitant with DNA melting, is coordinated with an opening of the RNAP clamp that is stimulated by TFE. We show that the clamp in elongation complexes is modulated by the nontemplate strand and by the processivity factor Spt4/5, both of which stimulate transcription processivity. Taken together, our results reveal an intricate network of interactions within transcription complexes between RNAP, transcription factors, and nucleic acids that allosterically modulate the RNAP during the transcription cycle.

Trifunctional cross-linker for mapping protein-protein interaction networks and comparing protein conformational states

To improve chemical cross-linking of proteins coupled with mass spectrometry (CXMS), we developed a lysine-targeted enrichable cross-linker containing a biotin tag for affinity purification, a chemical cleavage site to separate cross-linked peptides away from biotin after enrichment, and a spacer arm that can be labeled with stable isotopes for quantitation. By locating the flexible proteins on the surface of 70S ribosome, we show that this trifunctional cross-linker is effective at attaining structural information not easily attainable by crystallography and electron microscopy. From a crude Rrp46 immunoprecipitate, it helped identify two direct binding partners of Rrp46 and 15 protein-protein interactions (PPIs) among the co-immunoprecipitated exosome subunits. Applying it to E. coli and C. elegans lysates, we identified 3130 and 893 inter-linked lysine pairs, representing 677 and 121 PPIs. Using a quantitative CXMS workflow we demonstrate that it can reveal changes in the reactivity of lysine residues due to protein-nucleic acid interaction.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12509.001

Proteins fold into structures that are determined by the order of the amino acids that they are built from. These structures enable the protein to carry out its role, which often involves interacting with other proteins. Chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry (CXMS) is a powerful method used to study protein structure and how proteins interact, with a benefit of stabilizing and capturing brief interactions.

CXMS uses a chemical compound called a linker that has two arms, each of which can bind specific amino acids in a protein or in multiple proteins. Only when the regions are close to each other can they be “cross-linked” in this way. After cross-linking, the proteins are cut into small pieces known as peptides. The cross-linked peptides are then separated from the non cross-linked ones and characterized.

Although CXMS is a popular method, there are aspects about it that limit its use. It does not work well on complex samples that contain lots of different proteins, as it is difficult to separate the cross-linked peptides from the overwhelming amounts of non cross-linked peptides. Also, although it can be used to detect changes in the shape of a protein, which are often crucial to the protein's role, the method has not been smoothed out.

Tan, Li et al. have now developed a new cross-linker called Leiker that addresses these limitations. Leiker cross-links the amino acid lysine to another lysine, and contains a molecular tag that allows cross-linked peptides to be efficiently purified away from non cross-linked peptides. As part of a streamlined workflow to detect changes in the shape of a protein, Leiker also contains a region that can be labeled.

Analysing a bacterial ribosome, which contains more than 50 proteins, showed that Leiker-based CXMS could detect many more protein interactions than previous studies had. These included interactions that changed too rapidly to be studied by other structural methods. Tan, Li et al. then applied Leiker-based CXMS to the entire contents of bacterial cells at different stages of growth, and identified a protein interaction that is only found in growing cells.

In future, Leiker will be useful for analyzing the structure of large protein complexes, probing changes in protein structure, and mapping the interactions between proteins in complex mixtures.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12509.002

Targeted cross-linking-mass spectrometry determines vicinal interactomes within heterogeneous RNP complexes

Proteomic and RNomic approaches have identified many components of different ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), yet still little is known about the organization and protein proximities within these heterogeneous and highly dynamic complexes. Here we describe a targeted cross-linking approach, which combines cross-linking from a known anchor site with affinity purification and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the changing vicinity interactomes along RNP maturation pathways. Our method confines the reaction radius of a heterobifunctional cross-linker to a specific interaction surface, increasing the probability to capture low abundance conformations and transient vicinal interactors too infrequent for identification by traditional cross-linking-MS approaches, and determine protein proximities within RNPs. Applying the method to two conserved RNA-associated complexes in Saccharomyces cerevisae, the mRNA export receptor Mex67:Mtr2 and the pre-ribosomal Nop7 subcomplex, we identified dynamic vicinal interactomes within those complexes and along their changing pathway milieu. Our results therefore show that this method provides a new tool to study the changing spatial organization of heterogeneous dynamic RNP complexes.

The molecular architecture of the Dam1 kinetochore complex is defined by cross-linking based structural modelling

Accurate segregation of chromosomes during cell division is essential. The Dam1 complex binds kinetochores to microtubules and its oligomerization is required to form strong attachments. It is a key target of Aurora B kinase, which destabilizes erroneous attachments allowing subsequent correction. Understanding the roles and regulation of the Dam1 complex requires structural information. Here we apply cross-linking/mass spectrometry and structural modelling to determine the molecular architecture of the Dam1 complex. We find microtubule attachment is accompanied by substantial conformational changes, with direct binding mediated by the carboxy termini of Dam1p and Duo1p. Aurora B phosphorylation of Dam1p C terminus weakens direct interaction with the microtubule. Furthermore, the Dam1p amino terminus forms an interaction interface between Dam1 complexes, which is also disrupted by phosphorylation. Our results demonstrate that Aurora B inhibits both direct interaction with the microtubule and oligomerization of the Dam1 complex to drive error correction during mitosis.

An alternative RNA polymerase I structure reveals a dimer hinge

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is the central, 14-subunit enzyme that synthesizes the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursor in eukaryotic cells. The recent crystal structure of Pol I at 2.8 Å resolution revealed two novel elements: the `expander' in the active-centre cleft and the `connector' that mediates Pol I dimerization [Engel et al. (2013), Nature (London), 502, 650-655]. Here, a Pol I structure in an alternative crystal form that was solved by molecular replacement using the original atomic Pol I structure is reported. The resulting alternative structure lacks the expander but still shows an expanded active-centre cleft. The neighbouring Pol I monomers form a homodimer with a relative orientation distinct from that observed previously, establishing the connector as a hinge between Pol I monomers.

xVis: a web server for the schematic visualization and interpretation of crosslink-derived spatial restraints

The identification of crosslinks by mass spectrometry has recently been established as an integral part of the hybrid structural analysis of protein complexes and networks. The crosslinking analysis determines distance restraints between two covalently linked amino acids which are typically summarized in a table format that precludes the immediate and comprehensive interpretation of the topological data. xVis displays crosslinks in clear schematic representations in form of a circular, bar or network diagram. The interactive graphs indicate the linkage sites and identification scores, depict the spatial proximity of structurally and functionally annotated protein regions and the evolutionary conservation of amino acids and facilitate clustering of proteins into subcomplexes according to the crosslink density. Furthermore, xVis offers two options for the qualitative assessment of the crosslink identifications by filtering crosslinks according to identification scores or false discovery rates and by displaying the corresponding fragment ion spectrum of each crosslink for the manual validation of the mass spectrometric data. Our web server provides an easy-to-use tool for the fast topological and functional interpretation of distance information on protein complex architectures and for the evaluation of crosslink fragment ion spectra. xVis is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license at http://xvis.genzentrum.lmu.de/.

Inositol pyrophosphates regulate RNA polymerase I-mediated rRNA transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ribosome biogenesis is an essential cellular process regulated by the metabolic state of a cell. We examined whether inositol pyrophosphates, energy-rich derivatives of inositol that act as metabolic messengers, play a role in ribosome synthesis in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast strains lacking the inositol hexakisphosphate (IP₆) kinase Kcs1, which is required for the synthesis of inositol pyrophosphates, display increased sensitivity to translation inhibitors and decreased protein synthesis. These phenotypes are reversed on expression of enzymatically active Kcs1, but not on expression of the inactive form. The kcs1Δ yeast cells exhibit reduced levels of ribosome subunits, suggesting that they are defective in ribosome biogenesis. The rate of rRNA synthesis, the first step of ribosome biogenesis, is decreased in kcs1Δ yeast strains, suggesting that RNA polymerase I (Pol I) activity may be reduced in these cells. We determined that the Pol I subunits, A190, A43 and A34.5, can accept a β-phosphate moiety from inositol pyrophosphates to undergo serine pyrophosphorylation. Although there is impaired rRNA synthesis in kcs1Δ yeast cells, we did not find any defect in recruitment of Pol I on rDNA, but observed that the rate of transcription elongation was compromised. Taken together, our findings highlight inositol pyrophosphates as novel regulators of rRNA transcription.

Inositol pyrophosphates are phosphate-rich metabolic messengers that regulate many cellular processes. We observed that RNA polymerase I is pyrophosphorylated by inositol pyrophosphates, and its transcription elongation activity was reduced in budding yeast strains devoid of inositol pyrophosphates.

Xlink Analyzer: software for analysis and visualization of cross-linking data in the context of three-dimensional structures

Structural characterization of large multi-subunit protein complexes often requires integrating various experimental techniques. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) identifies proximal protein residues and thus is increasingly used to map protein interactions and determine the relative orientation of subunits within the structure of protein complexes. To fully adapt XL-MS as a structure characterization technique, we developed Xlink Analyzer, a software tool for visualization and analysis of XL-MS data in the context of the three-dimensional structures. Xlink Analyzer enables automatic visualization of cross-links, identifies cross-links violating spatial restraints, calculates violation statistics, maps chemically modified surfaces, and allows interactive manipulations that facilitate analysis of XL-MS data and aid designing new experiments. We demonstrate these features by mapping interaction sites within RNA polymerase I and the Rvb1/2 complex. Xlink Analyzer is implemented as a plugin to UCSF Chimera, a standard structural biology software tool, and thus enables seamless integration of XL-MS data with, e.g. fitting of X-ray structures to EM maps. Xlink Analyzer is available for download at http://www.beck.embl.de/XlinkAnalyzer.html.

xiNET: cross-link network maps with residue resolution

xiNET is a visualization tool for exploring cross-linking/mass spectrometry results. The interactive maps of the cross-link network that it generates are a type of node-link diagram. In these maps xiNET displays: (1) residue resolution positional information including linkage sites and linked peptides; (2) all types of cross-linking reaction product; (3) ambiguous results; and, (4) additional sequence information such as domains. xiNET runs in a browser and exports vector graphics which can be edited in common drawing packages to create publication quality figures.

AVAILABILITY

xiNET is open source, released under the Apache version 2 license. Results can be viewed by uploading data to http://crosslinkviewer.org/ or by downloading the software from http://github.com/colin-combe/crosslink-viewer and running it locally.

Functional divergence of eukaryotic RNA polymerases: unique properties of RNA polymerase I suit its cellular role

Eukaryotic cells express at least three unique nuclear RNA polymerases. The selective advantage provided by this enhanced complexity is a topic of fundamental interest in cell biology. It has long been known that the gene targets and transcription initiation pathways for RNA polymerases (Pols) I, II and III are distinct; however, recent genetic, biochemical and structural data suggest that even the core enzymes have evolved unique properties. Among the three eukaryotic RNA polymerases, Pol I is considered the most divergent. Transcription of the ribosomal DNA by Pol I is unmatched in its high rate of initiation, complex organization within the nucleolus and functional connection to ribosome assembly. Furthermore, ribosome synthesis is intimately linked to cell growth and proliferation. Thus, there is intense selective pressure on Pol I. This review describes key features of Pol I transcription, discusses catalytic activities of the enzyme and focuses on recent advances in understanding its unique role among eukaryotic RNA polymerases.

Solving the RNA polymerase I structural puzzle

Knowing the structure of multi-subunit complexes is critical to understand basic cellular functions. However, when crystals of these complexes can be obtained they rarely diffract beyond 3 Å resolution, which complicates X-ray structure determination and refinement. The crystal structure of RNA polymerase I, an essential cellular machine that synthesizes the precursor of ribosomal RNA in the nucleolus of eukaryotic cells, has recently been solved. Here, the crucial steps that were undertaken to build the atomic model of this multi-subunit enzyme are reported, emphasizing how simple crystallographic experiments can be used to extract relevant biological information. In particular, this report discusses the combination of poor molecular replacement and experimental phases, the application of multi-crystal averaging and the use of anomalous scatterers as sequence markers to guide tracing and to locate the active site. The methods outlined here will likely serve as a reference for future structural determination of large complexes at low resolution.

A mass spectrometry view of stable and transient protein interactions

Through an impressive range of dynamic interactions, proteins succeed to carry out the majority of functions in a cell. These temporally and spatially regulated interactions provide the means through which one single protein can perform diverse functions and modulate different cellular pathways. Understanding the identity and nature of these interactions is therefore critical for defining protein functions and their contribution to health and disease processes. Here, we provide an overview of workflows that incorporate immunoaffinity purifications and quantitative mass spectrometry (frequently abbreviated as IP-MS or AP-MS) for characterizing protein-protein interactions. We discuss experimental aspects that should be considered when optimizing the isolation of a protein complex. As the presence of nonspecific associations is a concern in these experiments, we discuss the common sources of nonspecific interactions and present label-free and metabolic labeling mass spectrometry-based methods that can help determine the specificity of interactions. The effective regulation of cellular pathways and the rapid reaction to various environmental stresses rely on the formation of stable, transient, and fast-exchanging protein-protein interactions. While determining the exact nature of an interaction remains challenging, we review cross-linking and metabolic labeling approaches that can help address this important aspect of characterizing protein interactions and macromolecular assemblies.

Conserved architecture of the core RNA polymerase II initiation complex

During transcription initiation at promoters of protein-coding genes, RNA polymerase (Pol) II assembles with TBP, TFIIB and TFIIF into a conserved core initiation complex that recruits additional factors. The core complex stabilizes open DNA and initiates RNA synthesis, and it is conserved in the Pol I and Pol III transcription systems. Here, we derive the domain architecture of the yeast core pol II initiation complex during transcription initiation. The yeast complex resembles the human initiation complex and reveals that the TFIIF Tfg2 winged helix domain swings over promoter DNA. An 'arm' and a 'charged helix' in TFIIF function in transcription start site selection and initial RNA synthesis, respectively, and apparently extend into the active centre cleft. Our model provides the basis for further structure-function analysis of the entire transcription initiation complex.

Chemical cross-linking/mass spectrometry targeting acidic residues in proteins and protein complexes

The study of proteins and protein complexes using chemical cross-linking followed by the MS identification of the cross-linked peptides has found increasingly widespread use in recent years. Thus far, such analyses have used almost exclusively homobifunctional, amine-reactive cross-linking reagents. Here we report the development and application of an orthogonal cross-linking chemistry specific for carboxyl groups. Chemical cross-linking of acidic residues is achieved using homobifunctional dihydrazides as cross-linking reagents and a coupling chemistry at neutral pH that is compatible with the structural integrity of most protein complexes. In addition to cross-links formed through insertion of the dihydrazides with different spacer lengths, zero-length cross-link products are also obtained, thereby providing additional structural information. We demonstrate the application of the reaction and the MS identification of the resulting cross-linked peptides for the chaperonin TRiC/CCT and the 26S proteasome. The results indicate that the targeting of acidic residues for cross-linking provides distance restraints that are complementary and orthogonal to those obtained from lysine cross-linking, thereby expanding the yield of structural information that can be obtained from cross-linking studies and used in hybrid modeling approaches.

Measuring spatial restraints on native protein complexes using isotope-tagged chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometric analyses of proteins affinity-purified from cell lysates are routinely used by cell biologists to characterize the composition and the modifications of protein complexes. Here, we describe a protocol that combines affinity-purification with chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry (CXMS) in order to detect spatially proximate lysine residues on protein complexes isolated from human tissue culture cells. These cross-links are interpreted as distance restraints that aid in elucidating protein binding interfaces and the topology of protein complexes. In contrast to established high-resolution structural biology techniques, CXMS analysis has the potential to acquire structural information of small amounts of structurally flexible and heterogeneous protein preparations. We recently demonstrated on a network of modular protein phosphatase 2A complexes that restraints obtained by CXMS analysis hold great promise in supporting hybrid structural analysis of endogenous protein complexes by integrating structural data from different sources with computational molecular modeling.

Structure and subunit topology of the INO80 chromatin remodeler and its nucleosome complex

INO80/SWR1 family chromatin remodelers are complexes composed of >15 subunits and molecular masses exceeding 1 MDa. Their important role in transcription and genome maintenance is exchanging the histone variants H2A and H2A.Z. We report the architecture of S. cerevisiae INO80 using an integrative approach of electron microscopy, crosslinking and mass spectrometry. INO80 has an embryo-shaped head-neck-body-foot architecture and shows dynamic open and closed conformations. We can assign an Rvb1/Rvb2 heterododecamer to the head in close contact with the Ino80 Snf2 domain, Ies2, and the Arp5 module at the neck. The high-affinity nucleosome-binding Nhp10 module localizes to the body, whereas the module that contains actin, Arp4, and Arp8 maps to the foot. Structural and biochemical analyses indicate that the nucleosome is bound at the concave surface near the neck, flanked by the Rvb1/2 and Arp8 modules. Our analysis establishes a structural and functional framework for this family of large remodelers.

Crystal structure of the 14-subunit RNA polymerase I

Protein biosynthesis depends on the availability of ribosomes, which in turn relies on ribosomal RNA production. In eukaryotes, this process is carried out by RNA polymerase I (Pol I), a 14-subunit enzyme, the activity of which is a major determinant of cell growth. Here we present the crystal structure of Pol I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 3.0 Å resolution. The Pol I structure shows a compact core with a wide DNA-binding cleft and a tightly anchored stalk. An extended loop mimics the DNA backbone in the cleft and may be involved in regulating Pol I transcription. Subunit A12.2 extends from the A190 jaw to the active site and inserts a transcription elongation factor TFIIS-like zinc ribbon into the nucleotide triphosphate entry pore, providing insight into the role of A12.2 in RNA cleavage and Pol I insensitivity to α-amanitin. The A49-A34.5 heterodimer embraces subunit A135 through extended arms, thereby contacting and potentially regulating subunit A12.2.

Structural insights into transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II

Transcriptional regulation is one of the most important steps in control of cell identity, growth, differentiation, and development. Many signaling pathways controlling these processes ultimately target the core transcription machinery that, for protein coding genes, consists of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the general transcription factors (GTFs). New studies on the structure and mechanism of the core assembly and how it interfaces with promoter DNA and coactivator complexes have given tremendous insight into early steps in the initiation process, genome-wide binding, and mechanisms conserved for all nuclear and archaeal Pols. Here, we review recent developments in dissecting the architecture of the Pol II core machinery with a focus on early and regulated steps in transcription initiation.

Divergent contributions of conserved active site residues to transcription by eukaryotic RNA polymerases I and II

Multisubunit RNA polymerases (msRNAPs) exhibit high sequence and structural homology, especially within their active sites, which is generally thought to result in msRNAP functional conservation. However, we show that mutations in the trigger loop (TL) in the largest subunit of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) yield phenotypes unexpected from studies of Pol II. For example, a well-characterized gain-of-function mutation in Pol II results in loss of function in Pol I (Pol II: rpb1- E1103G; Pol I: rpa190-E1224G). Studies of chimeric Pol II enzymes hosting Pol I or Pol III TLs suggest that consequences of mutations that alter TL dynamics are dictated by the greater enzymatic context and not solely the TL sequence. Although the rpa190-E1224G mutation diminishes polymerase activity, when combined with mutations that perturb Pol I catalysis, it enhances polymerase function, similar to the analogous Pol II mutation. These results suggest that Pol I and Pol II have different rate-limiting steps.