Animal Hen1 2'-O-methyltransferases as tools for 3'-terminal functionalization and labelling of single-stranded RNAs

Novel roles of PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs in human health and diseases

Non-coding RNA has aroused great research interest recently, they play a wide range of biological functions, such as regulating cell cycle, cell proliferation, and intracellular substance metabolism. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are emerging small non-coding RNAs that are 24-31 nucleotides in length. Previous studies on piRNAs were mainly limited to evaluating the binding to the PIWI protein family to play the biological role. However, recent studies have shed more lights on piRNA functions; aberrant piRNAs play unique roles in many human diseases, including diverse lethal cancers. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of piRNAs expression and the specific functional roles of piRNAs in human diseases is crucial for developing its clinical applications. Presently, research on piRNAs mainly focuses on their cancer-specific functions but lacks investigation of their expressions and epigenetic modifications. This review discusses piRNA's biogenesis and functional roles and the recent progress of functions of piRNA/PIWI protein complexes in human diseases. Video Abstract.

Chemical Expansion of the Methyltransferase Reaction: Tools for DNA Labeling and Epigenome Analysis

DNA is the genetic matter of life composed of four major nucleotides which can be further furnished with biologically important covalent modifications. Among the variety of enzymes involved in DNA metabolism, AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases (MTases) combine the recognition of specific sequences and covalent methylation of a target nucleotide. The naturally transferred methyl groups play important roles in biological signaling, but they are poor physical reporters and largely resistant to chemical derivatization. Therefore, an obvious strategy to unlock the practical utility of the methyltransferase reactions is to enable the transfer of "prederivatized" (extended) versions of the methyl group.However, previous enzymatic studies of extended AdoMet analogs indicated that the transalkylation reactions are drastically impaired as the size of the carbon chain increases. In collaborative efforts, we proposed that, akin to enhanced SN2 reactivity of allylic and propargylic systems, addition of a π orbital next to the transferable carbon atom might confer the needed activation of the reaction. Indeed, we found that MTase-catalyzed transalkylations of DNA with cofactors containing a double or a triple C-C bond in the β position occurred in a robust and sequence-specific manner. Altogether, this breakthrough approach named mTAG (methyltransferase-directed transfer of activated groups) has proven instrumental for targeted labeling of DNA and other types of biomolecules (using appropriate MTases) including RNA and proteins.Our further work focused on the propargylic cofactors and their reactions with DNA cytosine-5 MTases, a class of MTases common for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here, we learned that the 4-X-but-2-yn-1-yl (X = polar group) cofactors suffered from a rapid loss of activity in aqueous buffers due to susceptibility of the triple bond to hydration. This problem was remedied by synthetically increasing the separation between X and the triple bond from one to three carbon units (6-X-hex-2-ynyl cofactors). To further optimize the transfer of the bulkier groups, we performed structure-guided engineering of the MTase cofactor pocket. Alanine replacements of two conserved residues conferred substantial improvements of the transalkylation activity with M.HhaI and three other engineered bacterial C5-MTases. Of particular interest were CpG-specific DNA MTases (M.SssI), which proved valuable tools for studies of mammalian methylomes and chemical probing of DNA function.Inspired by the successful repurposing of bacterial enzymes, we turned to more complex mammalian C5-MTases (Dnmt1, Dnmt3A, and Dnmt3B) and asked if they could ultimately lead to mTAG labeling inside mammalian cells. Our efforts to engineer mouse Dnmt1 produced a variant (Dnmt1*) that enabled efficient Dnmt1-directed deposition of 6-azide-hexynyl groups on DNA in vitro. CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the corresponding codons in the genomic Dnmt1 alleles established endogenous expression of Dnmt1* in mouse embryonic stem cells. To circumvent the poor cellular uptake of AdoMet and its analogs, we elaborated their efficient internalization by electroporation, which has finally enabled selective catalysis-dependent azide tagging of natural Dnmt1 targets in live mammalian cells. The deposited chemical groups were then exploited as "click" handles for reading adjoining sequences and precise genomic mapping of the methylation sites. These findings offer unprecedented inroads into studies of DNA methylation in a wide range of eukaryotic model systems.

Selective Characterization of mRNA 5' End-Capping by DNA Probe-Directed Enrichment with Site-Specific Endoribonucleases

The N7-methyl guanosine cap structure is an essential 5' end modification of eukaryotic mRNA. It plays a critical role in many aspects of the life cycle of mRNA, including nuclear export, stability, and translation. Equipping synthetic transcripts with a 5' cap is paramount to the development of effective mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Here, we report a simple and flexible workflow to selectively isolate and analyze structural features of the 5' end of an mRNA by means of DNA probe-directed enrichment with site-specific single-strand endoribonucleases. Specifically, we showed that the RNA cleavage by site-specific RNases can be effectively steered by a complementary DNA probe to recognition sites downstream of the probe-hybridized region, utilizing a flexible range of DNA probe designs. We applied this approach using human RNase 4 to isolate well-defined cleavage products from the 5' end of diverse uridylated and N1-methylpseudouridylated mRNA 5' end transcript sequences. hRNase 4 increases the precision of the RNA cleavage, reducing product heterogeneity while providing comparable estimates of capped products and their intermediaries relative to the widely used RNase H. Collectively, we demonstrated that this workflow ensures well-defined and predictable 5' end cleavage products suitable for analysis and relative quantitation of synthetic mRNA 5' cap structures by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Synthesis of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Analogs with Extended Transferable Groups for Methyltransferase-Directed Labeling of DNA and RNA

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) is a ubiquitous methyl donor for a variety of biological methylation reactions catalyzed by methyltransferases (MTases). AdoMet analogs with extended propargylic chains replacing the sulfonium-bound methyl group can serve as surrogate cofactors for many DNA and RNA MTases, enabling covalent derivatization and subsequent labeling of their cognate target sites in DNA or RNA. Although AdoMet analogs with saturated aliphatic chains are less popular than propargylic ones, they can be useful for dedicated studies that require certain chemical derivatization. Here we describe synthetic procedures for the preparation of two AdoMet analogs, one with a transferable 6-azidohex-2-ynyl group (carrying an activating C≡C triple bond and a terminal azide functionality), and the other one with a transferable ethyl-2,2,2-d₃ group (an isotope-labeled aliphatic moiety). Our synthetic approach is based on direct chemoselective alkylation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine at sulfur with a corresponding nosylate or triflate, respectively, under acidic conditions. We also describe synthetic routes to 6-azidohex-2-yn-1-ol and conversion of the alcohols to corresponding nosylate and triflate alkylators. Using these protocols, the synthetic AdoMet analogs can be prepared within 1 to 2 weeks. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of 6-azidohex-2-yn-1-ol Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of 4-nitrobenzenesulfonate Basic Protocol 3: Synthesis of trifluoromethanesulfonates Basic Protocol 4: S-Alkylation of AdoHcy with sulfonates Basic Protocol 5: Purification and characterization of AdoMet analogs.

Probing Nascent RNA with Metabolic Incorporation of Modified Nucleosides

The discovery of previously unknown functional roles of RNA in biological systems has led to increased interest in revealing novel RNA molecules as therapeutic targets and the development of tools to better understand the role of RNA in cells. RNA metabolic labeling broadens the scope of studying RNA by incorporating of unnatural nucleobases and nucleosides with bioorthogonal handles that can be utilized for chemical modification of newly synthesized cellular RNA. Such labeling of RNA provides access to applications including measurement of the rates of synthesis and decay of RNA, cellular imaging for RNA localization, and selective enrichment of nascent RNA from the total RNA pool. Several unnatural nucleosides and nucleobases have been shown to be incorporated into RNA by endogenous RNA synthesis machinery of the cells. RNA metabolic labeling can also be performed in a cell-specific manner, where only cells expressing an essential enzyme incorporate the unnatural nucleobase into their RNA. Although several discoveries have been enabled by the current RNA metabolic labeling methods, some key challenges still exist: (i) toxicity of unnatural analogues, (ii) lack of RNA-compatible conjugation chemistries, and (iii) background incorporation of modified analogues in cell-specific RNA metabolic labeling. In this Account, we showcase work done in our laboratory to overcome these challenges faced by RNA metabolic labeling.To begin, we discuss the cellular pathways that have been utilized to perform RNA metabolic labeling and study the interaction between nucleosides and nucleoside kinases. Then we discuss the use of vinyl nucleosides for metabolic labeling and demonstrate the low toxicity of 5-vinyluridine (5-VUrd) compared to other widely used nucleosides. Next, we discuss cell-specific RNA metabolic labeling with unnatural nucleobases, which requires the expression of a specific phosphoribosyl transferase (PRT) enzyme for incorporation of the nucleobase into RNA. In the course of this work, we discovered the enzyme uridine monophosphate synthase (UMPS), which is responsible for nonspecific labeling with modified uracil nucleobases. We were able to overcome this background labeling by discovering a mutant uracil PRT (UPRT) that demonstrates highly specific RNA metabolic labeling with 5-vinyluracil (5-VU). Furthermore, we discuss the optimization of inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reactions for performing chemical modification of vinyl nucleosides to achieve covalent conjugation of RNA without transcript degradation. Finally, we highlight our latest endeavor: the development of mutually orthogonal chemical reactions for selective labeling of 5-VUrd and 2-vinyladenosine (2-VAdo), which allows for potential use of multiple vinyl nucleosides for simultaneous investigation of multiple cellular processes involving RNA. We hope that our methods and discoveries encourage scientists studying biological systems to include RNA metabolic labeling in their toolkit for studying RNA and its role in biological systems.

Chemical biology and medicinal chemistry of RNA methyltransferases

RNA methyltransferases (MTases) are ubiquitous enzymes whose hitherto low profile in medicinal chemistry, contrasts with the surging interest in RNA methylation, the arguably most important aspect of the new field of epitranscriptomics. As MTases become validated as drug targets in all major fields of biomedicine, the development of small molecule compounds as tools and inhibitors is picking up considerable momentum, in academia as well as in biotech. Here we discuss the development of small molecules for two related aspects of chemical biology. Firstly, derivates of the ubiquitous cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) are being developed as bioconjugation tools for targeted transfer of functional groups and labels to increasingly visible targets. Secondly, SAM-derived compounds are being investigated for their ability to act as inhibitors of RNA MTases. Drug development is moving from derivatives of cosubstrates towards higher generation compounds that may address allosteric sites in addition to the catalytic centre. Progress in assay development and screening techniques from medicinal chemistry have led to recent breakthroughs, e.g. in addressing human enzymes targeted for their role in cancer. Spurred by the current pandemic, new inhibitors against coronaviral MTases have emerged at a spectacular rate, including a repurposed drug which is now in clinical trial.

BmNPV p35 Reduces the Accumulation of Virus-Derived siRNAs and Hinders the Function of siRNAs to Facilitate Viral Infection

Antiviral immunity involves various mechanisms and responses, including the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. During long-term coevolution, viruses have gained the ability to evade this defense by encoding viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs). It was reported that p35 of baculovirus can inhibit cellular small interference RNA (siRNA) pathway; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying p35 as a VSR remain largely unclear. Here, we showed that p35 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) reduces the accumulation of virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) mapped to a particular region in the viral genome, leading to an increased expression of the essential genes in this region, and revealed that p35 disrupts the function of siRNAs by preventing them from loading into Argonaute-2 (Ago2). This repressive effect on the cellular siRNA pathway enhances the replication of BmNPV. Thus, our findings illustrate for the first time the inhibitory mechanism of a baculovirus VSR and how this effect influences viral infection.

Strategies for Covalent Labeling of Long RNAs

The introduction of chemical modifications into long RNA molecules at specific positions for visualization, biophysical investigations, diagnostic and therapeutic applications still remains challenging. In this review, we present recent approaches for covalent internal labeling of long RNAs. Topics included are the assembly of large modified RNAs via enzymatic ligation of short synthetic oligonucleotides and synthetic biology approaches preparing site-specifically modified RNAs via in vitro transcription using an expanded genetic alphabet. Moreover, recent approaches to employ deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) and ribozymes for RNA labeling and RNA methyltransferase based labeling strategies are presented. We discuss the potentials and limits of the individual methods, their applicability for RNAs with several hundred to thousands of nucleotides in length and indicate future directions in the field.

Chemoenzymatic labeling of RNA to enrich, detect and identify methyltransferase-target sites

The RNA methyltransferase (MTase) complex METTL3-METTL14 transfers methyl groups from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) to the N⁶-position of adenosines within its consensus sequence, the DRACH motif (D=A, G, U; R=A, G; H=A, C, U). Interestingly, this MTase complex shows remarkable promiscuity regarding the cosubstrate. This can be exploited to install nonnatural modifications, like clickable or photocaging groups. Clickable groups are widely used for subsequent functionalization and open a broad range of possibilities for downstream applications. Here, we elaborate on click chemistry for coupling of RNA to biotin to enrich MTase targets via streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. Importantly, after clicking and coupling to beads the modification becomes sterically demanding and stalls reverse transcriptases, leading to termination adjacent to the MTase target site. Using radioactively labeled primers in the reverse transcription, the modified position can be precisely identified on a sequencing gel via phosphor imaging.

Methyltransferase-directed orthogonal tagging and sequencing of miRNAs and bacterial small RNAs

Background

Targeted installation of designer chemical moieties on biopolymers provides an orthogonal means for their visualisation, manipulation and sequence analysis. Although high-throughput RNA sequencing is a widely used method for transcriptome analysis, certain steps, such as 3′ adapter ligation in strand-specific RNA sequencing, remain challenging due to structure- and sequence-related biases introduced by RNA ligases, leading to misrepresentation of particular RNA species. Here, we remedy this limitation by adapting two RNA 2′-O-methyltransferases from the Hen1 family for orthogonal chemo-enzymatic click tethering of a 3′ sequencing adapter that supports cDNA production by reverse transcription of the tagged RNA.

Results

We showed that the ssRNA-specific DmHen1 and dsRNA-specific AtHEN1 can be used to efficiently append an oligonucleotide adapter to the 3′ end of target RNA for sequencing library preparation. Using this new chemo-enzymatic approach, we identified miRNAs and prokaryotic small non-coding sRNAs in probiotic Lactobacillus casei BL23. We found that compared to a reference conventional RNA library preparation, methyltransferase-Directed Orthogonal Tagging and RNA sequencing, mDOT-seq, avoids misdetection of unspecific highly-structured RNA species, thus providing better accuracy in identifying the groups of transcripts analysed. Our results suggest that mDOT-seq has the potential to advance analysis of eukaryotic and prokaryotic ssRNAs.

Conclusions

Our findings provide a valuable resource for studies of the RNA-centred regulatory networks in Lactobacilli and pave the way to developing novel transcriptome and epitranscriptome profiling approaches in vitro and inside living cells. As RNA methyltransferases share the structure of the AdoMet-binding domain and several specific cofactor binding features, the basic principles of our approach could be easily translated to other AdoMet-dependent enzymes for the development of modification-specific RNA-seq techniques.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01053-w.

Chemoenzymatic strategies for RNA modification and labeling

RNA is a central molecule in numerous cellular processes, including transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression. To reveal the numerous facets of RNA function and metabolism in cells, labeling has become indispensable and enables the visualization, isolation, characterization, and even quantification of certain RNA species. In this review, we will cover chemoenzymatic approaches for covalent RNA labeling. These approaches rely on an enzymatic step to introduce an RNA modification before conjugation with a label for detection or isolation. We start with in vitro manipulation of RNA, sorted according to the enzymatic reaction exploited. Then, metabolic approaches for co- and post-transcriptional RNA labeling will be treated. We focus on recent advances in the field and highlight the most relevant applications for cellular imaging, RNA isolation and sequencing.

Covalent labeling of nucleic acids

Labeling of nucleic acids is required for many studies aiming to elucidate their functions and dynamics in vitro and in cells. Out of the numerous labeling concepts that have been devised, covalent labeling provides the most stable linkage, an unrivaled choice of small and highly fluorescent labels and - thanks to recent advances in click chemistry - an incredible versatility. Depending on the approach, site-, sequence- and cell-specificity can be achieved. DNA and RNA labeling are rapidly developing fields that bring together multiple areas of research: on the one hand, synthetic and biophysical chemists develop new fluorescent labels and isomorphic nucleobases as well as faster and more selective bioorthogonal reactions. On the other hand, the number of enzymes that can be harnessed for post-synthetic and site-specific labeling of nucleic acids has increased significantly. Together with protein engineering and genetic manipulation of cells, intracellular and cell-specific labeling has become possible. In this review, we provide a structured overview of covalent labeling approaches for nucleic acids and highlight notable developments, in particular recent examples. The majority of this review will focus on fluorescent labeling; however, the principles can often be readily applied to other labels. We will start with entirely chemical approaches, followed by chemo-enzymatic strategies and ribozymes, and finish with metabolic labeling of nucleic acids. Each section is subdivided into direct (or one-step) and two-step labeling approaches and will start with DNA before treating RNA.

Bioorthogonal chemistry-based RNA labeling technologies: evolution and current state

To understand the structure and ensuing function of RNA in various cellular processes, researchers greatly rely on traditional as well as contemporary labeling technologies to devise efficient biochemical and biophysical platforms. In this context, bioorthogonal chemistry based on chemoselective reactions that work under biologically benign conditions has emerged as a state-of-the-art labeling technology for functionalizing biopolymers. Implementation of this technology on sugar, protein, lipid and DNA is fairly well established. However, its use in labeling RNA has posed challenges due to the fragile nature of RNA. In this feature article, we provide an account of bioorthogonal chemistry-based RNA labeling techniques developed in our lab along with a detailed discussion on other technologies put forward recently. In particular, we focus on the development and applications of covalent methods to label RNA by transcription and posttranscription chemo-enzymatic approaches. It is expected that existing as well as new bioorthogonal functionalization methods will immensely advance our understanding of RNA and support the development of RNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

3'-Terminal 2'-O-methylation of lung cancer miR-21-5p enhances its stability and association with Argonaute 2

Methylation of miRNAs at the 2′-hydroxyl group on the ribose at 3′-end (2′-O-methylation, 2′Ome) is critical for miRNA function in plants and Drosophila. Whether this methylation phenomenon exists for mammalian miRNA remains unknown. Through LC–MS/MS analysis, we discover that majority of miR-21-5p isolated from human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue possesses 3′-terminal 2′Ome. Predominant 3′-terminal 2′Ome of miR-21-5p in cancer tissue is confirmed by qRT-PCR and northern blot after oxidation/β-elimination procedure. Cancerous and the paired non-cancerous lung tissue miRNAs display different pattern of 3′-terminal 2′Ome. We further identify HENMT1 as the methyltransferase responsible for 3′-terminal 2′Ome of mammalian miRNAs. Compared to non-methylated miR-21-5p, methylated miR-21-5p is more resistant to digestion by 3′→5′ exoribonuclease polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase 1 (PNPT1) and has higher affinity to Argonaute-2, which may contribute to its higher stability and stronger inhibition on programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) translation, respectively. Our findings reveal HENMT1-mediated 3′-terminal 2′Ome of mammalian miRNAs and highlight its role in enhancing miRNA’s stability and function.

A metabolic labeling method detects m6A transcriptome-wide at single base resolution

Transcriptome-wide mapping of N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) at base resolution remains an issue, impeding our understanding of m⁶A roles at the nucleotide level. Here, we report a metabolic labeling method to detect mRNA m⁶A transcriptome-wide at base resolution, called 'm⁶A-label-seq'. Human and mouse cells could be fed with a methionine analog, Se-allyl-L-selenohomocysteine, which substitutes the methyl group on the enzyme cofactor SAM with the allyl. Cellular RNAs could therefore be metabolically modified with N⁶-allyladenosine (a⁶A) at supposed m⁶A-generating adenosine sites. We pinpointed the mRNA a⁶A locations based on iodination-induced misincorporation at the opposite site in complementary DNA during reverse transcription. We identified a few thousand mRNA m⁶A sites in human HeLa, HEK293T and mouse H2.35 cells, carried out a parallel comparison of m⁶A-label-seq with available m⁶A sequencing methods, and validated selected sites by an orthogonal method. This method offers advantages in detecting clustered m⁶A sites and holds promise to locate nuclear nascent RNA m⁶A modifications.

Chemo-enzymatic treatment of RNA to facilitate analyses

Labeling RNA is a recurring problem to make RNA compatible with state-of-the-art methodology and comes in many flavors. Considering only cellular applications, the spectrum still ranges from site-specific labeling of individual transcripts, for example, for live-cell imaging of mRNA trafficking, to metabolic labeling in combination with next generation sequencing to capture dynamic aspects of RNA metabolism on a transcriptome-wide scale. Combining the specificity of RNA-modifying enzymes with non-natural substrates has emerged as a valuable strategy to modify RNA site- or sequence-specifically with functional groups suitable for subsequent bioorthogonal reactions and thus label RNA with reporter moieties such as affinity or fluorescent tags. In this review article, we will cover chemo-enzymatic approaches (a) for in vitro labeling of RNA for application in cells, (b) for treatment of total RNA, and (c) for metabolic labeling of RNA. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing < RNA Editing and Modification RNA Methods < RNA Analyses in vitro and In Silico RNA Methods < RNA Analyses in Cells.

Repurposing enzymatic transferase reactions for targeted labeling and analysis of DNA and RNA

Produced as linear biopolymers from four major types of building blocks, DNA and RNA are further furnished with a range of covalent modifications. Despite the impressive specificity of natural enzymes, the transferred groups are often poor reporters and not amenable to further derivatization. Therefore, strategies based on repurposing some of these enzymatic reactions to accept derivatized versions of the transferrable groups have been exploited. By far the most widely used are S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases, which along with several other nucleic acids modifying enzymes offer a broad selection of tagging chemistries and molecular features on DNA and RNA that can be targeted in vitro and in vivo. Engineered enzymatic reactions have been implemented in validated DNA sequencing-based protocols for epigenome analysis. The utility of chemo-enzymatic labeling is further enhanced with recent advances in physical detection of individual reporter groups on DNA using super resolution microscopy and nanopore sensing enabling single-molecule multiplex analysis of genetic and epigenetic marks in minute samples. Altogether, a number of new powerful techniques are currently in use or on the verge of real benchtop applications as research tools or next generation diagnostics.