Analysis of the role of 5' and 3' flanking sequence elements upon in vivo expression of the plant tRNATrp genes

Epigenetic silencing of clustered tRNA genes in Arabidopsis

Beyond their key role in translation, cytosolic transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are involved in a wide range of other biological processes. Nuclear tRNA genes (tDNAs) are transcribed by the RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) and cis-elements, trans-factors as well as genomic features are known to influence their expression. In Arabidopsis, besides a predominant population of dispersed tDNAs spread along the 5 chromosomes, some clustered tDNAs have been identified. Here, we demonstrate that these tDNA clusters are transcriptionally silent and that pathways involved in the maintenance of DNA methylation play a predominant role in their repression. Moreover, we show that clustered tDNAs exhibit repressive chromatin features whilst their dispersed counterparts contain permissive euchromatic marks. This work demonstrates that both genomic and epigenomic contexts are key players in the regulation of tDNAs transcription. The conservation of most of these regulatory processes suggests that this pioneering work in Arabidopsis can provide new insights into the regulation of RNA Pol III transcription in other organisms, including vertebrates.

A global picture of tRNA genes in plant genomes

Although transfer RNA (tRNA) has a fundamental role in cell life, little is known about tRNA gene organization and expression on a genome-wide scale in eukaryotes, particularly plants. Here, we analyse the content and distribution of tRNA genes in five flowering plants and one green alga. The tRNA gene content is homogenous in plants, and is mostly correlated with genome size. The number of tRNA pseudogenes and organellar-like tRNA genes present in nuclear genomes varies greatly from one plant species to another. These pseudogenes or organellar-like genes appear to be generated or inserted randomly during evolution. Interestingly, we identified a new family of tRNA-related short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) in the Populus trichocarpa nuclear genome. In higher plants, intron-containing tRNA genes are rare, and correspond to genes coding for tRNA(Tyr) and tRNA(Mete) . By contrast, in green algae, more than half of the tRNA genes contain an intron. This suggests divergent means of intron acquisition and the splicing process between green algae and land plants. Numerous tRNAs are co-transcribed in Chlamydomonas, but they are mostly transcribed as a single unit in flowering plants. The only exceptions are tRNA(Gly) -snoRNA and tRNA(Mete) -snoRNA cotranscripts in dicots and monocots, respectively. The internal or external motifs required for efficient transcription of tRNA genes by RNA polymerase III are well conserved among angiosperms. A brief analysis of the mitochondrial and plastidial tRNA gene populations is also provided.

Visualizing bz1 missense suppression in Zea mays: an assay for monocot tRNA expression and utilization

Bombardment of a highly expressed dicot tRNA(ala)(GAC) gene into Zea mays bz-E2 or bz-E5 coleoptiles causes suppression of an Ala(458 )-->Val missense mutation, visualized by the development of anthocyanin pigment. Missense suppression is blocked by mutation of tRNA(ala)(GAC) at a site that prevents aminoacylation by the dicot alanyl-tRNA synthetase, indicating that features identified for expression and utilization of dicot tRNAs also function in monocots. This assay of the expression and utilization of tRNA(ala)(GAC) also can be used to study a variety of tRNAs and their genes, most of which can be relatively easily altered to be charged by alanyl tRNA synthetase.

Distinct modes of TATA box utilization by the RNA polymerase III transcription machineries from budding yeast and higher plants

The TATA box is a key upstream control element for basal tRNA gene transcription by RNA polymerase III in some eukaryotes, such as the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and higher plants, but not in others such as the budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). To gain information on this differential TATA box requirement, we examined side-by-side the in vitro transcription properties of TATA-containing and TATA-mutated plant and S. cerevisiae tDNAs in homologous in vitro transcription systems from both organisms and in a hybrid system in which yeast TBP was replaced by its plant homologue. The data support the general conclusion that specific features of the plant transcription machinery, rather than upstream region architecture per se, are responsible for the much stronger TATA box dependence of the plant system. In both systems, however, a strong influence of the TATA box on transcription start site selection was observed. This was particularly striking in the case of plant tDNAs, where TATA-rich upstream regions were found to favour the use of alternative initiation sites. Replacement of yeast TBP with its plant counterpart did not confer any general TATA box responsiveness to the yeast transcription machinery. Interactions involving components other than TBP are thus responsible for the strong TATA box requirement of plant tDNA transcription.

Selective incorporation of 5-hydroxytryptophan into proteins in mammalian cells

An orthogonal tryptophanyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase (TrpRS)-mutant opal suppressor tRNA(Trp) (mutRNA(UCA)(Trp)) pair was generated for use in mammalian cells. The anticodon loop of the Bacillus subtilis tRNA(Trp) was mutated to UCA, three positions in the D arm were mutated to generate an internal promoter sequence, and the mutRNA(UCA)(Trp) gene was inserted between the 5' and 3' flanking sequences of the tRNA(Trp-1) gene from Arabidopsis to enhance its expression in mammalian cells. In vitro aminoacylation assays and in vivo opal suppression assays showed that B. subtilis TrpRS (BsTrpRS) charges only the cognate mutRNA(UCA)(Trp) and no endogenous mammalian tRNAs. Similarly, the mutRNA(UCA)(Trp) is specifically charged by B. subtilis TrpRS and not by endogenous synthetases in mammalian cells. Site-directed mutagenesis was then used to alter the specificity of BsTrpRS to uniquely charge 5-hydoxy-l-tryptophan. The resulting mutant BsTrpRS-mutRNA(UCA)(Trp) pair allows the efficient and selective incorporation of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan into mammalian proteins in response to the codon, TGA. This amino acid can be used as a fluorescence probe and also undergoes electrochemical oxidation in situ to generate an efficient protein crosslinking.

Translational nonsense codon suppression as indicator for functional pre-tRNA splicing in transformed Arabidopsis hypocotyl-derived calli

The transient expression of three novel plant amber suppressors derived from a cloned Nicotiana tRNA(Ser)(CGA), an Arabidopsis intron-containing tRNA(Tyr)(GTA) and an Arabidopsis intron-containing tRNA(Met)(CAT) gene, respectively, was studied in a homologous plant system that utilized the Agro bacterium-mediated gene transfer to Arabidopsis hypocotyl explants. This versatile system allows the detection of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity by histochemical and enzymatic analyses. The activity of the suppressors was demonstrated by the ability to suppress a premature amber codon in a modified GUS gene. Co-transformation of Arabidopsis hypocotyls with the amber suppressor tRNA(Ser) gene and the GUS reporter gene resulted in approximately 10% of the GUS activity found in the same tissue transformed solely with the functional control GUS gene. Amber suppressor tRNAs derived from intron-containing tRNA(Tyr) or tRNA(Met) genes were functional in vivo only after some additional gene manipulations. The G3:C70 base pair in the acceptor stem of tRNA(Met)(CUA) had to be converted to a G3:U70 base pair, which is the major determinant for alanine tRNA identity. The inability of amber suppressor tRNA(Tyr) to show any activity in vivo predominantly results from a distorted intron secondary structure of the corresponding pre-tRNA that could be cured by a single nucleotide exchange in the intervening sequence. The improved amber suppressors tRNA(Tyr) and tRNA(Met) were subsequently employed for studying various aspects of the plant-specific mechanism of pre-tRNA splicing as well as for demonstrating the influence of intron-dependent base modifications on suppressor activity.

Identification of cis-acting elements important for expression of the starch-branching enzyme I gene in maize endosperm

The genes encoding the starch-branching enzymes (SBE) SBEI, SBEIIa, and SBEIIb in maize (Zea mays) are differentially regulated in tissue specificity and during kernel development. To gain insight into the regulatory mechanisms controlling their expression, we analyzed the 5'-flanking sequences of Sbe1 using a transient gene expression system. Although the 2.2-kb 5'-flanking sequence between -2,190 and +27 relative to the transcription initiation site was sufficient to promote transcription, the addition of the transcribed region between +28 and +228 containing the first exon and intron resulted in high-level expression in suspension-cultured maize endosperm cells. A series of 5' deletion and linker-substitution mutants identified two critical positive cis elements, -314 to -295 and -284 to -255. An electrophoretic mobility-shift assay showed that nuclear proteins prepared from maize kernels interact with the 60-bp fragment containing these two elements. Expression of the Sbe1 gene is regulated by sugar concentration in suspension-cultured maize endosperm cells, and the region -314 to -145 is essential for this effect. Interestingly, the expression of mEmBP-1, a bZIP transcription activator, in suspension-cultured maize endosperm cells resulted in a 5-fold decrease in Sbe1 promoter activity, suggesting a possible regulatory role of the G-box present in the Sbe1 promoter from -227 to -220.

Identity elements and aminoacylation of plant tRNATrp

Mutation of the Arabidopsis thaliana tRNA (Trp)(CCA) anticodon or of the A73 discriminator base greatly diminishes in vitro aminoacylation with tryptophan, indicating the importance of these nucleotides for recognition by the plant tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase. Mutation of the tRNA (Trp)(CCA) anticodon to CUA so as to translate amber nonsense codons permits tRNA (Trp)(CCA) to be aminoacylated by A.thaliana lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Thus, translational suppression by tRNA (TRP)(CCA) observed in plant cells includes significant incorporation of lysine into protein.

Structure and expression of several bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nuclear transfer RNA genes: relevance to the process of tRNA import into plant mitochondria

Bean nuclear genes for tRNA(Pro), tRNA(Thr) and tRNA(Leu) were isolated. Expression of the tRNA(Pro) genes was demonstrated in vivo and sequence analysis suggested amplification of the tRNA(Pro) gene copy number through duplication of a gene cluster at the same locus of the bean genome. The two tRNA(Thr) genes isolated were actively transcribed and their transcripts processed in a HeLa cell system. In vivo expression tests of these genes and aminoacylation assays of the corresponding in vitro transcripts showed the presence of identity determinants in the anticodon of plant tRNA(Thr). The tRNA(Leu) gene was not expressed due to deviation from the consensus in the internal B-box promoter. The same sequence deviation also prevented aminoacylation of the corresponding in vitro transcript. This tRNA(Leu) however exists in plants and is synthesized from another gene with a consensus B-box promoter. Plant mitochondria import from the cytosol a number of nucleus-encoded tRNAs, including tRNA(Leu) and tRNA(Thr). From the available sequence data, we could not identify any conserved structural motif characteristic for the nucleus-encoded tRNAs imported into plant mitochondria, either in the tRNAs, or in the gene flanking sequences. These results suggest that recognition of tRNAs for import is idiosyncratic and likely to depend on protein/RNA interactions that are specific to each tRNA or each isoacceptor group.

Nonsense and missense translational suppression in plant cells mediated by tRNA(Lys)

A nuclear tRNA(Lys) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was cloned and mutated so as to express tRNAs with altered anticodons which bind to a UAG nonsense (amber) codon and to the Arg (AGG), Asn (AAC,AAT), Gln (CAG) or Glu (GAG) codons. Concomitantly, a codon in the firefly luciferase gene for a functionally important Lys was altered to an amber codon, or to Arg, Asn, Gln, Glu, Thr and Trp codons, so as to construct reporter genes reliant upon incorporation of Lys. The altered tRNA(Lys) and luciferase genes were introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts and expression of the mutated tRNAs was verified by translational suppression of the mutant firefly luciferase genes. Expression of the amber suppressor tRNA(LysCUA) from non-replicative vectors promoted 10-40% suppression of the luciferase nonsense reporters while expression of the amber and missense tRNA(Lys) suppressor genes from a geminivirus vector capable of replication promoted 30-80% suppression of the luciferase nonsense reporter and up to 10% suppression of the luciferase missense reporters with Arg, Asn, Gln and Glu codons.

Implication of 5'-flanking sequence elements in expression of a plant tRNA(Leu) gene

A comparison of 5'-flanking sequences from 68 different nuclear plant tRNA genes was analyzed to find consensus sequences. Three conserved features stood out, all of which are present in the tRNA(Leu) gene used in this study: (1) a high proportion of A and T residues upstream of all tRNA genes; (2) a region of low duplex stability about 30-35 bp before the coding sequence, often containing a TATA-box like motif; (3) a CAA triplet in the region of the presumed transcription start. The effect of replacement of the AT-rich upstream sequences with GC-rich sequences or unrelated AT-rich sequences was tested by progressive deletions and by inserting randomly cloned sequences upstream of the tRNA gene. GC-rich 5'-flanking sequences were found to be generally incompatible with high levels of expression. The TATA-box like motifs and the CAA triplet were removed or altered by deletion or directed mutagenesis. Mutation of the CAA triplet significantly decreased expression of the tRNA(Leu) gene, suggesting that this CAA triplet is important for transcription efficiency, but mutation or elimination of the TATA-box like motifs generally had little effect. The presence or absence of each of these features in tRNA genes from other organisms is discussed; there are clear and interesting differences between plant tRNA genes and those of yeast and mammals.

Regulated expression of plant tRNA genes by the prokaryotic tet and lac repressors

The prokaryotic tet operator (tetO) sequence was inserted at positions upstream and downstream of sequences encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana tRNA(Lys)AUC or tRNA(Trp)AUC suppressor tRNAs, and tRNA expression in carrot protoplasts was measured by translational suppression of a nonsense codon in a luciferase reporter gene. Regulation of tRNA expression by the tetracycline repressor (tetR) occurred from genes with the tetO inserted at position -1 (for the tRNA(Trp)AUC gene), or at positions -2, -6 and -10 (for the tRNA(Lys)AUC gene), and repression reached 90%. The inducer tetracycline (Tc) restored tRNA expression. Similarly, carrot protoplasts transfected with human tRNA(Ser)AUC genes containing the lac operator (lacO) in their 5'-flanking sequence with or without the lac repressor (lacI) gene, conditionally expressed tRNAs which suppressed the luciferase reporter. Up to 30-fold repression occurred by the lactose repressor when lacO was located at position -1 of the tRNA(Ser)AUC coding sequence. In the presence of the inducer isopropyl-beta-thiogalactoside (IPTG), repression was relieved. These results demonstrate that sequences flanking tRNA genes can strongly influence tRNA expression in plants, and in a conditional fashion when bound by inducible proteins.

PLANT IN VITRO TRANSCRIPTION SYSTEMS

▪ Abstract  In vitro transcription systems provide a powerful tool for detailed analysis of transcription reactions including initiation, elongation, and termination. Despite problems inherent to plant cells, efforts have been made to develop plant in vitro transcription systems in the past decade. These efforts have finally culminated in the development of reliable in vitro systems from suspension-cell cultures of both monocot and dicot plants. These systems can be useful in elucidating the specific mechanisms involved in the process of plant transcription and thus can potentially open a new era of transcription studies in plants.

Characterization of a tRNA(Lys)(CUU) gene located in the opposite orientation upstream of a ZmFer2 ferritin gene in the maize nuclear genome

The first evidence for a plant tRNA(Lys)(CUU) gene is reported. This gene is found closely linked 400 bp upstream, and on the complementary strand, of a ZmFer2 ferritin gene in the maize nuclear genome. Southern blot analysis indicates that this tRNA(Lys) is a member of a multigene family. This gene does not contain any intron, and exhibits classical intragenic regulatory elements found in eukaryotic tRNA genes (A and B boxes). Moreover, 5' and 3'-flanking sequences display typical features found in nuclear encoded tRNAs. The deduced mature tRNA sequence is almost identical to the sequence of a cytoplasmic tRNA(Lys)(CUU) from wheat germ. The maize tRNA(Lys) gene is expressed in vivo in maize and in transgenic tobacco, as shown by RT-PCR analysis.

Plant nuclear tRNA(Met) genes are ubiquitously interrupted by introns

We have isolated three independent clones for nuclear elongator tRNA(Met) genes from an Arabidopsis DNA library using a tRNA(Met)-specific probe generated by PCR. Each of the coding sequences for tRNAMet in these clones is identical and is interrupted by an identical 11 bp long intervening sequence at the same position in the anticodon loop of the tRNA. Their sequences differ at two positions from the intron in a soybean counterpart. Southern analysis of Arabidopsis DNA demonstrates that a gene family coding for tRNA(Met) is dispersed at at least eight loci in the genome. The unspliced precursor tRNA(Met) intermediate was detected by RNA analysis using an oligonucleotide probe complementary to the putative intron sequence. In order to know whether introns commonly interrupt plant tRNA(Met) genes, their coding sequences were PCR-amplified from the DNAs of eight phylogenetically separate plant species. All 53 sequences determined contain 10 to 13 bp long intervening sequences, always positioned one base downstream from the anticodon. They can all be potentially folded into the secondary structure characteristic for plant intron-containing precursor tRNAs. Surprisingly, GC residues are always present at the 5'-distal end of each intron.