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Dulic M, Godinic-Mikulcic V, Kekez M, Evic V, Rokov-Plavec J. Protein-Protein Interactions of Seryl-tRNA Synthetases with Emphasis on Human Counterparts and Their Connection to Health and Disease. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:124. [PMID: 38255739 PMCID: PMC10817482 DOI: 10.3390/life14010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Seryl-tRNA synthetases (SerRSs), members of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, interact with diverse proteins, enabling SerRSs to enhance their role in the translation of the genetic message or to perform alternative functions in cellular processes beyond translation. Atypical archaeal SerRS interacts with arginyl-tRNA synthetase and proteins of the ribosomal P-stalk to optimize translation through tRNA channeling. The complex between yeast SerRS and peroxin Pex21p provides a connection between translation and peroxisome function. The partnership between Arabidopsis SerRS and BEN1 indicates a link between translation and brassinosteroid metabolism and may be relevant in plant stress response mechanisms. In Drosophila, the unusual heterodimeric mitochondrial SerRS coordinates mitochondrial translation and replication via interaction with LON protease. Evolutionarily conserved interactions of yeast and human SerRSs with m3C32 tRNA methyltransferases indicate coordination between tRNA modification and aminoacylation in the cytosol and mitochondria. Human cytosolic SerRS is a cellular hub protein connecting translation to vascular development, angiogenesis, lipogenesis, and telomere maintenance. When translocated to the nucleus, SerRS acts as a master negative regulator of VEGFA gene expression. SerRS alone or in complex with YY1 and SIRT2 competes with activating transcription factors NFκB1 and c-Myc, resulting in balanced VEGFA expression important for proper vascular development and angiogenesis. In hypoxia, SerRS phosphorylation diminishes its binding to the VEGFA promoter, while the lack of nutrients triggers SerRS glycosylation, reducing its nuclear localization. Additionally, SerRS binds telomeric DNA and cooperates with the shelterin protein POT1 to regulate telomere length and cellular senescence. As an antitumor and antiangiogenic factor, human cytosolic SerRS appears to be a promising drug target and therapeutic agent for treating cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and possibly obesity and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jasmina Rokov-Plavec
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.D.); (V.G.-M.); (M.K.); (V.E.)
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Evic V, Soic R, Mocibob M, Kekez M, Houser J, Wimmerová M, Matković-Čalogović D, Gruic-Sovulj I, Kekez I, Rokov-Plavec J. Evolutionarily conserved cysteines in plant cytosolic seryl-tRNA synthetase are important for its resistance to oxidation. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2975-2992. [PMID: 37804069 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
We have previously identified a unique disulfide bond in the crystal structure of Arabidopsis cytosolic seryl-tRNA synthetase involving cysteines evolutionarily conserved in all green plants. Here, we discovered that both cysteines are important for protein stability, but with opposite effects, and that their microenvironment may promote disulfide bond formation in oxidizing conditions. The crystal structure of the C244S mutant exhibited higher rigidity and an extensive network of noncovalent interactions correlating with its higher thermal stability. The activity of the wild-type showed resistance to oxidation with H2 O2 , while the activities of cysteine-to-serine mutants were impaired, indicating that the disulfide link may enable the protein to function under oxidative stress conditions which can be beneficial for an efficient plant stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Evic
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ruzica Soic
- Division of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Mocibob
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mario Kekez
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josef Houser
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Wimmerová
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brno, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dubravka Matković-Čalogović
- Division of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ita Gruic-Sovulj
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Kekez
- Division of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasmina Rokov-Plavec
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Gan Z, Zhang X, Li M, Li X, Zhang X, Wang C, Xiao Y, Liu J, Fang Z. Seryl-tRNA Synthetase Shows a Noncanonical Activity of Upregulating Laccase Transcription in Trametes hirsuta AH28-2 Exposed to Copper Ion. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0076823. [PMID: 37395668 PMCID: PMC10433817 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00768-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of Seryl-tRNA synthetase in fungi during gene transcription regulation beyond translation has not been reported. Here, we report a seryl-tRNA synthetase, ThserRS, which can negatively regulate laccase lacA transcription in Trametes hirsuta AH28-2 under exposure to copper ion. ThserRS was obtained through yeast one-hybrid screening using a bait sequence of lacA promoter (-502 to -372 bp). ThserRS decreased while lacA increased at the transcription level in T. hirsuta AH28-2 in the first 36 h upon CuSO4 induction. Then, ThserRS was upregulated, and lacA was downregulated. ThserRS overexpression in T. hirsuta AH28-2 resulted in a decrement in lacA transcription and LacA activity. By comparison, ThserRS silencing led to increased LacA transcripts and activity. A minimum of a 32-bp DNA fragment containing two putative xenobiotic response elements could interact with ThserRS, with a dissociation constant of 919.9 nM. ThserRS localized in the cell cytoplasm and nucleus in T. hirsuta AH28-2 and was heterologously expressed in yeast. ThserRS overexpression also enhanced mycelial growth and oxidative stress resistance. The transcriptional level of several intracellular antioxidative enzymes in T. hirsuta AH28-2 was upregulated. Our results demonstrate a noncanonical activity of SerRS that acts as a transcriptional regulation factor to upregulate laccase expression at an early stage after exposure to copper ions. IMPORTANCE Seryl-tRNA synthetase is well known for the attachment of serine to the corresponding cognate tRNA during protein translation. In contrast, its functions beyond translation in microorganisms are underexplored. We performed in vitro and cell experiments to show that the seryl-tRNA synthetase in fungi with no UNE-S domain at the carboxyl terminus can enter the nucleus, directly interact with the promoter of the laccase gene, and negatively regulate the fungal laccase transcription early upon copper ion induction. Our study deepens our understanding of the Seryl-tRNA synthetase noncanonical activities in microorganisms. It also demonstrates a new transcription factor for fungal laccase transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Gan
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xueping Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mengke Li
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xing Li
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xinlei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chenkai Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yazhong Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Juanjuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zemin Fang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Microorganisms and Biocatalysis, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Kekez M, Zanki V, Antičević I, Rokov-Plavec J, Maršavelski A. Importance of protein intrinsic conformational dynamics and transient nature of non-covalent interactions in ligand binding affinity. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 192:692-700. [PMID: 34655583 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We have recently identified BEN1 as a protein interactor of seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) from model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. BEN1 contains an NADP+ binding domain and possesses acidic N-terminal extension essential for interaction with A. thaliana SerRS. This extension, specific for BEN1 homologues from Brassicaceae family, is solvent-exposed and distant to the nucleotide-binding site. We prepared a truncated BEN1 variant ΔN17BEN1 lacking the first 17 amino acid of this N-terminal extension as well as full-length BEN1 to investigate how the truncation affects the binding affinity towards coenzyme NADP+. By performing microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiments we have shown that both BEN1 variants bind the NADP+ cofactor, however, truncated BEN1 showed 34-fold higher affinity towards NADP+ indicating that its core protein structure is not just preserved but it binds NADP+ even stronger. To further corroborate the obtained results, we opted for a computational approach based on classical molecular dynamics simulations of both complexes. Our results have shown that both truncated and intact BEN1 variants form the same number of interactions with the NADP+ cofactor; however, it was the interaction occupancy that was affected. Namely, three independent MD simulations showed that the ΔN17BEN1 variant in complex with NADP+ has significantly higher interaction occupancy thus binds NADP+ with more than one order of magnitude higher affinity. Contrary to our expectations, the truncation of this distant region that does not communicate with the nucleotide-binding site didn't result in the gain of interaction but affected the intrinsic conformational dynamics which in turn fine-tuned the binding affinity by increasing the interaction occupancy and strength of the key conserved cation-π interaction between Arg69 and adenine of NADP+ and hydrogen bond between Ser244 and phosphate of NADP+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Kekez
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Zanki
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Antičević
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasmina Rokov-Plavec
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Aleksandra Maršavelski
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
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Plant-Specific Domains and Fragmented Sequences Imply Non-Canonical Functions in Plant Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11091056. [PMID: 32906706 PMCID: PMC7564348 DOI: 10.3390/genes11091056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) play essential roles in protein translation. In addition, numerous aaRSs (mostly in vertebrates) have also been discovered to possess a range of non-canonical functions. Very few studies have been conducted to elucidate or characterize non-canonical functions of plant aaRSs. A genome-wide search for aaRS genes in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed a total of 59 aaRS genes. Among them, asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) was found to possess a WHEP domain inserted into the catalytic domain in a plant-specific manner. This insertion was observed only in the cytosolic isoform. In addition, a long stretch of sequence that exhibited weak homology with histidine ammonia lyase (HAL) was found at the N-terminus of histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS). This HAL-like domain has only been seen in plant HisRS, and only in cytosolic isoforms. Additionally, a number of genes lacking minor or major portions of the full-length aaRS sequence were found. These genes encode 14 aaRS fragments that lack key active site sequences and are likely catalytically null. These identified genes that encode plant-specific additional domains or aaRS fragment sequences are candidates for aaRSs possessing non-canonical functions.
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Cain R, Salimraj R, Punekar AS, Bellini D, Fishwick CWG, Czaplewski L, Scott DJ, Harris G, Dowson CG, Lloyd AJ, Roper DI. Structure-Guided Enhancement of Selectivity of Chemical Probe Inhibitors Targeting Bacterial Seryl-tRNA Synthetase. J Med Chem 2019; 62:9703-9717. [PMID: 31626547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are ubiquitous and essential enzymes for protein synthesis and also a variety of other metabolic processes, especially in bacterial species. Bacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases represent attractive and validated targets for antimicrobial drug discovery if issues of prokaryotic versus eukaryotic selectivity and antibiotic resistance generation can be addressed. We have determined high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus seryl-tRNA synthetases in complex with aminoacyl adenylate analogues and applied a structure-based drug discovery approach to explore and identify a series of small molecule inhibitors that selectively inhibit bacterial seryl-tRNA synthetases with greater than 2 orders of magnitude compared to their human homologue, demonstrating a route to the selective chemical inhibition of these bacterial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky Cain
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Ramya Salimraj
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Avinash S Punekar
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Dom Bellini
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Colin W G Fishwick
- School of Chemistry , University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT , United Kingdom
| | - Lloyd Czaplewski
- Chemical Biology Ventures Limited , Abingdon OX14 1XD , United Kingdom
| | - David J Scott
- School of Biosciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham LE12 5RD , United Kingdom.,ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source and the Research Complex at Harwell , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Oxfordshire OX11 0FA , United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Harris
- ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source and the Research Complex at Harwell , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Oxfordshire OX11 0FA , United Kingdom
| | - Christopher G Dowson
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Lloyd
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - David I Roper
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
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Kitagawa M, Balkunde R, Bui H, Jackson D. An Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase, OKI1, Is Required for Proper Shoot Meristem Size in Arabidopsis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:2597-2608. [PMID: 31393575 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In plants, the stem cells that form the shoot system reside within the shoot apical meristem (SAM), which is regulated by feedback signaling between the WUSCHEL (WUS) homeobox protein and CLAVATA (CLV) peptides and receptors. WUS-CLV feedback signaling can be modulated by various endogenous or exogenous factors, such as chromatin state, hormone signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and nutrition, leading to a dynamic control of SAM size corresponding to meristem activity. Despite these insights, however, the knowledge of genes that control SAM size is still limited, and in particular, the regulation by ROS signaling is only beginning to be comprehended. In this study, we report a new function in maintenance of SAM size, encoded by the OKINA KUKI1 (OKI1) gene. OKI1 is expressed in the SAM and encodes a mitochondrial aspartyl tRNA synthetase (AspRS). oki1 mutants display enlarged SAMs with abnormal expression of WUS and CLV3 and overaccumulation of ROS in the meristem. Our findings support the importance of normal AspRS function in the maintenance of the WUS-CLV3 feedback loop and SAM size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munenori Kitagawa
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Rachappa Balkunde
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Huyen Bui
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- Center of Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, 366 Barnard Hall, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - David Jackson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
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