1
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Kulkarni S, Rubio MAT, Hegedűsová E, Ross RL, Limbach PA, Alfonzo JD, Paris Z. Preferential import of queuosine-modified tRNAs into Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrion is critical for organellar protein synthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8247-8260. [PMID: 34244755 PMCID: PMC8373054 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key players in protein synthesis. To be fully active, tRNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications, including queuosine (Q), a hypermodified 7-deaza-guanosine present in the anticodon of several tRNAs in bacteria and eukarya. Here, molecular and biochemical approaches revealed that in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, Q-containing tRNAs have a preference for the U-ending codons for asparagine, aspartate, tyrosine and histidine, analogous to what has been described in other systems. However, since a lack of tRNA genes in T. brucei mitochondria makes it essential to import a complete set from the cytoplasm, we surprisingly found that Q-modified tRNAs are preferentially imported over their unmodified counterparts. In turn, their absence from mitochondria has a pronounced effect on organellar translation and affects function. Although Q modification in T. brucei is globally important for codon selection, it is more so for mitochondrial protein synthesis. These results provide a unique example of the combined regulatory effect of codon usage and wobble modifications on protein synthesis; all driven by tRNA intracellular transport dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Kulkarni
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mary Anne T Rubio
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Eva Hegedűsová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert L Ross
- Metabolomics Mass Spectrometry Core, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zdeněk Paris
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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2
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Bednářová A, Hanna M, Durham I, VanCleave T, England A, Chaudhuri A, Krishnan N. Lost in Translation: Defects in Transfer RNA Modifications and Neurological Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:135. [PMID: 28536502 PMCID: PMC5422465 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key molecules participating in protein synthesis. To augment their functionality they undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications and, as such, are subject to regulation at multiple levels including transcription, transcript processing, localization and ribonucleoside base modification. Post-transcriptional enzyme-catalyzed modification of tRNA occurs at a number of base and sugar positions and influences specific anticodon-codon interactions and regulates translation, its efficiency and fidelity. This phenomenon of nucleoside modification is most remarkable and results in a rich structural diversity of tRNA of which over 100 modified nucleosides have been characterized. Most often these hypermodified nucleosides are found in the wobble position of tRNAs, where they play a direct role in codon recognition as well as in maintaining translational efficiency and fidelity, etc. Several recent studies have pointed to a link between defects in tRNA modifications and human diseases including neurological disorders. Therefore, defects in tRNA modifications in humans need intensive characterization at the enzymatic and mechanistic level in order to pave the way to understand how lack of such modifications are associated with neurological disorders with the ultimate goal of gaining insights into therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bednářová
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Academy of SciencesČeské Budějovice, Czechia.,Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Marley Hanna
- Molecular Biosciences Program, Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR, USA
| | - Isabella Durham
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Tara VanCleave
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Alexis England
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
| | | | - Natraj Krishnan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS, USA
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3
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Fergus C, Barnes D, Alqasem MA, Kelly VP. The queuine micronutrient: charting a course from microbe to man. Nutrients 2015; 7:2897-929. [PMID: 25884661 PMCID: PMC4425180 DOI: 10.3390/nu7042897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Micronutrients from the diet and gut microbiota are essential to human health and wellbeing. Arguably, among the most intriguing and enigmatic of these micronutrients is queuine, an elaborate 7-deazaguanine derivative made exclusively by eubacteria and salvaged by animal, plant and fungal species. In eubacteria and eukaryotes, queuine is found as the sugar nucleotide queuosine within the anticodon loop of transfer RNA isoacceptors for the amino acids tyrosine, asparagine, aspartic acid and histidine. The physiological requirement for the ancient queuine molecule and queuosine modified transfer RNA has been the subject of varied scientific interrogations for over four decades, establishing relationships to development, proliferation, metabolism, cancer, and tyrosine biosynthesis in eukaryotes and to invasion and proliferation in pathogenic bacteria, in addition to ribosomal frameshifting in viruses. These varied effects may be rationalized by an important, if ill-defined, contribution to protein translation or may manifest from other presently unidentified mechanisms. This article will examine the current understanding of queuine uptake, tRNA incorporation and salvage by eukaryotic organisms and consider some of the physiological consequence arising from deficiency in this elusive and lesser-recognized micronutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Fergus
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Dominic Barnes
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Mashael A Alqasem
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Vincent P Kelly
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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4
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McCarty RM, Bandarian V. Biosynthesis of pyrrolopyrimidines. Bioorg Chem 2012; 43:15-25. [PMID: 22382038 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Revised: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolopyrimidine containing compounds, also known as 7-deazapurines, are a collection of purine-based metabolites that have been isolated from a variety of biological sources and have diverse functions which range from secondary metabolism to RNA modification. To date, nearly 35 compounds with the common 7-deazapurine core structure have been described. This article will illustrate the structural diversity of these compounds and review the current state of knowledge on the biosynthetic pathways that give rise to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid M McCarty
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1041 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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5
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Chen YC, Brooks AF, Goodenough-Lashua DM, Kittendorf JD, Showalter HD, Garcia GA. Evolution of eukaryal tRNA-guanine transglycosylase: insight gained from the heterocyclic substrate recognition by the wild-type and mutant human and Escherichia coli tRNA-guanine transglycosylases. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 39:2834-44. [PMID: 21131277 PMCID: PMC3074131 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq1188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzyme tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) is involved in the queuosine modification of tRNAs in eukarya and eubacteria and in the archaeosine modification of tRNAs in archaea. However, the different classes of TGTs utilize different heterocyclic substrates (and tRNA in the case of archaea). Based on the X-ray structural analyses, an earlier study [Stengl et al. (2005) Mechanism and substrate specificity of tRNA-guanine transglycosylases (TGTs): tRNA-modifying enzymes from the three different kingdoms of life share a common catalytic mechanism. Chembiochem, 6, 1926–1939] has made a compelling case for the divergent evolution of the eubacterial and archaeal TGTs. The X-ray structure of the eukaryal class of TGTs is not known. We performed sequence homology and phylogenetic analyses, and carried out enzyme kinetics studies with the wild-type and mutant TGTs from Escherichia coli and human using various heterocyclic substrates that we synthesized. Observations with the Cys145Val (E. coli) and the corresponding Val161Cys (human) TGTs are consistent with the idea that the Cys145 evolved in eubacterial TGTs to recognize preQ1 but not queuine, whereas the eukaryal equivalent, Val161, evolved for increased recognition of queuine and a concomitantly decreased recognition of preQ1. Both the phylogenetic and kinetic analyses support the conclusion that all TGTs have divergently evolved to specifically recognize their cognate heterocyclic substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1065, USA
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6
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Chen YC, Kelly VP, Stachura SV, Garcia GA. Characterization of the human tRNA-guanine transglycosylase: confirmation of the heterodimeric subunit structure. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2010; 16:958-68. [PMID: 20354154 PMCID: PMC2856889 DOI: 10.1261/rna.1997610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2009] [Accepted: 02/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The eukaryotic tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) has been reported to exist as a heterodimer, in contrast to the homodimeric eubacterial TGT. While ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) has been proposed to act as a regulatory subunit of the eukaryotic TGT, the mouse TGT has recently been shown to be a queuine tRNA-ribosyltransferase 1 (QTRT1, eubacterial TGT homolog).queuine tRNA-ribosyltransferase domain-containing 1 (QTRTD1) heterodimer. We find that human QTRTD1 (hQTRTD1) co-purifies with polyhistidine-tagged human QTRT1 (ht-hQTRT1) via Ni(2+) affinity chromatography. Cross-linking experiments, mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography results are consistent with the two proteins existing as a heterodimer. We have not been able to observe co-purification and/or association between hQTRT1 and USP14 when co-expressed in Escherichia coli. More importantly, under our experimental conditions, the transglycosylase activity of hQTRT1 is only observed when hQTRT1 and hQTRTD1 have been co-expressed and co-purified. Kinetic characterization of the human TGT (hQTRT1.hQTRTD1) using human tRNA(Tyr) and guanine shows catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)) similar to that of the E. coli TGT. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis confirms that the hQTRT1 subunit is responsible for the transglycosylase activity. Taken together, these results indicate that the human TGT is composed of a catalytic subunit, hQTRT1, and hQTRTD1, not USP14. hQTRTD1 has been implicated as the salvage enzyme that generates free queuine from QMP. Work is ongoing in our laboratory to confirm this activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1065, USA
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7
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Abstract
tRNAs possess a high content of modified nucleosides, which display an incredible structural variety. These modified nucleosides are conserved in their sequence and have important roles in tRNA functions. Most often, hypermodified nucleosides are found in the wobble position of tRNAs, which play a direct role in maintaining translational efficiency and fidelity, codon recognition, etc. One of such hypermodified base is queuine, which is a base analogue of guanine, found in the first anticodon position of specific tRNAs (tyrosine, histidine, aspartate and asparagine tRNAs). These tRNAs of the ‘Q-family’ originally contain guanine in the first position of anticodon, which is post-transcriptionally modified with queuine by an irreversible insertion during maturation. Queuine is ubiquitously present throughout the living system from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, including plants. Prokaryotes can synthesize queuine de novo by a complex biosynthetic pathway, whereas eukaryotes are unable to synthesize either the precursor or queuine. They utilize salvage system and acquire queuine as a nutrient factor from their diet or from intestinal microflora. The tRNAs of the Q-family are completely modified in terminally differentiated somatic cells. However, hypomodification of Q-tRNA (queuosine-modified tRNA) is closely associated with cell proliferation and malignancy. The precise mechanisms of queuine- and Q-tRNA-mediated action are still a mystery. Direct or indirect evidence suggests that queuine or Q-tRNA participates in many cellular functions, such as inhibition of cell proliferation, control of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, bacterial virulence, etc. The role of Q-tRNA modification in cellular machinery and the signalling pathways involved therein is the focus of this review.
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8
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Boland C, Hayes P, Santa-Maria I, Nishimura S, Kelly VP. Queuosine formation in eukaryotic tRNA occurs via a mitochondria-localized heteromeric transglycosylase. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:18218-27. [PMID: 19414587 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.002477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
tRNA guanine transglycosylase (TGT) enzymes are responsible for the formation of queuosine in the anticodon loop (position 34) of tRNA(Asp), tRNA(Asn), tRNA(His), and tRNA(Tyr); an almost universal event in eubacterial and eukaryotic species. Despite extensive characterization of the eubacterial TGT the eukaryotic activity has remained undefined. Our search of mouse EST and cDNA data bases identified a homologue of the Escherichia coli TGT and three spliced variants of the queuine tRNA guanine transglycosylase domain containing 1 (QTRTD1) gene. QTRTD1 variant_1 (Qv1) was found to be the predominant adult form. Functional cooperativity of TGT and Qv1 was suggested by their coordinate mRNA expression in Northern blots and from their association in vivo by immunoprecipitation. Neither TGT nor Qv1 alone could complement a tgt mutation in E. coli. However, transglycosylase activity could be obtained when the proteins were combined in vitro. Confocal and immunoblot analysis suggest that TGT weakly interacts with the outer mitochondrial membrane possibly through association with Qv1, which was found to be stably associated with the organelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coilin Boland
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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9
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Garcia GA, Kittendorf JD. Transglycosylation: a mechanism for RNA modification (and editing?). Bioorg Chem 2005; 33:229-51. [PMID: 15888313 PMCID: PMC2802272 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2005.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2004] [Revised: 01/11/2005] [Accepted: 01/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of the ca. 100 chemically distinct modified nucleosides in RNA appear to arise via the chemical transformation of a genetically encoded nucleoside. Two notable exceptions are queuosine and pseudouridine, which are incorporated into tRNA via transglycosylation. Transglycosylation is an extremely efficient process for incorporating highly modified bases such as queuine into RNA. Transglycosylation is also a requisite process for "isomerizing" an N-nucleoside into a C-nucleoside as is the case for pseudouridine formation. Finally, transglycosylation is an attractive possibility for certain RNA editing events (e.g., pyrimidine to purine conversions) that cannot occur via the known, more straightforward enzymatic reactions (e.g., deaminations). This review discusses what is known about the mechanisms of transglycosylation for the queuine and pseudouridine RNA modifications and will speculate about a potential role for transglycosylation in certain RNA editing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A. Garcia
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1065, USA
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10
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Abstract
Transfer RNA (tRNA) is structurally unique among nucleic acids in harboring an astonishing diversity of post-transcriptionally modified nucleoside. Two of the most radically modified nucleosides known to occur in tRNA are queuosine and archaeosine, both of which are characterized by a 7-deazaguanosine core structure. In spite of the phylogenetic segregation observed for these nucleosides (queuosine is present in Eukarya and Bacteria, while archaeosine is present only in Archaea), their structural similarity suggested a common biosynthetic origin, and recent biochemical and genetic studies have provided compelling evidence that a significant portion of their biosynthesis may in fact be identical. This review covers current understanding of the physiology and biosynthesis of these remarkable nucleosides, with particular emphasis on the only two enzymes that have been discovered in the pathways: tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT), which catalyzes the insertion of a modified base into the polynucleotide with the concomitant elimination of the genetically encoded guanine in the biosynthesis of both nucleosides, and S-adenosylmethionine:tRNA ribosyltransferase-isomerase (QueA), which catalyzes the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of queuosine, the construction of the carbocyclic side chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Iwata-Reuyl
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97201, USA.
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11
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Abstract
Queuosine is a hypermodified nucleoside found in position 34, the anticodon wobble position, of four tRNA species. This modification is distributed with near uniformity across all life forms found on this planet. Yet the molecular mechanisms involved with accomplishing this ubiquitous posttranscriptional modification of tRNA are dramatically different between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, which suggests that these were formed by convergent evolution of a fundamental life process essential to nearly all life forms. This minireview describes the differences between these modification systems and points to a new direction for developing research on the molecular function queuosine-modified tRNA in diverse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Morris
- The Center for Pediatric Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 West Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, USA.
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Deshpande KL, Katze JR. Characterization of cDNA encoding the human tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) catalytic subunit. Gene 2001; 265:205-12. [PMID: 11255023 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(01)00368-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Queuosine (Q) is a 7-deazaguanosine found in the first position of the anticodon of tRNAs that recognize NAU and NAC codons (Tyr, Asn, Asp and His). Eukaryotes synthesize Q by the base-for-base exchange of queuine (Q base) for guanine in the unmodified tRNA, a reaction catalyzed by TGT. A search of the human EST database for sequences with significant homology to the well studied TGT from Escherichia coli identified several candidates for full-length (1.3-1.4 kb) cDNA clones. Three candidate cDNA clones, available from IMAGE Consortium, LLNL, (Lennon et al., 1996, Genomics 33, 151-152) were obtained: IMAGE Clone Id Nos. 611146, 1422928, and 72154. Here we report the complete sequences of these clones. IMAGE:72154 contains an ORF encoding a 44 kDa polypeptide with high homology to bacterial TGTs and was subcloned into the mammalian expression vector pMAMneo-Cat. When this construct was transfected into the TGT-negative cell line, GC(3)/c1 (Gündüz et al., 1992, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1139, 229-238), it restored the ability of the cells to form Q-containing tRNA. This TGT cDNA sequence is encoded in human chromosome 19 clone CTC-539A10 (GenBank accession no. AC011475), enabling determination of the exon-intron boundaries for the TGT gene. The sequence of IMAGE:611146 is 5'-truncated by 76 bp compared to that from IMAGE:72154 and, except for two differences in the 3'-non-coding region, the remainder of the sequence is identical to that of IMAGE:72154. IMAGE:1422928 is a 1390 bp chimera: the 5'-portion, bp 1-708, is identical to a genomic DNA sequence from chromosome 15 (GenBank accession no. AC067805, bp 148976-149683); the 3'-end, bp 726-1390, is identical to the 3'-end of the TGT cDNA sequence from IMAGE:611146.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Deshpande
- Department of Molecular Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, 38163, Memphis, TN, USA
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Romier C, Meyer JE, Suck D. Slight sequence variations of a common fold explain the substrate specificities of tRNA-guanine transglycosylases from the three kingdoms. FEBS Lett 1997; 416:93-8. [PMID: 9369241 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)01175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
tRNA-guanine transglycosylases (TGTs) are the enzymes catalyzing the base exchange required for the synthesis of the modified bases derived from 7-deazaguanine in prokaryotic, archaebacterial, and eukaryotic tRNAs. Unlike the eukaryotic and archaebacterial enzymes, the prokaryotic TGTs have been clearly identified and highly characterized both biochemically and structurally. The recent occurrence in sequence databases of archaebacterial and eukaryotic proteins homologous to the prokaryotic TGTs reveals that all TGTs unexpectedly adopt a common fold. Observed sequence variations at the active site correlate well with their specificities for the various 7-deazaguanine derivatives and the total conservation of the catalytic residues strongly favors a common catalytic mechanism for all TGTs.
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Watanabe M, Matsuo M, Tanaka S, Akimoto H, Asahi S, Nishimura S, Katze JR, Hashizume T, Crain PF, McCloskey JA, Okada N. Biosynthesis of archaeosine, a novel derivative of 7-deazaguanosine specific to archaeal tRNA, proceeds via a pathway involving base replacement on the tRNA polynucleotide chain. J Biol Chem 1997; 272:20146-51. [PMID: 9242689 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.272.32.20146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeosine is a novel derivative of 7-deazaguanosine found in transfer RNAs of most organisms exclusively in the archaeal phylogenetic lineage and is present in the D-loop at position 15. We show that this modification is formed by a posttranscriptional base replacement reaction, catalyzed by a new tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT), which has been isolated from Haloferax volcanii and purified nearly to homogeneity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 78 kDa by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme can insert free 7-cyano-7-deazaguanine (preQ0 base) in vitro at position 15 of an H. volcanii tRNA T7 transcript, replacing the guanine originally located at that position without breakage of the phosphodiester backbone. Since archaeosine base and 7-aminomethyl-7-deazaguanine (preQ1 base) were not incorporated into tRNA by this enzyme, preQ0 base appears to be the actual substrate for the TGT of H. volcanii, a conclusion supported by characterization of preQ0 base in an acid-soluble extract of H. volcanii cells. Thus, this novel TGT in H. volcanii is a key enzyme for the biosynthetic pathway leading to archaeosine in archaeal tRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Watanabe
- Faculty of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226, Japan
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