1
|
Poulet A, Mishra LN, Téletchéa S, Hayes JJ, Jacob Y, Thiriet C, Duc C. Identification and characterization of histones in Physarum polycephalum evidence a phylogenetic vicinity of Mycetozoans to the animal kingdom. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab107. [PMID: 34805990 PMCID: PMC8600027 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Physarum polycephalum belongs to Mycetozoans, a phylogenetic clade apart from the animal, plant and fungus kingdoms. Histones are nuclear proteins involved in genome organization and regulation and are among the most evolutionary conserved proteins within eukaryotes. Therefore, this raises the question of their conservation in Physarum and the position of this organism within the eukaryotic phylogenic tree based on histone sequences. We carried out a comprehensive study of histones in Physarum polycephalum using genomic, transcriptomic and molecular data. Our results allowed to identify the different isoforms of the core histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 which exhibit strong conservation of amino acid residues previously identified as subject to post-translational modifications. Furthermore, we also identified the linker histone H1, the most divergent histone, and characterized a large number of its PTMs by mass spectrometry. We also performed an in-depth investigation of histone genes and transcript structures. Histone proteins are highly conserved in Physarum and their characterization will contribute to a better understanding of the polyphyletic Mycetozoan group. Our data reinforce that P. polycephalum is evolutionary closer to animals than plants and located at the crown of the eukaryotic tree. Our study provides new insights in the evolutionary history of Physarum and eukaryote lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Axel Poulet
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA
| | - Laxmi Narayan Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester 14620 NY, USA
| | - Stéphane Téletchéa
- Conception de protéines in silico, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UFIP, UMR 6286, Nantes, France
| | - Jeffrey J Hayes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester 14620 NY, USA
| | - Yannick Jacob
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA
| | - Christophe Thiriet
- Epigénétique et dynamique de la chromatine, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UFIP, UMR 6286, Nantes, France
| | - Céline Duc
- Epigénétique et dynamique de la chromatine, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UFIP, UMR 6286, Nantes, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
He WX, Wu M, Liu Z, Li Z, Wang Y, Zhou J, Yu P, Zhang XJ, Zhou L, Gui JF. Oocyte-specific maternal Slbp2 is required for replication-dependent histone storage and early nuclear cleavage in zebrafish oogenesis and embryogenesis. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 24:1738-1748. [PMID: 30185624 PMCID: PMC6239174 DOI: 10.1261/rna.067090.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) is required for replication-dependent histone mRNA metabolism in mammals. Zebrafish possesses two slbps, and slbp1 is necessary for retinal neurogenesis. However, the detailed expression and function of slbp2 in zebrafish are still unknown. In this study, we first identified zebrafish slbp2 as an oocyte-specific maternal factor and then generated a maternal-zygotic slbp2 F3 homozygous mutant (MZslbp2Δ4-/-) using CRISPR/Cas9. The depletion of maternal Slbp2 disrupted early nuclear cleavage, which resulted in developmental arrest at the MBT stage. The developmental defects could be rescued in slbp2 transgenic MZslbp2Δ4-/- embryos. However, homozygous mutant MZslbp1Δ1-/- developed normally, indicating slbp1 is dispensable for zebrafish early embryogenesis. Through comparative proteome and transcriptome profiling between WT and MZslbp2Δ4-/- embryos, we identified many differentially expressed proteins and genes. In comparison with those in WT embryos, four replication-dependent histones, including H2a, H2b, H3, and H4, all reduced their expression, while histone variant h2afx significantly increased in MZslbp2Δ4-/- embryos at the 256-cell stage and high stage. Zebrafish Slbp2 can bind histone mRNA stem-loop in vitro, and the defects of MZslbp2Δ4-/- embryos can be partially rescued by overexpression of H2b. The current data indicate that maternal Slbp2 plays a pivotal role in the storage of replication-dependent histone mRNAs and proteins during zebrafish oogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xia He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Min Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Holmquist CE, Marzluff WF. Determining degradation intermediates and the pathway of 3' to 5' degradation of histone mRNA using high-throughput sequencing. Methods 2018; 155:104-115. [PMID: 30408609 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The half-life of an mRNA is an important parameter contributing to the steady-state level of the mRNA. Rapid changes in mRNA levels can result from decreasing the half-life of an mRNA. Establishing the detailed pathway of mRNA degradation for a particular class of mRNAs requires the ability to isolate mRNA degradation intermediates. High-throughput sequencing provides a method for detecting these intermediates. Here we describe a method for determining the intermediates in 3' to 5' degradation. Characterizing these intermediates requires not only determining the precise 3' end of the molecule to a single nucleotide resolution, but also the ability to detect and characterize any untemplated nucleotides present on the intermediates. We achieve this by ligating a known sequence to all the 3' termini in the cell, and then sequence the 3' termini and the ligated linker to identify any alterations to the genomic reference sequence. We have applied this method to characterize the intermediates in histone mRNA metabolism, allowing us to deduce the pathway of 3' to 5' degradation. This method can potentially be applied to any RNA, and we discuss possible strategies for extending the method to include simultaneous determination of the 3' and 5' end of the same RNA molecule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Holmquist
- Department of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - William F Marzluff
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Welch JD, Slevin MK, Tatomer DC, Duronio RJ, Prins JF, Marzluff WF. EnD-Seq and AppEnD: sequencing 3' ends to identify nontemplated tails and degradation intermediates. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2015; 21:1375-89. [PMID: 26015596 PMCID: PMC4478355 DOI: 10.1261/rna.048785.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Existing methods for detecting RNA intermediates resulting from exonuclease degradation are low-throughput and laborious. In addition, mapping the 3' ends of RNA molecules to the genome after high-throughput sequencing is challenging, particularly if the 3' ends contain post-transcriptional modifications. To address these problems, we developed EnD-Seq, a high-throughput sequencing protocol that preserves the 3' end of RNA molecules, and AppEnD, a computational method for analyzing high-throughput sequencing data. Together these allow determination of the 3' ends of RNA molecules, including nontemplated additions. Applying EnD-Seq and AppEnD to histone mRNAs revealed that a significant fraction of cytoplasmic histone mRNAs end in one or two uridines, which have replaced the 1-2 nt at the 3' end of mature histone mRNA maintaining the length of the histone transcripts. Histone mRNAs in fly embryos and ovaries show the same pattern, but with different tail nucleotide compositions. We increase the sensitivity of EnD-Seq by using cDNA priming to specifically enrich low-abundance tails of known sequence composition allowing identification of degradation intermediates. In addition, we show the broad applicability of our computational approach by using AppEnD to gain insight into 3' additions from diverse types of sequencing data, including data from small capped RNA sequencing and some alternative polyadenylation protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Welch
- Department of Computer Science, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
| | | | | | - Robert J Duronio
- Department of Biology, Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Jan F Prins
- Department of Computer Science, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology,
| | - William F Marzluff
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Labrecque R, Lodde V, Dieci C, Tessaro I, Luciano AM, Sirard MA. Chromatin remodelling and histone m RNA accumulation in bovine germinal vesicle oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev 2015; 82:450-62. [PMID: 25940597 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Major remodelling of the chromatin enclosed within the germinal vesicle occurs towards the end of oocyte growth in mammals, but the mechanisms involved in this process are not completely understood. In bovine, four distinct stages of chromatin compaction-ranging from a diffused state (GV0) to a fully compacted configuration (GV3)-are linked to the gradual acquisition of developmental potential. To better understand the molecular events and to identify mRNA modulations occurring in the oocyte during the GV0-to-GV3 transition, transcriptomic analysis was performed with the EmbryoGENE microarray platform. The mRNA abundance of several genes decreased as chromatin compaction increased, which correlates with progressive transcriptional silencing that is characteristic of the end of oocyte growth. On the other hand, the abundance of some transcripts increased during the same period, particularly several histone gene transcripts from the H2A, H2B, H3, H4, and linker H1 family. In silico analysis predicted RNA-protein interactions between specific histone transcripts and the bovine stem-loop binding protein 2 (SLBP2), which helps regulate the translation of histone mRNA during oogenesis. These results suggest that some histone-encoding transcripts are actively stored, possibly to sustain the needs of the embryo before genome activation. This dataset offers a unique opportunity to survey which histone mRNAs are needed to complete chromatin compaction during oocyte maturation and which are stockpiled for the first three cell cycles following fertilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Labrecque
- Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - V Lodde
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Sciences and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - C Dieci
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Sciences and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - I Tessaro
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Sciences and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A M Luciano
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Health, Animal Sciences and Food Safety, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M A Sirard
- Département des Sciences Animales, Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Department of Animal Sciences, Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
A paper in this issue shows that histones H2a and H2b are stored in lipid droplets in Drosophila embryos complexed with the protein Jabba. In Jabba mutant embryos, histones H2a and H2b are degraded but embryos survive by translating stored histone mRNA.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bessa IR, Nishimura RC, Franco MM, Dode MAN. Transcription Profile of Candidate Genes for the Acquisition of Competence During Oocyte Growth in Cattle. Reprod Domest Anim 2013; 48:781-9. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2002] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- IR Bessa
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary; University of Brasília; Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro; Asa Norte; Instituto Central de Ciências Ala Sul; Brasília; Brazil
| | - RC Nishimura
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary; University of Brasília; Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro; Asa Norte; Instituto Central de Ciências Ala Sul; Brasília; Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Idler RK, Yan W. Control of messenger RNA fate by RNA-binding proteins: an emphasis on mammalian spermatogenesis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 33:309-37. [PMID: 21757510 DOI: 10.2164/jandrol.111.014167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional status of messenger RNAs (mRNA) can be affected by many factors, most of which are RNA-binding proteins (RBP) that either bind mRNA in a nonspecific manner or through specific motifs, usually located in the 3' untranslated regions. RBPs can also be recruited by small noncoding RNAs (sncRNA), which have been shown to be involved in posttranscriptional regulations and transposon repression (eg, microRNAs or P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA) as components of the sncRNA effector complex. Non-sncRNA-binding RBPs have much more diverse effects on their target mRNAs. Some can cause degradation of their target transcripts and/or repression of translation, whereas others can stabilize and/or activate translation. The splicing and exportation of transcripts from the nucleus to the cytoplasm are often mediated by sequence-specific RBPs. The mechanisms by which RBPs regulate mRNA transcripts involve manipulating the 3' poly(A) tail, targeting the transcript to polysomes or to other ribonuclear protein particles, recruiting regulatory proteins, or competing with other RBPs. Here, we briefly review the known mechanisms of posttranscriptional regulation mediated by RBPs, with an emphasis on how these mechanisms might control spermatogenesis in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Keegan Idler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Marzluff WF, Wagner EJ, Duronio RJ. Metabolism and regulation of canonical histone mRNAs: life without a poly(A) tail. Nat Rev Genet 2008; 9:843-54. [PMID: 18927579 DOI: 10.1038/nrg2438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 546] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The canonical histone proteins are encoded by replication-dependent genes and must rapidly reach high levels of expression during S phase. In metazoans the genes that encode these proteins produce mRNAs that, instead of being polyadenylated, contain a unique 3' end structure. By contrast, the synthesis of the variant, replication-independent histones, which are encoded by polyadenylated mRNAs, persists outside of S phase. Accurate positioning of both histone types in chromatin is essential for proper transcriptional regulation, the demarcation of heterochromatic boundaries and the epigenetic inheritance of gene expression patterns. Recent results suggest that the coordinated synthesis of replication-dependent and variant histone mRNAs is achieved by signals that affect formation of the 3' end of the replication-dependent histone mRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William F Marzluff
- Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
SLIP1, a factor required for activation of histone mRNA translation by the stem-loop binding protein. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 28:1182-94. [PMID: 18025107 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01500-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication-dependent histone mRNAs are the only eukaryotic cellular mRNAs that are not polyadenylated, ending instead in a conserved stem-loop. The 3' end of histone mRNA is required for histone mRNA translation, as is the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP), which binds the 3' end of histone mRNA. We have identified five conserved residues in a 15-amino-acid region in the amino-terminal portion of SLBP, each of which is required for translation. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified a novel protein, SLBP-interacting protein 1 (SLIP1), that specifically interacts with this region. Mutations in any of the residues required for translation reduces SLIP1 binding to SLBP. The expression of SLIP1 in Xenopus oocytes together with human SLBP stimulates translation of a reporter mRNA ending in the stem-loop but not a reporter with a poly(A) tail. The expression of SLIP1 in HeLa cells also stimulates the expression of a green fluorescent protein reporter mRNA ending in a stem-loop. RNA interference-mediated downregulation of endogenous SLIP1 reduces the rate of translation of endogenous histone mRNA and also reduces cell viability. SLIP1 may function by bridging the 3' end of the histone mRNA with the 5' end of the mRNA, similar to the mechanism of translation of polyadenylated mRNAs.
Collapse
|
12
|
Arnold DR, Françon P, Zhang J, Martin K, Clarke HJ. Stem-loop binding protein expressed in growing oocytes is required for accumulation of mRNAs encoding histones H3 and H4 and for early embryonic development in the mouse. Dev Biol 2007; 313:347-58. [PMID: 18036581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2007] [Revised: 10/18/2007] [Accepted: 10/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Growing oocytes accumulate mRNAs and proteins that support early embryogenesis. Among the most abundant of these maternal factors are the histones. Histone mRNA accumulation and translation are mainly restricted to S-phase in somatic cells, and the mechanism by which oocytes produce histones is unknown. In somatic cells, replication-dependent histone synthesis requires the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP). SLBP is expressed during S-phase, binds to the 3'-untranslated region of non-polyadenylated transcripts encoding the histones, and is required for their stabilization and translation. SLBP is expressed in oocytes of several species, suggesting a role in histone synthesis. To test this, we generated transgenic mice whose oocytes lack SLBP. mRNAs encoding histones H3 and H4 failed to accumulate in these oocytes. Unexpectedly, mRNAs encoding H2A and H2B were little affected. Embryos derived from SLBP-depleted oocytes reached the 2-cell stage, but most then became arrested. Histones H3 and H4, but not H2A or H2B, were substantially reduced in these embryos. The embryos also expressed high levels of gamma H2A.X. Injection of histones into SLBP-depleted embryos rescued them from developmental arrest. Thus, SLBP is an essential component of the mechanism by which growing oocytes of the mouse accumulate the histones that support early embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Arnold
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Histone gene expression and histone mRNA 3' end structure in Caenorhabditis elegans. BMC Mol Biol 2007; 8:51. [PMID: 17570845 PMCID: PMC1924863 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-8-51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2007] [Accepted: 06/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histone protein synthesis is essential for cell proliferation and required for the packaging of DNA into chromatin. In animals, histone proteins are provided by the expression of multicopy replication-dependent histone genes. Histone mRNAs that are processed by a histone-specific mechanism to end after a highly conserved RNA hairpin element, and lack a poly(A) tail. In vertebrates and Drosophila, their expression is dependent on HBP/SLBP that binds to the RNA hairpin element. We showed previously that these cis and trans acting regulators of histone gene expression are conserved in C. elegans. Here we report the results of an investigation of the histone mRNA 3' end structure and of histone gene expression during C. elegans development. RESULTS Sequence analysis of replication-dependent histone genes revealed the presence of several highly conserved sequence elements in the 3' untranslated region of histone pre-mRNAs, including an RNA hairpin element and a polyadenylation signal. To determine whether in C. elegans histone mRNA 3' end formation occurs at this polyadenylation signal and results in polyadenylated histone mRNA, we investigated the mRNA 3' end structure of histone mRNA. Using poly(A) selection, RNAse protection and sequencing of histone mRNA ends, we determined that a majority of C. elegans histone mRNAs lack a poly(A) tail and end three to six nucleotides after the hairpin structure, after an A or a U, and have a 3' OH group. RNAi knock down of CDL-1, the C. elegans HBP/SLBP, does not significantly affect histone mRNA levels but severely depletes histone protein levels. Histone gene expression varies during development and is reduced in L3 animals compared to L1 animals and adults. In adults, histone gene expression is restricted to the germ line, where cell division occurs. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the expression of C. elegans histone genes is subject to control mechanisms similar to the ones in other animals: the structure of C. elegans histone mRNA 3' ends is compatible with histone-specific mRNA 3' end processing; CDL-1 functions in post-transcriptional control of histone gene expression; and C. elegans histone mRNA levels are elevated at periods of active cell division, indicating that histone gene expression is linked to DNA replication.
Collapse
|
14
|
Dominski Z. Nucleases of the metallo-beta-lactamase family and their role in DNA and RNA metabolism. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2007; 42:67-93. [PMID: 17453916 DOI: 10.1080/10409230701279118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Proteins of the metallo-beta-lactamase family with either demonstrated or predicted nuclease activity have been identified in a number of organisms ranging from bacteria to humans and has been shown to be important constituents of cellular metabolism. Nucleases of this family are believed to utilize a zinc-dependent mechanism in catalysis and function as 5' to 3' exonucleases and or endonucleases in such processes as 3' end processing of RNA precursors, DNA repair, V(D)J recombination, and telomere maintenance. Examples of metallo-beta-lactamase nucleases include CPSF-73, a known component of the cleavage/polyadenylation machinery, which functions as the endonuclease in 3' end formation of both polyadenylated and histone mRNAs, and Artemis that opens DNA hairpins during V(D)J recombination. Mutations in two metallo-beta-lactamase nucleases have been implicated in human diseases: tRNase Z required for 3' processing of tRNA precursors has been linked to the familial form of prostate cancer, whereas inactivation of Artemis causes severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). There is also a group of as yet uncharacterized proteins of this family in bacteria and archaea that based on sequence similarity to CPSF-73 are predicted to function as nucleases in RNA metabolism. This article reviews the cellular roles of nucleases of the metallo-beta-lactamase family and the recent advances in studying these proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Dominski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dominski Z, Marzluff WF. Formation of the 3' end of histone mRNA: getting closer to the end. Gene 2007; 396:373-90. [PMID: 17531405 PMCID: PMC2888136 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2007] [Accepted: 04/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nearly all eukaryotic mRNAs end with a poly(A) tail that is added to their 3' end by the ubiquitous cleavage/polyadenylation machinery. The only known exceptions to this rule are metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs, which end with a highly conserved stem-loop structure. This distinct 3' end is generated by specialized 3' end processing machinery that cleaves histone pre-mRNAs 4-5 nucleotides downstream of the stem-loop and consists of the U7 small nuclear RNP (snRNP) and number of protein factors. Recently, the U7 snRNP has been shown to contain a unique Sm core that differs from that of the spliceosomal snRNPs, and an essential heat labile processing factor has been identified as symplekin. In addition, cross-linking studies have pinpointed CPSF-73 as the endonuclease, which catalyzes the cleavage reaction. Thus, many of the critical components of the 3' end processing machinery are now identified. Strikingly, this machinery is not as unique as initially thought but contains at least two factors involved in cleavage/polyadenylation, suggesting that the two mechanisms have a common evolutionary origin. The greatest challenge that lies ahead is to determine how all these factors interact with each other to form a catalytically competent processing complex capable of cleaving histone pre-mRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Dominski
- Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bettegowda A, Patel OV, Ireland JJ, Smith GW. Quantitative analysis of messenger RNA abundance for ribosomal protein L-15, cyclophilin-A, phosphoglycerokinase, β-glucuronidase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-actin, and histone H2A during bovine oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev 2006; 73:267-78. [PMID: 16261607 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Real-time reverse transcription PCR has greatly improved the ease and sensitivity of quantitative gene expression studies. However, measurement of gene expression generally requires selection of a valid reference (housekeeping gene) for data normalization to compensate for inherent variations. Given the dynamic nature of early embryonic development, application of this technology to studies of oocyte and early embryonic development is further complicated due to limited amounts of starting material and a paucity of information on constitutively expressed genes for data normalization. We have validated quantitative procedures for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA abundance during bovine meiotic maturation and early embryogenesis and utilized this technology to determine temporal changes in mRNA abundance for ribosomal protein L-15, cyclophilin-A, phosphoglycerokinase, beta-glucuronidase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, beta-actin, and histone H2A. Quantification of amounts of specific exogenous RNAs added to samples revealed acceptable rates of RNA recovery and efficiency of reverse transcription with minimal variation. Progression of bovine oocytes to metaphase II resulted in reduced abundance of polyadenylated, but not total transcripts for majority of above genes; however phosphoglycerokinase exhibited a significant decline in both RNA populations. Abundance of mRNAs for above genes in early embryos generally remained low until the blastocyst stage, but abundance of ribosomal protein L-15 mRNA was increased at the morula stage and histone H2A mRNA showed dynamic changes prior to embryonic genome activation. Results demonstrate a valid approach for quantitative analysis of mRNA abundance in oocytes and embryos, but do not support constitutive expression of above genes during early embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anilkumar Bettegowda
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dode MAN, Dufort I, Massicotte L, Sirard MA. Quantitative expression of candidate genes for developmental competence in bovine two-cell embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2006; 73:288-97. [PMID: 16362969 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Only competent oocytes are able to undergo complete maturation and normal embryonic development. Therefore, the identification of genes that are differentially expressed in competent oocytes would contribute to our understanding of the factors controlling competency. It is well known that time of cleavage after insemination in vitro is highly correlated with embryonic developmental potential and this can be used to distinguish between oocytes of different quality. The main objective of this study was to identify genes associated with competency and rapid cleavage. We examined the expression of 16 candidate genes (IDH, YEAF Cathepsin B, RAD50, TCP1 NCOR1, HUEL, STK6, ZNF403, AOP2, EEF1A1, Hsp90, Hsp40, AKR1B1, PGRMC1, and DMRT2) in early and late cleaving embryos, by real time PCR. These transcripts were derived from previous study in our laboratory using cDNA coming from a suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH) between early cleaving versus late cleaving embryos spotted on a microarray slide. Of the 16 genes evaluated, 3 (IDH, YEAF, and H2A) showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between early and late cleaving embryos. However, some genes such as Cathepsin B (P = 0.0677), RAD50 (P = 0.0899), and TCP1 (P = 0.0824) tended to show higher expression in the early cleaving than in the late cleaving embryo. In conclusion, we have identified three genes (YEAF, IDH, H2A) that were differentially expressed in the early cleaving embryos, and their expression can be associated with greater developmental competence.
Collapse
|
18
|
Allard P, Yang Q, Marzluff WF, Clarke HJ. The stem-loop binding protein regulates translation of histone mRNA during mammalian oogenesis. Dev Biol 2005; 286:195-206. [PMID: 16125165 PMCID: PMC5123871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2005.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2005] [Revised: 06/22/2005] [Accepted: 07/19/2005] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Although messenger RNAs encoding the histone proteins are among the most abundant in mammalian oocytes, the mechanism regulating their translation has not been identified. The stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) binds to a highly conserved sequence in the 3'-untranslated region (utr) of the non-polyadenylated histone mRNAs in somatic cells and mediates their stabilization and translation. We previously showed that SLBP, which is expressed only during S-phase of proliferating cells, is expressed in growing oocytes at G2 of the cell cycle and accumulates substantially during meiotic maturation. We report here that elevating the amount of SLBP in immature (G2) oocytes is sufficient to increase translation of a reporter mRNA bearing the histone 3'-utr and endogenous histone synthesis and that this effect is not mediated through increased stability of the encoding mRNAs. We further report that translation of the reporter mRNA increases dramatically during meiotic maturation coincident with the accumulation of SLBP. Conversely, when SLBP accumulation during maturation is prevented using RNA interference, both translation of the reporter mRNA and synthesis of endogenous histones are significantly reduced. This effect is not mediated by a loss of the encoding mRNAs. Moreover, following fertilization, SLBP-depleted oocytes also show a significant decrease in pronuclear size and in the amount of acetylated histone detectable on the chromatin. These results demonstrate that histone synthesis in immature and maturing oocytes is governed by a translational control mechanism that is directly regulated by changes in the amount of SLBP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Allard
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Qin Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - William F. Marzluff
- Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Hugh J. Clarke
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Corresponding author. Room F3.50, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Ave. W., Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 1A1. Fax: +1 514 843 1662. (H.J. Clarke)
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins play a major part in the control of gene expression during early development. At this stage, the majority of regulation occurs at the levels of translation and RNA localization. These processes are, in general, mediated by RNA-binding proteins interacting with specific sequence motifs in the 3'-untranslated regions of their target RNAs. Although initial work concentrated on the analysis of these sequences and their trans-acting factors, we are now beginning to gain an understanding of the mechanisms by which some of these proteins function. In this review, we will describe a number of different families of RNA-binding proteins, grouping them together on the basis of common regulatory strategies, and emphasizing the recurrent themes that occur, both across different species and as a response to different biological problems.
Collapse
|
20
|
Kozak M. How strong is the case for regulation of the initiation step of translation by elements at the 3' end of eukaryotic mRNAs? Gene 2005; 343:41-54. [PMID: 15563830 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2004.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2004] [Revised: 07/30/2004] [Accepted: 08/12/2004] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The belief that initiation of translation requires communication between the 5' and 3' ends of the mRNA guides--or misguides--the interpretation of many experiments. The closed-loop model for initiation creates the expectation that sequences at the 3' end of eukaryotic mRNAs should regulate translation. This review looks closely at the evidence in three prominent cases where such regulation is claimed. The mRNAs in question encode 15-lipoxygenase, ceruloplasmin, and histones. Vertebrate histone mRNAs lack a poly(A) tail, instead of which a 3' stem-loop structure is said to promote translation by binding a protein which purportedly binds initiation factors. The proffered evidence for this hypothesis has many flaws. Temporal control of 15-lipoxygenase production in reticulocytes is often cited as another well-documented example of translational regulation via the 3' untranslated region, but inspection of the evidence reveals significant gaps and contradictions. Solid evidence is lacking also for the idea that a ribosomal protein binds to and shuts off translation of ceruloplasmin mRNA. Some viral RNAs that lack a poly(A) tail have alternative 3' structures which are said to promote translation via circularization of the mRNA, but in no case has this been shown convincingly. Interpretation of many experiments is compromised by possible effects of the 3' structures on mRNA stability rather than translation. The functional-half-life assay, which is often employed to rule out effects on mRNA stability, might not be adequate to settle the question. Other issues, such as the possibility of artifacts caused by overexpression of RNA-binding proteins, can complicate studies of translational regulation. There is no doubt that elements at the 3' end of eukaryotic mRNAs can regulate gene expression in a variety of ways. It has not been shown unequivocally that one of these ways involves direct participation of the 3' untranslated region in the initiation step of translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Kozak
- Department of Biochemistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| |
Collapse
|