Ytm1, Nop7, and Erb1 form a complex necessary for maturation of yeast 66S preribosomes

Emerging role of PES1 in disease: A promising therapeutic target?

Pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1 (PES1), a nucleolar protein initially identified in zebrafish, plays an important role in embryonic development and ribosomal biogenesis. Notably, PES1 has been found to be overexpressed in a number of cancer types, where it contributes to tumorigenesis and cancer progression by promoting cell proliferation, suppressing cellular senescence, modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and promoting drug resistance in cancer cells. Moreover, recent emerging evidence suggests that PES1 expression is significantly elevated in the livers of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obese patients, indicating its involvement in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases through lipid metabolism regulation. In this review, we present the structural characteristics and biological functions of PES1, as well as complexes in which PES1 participates. Furthermore, we comprehensively summarize the multifaceted role of PES1 in various diseases and the latest insights into its underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical translational perspectives of targeting PES1, highlighting its promising as a therapeutic intervention and treatment target.

The Role of Ribosomal Proteins eL15 and eL36 in the Early Steps of Yeast 60S Ribosomal Subunit Assembly

Ribosomal proteins have important roles in maintaining the structure and function of mature ribosomes, but they also drive crucial rearrangement reactions during ribosome biogenesis. The contribution of most, but not all, ribosomal proteins to ribosome synthesis has been previously analyzed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Herein, we characterize the role of yeast eL15 during 60S ribosomal subunit formation. In vivo depletion of eL15 results in a shortage of 60S subunits and the appearance of half-mer polysomes. This is likely due to defective processing of the 27SA3 to the 27SBS pre-rRNA and impaired subsequent processing of both forms of 27SB pre-rRNAs to mature 25S and 5.8S rRNAs. Indeed, eL15 depletion leads to the efficient turnover of the de novo formed 27S pre-rRNAs. Additionally, depletion of eL15 blocks nucleocytoplasmic export of pre-60S particles. Moreover, we have analyzed the impact of depleting either eL15 or eL36 on the composition of early pre-60S particles, thereby revealing that the depletion of eL15 or eL36 not only affects each other's assembly into pre-60S particles but also that of neighboring ribosomal proteins, including eL8. These intermediates also lack most ribosome assembly factors required for 27SA3 and 27SB pre-rRNA processing, named A3- and B-factors, respectively. Importantly, our results recapitulate previous ones obtained upon eL8 depletion. We conclude that assembly of eL15, together with that of eL8 and eL36, is a prerequisite to shape domain I of 5.8S/25S rRNA within early pre-60S particles, through their binding to this rRNA domain and the recruitment of specific groups of assembly factors.

Structural insights into coordinating 5S RNP rotation with ITS2 pre-RNA processing during ribosome formation

The rixosome defined in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and humans performs diverse roles in pre-ribosomal RNA processing and gene silencing. Here, we isolate and describe the conserved rixosome from Chaetomium thermophilum, which consists of two sub-modules, the sphere-like Rix1-Ipi3-Ipi1 and the butterfly-like Las1-Grc3 complex, connected by a flexible linker. The Rix1 complex of the rixosome utilizes Sda1 as landing platform on nucleoplasmic pre-60S particles to wedge between the 5S rRNA tip and L1-stalk, thereby facilitating the 180° rotation of the immature 5S RNP towards its mature conformation. Upon rixosome positioning, the other sub-module with Las1 endonuclease and Grc3 polynucleotide-kinase can reach a strategic position at the pre-60S foot to cleave and 5' phosphorylate the nearby ITS2 pre-rRNA. Finally, inward movement of the L1 stalk permits the flexible Nop53 N-terminus with its AIM motif to become positioned at the base of the L1-stalk to facilitate Mtr4 helicase-exosome participation for completing ITS2 removal. Thus, the rixosome structure elucidates the coordination of two central ribosome biogenesis events, but its role in gene silencing may adapt similar strategies.

PDGF-C promotes cell proliferation partially via downregulating BOP1

Platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C) is a member of PDGF/VEGF family, which is well-known for important functions in the vascular system. It is widely reported that PDGF-C is able to modulate cell proliferation. However, it is still not very clear about this cell modulating mechanism at the molecular level. In a screening of factors regulated by PDGF-C protein, we fished out a factor called block of proliferation 1 (BOP1), which is a pivotal regulator of ribosome biogenesis and cell proliferation. In this study, we investigated the regulation of BOP1 by PDGF-C and its role in modulating cell proliferation. We found that BOP1 was downregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in cells treated with PDGF-C-containing conditioned medium. On the other hand, BOP1 was upregulated in PDGF-C deficient mice. Furthermore, we confirmed that overexpression of BOP1 inhibited HEK293A cell proliferation, whereas knockdown of BOP1 promoted cell proliferation. The mitogenic effect of PDGF-C could be attenuated by downregulation of BOP1. Our results demonstrate a clear PDGF-C-BOP1 signaling that modulates cell proliferation.

Mechanism of 5S RNP recruitment and helicase-surveilled rRNA maturation during pre-60S biogenesis

Ribosome biogenesis proceeds along a multifaceted pathway from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm that is extensively coupled to several quality control mechanisms. However, the mode by which 5S ribosomal RNA is incorporated into the developing pre-60S ribosome, which in humans links ribosome biogenesis to cell proliferation by surveillance by factors such as p53-MDM2, is poorly understood. Here, we report nine nucleolar pre-60S cryo-EM structures from Chaetomium thermophilum, one of which clarifies the mechanism of 5S RNP incorporation into the early pre-60S. Successive assembly states then represent how helicases Dbp10 and Spb4, and the Pumilio domain factor Puf6 act in series to surveil the gradual folding of the nearby 25S rRNA domain IV. Finally, the methyltransferase Spb1 methylates a universally conserved guanine nucleotide in the A-loop of the peptidyl transferase center, thereby licensing further maturation. Our findings provide insight into the hierarchical action of helicases in safeguarding rRNA tertiary structure folding and coupling to surveillance mechanisms that culminate in local RNA modification.

Chromatin localization of nucleophosmin organizes ribosome biogenesis

Ribosome biogenesis takes place in the nucleolus, a nuclear membrane-less organelle. Although well studied, it remains unknown how nascent ribosomal subunits separate from the central chromatin compartment and move to the outer granular component, where maturation occurs. We find that the Schizosaccharomyces pombe nucleophosmin-like protein Fkbp39 localizes to rDNA sites encoding the 60S subunit rRNA, and this localization contributes to its specific association with nascent 60S subunits. Fkbp39 dissociates from chromatin to bind nascent 60S subunits, causing the latter to partition away from chromatin and from nascent 40S subunits through liquid-liquid phase separation. In vivo, Fkbp39 binding directs the translocation of nascent 60S subunits toward the nucleophosmin-rich granular component. This process increases the efficiency of 60S subunit assembly, facilitating the incorporation of 60S RNA domain III. Thus, chromatin localization determines the specificity of nucleophosmin in sorting nascent ribosomal subunits and coordinates their movement into specialized assembly compartments within the nucleolus.

RNA-Seq Analysis of Magnaporthe grisea Transcriptome Reveals the High Potential of ZnO Nanoparticles as a Nanofungicide

Magnaporthe grisea is one of the most destructive pathogen that encounters a challenge to rice production around the worldwide. The unique properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), have high attractiveness as nanofungicide. In the present study, the response of fungi to ZnO NPs was evaluated using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Two different aligners (STAR and Hisat2) were used for aligning the clean reads, and the DEseq2 package was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In total, 1,438 and 761 fungal genes were significantly up- and down-regulated in response to ZnO NPs, respectively. The DEGs were subjected to functional enrichment analysis to identify significantly enriched biological pathways. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that "cell membrane components," "ion (calcium) transmembrane transporter activity," "steroid biosynthesis pathway" and "catalytic activity" were the contributed terms to fungal response mechanisms. The genes involved in aflatoxin efflux pumps and ribosome maturation were among the genes showing significant up- and down-regulation after ZnO NPs application. To confirm the obtained RNA-seq results, the expression of six randomly selected genes were evaluated using q-RT-PCR. Overall, the RNA-seq results suggest that ZnO NPs primarily act on the fungal cell membrane, but accumulation of ROS inside the cell induces oxidative stress, the fungal catalytic system is disrupted, resulting into the inhibition of ROS scavenging and eventually, to the death of fungal cells. Our findings provide novel insights into the effect of ZnO NPs as a promising nanofungicide for effective control of rice blast disease.

Association of snR190 snoRNA chaperone with early pre-60S particles is regulated by the RNA helicase Dbp7 in yeast

Synthesis of eukaryotic ribosomes involves the assembly and maturation of precursor particles (pre-ribosomal particles) containing ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursors, ribosomal proteins (RPs) and a plethora of assembly factors (AFs). Formation of the earliest precursors of the 60S ribosomal subunit (pre-60S r-particle) is among the least understood stages of ribosome biogenesis. It involves the Npa1 complex, a protein module suggested to play a key role in the early structuring of the pre-rRNA. Npa1 displays genetic interactions with the DExD-box protein Dbp7 and interacts physically with the snR190 box C/D snoRNA. We show here that snR190 functions as a snoRNA chaperone, which likely cooperates with the Npa1 complex to initiate compaction of the pre-rRNA in early pre-60S r-particles. We further show that Dbp7 regulates the dynamic base-pairing between snR190 and the pre-rRNA within the earliest pre-60S r-particles, thereby participating in structuring the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) of the large ribosomal subunit.

The molecular events underlying the assembly and maturation of the early pre-60S particles during eukaryotic ribosome synthesis are not well understood. Here, the authors combine yeast genetics and biochemical experiments to characterise the functions of two important players of eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis, the box C/D snoRNP snR190 and the helicase Dbp7, which both interact. They show that the snR190 snoRNA acts as a RNA chaperone that assists the structuring of the 25S rRNA during the maturation of early pre-60S particles and that Dbp7 is important for facilitating remodeling events in the peptidyl transferase center region of the 25S rRNAs during the maturation of early pre-60S particles.

Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-Like Proteins and Domains in Ribosome Production and Function: Chance or Necessity?

Ubiquitin is a small protein that is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. It operates as a reversible post-translational modifier through a process known as ubiquitination, which involves the addition of one or several ubiquitin moieties to a substrate protein. These modifications mark proteins for proteasome-dependent degradation or alter their localization or activity in a variety of cellular processes. In most eukaryotes, ubiquitin is generated by the proteolytic cleavage of precursor proteins in which it is fused either to itself, constituting a polyubiquitin precursor, or as a single N-terminal moiety to ribosomal proteins, which are practically invariably eL40 and eS31. Herein, we summarize the contribution of the ubiquitin moiety within precursors of ribosomal proteins to ribosome biogenesis and function and discuss the biological relevance of having maintained the explicit fusion to eL40 and eS31 during evolution. There are other ubiquitin-like proteins, which also work as post-translational modifiers, among them the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). Both ubiquitin and SUMO are able to modify ribosome assembly factors and ribosomal proteins to regulate ribosome biogenesis and function. Strikingly, ubiquitin-like domains are also found within two ribosome assembly factors; hence, the functional role of these proteins will also be highlighted.

Shaping the Nascent Ribosome: AAA-ATPases in Eukaryotic Ribosome Biogenesis

AAA-ATPases are molecular engines evolutionarily optimized for the remodeling of proteins and macromolecular assemblies. Three AAA-ATPases are currently known to be involved in the remodeling of the eukaryotic ribosome, a megadalton range ribonucleoprotein complex responsible for the translation of mRNAs into proteins. The correct assembly of the ribosome is performed by a plethora of additional and transiently acting pre-ribosome maturation factors that act in a timely and spatially orchestrated manner. Minimal disorder of the assembly cascade prohibits the formation of functional ribosomes and results in defects in proliferation and growth. Rix7, Rea1, and Drg1, which are well conserved across eukaryotes, are involved in different maturation steps of pre-60S ribosomal particles. These AAA-ATPases provide energy for the efficient removal of specific assembly factors from pre-60S particles after they have fulfilled their function in the maturation cascade. Recent structural and functional insights have provided the first glimpse into the molecular mechanism of target recognition and remodeling by Rix7, Rea1, and Drg1. Here we summarize current knowledge on the AAA-ATPases involved in eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis. We highlight the latest insights into their mechanism of mechano-chemical complex remodeling driven by advanced cryo-EM structures and the use of highly specific AAA inhibitors.

Effects of MCHM on yeast metabolism

On January 2014 approximately 10,000 gallons of crude 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenol ether (PPH) were accidentally released into the Elk River, West Virginia, contaminating the tap water of around 300,000 residents. Crude MCHM is an industrial chemical used as flotation reagent to clean coal. At the time of the spill, MCHM's toxicological data were limited, an issue that has been addressed by different studies focused on understanding the immediate and long-term effects of MCHM on human health and the environment. Using S. cerevisiae as a model organism we study the effect of acute exposure to crude MCHM on metabolism. Yeasts were treated with MCHM 550 ppm in YPD for 30 minutes. Polar and lipid metabolites were extracted from cells by a chloroform-methanol-water mixture. The extracts were then analyzed by direct injection ESI-MS and by GC-MS. The metabolomics analysis was complemented with flux balance analysis simulations done with genome-scale metabolic network models (GSMNM) of MCHM treated vs non-treated control. We integrated the effect of MCHM on yeast gene expression from RNA-Seq data within these GSMNM. A total of 215 and 73 metabolites were identified by the ESI-MS and GC-MS procedures, respectively. From these 26 and 23 relevant metabolites were selected from ESI-MS and GC-MS respectively, for 49 unique compounds. MCHM induced amino acid accumulation, via its effects on amino acid metabolism, as well as a potential impairment of ribosome biogenesis. MCHM affects phospholipid biosynthesis, with a potential impact on the biophysical properties of yeast cellular membranes. The FBA simulations were able to reproduce the deleterious effect of MCHM on cellular growth and suggest that the effect of MCHM on ubiquinol:ferricytochrome c reductase reaction, caused by the under-expression of CYT1 gene, could be the driven force behind the observed effect on yeast metabolism and growth.

Ribosomal protein L14 contributes to the early assembly of 60S ribosomal subunits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The contribution of most ribosomal proteins to ribosome synthesis has been quite well analysed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, few yeast ribosomal proteins still await characterization. Herein, we show that L14, an essential 60S ribosomal protein, assembles in the nucleolus at an early stage into pre-60S particles. Depletion of L14 results in a deficit in 60S subunits and defective processing of 27SA2 and 27SA3 to 27SB pre-rRNAs. As a result, 27S pre-rRNAs are subjected to turnover and export of pre-60S particles is blocked. These phenotypes likely appear as the direct consequence of the reduced pre-60S particle association not only of L14 upon its depletion but also of a set of neighboring ribosomal proteins located at the solvent interface of 60S subunits and the adjacent region surrounding the polypeptide exit tunnel. These pre-60S intermediates also lack some essential trans-acting factors required for 27SB pre-rRNA processing but accumulate practically all factors required for processing of 27SA3 pre-rRNA. We have also analysed the functional interaction between the eukaryote-specific carboxy-terminal extensions of the neighboring L14 and L16 proteins. Our results indicate that removal of the most distal parts of these extensions cause slight translation alterations in mature 60S subunits.

Inhibiting eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis

BACKGROUND

Ribosome biogenesis is a central process in every growing cell. In eukaryotes, it requires more than 250 non-ribosomal assembly factors, most of which are essential. Despite this large repertoire of potential targets, only very few chemical inhibitors of ribosome biogenesis are known so far. Such inhibitors are valuable tools to study this highly dynamic process and elucidate mechanistic details of individual maturation steps. Moreover, ribosome biogenesis is of particular importance for fast proliferating cells, suggesting its inhibition could be a valid strategy for treatment of tumors or infections.

RESULTS

We systematically screened ~ 1000 substances for inhibitory effects on ribosome biogenesis using a microscopy-based screen scoring ribosomal subunit export defects. We identified 128 compounds inhibiting maturation of either the small or the large ribosomal subunit or both. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that these inhibitors cause a broad spectrum of different rRNA processing defects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that the individual inhibitors affect a wide range of different maturation steps within the ribosome biogenesis pathway. Our results provide for the first time a comprehensive set of inhibitors to study ribosome biogenesis by chemical inhibition of individual maturation steps and establish the process as promising druggable pathway for chemical intervention.

The AAA-ATPase MIDASIN 1 Functions in Ribosome Biogenesis and Is Essential for Embryo and Root Development

Ribosome biogenesis is an orchestrated process that relies on many assembly factors. The AAA-ATPase Midasin 1 (Mdn1) functions as a ribosome assembly factor in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), but the roles of MDN1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) are poorly understood. Here, we showed that the Arabidopsis null mutant of MDN1 is embryo-lethal. Using the weak mutant mdn1-1, which maintains viability, we found that MDN1 is critical for the regular pattern of auxin maxima in the globular embryo and functions in root meristem maintenance. By detecting the subcellular distribution of ribosome proteins, we noted that mdn1-1 impairs nuclear export of the pre-60S ribosomal particle. The processing of ribosomal precusor RNAs, including 35S, 27SB, and 20S, is also affected in this mutant. MDN1 physically interacts with PESCADILLO2 (PES2), an essential assembly factor of the 60S ribosome, and the observed mislocalization of PES2 in mdn1-1 further implied that MDN1 plays an indispensable role in 60S ribosome biogenesis. Therefore, the observed hypersensitivity of mdn1-1 to a eukaryotic translation inhibitor and high-sugar conditions might be associated with the defect in ribosome biogenesis. Overall, this work establishes a role of Arabidopsis MDN1 in ribosome biogenesis, which agrees with its roles in embryogenesis and root development.

Genome Wide Analysis of WD40 Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Their Orthologs in Candida albicans

The WD40 domain containing proteins are present in the lower organisms (Monera) to higher complex metazoans with involvement in diverse cellular processes. The WD40 repeats fold into β propeller structure due to which the proteins harbouring WD40 domains function as scaffold by offering platform for interactions, bring together diverse cellular proteins to form a single complex for mediating downstream effects. Multiple functions of WD40 domain containing proteins in lower eukaryote as in Fungi have been reported with involvement in vegetative and reproductive growth, virulence etc. In this article insilico analysis of the WDR proteins in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was performed. By WDSP software 83 proteins in S. cerevisiae were identified with at least one WD40 motif. WD40 proteins with 6 or more WD40 motifs were considered for further studies. The WD40 proteins in yeast which are involved in various biological processes show distribution on all chromosomes (16 chromosomes in yeast) except chromosome 1. Besides the WD40 domain some of these proteins also contain other protein domains which might be responsible for the diversity in the functions of WD40 proteins in the budding yeast. These proteins in budding yeast were analysed by DAVID and Blast2Go software for functional and domains categorization. Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen also have orthologs of these WD40 proteins with possible similar functions. This is the first time genome wide analysis of WD40 proteins in lower eukaryote i.e. budding yeast. This data may be useful in further study of the functional diversity of yeast proteomes.

NOP7 interacts with β-catenin and activates β-catenin/TCF signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background

The hyperactivation of β-catenin signaling is frequently observed in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Further understanding the mechanisms involved in activating β-catenin/TCF signaling would benefit the treatment of HCC.

Method and results

Here, it was found that NOP7 was a binding partner of β-catenin. NOP7 strengthened the interaction between β-catenin and TCF4, which led to the activation of β-catenin/TCF signaling. The upregulation of NOP7 in HCC promoted the growth (in both liquid culture and soft agar) and migration of HCC cancer cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, we have demonstrated the oncogenic functions of NOP7 in HCC, suggesting that targeting NOP7 would benefit the treatment of HCC.

Viewing pre-60S maturation at a minute's timescale

The formation of ribosomal subunits is a highly dynamic process that is initiated in the nucleus and involves more than 200 trans-acting factors, some of which accompany the pre-ribosomes into the cytoplasm and have to be recycled into the nucleus. The inhibitor diazaborine prevents cytoplasmic release and recycling of shuttling pre-60S maturation factors by inhibiting the AAA-ATPase Drg1. The failure to recycle these proteins results in their depletion in the nucleolus and halts the pathway at an early maturation step. Here, we made use of the fast onset of inhibition by diazaborine to chase the maturation path in real-time from 27SA2 pre-rRNA containing pre-ribosomes localized in the nucleolus up to nearly mature 60S subunits shortly after their export into the cytoplasm. This allows for the first time to put protein assembly and disassembly reactions as well as pre-rRNA processing into a chronological context unraveling temporal and functional linkages during ribosome maturation.

Visualizing the Assembly Pathway of Nucleolar Pre-60S Ribosomes

Eukaryotic 60S ribosomal subunits are comprised of three rRNAs and ∼50 ribosomal proteins. The initial steps of their formation take place in the nucleolus, but, owing to a lack of structural information, this process is poorly understood. Using cryo-EM, we solved structures of early 60S biogenesis intermediates at 3.3 Å to 4.5 Å resolution, thereby providing insights into their sequential folding and assembly pathway. Besides revealing distinct immature rRNA conformations, we map 25 assembly factors in six different assembly states. Notably, the Nsa1-Rrp1-Rpf1-Mak16 module stabilizes the solvent side of the 60S subunit, and the Erb1-Ytm1-Nop7 complex organizes and connects through Erb1's meandering N-terminal extension, eight assembly factors, three ribosomal proteins, and three 25S rRNA domains. Our structural snapshots reveal the order of integration and compaction of the six major 60S domains within early nucleolar 60S particles developing stepwise from the solvent side around the exit tunnel to the central protuberance.

Stepwise assembly of the earliest precursors of large ribosomal subunits in yeast

Small ribosomal subunits are co-transcriptionally assembled on the nascent precursor rRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is unknown how the highly intertwined structure of 60S large ribosomal subunits is initially formed. Here, we affinity purified and analyzed a series of pre-60S particles assembled in vivo on plasmid-encoded pre-rRNA fragments of increasing lengths, revealing a spatiotemporal assembly map for 34 trans-acting assembly factors (AFs), 30 ribosomal proteins and 5S rRNA. The gradual association of AFs and ribosomal proteins with the pre-rRNA fragments strongly supports that the pre-60S is co-transcriptionally, rather than post-transcriptionally, assembled. The internal and external transcribed spacers ITS1, ITS2 and 3΄ ETS in pre-rRNA must be processed in pre-60S. We show that the processing machineries for ITS1 and ITS2 are primarily recruited by the 5΄ and 3΄ halves of pre-27S RNA, respectively. Nevertheless, processing of both ITS1 and ITS2 requires a complete 25S region. The 3΄ ETS plays a minor role in ribosome assembly, but is important for efficient rRNA processing and ribosome maturation. We also identified a distinct pre-60S state occurring before ITS2 processing. Our data reveal the elusive co-transcriptional assembly pathway of large ribosomal subunit.

The assembly factor Erb1 functions in multiple remodeling events during 60S ribosomal subunit assembly in S. cerevisiae

A major gap in our understanding of ribosome assembly is knowing the precise function of each of the ∼200 assembly factors. The steps in subunit assembly in which these factors participate have been examined for the most part by depleting each protein from cells. Depletion of the assembly factor Erb1 prevents stable assembly of seven other interdependent assembly factors with pre-60S subunits, resulting in turnover of early preribosomes, before the ITS1 spacer can be removed from 27SA3 pre-rRNA. To investigate more specific functions of Erb1, we constructed eight internal deletions of 40-60 amino acid residues each, spanning the amino-terminal half of Erb1. The erb1Δ161-200 and erb1Δ201-245 deletion mutations block a later step than depletion of Erb1, namely cleavage of the C2 site that initiates removal of the ITS2 spacer. Two other remodeling events fail to occur in these erb1 mutants: association of twelve different assembly factors with domain V of 25S rRNA, including the neighborhood surrounding the peptidyl transferase center, and stable association of ribosomal proteins with rRNA surrounding the polypeptide exit tunnel. This suggests that successful initiation of construction of these functional centers is a checkpoint for committing to spacer removal.

Structural transitions during large ribosomal subunit maturation analyzed by tethered nuclease structure probing in S. cerevisiae

Yeast large ribosomal subunit (LSU) precursors are subject to substantial changes in protein composition during their maturation due to coordinated transient interactions with a large number of ribosome biogenesis factors and due to the assembly of ribosomal proteins. These compositional changes go along with stepwise processing of LSU rRNA precursors and with specific rRNA folding events, as revealed by recent cryo-electron microscopy analyses of late nuclear and cytoplasmic LSU precursors. Here we aimed to analyze changes in the spatial rRNA surrounding of selected ribosomal proteins during yeast LSU maturation. For this we combined a recently developed tethered tertiary structure probing approach with both targeted and high throughput readout strategies. Several structural features of late LSU precursors were faithfully detected by this procedure. In addition, the obtained data let us suggest that early rRNA precursor processing events are accompanied by a global transition from a flexible to a spatially restricted rRNA conformation. For intermediate LSU precursors a number of structural hallmarks could be addressed which include the fold of the internal transcribed spacer between 5.8S rRNA and 25S rRNA, the orientation of the central protuberance and the spatial organization of the interface between LSU rRNA domains I and III.

Principles of 60S ribosomal subunit assembly emerging from recent studies in yeast

Ribosome biogenesis requires the intertwined processes of folding, modification, and processing of ribosomal RNA, together with binding of ribosomal proteins. In eukaryotic cells, ribosome assembly begins in the nucleolus, continues in the nucleoplasm, and is not completed until after nascent particles are exported to the cytoplasm. The efficiency and fidelity of ribosome biogenesis are facilitated by >200 assembly factors and ∼76 different small nucleolar RNAs. The pathway is driven forward by numerous remodeling events to rearrange the ribonucleoprotein architecture of pre-ribosomes. Here, we describe principles of ribosome assembly that have emerged from recent studies of biogenesis of the large ribosomal subunit in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae We describe tools that have empowered investigations of ribosome biogenesis, and then summarize recent discoveries about each of the consecutive steps of subunit assembly.

Mechanistic insight into eukaryotic 60S ribosomal subunit biogenesis by cryo-electron microscopy

Eukaryotic ribosomes, the protein-producing factories of the cell, are composed of four ribosomal RNA molecules and roughly 80 proteins. Their biogenesis is a complex process that involves more than 200 biogenesis factors that facilitate the production, modification, and assembly of ribosomal components and the structural transitions along the maturation pathways of the pre-ribosomal particles. Here, I review recent structural and mechanistic insights into the biogenesis of the large ribosomal subunit that were furthered by cryo-electron microscopy of natively purified pre-60S particles and in vitro reconstituted ribosome assembly factor complexes. Combined with biochemical, genetic, and previous structural data, these structures have provided detailed insights into the assembly and maturation of the central protuberance of the 60S subunit, the network of biogenesis factors near the ribosomal tunnel exit, and the functional activation of the large ribosomal subunit during cytoplasmic maturation.

Atomic modeling of the ITS2 ribosome assembly subcomplex from cryo-EM together with mass spectrometry-identified protein-protein crosslinks

The assembly of ribosomal subunits starts in the nucleus, initiated by co-transcriptional folding of nascent ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcripts and binding of ribosomal proteins and assembly factors. The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) is a precursor sequence to be processed from the intermediate 27S rRNA in the nucleoplasm; its removal is required for nuclear export of pre-60S particles. The proper processing of the ITS2 depends on multiple associated assembly factors and RNases. However, none of the structures of the known ITS2-binding factors is available. Here, we describe the modeling of the ITS2 subcomplex, including five assembly factors Cic1, Nop7, Nop15, Nop53, and Rlp7, using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy and cross-linking of proteins coupled with mass spectrometry approaches. The resulting atomic models provide structural insights into their function in ribosome assembly, and establish a framework for further dissection of their molecular roles in ITS2 processing.

Functional characterization of the ribosome biogenesis factors PES, BOP1, and WDR12 (PeBoW), and mechanisms of defective cell growth and proliferation caused by PeBoW deficiency in Arabidopsis

The nucleolar protein pescadillo (PES) controls biogenesis of the 60S ribosomal subunit through functional interactions with Block of Proliferation 1 (BOP1) and WD Repeat Domain 12 (WDR12) in plants. In this study, we determined protein characteristics and in planta functions of BOP1 and WDR12, and characterized defects in plant cell growth and proliferation caused by a deficiency of PeBoW (PES-BOP1-WDR12) proteins. Dexamethasone-inducible RNAi of BOP1 and WDR12 caused developmental arrest and premature senescence in Arabidopsis, similar to the phenotype of PES RNAi. Both the N-terminal domain and WD40 repeats of BOP1 and WDR12 were critical for specific associations with 60S/80S ribosomes. In response to nucleolar stress or DNA damage, PeBoW proteins moved from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm. Kinematic analyses of leaf growth revealed that depletion of PeBoW proteins led to dramatically suppressed cell proliferation, cell expansion, and epidermal pavement cell differentiation. A deficiency in PeBoW proteins resulted in reduced cyclin-dependent kinase Type A activity, causing reduced phosphorylation of histone H1 and retinoblastoma-related (RBR) protein. PeBoW silencing caused rapid transcriptional modulation of cell-cycle genes, including reduction of E2Fa and Cyclin D family genes, and induction of several KRP genes, accompanied by down-regulation of auxin-related genes and up-regulation of jasmonic acid-related genes. Taken together, these results suggest that the PeBoW proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis play a critical role in plant cell growth and survival, and their depletion leads to inhibition of cell-cycle progression, possibly modulated by phytohormone signaling.

Disruption of ribosome assembly in yeast blocks cotranscriptional pre-rRNA processing and affects the global hierarchy of ribosome biogenesis

In higher eukaryotes, pre-rRNA processing occurs almost exclusively post-transcriptionally. This is not the case in rapidly dividing yeast, as the majority of nascent pre-rRNAs are processed cotranscriptionally, with cleavage at the A2 site first releasing a pre-40S ribosomal subunit followed by release of a pre-60S ribosomal subunit upon transcription termination. Ribosome assembly is driven in part by hierarchical association of assembly factors and r-proteins. Groups of proteins are thought to associate with pre-ribosomes cotranscriptionally during early assembly steps, whereas others associate later, after transcription is completed. Here we describe a previously uncharacterized phenotype observed upon disruption of ribosome assembly, in which normally late-binding proteins associate earlier, with pre-ribosomes containing 35S pre-rRNA. As previously observed by many other groups, we show that disruption of 60S subunit biogenesis results in increased amounts of 35S pre-rRNA, suggesting that a greater fraction of pre-rRNAs are processed post-transcriptionally. Surprisingly, we found that early pre-ribosomes containing 35S pre-rRNA also contain proteins previously thought to only associate with pre-ribosomes after early pre-rRNA processing steps have separated maturation of the two subunits. We believe the shift to post-transcriptional processing is ultimately due to decreased cellular division upon disruption of ribosome assembly. When cells are grown under stress or to high density, a greater fraction of pre-rRNAs are processed post-transcriptionally and follow an alternative processing pathway. Together, these results affirm the principle that ribosome assembly occurs through different, parallel assembly pathways and suggest that there is a kinetic foot-race between the formation of protein binding sites and pre-rRNA processing events.

Analysis of Block of cell proliferation 1 (BOP1) activity in strawberry and Arabidopsis

Block of cell proliferation (BOP) proteins are conserved among eukaryotes, and studies in mammals and yeast have described their role in ribosome biogenesis and cell cycle regulation. A BOP1 orthologue was identified in plants, and loss-of-function analyses in tobacco cells confirmed similar activities. This report characterizes a role for BOP1 activity in planta. Two transgenic plant species were used: the diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and Arabidopsis thaliana. FvBOP1 silencing showed changes in pre-rRNA processing, and demonstrated FvBOP1's role in growth and physiology throughout different stages of plant development. In the strawberry, repression of FvBOP1 activity decreased plant fitness prior to flowering, followed by plant death after the reproductive transition, indicating that BOP1 activity is required for transition back to vegetative growth after flowering. A T-DNA null allele of the AtBOP1 gene is lethal, and a 50% decrease in transcript accumulation is sufficient to cause severe developmental defects linked to defective cell division. The conserved protein BOP1 is essential for viability. Lower transcript levels result in defects in rRNA processing and developmental abnormalities that are consistent with its predicted role in ribosome biogenesis.

Maize reas1 Mutant Stimulates Ribosome Use Efficiency and Triggers Distinct Transcriptional and Translational Responses

Ribosome biogenesis is a fundamental cellular process in all cells. Impaired ribosome biogenesis causes developmental defects; however, its molecular and cellular bases are not fully understood. We cloned a gene responsible for a maize (Zea mays) small seed mutant, dek* (for defective kernel), and found that it encodes Ribosome export associated1 (ZmReas1). Reas1 is an AAA-ATPase that controls 60S ribosome export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after ribosome maturation. dek* is a weak mutant allele with decreased Reas1 function. In dek* cells, mature 60S ribosome subunits are reduced in the nucleus and cytoplasm, but the proportion of actively translating polyribosomes in cytosol is significantly increased. Reduced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α and the increased elongation factor 1α level indicate an enhancement of general translational efficiency in dek* cells. The mutation also triggers dramatic changes in differentially transcribed genes and differentially translated RNAs. Discrepancy was observed between differentially transcribed genes and differentially translated RNAs, indicating distinct cellular responses at transcription and translation levels to the stress of defective ribosome processing. DNA replication and nucleosome assembly-related gene expression are selectively suppressed at the translational level, resulting in inhibited cell growth and proliferation in dek* cells. This study provides insight into cellular responses due to impaired ribosome biogenesis.

Concerted removal of the Erb1-Ytm1 complex in ribosome biogenesis relies on an elaborate interface

The complicated process of eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis involves about 200 assembly factors that transiently associate with the nascent pre-ribosome in a spatiotemporally ordered way. During the early steps of 60S subunit formation, several proteins, collectively called A₃ cluster factors, participate in the removal of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) from 27SA₃ pre-rRNA. Among these factors is the conserved hetero-trimeric Nop7–Erb1–Ytm1 complex (or human Pes1–Bop1–Wdr12), which is removed from the evolving pre-60S particle by the AAA ATPase Rea1 to allow progression in the pathway. Here, we clarify how Ytm1 and Erb1 interact, which has implications for the release mechanism of both factors from the pre-ribosome. Biochemical studies show that Ytm1 and Erb1 bind each other via their ß-propeller domains. The crystal structure of the Erb1–Ytm1 heterodimer determined at 2.67Å resolution reveals an extended interaction surface between the propellers in a rarely observed binding mode. Structure-based mutations in the interface that impair the Erb1–Ytm1 interaction do not support growth, with specific defects in 60S subunit synthesis. Under these mutant conditions, it becomes clear that an intact Erb1–Ytm1 complex is required for 60S maturation and that loss of this stable interaction prevents ribosome production.

Targeted cross-linking-mass spectrometry determines vicinal interactomes within heterogeneous RNP complexes

Proteomic and RNomic approaches have identified many components of different ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), yet still little is known about the organization and protein proximities within these heterogeneous and highly dynamic complexes. Here we describe a targeted cross-linking approach, which combines cross-linking from a known anchor site with affinity purification and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the changing vicinity interactomes along RNP maturation pathways. Our method confines the reaction radius of a heterobifunctional cross-linker to a specific interaction surface, increasing the probability to capture low abundance conformations and transient vicinal interactors too infrequent for identification by traditional cross-linking-MS approaches, and determine protein proximities within RNPs. Applying the method to two conserved RNA-associated complexes in Saccharomyces cerevisae, the mRNA export receptor Mex67:Mtr2 and the pre-ribosomal Nop7 subcomplex, we identified dynamic vicinal interactomes within those complexes and along their changing pathway milieu. Our results therefore show that this method provides a new tool to study the changing spatial organization of heterogeneous dynamic RNP complexes.

The Crystal Structure of the Ubiquitin-like Domain of Ribosome Assembly Factor Ytm1 and Characterization of Its Interaction with the AAA-ATPase Midasin

The synthesis of eukaryotic ribosomes is a complex, energetically demanding process requiring the aid of numerous non-ribosomal factors, such as the PeBoW complex. The mammalian PeBoW complex, composed of Pes1, Bop1, and WDR12, is essential for the processing of the 32S preribosomal RNA. Previous work in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has shown that release of the homologous proteins in this complex (Nop7, Erb1, and Ytm1, respectively) from preribosomal particles requires Rea1 (midasin or MDN1 in humans), a large dynein-like protein. Midasin contains a C-terminal metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) domain that interacts with the N-terminal ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain of Ytm1/WDR12 as well as the UBL domain of Rsa4/Nle1 in a later step in the ribosome maturation pathway. Here we present the crystal structure of the UBL domain of the WDR12 homologue from S. cerevisiae at 1.7 Å resolution and demonstrate that human midasin binds to WDR12 as well as Nle1 through their respective UBL domains. Midasin contains a well conserved extension region upstream of the MIDAS domain required for binding WDR12 and Nle1, and the interaction is dependent upon metal ion coordination because removal of the metal or mutation of residues that coordinate the metal ion diminishes the interaction. Mammalian WDR12 displays prominent nucleolar localization that is dependent upon active ribosomal RNA transcription. Based upon these results, we propose that release of the PeBoW complex and subsequent release of Nle1 by midasin is a well conserved step in the ribosome maturation pathway in both yeast and mammalian cells.

The structure of Erb1-Ytm1 complex reveals the functional importance of a high-affinity binding between two β-propellers during the assembly of large ribosomal subunits in eukaryotes

Ribosome biogenesis is one of the most essential pathways in eukaryotes although it is still not fully characterized. Given the importance of this process in proliferating cells, it is obvious that understanding the macromolecular details of the interactions that take place between the assembly factors, ribosomal proteins and nascent pre-rRNAs is essentially required for the development of new non-genotoxic treatments for cancer. Herein, we have studied the association between the WD40-repeat domains of Erb1 and Ytm1 proteins. These are essential factors for the biogenesis of 60S ribosomal subunits in eukaryotes that form a heterotrimeric complex together with the also essential Nop7 protein. We provide the crystal structure of a dimer formed by the C-terminal part of Erb1 and Ytm1 from Chaetomium thermophilum at 2.1 Å resolution. Using a multidisciplinary approach we show that the β-propeller domains of these proteins interact in a novel manner that leads to a high-affinity binding. We prove that a point mutation within the interface of the complex impairs the interaction between the two proteins and negatively affects growth and ribosome production in yeast. Our study suggests insights into the association of the Erb1-Ytm1 dimer with pre-ribosomal particles.

Nucleolar stress with and without p53

A veritable explosion of primary research papers within the past 10 years focuses on nucleolar and ribosomal stress, and for good reason: with ribosome biosynthesis consuming ~80% of a cell’s energy, nearly all metabolic and signaling pathways lead ultimately to or from the nucleolus. We begin by describing p53 activation upon nucleolar stress resulting in cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The significance of this mechanism cannot be understated, as oncologists are now inducing nucleolar stress strategically in cancer cells as a potential anti-cancer therapy. We also summarize the human ribosomopathies, syndromes in which ribosome biogenesis or function are impaired leading to birth defects or bone narrow failures; the perplexing problem in the ribosomopathies is why only certain cells are affected despite the fact that the causative mutation is systemic. We then describe p53-independent nucleolar stress, first in yeast which lacks p53, and then in other model metazoans that lack MDM2, the critical E3 ubiquitin ligase that normally inactivates p53. Do these presumably ancient p53-independent nucleolar stress pathways remain latent in human cells? If they still exist, can we use them to target >50% of known human cancers that lack functional p53?

The structure of Rpf2-Rrs1 explains its role in ribosome biogenesis

The assembly of eukaryotic ribosomes is a hierarchical process involving about 200 biogenesis factors and a series of remodeling steps. The 5S RNP consisting of the 5S rRNA, RpL5 and RpL11 is recruited at an early stage, but has to rearrange during maturation of the pre-60S ribosomal subunit. Rpf2 and Rrs1 have been implicated in 5S RNP biogenesis, but their precise role was unclear. Here, we present the crystal structure of the Rpf2–Rrs1 complex from Aspergillus nidulans at 1.5 Å resolution and describe it as Brix domain of Rpf2 completed by Rrs1 to form two anticodon-binding domains with functionally important tails. Fitting the X-ray structure into the cryo-EM density of a previously described pre-60S particle correlates with biochemical data. The heterodimer forms specific contacts with the 5S rRNA, RpL5 and the biogenesis factor Rsa4. The flexible protein tails of Rpf2–Rrs1 localize to the central protuberance. Two helices in the Rrs1 C-terminal tail occupy a strategic position to block the rotation of 25S rRNA and the 5S RNP. Our data provide a structural model for 5S RNP recruitment to the pre-60S particle and explain why removal of Rpf2–Rrs1 is necessary for rearrangements to drive 60S maturation.

The carboxy-terminal domain of Erb1 is a seven-bladed ß-propeller that binds RNA

Erb1 (Eukaryotic Ribosome Biogenesis 1) protein is essential for the maturation of the ribosomal 60S subunit. Functional studies in yeast and mammalian cells showed that altogether with Nop7 and Ytm1 it forms a stable subcomplex called PeBoW that is crucial for a correct rRNA processing. The exact function of the protein within the process remains unknown. The N-terminal region of the protein includes a well conserved region shown to be involved in PeBoW complex formation whereas the carboxy-terminal half was predicted to contain seven WD40 repeats. This first structural report on Erb1 from yeast describes the architecture of a seven-bladed β-propeller domain that revealed a characteristic extra motif formed by two α-helices and a β-strand that insert within the second WD repeat. We performed analysis of molecular surface and crystal packing, together with multiple sequence alignment and comparison of the structure with other β-propellers, in order to identify areas that are more likely to mediate protein-protein interactions. The abundance of many positively charged residues on the surface of the domain led us to investigate whether the propeller of Erb1 might be involved in RNA binding. Three independent assays confirmed that the protein interacted in vitro with polyuridilic acid (polyU), thus suggesting a possible role of the domain in rRNA rearrangement during ribosome biogenesis.

A protein interaction map of the LSU processome

Maturation of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU) in eukaryotes is a complex and highly coordinated process that requires the concerted action of a large, dynamic, ribonucleoprotein complex, the LSU processome. To interrogate its organization and architecture, McCann et al. assayed 4800 protein–protein interactions and identified 232 high-confidence, binary-interacting protein pairs, representing a fourfold increase from current knowledge. The resulting LSU processome interactome map enhances our understanding of the organization and function of the biogenesis factors within the LSU processome.

Maturation of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU) in eukaryotes is a complex and highly coordinated process that requires the concerted action of a large, dynamic, ribonucleoprotein complex, the LSU processome. While we know that >80 ribosome biogenesis factors are required throughout the course of LSU assembly, little is known about how these factors interact with each other within the LSU processome. To interrogate its organization and architecture, we took a systems biology approach and performed a semi-high-throughput, array-based, directed yeast two-hybrid assay. Assaying 4800 protein–protein interactions, we identified 232 high-confidence, binary-interacting protein pairs, representing a fourfold increase from current knowledge. The resulting LSU processome interactome map has enhanced our understanding of the organization and function of the biogenesis factors within the LSU processome, revealing both novel and previously identified subcomplexes and hub proteins, including Nop4.

DEAD-box helicase DDX27 regulates 3' end formation of ribosomal 47S RNA and stably associates with the PeBoW-complex

PeBoW, a trimeric complex consisting of pescadillo (Pes1), block of proliferation (Bop1), and the WD repeat protein 12 (WDR12), is essential for processing and maturation of mammalian 5.8S and 28S ribosomal RNAs. Applying a mass spectrometric analysis, we identified the DEAD-box helicase DDX27 as stably associated factor of the PeBoW-complex. DDX27 interacts with the PeBoW-complex via an evolutionary conserved F×F motif in the N-terminal domain and is recruited to the nucleolus via its basic C-terminal domain. This recruitment is RNA-dependent and occurs independently of the PeBoW-complex. Interestingly, knockdown of DDX27, but not of Pes1, induces the accumulation of an extended form of the primary 47S rRNA. We conclude that DDX27 can interact specifically with the Pes1 and Bop1 but fulfils critical function(s) for proper 3' end formation of 47S rRNA independently of the PeBoW-complex.

Dynamics of the Spb4 interactome monitored by affinity purification

RNA helicases constitute the largest class of NTPases involved in ribosome biogenesis, a fundamental process that has been best characterized in the eukaryotic model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In yeast, genetic and biochemical analyses indicate that these RNA helicases are energy-consuming modulators of local structures inside pre-ribosomal particles that actively promote the establishment or dissociation of snoRNA:pre-rRNA base pairings, the activity of certain pre-rRNA nucleases, and/or the acquisition of pre-rRNA folds required for the recruitment or release of ribosome assembly factors and the stable assembly of ribosomal proteins. Despite significant recent advances, the precise molecular functions of RNA helicases involved in ribosome biogenesis remain largely elusive. In recent years, the purification and compositional analysis of distinct pre-ribosomal particles via affinity purification methods has been established as one of the most useful techniques to explore the yeast ribosome biogenesis pathway. In this chapter, we describe the use of different affinity purification methods to study the physical environment of RNA helicases involved in ribosome biogenesis, using as an example the putative RNA helicase Spb4 required for 60S ribosomal subunit biogenesis.

A network of assembly factors is involved in remodeling rRNA elements during preribosome maturation

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis involves ∼200 assembly factors, but how these contribute to ribosome maturation is poorly understood. Here, we identify a network of factors on the nascent 60S subunit that actively remodels preribosome structure. At its hub is Rsa4, a direct substrate of the force-generating ATPase Rea1. We show that Rsa4 is connected to the central protuberance by binding to Rpl5 and to ribosomal RNA (rRNA) helix 89 of the nascent peptidyl transferase center (PTC) through Nsa2. Importantly, Nsa2 binds to helix 89 before relocation of helix 89 to the PTC. Structure-based mutations of these factors reveal the functional importance of their interactions for ribosome assembly. Thus, Rsa4 is held tightly in the preribosome and can serve as a "distribution box," transmitting remodeling energy from Rea1 into the developing ribosome. We suggest that a relay-like factor network coupled to a mechano-enzyme is strategically positioned to relocate rRNA elements during ribosome maturation.

An overview of pre-ribosomal RNA processing in eukaryotes

Ribosomal RNAs are the most abundant and universal noncoding RNAs in living organisms. In eukaryotes, three of the four ribosomal RNAs forming the 40S and 60S subunits are borne by a long polycistronic pre-ribosomal RNA. A complex sequence of processing steps is required to gradually release the mature RNAs from this precursor, concomitant with the assembly of the 79 ribosomal proteins. A large set of trans-acting factors chaperone this process, including small nucleolar ribonucleoparticles. While yeast has been the gold standard for studying the molecular basis of this process, recent technical advances have allowed to further define the mechanisms of ribosome biogenesis in animals and plants. This renewed interest for a long-lasting question has been fueled by the association of several genetic diseases with mutations in genes encoding both ribosomal proteins and ribosome biogenesis factors, and by the perspective of new anticancer treatments targeting the mechanisms of ribosome synthesis. A consensus scheme of pre-ribosomal RNA maturation is emerging from studies in various kinds of eukaryotic organisms. However, major differences between mammalian and yeast pre-ribosomal RNA processing have recently come to light. WIREs RNA 2015, 6:225–242. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1269

Identification of essential proteins based on ranking edge-weights in protein-protein interaction networks

Essential proteins are those that are indispensable to cellular survival and development. Existing methods for essential protein identification generally rely on knock-out experiments and/or the relative density of their interactions (edges) with other proteins in a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network. Here, we present a computational method, called EW, to first rank protein-protein interactions in terms of their Edge Weights, and then identify sub-PPI-networks consisting of only the highly-ranked edges and predict their proteins as essential proteins. We have applied this method to publicly-available PPI data on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) for essential protein identification, and demonstrated that EW achieves better performance than the state-of-the-art methods in terms of the precision-recall and Jackknife measures. The highly-ranked protein-protein interactions by our prediction tend to be biologically significant in both the Yeast and E. coli PPI networks. Further analyses on systematically perturbed Yeast and E. coli PPI networks through randomly deleting edges demonstrate that the proposed method is robust and the top-ranked edges tend to be more associated with known essential proteins than the lowly-ranked edges.

Two orthogonal cleavages separate subunit RNAs in mouse ribosome biogenesis

Ribosome biogenesis is a dynamic multistep process, many features of which are still incompletely documented. Here, we show that changes in this pathway can be captured and annotated by means of a graphic set of pre-rRNA ratios, a technique we call Ratio Analysis of Multiple Precursors (RAMP). We find that knocking down a ribosome synthesis factor produces a characteristic RAMP profile that exhibits consistency across a range of depletion levels. This facilitates the inference of affected steps and simplifies comparative analysis. We applied RAMP to examine how endonucleolytic cleavages of the mouse pre-rRNA transcript in the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) are affected by depletion of factors required for maturation of the small ribosomal subunit (Rcl1, Fcf1/Utp24, Utp23) and the large subunit (Pes1, Nog1). The data suggest that completion of early maturation in a subunit triggers its release from the common pre-rRNA transcript by stimulating cleavage at the proximal site in ITS1. We also find that splitting of pre-rRNA in the 3' region of ITS1 is prevalent in adult mouse tissues and quiescent cells, as it is in human cells. We propose a model for subunit separation during mammalian ribosome synthesis and discuss its implications for understanding pre-rRNA processing pathways.

Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis at a glance

Ribosomes play a pivotal role in the molecular life of every cell. Moreover, synthesis of ribosomes is one of the most energetically demanding of all cellular processes. In eukaryotic cells, ribosome biogenesis requires the coordinated activity of all three RNA polymerases and the orchestrated work of many (>200) transiently associated ribosome assembly factors. The biogenesis of ribosomes is a tightly regulated activity and it is inextricably linked to other fundamental cellular processes, including growth and cell division. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that defects in ribosome biogenesis are associated with several hereditary diseases. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we summarise the current knowledge on eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis, with an emphasis on the yeast model system.

Ribosome assembly factors Pwp1 and Nop12 are important for folding of 5.8S rRNA during ribosome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Previous work from our lab suggests that a group of interdependent assembly factors (A(3) factors) is necessary to create early, stable preribosomes. Many of these proteins bind at or near internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), but in their absence, ITS1 is not removed from rRNA, suggesting long-range communication between these two spacers. By comparing the nonessential assembly factors Nop12 and Pwp1, we show that misfolding of rRNA is sufficient to perturb early steps of biogenesis, but it is the lack of A(3) factors that results in turnover of early preribosomes. Deletion of NOP12 significantly inhibits 27SA(3) pre-rRNA processing, even though the A(3) factors are present in preribosomes. Furthermore, pre-rRNAs are stable, indicating that the block in processing is not sufficient to trigger turnover. This is in contrast to the absence of Pwp1, in which the A(3) factors are not present and pre-rRNAs are unstable. In vivo RNA structure probing revealed that the pre-rRNA processing defects are due to misfolding of 5.8S rRNA. In the absence of Nop12 and Pwp1, rRNA helix 5 is not stably formed. Interestingly, the absence of Nop12 results in the formation of an alternative yet unproductive helix 5 when cells are grown at low temperatures.

GIGANTUS1 (GTS1), a member of Transducin/WD40 protein superfamily, controls seed germination, growth and biomass accumulation through ribosome-biogenesis protein interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana

BACKGROUND

WD40 domains have been found in a plethora of eukaryotic proteins, acting as scaffolding molecules assisting proper activity of other proteins, and are involved in multi-cellular processes. They comprise several stretches of 44-60 amino acid residues often terminating with a WD di-peptide. They act as a site of protein-protein interactions or multi-interacting platforms, driving the assembly of protein complexes or as mediators of transient interplay among other proteins. In Arabidopsis, members of WD40 protein superfamily are known as key regulators of plant-specific events, biologically playing important roles in development and also during stress signaling.

RESULTS

Using reverse genetic and protein modeling approaches, we characterize GIGANTUS1 (GTS1), a new member of WD40 repeat protein in Arabidopsis thaliana and provide evidence of its role in controlling plant growth development. GTS1 is highly expressed during embryo development and negatively regulates seed germination, biomass yield and growth improvement in plants. Structural modeling analysis suggests that GTS1 folds into a β-propeller with seven pseudo symmetrically arranged blades around a central axis. Molecular docking analysis shows that GTS1 physically interacts with two ribosomal protein partners, a component of ribosome Nop16, and a ribosome-biogenesis factor L19e through β-propeller blade 4 to regulate cell growth development.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that GTS1 might function in plant developmental processes by regulating ribosomal structural features, activities and biogenesis in plant cells. Our results suggest that GIGANTUS1 might be a promising target to engineer transgenic plants with higher biomass and improved growth development for plant-based bioenergy production.

Identification of the binding site of Rlp7 on assembling 60S ribosomal subunits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic ribosome assembly requires over 200 assembly factors that facilitate rRNA folding, ribosomal protein binding, and pre-rRNA processing. One such factor is Rlp7, an essential RNA binding protein required for consecutive pre-rRNA processing steps for assembly of yeast 60S ribosomal subunits: exonucleolytic processing of 27SA3 pre-rRNA to generate the 5' end of 5.8S rRNA and endonucleolytic cleavage of the 27SB pre-rRNA to initiate removal of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). To better understand the functions of Rlp7 in 27S pre-rRNA processing steps, we identified where it crosslinks to pre-rRNA. We found that Rlp7 binds at the junction of ITS2 and the ITS2-proximal stem, between the 3' end of 5.8S rRNA and the 5' end of 25S rRNA. Consistent with Rlp7 binding to this neighborhood during assembly, two-hybrid and affinity copurification assays showed that Rlp7 interacts with other assembly factors that bind to or near ITS2 and the proximal stem. We used in vivo RNA structure probing to demonstrate that the proximal stem forms prior to Rlp7 binding and that Rlp7 binding induces RNA conformational changes in ITS2 that may chaperone rRNA folding and regulate 27S pre-rRNA processing. Our findings contradict the hypothesis that Rlp7 functions as a placeholder for ribosomal protein L7, from which Rlp7 is thought to have evolved in yeast. The binding site of Rlp7 is within eukaryotic-specific RNA elements, which are not found in bacteria. Thus, we propose that Rlp7 coevolved with these RNA elements to facilitate eukaryotic-specific functions in ribosome assembly and pre-rRNA processing.