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Wassmer E, Koppány G, Hermes M, Diederichs S, Caudron-Herger M. Refining the pool of RNA-binding domains advances the classification and prediction of RNA-binding proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7504-7522. [PMID: 38917322 PMCID: PMC11260472 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
From transcription to decay, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) influence RNA metabolism. Using the RBP2GO database that combines proteome-wide RBP screens from 13 species, we investigated the RNA-binding features of 176 896 proteins. By compiling published lists of RNA-binding domains (RBDs) and RNA-related protein family (Rfam) IDs with lists from the InterPro database, we analyzed the distribution of the RBDs and Rfam IDs in RBPs and non-RBPs to select RBDs and Rfam IDs that were enriched in RBPs. We also explored proteins for their content in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and low complexity regions (LCRs). We found a strong positive correlation between IDRs and RBDs and a co-occurrence of specific LCRs. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that RBDs/Rfam IDs were strong indicators of the RNA-binding potential of proteins and helped predicting new RBP candidates, especially in less investigated species. By further analyzing RBPs without RBD, we predicted new RBDs that were validated by RNA-bound peptides. Finally, we created the RBP2GO composite score by combining the RBP2GO score with new quality factors linked to RBDs and Rfam IDs. Based on the RBP2GO composite score, we compiled a list of 2018 high-confidence human RBPs. The knowledge collected here was integrated into the RBP2GO database at https://RBP2GO-2-Beta.dkfz.de.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Wassmer
- Research Group “RNA-Protein Complexes & Cell Proliferation”, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gergely Koppány
- Research Group “RNA-Protein Complexes & Cell Proliferation”, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Malte Hermes
- Research Group “RNA-Protein Complexes & Cell Proliferation”, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven Diederichs
- Division of Cancer Research, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Freiburg, a partnership between DKFZ and University Medical Center Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maïwen Caudron-Herger
- Research Group “RNA-Protein Complexes & Cell Proliferation”, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Angelo M, Bhargava Y, Aoki ST. A primer for junior trainees: Recognition of RNA modifications by RNA-binding proteins. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION : A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39037148 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The complexity of RNA cannot be fully expressed with the canonical A, C, G, and U alphabet. To date, over 170 distinct chemical modifications to RNA have been discovered in living systems. RNA modifications can profoundly impact the cellular outcomes of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), transfer and ribosomal RNAs, and noncoding RNAs. Additionally, aberrant RNA modifications are associated with human disease. RNA modifications are a rising topic within the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. The role of RNA modifications in gene regulation, disease pathogenesis, and therapeutic applications increasingly captures the attention of the scientific community. This review aims to provide undergraduates, junior trainees, and educators with an appreciation for the significance of RNA modifications in eukaryotic organisms, alongside the skills required to identify and analyze fundamental RNA-protein interactions. The pumilio RNA-binding protein and YT521-B homology (YTH) family of modified RNA-binding proteins serve as examples to highlight the fundamental biochemical interactions that underlie the specific recognition of both unmodified and modified ribonucleotides, respectively. By instilling these foundational, textbook concepts through practical examples, this review contributes an analytical toolkit that facilitates engagement with RNA modifications research at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murphy Angelo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Yash Bhargava
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Scott Takeo Aoki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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3
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Nebli S, Rebai A, Ayadi I. Screening clusters of charged residues in plants' mitochondrial proteins and biological significance. Mitochondrion 2024; 78:101938. [PMID: 39013535 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2024.101938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Protein function is dependent on charge interactions and charge biased regions, which are involved in a wide range of cellular and biochemical processes. We report the development of a new algorithm implemented in Python and its use to identify charge clusters CC (NegativeCC: NCC, PositiveCC: PCC and MixedCC: MCC) and compare their presence in mitochondrial proteins of plant groups. To characterize the resulting CC, statistical, structural and functional analyses were conducted. The screening of 105 399 protein sequences showed that 2.6 %, 0.48 % and 0.03 % of the proteins contain NCC, PCC and MCC, respectively. Mitochondrial proteins encoded by the nuclear genome of green algae have the biggest proportion of both PCC (1.6 %) and MCC (0.4 %) and mitochondrial proteins coded by the nuclear genome of other plants group have the highest portion of NCC (7.5 %). The mapping of the identified CC showed that they are mainly located in the terminal regions of the protein. Annotation showed that proteins with CC are classified as binding proteins, are included in the transmembrane transport processes, and are mainly located in the membrane. The CC scanning revealed the presence of 2373 and 784 sites and 192 and 149 motif profiles within NCC and PCC, respectively. The investigation of CC within pentatricopeptide repeat-containing proteins revealed that they are involved in correct and specific RNA editing. CC were proven to play a key role in providing insightful structural and functional information of complex protein assemblies which could be useful in biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Nebli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, P. O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
| | - Ahmed Rebai
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, P. O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
| | - Imen Ayadi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, P. O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
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4
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Vijayakumar A, Majumder M, Yin S, Brobbey C, Karam J, Howley B, Howe P, Berto S, Madan L, Gan W, Palanisamy V. PRMT5-mediated arginine methylation of FXR1 is essential for RNA binding in cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7225-7244. [PMID: 38709899 PMCID: PMC11229354 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that arginine methylation promotes the stability of arginine-glycine-rich (RGG) motif-containing RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and regulates gene expression. Here, we report that post-translational modification of FXR1 enhances the binding with mRNAs and is involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation. Independent point mutations in arginine residues of FXR1's nuclear export signal (R386 and R388) and RGG (R453, R455 and R459) domains prevent it from binding to RNAs that form G-quadruplex (G4) RNA structures. Disruption of G4-RNA structures by lithium chloride failed to bind with FXR1, indicating its preference for G4-RNA structure containing mRNAs. Furthermore, loss-of-function of PRMT5 inhibited FXR1 methylation both in vivo and in vitro, affecting FXR1 protein stability, inhibiting RNA-binding activity and cancer cell growth and proliferation. Finally, the enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (eCLIP) analyses reveal that FXR1 binds with the G4-enriched mRNA targets such as AHNAK, MAP1B, AHNAK2, HUWE1, DYNC1H1 and UBR4 and controls its mRNA expression in cancer cells. Our findings suggest that PRMT5-mediated FXR1 methylation is required for RNA/G4-RNA binding, which promotes gene expression in cancer cells. Thus, FXR1's structural characteristics and affinity for RNAs preferentially G4 regions provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of FXR1 in oral cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anitha Vijayakumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Mrinmoyee Majumder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Shasha Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Charles Brobbey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Joseph Karam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Breege Howley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Philip H Howe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Stefano Berto
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lalima K Madan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Wenjian Gan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Viswanathan Palanisamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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5
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Zhang J, Li H, Niswander LA. m 5C methylated lncRncr3-MeCP2 interaction restricts miR124a-initiated neurogenesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5136. [PMID: 38879605 PMCID: PMC11180186 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49368-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Coordination of neuronal differentiation with expansion of the neuroepithelial/neural progenitor cell (NEPC/NPC) pool is essential in early brain development. Our in vitro and in vivo studies identify independent and opposing roles for two neural-specific and differentially expressed non-coding RNAs derived from the same locus: the evolutionarily conserved lncRNA Rncr3 and the embedded microRNA miR124a-1. Rncr3 regulates NEPC/NPC proliferation and controls the biogenesis of miR124a, which determines neuronal differentiation. Rncr3 conserved exons 2/3 are cytosine methylated and bound by methyl-CpG binding protein MeCP2, which restricts expression of miR124a embedded in exon 4 to prevent premature neuronal differentiation, and to orchestrate proper brain growth. MeCP2 directly binds cytosine-methylated Rncr3 through previously unrecognized lysine residues and suppresses miR124a processing by recruiting PTBP1 to block access of DROSHA-DGCR8. Thus, miRNA processing is controlled by lncRNA m5C methylation along with the defined m5C epitranscriptomic RNA reader protein MeCP2 to coordinate brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Lee A Niswander
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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6
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Matiz-González JM, Pardo-Rodriguez D, Puerta CJ, Requena JM, Nocua PA, Cuervo C. Exploring the functionality and conservation of Alba proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi: A focus on biological diversity and RNA binding ability. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 272:132705. [PMID: 38810850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, as well as a trypanosomatid parasite with a complex biological cycle that requires precise mechanisms for regulating gene expression. In Trypanosomatidae, gene regulation occurs mainly at the mRNA level through the recognition of cis elements by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Alba family members are ubiquitous DNA/RNA-binding proteins with representatives in trypanosomatid parasites functionally related to gene expression regulation. Although T. cruzi possesses two groups of Alba proteins (Alba1/2 and Alba30/40), their functional role remains poorly understood. Thus, herein, a characterization of T. cruzi Alba (TcAlba) proteins was undertaken. Physicochemical, structural, and phylogenetic analysis of TcAlba showed features compatible with RBPs, such as hydrophilicity, RBP domains/motifs, and evolutionary conservation of the Alba-domain, mainly regarding other trypanosomatid Alba. However, in silico RNA interaction analysis of T. cruzi Alba proteins showed that TcAlba30/40 proteins, but not TcAlba1/2, would directly interact with the assayed RNA molecules, suggesting that these two groups of TcAlba proteins have different targets. Given the marked differences existing between both T. cruzi Alba groups (TcAlba1/2 and TcAlba30/40), regarding sequence divergence, RNA binding potential, and life-cycle expression patterns, we suggest that they would be involved in different biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Manuel Matiz-González
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniel Pardo-Rodriguez
- Grupo de Fitoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá, Colombia; Metabolomics Core Facility, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, 111711 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Concepción J Puerta
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - José M Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola A Nocua
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá, Colombia.
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7
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Petrauskas A, Fortunati DL, Kandi AR, Pothapragada SS, Agrawal K, Singh A, Huelsmeier J, Hillebrand J, Brown G, Chaturvedi D, Lee J, Lim C, Auburger G, VijayRaghavan K, Ramaswami M, Bakthavachalu B. Structured and disordered regions of Ataxin-2 contribute differently to the specificity and efficiency of mRNP granule formation. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011251. [PMID: 38768217 PMCID: PMC11166328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) is a gene implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia type II (SCA2), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinsonism. The encoded protein is a therapeutic target for ALS and related conditions. ATXN2 (or Atx2 in insects) can function in translational activation, translational repression, mRNA stability and in the assembly of mRNP-granules, a process mediated by intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Previous work has shown that the LSm (Like-Sm) domain of Atx2, which can help stimulate mRNA translation, antagonizes mRNP-granule assembly. Here we advance these findings through a series of experiments on Drosophila and human Ataxin-2 proteins. Results of Targets of RNA Binding Proteins Identified by Editing (TRIBE), co-localization and immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that a polyA-binding protein (PABP) interacting, PAM2 motif of Ataxin-2 may be a major determinant of the mRNA and protein content of Ataxin-2 mRNP granules. Experiments with transgenic Drosophila indicate that while the Atx2-LSm domain may protect against neurodegeneration, structured PAM2- and unstructured IDR- interactions both support Atx2-induced cytotoxicity. Taken together, the data lead to a proposal for how Ataxin-2 interactions are remodelled during translational control and how structured and non-structured interactions contribute differently to the specificity and efficiency of RNP granule condensation as well as to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnas Petrauskas
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniel L. Fortunati
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arvind Reddy Kandi
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, India
| | | | - Khushboo Agrawal
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society Centre at inStem, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - Amanjot Singh
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India
- Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, MAHE-Bengaluru, Govindapura, Bengaluru, India
| | - Joern Huelsmeier
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jens Hillebrand
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Georgia Brown
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Jongbo Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chunghun Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology, Medical School, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Mani Ramaswami
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India
| | - Baskar Bakthavachalu
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, India
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society Centre at inStem, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India
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8
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Li Y, Lemon SM. Biochemical analysis of the host factor activity of ZCCHC14 in hepatitis A virus replication. J Virol 2024; 98:e0005724. [PMID: 38501662 PMCID: PMC11019785 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00057-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Relatively little is known of the mechanisms underlying hepatitis A virus (HAV) genome replication. Unlike other well-studied picornaviruses, HAV RNA replication requires the zinc finger protein ZCCHC14 and non-canonical TENT4 poly(A) polymerases with which it forms a complex. The ZCCHC14-TENT4 complex binds to a stem-loop located within the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5' untranslated RNA (5'UTR) and is essential for viral RNA synthesis, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we describe how different ZCCHC14 domains contribute to its RNA-binding, TENT4-binding, and HAV host factor activities. We show that the RNA-binding activity of ZCCHC14 requires both a sterile alpha motif (SAM) and a downstream unstructured domain (D4) and that ZCCHC14 contains two TENT4-binding sites: one at the N-terminus and the other around D4. Both RNA-binding and TENT4-binding are required for HAV host factor activity of ZCCHC14. We also demonstrate that the location of the ZCCHC14-binding site within the 5'UTR is critical for its function. Our study provides a novel insight into the function of ZCCHC14 and helps elucidate the mechanism of the ZCCHC14-TENT4 complex in HAV replication.IMPORTANCEThe zinc finger protein ZCCHC14 is an essential host factor for both hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). It recruits the non-canonical TENT4 poly(A) polymerases to viral RNAs and most likely also a subset of cellular mRNAs. Little is known about the details of these interactions. We show here the functional domains of ZCCHC14 that are involved in binding to HAV RNA and interactions with TENT4 and describe previously unrecognized peptide sequences that are critical for the HAV host factor activity of ZCCHC14. Our study advances the understanding of the ZCCHC14-TENT4 complex and how it functions in regulating viral and cellular RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stanley M. Lemon
- Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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9
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Lee FFY, Harris C, Alper S. RNA Binding Proteins that Mediate LPS-induced Alternative Splicing of the MyD88 Innate Immune Regulator. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168497. [PMID: 38369277 PMCID: PMC11001520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation driven by Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways is required to combat infection. However, inflammation can damage host tissues; thus it is essential that TLR signaling ultimately is terminated to prevent chronic inflammatory disorders. One mechanism that terminates persistent TLR signaling is alternative splicing of the MyD88 signaling adaptor, which functions in multiple TLR signaling pathways. While the canonical long isoform of MyD88 (MyD88-L) mediates TLR signaling and promotes inflammation, an alternatively-spliced shorter isoform of MyD88 (MyD88-S) produces a dominant negative inhibitor of TLR signaling. MyD88-S production is induced by inflammatory agonists including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and thus MyD88-S induction is thought to act as a negative feedback loop that prevents chronic inflammation. Despite the potential role that MyD88-S production plays in inflammatory disorders, the mechanisms controlling MyD88 alternative splicing remain unclear. Here, we identify two RNA binding proteins, SRSF1 and HNRNPU, that regulate LPS-induced alternative splicing of MyD88.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Fang Yao Lee
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz, CO 80045, USA
| | - Chelsea Harris
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz, CO 80045, USA
| | - Scott Alper
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz, CO 80045, USA.
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10
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Dolcemascolo R, Heras-Hernández M, Goiriz L, Montagud-Martínez R, Requena-Menéndez A, Ruiz R, Pérez-Ràfols A, Higuera-Rodríguez RA, Pérez-Ropero G, Vranken WF, Martelli T, Kaiser W, Buijs J, Rodrigo G. Repurposing the mammalian RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 as an allosteric translation repressor in bacteria. eLife 2024; 12:RP91777. [PMID: 38363283 PMCID: PMC10942595 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The RNA recognition motif (RRM) is the most common RNA-binding protein domain identified in nature. However, RRM-containing proteins are only prevalent in eukaryotic phyla, in which they play central regulatory roles. Here, we engineered an orthogonal post-transcriptional control system of gene expression in the bacterium Escherichia coli with the mammalian RNA-binding protein Musashi-1, which is a stem cell marker with neurodevelopmental role that contains two canonical RRMs. In the circuit, Musashi-1 is regulated transcriptionally and works as an allosteric translation repressor thanks to a specific interaction with the N-terminal coding region of a messenger RNA and its structural plasticity to respond to fatty acids. We fully characterized the genetic system at the population and single-cell levels showing a significant fold change in reporter expression, and the underlying molecular mechanism by assessing the in vitro binding kinetics and in vivo functionality of a series of RNA mutants. The dynamic response of the system was well recapitulated by a bottom-up mathematical model. Moreover, we applied the post-transcriptional mechanism engineered with Musashi-1 to specifically regulate a gene within an operon, implement combinatorial regulation, and reduce protein expression noise. This work illustrates how RRM-based regulation can be adapted to simple organisms, thereby adding a new regulatory layer in prokaryotes for translation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roswitha Dolcemascolo
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | - María Heras-Hernández
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
| | - Lucas Goiriz
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | - Roser Montagud-Martínez
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | | | - Raúl Ruiz
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
| | - Anna Pérez-Ràfols
- Giotto Biotech SRLSesto FiorentinoItaly
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff, Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metalloproteine (CIRMMP), University of FlorenceSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - R Anahí Higuera-Rodríguez
- Dynamic Biosensors GmbHPlaneggGermany
- Department of Physics, Technical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Guillermo Pérez-Ropero
- Ridgeview Instruments ABUppsalaSweden
- Department of Chemistry – BMC, Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Wim F Vranken
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | | | | | - Jos Buijs
- Ridgeview Instruments ABUppsalaSweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Guillermo Rodrigo
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
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11
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Avila-Lopez P, Lauberth SM. Exploring new roles for RNA-binding proteins in epigenetic and gene regulation. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 84:102136. [PMID: 38128453 PMCID: PMC11245729 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
A significant portion of the human proteome comprises RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that play fundamental roles in numerous biological processes. In the last decade, there has been a staggering increase in RBP identification and classification, which has fueled interest in the evolving roles of RBPs and RBP-driven molecular mechanisms. Here, we focus on recent insights into RBP-dependent regulation of the epigenetic and transcriptional landscape. We describe advances in methodologies that define the RNA-protein interactome and machine-learning algorithms that are streamlining RBP discovery and predicting new RNA-binding regions. Finally, we present how RBP dysregulation leads to alterations in tumor-promoting gene expression and discuss the potential for targeting these RBPs for the development of new cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Avila-Lopez
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Shannon M Lauberth
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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12
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Gilbert J, Ermilova I, Fornasier M, Skoda M, Fragneto G, Swenson J, Nylander T. On the interactions between RNA and titrateable lipid layers: implications for RNA delivery with lipid nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:777-794. [PMID: 38088740 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr03308b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Characterising the interaction between cationic ionisable lipids (CIL) and nucleic acids (NAs) is key to understanding the process of RNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formation and release of NAs from LNPs. Here, we have used different surface techniques to reveal the effect of pH and NA type on the interaction with a model system of DOPC and the CIL DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3). At only 5% MC3, differences in the structure and dynamics of the lipid layer were observed. Both pH and %MC3 were shown to affect the absorption behaviour of erythropoietin mRNA, polyadenylic acid (polyA) and polyuridylic acid (polyU). The adsorbed amount of all studied NAs was found to increase with decreasing pH and increasing %MC3 but with different effects on the lipid layer, which could be linked to the NA secondary structure. For polyA at pH 6, adsorption to the surface of the layer was observed, whereas for other conditions and NAs, penetration of the NA into the layer resulted in the formation of a multilayer structure. By comparison to simulations excluding the secondary structure, differences in adsorption behaviours between polyA and polyU could be observed, indicating that the NA's secondary structure also affected the MC3-NA interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Gilbert
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Naturvetarvägen 14, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
- NanoLund, Lund University, Professorsgatan 1, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
| | - Inna Ermilova
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marco Fornasier
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Naturvetarvägen 14, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Maximilian Skoda
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxford OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Giovanna Fragneto
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, CS 20156, 38042 Grenoble, France
- European Spallation Source ERIC, P.O. Box 176, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jan Swenson
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tommy Nylander
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Naturvetarvägen 14, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
- NanoLund, Lund University, Professorsgatan 1, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-Ray Science, Scheelevägen 19, 223 70 Lund, Sweden
- School of Chemical Engineering and Translational Nanobioscience Research Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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13
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Park C, Han B, Choi Y, Jin Y, Kim KP, Choi SI, Seong BL. RNA-dependent proteome solubility maintenance in Escherichia coli lysates analysed by quantitative mass spectrometry: Proteomic characterization in terms of isoelectric point, structural disorder, functional hub, and chaperone network. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-18. [PMID: 38361426 PMCID: PMC10878026 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2315383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation, a consequence of misfolding and impaired proteostasis, can lead to cellular malfunctions such as various proteinopathies. The mechanisms protecting proteins from aggregation in complex cellular environments have long been investigated, often from a protein-centric viewpoint. However, our study provides insights into a crucial, yet overlooked actor: RNA. We found that depleting RNAs from Escherichia coli lysates induces global protein aggregation. Our quantitative mass spectrometry analysis identified over 900 statistically significant proteins from the Escherichia coli proteome whose solubility depends on RNAs. Proteome-wide characterization showed that the RNA dependency is particularly enriched among acidic proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, and structural hub proteins. Moreover, we observed distinct differences in RNA-binding mode and Gene Ontology categories between RNA-dependent acidic and basic proteins. Notably, the solubility of key molecular chaperones [Trigger factor, DnaJ, and GroES] is largely dependent on RNAs, suggesting a yet-to-be-explored hierarchical relationship between RNA-based chaperone (termed as chaperna) and protein-based chaperones, both of which constitute the whole chaperone network. These findings provide new insights into the RNA-centric role in maintaining healthy proteome solubility in vivo, where proteins associate with a variety of RNAs, either stably or transiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bitnara Han
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Institute of Natural Science, Global Center for Pharmaceutical Ingredient Materials, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
| | - Yura Choi
- Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Integrative Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea
| | - Yoontae Jin
- Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kwang Pyo Kim
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Institute of Natural Science, Global Center for Pharmaceutical Ingredient Materials, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Kyung Hee Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Il Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Baik L. Seong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Vaccine Innovative Technology ALliance (VITAL)-Korea, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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14
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Zhu S, Li Y, Wu Y, Shen Y, Wang Y, Yan Y, Chen W, Fu Q, Wang Y, Yu X, Yu F. The FERONIA-YUELAO module participates in translational control by modulating the abundance of tRNA fragments in Arabidopsis. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2930-2946.e9. [PMID: 37977150 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
tRNA fragments (tRFs) are a recently identified class of small noncoding RNAs. To date, the regulation of tRF abundance and its functional mechanisms have been largely unclear in plants. We investigated how the Arabidopsis thaliana receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) regulates the abundance of tRFs to inhibit global mRNA translation. We demonstrate that FER regulates tRF abundance by directly phosphorylating the tRNA-binding protein YUELAO (YL) to modulate its function. Downregulation of FER and YL prevented the modification of tRNA via cytosine-5-methylation and 2'-O-methylation, thereby increasing tRF abundance. Furthermore, we show that YL acts as an important genetic downstream target of FER signaling, and knockdown of a specific tRF partially rescues the root hair growth defects of fer and yl mutants. Our findings shed light on the abundance and regulatory mechanisms of tRF and their role in inhibiting translation in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - You Wu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yujie Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Weijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Qiong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Feng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology and Hunan Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China.
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15
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Ottoz DSM, Tang LC, Dyatel AE, Jovanovic M, Berchowitz LE. Assembly and function of the amyloid-like translational repressor Rim4 is coupled with nutrient conditions. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113332. [PMID: 37921330 PMCID: PMC10690475 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022113332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-like protein assemblies have been associated with toxic phenotypes because of their repetitive and stable structure. However, evidence that cells exploit these structures to control function and activity of some proteins in response to stimuli has questioned this paradigm. How amyloid-like assembly can confer emergent functions and how cells couple assembly with environmental conditions remains unclear. Here, we study Rim4, an RNA-binding protein that forms translation-repressing assemblies during yeast meiosis. We demonstrate that in its assembled and repressive state, Rim4 binds RNA more efficiently than in its monomeric and idle state, revealing a causal connection between assembly and function. The Rim4-binding site location within the transcript dictates whether the assemblies can repress translation, underscoring the importance of the architecture of this RNA-protein structure for function. Rim4 assembly depends exclusively on its intrinsically disordered region and is prevented by the Ras/protein kinase A signaling pathway, which promotes growth and suppresses meiotic entry in yeast. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby cells couple a functional protein assembly with a stimulus to enforce a cell fate decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana SM Ottoz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Hammer Health Sciences CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Lauren C Tang
- Department of Biological SciencesColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Annie E Dyatel
- Department of Genetics and Development, Hammer Health Sciences CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Marko Jovanovic
- Department of Biological SciencesColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Luke E Berchowitz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Hammer Health Sciences CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's and the Aging BrainNew YorkNYUSA
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16
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Dery KJ, Wong Z, Wei M, Kupiec-Weglinski JW. Mechanistic Insights into Alternative Gene Splicing in Oxidative Stress and Tissue Injury. Antioxid Redox Signal 2023. [PMID: 37776178 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2023.0437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Significance: Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are inducers of tissue injury. Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential regulatory step for diversifying the eukaryotic proteome. Human diseases link AS to OS; however, the underlying mechanisms must be better understood. Recent Advances: Genome‑wide profiling studies identify new differentially expressed genes induced by OS-dependent ischemia/reperfusion injury. Overexpression of RNA-binding protein RBFOX1 protects against inflammation. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α directs polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 to regulate mouse carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (Ceacam1) AS under OS conditions. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L variant 1 contains an RGG/RG motif that coordinates with transcription factors to influence human CEACAM1 AS. Hypoxia intervention involving short interfering RNAs directed to long-noncoding RNA 260 polarizes M2 macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype and alleviates OS by inhibiting IL-28RA gene AS. Critical Issues: Protective mechanisms that eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important for resolving imbalances that lead to chronic inflammation. Defects in AS can cause ROS generation, cell death regulation, and the activation of innate and adaptive immune factors. We propose that AS pathways link redox regulation to the activation or suppression of the inflammatory response during cellular stress. Future Directions: Emergent studies using molecule-mediated RNA splicing are being conducted to exploit the immunogenicity of AS protein products. Deciphering the mechanisms that connect misspliced OS and pathologies should remain a priority. Controlled release of RNA directly into cells with clinical applications is needed as the demand for innovative nucleic acid delivery systems continues to be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth J Dery
- The Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Zeriel Wong
- The Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Megan Wei
- The Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jerzy W Kupiec-Weglinski
- The Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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17
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Qiu C, Zhang Z, Wine RN, Campbell ZT, Zhang J, Hall TMT. Intra- and inter-molecular regulation by intrinsically-disordered regions governs PUF protein RNA binding. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7323. [PMID: 37953271 PMCID: PMC10641069 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43098-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PUF proteins are characterized by globular RNA-binding domains. They also interact with partner proteins that modulate their RNA-binding activities. Caenorhabditis elegans PUF protein fem-3 binding factor-2 (FBF-2) partners with intrinsically disordered Lateral Signaling Target-1 (LST-1) to regulate target mRNAs in germline stem cells. Here, we report that an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) at the C-terminus of FBF-2 autoinhibits its RNA-binding affinity by increasing the off rate for RNA binding. Moreover, the FBF-2 C-terminal region interacts with its globular RNA-binding domain at the same site where LST-1 binds. This intramolecular interaction restrains an electronegative cluster of amino acid residues near the 5' end of the bound RNA to inhibit RNA binding. LST-1 binding in place of the FBF-2 C-terminus therefore releases autoinhibition and increases RNA-binding affinity. This regulatory mechanism, driven by IDRs, provides a biochemical and biophysical explanation for the interdependence of FBF-2 and LST-1 in germline stem cell self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Qiu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert N Wine
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Zachary T Campbell
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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18
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Moursy A, Cléry A, Gerhardy S, Betz KM, Rao S, Mazur J, Campagne S, Beusch I, Duszczyk MM, Robinson MD, Panse VG, Allain FHT. RNA recognition by Npl3p reveals U2 snRNA-binding compatible with a chaperone role during splicing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7166. [PMID: 37935663 PMCID: PMC10630445 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42962-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The conserved SR-like protein Npl3 promotes splicing of diverse pre-mRNAs. However, the RNA sequence(s) recognized by the RNA Recognition Motifs (RRM1 & RRM2) of Npl3 during the splicing reaction remain elusive. Here, we developed a split-iCRAC approach in yeast to uncover the consensus sequence bound to each RRM. High-resolution NMR structures show that RRM2 recognizes a 5´-GNGG-3´ motif leading to an unusual mille-feuille topology. These structures also reveal how RRM1 preferentially interacts with a CC-dinucleotide upstream of this motif, and how the inter-RRM linker and the region C-terminal to RRM2 contribute to cooperative RNA-binding. Structure-guided functional studies show that Npl3 genetically interacts with U2 snRNP specific factors and we provide evidence that Npl3 melts U2 snRNA stem-loop I, a prerequisite for U2/U6 duplex formation within the catalytic center of the Bact spliceosomal complex. Thus, our findings suggest an unanticipated RNA chaperoning role for Npl3 during spliceosome active site formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Moursy
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Cléry
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Gerhardy
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Sardona Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katharina M Betz
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sanjana Rao
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jarosław Mazur
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Campagne
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- ARNA laboratory, INSERM U1212, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Irene Beusch
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Mark D Robinson
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vikram Govind Panse
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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19
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Gokhale NS, Somfleth K, Thompson MG, Sam RK, Marciniak DM, Chu LH, Park M, Dvorkin S, Oberst A, Horner SM, Ong SE, Gale M, Savan R. CELLULAR RNA INTERACTS WITH MAVS TO PROMOTE ANTIVIRAL SIGNALING. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.25.559083. [PMID: 37808873 PMCID: PMC10557580 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Immune signaling needs to be well-regulated to promote clearance of pathogens, while preventing aberrant inflammation. Interferons (IFNs) and antiviral genes are activated by the detection of viral RNA by RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs). Signal transduction downstream of RLRs proceeds through a multi-protein complex organized around the central adaptor protein MAVS. Recent work has shown that protein complex function can be modulated by RNA molecules providing allosteric regulation or acting as molecular guides or scaffolds. Thus, we hypothesized that RNA plays a role in organizing MAVS signaling platforms. Here, we show that MAVS, through its central intrinsically disordered domain, directly interacts with the 3' untranslated regions of cellular mRNAs. Importantly, elimination of RNA by RNase treatment disrupts the MAVS signalosome, including newly identified regulators of RLR signaling, and inhibits phosphorylation of the transcription factor IRF3. This supports the hypothesis that RNA molecules scaffold proteins in the MAVS signalosome to induce IFNs. Together, this work uncovers a function for cellular RNA in promoting signaling through MAVS and highlights a generalizable principle of RNA regulatory control of cytoplasmic immune signaling complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim Somfleth
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Russell K Sam
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Lan H Chu
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Moonhee Park
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Steve Dvorkin
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Andrew Oberst
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Stacy M Horner
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham NC
| | - Shao-En Ong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Michael Gale
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Ram Savan
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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20
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Ormazábal A, Carletti MS, Saldaño TE, Gonzalez Buitron M, Marchetti J, Palopoli N, Bateman A. Expanding the repertoire of human tandem repeat RNA-binding proteins. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290890. [PMID: 37729217 PMCID: PMC10511089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein regions consisting of arrays of tandem repeats are known to bind other molecular partners, including nucleic acid molecules. Although the interactions between repeat proteins and DNA are already widely explored, studies characterising tandem repeat RNA-binding proteins are lacking. We performed a large-scale analysis of human proteins devoted to expanding the knowledge about tandem repeat proteins experimentally reported as RNA-binding molecules. This work is timely because of the release of a full set of accurate structural models for the human proteome amenable to repeat detection using structural methods. The main goal of our analysis was to build a comprehensive set of human RNA-binding proteins that contain repeats at the sequence or structure level. Our results showed that the combination of sequence and structural methods finds significantly more tandem repeat proteins than either method alone. We identified 219 tandem repeat proteins that bind RNA molecules and characterised the overlap between repeat regions and RNA-binding regions as a first step towards assessing their functional relationship. We observed differences in the characteristics of repeat regions predicted by sequence-based or structure-based methods in terms of their sequence composition, their functions and their protein domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Ormazábal
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Sebastián Carletti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tadeo Enrique Saldaño
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Azul, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Gonzalez Buitron
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julia Marchetti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolas Palopoli
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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21
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Hamilton DJ, Hein AE, Wuttke DS, Batey RT. The DNA binding high mobility group box protein family functionally binds RNA. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1778. [PMID: 36646476 PMCID: PMC10349909 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid binding proteins regulate transcription, splicing, RNA stability, RNA localization, and translation, together tailoring gene expression in response to stimuli. Upon discovery, these proteins are typically classified as either DNA or RNA binding as defined by their in vivo functions; however, recent evidence suggests dual DNA and RNA binding by many of these proteins. High mobility group box (HMGB) proteins have a DNA binding HMGB domain, act as transcription factors and chromatin remodeling proteins, and are increasingly understood to interact with RNA as means to regulate gene expression. Herein, multiple layers of evidence that the HMGB family are dual DNA and RNA binding proteins is comprehensively reviewed. For example, HMGB proteins directly interact with RNA in vitro and in vivo, are localized to RNP granules involved in RNA processing, and their protein interactors are enriched in RNA binding proteins involved in RNA metabolism. Importantly, in cell-based systems, HMGB-RNA interactions facilitate protein-protein interactions, impact splicing outcomes, and modify HMGB protein genomic or cellular localization. Misregulation of these HMGB-RNA interactions are also likely involved in human disease. This review brings to light that as a family, HMGB proteins are likely to bind RNA which is essential to HMGB protein biology. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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22
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Hao L, Zhang J, Liu Z, Zhang Z, Mao T, Guo J. Role of the RNA-binding protein family in gynecologic cancers. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:3799-3821. [PMID: 37693158 PMCID: PMC10492115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gynecological cancers pose a threat to women's health. Although early-stage gynecological cancers show good outcomes after standardized treatment, the prognosis of patients with advanced, met-astatic, and recurrent cancers is poor. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important cellular proteins that interact with RNA through RNA-binding domains and participate extensively in post-transcriptional regulatory processes, such as mRNA alternative splicing, polyadenylation, intracellular localization and stability, and translation. Abnormal RBP expression affects the normal function of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in many malignancies, thus leading to the occurrence or progression of cancers. Similarly, RBPs play crucial roles in gynecological carcinogenesis. We summarize the role of RBPs in gynecological malignancies and explore their potential in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. The findings summarized in this review may provide a guide for future research on the functions of RBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Hao
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongshan Liu
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Zhiliang Zhang
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Tiezhu Mao
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Jie Guo
- Department of Tumor Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun 130041, Jilin, China
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23
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Li Q, Kang C. Targeting RNA-binding proteins with small molecules: Perspectives, pitfalls and bifunctional molecules. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2031-2047. [PMID: 37519019 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play vital roles in organisms through binding with RNAs to regulate their functions. Small molecules affecting the function of RBPs have been developed, providing new avenues for drug discovery. Herein, we describe the perspectives on developing small molecule regulators of RBPs. The following types of small molecule modulators are of great interest in drug discovery: small molecules binding to RBPs to affect interactions with RNA molecules, bifunctional molecules binding to RNA or RBP to influence their interactions, and other types of molecules that affect the stability of RNA or RBPs. Moreover, we emphasize that the bifunctional molecules may play important roles in small molecule development to overcome the challenges encountered in the process of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Biomass High Value Utilization, Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Congbao Kang
- Experimental Drug Development Centre, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
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24
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Varesi A, Campagnoli LIM, Barbieri A, Rossi L, Ricevuti G, Esposito C, Chirumbolo S, Marchesi N, Pascale A. RNA binding proteins in senescence: A potential common linker for age-related diseases? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 88:101958. [PMID: 37211318 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Aging represents the major risk factor for the onset and/or progression of various disorders including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and bone-related defects. As the average age of the population is predicted to exponentially increase in the coming years, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of aging-related diseases and the discovery of new therapeutic approaches remain pivotal. Well-reported hallmarks of aging are cellular senescence, genome instability, autophagy impairment, mitochondria dysfunction, dysbiosis, telomere attrition, metabolic dysregulation, epigenetic alterations, low-grade chronic inflammation, stem cell exhaustion, altered cell-to-cell communication and impaired proteostasis. With few exceptions, however, many of the molecular players implicated within these processes as well as their role in disease development remain largely unknown. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are known to regulate gene expression by dictating at post-transcriptional level the fate of nascent transcripts. Their activity ranges from directing primary mRNA maturation and trafficking to modulation of transcript stability and/or translation. Accumulating evidence has shown that RBPs are emerging as key regulators of aging and aging-related diseases, with the potential to become new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to prevent or delay aging processes. In this review, we summarize the role of RBPs in promoting cellular senescence and we highlight their dysregulation in the pathogenesis and progression of the main aging-related diseases, with the aim of encouraging further investigations that will help to better disclose this novel and captivating molecular scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Varesi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | | | - Annalisa Barbieri
- Department of Drug Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Rossi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ciro Esposito
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Italy; Nephrology and dialysis unit, ICS S. Maugeri SPA SB Hospital, Pavia, Italy; High School in Geriatrics, University of Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Nicoletta Marchesi
- Department of Drug Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessia Pascale
- Department of Drug Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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25
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Mateos JL, Staiger D. Toward a systems view on RNA-binding proteins and associated RNAs in plants: Guilt by association. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1708-1726. [PMID: 36461946 PMCID: PMC10226577 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have a broad impact on most biochemical, physiological, and developmental processes in a plant's life. RBPs engage in an on-off relationship with their RNA partners, accompanying virtually every stage in RNA processing and function. While the function of a plethora of RBPs in plant development and stress responses has been described, we are lacking a systems-level understanding of components in RNA-based regulation. Novel techniques have substantially enlarged the compendium of proteins with experimental evidence for binding to RNAs in the cell, the RNA-binding proteome. Furthermore, ribonomics methods have been adapted for use in plants to profile the in vivo binding repertoire of RBPs genome-wide. Here, we discuss how recent technological achievements have provided novel insights into the mode of action of plant RBPs at a genome-wide scale. Furthermore, we touch upon two emerging topics, the connection of RBPs to phase separation in the cell and to extracellular RNAs. Finally, we define open questions to be addressed to move toward an integrated understanding of RBP function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta L Mateos
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- RNA Biology and Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dorothee Staiger
- RNA Biology and Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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26
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Gaurav AK, Afrin M, Yang X, Saha A, Sayeed SKA, Pan X, Ji Z, Wong KB, Zhang M, Zhao Y, Li B. The RRM-mediated RNA binding activity in T. brucei RAP1 is essential for VSG monoallelic expression. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1576. [PMID: 36949076 PMCID: PMC10033678 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37307-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis. Its major surface antigen VSG is expressed from subtelomeric loci in a strictly monoallelic manner. We previously showed that the telomere protein TbRAP1 binds dsDNA through its 737RKRRR741 patch to silence VSGs globally. How TbRAP1 permits expression of the single active VSG is unknown. Through NMR structural analysis, we unexpectedly identify an RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) in TbRAP1, which is unprecedented for RAP1 homologs. Assisted by the 737RKRRR741 patch, TbRAP1 RRM recognizes consensus sequences of VSG 3'UTRs in vitro and binds the active VSG RNA in vivo. Mutating conserved RRM residues abolishes the RNA binding activity, significantly decreases the active VSG RNA level, and derepresses silent VSGs. The competition between TbRAP1's RNA and dsDNA binding activities suggests a VSG monoallelic expression mechanism in which the active VSG's abundant RNA antagonizes TbRAP1's silencing effect, thereby sustaining its full-level expression.
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Grants
- R01 AI066095 NIAID NIH HHS
- S10 OD025252 NIH HHS
- Research Grants Council grants PolyU 151062/18M, 15103819, 15106421, R5050-18 and AoE/M-09/12, Shenzhen Basic Research Program of China (JCYJ20170818104619974, JCYJ20210324133803009) (PI, Zhao).
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | NIH Office of the Director (OD)
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC)
- Research Grants Council grants PolyU 151062/18M, 15103819, 15106421, R5050-18 and AoE/M-09/12 (Zhao), Shenzhen Basic Research Programs of China JCYJ20170818104619974 & JCYJ20210324133803009 (Zhao). Shenzhen Basic Research Program of China JCYJ20220818100215033 (Zhang). Research Grants Council grant C4041-18E (Wong, Zhang, Zhao).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Gaurav
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Marjia Afrin
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
- Institute for Stem cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford School of medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xian Yang
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, People's Republic of China
| | - Arpita Saha
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - S K Abdus Sayeed
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Xuehua Pan
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeyang Ji
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Kam-Bo Wong
- Centre for Protein Science and Crystallography, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxiang Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bibo Li
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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Decle-Carrasco S, Rodríguez-Piña AL, Rodríguez-Zapata LC, Castano E. Current research on viral proteins that interact with fibrillarin. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:4631-4643. [PMID: 36928641 PMCID: PMC10018631 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The nucleolus is a multifunctional nuclear domain primarily dedicated to ribosome biogenesis. Certain viruses developed strategies to manipulate host nucleolar proteins to facilitate their replication by modulating ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing. This association interferes with nucleolar functions resulting in overactivation or arrest of ribosome biogenesis, induction or inhibition of apoptosis, and affecting stress response. The nucleolar protein fibrillarin (FBL) is an important target of some plant and animal viruses. FBL is an essential and highly conserved S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) dependent methyltransferase, capable of rRNA degradation by its intrinsically disordered region (IDR), the glycine/arginine-rich (GAR) domain. It forms a ribonucleoprotein complex that directs 2'-O-methylations in more than 100 sites of pre-rRNAs. It is involved in multiple cellular processes, including initiation of transcription, oncogenesis, and apoptosis, among others. The interaction with animal viruses, including human viruses, triggered its redistribution to the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm, interfering with its role in pre-rRNA processing. Viral-encoded proteins with IDRs as nucleocapsids, matrix, Tat protein, and even a viral snoRNA, can associate with FBL, forcing the nucleolar protein to undergo atypical functions. Here we review the molecular mechanisms employed by animal and human viruses to usurp FBL functions and the effect on cellular processes, particularly in ribosome biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Decle-Carrasco
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C. Calle 43 No. 130, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Alma Laura Rodríguez-Piña
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C. Calle 43 No. 130, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Luis Carlos Rodríguez-Zapata
- Unidad de Biotecnología. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C. Calle 43 No. 130, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Enrique Castano
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C. Calle 43 No. 130, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
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28
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Agarwal A, Bahadur RP. Modular architecture and functional annotation of human RNA-binding proteins containing RNA recognition motif. Biochimie 2023; 209:116-130. [PMID: 36716848 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are structurally and functionally diverse macromolecules with significant involvement in several post-transcriptional gene regulatory processes and human diseases. RNA recognition motif (RRM) is one of the most abundant RNA-binding domains in human RBPs. The unique modular architecture of each RBP containing RRM is crucial for its diverse target recognition and function. Genome-wide study of these structurally conserved and functionally diverse domains can enhance our understanding of their functional implications. In this study, modular architecture of RRM containing RBPs in human proteome is identified and systematically analysed. We observe that 30% of human RBPs with RNA-binding function contain RRM in single or multiple repeats or with other domains with maximum of six repeats. Zinc-fingers are the most frequently co-occurring domain partner of RRMs. Human RRM containing RBPs mostly belong to RNA metabolism class of proteins and are significantly enriched in two functional pathways including spliceosome and mRNA surveillance. Various human diseases are associated with 18% of the RRM containing RBPs. Single RRM containing RBPs are highly enriched in disorder regions. Gene ontology (GO) molecular functions including poly(A), poly(U) and miRNA binding are highly depleted in RBPs with single RRM, indicating the significance of modular nature of RRMs in specific function. The current study reports all the possible domain architectures of RRM containing human RBPs and their functional enrichment. The idea of domain architecture, and how they confer specificity and new functionalities to RBPs, can help in re-designing of modular RRM containing RBPs with re-engineered function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Agarwal
- School of Bio Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India; Computational Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Ranjit Prasad Bahadur
- Computational Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India.
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29
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Castello A, Iselin L. Viral RNA Is a Hub for Critical Host-Virus Interactions. Subcell Biochem 2023; 106:365-385. [PMID: 38159234 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-40086-5_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
RNA is a central molecule in the life cycle of viruses, acting not only as messenger (m)RNA but also as a genome. Given these critical roles, it is not surprising that viral RNA is a hub for host-virus interactions. However, the interactome of viral RNAs remains largely unknown. This chapter discusses the importance of cellular RNA-binding proteins in virus infection and the emergent approaches developed to uncover and characterise them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Castello
- MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Louisa Iselin
- MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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30
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Bhattarai K, Holcik M. Diverse roles of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins in viral life cycle. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2022.1044652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the host-virus interactions helps to decipher the viral replication strategies and pathogenesis. Viruses have limited genetic content and rely significantly on their host cell to establish a successful infection. Viruses depend on the host for a broad spectrum of cellular RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) throughout their life cycle. One of the major RBP families is the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) family. hnRNPs are typically localized in the nucleus, where they are forming complexes with pre-mRNAs and contribute to many aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. hnRNPs contain RNA binding motifs and frequently function as RNA chaperones involved in pre-mRNA processing, RNA splicing, and export. Many hnRNPs shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and influence cytoplasmic processes such as mRNA stability, localization, and translation. The interactions between the hnRNPs and viral components are well-known. They are critical for processing viral nucleic acids and proteins and, therefore, impact the success of the viral infection. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms by which hnRNPs interact with and regulate each stage of the viral life cycle, such as replication, splicing, translation, and assembly of virus progeny. In addition, we expand on the role of hnRNPs in the antiviral response and as potential targets for antiviral drug research and development.
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31
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Malaney P, Benitez O, Zhang X, Post SM. Assessing the role of intrinsic disorder in RNA-binding protein function: hnRNP K as a case study. Methods 2022; 208:59-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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32
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Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Schirò G, Di Liegro I. RNA-Binding Proteins as Epigenetic Regulators of Brain Functions and Their Involvement in Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314622. [PMID: 36498959 PMCID: PMC9739182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A central aspect of nervous system development and function is the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA fate, which implies time- and site-dependent translation, in response to cues originating from cell-to-cell crosstalk. Such events are fundamental for the establishment of brain cell asymmetry, as well as of long-lasting modifications of synapses (long-term potentiation: LTP), responsible for learning, memory, and higher cognitive functions. Post-transcriptional regulation is in turn dependent on RNA-binding proteins that, by recognizing and binding brief RNA sequences, base modifications, or secondary/tertiary structures, are able to control maturation, localization, stability, and translation of the transcripts. Notably, most RBPs contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) that are thought to be involved in the formation of membrane-less structures, probably due to liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Such structures are evidenced as a variety of granules that contain proteins and different classes of RNAs. The other side of the peculiar properties of IDRs is, however, that, under altered cellular conditions, they are also prone to form aggregates, as observed in neurodegeneration. Interestingly, RBPs, as part of both normal and aggregated complexes, are also able to enter extracellular vesicles (EVs), and in doing so, they can also reach cells other than those that produced them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Maria Di Liegro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche) (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Schiera
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche) (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Schirò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata) (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Italia Di Liegro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata) (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-091-238-97 (ext. 415/446)
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33
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Ostendorp A, Ostendorp S, Zhou Y, Chaudron Z, Wolffram L, Rombi K, von Pein L, Falke S, Jeffries CM, Svergun DI, Betzel C, Morris RJ, Kragler F, Kehr J. Intrinsically disordered plant protein PARCL colocalizes with RNA in phase-separated condensates whose formation can be regulated by mutating the PLD. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102631. [PMID: 36273579 PMCID: PMC9679465 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In higher plants, long-distance RNA transport via the phloem is crucial for communication between distant plant tissues to align development with stress responses and reproduction. Several recent studies suggest that specific RNAs are among the potential long-distance information transmitters. However, it is yet not well understood how these RNAs enter the phloem stream, how they are transported, and how they are released at their destination. It was proposed that phloem RNA-binding proteins facilitate RNA translocation. In the present study, we characterized two orthologs of the phloem-associated RNA chaperone-like (PARCL) protein from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus at functional and structural levels. Microscale thermophoresis showed that these phloem-abundant proteins can bind a broad spectrum of RNAs and show RNA chaperone activity in FRET-based in vitro assays. Our SAXS experiments revealed a high degree of disorder, typical for RNA-binding proteins. In agroinfiltrated tobacco plants, eYFP-PARCL proteins mainly accumulated in nuclei and nucleoli and formed cytosolic and nuclear condensates. We found that formation of these condensates was impaired by tyrosine-to-glutamate mutations in the predicted prion-like domain (PLD), while C-terminal serine-to-glutamate mutations did not affect condensation but reduced RNA binding and chaperone activity. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments confirmed phase separation of PARCL and colocalization of RNA with the condensates, while mutation as well as phosphorylation of the PLD reduced phase separation. Together, our results suggest that RNA binding and condensate formation of PARCL can be regulated independently by modification of the C-terminus and/or the PLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ostendorp
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany,For correspondence: Anna Ostendorp
| | - Steffen Ostendorp
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Department II, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zoé Chaudron
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Wolffram
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Khadija Rombi
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Linn von Pein
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Falke
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany,Universität Hamburg, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cy M. Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Site, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dmitri I. Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Site, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betzel
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany,Universität Hamburg, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Richard J. Morris
- Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Friedrich Kragler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Department II, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Julia Kehr
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
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34
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Londoño Vélez V, Alquraish F, Tarbiyyah I, Rafique F, Mao D, Chodasiewicz M. Landscape of biomolecular condensates in heat stress responses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1032045. [PMID: 36311142 PMCID: PMC9601738 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1032045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
High temperature is one of the abiotic stresses that plants face and acts as a major constraint on crop production and food security. Plants have evolved several mechanisms to overcome challenging environments and respond to internal and external stimuli. One significant mechanism is the formation of biomolecular condensates driven by liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensates have received much attention in the past decade, especially with regard to how plants perceive temperature fluctuations and their involvement in stress response and tolerance. In this review, we compile and discuss examples of plant biomolecular condensates regarding their composition, localization, and functions triggered by exposure to heat. Bioinformatic tools can be exploited to predict heat-induced biomolecular condensates. As the field of biomolecular condensates has emerged in the study of plants, many intriguing questions have arisen that have yet to be solved. Increased knowledge of biomolecular condensates will help in securing crop production and overcoming limitations caused by heat stress.
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35
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Abreu PL, Lee YW, Azzalin CM. In Vitro Characterization of the Physical Interactions between the Long Noncoding RNA TERRA and the Telomeric Proteins TRF1 and TRF2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810463. [PMID: 36142374 PMCID: PMC9500956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-protein interactions drive key cellular pathways such as protein translation, nuclear organization and genome stability maintenance. The human telomeric protein TRF2 binds to the long noncoding RNA TERRA through independent domains, including its N-terminal B domain. We previously demonstrated that TRF2 B domain binding to TERRA supports invasion of TERRA into telomeric double stranded DNA, leading to the formation of telomeric RNA:DNA hybrids. The other telomeric protein TRF1, which also binds to TERRA, suppresses this TRF2-associated activity by preventing TERRA-B domain interactions. Herein, we show that the binding of both TRF1 and TRF2 to TERRA depends on the ability of the latter to form G-quadruplex structures. Moreover, a cluster of arginines within the B domain is largely responsible for its binding to TERRA. On the other side, a patch of glutamates within the N-terminal A domain of TRF1 mainly accounts for the inhibition of TERRA-B domain complex formation. Finally, mouse TRF2 B domain binds to TERRA, similarly to its human counterpart, while mouse TRF1 A domain lacks the inhibitory activity. Our data shed further light on the complex crosstalk between telomeric proteins and RNAs and suggest a lack of functional conservation in mouse.
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36
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Abstract
Enhancers confer precise spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental stimuli. Over the last decade, the transcription of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) – nascent RNAs transcribed from active enhancers – has emerged as a key factor regulating enhancer activity. eRNAs are relatively short-lived RNA species that are transcribed at very high rates but also quickly degraded. Nevertheless, eRNAs are deeply intertwined within enhancer regulatory networks and are implicated in a number of transcriptional control mechanisms. Enhancers show changes in function and sequence over evolutionary time, raising questions about the relationship between enhancer sequences and eRNA function. Moreover, the vast majority of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with human complex diseases map to the non-coding genome, with causal disease variants enriched within enhancers. In this Primer, we survey the diverse roles played by eRNAs in enhancer-dependent gene expression, evaluating different models for eRNA function. We also explore questions surrounding the genetic conservation of enhancers and how this relates to eRNA function and dysfunction. Summary: This Primer evaluates the ideas that underpin developing models for eRNA function, exploring cases in which perturbed eRNA function contributes to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Harrison
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biosciences, Sheffield Institute For Nucleic Acids, The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank , Sheffield S10 2TN , UK
| | - Daniel Bose
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biosciences, Sheffield Institute For Nucleic Acids, The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank , Sheffield S10 2TN , UK
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37
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Gopan G, Ghaemi Z, Davis CM, Gruebele M. Spliceosomal SL1 RNA binding to U1-70K: the role of the extended RRM. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8193-8206. [PMID: 35876068 PMCID: PMC9371917 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA recognition motif (RRM) occurs widely in RNA-binding proteins, but does not always by itself support full binding. For example, it is known that binding of SL1 RNA to the protein U1-70K in the U1 spliceosomal particle is reduced when a region flanking the RRM is truncated. How the RRM flanking regions that together with the RRM make up an ‘extended RRM’ (eRRM) contribute to complex stability and structural organization is unknown. We study the U1-70K eRRM bound to SL1 RNA by thermal dissociation and laser temperature jump kinetics; long-time molecular dynamics simulations interpret the experiments with atomistic resolution. Truncation of the helix flanking the RRM on its N-terminal side, ‘N-helix,’ strongly reduces overall binding, which is further weakened under higher salt and temperature conditions. Truncating the disordered region flanking the RRM on the C-terminal side, ‘C-IDR’, affects the local binding site. Surprisingly, all-atom simulations show that protein truncation enhances base stacking interactions in the binding site and leaves the overall number of hydrogen bonds intact. Instead, the flanking regions of the eRRM act in a distributed fashion via collective interactions with the RNA when external stresses such as temperature or high salt mimicking osmotic imbalance are applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopika Gopan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Zhaleh Ghaemi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Caitlin M Davis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Martin Gruebele
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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38
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Pontoriero L, Schiavina M, Korn SM, Schlundt A, Pierattelli R, Felli IC. NMR Reveals Specific Tracts within the Intrinsically Disordered Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Involved in RNA Encountering. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070929. [PMID: 35883485 PMCID: PMC9312987 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is crucial for the highly organized packaging and transcription of the genomic RNA. Studying atomic details of the role of its intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in RNA recognition is challenging due to the absence of structure and to the repetitive nature of their primary sequence. IDRs are known to act in concert with the folded domains of N and here we use NMR spectroscopy to identify the priming events of N interacting with a regulatory SARS-CoV-2 RNA element. 13C-detected NMR experiments, acquired simultaneously to 1H detected ones, provide information on the two IDRs flanking the N-terminal RNA binding domain (NTD) within the N-terminal region of the protein (NTR, 1–248). We identify specific tracts of the IDRs that most rapidly sense and engage with RNA, and thus provide an atom-resolved picture of the interplay between the folded and disordered regions of N during RNA interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Pontoriero
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM) and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Marco Schiavina
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM) and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Sophie M. Korn
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany;
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (R.P.); (I.C.F.)
| | - Roberta Pierattelli
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM) and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (L.P.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (R.P.); (I.C.F.)
| | - Isabella C. Felli
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM) and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (L.P.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (R.P.); (I.C.F.)
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39
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Leeder WM, Geyer FK, Göringer HU. Fuzzy RNA recognition by the Trypanosoma brucei editosome. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5818-5833. [PMID: 35580050 PMCID: PMC9178004 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The assembly of high molecular mass ribonucleoprotein complexes typically relies on the binary interaction of defined RNA sequences or precisely folded RNA motifs with dedicated RNA-binding domains on the protein side. Here we describe a new molecular recognition principle of RNA molecules by a high molecular mass protein complex. By chemically probing the solvent accessibility of mitochondrial pre-mRNAs when bound to the Trypanosoma brucei editosome, we identified multiple similar but non-identical RNA motifs as editosome contact sites. However, by treating the different motifs as mathematical graph objects we demonstrate that they fit a consensus 2D-graph consisting of 4 vertices (V) and 3 edges (E) with a Laplacian eigenvalue of 0.5477 (λ2). We establish that synthetic 4V(3E)-RNAs are sufficient to compete for the editosomal pre-mRNA binding site and that they inhibit RNA editing in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrate that only two topological indices are necessary to predict the binding of any RNA motif to the editosome with a high level of confidence. Our analysis corroborates that the editosome has adapted to the structural multiplicity of the mitochondrial mRNA folding space by recognizing a fuzzy continuum of RNA folds that fit a consensus graph descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felix Klaus Geyer
- Molecular Genetics, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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40
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Hamilton DJ, Hein AE, Holmes ZE, Wuttke DS, Batey RT. The DNA-Binding High-Mobility Group Box Domain of Sox Family Proteins Directly Interacts with RNA In Vitro. Biochemistry 2022; 61:10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00218. [PMID: 35511045 PMCID: PMC9636074 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence that a substantial number of protein domains identified as DNA-binding also interact with RNA to regulate biological processes. Several recent studies have revealed that the Sox2 transcription factor binds RNA through its high-mobility group box (HMGB) domain in vitro and in vivo. A high degree of conservation of this domain among members of the Sox family of transcription factors suggests that RNA-binding activity may be a general feature of these proteins. To address this hypothesis, we examined a subset of HMGB domains from human Sox family of proteins for their ability to bind both DNA and RNA in vitro. We observed selective, high-affinity interactions between Sox family HMGB domains and various model RNA elements, including a four-way junction RNA, a hairpin RNA with an internal bulge, G-quadruplex RNA, and a fragment of long noncoding RNA ES2, which is known to directly interact with Sox2. Importantly, the HMGB domains bind these RNA ligands significantly tighter than nonconsensus dsDNA and in some cases with affinities rivaling those of their consensus dsDNA sequences. These data suggest that RNA binding is a conserved feature of the Sox family of transcription factors with the potential to modulate unappreciated biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desmond J Hamilton
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
| | - Abigail E Hein
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
| | - Zachariah E Holmes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
| | - Deborah S Wuttke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
| | - Robert T Batey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
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41
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Van Lindt J, Lazar T, Pakravan D, Demulder M, Meszaros A, Van Den Bosch L, Maes D, Tompa P. F/YGG-motif is an intrinsically disordered nucleic-acid binding motif. RNA Biol 2022; 19:622-635. [PMID: 35491929 PMCID: PMC9067507 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2066336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) function in RNA processing, have RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs) and intrinsically disordered, low-complexity domains (LCDs). While RRMs are drivers of RNA binding, there is only limited knowledge about the RNA interaction by the LCD of some hnRNPs. Here, we show that the LCD of hnRNPA2 interacts with RNA via an embedded Tyr/Gly-rich region which is a disordered RNA-binding motif. RNA binding is maintained upon mutating tyrosine residues to phenylalanines, but abrogated by mutating to alanines, thus we term the RNA-binding region ‘F/YGG motif’. The F/YGG motif can bind a broad range of structured (e.g. tRNA) and disordered (e.g. polyA) RNAs, but not rRNA. As the F/YGG otif can also interact with DNA, we consider it a general nucleic acid-binding motif. hnRNPA2 LCD can form dense droplets, by liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). Their formation is inhibited by RNA binding, which is mitigated by salt and 1,6-hexanediol, suggesting that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions feature in the F/YGG motif. The D290V mutant also binds RNA, which interferes with both LLPS and aggregation thereof. We found homologous regions in a broad range of RNA- and DNA-binding proteins in the human proteome, suggesting that the F/YGG motif is a general nucleic acid-interaction motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris Van Lindt
- Center for Structural Biology, VIBVIB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tamas Lazar
- Center for Structural Biology, VIBVIB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Donya Pakravan
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manon Demulder
- Center for Structural Biology, VIBVIB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Attila Meszaros
- Center for Structural Biology, VIBVIB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Maes
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- Center for Structural Biology, VIBVIB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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42
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The X-linked splicing regulator MBNL3 has been co-opted to restrict placental growth in eutherians. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001615. [PMID: 35476669 PMCID: PMC9084524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the regulatory interactions that control gene expression during the development of novel tissues is a key goal of evolutionary developmental biology. Here, we show that Mbnl3 has undergone a striking process of evolutionary specialization in eutherian mammals resulting in the emergence of a novel placental function for the gene. Mbnl3 belongs to a family of RNA-binding proteins whose members regulate multiple aspects of RNA metabolism. We find that, in eutherians, while both Mbnl3 and its paralog Mbnl2 are strongly expressed in placenta, Mbnl3 expression has been lost from nonplacental tissues in association with the evolution of a novel promoter. Moreover, Mbnl3 has undergone accelerated protein sequence evolution leading to changes in its RNA-binding specificities and cellular localization. While Mbnl2 and Mbnl3 share partially redundant roles in regulating alternative splicing, polyadenylation site usage and, in turn, placenta maturation, Mbnl3 has also acquired novel biological functions. Specifically, Mbnl3 knockout (M3KO) alone results in increased placental growth associated with higher Myc expression. Furthermore, Mbnl3 loss increases fetal resource allocation during limiting conditions, suggesting that location of Mbnl3 on the X chromosome has led to its role in limiting placental growth, favoring the maternal side of the parental genetic conflict.
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43
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Francisco-Velilla R, Embarc-Buh A, Del Caño-Ochoa F, Abellan S, Vilar M, Alvarez S, Fernandez-Jaen A, Kour S, Rajan DS, Pandey UB, Ramón-Maiques S, Martinez-Salas E. Functional and structural deficiencies of Gemin5 variants associated with neurological disorders. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/7/e202201403. [PMID: 35393353 PMCID: PMC8989681 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of RNA-binding proteins is often linked to a wide range of human disease, particularly with neurological conditions. Gemin5 is a member of the survival of the motor neurons (SMN) complex, a ribosome-binding protein and a translation reprogramming factor. Recently, pathogenic mutations in Gemin5 have been reported, but the functional consequences of these variants remain elusive. Here, we report functional and structural deficiencies associated with compound heterozygosity variants within the Gemin5 gene found in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. These clinical variants are located in key domains of Gemin5, the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-like dimerization module and the noncanonical RNA-binding site 1 (RBS1). We show that the TPR-like variants disrupt protein dimerization, whereas the RBS1 variant confers protein instability. All mutants are defective in the interaction with protein networks involved in translation and RNA-driven pathways. Importantly, the TPR-like variants fail to associate with native ribosomes, hampering its involvement in translation control and establishing a functional difference with the wild-type protein. Our study provides insights into the molecular basis of disease associated with malfunction of the Gemin5 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Francisco-Velilla
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Azman Embarc-Buh
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Abellan
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marçal Vilar
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara Alvarez
- New Integrated Medical Genetics (NIMGENETICS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernandez-Jaen
- Neuropediatric Department, Hospital Universitario Quirónsalud, Madrid, Spain.,School of Medicine, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sukhleen Kour
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deepa S Rajan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Encarnacion Martinez-Salas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
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44
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Alam ASMRU, Islam OK, Hasan MS, Islam MR, Mahmud S, Al‐Emran HM, Jahid IK, Crandall KA, Hossain MA. Dominant clade-featured SARS-CoV-2 co-occurring mutations reveal plausible epistasis: An in silico based hypothetical model. J Med Virol 2022; 94:1035-1049. [PMID: 34676891 PMCID: PMC8661685 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into eight fundamental clades with four of these clades (G, GH, GR, and GV) globally prevalent in 2020. To explain plausible epistatic effects of the signature co-occurring mutations of these circulating clades on viral replication and transmission fitness, we proposed a hypothetical model using in silico approach. Molecular docking and dynamics analyses showed the higher infectiousness of a spike mutant through more favorable binding of G614 with the elastase-2. RdRp mutation p.P323L significantly increased genome-wide mutations (p < 0.0001), allowing for more flexible RdRp (mutated)-NSP8 interaction that may accelerate replication. Superior RNA stability and structural variation at NSP3:C241T might impact protein, RNA interactions, or both. Another silent 5'-UTR:C241T mutation might affect translational efficiency and viral packaging. These four G-clade-featured co-occurring mutations might increase viral replication. Sentinel GH-clade ORF3a:p.Q57H variants constricted the ion-channel through intertransmembrane-domain interaction of cysteine(C81)-histidine(H57). The GR-clade N:p.RG203-204KR would stabilize RNA interaction by a more flexible and hypo-phosphorylated SR-rich region. GV-clade viruses seemingly gained the evolutionary advantage of the confounding factors; nevertheless, N:p.A220V might modulate RNA binding with no phenotypic effect. Our hypothetical model needs further retrospective and prospective studies to understand detailed molecular events and their relationship to the fitness of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ovinu Kibria Islam
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Md. Shazid Hasan
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Mir Raihanul Islam
- Division of Poverty, Health, and NutritionInternational Food Policy Research InstituteBangladesh
| | - Shafi Mahmud
- Department Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of RajshahiRajshahiBangladesh
| | - Hassan M. Al‐Emran
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Iqbal Kabir Jahid
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public HealthThe George Washington UniversityWashington DCUSA
| | - M. Anwar Hossain
- Office of the Vice ChancellorJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of DhakaDhakaBangladesh
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45
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The Fragile X Proteins Differentially Regulate Translation of Reporter mRNAs with G-quadruplex Structures. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167396. [PMID: 34896112 PMCID: PMC8892671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome, as well as some manifestations of autism spectrum disorder, results from improper RNA regulation due to a deficiency of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP and its autosomal paralogs, fragile X related proteins 1 & 2 (FXR1P/2P), have been implicated in many aspects of RNA regulation, from protein synthesis to mRNA stability and decay. The literature on the fragile X related proteins' (FXPs) role in mRNA regulation and their potential mRNA targets is vast. Therefore, we developed an approach to investigate the function of FXPs in translational control using three potential mRNA targets. Briefly, we first selected top mRNA candidates found to be associated with the FXPs and whose translation are influenced by one or more of the FXPs. We then narrowed down the FXPs' binding site(s) within the mRNA, analyzed the strength of this binding in vitro, and determined how each FXP affects the translation of a minimal reporter mRNA with the binding site. Overall, all FXPs bound with high affinity to RNAs containing G-quadruplexes, such as Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 and FMRP's own coding region. Interestingly, FMRP inhibited the translation of each mRNA distinctly and in a manner that appears to correlate with its binding to each mRNA. In contrast, FXR1P/2P inhibited all mRNAs tested. Finally, although binding of our RNAs was due to the RGG (arginine-glycine-glycine) motif-containing C-terminal region of the FXPs, this region was not sufficient to cause inhibition of translation.
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Zeke A, Schád É, Horváth T, Abukhairan R, Szabó B, Tantos A. Deep structural insights into RNA-binding disordered protein regions. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2022; 13:e1714. [PMID: 35098694 PMCID: PMC9539567 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent efforts to identify RNA binding proteins in various organisms and cellular contexts have yielded a large collection of proteins that are capable of RNA binding in the absence of conventional RNA recognition domains. Many of the recently identified RNA interaction motifs fall into intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs). While the recognition mode and specificity of globular RNA binding elements have been thoroughly investigated and described, much less is known about the way IDRs can recognize their RNA partners. Our aim was to summarize the current state of structural knowledge on the RNA binding modes of disordered protein regions and to propose a classification system based on their sequential and structural properties. Through a detailed structural analysis of the complexes that contain disordered protein regions binding to RNA, we found two major binding modes that represent different recognition strategies and, most likely, functions. We compared these examples with DNA binding disordered proteins and found key differences stemming from the nucleic acids as well as similar binding strategies, implying a broader substrate acceptance by these proteins. Due to the very limited number of known structures, we integrated molecular dynamics simulations in our study, whose results support the proposed structural preferences of specific RNA‐binding IDRs. To broaden the scope of our review, we included a brief analysis of RNA‐binding small molecules and compared their structural characteristics and RNA recognition strategies to the RNA‐binding IDRs. This article is categorized under:RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics, and Chemistry RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule–RNA Interactions
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Affiliation(s)
- András Zeke
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Schád
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Horváth
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rawan Abukhairan
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Beáta Szabó
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Agnes Tantos
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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47
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RNA-Binding Proteins as Regulators of Internal Initiation of Viral mRNA Translation. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020188. [PMID: 35215780 PMCID: PMC8879377 DOI: 10.3390/v14020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that depend on the host’s protein synthesis machinery for translating their mRNAs. The viral mRNA (vRNA) competes with the host mRNA to recruit the translational machinery, including ribosomes, tRNAs, and the limited eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIFs) pool. Many viruses utilize non-canonical strategies such as targeting host eIFs and RNA elements known as internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) to reprogram cellular gene expression, ensuring preferential translation of vRNAs. In this review, we discuss vRNA IRES-mediated translation initiation, highlighting the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), other than the canonical translation initiation factors, in regulating their activity.
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48
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Kourtidis A, Dighera B, Risner A, Hackemack R, Nikolaidis N. Origin and Evolution of the Multifaceted Adherens Junction Component Plekha7. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:856975. [PMID: 35399503 PMCID: PMC8983885 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.856975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plekha7 is a key adherens junction component involved in numerous functions in mammalian cells. Plekha7 is the most studied member of the PLEKHA protein family, which includes eight members with diverse functions. However, the evolutionary history of Plekha7 remains unexplored. Here, we outline the phylogeny and identify the origins of this gene and its paralogs. We show that Plekha7, together with Plekha4, Plekha5, and Plekha6, belong to a subfamily that we name PLEKHA4/5/6/7. This subfamily is distinct from the other Plekha proteins, which form two additional separate subfamilies, namely PLEKHA1/2 and PLEKHA3/8. Sequence, phylogenetic, exon-intron organization, and syntenic analyses reveal that the PLEKHA4/5/6/7 subfamily is represented by a single gene in invertebrates, which remained single in the last common ancestor of all chordates and underwent gene duplications distinctly in jawless and jawed vertebrates. In the latter species, a first round of gene duplications gave rise to the Plekha4/7 and Plekha5/6 pairs and a second round to the four extant members of the subfamily. These observations are consistent with the 1R/2R hypothesis of vertebrate genome evolution. Plekha7 and Plekha5 also exist in two copies in ray-finned fishes, due to the Teleostei-specific whole genome duplication. Similarities between the vertebrate Plekha4/5/6/7 members and non-chordate sequences are restricted to their N-terminal PH domains, whereas similarities across the remaining protein molecule are only sporadically found among few invertebrate species and are limited to the coiled-coil and extreme C-terminal ends. The vertebrate Plekha4/5/6/7 proteins contain extensive intrinsically disordered domains, which are topologically and structurally conserved in all chordates, but not in non-chordate invertebrates. In summary, our study sheds light on the origins and evolution of Plekha7 and the PLEKHA4/5/6/7 subfamily and unveils new critical information suitable for future functional studies of this still understudied group of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Kourtidis
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Bryan Dighera
- Department of Biological Science, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Alyssa Risner
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Rob Hackemack
- Department of Biological Science, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Nikolas Nikolaidis
- Department of Biological Science, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
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49
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Grawenhoff J, Baumann S, Maurer SP. In Vitro Reconstitution of Kinesin-Based, Axonal mRNA Transport. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2431:547-568. [PMID: 35412297 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1990-2_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Motor protein-driven transport of mRNAs on microtubules and their local translation underlie important neuronal functions such as development, growth cone steering, and synaptic plasticity. While there is abundant data on how membrane-bound cargoes such as vesicles, endosomes, or mitochondria are coupled to motor proteins, surprisingly little is known on the direct interactions of RNA-protein complexes and kinesins or dynein. Provided the potential building blocks are identified, in vitro reconstitutions coupled to Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRF-M) are a powerful and highly sensitive tool to understand how single molecules dynamically interact to assemble into functional complexes. Here we describe how we assemble TIRF-M imaging chambers suitable for the imaging of single protein-RNA complexes. We give advice on optimal sample preparation procedures and explain how a minimal axonal mRNA transport complex can be assembled in vitro. As these assays work at picomolar-range concentrations of proteins and RNAs, they allow the investigation of molecules that cannot be obtained at high concentrations, such as many large or disordered proteins. This now opens the possibility to study how RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), RNAs, and microtubule-associated proteins act together in real-time at single-molecule sensitivity to create cytoplasmic mRNA distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Grawenhoff
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sebastian Baumann
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sebastian P Maurer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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50
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Forman-Kay JD, Ditlev JA, Nosella ML, Lee HO. What are the distinguishing features and size requirements of biomolecular condensates and their implications for RNA-containing condensates? RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:36-47. [PMID: 34772786 PMCID: PMC8675286 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079026.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Exciting recent work has highlighted that numerous cellular compartments lack encapsulating lipid bilayers (often called "membraneless organelles"), and that their structure and function are central to the regulation of key biological processes, including transcription, RNA splicing, translation, and more. These structures have been described as "biomolecular condensates" to underscore that biomolecules can be significantly concentrated in them. Many condensates, including RNA granules and processing bodies, are enriched in proteins and nucleic acids. Biomolecular condensates exhibit a range of material states from liquid- to gel-like, with the physical process of liquid-liquid phase separation implicated in driving or contributing to their formation. To date, in vitro studies of phase separation have provided mechanistic insights into the formation and function of condensates. However, the link between the often micron-sized in vitro condensates with nanometer-sized cellular correlates has not been well established. Consequently, questions have arisen as to whether cellular structures below the optical resolution limit can be considered biomolecular condensates. Similarly, the distinction between condensates and discrete dynamic hub complexes is debated. Here we discuss the key features that define biomolecular condensates to help understand behaviors of structures containing and generating RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie D Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jonathon A Ditlev
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Michael L Nosella
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hyun O Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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