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Wei S, Ma X, Liang G, He J, Wang J, Chen H, Lu W, Qin H, Zou Y. The role of circHmbox1(3,4) in ferroptosis-mediated cognitive impairments induced by manganese. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135212. [PMID: 39024764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Excessive environmental exposure to manganese (Mn) has been linked to cognitive impairments, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized for their roles in epigenetic regulation in various biological processes, including neurological pathogenesis. Previous studies found that ferroptosis, an iron ion-dependent programmed cell death, may be involved in cognitive impairments. However, specific mechanisms underlying the relationship among circRNA, ferroptosis, and neurotoxicity of Mn are not well-understood. In the current study, RNA sequencing was performed to profile RNA expression in Neuro-2a (N2a) cells that were treated with 300 μM Mn. The potential molecular mechanisms of circHmbox1(3,4) in Mn-induced cognitive impairments were investigated via various experiments, such as Western blot and intracerebroventricular injection in mice. We observed a significant decrease in the expression of circHmbox1(3,4) both in vitro and in vivo following Mn treatment. The results of Y maze test and Morris water maze test demonstrated an improvement in learning and memory abilities following circHmbox1(3,4) overexpression in Mn treated mice. Mn treatment may reduce circHmbox1(3,4) biogenesis through lowered expression of E2F1/QKI. Inhibiting circHmbox1(3,4) expression led to GPX4 protein degradation through protein ligation and ubiquitination. Overall, the current study showed that Mn exposure-induced cognitive dysfunction may be mediated through ferroptosis regulated by circHmbox1(3,4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengtao Wei
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Guiqiang Liang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiacheng He
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Wenmin Lu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Huiyan Qin
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning 530028, Guangxi, China
| | - Yunfeng Zou
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China.
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Fagre C, Gilbert W. Beyond reader proteins: RNA binding proteins and RNA modifications in conversation to regulate gene expression. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1834. [PMID: 38444048 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1834] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Post-transcriptional mRNA modifications play diverse roles in gene expression and RNA function. In many cases, RNA modifications function by altering how cellular machinery such as RNA binding proteins (RBPs) interact with RNA substrates. For instance, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is recognized by the well-characterized YTH domain-containing family of "reader" proteins. For other mRNA modifications, similar global readers of modification status have not been clearly defined. Rather, most interactions between RBPs and RNA modifications have a more complicated dependence on sequence context and binding modality. The current handful of studies that demonstrate modifications impacting protein binding likely represent only a fraction of the full landscape. In this review, we dissect the known instances of RNA modifications altering RBP binding, specifically m6A, N1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), pseudouridine (Ψ), and internal N7-methylguanosine. We then review the biochemical properties of these and other identified mRNA modifications including dihydrouridine (D), N4-acetylcytosine (ac4C), and 2'-O-Methylation (Nme). We focus on how these properties would be likely to impact RNA:RBP interactions, including by changes to hydrogen bond potential, base-stacking efficiency, and RNA conformational preferences. The effects of RNA modifications on secondary structure have been well-studied, and we briefly discuss how structural effects imparted by modifications can lead to protein binding changes. Finally, we discuss strategies for uncovering as-yet-to-be identified modification-sensitive RBP:RNA Interactions. Coordinating future efforts to intersect the epitranscriptome and the RNA-protein interactome will illuminate the rules governing RNA modification recognition and the mechanisms responsible for the biological consequences of mRNA modification. 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 Processing > RNA Editing and Modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Fagre
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Wendy Gilbert
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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3
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Yang B, Wang YW, Zhang K. Interactions between circRNA and protein in breast cancer. Gene 2024; 895:148019. [PMID: 37984538 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.148019] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a newly discovered endogenous non-coding RNA that plays important roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers. Current research indicates that circRNA can inhibit the function of miRNA by acting as an miRNA sponge, interacting with proteins, and being translated into proteins. Most current research focuses on the circRNA-miRNA interaction; however, few studies have investigated the interaction between circRNAs and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in breast cancer. In this review, we systematically summarize the potential molecular mechanism of the circRNA-protein interaction in breast cancer. Specifically, we elaborate on the direct interaction between circRNAs and proteins in breast cancer, including the functions of circRNA as protein sponges, decoys, and scaffolds, thereby affecting the progression of breast cancer. We also discuss the indirect interaction between circRNAs and proteins in breast cancer in which RBPs, transcription factors and m6A modifying enzymes could in turn regulate the expression and formation of circRNA. Finally, we discuss the potential application of circRNA-protein interaction for treating breast cancer, providing a reference for further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Wen Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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Min J, Li Y, Li X, Wang M, Li H, Bi Y, Xu P, Liu W, Ye X, Li J. The circRNA circVAMP3 restricts influenza A virus replication by interfering with NP and NS1 proteins. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011577. [PMID: 37603540 PMCID: PMC10441791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011577] [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: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in various biological roles, including viral infection and antiviral immune responses. To identify influenza A virus (IAV) infection-related circRNAs, we compared the circRNA profiles of A549 cells upon IAV infection. We found that circVAMP3 is substantially upregulated after IAV infection or interferon (IFN) stimulation. Furthermore, IAV and IFN-β induced the expression of QKI-5, which promoted the biogenesis of circVAMP3. Overexpression of circVAMP3 inhibited IAV replication, while circVAMP3 knockdown promoted viral replication, suggesting that circVAMP3 restricts IAV replication. We verified the effect of circVAMP3 on viral infection in mice and found that circVAMP3 restricted IAV replication and pathogenesis in vivo. We also found that circVAMP3 functions as a decoy to the viral proteins nucleoprotein (NP) and nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). Mechanistically, circVAMP3 interfered with viral ribonucleoprotein complex activity by reducing the interaction of NP with polymerase basic 1, polymerase basic 2, or vRNA and restored the activation of IFN-β by alleviating the inhibitory effect of NS1 to RIG-I or TRIM25. Our study provides new insights into the roles of circRNAs, both in directly inhibiting virus replication and in restoring innate immunity against IAV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Min
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yucen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinda Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingge Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Huizi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhai Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Wenjun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
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5
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Yang J, He W, Gu L, Zhu L, Liang T, Liang X, Zhong Q, Zhang R, Nan A, Su L. CircFOXP1 alleviates brain injury after acute ischemic stroke by regulating STAT3/apoptotic signaling. Transl Res 2023; 257:15-29. [PMID: 36787831 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
According to previous studies, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in multiple pathological processes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the relationship between circFOXP1 and IS has not yet been reported. Here, we found that circFOXP1 expression was significantly decreased in the peripheral blood of AIS patients compared to controls and was associated with the severity and prognosis of AIS. Functionally, knockdown and overexpression of circFOXP1 promoted and inhibited apoptotic signaling, respectively, following oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) treatment in vitro. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated circFOXP1 overexpression attenuated neurological deficits and improved functional recovery after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) treatment in vivo. Mechanistically, decreased QKI expression inhibited circFOXP1 biogenesis under hypoxic conditions. Decreased circFOXP1 expression accelerated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein degradation by binding to and increasing STAT3 protein ubiquitination, ultimately aggravating brain injury after cerebral ischemia by activating apoptotic signaling. In summary, our study is the first to reveal that circFOXP1 alleviates brain injury after cerebral ischemia by regulating STAT3/apoptotic signaling, which provides a potentially novel therapeutic target for AIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialei Yang
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wanting He
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Lian Gu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Lulu Zhu
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tian Liang
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xueying Liang
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Qingqing Zhong
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Ruirui Zhang
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Aruo Nan
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Li Su
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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6
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Widom JR, Hoeher JE. Base-Stacking Heterogeneity in RNA Resolved by Fluorescence-Detected Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:8010-8018. [PMID: 35984918 PMCID: PMC9442794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
RNA plays a critical role in many biological processes, and the structures it adopts are intimately linked to those functions. Among many factors that contribute to RNA folding, van der Waals interactions between adjacent nucleobases stabilize structures in which the bases are stacked on top of one another. Here, we utilize fluorescence-detected circular dichroism spectroscopy (FDCD) to investigate base-stacking heterogeneity in RNA labeled with the fluorescent adenine analogue 2-aminopurine (2-AP). Comparison of standard (transmission-detected) CD and FDCD spectra reveals that in dinucleotides, 2-AP fluorescence is emitted almost exclusively by unstacked molecules. In a trinucleotide, some fluorescence is emitted by a population of stacked and highly quenched molecules, but more than half originates from a minor ∼10% population of unstacked molecules. The combination of FDCD and standard CD measurements reveals the prevalence of stacked and unstacked conformational subpopulations as well as their relative fluorescence quantum yields.
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7
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Feng H, Wan C, Zhang Z, Chen H, Li Z, Jiang H, Yin M, Dong S, Dou D, Wang Y, Zheng X, Ye W. Specific interaction of an RNA-binding protein with the 3'-UTR of its target mRNA is critical to oomycete sexual reproduction. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010001. [PMID: 34648596 PMCID: PMC8547697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is an essential stage of the oomycete life cycle. However, the functions of critical regulators in this biological process remain unclear due to a lack of genome editing technologies and functional genomic studies in oomycetes. The notorious oomycete pathogen Pythium ultimum is responsible for a variety of diseases in a broad range of plant species. In this study, we revealed the mechanism through which PuM90, a stage-specific Puf family RNA-binding protein, regulates oospore formation in P. ultimum. We developed the first CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated gene knockout and in situ complementation methods for Pythium. PuM90-knockout mutants were significantly defective in oospore formation, with empty oogonia or oospores larger in size with thinner oospore walls compared with the wild type. A tripartite recognition motif (TRM) in the Puf domain of PuM90 could specifically bind to a UGUACAUA motif in the mRNA 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of PuFLP, which encodes a flavodoxin-like protein, and thereby repress PuFLP mRNA level to facilitate oospore formation. Phenotypes similar to PuM90-knockout mutants were observed with overexpression of PuFLP, mutation of key amino acids in the TRM of PuM90, or mutation of the 3′-UTR binding site in PuFLP. The results demonstrated that a specific interaction of the RNA-binding protein PuM90 with the 3′-UTR of PuFLP mRNA at the post-transcriptional regulation level is critical for the sexual reproduction of P. ultimum. Oomycetes are a class of eukaryotic microorganisms with life cycles and growth habits similar to filamentous fungi, but are not true fungi. Although sexual reproduction, which produce oospores, is an essential stage of life cycle, the functions of critical regulators in this biological process remain unclear due to a lack of genome editing technologies and functional genomic studies in oomycetes. In this study, we developed the first CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated gene knockout and in situ complementation methods for Pythium ultimum, a notorious oomycete pathogen that is responsible for a variety of diseases in a broad range of plant species. We further identified the Puf family RNA-binding protein PuM90 and the flavodoxin-like protein PuFLP as major functional factors involved in P. ultimum oospore formation. We proposed a new model that PuM90 acts as a stage-specific post-transcriptional regulator by specifically binding to the 3′-UTR of PuFLP and then repressing PuFLP mRNA level. This study describes new technologies and data that will help to elucidate sexual reproduction and post-transcriptional regulation in oomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Feng
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanxu Wan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haibin Jiang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Maozhu Yin
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Suomeng Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Daolong Dou
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanchao Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail:
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Nakamura K, Nakao T, Mori T, Ohno S, Fujita Y, Masaoka K, Sakabayashi K, Mori K, Tobimatsu T, Sera T. Necessity of Flanking Repeats R1' and R8' of Human Pumilio1 Protein for RNA Binding. Biochemistry 2021; 60:3007-3015. [PMID: 34541851 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human Pumilio (hPUM) is a structurally well-analyzed RNA-binding protein that has been used recently for artificial RNA binding. Structural analysis revealed that amino acids at positions 12, 13, and 16 in the repeats from R1 to R8 each contact one specific RNA base in the eight-nucleotide RNA target. The functions of the N- and C-terminal flanking repeats R1' and R8', however, remain unclear. Here, we report how the repeats contribute to overall RNA binding. We first prepared three mutants in which R1' and/or R8' were deleted and then analyzed RNA binding using gel shift assays. The assays showed that all deletion mutants bound to their target less than the original hPUM, but that R1' contributed more than R8', unlike Drosophila PUM. We next investigated which amino acid residues of R1' or R8' were responsible for RNA binding. With detailed analysis of the protein tertiary structure, we found a hydrophobic core in each of the repeats. We therefore mutated all hydrophobic amino residues in each core to alanine. The gel shift assays with the resulting mutants revealed that both hydrophobic cores contributed to the RNA binding: especially the hydrophobic core of R1' had a significant influence. In the present study, we demonstrated that the flanking R1' and R8' repeats are indispensable for RNA binding of hPUM and suggest that hydrophobic R1'-R1 interactions may stabilize the whole hPUM structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Taishu Nakao
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Mori
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Serika Ohno
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fujita
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Keisuke Masaoka
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sakabayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Koichi Mori
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takamasa Tobimatsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takashi Sera
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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9
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Zhou W, Melamed D, Banyai G, Meyer C, Tuschl T, Wickens M, Cao J, Fields S. Expanding the binding specificity for RNA recognition by a PUF domain. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5107. [PMID: 34429425 PMCID: PMC8384837 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25433-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to design a protein to bind specifically to a target RNA enables numerous applications, with the modular architecture of the PUF domain lending itself to new RNA-binding specificities. For each repeat of the Pumilio-1 PUF domain, we generate a library that contains the 8,000 possible combinations of amino acid substitutions at residues critical for RNA contact. We carry out yeast three-hybrid selections with each library against the RNA recognition sequence for Pumilio-1, with any possible base present at the position recognized by the randomized repeat. We use sequencing to score the binding of each variant, identifying many variants with highly repeat-specific interactions. From these data, we generate an RNA binding code specific to each repeat and base. We use this code to design PUF domains against 16 RNAs, and find that some of these domains recognize RNAs with two, three or four changes from the wild type sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA ,grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Daniel Melamed
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA ,grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel ,grid.18098.380000 0004 1937 0562Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gabor Banyai
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Cindy Meyer
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Thomas Tuschl
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Marvin Wickens
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Junyue Cao
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Stanley Fields
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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10
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CircRNA-Protein Interactions in Muscle Development and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063262. [PMID: 33806945 PMCID: PMC8005172 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a kind of novel endogenous noncoding RNA formed through back-splicing of mRNA precursor. The biogenesis, degradation, nucleus-cytoplasm transport, location, and even translation of circRNA are controlled by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Therefore, circRNAs and the chaperoned RBPs play critical roles in biological functions that significantly contribute to normal animal development and disease. In this review, we systematically characterize the possible molecular mechanism of circRNA-protein interactions, summarize the latest research on circRNA-protein interactions in muscle development and myocardial disease, and discuss the future application of circRNA in treating muscle diseases. Finally, we provide several valid prediction methods and experimental verification approaches. Our review reveals the significance of circRNAs and their protein chaperones and provides a reference for further study in this field.
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11
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Criscuolo S, Gatti Iou M, Merolla A, Maragliano L, Cesca F, Benfenati F. Engineering REST-Specific Synthetic PUF Proteins to Control Neuronal Gene Expression: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2039-2054. [PMID: 32678979 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of gene transcription is an essential mechanism for differentiation and adaptation of organisms. A key actor in this regulation process is the repressor element 1 (RE1)-silencing transcription factor (REST), a transcriptional repressor that controls more than 2000 putative target genes, most of which are neuron-specific. With the purpose of modulating REST expression, we exploited synthetic, ad hoc designed, RNA binding proteins (RBPs) able to specifically target and dock to REST mRNA. Among the various families of RBPs, we focused on the Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins, present in all eukaryotic organisms and controlling a variety of cellular functions. Here, a combined experimental and computational approach was used to design and test 8- and 16-repeat PUF proteins specific for REST mRNA. We explored the conformational properties and atomic features of the PUF-RNA recognition code by Molecular Dynamics simulations. Biochemical assays revealed that the 8- and 16-repeat PUF-based variants specifically bind the endogenous REST mRNA without affecting its translational regulation. The data also indicate a key role of stacking residues in determining the binding specificity. The newly characterized REST-specific PUF-based constructs act as excellent RNA-binding modules and represent a versatile and functional platform to specifically target REST mRNA and modulate its endogenous expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Criscuolo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Mahad Gatti Iou
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Assunta Merolla
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- University of Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Luca Maragliano
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16132, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova 16132, Italy
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12
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Vickers TA, Migawa MT, Seth PP, Crooke ST. Interaction of ASOs with PC4 Is Highly Influenced by the Cellular Environment and ASO Chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:9661-9674. [PMID: 32374993 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c01808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The activity of PS-ASOs is strongly influenced by association with both inter- and intracellular proteins. The sequence, chemical nature, and structure of the ASO can have profound influences on the interaction of PS-ASOs with specific proteins. A more thorough understanding of how these pharmacological agents interact with various proteins and how chemical modifications, sequence, and structure influence interactions with proteins is needed to inform future ASO design efforts. To better understand the chemistry of PS-ASO interactions, we have focused on human positive cofactor 4 (PC4). Although several studies have investigated the in vitro binding properties of PC4 with endogenous nucleic acids, little is known about the chemistry of interaction of PS-ASOs with this protein. Here we examine in detail the impact of ASO backbone chemistry, 2'-modifications, and buffer environment on the binding affinity of PC4. In addition, using site-directed mutagenesis, we identify those amino acids that are specifically required for ASO binding interactions, and by substitution of abasic nucleotides we identify the positions on the ASO that most strongly influence affinity for PC4. Finally, to confirm that the interactions observed in vitro are biologically relevant, we use a recently developed complementation reporter system to evaluate the kinetics and subcellular localization of the interaction of ASO and PC4 in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Michael T Migawa
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryIONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2855 Gazelle CourtCarlsbadCalifornia92010United States
| | - Punit P Seth
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryIONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2855 Gazelle CourtCarlsbadCalifornia92010United States
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
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13
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Vickers TA, Rahdar M, Prakash TP, Crooke ST. Kinetic and subcellular analysis of PS-ASO/protein interactions with P54nrb and RNase H1. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:10865-10880. [PMID: 31495875 PMCID: PMC6846478 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid RNase H1-dependent mislocalization of heterodimer proteins P54nrb and PSF to nucleoli is an early event in the pathway that explains the effects of most toxic phosphorothioate ASOs (PS-ASOs). Using a recently developed NanoLuciferace (NLuc)-based structural complementation reporter system which allows us to observe ASO/protein interactions in real time in live cells, we have determined that safe and toxic PS-ASOs associate with these proteins with kinetics and impact on subcellular localization that differ. Toxic PS-ASOs interact in a complex that includes RNase H1, P54nrb and PSF; but RNase H1/P54nrb complexes were observed in only the cells treated with toxic, but not safe PS-ASOs. In addition, experiments performed in vitro suggest that RNA is also a required component of the complex. The protein–protein interaction between P54nrb and RNase H1 requires the spacer region of RNAse H1, while the P54nrb core domains are required for association with RNase H1. In addition, we have determined that PS-ASOs bind P54nrb via RRM1 and RRM2, while they bind RNase H1 primarily via the hybrid binding domain, however catalytic domain interactions also contribute to overall affinity. These ASO–protein interactions are highly influenced by the chemistry of the PS-ASO binding environment, however little correlation between affinity for specific proteins and PS-ASO toxicity was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Meghdad Rahdar
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Thazha P Prakash
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
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14
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Huang A, Zheng H, Wu Z, Chen M, Huang Y. Circular RNA-protein interactions: functions, mechanisms, and identification. Theranostics 2020; 10:3503-3517. [PMID: 32206104 PMCID: PMC7069073 DOI: 10.7150/thno.42174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 109.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, endogenous RNAs with no 5' end caps or 3' poly(A) tails. These RNAs are expressed in tissue-specific, cell-specific, and developmental stage-specific patterns. The biogenesis of circRNAs is now known to be regulated by multiple specific factors; however, circRNAs were previously thought to be insignificant byproducts of splicing errors. Recent studies have demonstrated their activity as microRNA (miRNA) sponges as well as protein sponges, decoys, scaffolds, and recruiters, and some circRNAs even act as translation templates in multiple pathophysiological processes. CircRNAs bind and sequester specific proteins to appropriate subcellular positions, and they participate in modulating certain protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Conversely, several proteins play an indispensable role in the life cycle of circRNAs from biogenesis to degradation. However, the exact mechanisms of these interactions between proteins and circRNAs remain unknown. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding circRNA-protein interactions and the methods used to identify and characterize these interactions. We also summarize new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqing Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Jiazhi Road, Lunjiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, 528300, China
| | - Haoxiao Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Jiazhi Road, Lunjiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, 528300, China
| | - Zhiye Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Laboratory of Heart Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minsheng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Laboratory of Heart Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuli Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Jiazhi Road, Lunjiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, 528300, China
- The George Institute for Global Health, NSW 2042 Australia
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15
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Wallis CP, Scott LH, Filipovska A, Rackham O. Manipulating and elucidating mitochondrial gene expression with engineered proteins. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190185. [PMID: 31787043 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many conventional, modern genome engineering tools cannot be used to study mitochondrial genetics due to the unusual structure and physiology of the mitochondrial genome. Here, we review a number of newly developed, synthetic biology-based approaches for altering levels of mutant mammalian mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial RNAs, including transcription activator-like effector nucleases, zinc finger nucleases and engineered RNA-binding proteins. These approaches allow researchers to manipulate and visualize mitochondrial processes and may provide future therapeutics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking the mitochondrial genotype to phenotype: a complex endeavour'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Wallis
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Louis H Scott
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Filipovska
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Oliver Rackham
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.,Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
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16
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Shotwell CR, Cleary JD, Berglund JA. The potential of engineered eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins as molecular tools and therapeutics. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2019; 11:e1573. [PMID: 31680457 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Eukaroytic RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) recognize and process RNAs through recognition of their sequence motifs via RNA-binding domains (RBDs). RBPs usually consist of one or more RBDs and can include additional functional domains that modify or cleave RNA. Engineered RBPs have been used to answer basic biology questions, control gene expression, locate viral RNA in vivo, as well as many other tasks. Given the growing number of diseases associated with RNA and RBPs, engineered RBPs also have the potential to serve as therapeutics. This review provides an in depth description of recent advances in engineered RBPs and discusses opportunities and challenges in the field. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Methods > RNA Nanotechnology RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl R Shotwell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - John D Cleary
- RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, New York
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- Department of Biological Sciences and RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, New York
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17
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Dedow LK, Bailey-Serres J. Searching for a Match: Structure, Function and Application of Sequence-Specific RNA-Binding Proteins. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1927-1938. [PMID: 31329953 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plants encode over 1800 RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that modulate a myriad of steps in gene regulation from chromatin organization to translation, yet only a small number of these proteins and their target transcripts have been functionally characterized. Two classes of eukaryotic RBPs, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) and pumilio/fem-3 binding factors (PUF), recognize and bind to specific sequential RNA sequences through protein-RNA interactions. These modular proteins possess helical structural units containing key residues with high affinity for specific nucleotides, whose sequential order determines binding to a specific target RNA sequence. PPR proteins are nucleus-encoded, but largely regulate post-transcriptional gene regulation within plastids and mitochondria, including splicing, translation and RNA editing. Plant PUFs are involved in gene regulatory processes within the cell nucleus and cytoplasm. The modular structures of PPRs and PUFs that determine sequence specificity has facilitated identification of their RNA targets and biological functions. The protein-based RNA-targeting of PPRs and PUFs contrasts to the prokaryotic cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated proteins (Cas) that target RNAs in prokaryotes. Together the PPR, PUF and CRISPR-Cas systems provide varied opportunities for RNA-targeted engineering applications.
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18
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Humphreys SC, Thayer MB, Lade JM, Wu B, Sham K, Basiri B, Hao Y, Huang X, Smith R, Rock BM. Plasma and Liver Protein Binding of N-Acetylgalactosamine–Conjugated Small Interfering RNA. Drug Metab Dispos 2019; 47:1174-1182. [DOI: 10.1124/dmd.119.086967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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19
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Bhat VD, McCann KL, Wang Y, Fonseca DR, Shukla T, Alexander JC, Qiu C, Wickens M, Lo TW, Tanaka Hall TM, Campbell ZT. Engineering a conserved RNA regulatory protein repurposes its biological function in vivo. eLife 2019; 8:43788. [PMID: 30652968 PMCID: PMC6351103 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PUF (PUmilio/FBF) RNA-binding proteins recognize distinct elements. In C. elegans, PUF-8 binds to an 8-nt motif and restricts proliferation in the germline. Conversely, FBF-2 recognizes a 9-nt element and promotes mitosis. To understand how motif divergence relates to biological function, we first determined a crystal structure of PUF-8. Comparison of this structure to that of FBF-2 revealed a major difference in a central repeat. We devised a modified yeast 3-hybrid screen to identify mutations that confer recognition of an 8-nt element to FBF-2. We identified several such mutants and validated structurally and biochemically their binding to 8-nt RNA elements. Using genome engineering, we generated a mutant animal with a substitution in FBF-2 that confers preferential binding to the PUF-8 element. The mutant largely rescued overproliferation in animals that spontaneously generate tumors in the absence of puf-8. This work highlights the critical role of motif length in the specification of biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandita D Bhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | - Kathleen L McCann
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, United States
| | - Yeming Wang
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, United States
| | | | - Tarjani Shukla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | | | - Chen Qiu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, United States
| | - Marv Wickens
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Te-Wen Lo
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, United States
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, United States
| | - Zachary T Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas Dallas, Richardson, United States
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20
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Qiu C, Bhat VD, Rajeev S, Zhang C, Lasley AE, Wine RN, Campbell ZT, Hall TMT. A crystal structure of a collaborative RNA regulatory complex reveals mechanisms to refine target specificity. eLife 2019; 8:48968. [PMID: 31397673 PMCID: PMC6697444 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, fem-3 Binding Factor (FBF) partners with LST-1 to maintain stem cells. A crystal structure of an FBF-2/LST-1/RNA complex revealed that FBF-2 recognizes a short RNA motif different from the characteristic 9-nt FBF binding element, and compact motif recognition coincided with curvature changes in the FBF-2 scaffold. Previously, we engineered FBF-2 to favor recognition of shorter RNA motifs without curvature change (Bhat et al., 2019). In vitro selection of RNAs bound by FBF-2 suggested sequence specificity in the central region of the compact element. This bias, reflected in the crystal structure, was validated in RNA-binding assays. FBF-2 has the intrinsic ability to bind to this shorter motif. LST-1 weakens FBF-2 binding affinity for short and long motifs, which may increase target selectivity. Our findings highlight the role of FBF scaffold flexibility in RNA recognition and suggest a new mechanism by which protein partners refine target site selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Qiu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology LaboratoryNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkUnited States
| | - Vandita D Bhat
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonUnited States
| | - Sanjana Rajeev
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonUnited States
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonUnited States
| | - Alexa E Lasley
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonUnited States
| | - Robert N Wine
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology LaboratoryNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkUnited States
| | - Zachary T Campbell
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at DallasRichardsonUnited States
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology LaboratoryNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkUnited States
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21
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Abstract
Cells must make careful use of the resources available to them. A key area of cellular regulation involves the biogenesis of ribosomes. Transcriptional regulation of ribosome biogenesis factor genes through alterations in histone acetylation has been well studied. This work identifies a post-transcriptional mechanism of ribosome biogenesis regulation by Puf protein control of mRNA stability. Puf proteins are eukaryotic mRNA binding proteins that play regulatory roles in mRNA degradation and translation via association with specific conserved elements in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs and with degradation and translation factors. We demonstrate that several ribosome biogenesis factor mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing a canonical Puf4p element in their 3' UTRs are destabilized by Puf2p, Puf4, and Puf5p, yet stabilized by Puf1p and Puf3p. In the absence of all Puf proteins, these ribosome biogenesis mRNAs are destabilized by a secondary mechanism involving the same 3' UTR element. Unlike other targets of Puf4p regulation, the decay of these transcripts is not altered by carbon source. Overexpression of Puf4p results in delayed ribosomal RNA processing and altered ribosomal subunit trafficking. These results represent a novel role for Puf proteins in yeast as regulators of ribosome biogenesis transcript stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Fischer
- a Department of Biology , University of Missouri-St. Louis , St. Louis , MO , USA
| | - Wendy M Olivas
- a Department of Biology , University of Missouri-St. Louis , St. Louis , MO , USA
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22
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Zhao YY, Mao MW, Zhang WJ, Wang J, Li HT, Yang Y, Wang Z, Wu JW. Expanding RNA binding specificity and affinity of engineered PUF domains. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:4771-4782. [PMID: 29490074 PMCID: PMC5961129 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific manipulation of RNA is necessary for the research in biotechnology and medicine. The RNA-binding domains of Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factors (PUF domains) are programmable RNA binding scaffolds used to engineer artificial proteins that specifically modulate RNAs. However, the native PUF domains generally recognize 8-nt RNAs, limiting their applications. Here, we modify the PUF domain of human Pumilio1 to engineer PUFs that recognize RNA targets of different length. The engineered PUFs bind to their RNA targets specifically and PUFs with more repeats have higher binding affinity than the canonical eight-repeat domains; however, the binding affinity reaches the peak at those with 9 and 10 repeats. Structural analysis on PUF with nine repeats reveals a higher degree of curvature, and the RNA binding unexpectedly and dramatically opens the curved structure. Investigation of the residues positioned in between two RNA bases demonstrates that tyrosine and arginine have favored stacking interactions. Further tests on the availability of the engineered PUFs in vitro and in splicing function assays indicate that our engineered PUFs bind RNA targets with high affinity in a programmable way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Zhao
- Center for Life Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Miao-Wei Mao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute of Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biological Science, Shanghai 200031, China
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wen-Jing Zhang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Institute of Molecular Enzymology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Hai-Tao Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zefeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute of Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biological Science, Shanghai 200031, China
- Enzerna Biosciences, Inc., 125 South Road, 925B Kenan Labs, CB#3266, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jia-Wei Wu
- Center for Life Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute of Molecular Enzymology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
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23
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Bao H, Wang N, Wang C, Jiang Y, Liu J, Xu L, Wu J, Shi Y. Structural basis for the specific recognition of 18S rRNA by APUM23. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:12005-12014. [PMID: 29036323 PMCID: PMC5714250 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PUF (Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor) proteins, a conserved family of RNA-binding proteins, recognize specific single-strand RNA targets in a specific modular way. Although plants have a greater number of PUF protein members than do animal and fungal systems, they have been the subject of fewer structural and functional investigations. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of APUM23, a nucleolar PUF protein in the plant Arabidopsis, in pre-rRNA processing. APUM23 is distinct from classical PUF family proteins, which are located in the cytoplasm and bind to 3'UTRs of mRNA to modulate mRNA expression and localization. We found that the complete RNA target sequence of APUM23 comprises 11 nt in 18S rRNA at positions 1141-1151. The complex structure shows that APUM23 has 10 PUF repeats; it assembles into a C-shape, with an insertion located within the inner concave surface. We found several different RNA recognition features. A notable structural feature of APUM23 is an insertion in the third PUF repeat that participates in nucleotide recognition and maintains the correct conformation of the target RNA. Our findings elucidate the mechanism for APUM23's-specific recognition of 18S rRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Bao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Na Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Chongyuan Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yiyang Jiang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Jiuyang Liu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Li Xu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Jihui Wu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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McDermott SM, Stuart K. The essential functions of KREPB4 are developmentally distinct and required for endonuclease association with editosomes. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:1672-1684. [PMID: 28802260 PMCID: PMC5648035 DOI: 10.1261/rna.062786.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Uridine insertion and deletion RNA editing generates functional mitochondrial mRNAs in Trypanosoma brucei, and several transcripts are differentially edited in bloodstream (BF) and procyclic form (PF) cells correlating with changes in mitochondrial function. Editing is catalyzed by three ∼20S editosomes that have a common set of 12 proteins, but are typified by mutually exclusive RNase III KREN1, N2, and N3 endonucleases with distinct cleavage specificities. KREPB4 is a common editosome protein that has a degenerate RNase III domain lacking conserved catalytic residues, in addition to zinc-finger and Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) motifs. Here we show that KREPB4 is essential for BF and PF growth, in vivo RNA editing, and editosome integrity, but that loss of KREPB4 has differential effects on editosome components and complexes between BF and PF cells. We used targeted mutagenesis to investigate the functions of the conserved PUF and RNase III domains in both life-cycle stages and show that the PUF motif is not essential for function in BF or PF. In contrast, specific mutations in the RNase III domain severely inhibit BF and PF growth and editing, and disrupt ∼20S editosomes, while others indicate that the RNase III domain is noncatalytic. We further show that KREPB4, specifically the noncatalytic RNase III domain, is required for the association of KREN1, N2, and N3 with PF editosomes. These results, combined with previous studies, support a model in which KREPB4 acts as a pseudoenzyme to form the noncatalytic half of an RNase III heterodimer with the editing endonucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M McDermott
- Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle BioMed), Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Kenneth Stuart
- Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle BioMed), Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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25
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Du WW, Zhang C, Yang W, Yong T, Awan FM, Yang BB. Identifying and Characterizing circRNA-Protein Interaction. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:4183-4191. [PMID: 29158818 PMCID: PMC5695005 DOI: 10.7150/thno.21299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 441] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs have been identified as naturally occurring RNAs that are highly represented in the eukaryotic transcriptome. Although a large number of circRNAs have been reported, circRNA functions remain largely unknown. CircRNAs can function as miRNA sponges, thereby reducing their ability to target mRNAs. We hypothesize that circRNAs may bind, store, sort, and sequester proteins to particular subcellular locations, and act as dynamic scaffolding molecules that modulate protein-protein interactions. Here, we review the biological implication and function of circRNA-protein interaction, and reveal a dynamic model of the interaction in various tissues, development stages and physiological conditions. Improved techniques to identify and characterize the dynamic RNA-protein interactions may elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the expression and functional diversity of circRNAs.
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26
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Vickers TA, Crooke ST. Development of a Quantitative BRET Affinity Assay for Nucleic Acid-Protein Interactions. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161930. [PMID: 27571227 PMCID: PMC5003356 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-nucleic acid interactions play a crucial role in the regulation of diverse biological processes. Elucidating the roles that protein-nucleic acid complexes play in the regulation of transcription, translation, DNA replication, repair and recombination, and RNA processing continues to be a crucial aspect of understanding of cell biology and the mechanisms of disease. In addition, proteins have been demonstrated to interact with antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics in a sequence and chemistry dependent manner, influencing ASO potency and distribution in cells and in vivo. While many assays have been developed to measure protein-nucleic acid interactions, many suffer from lack of throughput and sensitivity, or challenges with protein purification and scalability. In this report we present a new BRET assay for the analysis of DNA-protein interactions which makes use of an extremely bright luciferase as a tag for the binding protein, along with a long-wavelength fluorophore conjugated to the nucleic acid. The resulting assay is high throughput, sensitive, does not require protein purification, and even allows for quantitative characterization of these interactions within the biologically relevant context of whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Stanley T. Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, United States of America
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27
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De-coding and re-coding RNA recognition by PUF and PPR repeat proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2016; 36:116-21. [PMID: 26874972 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PUF and PPR proteins are two families of α-helical repeat proteins that recognize single-stranded RNA sequences. Both protein families hold promise as scaffolds for designed RNA-binding domains. A modular protein RNA recognition code was apparent from the first crystal structures of a PUF protein in complex with RNA, and recent studies continue to advance our understanding of natural PUF protein recognition (de-coding) and our ability to engineer specificity (re-coding). Degenerate recognition motifs make de-coding specificity of individual PPR proteins challenging. Nevertheless, re-coding PPR protein specificity using a consensus recognition code has been successful.
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28
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McDermott SM, Guo X, Carnes J, Stuart K. Differential Editosome Protein Function between Life Cycle Stages of Trypanosoma brucei. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:24914-31. [PMID: 26304125 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.669432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Uridine insertion and deletion RNA editing generates functional mitochondrial mRNAs in Trypanosoma brucei. The mRNAs are differentially edited in bloodstream form (BF) and procyclic form (PF) life cycle stages, and this correlates with the differential utilization of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation between the stages. The mechanism that controls this differential editing is unknown. Editing is catalyzed by multiprotein ∼20S editosomes that contain endonuclease, 3'-terminal uridylyltransferase, exonuclease, and ligase activities. These editosomes also contain KREPB5 and KREPA3 proteins, which have no functional catalytic motifs, but they are essential for parasite viability, editing, and editosome integrity in BF cells. We show here that repression of KREPB5 or KREPA3 is also lethal in PF, but the effects on editosome structure differ from those in BF. In addition, we found that point mutations in KREPB5 or KREPA3 differentially affect cell growth, editosome integrity, and RNA editing between BF and PF stages. These results indicate that the functions of KREPB5 and KREPA3 editosome proteins are adjusted between the life cycle stages. This implies that these proteins are involved in the processes that control differential editing and that the 20S editosomes differ between the life cycle stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M McDermott
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly known as Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Xuemin Guo
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly known as Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Jason Carnes
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly known as Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Kenneth Stuart
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly known as Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
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29
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Abstract
Subcellular, sequence-specific detection of RNA in vivo is a powerful tool to study the macromolecular transport that occurs through plasmodesmata. The RNA-binding domain of Pumilio proteins can be engineered to bind RNA sequences of choice and fused to fluorescent proteins for RNA imaging. This chapter describes the construction of a Pumilio-based imaging system to track the RNA of Tobacco mosaic virus in vivo, and practical aspects of RNA live-cell imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Tilsner
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, BMS Building, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK,
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30
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31
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Campbell ZT, Valley CT, Wickens M. A protein-RNA specificity code enables targeted activation of an endogenous human transcript. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2014; 21:732-8. [PMID: 24997599 PMCID: PMC4125476 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Programmable protein scaffolds that target DNA are invaluable tools for genome engineering and designer control of transcription. RNA manipulation provides broad new opportunities for control, including changes in translation. PUF proteins are an attractive platform for that purpose because they bind specific single-stranded RNA sequences by using short repeated modules, each contributing three amino acids that contact an RNA base. Here, we identified the specificities of natural and designed combinations of those three amino acids, using a large randomized RNA library. The resulting specificity code reveals the RNA binding preferences of natural proteins and enables the design of new specificities. Using the code and a translational activation domain, we designed a protein that targets endogenous cyclin B1 mRNA in human cells, increasing sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Our study provides a guide for rational design of engineered mRNA control, including translational stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cary T Valley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marvin Wickens
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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32
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Rath AK, Kellermann SJ, Rentmeister A. Programmable Design of Functional Ribonucleoprotein Complexes. Chem Asian J 2014; 9:2045-51. [DOI: 10.1002/asia.201402220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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33
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Yagi Y, Nakamura T, Small I. The potential for manipulating RNA with pentatricopeptide repeat proteins. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 78:772-82. [PMID: 24471963 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family, which is particularly prevalent in plants, includes many sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins involved in all aspects of organelle RNA metabolism, including RNA stability, processing, editing and translation. PPR proteins consist of a tandem array of 2-30 PPR motifs, each of which aligns to one nucleotide in the RNA target. The amino acid side chains at two or three specific positions in each motif confer nucleotide specificity in a predictable and programmable manner. Thus, PPR proteins appear to provide an extremely promising opportunity to create custom RNA-binding proteins with tailored specificity. We summarize recent progress in understanding RNA recognition by PPR proteins, with a particular focus on potential applications of PPR-based tools for manipulating RNA, and on the challenges that remain to be overcome before these tools may be routinely used by the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Yagi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
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34
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Guo D, Liu S, Huang Y, Xiao Y. Preorientation of protein and RNA just before contacting. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2013; 31:716-28. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2012.708604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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35
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Tanaka Hall TM. Engineered proteins with Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor scaffold to manipulate RNA metabolism. FEBS J 2013; 280:3755-67. [PMID: 23731364 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor proteins are characterized by a sequence-specific RNA-binding domain. This unique single-stranded RNA recognition module, whose sequence specificity can be reprogrammed, has been fused with functional modules to engineer protein factors with various functions. We summarize the advances made with respect to developing RNA regulatory tools, as well as opportunities for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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36
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Wu J, Campbell ZT, Menichelli E, Wickens M, Williamson JR. A protein.protein interaction platform involved in recruitment of GLD-3 to the FBF.fem-3 mRNA complex. J Mol Biol 2012; 425:738-54. [PMID: 23159559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Revised: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The Pumilio and FBF (PUF) family of RNA-binding proteins interacts with protein partners to post-transcriptionally regulate mRNAs in eukaryotes. The interaction between PUF family member fem-3 binding factor (FBF) and germline development defective-3 (GLD-3) protein promotes spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans by increasing expression of the fem-3 mRNA. Defined here in these studies is the molecular basis for this critical interaction. A 10-amino-acid region within GLD-3 is required for FBF binding, while a 7-amino-acid loop in FBF between PUF repeats 7 and 8 is necessary for GLD-3 binding. These short sequences are conserved, as other FBF-binding proteins bear sequences similar to those in GLD-3 and other C. elegans PUF proteins contain sequences similar to those in FBF. The FBF-binding region of GLD-3 forms a ternary complex with FBF on the point mutation element (PME) in the fem-3 3' untranslated region, and formation of this GLD-3⋅FBF complex does not impact the RNA-binding activity of FBF. These data raise the possibility of alternative models involving the formation of a GLD-3⋅FBF⋅RNA complex in the regulation of germline mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joann Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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37
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Patterns and plasticity in RNA-protein interactions enable recruitment of multiple proteins through a single site. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:6054-9. [PMID: 22467831 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200521109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA control hinges on the specificity and affinity of proteins for their RNA binding sites. Regulatory proteins must bind their own sites and reject even closely related noncognate sites. In the PUF [Pumilio and fem-3 binding factor (FBF)] family of RNA binding proteins, individual proteins discriminate differences in the length and sequence of binding sites, allowing each PUF to bind a distinct battery of mRNAs. Here, we show that despite these differences, the pattern of RNA interactions is conserved among PUF proteins: the two ends of the PUF protein make critical contacts with the two ends of the RNA sites. Despite this conserved "two-handed" pattern of recognition, the RNA sequence is flexible. Among the binding sites of yeast Puf4p, RNA sequence dictates the pattern in which RNA bases are flipped away from the binding surface of the protein. Small differences in RNA sequence allow new modes of control, recruiting Puf5p in addition to Puf4p to a single site. This embedded information adds a new layer of biological meaning to the connections between RNA targets and PUF proteins.
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38
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RNA binding and RNA remodeling activities of the half-a-tetratricopeptide (HAT) protein HCF107 underlie its effects on gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:5651-6. [PMID: 22451905 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200318109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The half-a-tetratricopeptide repeat (HAT) motif is a helical repeat motif found in proteins that influence various aspects of RNA metabolism, including rRNA biogenesis, RNA splicing, and polyadenylation. This functional association with RNA suggested that HAT repeat tracts might bind RNA. However, RNA binding activity has not been reported for any HAT repeat tract, and recent literature has emphasized a protein binding role. In this study, we show that a chloroplast-localized HAT protein, HCF107, is a sequence-specific RNA binding protein. HCF107 consists of 11 tandem HAT repeats and short flanking regions that are also predicted to form helical hairpins. The minimal HCF107 binding site spans ∼11 nt, consistent with the possibility that HAT repeats bind RNA through a modular one repeat-1 nt mechanism. Binding of HCF107 to its native RNA ligand in the psbH 5' UTR remodels local RNA structure and protects the adjacent RNA from exonucleases in vitro. These activities can account for the RNA stabilizing, RNA processing, and translational activation functions attributed to HCF107 based on genetic data. We suggest that analogous activities contribute to the functions of HAT domains found in ribonucleoprotein complexes in the nuclear-cytosolic compartment.
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39
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Filipovska A, Rackham O. Modular recognition of nucleic acids by PUF, TALE and PPR proteins. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2012; 8:699-708. [PMID: 22234420 DOI: 10.1039/c2mb05392f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Sequence specific binding of DNA and RNA is of fundamental importance in the regulation of cellular gene expression. Because of their modular structure repeat domain proteins are particularly well suited for these processes and have been widely adopted throughout evolution. Detailed biochemical and structural data has revealed the key residues responsible for recognition of RNA by Pumilio and FBF homology (PUF) repeat proteins and shown that the base specificity can be predicted and re-engineered. Recent work on the DNA-binding properties of transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins has shown that their specificity also relies on only a few key residues with a predictable code that can be used to design new DNA-binding proteins. Although less well understood, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins contain motifs that appear to contribute to RNA recognition and comparisons to TALE and PUF proteins may help elucidate the code by which they recognize their RNA targets. Understanding how repeat proteins bind nucleic acids enables their biological roles to be uncovered and the design of engineered proteins with predictable RNA and DNA targets for use in biotechnology.
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40
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Qiu C, Kershner A, Wang Y, Holley CP, Wilinski D, Keles S, Kimble J, Wickens M, Hall TMT. Divergence of Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) protein specificity through variations in an RNA-binding pocket. J Biol Chem 2011; 287:6949-57. [PMID: 22205700 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.326264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA control networks depend on recognition of specific RNA sequences. Pumilio-fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) RNA-binding proteins achieve that specificity through variations on a conserved scaffold. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Puf3p achieves specificity through an additional binding pocket for a cytosine base upstream of the core RNA recognition site. Here we demonstrate that this chemically simple adaptation is prevalent and contributes to the diversity of RNA specificities among PUF proteins. Bioinformatics analysis shows that mRNAs associated with Caenorhabditis elegans fem-3 mRNA binding factor (FBF)-2 in vivo contain an upstream cytosine required for biological regulation. Crystal structures of FBF-2 and C. elegans PUF-6 reveal binding pockets structurally similar to that of Puf3p, whereas sequence alignments predict a pocket in PUF-11. For Puf3p, FBF-2, PUF-6, and PUF-11, the upstream pockets and a cytosine are required for maximal binding to RNA, but the quantitative impact on binding affinity varies. Furthermore, the position of the upstream cytosine relative to the core PUF recognition site can differ, which in the case of FBF-2 originally masked the identification of this consensus sequence feature. Importantly, other PUF proteins lack the pocket and so do not discriminate upstream bases. A structure-based alignment reveals that these proteins lack key residues that would contact the cytosine, and in some instances, they also present amino acid side chains that interfere with binding. Loss of the pocket requires only substitution of one serine, as appears to have occurred during the evolution of certain fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Qiu
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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41
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Rubinson EH, Eichman BF. Nucleic acid recognition by tandem helical repeats. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2011; 22:101-9. [PMID: 22154606 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Revised: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein domains constructed from tandem α-helical repeats have until recently been primarily associated with protein scaffolds or RNA recognition. Recent crystal structures of human mitochondrial termination factor MTERF1 and Bacillus cereus alkylpurine DNA glycosylase AlkD bound to DNA revealed two new superhelical tandem repeat architectures capable of wrapping around the double helix in unique ways. Unlike DNA sequence recognition motifs that rely mainly on major groove read-out, MTERF and ALK motifs locate target sequences and aberrant nucleotides within DNA by resculpting the double-helix through extensive backbone contacts. Comparisons between MTERF and ALK repeats, together with recent advances in ssRNA recognition by Pumilio/FBF (PUF) domains, provide new insights into the fundamental principles of protein-nucleic acid recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Rubinson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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42
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Targeted translational regulation using the PUF protein family scaffold. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:15870-5. [PMID: 21911377 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1105151108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory complexes formed on mRNAs control translation, stability, and localization. These complexes possess two activities: one that binds RNA and another--the effector--that elicits a biological function. The Pumilio and FBF (PUF) protein family of RNA binding proteins provides a versatile scaffold to design and select proteins with new specificities. Here, the PUF scaffold is used to target translational activation and repression of specific mRNAs, and to induce specific poly(A) addition and removal. To do so, we linked PUF scaffold proteins to a translational activator, GLD2, or a translational repressor, CAF1. The chimeric proteins activate or repress the targeted mRNAs in Xenopus oocytes, and elicit poly(A) addition or removal. The magnitude of translational control relates directly to the affinity of the RNA-protein complex over a 100-fold range of K(d). The chimeric proteins act on both reporter and endogenous mRNAs: an mRNA that normally is deadenylated during oocyte maturation instead receives poly(A) in the presence of an appropriate chimera. The PUF-effector strategy enables the design of proteins that affect translation and stability of specific mRNAs in vivo.
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43
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Kalchhauser I, Farley BM, Pauli S, Ryder SP, Ciosk R. FBF represses the Cip/Kip cell-cycle inhibitor CKI-2 to promote self-renewal of germline stem cells in C. elegans. EMBO J 2011; 30:3823-9. [PMID: 21822213 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2011.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the decision between stem cell self-renewal and differentiation has been linked to cell-cycle modifications, our understanding of cell-cycle regulation in stem cells is very limited. Here, we report that FBF/Pumilio, a conserved RNA-binding protein, promotes self-renewal of germline stem cells by repressing CKI-2(Cip/Kip), a Cyclin E/Cdk2 inhibitor. We have previously shown that repression of CYE-1 (Cyclin E) by another RNA-binding protein, GLD-1/Quaking, promotes germ cell differentiation. Together, these findings suggest that a post-transcriptional regulatory circuit involving FBF and GLD-1 controls the self-renewal versus differentiation decision in the germline by promoting high CYE-1/CDK-2 activity in stem cells, and inhibiting CYE-1/CDK-2 activity in differentiating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Kalchhauser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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Dong S, Wang Y, Cassidy-Amstutz C, Lu G, Bigler R, Jezyk MR, Li C, Hall TMT, Wang Z. Specific and modular binding code for cytosine recognition in Pumilio/FBF (PUF) RNA-binding domains. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:26732-42. [PMID: 21653694 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.244889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA-binding factor (PUF) proteins possess a recognition code for bases A, U, and G, allowing designed RNA sequence specificity of their modular Pumilio (PUM) repeats. However, recognition side chains in a PUM repeat for cytosine are unknown. Here we report identification of a cytosine-recognition code by screening random amino acid combinations at conserved RNA recognition positions using a yeast three-hybrid system. This C-recognition code is specific and modular as specificity can be transferred to different positions in the RNA recognition sequence. A crystal structure of a modified PUF domain reveals specific contacts between an arginine side chain and the cytosine base. We applied the C-recognition code to design PUF domains that recognize targets with multiple cytosines and to generate engineered splicing factors that modulate alternative splicing. Finally, we identified a divergent yeast PUF protein, Nop9p, that may recognize natural target RNAs with cytosine. This work deepens our understanding of natural PUF protein target recognition and expands the ability to engineer PUF domains to recognize any RNA sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyun Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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