1
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Tants JN, Schlundt A. Advances, Applications, and Perspectives in Small-Angle X-ray Scattering of RNA. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300110. [PMID: 37466350 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300110] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
RNAs exhibit a plethora of functions far beyond transmitting genetic information. Often, RNA functions are entailed in their structure, be it as a regulatory switch, protein binding site, or providing catalytic activity. Structural information is a prerequisite for a full understanding of RNA-regulatory mechanisms. Owing to the inherent dynamics, size, and instability of RNA, its structure determination remains challenging. Methods such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy can provide high-resolution structures; however, their limitations make structure determination, even for small RNAs, cumbersome, if at all possible. Although at a low resolution, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has proven valuable in advancing structure determination of RNAs as a complementary method, which is also applicable to large-sized RNAs. Here, we review the technological and methodological advancements of RNA SAXS. We provide examples of the powerful inclusion of SAXS in structural biology and discuss possible future applications to large RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Niklas Tants
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Molecular Biosciences and Biomagnetic Resonance Centre (BMRZ), Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
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2
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Haubrich K, Spiteri VA, Farnaby W, Sobott F, Ciulli A. Breaking free from the crystal lattice: Structural biology in solution to study protein degraders. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 79:102534. [PMID: 36804675 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Structural biology offers a versatile arsenal of techniques and methods to investigate the structure and conformational dynamics of proteins and their assemblies. The growing field of targeted protein degradation centres on the premise of developing small molecules, termed degraders, to induce proximity between an E3 ligase and a protein of interest to be signalled for degradation. This new drug modality brings with it new opportunities and challenges to structural biologists. Here we discuss how several structural biology techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy, structural mass spectrometry and small angle scattering, have been explored to complement X-ray crystallography in studying degraders and their ternary complexes. Together the studies covered in this review make a case for the invaluable perspectives that integrative structural biology techniques in solution can bring to understanding ternary complexes and designing degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Haubrich
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation & Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. https://twitter.com/KevinHaubrich1
| | - Valentina A Spiteri
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation & Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. https://twitter.com/val_spiteri
| | - William Farnaby
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation & Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. https://twitter.com/farnaby84
| | - Frank Sobott
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. https://twitter.com/FrankSobott
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation & Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
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3
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Thalalla Gamage S, Bortolin-Cavaillé ML, Link C, Bryson K, Sas-Chen A, Schwartz S, Cavaillé J, Meier JL. Antisense pairing and SNORD13 structure guide RNA cytidine acetylation. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1582-1596. [PMID: 36127124 PMCID: PMC9670809 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079254.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is an RNA nucleobase found in all domains of life. The establishment of ac4C in helix 45 (h45) of human 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) requires the combined activity of the acetyltransferase NAT10 and the box C/D snoRNA SNORD13. However, the molecular mechanisms governing RNA-guided nucleobase acetylation in humans remain unexplored. After applying comparative sequence analysis and site-directed mutagenesis to provide evidence that SNORD13 folds into three main RNA helices, we report two assays that enable the study of SNORD13-dependent RNA acetylation in human cells. First, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of SNORD13 rescues h45 in a SNORD13 knockout cell line. Next, we show that mutant snoRNAs can be used in combination with nucleotide resolution ac4C sequencing to define structure and sequence elements critical for SNORD13 function. Finally, we develop a second method that reports on the substrate specificity of endogenous NAT10-SNORD13 via mutational analysis of an ectopically expressed pre-rRNA substrate. By combining mutational analysis of these reconstituted systems with nucleotide resolution ac4C sequencing, our studies reveal plasticity in the molecular determinants underlying RNA-guided cytidine acetylation that is distinct from deposition of other well-studied rRNA modifications (e.g., pseudouridine). Overall, our studies provide a new approach to reconstitute RNA-guided cytidine acetylation in human cells as well as nucleotide resolution insights into the mechanisms governing this process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie-Line Bortolin-Cavaillé
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), University of Toulouse III; UPS; CNRS; 31062 Cedex 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Courtney Link
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Keri Bryson
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Aldema Sas-Chen
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6195001 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Schraga Schwartz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jérôme Cavaillé
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Integrative (CBI), University of Toulouse III; UPS; CNRS; 31062 Cedex 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Jordan L Meier
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
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4
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Aguion PI, Marchanka A, Carlomagno T. Nucleic acid-protein interfaces studied by MAS solid-state NMR spectroscopy. J Struct Biol X 2022; 6:100072. [PMID: 36090770 PMCID: PMC9449856 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2022.100072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid-state NMR (ssNMR) has become a well-established technique to study large and insoluble protein assemblies. However, its application to nucleic acid-protein complexes has remained scarce, mainly due to the challenges presented by overlapping nucleic acid signals. In the past decade, several efforts have led to the first structure determination of an RNA molecule by ssNMR. With the establishment of these tools, it has become possible to address the problem of structure determination of nucleic acid-protein complexes by ssNMR. Here we review first and more recent ssNMR methodologies that study nucleic acid-protein interfaces by means of chemical shift and peak intensity perturbations, direct distance measurements and paramagnetic effects. At the end, we review the first structure of an RNA-protein complex that has been determined from ssNMR-derived intermolecular restraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Innig Aguion
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Marchanka
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Teresa Carlomagno
- School of Biosciences/College of Life and Enviromental Sciences, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences/College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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5
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Höfler S, Lukat P, Blankenfeldt W, Carlomagno T. Eukaryotic Box C/D methylation machinery has two non-symmetric protein assembly sites. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17561. [PMID: 34475498 PMCID: PMC8413462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Box C/D ribonucleoprotein complexes are RNA-guided methyltransferases that methylate the ribose 2'-OH of RNA. The central 'guide RNA' has box C and D motifs at its ends, which are crucial for activity. Archaeal guide RNAs have a second box C'/D' motif pair that is also essential for function. This second motif is poorly conserved in eukaryotes and its function is uncertain. Conflicting literature data report that eukaryotic box C'/D' motifs do or do not bind proteins specialized to recognize box C/D-motifs and are or are not important for function. Despite this uncertainty, the architecture of eukaryotic 2'-O-methylation enzymes is thought to be similar to that of their archaeal counterpart. Here, we use biochemistry, X-ray crystallography and mutant analysis to demonstrate the absence of functional box C'/D' motifs in more than 80% of yeast guide RNAs. We conclude that eukaryotic Box C/D RNPs have two non-symmetric protein assembly sites and that their three-dimensional architecture differs from that of archaeal 2'-O-methylation enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Höfler
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Peer Lukat
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Teresa Carlomagno
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
- Group of NMR-Based Structural Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research, 38124, Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany.
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6
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Baldini L, Charpentier B, Labialle S. Emerging Data on the Diversity of Molecular Mechanisms Involving C/D snoRNAs. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7020030. [PMID: 34066559 PMCID: PMC8162545 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (C/D snoRNAs) represent an ancient family of small non-coding RNAs that are classically viewed as housekeeping guides for the 2′-O-methylation of ribosomal RNA in Archaea and Eukaryotes. However, an extensive set of studies now argues that they are involved in mechanisms that go well beyond this function. Here, we present these pieces of evidence in light of the current comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that control C/D snoRNA expression and function. From this inventory emerges that an accurate description of these activities at a molecular level is required to let the snoRNA field enter in a second age of maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Charpentier
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
| | - Stéphane Labialle
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
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7
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Höfler S, Lukat P, Blankenfeldt W, Carlomagno T. High-resolution structure of eukaryotic Fibrillarin interacting with Nop56 amino-terminal domain. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:496-512. [PMID: 33483369 PMCID: PMC7962484 DOI: 10.1261/rna.077396.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) carries extensive 2'-O-methyl marks at functionally important sites. This simple chemical modification is thought to confer stability, promote RNA folding, and contribute to generate a heterogenous ribosome population with a yet-uncharacterized function. 2'-O-methylation occurs both in archaea and eukaryotes and is accomplished by the Box C/D RNP enzyme in an RNA-guided manner. Extensive and partially conflicting structural information exists for the archaeal enzyme, while no structural data is available for the eukaryotic enzyme. The yeast Box C/D RNP consists of a guide RNA, the RNA-primary binding protein Snu13, the two scaffold proteins Nop56 and Nop58, and the enzymatic module Nop1. Here we present the high-resolution structure of the eukaryotic Box C/D methyltransferase Nop1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae bound to the amino-terminal domain of Nop56. We discuss similarities and differences between the interaction modes of the two proteins in archaea and eukaryotes and demonstrate that eukaryotic Nop56 recruits the methyltransferase to the Box C/D RNP through a protein-protein interface that differs substantially from the archaeal orthologs. This study represents a first achievement in understanding the evolution of the structure and function of these proteins from archaea to eukaryotes.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Archaeal Proteins/chemistry
- Archaeal Proteins/genetics
- Archaeal Proteins/metabolism
- Binding Sites
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/chemistry
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Gene Expression
- Methylation
- Models, Molecular
- Nuclear Proteins/chemistry
- Nuclear Proteins/genetics
- Nuclear Proteins/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Pyrococcus furiosus/genetics
- Pyrococcus furiosus/metabolism
- RNA, Fungal/genetics
- RNA, Fungal/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism
- RNA, Small Nucleolar/genetics
- RNA, Small Nucleolar/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear/chemistry
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear/genetics
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear/metabolism
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar/chemistry
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar/genetics
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/chemistry
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/genetics
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism
- Sequence Alignment
- Structural Homology, Protein
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Höfler
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), D-30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Peer Lukat
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Teresa Carlomagno
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), D-30167 Hannover, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Group of NMR-based Structural Chemistry, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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8
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Breuer R, Gomes-Filho JV, Randau L. Conservation of Archaeal C/D Box sRNA-Guided RNA Modifications. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:654029. [PMID: 33776983 PMCID: PMC7994747 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.654029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional modifications fulfill many important roles during ribosomal RNA maturation in all three domains of life. Ribose 2'-O-methylations constitute the most abundant chemical rRNA modification and are, for example, involved in RNA folding and stabilization. In archaea, these modification sites are determined by variable sets of C/D box sRNAs that guide the activity of the rRNA 2'-O-methyltransferase fibrillarin. Each C/D box sRNA contains two guide sequences that can act in coordination to bridge rRNA sequences. Here, we will review the landscape of archaeal C/D box sRNA genes and their target sites. One focus is placed on the apparent accelerated evolution of guide sequences and the varied pairing of the two individual guides, which results in different rRNA modification patterns and RNA chaperone activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lennart Randau
- Prokaryotic RNA Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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9
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Höfler S, Carlomagno T. Structural and functional roles of 2'-O-ribose methylations and their enzymatic machinery across multiple classes of RNAs. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 65:42-50. [PMID: 32610226 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
RNA complexity is augmented by numerous post-transcriptional modifications, which influence RNA function by modulating its structure and interactome. One prominent modification is methylation at the ribose 2'-hydroxyl group. 2'-O-methylation has been found in all RNA classes, with rRNA and tRNA being extensively modified. The exact function of 2'-O-methylation at specific RNA sites is still not understood, with a few notable exceptions. The relevance of 2'-O-methylation for cell survival and well-being is proven by the large effort that the cell spends in maintaining a diverse and highly regulated methylation machinery. Here, we review the current knowledge on the impact of 2'-O-methylation on structure and function of different RNAs as well as on the factors determining substrate specificity in the enzymatic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Höfler
- Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Teresa Carlomagno
- Biomolekulares Wirkstoffzentrum, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Helmholz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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