1
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Ding T, Sun H, Pan Q, Zhao F, Zhang Z, Ren H. Isolation and characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteriophage vB_VpaS_PG07. Virus Res 2020; 286:198080. [PMID: 32615132 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A novel bacteriophage vB_VpaS_PG07 (hereafter designated PG07) that infects Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated. The bacteriophage was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the result showed that PG07 belonged to family Siphoviridae, with an isometric polyhedral head (80 nm in diameter) and a long tail (175 nm in length). The one-step growth curve showed that the latent period and burst size were 10 min and 60 PFUs/infected cell, respectively. PG07 had double-stranded DNA genome of 112, 106 bp with 43.65 % G+C content. A total of 158 putative open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the genome of PG07, including functional genes associated with integration, nucleotide metabolism and replication, structure and packaging and bacterial lysis. Sixteen tRNA genes were discovered, and no genes associated with pathogenicity and virulence were identified. The genome of PG07 showed very low similarity to phage genomes deposited in public databases (77.65 % nucleotide identity and 9 % query coverage). The newly sequenced PG07 could be considered as a novel T5-like virus. PG07 significantly reduced the mortality of shrimps challenged with V. parahaemolyticus, a bacterium causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). The findings highlight the potential of PG07 as an effective antibacterial agent for phage prophylaxis and phage therapy in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongyan Ding
- Qingdao Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong, 266109, China; Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-tech Co, Ltd, Shandong, 266109, China
| | - Huzhi Sun
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-tech Co, Ltd, Shandong, 266109, China
| | - Qiang Pan
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-tech Co, Ltd, Shandong, 266109, China
| | - Feiyang Zhao
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-tech Co, Ltd, Shandong, 266109, China
| | - Zhaozuo Zhang
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-tech Co, Ltd, Shandong, 266109, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- Qingdao Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong, 266109, China.
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2
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Hernandez-Valdes JA, van Gestel J, Kuipers OP. A riboswitch gives rise to multi-generational phenotypic heterogeneity in an auxotrophic bacterium. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1203. [PMID: 32139702 PMCID: PMC7058034 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Auxotrophy, the inability to produce an organic compound essential for growth, is widespread among bacteria. Auxotrophic bacteria rely on transporters to acquire these compounds from their environment. Here, we study the expression of both low- and high-affinity transporters of the costly amino acid methionine in an auxotrophic lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus lactis. We show that the high-affinity transporter (Met-transporter) is heterogeneously expressed at low methionine concentrations, resulting in two isogenic subpopulations that sequester methionine in different ways: one subpopulation primarily relies on the high-affinity transporter (high expression of the Met-transporter) and the other subpopulation primarily relies on the low-affinity transporter (low expression of the Met-transporter). The phenotypic heterogeneity is remarkably stable, inherited for tens of generations, and apparent at the colony level. This heterogeneity results from a T-box riboswitch in the promoter region of the met operon encoding the high-affinity Met-transporter. We hypothesize that T-box riboswitches, which are commonly found in the Lactobacillales, may play as-yet unexplored roles in the predominantly auxotrophic lifestyle of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhonatan A Hernandez-Valdes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jordi van Gestel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands.
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3
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A tRNA-mimic Strategy to Explore the Role of G34 of tRNA Gly in Translation and Codon Frameshifting. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20163911. [PMID: 31405256 PMCID: PMC6720975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20163911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Decoding of the 61 sense codons of the genetic code requires a variable number of tRNAs that establish codon-anticodon interactions. Thanks to the wobble base pairing at the third codon position, less than 61 different tRNA isoacceptors are needed to decode the whole set of codons. On the tRNA, a subtle distribution of nucleoside modifications shapes the anticodon loop structure and participates to accurate decoding and reading frame maintenance. Interestingly, although the 61 anticodons should exist in tRNAs, a strict absence of some tRNAs decoders is found in several codon families. For instance, in Eukaryotes, G34-containing tRNAs translating 3-, 4- and 6-codon boxes are absent. This includes tRNA specific for Ala, Arg, Ile, Leu, Pro, Ser, Thr, and Val. tRNAGly is the only exception for which in the three kingdoms, a G34-containing tRNA exists to decode C3 and U3-ending codons. To understand why G34-tRNAGly exists, we analysed at the genome wide level the codon distribution in codon +1 relative to the four GGN Gly codons. When considering codon GGU, a bias was found towards an unusual high usage of codons starting with a G whatever the amino acid at +1 codon. It is expected that GGU codons are decoded by G34-containing tRNAGly, decoding also GGC codons. Translation studies revealed that the presence of a G at the first position of the downstream codon reduces the +1 frameshift by stabilizing the G34•U3 wobble interaction. This result partially explains why G34-containing tRNAGly exists in Eukaryotes whereas all the other G34-containing tRNAs for multiple codon boxes are absent.
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4
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Frohlich KM, Weintraub SF, Bell JT, Todd GC, Väre VYP, Schneider R, Kloos ZA, Tabe ES, Cantara WA, Stark CJ, Onwuanaibe UJ, Duffy BC, Basanta-Sanchez M, Kitchen DB, McDonough KA, Agris PF. Discovery of Small-Molecule Antibiotics against a Unique tRNA-Mediated Regulation of Transcription in Gram-Positive Bacteria. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:758-769. [PMID: 30707489 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates the identification of unique targets of intervention and compounds that inhibit their function. Gram-positive bacteria use a well-conserved tRNA-responsive transcriptional regulatory element in mRNAs, known as the T-box, to regulate the transcription of multiple operons that control amino acid metabolism. T-box regulatory elements are found only in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs of Gram-positive bacteria, not Gram-negative bacteria or the human host. Using the structure of the 5'UTR sequence of the Bacillus subtilis tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA T-box as a model, in silico docking of 305 000 small compounds initially yielded 700 as potential binders that could inhibit the binding of the tRNA ligand. A single family of compounds inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant clinical isolates at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC 16-64 μg mL-1 ). Resistance developed at an extremely low mutational frequency (1.21×10-10 ). At 4 μg mL-1 , the parent compound PKZ18 significantly inhibited in vivo transcription of glycyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA. PKZ18 also inhibited in vivo translation of the S. aureus threonyl-tRNA synthetase protein. PKZ18 bound to the Specifier Loop in vitro (Kd ≈24 μm). Its core chemistry necessary for antibacterial activity has been identified. These findings support the T-box regulatory mechanism as a new target for antibiotic discovery that may impede the emergence of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyla M Frohlich
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Regeneron Inc., Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Spencer F Weintraub
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Janeen T Bell
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Albany Medical College, Center for Physician Assistant Studies, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle C Todd
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Ville Y P Väre
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Ryan Schneider
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany - State University of New York, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201, USA
| | - Zachary A Kloos
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA.,Current address: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ebot S Tabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA.,Current address: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA
| | - William A Cantara
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Caren J Stark
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Urenna J Onwuanaibe
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Bryan C Duffy
- Albany Molecular Research Incorporated, 26 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY, 12203, USA.,Current address: New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Maria Basanta-Sanchez
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Waters Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA
| | - Douglas B Kitchen
- Albany Molecular Research Incorporated, 26 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY, 12203, USA
| | - Kathleen A McDonough
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany - State University of New York, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA
| | - Paul F Agris
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Duke University, Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
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5
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Abstract
The T-box riboswitch is a unique, RNA-based regulatory mechanism that modulates expression of a wide variety of amino acid-related genes, predominantly in Firmicutes. RNAs of this class selectively bind a specific cognate tRNA, utilizing recognition of the tRNA anticodon and other tRNA features. The riboswitch monitors the aminoacylation status of the tRNA to induce expression of the regulated downstream gene(s) at the level of transcription antitermination or derepression of translation initiation in response to reduced tRNA charging via stabilization of an antiterminator or antisequestrator. Recent biochemical and structural studies have revealed new features of tRNA recognition that extend beyond the initially identified Watson-Crick base-pairing of a codon-like sequence in the riboswitch with the tRNA anticodon, and residues in the antiterminator or antisequestrator with the tRNA acceptor end. These studies have revealed new tRNA contacts and new modes of riboswitch function and ligand recognition that expand our understanding of RNA-RNA recognition and the biological roles of tRNA.
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6
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Stamatopoulou V, Apostolidi M, Li S, Lamprinou K, Papakyriakou A, Zhang J, Stathopoulos C. Direct modulation of T-box riboswitch-controlled transcription by protein synthesis inhibitors. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:10242-10258. [PMID: 28973457 PMCID: PMC5622331 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, it was discovered that exposure to mainstream antibiotics activate numerous bacterial riboregulators that control antibiotic resistance genes including metabolite-binding riboswitches and other transcription attenuators. However, the effects of commonly used antibiotics, many of which exhibit RNA-binding properties, on the widespread T-box riboswitches, remain unknown. In Staphylococcus aureus, a species-specific glyS T-box controls the supply of glycine for both ribosomal translation and cell wall synthesis, making it a promising target for next-generation antimicrobials. Here, we report that specific protein synthesis inhibitors could either significantly increase T-box-mediated transcription antitermination, while other compounds could suppress it, both in vitro and in vivo. In-line probing of the full-length T-box combined with molecular modelling and docking analyses suggest that the antibiotics that promote transcription antitermination stabilize the T-box:tRNA complex through binding specific positions on stem I and the Staphylococcal-specific stem Sa. By contrast, the antibiotics that attenuate T-box transcription bind to other positions on stem I and do not interact with stem Sa. Taken together, our results reveal that the transcription of essential genes controlled by T-box riboswitches can be directly modulated by commonly used protein synthesis inhibitors. These findings accentuate the regulatory complexities of bacterial response to antimicrobials that involve multiple riboregulators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Apostolidi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Shuang Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 50 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Katerina Lamprinou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Athanasios Papakyriakou
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Athens, Greece
| | - Jinwei Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 50 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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7
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Fang X, Michnicka M, Zhang Y, Wang YX, Nikonowicz EP. Capture and Release of tRNA by the T-Loop Receptor in the Function of the T-Box Riboswitch. Biochemistry 2017; 56:3549-3558. [PMID: 28621923 PMCID: PMC5813812 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, the tRNA-dependent T-box riboswitch system regulates expression of amino acid biosynthetic and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes through a transcription attenuation mechanism. Binding of uncharged tRNA "closes" the switch, allowing transcription read-through. Structural studies of the 100-nucleotide stem I domain reveal tRNA utilizes base pairing and stacking interactions to bind the stem, but little is known structurally about the 180-nucleotide riboswitch core (stem I, stem III, and antiterminator stem) in complex with tRNA or the mechanism of coupling of the intermolecular binding domains crucial to T-box function. Here we utilize solution structural and biophysical methods to characterize the interplay of the different riboswitch-tRNA contact points using Bacillus subtilis and Oceanobacillus iheyensis glycyl T-box and T-box:tRNA constructs. The data reveal that tRNA:riboswitch core binding at equilibrium involves only Specifier-anticodon and antiterminator-acceptor stem pairing. The elbow:platform stacking interaction observed in studies of the T-box stem I domain is released after pairing between the acceptor stem and the bulge in the antiterminator helix. The results are consistent with the model of T-box riboswitch:tRNA function in which tRNA is captured by stem I of the nascent mRNA followed by stabilization of the antiterminator helix and the paused transcription complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyang Fang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084
- Structural Biophysics Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702
| | | | - Yikan Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 100084
| | - Yun-Xing Wang
- Structural Biophysics Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702
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8
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Lorenz C, Lünse CE, Mörl M. tRNA Modifications: Impact on Structure and Thermal Adaptation. Biomolecules 2017; 7:E35. [PMID: 28375166 PMCID: PMC5485724 DOI: 10.3390/biom7020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are central players in translation, functioning as adapter molecules between the informational level of nucleic acids and the functional level of proteins. They show a highly conserved secondary and tertiary structure and the highest density of post-transcriptional modifications among all RNAs. These modifications concentrate in two hotspots-the anticodon loop and the tRNA core region, where the D- and T-loop interact with each other, stabilizing the overall structure of the molecule. These modifications can cause large rearrangements as well as local fine-tuning in the 3D structure of a tRNA. The highly conserved tRNA shape is crucial for the interaction with a variety of proteins and other RNA molecules, but also needs a certain flexibility for a correct interplay. In this context, it was shown that tRNA modifications are important for temperature adaptation in thermophilic as well as psychrophilic organisms, as they modulate rigidity and flexibility of the transcripts, respectively. Here, we give an overview on the impact of modifications on tRNA structure and their importance in thermal adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lorenz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Christina E Lünse
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Mario Mörl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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9
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Apostolidi M, Saad NY, Drainas D, Pournaras S, Becker HD, Stathopoulos C. A glyS T-box riboswitch with species-specific structural features responding to both proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic tRNAGly isoacceptors. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2015; 21:1790-806. [PMID: 26276802 PMCID: PMC4574755 DOI: 10.1261/rna.052712.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In Staphylococcus aureus, a T-box riboswitch exists upstream of the glyS gene to regulate transcription of the sole glycyl-tRNA synthetase, which aminoacylates five tRNA(Gly) isoacceptors bearing GCC or UCC anticodons. Subsequently, the glycylated tRNAs serve as substrates for decoding glycine codons during translation, and also as glycine donors for exoribosomal synthesis of pentaglycine peptides during cell wall formation. Probing of the predicted T-box structure revealed a long stem I, lacking features previously described for similar T-boxes. Moreover, the antiterminator stem includes a 42-nt long intervening sequence, which is staphylococci-specific. Finally, the terminator conformation adopts a rigid two-stem structure, where the intervening sequence forms the first stem followed by the second stem, which includes the more conserved residues. Interestingly, all five tRNA(Gly) isoacceptors interact with S. aureus glyS T-box with different binding affinities and they all induce transcription readthrough at different levels. The ability of both GCC and UCC anticodons to interact with the specifier loop indicates ambiguity during the specifier triplet reading, similar to the unconventional reading of glycine codons during protein synthesis. The S. aureus glyS T-box structure is consistent with the recent crystallographic and NMR studies, despite apparent differences, and highlights the phylogenetic variability of T-boxes when studied in a genome-dependent context. Our data suggest that the S. aureus glyS T-box exhibits differential tRNA selectivity, which possibly contributes toward the regulation and synchronization of ribosomal and exoribosomal peptide synthesis, two essential but metabolically unrelated pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Apostolidi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Nizar Y Saad
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7156 Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Denis Drainas
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Spyros Pournaras
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Hubert D Becker
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7156 Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
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10
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Caserta E, Liu LC, Grundy FJ, Henkin TM. Codon-Anticodon Recognition in the Bacillus subtilis glyQS T Box Riboswitch: RNA-DEPENDENT CODON SELECTION OUTSIDE THE RIBOSOME. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:23336-47. [PMID: 26229106 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.673236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many amino acid-related genes in Gram-positive bacteria are regulated by the T box riboswitch. The leader RNA of genes in the T box family controls the expression of downstream genes by monitoring the aminoacylation status of the cognate tRNA. Previous studies identified a three-nucleotide codon, termed the "Specifier Sequence," in the riboswitch that corresponds to the amino acid identity of the downstream genes. Pairing of the Specifier Sequence with the anticodon of the cognate tRNA is the primary determinant of specific tRNA recognition. This interaction mimics codon-anticodon pairing in translation but occurs in the absence of the ribosome. The goal of the current study was to determine the effect of a full range of mismatches for comparison with codon recognition in translation. Mutations were individually introduced into the Specifier Sequence of the glyQS leader RNA and tRNA(Gly) anticodon to test the effect of all possible pairing combinations on tRNA binding affinity and antitermination efficiency. The functional role of the conserved purine 3' of the Specifier Sequence was also verifiedin this study. We found that substitutions at the Specifier Sequence resulted in reduced binding, the magnitude of which correlates well with the predicted stability of the RNA-RNA pairing. However, the tolerance for specific mismatches in antitermination was generally different from that during decoding, which reveals a unique tRNA recognition pattern in the T box antitermination system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Caserta
- From the Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Liang-Chun Liu
- From the Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Frank J Grundy
- From the Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Tina M Henkin
- From the Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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11
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Zhang J, Ferré-D'Amaré AR. Structure and mechanism of the T-box riboswitches. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2015; 6:419-33. [PMID: 25959893 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In most Gram-positive bacteria, including many clinically devastating pathogens from genera such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Listeria, and Staphylococcus, T-box riboswitches sense and regulate intracellular availability of amino acids through a multipartite messenger RNA (mRNA)-transfer RNA (tRNA) interaction. The T-box mRNA leaders respond to nutrient starvation by specifically binding cognate tRNAs and sensing whether the bound tRNA is aminoacylated, as a proxy for amino acid availability. Based on this readout, T-boxes direct a transcriptional or translational switch to control the expression of downstream genes involved in various aspects of amino acid metabolism: biosynthesis, transport, aminoacylation, transamidation, and so forth. Two decades after its discovery, the structural and mechanistic underpinnings of the T-box riboswitch were recently elucidated, producing a wealth of insights into how two structured RNAs can recognize each other with robust affinity and exquisite selectivity. The T-box paradigm exemplifies how natural noncoding RNAs can interact not just through sequence complementarity but can add molecular specificity by precisely juxtaposing RNA structural motifs, exploiting inherently flexible elements and the biophysical properties of post-transcriptional modifications, ultimately achieving a high degree of shape complementarity through mutually induced fit. The T-box also provides a proof-of-principle that compact RNA domains can recognize minute chemical changes (such as tRNA aminoacylation) on another RNA. The unveiling of the structure and mechanism of the T-box system thus expands our appreciation of the range of capabilities and modes of action of structured noncoding RNAs, and hints at the existence of networks of noncoding RNAs that communicate through both, structural and sequence specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Zhang
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Adrian R Ferré-D'Amaré
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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12
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13
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Henkin TM. The T box riboswitch: A novel regulatory RNA that utilizes tRNA as its ligand. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2014; 1839:959-963. [PMID: 24816551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The T box riboswitch is a cis-acting regulatory RNA that controls expression of amino acid-related genes in response to the aminoacylation state of a specific tRNA. Multiple genes in the same organism can utilize this mechanism, with each gene responding independently to its cognate tRNA. The uncharged tRNA interacts directly with the regulatory RNA element, and this interaction promotes readthrough of an intrinsic transcriptional termination site upstream of the regulated coding sequence. A second class of T box elements uses a similar tRNA-dependent response to regulate translation initiation. This review will describe the current state of our knowledge about this regulatory system. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Riboswitches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina M Henkin
- Department of Microbiology and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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14
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Grigg JC, Ke A. Sequence, structure, and stacking: specifics of tRNA anchoring to the T box riboswitch. RNA Biol 2013; 10:1761-4. [PMID: 24356646 DOI: 10.4161/rna.26996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The term riboswitch usually refers to small molecule sensing regulatory modules in the 5' untranslated regions of a mRNA. They are typically comprised of separate ligand binding and regulatory domains. The T box riboswitch is unique from other identified riboswitches because its effector is an essential macromolecule, tRNA. It senses the aminoacylation state of tRNA to regulate genes involved in a variety of functions relating to amino acid metabolism and tRNA aminoacylation. T box riboswitches performs an intuitively simple process using a complex structured RNA element and, until recently, the underlying mechanisms were poorly understood. Only two sequence-specific contacts had been previously identified: (1) between the specifier sequence (codon) and the tRNA anticodon and (2) between an anti-terminator stem loop and the tRNA acceptor arm CCA tail. tRNA aminoacylation blocks the latter interaction and therefore serves as the switch between termination and anti-termination. Outside of these two contacts, the structure and functions of T box riboswitches have come to light in some recent studies. We recently described the X-ray crystal structure of the highly conserved T box riboswitch distal Stem I region and demonstrated that this region interacts with the tRNA elbow to anchor it to the riboswitch. Independently, Lehmann et al. used sequence homology search to arrive at a similar model for Stem I-tRNA interactions. The model was further supported by two recent structures of the Stem I-tRNA complex, determined independently by our group and by Zhang and Ferré-D'Amaré. This article highlights some of these contributions to synthesize an updated model for tRNA recognition by the T box riboswitch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Grigg
- The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY USA
| | - Ailong Ke
- The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY USA
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