The subunit structure of calf thymus ribonuclease H i as revealed by immunological analysis

Molecular diversities of RNases H

RNase H is an enzyme that specifically cleaves RNA hybridized to DNA. The enzyme is ubiquitously present in various organisms. Single bacterial and eucaryotic cells often contain two RNases H, whereas single archaeal cells contain only one. To determine whether there is a physiological significance in the ubiquity and multiplicity of the enzyme, and whether all enzymes are evolutionarily diverged from a common ancestor, we carried out phylogenetic analyses of the RNase H sequences. In this report, we demonstrated that RNases H are classified into two major families, Type 1 and Type 2 RNases H, of which only the Type 2 enzymes are present in all living organisms, including bacteria, archaea, and eucaryotes, suggesting that they represent an ancestral form of RNases H. Based on this information, we discuss the evolutionary relationships and possible cellular functions of RNases H.

Increased efficacy of antileishmanial antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in Leishmania amazonensis overexpressing ribonuclease H

Ribonuclease H (RNase H), an enzyme that cleaves an RNA sequence base-paired with a complementary DNA sequence, is proposed to be the mediator of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (S-oligo) lethality in a cell. To understand the role of RNase H in the killing of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania by antisense S-oligos, we expressed an episomal copy of the Trypanosoma brucei RNase H1 gene inside L. amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes that constitutively express firefly luciferase. Our hypothesis was that S-oligo-directed degradation of target mRNA is facilitated in a cell that has higher RNase H activity. Increased inhibition of luciferase mRNA expression by anti-luciferase S-oligo and by anti-miniexon S-oligo in these stably transfected promastigotes overexpressing RNase H1 was correlated to the higher activity of RNase H in these cells. The efficiency of killing of the RNase H overexpressing amastigotes inside L. amazonensis-infected macrophages by anti-miniexon S-oligo was higher than in the control cells. Thus, RNase H appears to play an important role in the antisense S-oligo-mediated killing of Leishmania. Chemical modification of S-oligos that stimulate RNase H and/or co-treatment of cells with an activator of RNase H may be useful for developing an antisense approach against leishmaniasis. The transgenic Leishmania cells overexpressing RNase H should be a good model system for the antisense-mediated gene expression ablation studies in these parasites.

Cloning of the cDNA encoding the large subunit of human RNase HI, a homologue of the prokaryotic RNase HII

Two RNases H of mammalian tissues have been described: RNase HI, the activity of which was found to rise during DNA replication, and RNase HII, which may be involved in transcription. RNase HI is the major mammalian enzyme representing around 85% of the total RNase H activity in the cell. By using highly purified calf thymus RNase HI we identified the sequences of several tryptic peptides. This information enabled us to determine the sequence of the cDNA coding for the large subunit of human RNase HI. The corresponding ORF of 897 nt defines a polypeptide of relative molecular mass of 33,367, which is in agreement with the molecular mass obtained earlier by SDS/PAGE. Expression of the cloned ORF in Escherichia coli leads to a polypeptide, which is specifically recognized by an antiserum raised against calf thymus RNase HI. Interestingly, the deduced amino acid sequence of this subunit of human RNase HI displays significant homology to RNase HII from E. coli, an enzyme of unknown function and previously judged as a minor activity. This finding suggests an evolutionary link between the mammalian RNases HI and the prokaryotic RNases HII. The idea of a mammalian RNase HI large subunit being a strongly conserved protein is substantiated by the existence of homologous ORFs in the genomes of other eukaryotes and of all eubacteria and archaebacteria that have been completely sequenced.

Molecular cloning and expression of cDNA for human RNase H

We have cloned, expressed, and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity a human RNase H. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 32 kDa, is Mg2+ dependent, and is inhibited by Mn2+ and N-ethylmaleimide. Its molecular weight and cleavage characteristics are consistent with type 2 human RNase H. The human RNase H we have cloned is highly homologous to Escherichia coli RNase HI (33.6% amino acid identity) and to other RNase H enzymes homologous to E. coli RNase HI. The enzyme is encoded by a single gene that is at least 10 kb in length and is expressed ubiquitously in human cells and tissues.

Class II ribonuclease H comigrates with, but is distinct from, the third largest subunit of calf thymus RNA polymerase I

It has been reported (Iborra et al. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 10920-10924) that the third and the fifth largest subunit of yeast RNA polymerase I exhibit ribonuclease H activity. The authors suggested that the third largest subunit is identical with the chromatin-associated ribonuclease H49, the putative yeast equivalent of bovine ribonuclease H IIb. Although the third largest subunit of calf thymus RNA polymerase I and ribonuclease H IIb display nearly identical molecular masses under denaturing conditions, serological analysis reveals that, in contrast to their counterparts in yeast, these mammalian proteins are distinct entities. Interestingly, sera from some patients with mixed connective tissue disease which contain antibodies directed against RNA polymerase I, also react with ribonuclease H IIb epitopes. This observation suggests that a protein displaying ribonuclease H IIb antigenicity could be associated with RNA polymerase I. Additional indications supporting this conclusion are discussed.

A distinct form of ribonuclease H from calf thymus stimulates its homologous DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex

A ribonuclease H which degrades RNA specifically in RNA-DNA hybrids and, moreover, stimulates its homologous DNA-polymerase-primase complex was purified from calf thymus. The enzyme consists of a single polypeptide of molecular mass 78 kDa. It requires divalent cations for activity, and prefers Mg2+ over Mn2+. Ribonuclease H is optimally active at neutral pH and in 75 mM potassium acetate and is strongly sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide. [3H]Poly(rA).poly(dT), [3H]poly(rC).poly(dI), and [3H]RNA.M13-DNA are degraded to 3-9-mer oligoribonucleotides with similar kinetics, whereas double- or single-stranded DNA, and double- and single-stranded RNA remain unaffected. The enzyme stimulates in vitro DNA synthesis by the immunoaffinity-purified calf-thymus DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex threefold. When ribonuclease H is present in a three-fold molar excess to the polymerase-primase complex, twice as much primer is formed as in the absence of ribonuclease H. Ribonuclease H also stimulates the elongation rate of DNA polymerase alpha by a factor of 2-3, independent of whether primase-primed DNA templates or templates primed with oligonucleotides are used. Our results suggest that this form of ribonuclease H is a likely candidate for a genuine primer-removing enzyme in mammalian cells.

Serological analysis and characterization of calf thymus ribonuclease H IIb

Ribonuclease H IIb, which seems to play a physiological role during transcription, was purified from calf thymus tissue. A polyclonal antibody, raised against the most purified ribonuclease H IIb fraction, recognizes in crude extracts almost exclusively a 52-kDa protein band. By immunoaffinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation experiments, we are able to deplete enzyme extracts from the crossreacting 52-kDa protein band and from ribonuclease H IIb activity. Enzyme activity is eluted from the immunoaffinity matrix in association with a 52-kDa protein under denaturing conditions. Immunoaffinity chromatography enables us also to calculate a purification factor of around 20,000 from the crude extract. The native molecular mass for the enzyme of around 45 kDa, as determined by gel filtration, suggests that calf thymus ribonuclease H IIb is most probably monomeric. The enzyme possesses an isoelectric point of 7.0. It requires Mg2+ ions for activity, is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, and exhibits a pH optimum of 9.0-9.5. The enzyme releases oligoribonucleotides with 3'-OH and 5'-phosphate ends, probably in an exonucleolytical manner. The third largest subunit of yeast RNA polymerase A (I) displays ribonuclease H activity [Huet et al. (1976) Nature 261, 431-433]. We discuss our findings in the light of a possible association of ribonuclease H IIb and RNA polymerase A (I) in higher eukaryotes.