Arginine methylation of recombinant murine fibrillarin by protein arginine methyltransferase

Nucleolar reorganization after cellular stress is orchestrated by SMN shuttling between nuclear compartments

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the multifunctional protein Survival of Motor Neuron, or SMN. Within the nucleus, SMN localizes to Cajal bodies, which are associated with nucleoli, nuclear organelles dedicated to the first steps of ribosome biogenesis. The highly organized structure of the nucleolus can be dynamically altered by genotoxic agents. RNAP1, Fibrillarin, and nucleolar DNA are exported to the periphery of the nucleolus after genotoxic stress and, once DNA repair is fully completed, the organization of the nucleolus is restored. We find that SMN is required for the restoration of the nucleolar structure after genotoxic stress. During DNA repair, SMN shuttles from the Cajal bodies to the nucleolus. This shuttling is important for nucleolar homeostasis and relies on the presence of Coilin and the activity of PRMT1.

The conservation and diversity of the exons encoding the glycine and arginine rich domain of the fibrillarin gene in vertebrates, with special focus on reptiles and birds

The nucleolar rRNA 2'-O-methyltransferase fibrillarin (FBL) contains a highly conserved methyltransferase domain at the C-terminus and a diverse glycine arginine-rich (GAR) domain at the N-terminus in eukaryotes. We found that a nine-exon configuration of fbl and exon 2-3 encoded GAR domain are conserved and specific in vertebrates. All internal exons except exon 2 and 3 are of the same lengths in different vertebrate lineages. The lengths of exon 2 and 3 vary in different vertebrate species but the ones with longer exon 2 usually have shorter exon 3 complementarily, limiting lengths of the GAR domain within a certain range. In tetrapods except for reptiles, exon 2 appears to be longer than exon 3. We specifically analyzed different lineages of reptiles for their GAR sequences and exon lengths. The lengths of exon 2 in reptiles are around 80-130-nt shorter and the lengths of exon 3 in reptiles are around 50-90 nt longer than those in other tetrapods, all in the GAR-coding regions. An FSPR sequence is present at the beginning of the GAR domain encoded by exon 2 in all vertebrates, and a specific FXSP/G element (X can be K, R, Q, N, and H) exist in the middle of GAR with phenylalanine as the 3rd exon 3-encoded amino acid residue starting from jawfish. Snakes, turtles, and songbirds contain shorter exon 2 compared with lizards, indicating continuous deletions in exon 2 and insertions/duplications in exon 3 in these lineages. Specifically, we confirmed the presence the fbl gene in chicken and validated the RNA expression. Our analyses of the GAR-encoding exons of fbl in vertebrates and reptiles should provide the basis for further evolutionary analyses of more GAR domain encoding proteins.

Identification and Characterization of Glycine- and Arginine-Rich Motifs in Proteins by a Novel GAR Motif Finder Program

Glycine- and arginine-rich (GAR) motifs with different combinations of RG/RGG repeats are present in many proteins. The nucleolar rRNA 2'-O-methyltransferase fibrillarin (FBL) contains a conserved long N-terminal GAR domain with more than 10 RGG plus RG repeats separated by specific amino acids, mostly phenylanalines. We developed a GAR motif finder (GMF) program based on the features of the GAR domain of FBL. The G(0,3)-X(0,1)-R-G(1,2)-X(0,5)-G(0,2)-X(0,1)-R-G(1,2) pattern allows the accommodation of extra-long GAR motifs with continuous RG/RGG interrupted by polyglycine or other amino acids. The program has a graphic interface and can easily output the results as .csv and .txt files. We used GMF to show the characteristics of the long GAR domains in FBL and two other nucleolar proteins, nucleolin and GAR1. GMF analyses can illustrate the similarities and also differences between the long GAR domains in the three nucleolar proteins and motifs in other typical RG/RGG-repeat-containing proteins, specifically the FET family members FUS, EWS, and TAF15 in position, motif length, RG/RGG number, and amino acid composition. We also used GMF to analyze the human proteome and focused on the ones with at least 10 RGG plus RG repeats. We showed the classification of the long GAR motifs and their putative correlation with protein/RNA interactions and liquid-liquid phase separation. The GMF algorithm can facilitate further systematic analyses of the GAR motifs in proteins and proteomes.

Kinetic Analysis of PRMT1 Reveals Multifactorial Processivity and a Sequential Ordered Mechanism

Arginine methylation is a prevalent post-translational modification in eukaryotic cells. Two significant debates exist within the field: do these enzymes dimethylate their substrates in a processive or distributive manner, and do these enzymes operate using a random or sequential method of bisubstrate binding? We revealed that human protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) enzyme kinetics are dependent on substrate sequence. Further, peptides containing an Nη-hydroxyarginine generally demonstrated substrate inhibition and had improved K_M values, which evoked a possible role in inhibitor design. We also revealed that the perceived degree of enzyme processivity is a function of both cofactor and enzyme concentration, suggesting that previous conclusions about PRMT sequential methyl transfer mechanisms require reassessment. Finally, we demonstrated a sequential ordered Bi-Bi kinetic mechanism for PRMT1, based on steady-state kinetic analysis. Together, our data indicate a PRMT1 mechanism of action and processivity that might also extend to other functionally and structurally conserved PRMTs.

Identification, chromosomal arrangements and expression analyses of the evolutionarily conserved prmt1 gene in chicken in comparison with its vertebrate paralogue prmt8

Nine protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are conserved in mammals and fish. Among these, PRMT1 is the major type I PRMT for asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) formation and is the most conserved and widely distributed one. Two chicken prmt1 splicing variants were assembled and confirmed by RT-PCR experiments. However, only two scaffolds containing single separate prmt1 exon with high GC contents are present in the current chicken genome assembly. Besides, prmt1 exons are scattered in separate small scaffolds in most avian species. Complete prmt1 gene has only been predicted from two falcon species with few neighboring genes. Crocodilians are considered close to the common ancestor shared by crocodilians and birds. The gene arrangements around prmt1 in American alligator are different from that in birds but are largely conserved in human. Orthologues of genes in a large segment of human chromosomal 19 around PRMT1 are missing or not assigned to the current chicken chromosomes. In comparison, prmt8, the prmt1 paralogue, is on chicken chromosome 1 with the gene arrangements downstream of prmt8 highly conserved in birds, crocodilians, and human. However, the ones upstream vary greatly in birds. Biochemically, we found that though prmt1 transcripts were detected, limited or none PRMT1 protein was present in chicken tissues. Moreover, a much higher level of PRMT8 protein was detected in chicken brain than in mouse brain. While PRMT8 is brain specific in other vertebrate species studied, low level of PRMT8 was present in chicken but not mouse liver and muscle. We also showed that the ADMA level in chicken was similar to that in mouse. This study provides the critical information of chicken PRMT1 and PRMT8 for future analyses of the function of protein arginine methyltransferases in birds.

The critical role of protein arginine methyltransferase prmt8 in zebrafish embryonic and neural development is non-redundant with its paralogue prmt1

Protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) 1 is the most conserved and widely distributed PRMT in eukaryotes. PRMT8 is a vertebrate-restricted paralogue of PRMT1 with an extra N-terminal sequence and brain-specific expression. We use zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a vertebrate model to study PRMT8 function and putative redundancy with PRMT1. The transcripts of zebrafish prmt8 were specifically expressed in adult zebrafish brain and ubiquitously expressed from zygotic to early segmentation stage before the neuronal development. Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed ubiquitous prmt8 expression pattern during early embryonic stages, similar to that of prmt1. Knockdown of prmt8 with antisense morpholino oligonucleotide phenocopied prmt1-knockdown, with convergence/extension defects at gastrulation. Other abnormalities observed later include short body axis, curled tails, small and malformed brain and eyes. Catalytically inactive prmt8 failed to complement the morphants, indicating the importance of methyltransferase activity. Full-length prmt8 but not prmt1 cRNA can rescue the phenotypic changes. Nevertheless, cRNA encoding Prmt1 fused with the N-terminus of Prmt8 can rescue the prmt8 morphants. In contrast, N-terminus- deleted but not full-length prmt8 cRNA can rescue the prmt1 morphants as efficiently as prmt1 cRNA. Abnormal brain morphologies illustrated with brain markers and loss of fluorescent neurons in a transgenic fish upon prmt8 knockdown confirm the critical roles of prmt8 in neural development. In summery, our study is the first report showing the expression and function of prmt8 in early zebrafish embryogenesis. Our results indicate that prmt8 may play important roles non-overlapping with prmt1 in embryonic and neural development depending on its specific N-terminus.

Nucleic acid-associated autoantigens: pathogenic involvement and therapeutic potential

Autoimmunity to ubiquitously expressed macromolecular nucleic acid-protein complexes such as the nucleosome or the spliceosome is a characteristic feature of systemic autoimmune diseases. Disease-specificity and/or association with clinical features of some of these autoimmune responses suggest pathogenic involvement which, however, has been proven in only a few cases so far. Although the mechanisms leading to autoimmunity against nucleic acid-containing complexes are still far from being fully understood, there is increasing experimental evidence that the nucleic acid component may act as a co-stimulator or adjuvans via activation of nucleic acid-binding receptor systems such as Toll-like receptors in antigen-presenting cells. Dysregulated apoptosis and inappropriate stimulation of nucleic acid-sensing receptors may lead to loss of tolerance against the protein components of such complexes, activation of autoreactive T cells and formation of autoantibodies. This has been demonstrated to occur in systemic lupus erythematosus and seems to represent a general mechanism that may be crucial for the development of systemic autoimmune diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most thoroughly-characterized nucleic acid-associated autoantigens, describing their structure and biological function, as well as the nature and pathogenic importance of the reactivities directed against them. Furthermore, recent advances in immunotherapy such as antigen-specific approaches targeted at nucleic acid-binding antigens are discussed.

Identification and characterization of two closely related histone H4 arginine 3 methyltransferases in Arabidopsis thaliana

Arginine methylation of histone H3 and H4 plays important roles in transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes such as yeasts, fruitflies, nematode worms, fish and mammals; however, less is known in plants. In the present paper, we report the identification and characterization of two Arabidopsis thaliana protein arginine N-methyltransferases, AtPRMT1a and AtPRMT1b, which exhibit high homology with human PRMT1. Both AtPRMT1a and AtPRMT1b methylated histone H4, H2A, and myelin basic protein in vitro. Site-directed mutagenesis of the third arginine (R3) on the N-terminus of histone H4 to lysine (H4R3N) completely abolished the methylation of histone H4. When fused to GFP (green fluorescent protein), both methyltransferases localized to the cytoplasm as well as to the nucleus. Consistent with their subcellular distribution, GST (glutathione transferase) pull-down assays revealed an interaction between the two methyltransferases, suggesting that both proteins may act together in a functional unit. In addition, we demonstrated that AtFib2 (Arabidopsis thaliana fibrillarin 2), an RNA methyltransferase, is a potential substrate for AtPRMT1a and AtPRMT1b, and, furthermore, uncovered a direct interaction between the protein methyltransferase and the RNA methyltransferase. Taken together, our findings implicate AtPRMT1a and AtPRMT1b as H4-R3 protein arginine N-methyltransferases in Arabidopsis and may be involved in diverse biological processes inside and outside the nucleus.

Molecular basis of pregnancy-induced breast cancer protection

We have postulated that the lifetime protective effect of an early pregnancy against breast cancer is due to the complete differentiation of the mammary gland characterized by a specific genomic signature imprinted by the physiological process of pregnancy. In the present work, we show evidence that the breast tissue of postmenopausal parous women has had a shifting of stem cell 1 to stem cell 2 with a genomic signature different from similar structures derived from postmenopausal nulliparous women that have stem cell 1. Those genes that are significantly different are grouped in major categories on the basis of their putative functional significance. Among them are those gene transcripts related to immune surveillance, DNA repair, transcription, chromatin structure/activators/co-activators, growth factor and signal transduction pathway, transport and cell trafficking, cell proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion, protein synthesis and cell metabolism. From these data, it was concluded that during pregnancy there are significant genomic changes that reflect profound alterations in the basic physiology of the mammary gland that explain the protective effect against carcinogenesis. The implication of this knowledge is that when the genomic signature of protection or refractoriness to carcinogenesis is acquired by the shifting of stem cell 1 to stem cell 2, the hormonal milieu induced by pregnancy or pregnancy-like conditions is no longer required. This is a novel concept that challenges the current knowledge that a chemopreventive agent needs to be given for a long period to suppress a metabolic pathway or abrogate the function of an organ.

Increased Protein Arginine Methylation in Chronic Hypoxia

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis. ADMA is generated by catabolism of proteins containing methylated arginine residues, and its levels are correlated with endothelial dysfunction in systemic cardiovascular diseases. Arginine methylation of cellular proteins is catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT). The expression and localization of PRMT in the lung has not been addressed. Here, we sought to analyze the expression of PRMT isoforms in the lung and to determine whether PRMT expression is altered during exposure to chronic hypoxia (10% oxygen). Adult mice were exposed to hypoxia for up to 3 wk, and lung tissues were harvested and processed for RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and determination of tissue ADMA levels. All PRMT isoforms investigated were detected at the mRNA and protein level in mouse lung, and were localized primarily to the bronchial and alveolar epithelium. In lungs of mice subjected to chronic hypoxia, PRMT2 mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated, whereas the expression of all other PRMT isoforms remained unchanged. This was mainly due to increased expression of PRMT2 in alveolar type II cells, which did not express detectable levels of PRMT2 under normoxic conditions. Consistent with these observations, lung ADMA levels and ADMA/l-Arginine ratios were increased under hypoxic conditions. These results demonstrate that PRMTs are expressed and functional in the lung, and that hypoxia is a potent regulator of PRMT2 expression and lung ADMA concentrations. These data suggest that structural and functional changes caused by hypoxia may be linked to ADMA metabolism.

In vitro and in vivo analysis of the major type I protein arginine methyltransferase from Trypanosoma brucei

In mammals and yeasts, arginine methylation, catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), has been implicated in regulation of diverse processes such as protein-protein interaction, protein localization, signal transduction, RNA processing, and transcription. A large number of PRMT substrates are RNA binding proteins. In trypanosomes, gene regulation is controlled primarily at the levels of RNA processing, stability, and translation, and likely involves numerous RNA binding proteins. Thus, arginine methylation may be especially important in controlling gene expression in this evolutionarily ancient group of organisms. To begin to understand the role of arginine methylation in trypanosomes, we identified and characterized a type I PRMT from Trypanosoma brucei, termed TbPRMT1. TbPRMT1 displays 51% amino acid identity to human PRMT1. It possesses an S-adenosylmethionine binding site and double E and THW loops, common and absolute features associated with other PRMTs. Recombinant TbPRMT1 methylates both an artificial RG-rich peptide and the T. brucei mitochondrial RNA binding protein, TBRGG1, and it exhibits differences in substrate specificity compared to rat PRMT1. TbPRMT1 is constitutively expressed during the T. brucei life cycle. Disruption of TbPRMT1 gene expression by RNA interference did not result in a significant growth defect in procyclic form T. brucei. Finally, we observe a dramatic decrease in the cellular level of asymmetric dimethylarginine upon TbPRMT1 knock down, indicating that TbPRMT1 is the predominant type I PRMT in T. brucei. The strong conservation of PRMT1 homologs between protozoa and humans highlights the importance of arginine methylation as a regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes.