1
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Hughes AC, Pittman BG, Xu B, Gammons JW, Webb CM, Nolen HG, Chapman P, Bikoff JB, Schwarz LA. A single-vector intersectional AAV strategy for interrogating cellular diversity and brain function. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01659-7. [PMID: 38802592 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01659-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
As discovery of cellular diversity in the brain accelerates, so does the need for tools that target cells based on multiple features. Here we developed Conditional Viral Expression by Ribozyme Guided Degradation (ConVERGD), an adeno-associated virus-based, single-construct, intersectional targeting strategy that combines a self-cleaving ribozyme with traditional FLEx switches to deliver molecular cargo to specific neuronal subtypes. ConVERGD offers benefits over existing intersectional expression platforms, such as expanded intersectional targeting with up to five recombinase-based features, accommodation of larger and more complex payloads and a vector that is easy to modify for rapid toolkit expansion. In the present report we employed ConVERGD to characterize an unexplored subpopulation of norepinephrine (NE)-producing neurons within the rodent locus coeruleus that co-express the endogenous opioid gene prodynorphin (Pdyn). These studies showcase ConVERGD as a versatile tool for targeting diverse cell types and reveal Pdyn-expressing NE+ locus coeruleus neurons as a small neuronal subpopulation capable of driving anxiogenic behavioral responses in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Hughes
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Human Cell Types, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brittany G Pittman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jesse W Gammons
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Charis M Webb
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hunter G Nolen
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Phillip Chapman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jay B Bikoff
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Lindsay A Schwarz
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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2
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Kienbeck K, Malfertheiner L, Zelger-Paulus S, Johannsen S, von Mering C, Sigel RKO. Identification of HDV-like theta ribozymes involved in tRNA-based recoding of gut bacteriophages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1559. [PMID: 38378708 PMCID: PMC10879173 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45653-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome, inhabit our bodies with the gut microbiome being of particular interest in biomedical research. Bacteriophages, the dominant virome constituents, can utilize suppressor tRNAs to switch to alternative genetic codes (e.g., the UAG stop-codon is reassigned to glutamine) while infecting hosts with the standard bacterial code. However, what triggers this switch and how the bacteriophage manipulates its host is poorly understood. Here, we report the discovery of a subgroup of minimal hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-like ribozymes - theta ribozymes - potentially involved in the code switch leading to the expression of recoded lysis and structural phage genes. We demonstrate their HDV-like self-scission behavior in vitro and find them in an unreported context often located with their cleavage site adjacent to tRNAs, indicating a role in viral tRNA maturation and/or regulation. Every fifth associated tRNA is a suppressor tRNA, further strengthening our hypothesis. The vast abundance of tRNA-associated theta ribozymes - we provide 1753 unique examples - highlights the importance of small ribozymes as an alternative to large enzymes that usually process tRNA 3'-ends. Our discovery expands the short list of biological functions of small HDV-like ribozymes and introduces a previously unknown player likely involved in the code switch of certain recoded gut bacteriophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasimir Kienbeck
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Malfertheiner
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Silke Johannsen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Christian von Mering
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland.
| | - Roland K O Sigel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland.
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3
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Chen CC, Han J, Chinn CA, Rounds JS, Li X, Nikan M, Myszka M, Tong L, Passalacqua LFM, Bredy T, Wood MA, Luptak A. Inhibition of Cpeb3 ribozyme elevates CPEB3 protein expression and polyadenylation of its target mRNAs and enhances object location memory. eLife 2024; 13:e90116. [PMID: 38319152 PMCID: PMC10919898 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A self-cleaving ribozyme that maps to an intron of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (Cpeb3) gene is thought to play a role in human episodic memory, but the underlying mechanisms mediating this effect are not known. We tested the activity of the murine sequence and found that the ribozyme's self-scission half-life matches the time it takes an RNA polymerase to reach the immediate downstream exon, suggesting that the ribozyme-dependent intron cleavage is tuned to co-transcriptional splicing of the Cpeb3 mRNA. Our studies also reveal that the murine ribozyme modulates maturation of its harboring mRNA in both cultured cortical neurons and the hippocampus: inhibition of the ribozyme using an antisense oligonucleotide leads to increased CPEB3 protein expression, which enhances polyadenylation and translation of localized plasticity-related target mRNAs, and subsequently strengthens hippocampal-dependent long-term memory. These findings reveal a previously unknown role for self-cleaving ribozyme activity in regulating experience-induced co-transcriptional and local translational processes required for learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire C Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Joseph Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Carlene A Chinn
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Jacob S Rounds
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | | | - Marie Myszka
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Liqi Tong
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Luiz FM Passalacqua
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Timothy Bredy
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Marcelo A Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Andrej Luptak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
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4
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Kläge D, Müller E, Hartig JS. A comparative survey of the influence of small self-cleaving ribozymes on gene expression in human cell culture. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-11. [PMID: 38146121 PMCID: PMC10761166 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2296203] [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] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-cleaving ribozymes are versatile tools for synthetic biologists when it comes to controlling gene expression. Up to date, 12 different classes are known, and over the past decades more and more details about their structure, cleavage mechanisms and natural environments have been uncovered. However, when these motifs are applied to mammalian gene expression constructs, the outcome can often be unexpected. A variety of factors, such as surrounding sequences and positioning of the ribozyme influences the activity and hence performance of catalytic RNAs. While some information about the efficiency of individual ribozymes (each tested in specific contexts) is known, general trends obtained from standardized, comparable experiments are lacking, complicating decisions such as which ribozyme to choose and where to insert it into the target mRNA. In many cases, application-specific optimization is required, which can be very laborious. Here, we systematically compared different classes of ribozymes within the 3'-UTR of a given reporter gene. We then examined position-dependent effects of the best-performing ribozymes. Moreover, we tested additional variants of already widely used hammerhead ribozymes originating from various organisms. We were able to identify functional structures suited for aptazyme design and generated highly efficient hammerhead ribozyme variants originating from the human genome. The present dataset will aide decisions about how to apply ribozymes for affecting gene expression as well as for developing ribozyme-based switches for controlling gene expression in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Kläge
- Department of Chemistry and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jörg S. Hartig
- Department of Chemistry and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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5
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Spirov A. Evolution of the RNA world: From signals to codes. Biosystems 2023; 234:105043. [PMID: 37852409 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105043] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The accumulated material in evolutionary biology, greatly enhanced by the achievements of modern synthetic biology, allows us to envision certain key hypothetical stages of prebiotic (chemical) evolution. This is often understood as the further evolution in the RNA World towards the RNA-protein World. It is a path towards the emergence of translation and the genetic code (I), signaling pathways with signaling molecules (II), and the appearance of RNA-based components of future gene regulatory networks (III). We believe that these evolutionary paths can be constructively viewed from the perspective of the concept of biological codes (Barbieri, 2003). Crucial evolutionary events in these directions would involve the emergence of RNA-based adaptors. Such adaptors connect two families of functionally and chemically distinct molecules into one functional entity. The emergence of primitive translation processes is undoubtedly the major milestone in the evolutionary path towards modern life. The key aspect here is the appearance of adaptors between amino acids and their cognate triplet codons. The initial steps are believed to involve the emergence of proto-transfer RNAs capable of self-aminoacylation. The second significant evolutionary breakthrough is the development of biochemical regulatory networks based on signaling molecules of the RNA World (ribonucleotides and their derivatives), as well as receptors and effectors (riboswitches) for these messengers. Some authors refer to this as the "lost language of the RNA World." The third evolutionary step is the emergence of signal sequences for ribozymes on the molecules of their RNA targets. This level of regulation in the RNA World is comparable to the gene regulatory networks of modern organisms. We believe that the signal sequences on target molecules have been rediscovered and developed by evolution into the gene regulatory networks of modern cells. In conclusion, the immense diversity of modern biological codes, in some of its key characteristics, can be traced back to the achievements of prebiotic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Spirov
- The Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences RAS, Moscow, Russia.
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6
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Ivanov KI, Samuilova OV, Zamyatnin AA. The emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs in lymphatic vascular development and disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:197. [PMID: 37407839 PMCID: PMC10322780 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04842-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in RNA sequencing technologies helped uncover what was once uncharted territory in the human genome-the complex and versatile world of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Previously thought of as merely transcriptional "noise", lncRNAs have now emerged as essential regulators of gene expression networks controlling development, homeostasis and disease progression. The regulatory functions of lncRNAs are broad and diverse, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are highly variable, acting at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. In recent years, evidence has accumulated to support the important role of lncRNAs in the development and functioning of the lymphatic vasculature and associated pathological processes such as tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and cancer metastasis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of lncRNAs in regulating the key genes and pathways involved in lymphatic vascular development and disease. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of lncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets and outline possible strategies for the development of lncRNA-based therapeutics to treat diseases of the lymphatic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin I Ivanov
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russian Federation.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Olga V Samuilova
- Department of Biochemistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russian Federation
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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7
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Li W, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Li P, Zhu X, Feng C. Cell-Free Biosensing Genetic Circuit Coupled with Ribozyme Cleavage Reaction for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Small Molecules. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1657-1666. [PMID: 37196142 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00003] [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] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biological systems have been utilized to develop a wide range of genetic circuits and components that enhance the performance of biosensing systems. Among them, cell-free systems are emerging as important platforms for synthetic biology applications. Genetic circuits play an essential role in cell-free systems, mainly consisting of sensing modules, regulation modules, and signal output modules. Currently, fluorescent proteins and aptamers are commonly used as signal outputs. However, these signal output modes cannot simultaneously achieve faster signal output, more accurate and reliable performance, and signal amplification. Ribozyme is a highly structured and catalytic RNA molecule that can specifically recognize and cut specific substrate sequences. Here, by adopting ribozyme as the signal output, we developed a cell-free biosensing genetic circuit coupled with the ribozyme cleavage reaction, enabling rapid and sensitive detection of small molecules. More importantly, we have also successfully constructed a 3D-printed sensor array and thereby achieved high-throughput analysis of an inhibitory drug. Furthermore, our method will help expand the application range of ribozyme in the field of synthetic biology and also optimize the signal output system of cell-free biosensing, thus promoting the development of cell-free synthetic biology in biomedical research, clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food inspection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Li
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P. R. China
| | - Yiming Xu
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Pengfei Li
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, P. R. China
- Shaoxing Institute of Shanghai University, Shaoxing 312071, P. R. China
| | - Chang Feng
- Center for Molecular Recognition and Biosensing, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, P. R. China
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8
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Chen CC, Han J, Chinn CA, Rounds JS, Li X, Nikan M, Myszka M, Tong L, Passalacqua LFM, Bredy TW, Wood MA, Lupták A. Inhibition of CPEB3 ribozyme elevates CPEB3 protein expression and polyadenylation of its target mRNAs, and enhances object location memory. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.07.543953. [PMID: 37333407 PMCID: PMC10274809 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.07.543953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
A self-cleaving ribozyme that maps to an intron of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 3 (CPEB3) gene is thought to play a role in human episodic memory, but the underlying mechanisms mediating this effect are not known. We tested the activity of the murine sequence and found that the ribozyme's self-scission half-life matches the time it takes an RNA polymerase to reach the immediate downstream exon, suggesting that the ribozyme-dependent intron cleavage is tuned to co-transcriptional splicing of the CPEB3 mRNA. Our studies also reveal that the murine ribozyme modulates maturation of its harboring mRNA in both cultured cortical neurons and the hippocampus: inhibition of the ribozyme using an antisense oligonucleotide leads to increased CPEB3 protein expression, which enhances polyadenylation and translation of localized plasticity-related target mRNAs, and subsequently strengthens hippocampal-dependent long-term memory. These findings reveal a previously unknown role for self-cleaving ribozyme activity in regulating experience-induced co-transcriptional and local translational processes required for learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire C. Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Joseph Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Carlene A. Chinn
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Jacob S. Rounds
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Mehran Nikan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Marie Myszka
- Department of Chemistry, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Liqi Tong
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Luiz F. M. Passalacqua
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Timothy W. Bredy
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Marcelo A. Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Andrej Lupták
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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9
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Yoon S, Ollie E, York DM, Piccirilli JA, Harris ME. Rapid Kinetics of Pistol Ribozyme: Insights into Limits to RNA Catalysis. Biochemistry 2023. [PMID: 37294744 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pistol ribozyme (Psr) is a distinct class of small endonucleolytic ribozymes, which are important experimental systems for defining fundamental principles of RNA catalysis and designing valuable tools in biotechnology. High-resolution structures of Psr, extensive structure-function studies, and computation support a mechanism involving one or more catalytic guanosine nucleobases acting as a general base and divalent metal ion-bound water acting as an acid to catalyze RNA 2'-O-transphosphorylation. Yet, for a wide range of pH and metal ion concentrations, the rate of Psr catalysis is too fast to measure manually and the reaction steps that limit catalysis are not well understood. Here, we use stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate Psr temperature dependence, solvent H/D isotope effects, and divalent metal ion affinity and specificity unconstrained by limitations due to fast kinetics. The results show that Psr catalysis is characterized by small apparent activation enthalpy and entropy changes and minimal transition state H/D fractionation, suggesting that one or more pre-equilibrium steps rather than chemistry is rate limiting. Quantitative analyses of divalent ion dependence confirm that metal aquo ion pKa correlates with higher rates of catalysis independent of differences in ion binding affinity. However, ambiguity regarding the rate-limiting step and similar correlation with related attributes such as ionic radius and hydration free energy complicate a definitive mechanistic interpretation. These new data provide a framework for further interrogation of Psr transition state stabilization and show how thermal instability, metal ion insolubility at optimal pH, and pre-equilibrium steps such as ion binding and folding limit the catalytic power of Psr suggesting potential strategies for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhyun Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Edward Ollie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Darrin M York
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Joseph A Piccirilli
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Michael E Harris
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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10
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Roberts JM, Beck JD, Pollock TB, Bendixsen DP, Hayden EJ. RNA sequence to structure analysis from comprehensive pairwise mutagenesis of multiple self-cleaving ribozymes. eLife 2023; 12:80360. [PMID: 36655987 PMCID: PMC9901934 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-cleaving ribozymes are RNA molecules that catalyze the cleavage of their own phosphodiester backbones. These ribozymes are found in all domains of life and are also a tool for biotechnical and synthetic biology applications. Self-cleaving ribozymes are also an important model of sequence-to-function relationships for RNA because their small size simplifies synthesis of genetic variants and self-cleaving activity is an accessible readout of the functional consequence of the mutation. Here, we used a high-throughput experimental approach to determine the relative activity for every possible single and double mutant of five self-cleaving ribozymes. From this data, we comprehensively identified non-additive effects between pairs of mutations (epistasis) for all five ribozymes. We analyzed how changes in activity and trends in epistasis map to the ribozyme structures. The variety of structures studied provided opportunities to observe several examples of common structural elements, and the data was collected under identical experimental conditions to enable direct comparison. Heatmap-based visualization of the data revealed patterns indicating structural features of the ribozymes including paired regions, unpaired loops, non-canonical structures, and tertiary structural contacts. The data also revealed signatures of functionally critical nucleotides involved in catalysis. The results demonstrate that the data sets provide structural information similar to chemical or enzymatic probing experiments, but with additional quantitative functional information. The large-scale data sets can be used for models predicting structure and function and for efforts to engineer self-cleaving ribozymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Roberts
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Programs, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
| | - James D Beck
- Computing PhD Program, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
| | - Tanner B Pollock
- Department of Biological Science, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
| | - Devin P Bendixsen
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Programs, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
| | - Eric J Hayden
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Programs, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
- Computing PhD Program, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
- Department of Biological Science, Boise State UniversityBoiseUnited States
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11
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Tekin E, Salditt A, Schwintek P, Wunnava S, Langlais J, Saenz J, Tang D, Schwille P, Mast C, Braun D. Prebiotic Foam Environments to Oligomerize and Accumulate RNA. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200423. [PMID: 36354762 PMCID: PMC10100173 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
When water interacts with porous rocks, its wetting and surface tension properties create air bubbles in large number. To probe their relevance as a setting for the emergence of life, we microfluidically created foams that were stabilized with lipids. A persistent non-equilibrium setting was provided by a thermal gradient. The foam's large surface area triggers capillary flows and wet-dry reactions that accumulate, aggregate and oligomerize RNA, offering a compelling habitat for RNA-based early life as it offers both wet and dry conditions in direct neighborhood. Lipids were screened to stabilize the foams. The prebiotically more probable myristic acid stabilized foams over many hours. The capillary flow created by the evaporation at the water-air interface provided an attractive force for molecule localization and selection for molecule size. For example, self-binding oligonucleotide sequences accumulated and formed micrometer-sized aggregates which were shuttled between gas bubbles. The wet-dry cycles at the foam bubble interfaces triggered a non-enzymatic RNA oligomerization from 2',3'-cyclic CMP and GMP which despite the small dry reaction volume was superior to the corresponding dry reaction. The found characteristics make heated foams an interesting, localized setting for early molecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Tekin
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - Annalena Salditt
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - Philipp Schwintek
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - Sreekar Wunnava
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - Juliette Langlais
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - James Saenz
- Center for Molecular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenHelmholtzstrasse 1001069DresdenGermany
| | - Dora Tang
- Dynamic Protocellular SystemsMax-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsPfotenhauerstrasse 10801307DresdenGermany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Cellular and Molecular BiophysicsMax-Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | - Christof Mast
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
| | - Dieter Braun
- Systems BiophysicsCenter for Nano-Science and Origins Cluster Initiative Department of PhysicsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAmalienstrasse 5480799MünchenGermany
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Taylor AI, Wan CJK, Donde MJ, Peak-Chew SY, Holliger P. A modular XNAzyme cleaves long, structured RNAs under physiological conditions and enables allele-specific gene silencing. Nat Chem 2022; 14:1295-1305. [PMID: 36064973 PMCID: PMC7613789 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01021-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic-acid catalysts (ribozymes, DNA- and XNAzymes) cleave target (m)RNAs with high specificity but have shown limited efficacy in clinical applications. Here we report on the in vitro evolution and engineering of a highly specific modular RNA endonuclease XNAzyme, FR6_1, composed of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-β-D-arabino nucleic acid (FANA). FR6_1 overcomes the activity limitations of previous DNA- and XNAzymes and can be retargeted to cleave highly structured full-length (>5 kb) BRAF and KRAS mRNAs at physiological Mg2+ concentrations with allelic selectivity for tumour-associated (BRAF V600E and KRAS G12D) mutations. Phosphorothioate-FANA modification enhances FR6_1 biostability and enables rapid KRAS mRNA knockdown in cultured human adenocarcinoma cells with a G12D-allele-specific component provided by in vivo XNAzyme cleavage activity. These results provide a starting point for the development of improved gene-silencing agents based on FANA or other XNA chemistries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander I Taylor
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Maria J Donde
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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13
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Herod MR, Ward JC, Tuplin A, Harris M, Stonehouse NJ, McCormick CJ. Positive strand RNA viruses differ in the constraints they place on the folding of their negative strand. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1359-1376. [PMID: 35918125 PMCID: PMC9479745 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079125.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Genome replication of positive strand RNA viruses requires the production of a complementary negative strand RNA that serves as a template for synthesis of more positive strand progeny. Structural RNA elements are important for genome replication, but while they are readily observed in the positive strand, evidence of their existence in the negative strand is more limited. We hypothesized that this was due to viruses differing in their capacity to allow this latter RNA to adopt structural folds. To investigate this, ribozymes were introduced into the negative strand of different viral constructs; the expectation being that if RNA folding occurred, negative strand cleavage and suppression of replication would be seen. Indeed, this was what happened with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) constructs. However, little or no impact was observed for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), human rhinovirus (HRV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and yellow fever virus (YFV) constructs. Reduced cleavage in the negative strand proved to be due to duplex formation with the positive strand. Interestingly, ribozyme-containing RNAs also remained intact when produced in vitro by the HCV polymerase, again due to duplex formation. Overall, our results show that there are important differences in the conformational constraints imposed on the folding of the negative strand between different positive strand RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan R Herod
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph C Ward
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tuplin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Stonehouse
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J McCormick
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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14
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Hervey JRD, Freund N, Houlihan G, Dhaliwal G, Holliger P, Taylor AI. Efficient synthesis and replication of diverse sequence libraries composed of biostable nucleic acid analogues. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1209-1215. [PMID: 36320888 PMCID: PMC9533476 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00035k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional nucleic acids can be evolved in vitro using cycles of selection and amplification, starting from diverse-sequence libraries, which are typically restricted to natural or partially-modified polymer chemistries. Here, we describe the efficient DNA-templated synthesis and reverse transcription of libraries entirely composed of serum nuclease resistant alternative nucleic acid chemistries validated in nucleic acid therapeutics; locked nucleic acid (LNA), 2′-O-methyl-RNA (2′OMe-RNA), or mixtures of the two. We evaluate yield and diversity of synthesised libraries and measure the aggregate error rate of a selection cycle. We find that in addition to pure 2′-O-methyl-RNA and LNA, several 2′OMe-RNA/LNA blends seem suitable and promising for discovery of biostable functional nucleic acids for biomedical applications. Blends of engineered polymerases enable efficient DNA-templated synthesis and reverse transcription of diverse-sequence oligonucleotide libraries composed of locked nucleic acid (LNA), 2′-O-methyl-RNA (2′OMe-RNA), or mixtures of the two.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. D. Hervey
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Niklas Freund
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Gillian Houlihan
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Gurpreet Dhaliwal
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Philipp Holliger
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Alexander I. Taylor
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
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