1
|
Hegazy YA, Dhahri H, El Osmani N, George S, Chandler DP, Fondufe-Mittendorf YN. Histone variants: The bricks that fit differently. J Biol Chem 2025; 301:108048. [PMID: 39638247 PMCID: PMC11742582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.108048] [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: 08/06/2024] [Revised: 10/28/2024] [Accepted: 10/31/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone proteins organize nuclear DNA in eukaryotic cells and play crucial roles in regulating chromatin structure and function. Histone variants are produced by distinct histone genes and are produced independently of their canonical counterparts throughout the cell cycle. Even though histone variants may differ by only one or a few amino acids relative to their canonical counterparts, these minor variations can profoundly alter chromatin structure, accessibility, dynamics, and gene expression. Histone variants often interact with dedicated chaperones and remodelers and can have unique post-translational modifications that shape unique gene expression landscapes. Histone variants also play essential roles in DNA replication, damage repair, and histone-protamine transition during spermatogenesis. Importantly, aberrant histone variant expression and DNA mutations in histone variants are linked to various human diseases, including cancer, developmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explore how core histone variants impact nucleosome structure and DNA accessibility, the significance of variant-specific post-translational modifications, how variant-specific chaperones and remodelers contribute to a regulatory network governing chromatin behavior, and discuss current knowledge about the association of histone variants with human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youssef A Hegazy
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Hejer Dhahri
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Nour El Osmani
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Smitha George
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Darrell P Chandler
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Qiu C, Zhang Z, Wine RN, Campbell ZT, Zhang J, Hall TMT. Intra- and inter-molecular regulation by intrinsically-disordered regions governs PUF protein RNA binding. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7323. [PMID: 37953271 PMCID: PMC10641069 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43098-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PUF proteins are characterized by globular RNA-binding domains. They also interact with partner proteins that modulate their RNA-binding activities. Caenorhabditis elegans PUF protein fem-3 binding factor-2 (FBF-2) partners with intrinsically disordered Lateral Signaling Target-1 (LST-1) to regulate target mRNAs in germline stem cells. Here, we report that an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) at the C-terminus of FBF-2 autoinhibits its RNA-binding affinity by increasing the off rate for RNA binding. Moreover, the FBF-2 C-terminal region interacts with its globular RNA-binding domain at the same site where LST-1 binds. This intramolecular interaction restrains an electronegative cluster of amino acid residues near the 5' end of the bound RNA to inhibit RNA binding. LST-1 binding in place of the FBF-2 C-terminus therefore releases autoinhibition and increases RNA-binding affinity. This regulatory mechanism, driven by IDRs, provides a biochemical and biophysical explanation for the interdependence of FBF-2 and LST-1 in germline stem cell self-renewal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Qiu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert N Wine
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Zachary T Campbell
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Imdad MJ, Khan MN, Alam HS, Khan AB, Mirani ZA, Khan A, Ahmed F. Design and in silico analysis of mRNA vaccine construct against Salmonella. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:7248-7264. [PMID: 36093938 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2119280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Salmonella infections are continuously growing. Causative serovars have gained enhanced drug resistance and virulence. Current vaccines have fallen short of providing sufficient protection. mRNA vaccines have come up with huge success against SARS-CoV-2; Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have resulted in >90% efficacy with efficient translocation, expression, and presentation of antigen to the host immune system. Herein, based on the same approach a mRNA vaccine construct has been designed and analyzed against Salmonella by joining regions of genes of outer membrane proteins C and F of S. Typhi through a flexible linker. Construct was flanked by regulatory regions that have previously shown better expression and translocation of encoded protein. GC content of the construct was improved to attain structural and thermodynamic stability and smooth translation. Sites of strong binding miRNAs were removed through codon optimization. Protein encoded by this construct is structurally plausible, highly antigenic, non-allergen to humans, and does not cross-react to the human proteome. It is enriched in potent, highly antigenic, and conserved linear and conformational epitopes. Most conserved conformational epitopes of core protein lie on extended beta hairpins exposed to the cellular exterior. Stability and thermodynamic attributes of the final construct were found highly comparable to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine construct. Both contain a stable stem-loop structure downstream of the start codon and do not offer destabilizing secondary structures upstream of the start codon. Given structural and thermodynamic stability, effective immune response, and epitope composition the construct is expected to provide broad-spectrum protection against clinically important Salmonella serovars.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Janees Imdad
- Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
- Microbiology Section, FMRRC, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naseem Khan
- Microbiology Section, FMRRC, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Abdul Basit Khan
- Microbiology Section, FMRRC, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zulfiqar Ali Mirani
- Microbiology Section, FMRRC, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Adnan Khan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Faraz Ahmed
- Microbiology Section, FMRRC, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Christoffer C, Kihara D. Modeling protein-nucleic acid complexes with extremely large conformational changes using Flex-LZerD. Proteomics 2023; 23:e2200322. [PMID: 36529945 PMCID: PMC10448949 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202200322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Proteins and nucleic acids are key components in many processes in living cells, and interactions between proteins and nucleic acids are often crucial pathway components. In many cases, large flexibility of proteins as they interact with nucleic acids is key to their function. To understand the mechanisms of these processes, it is necessary to consider the 3D atomic structures of such protein-nucleic acid complexes. When such structures are not yet experimentally determined, protein docking can be used to computationally generate useful structure models. However, such docking has long had the limitation that the consideration of flexibility is usually limited to small movements or to small structures. We previously developed a method of flexible protein docking which could model ordered proteins which undergo large-scale conformational changes, which we also showed was compatible with nucleic acids. Here, we elaborate on the ability of that pipeline, Flex-LZerD, to model specifically interactions between proteins and nucleic acids, and demonstrate that Flex-LZerD can model more interactions and types of conformational change than previously shown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Christoffer
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zaharias S, Fargason T, Greer R, Song Y, Zhang J. Electronegative clusters modulate folding status and RNA binding of unstructured RNA-binding proteins. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4643. [PMID: 37060324 PMCID: PMC10127258 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Electronegative clusters (ENCs) made up of acidic residues and/or phosphorylation sites are the most abundant repetitive sequences in RNA-binding proteins. Previous studies have indicated that ENCs inhibit RNA binding for structured RNA-binding domains (RBDs). However, this is not the case for the unstructured RBD in histone pre-mRNA stem-loop binding protein (SLBP). The SLBP RBD contains 70 amino acids and is followed by a phosphorylatable ENC. ENC phosphorylation increases RNA-binding affinity of SLBP to the sub-picomolar range. In this study, we use NMR and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the mechanism for this tight binding. Our NMR data demonstrate that the ENC transiently folds apo SLBP into an RNA-bound resembling state. We find that in the RNA-bound state, the phosphorylated ENC interacts with the loop region opposite to the RNA-binding site. This allosteric interaction stabilizes the complex and therefore enhances RNA binding. To evaluate the generality of our findings, we graft an ENC onto endoribonuclease homolog 1's first double-stranded RNA-binding motif (DRBM1), an unstructured RBD that shares no homology with SLBP. We find that the engineered ENC increases the folded species of DRBM1 and inhibits RNA binding. On the contrary, introducing basic residues to DRBM1 makes the domain more unfolded, enhances RNA binding, and mitigates the inhibitory effect of the engineered ENC. In summary, our study suggests that ENCs promote folding of unstructured RNA-binding domains, and their effects on RNA binding depend on the electropositive charges on the RBD surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steve Zaharias
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and SciencesThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Talia Fargason
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and SciencesThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Rory Greer
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Yuhua Song
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and SciencesThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shine M, Harris SE, Pellegrene KA, Kensinger AH, Mihailescu MR, Evanseck JD, Lackey PE. Uridylation of the histone mRNA stem-loop weakens binding interactions with SLBP while maintaining interactions with 3'hExo. RNA Biol 2023; 20:469-481. [PMID: 37516934 PMCID: PMC10388802 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2171760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone mRNA degradation is controlled by the unique 3' stem-loop of histone mRNA and the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP). As part of this process, the 3' stem-loop is trimmed by the histone-specific 3' exonuclease (3'hExo) and uridylated by the terminal uridylyl transferase 7 (TUT7), creating partially degraded intermediates with short uridylations. The role of these uridylations in degradation is not fully understood. Our work examines changes in the stability of the ternary complex created by trimming and uridylation of the stem-loop to better understand the role of this process in the histone mRNA life cycle. In this study, we used fluorescence polarization and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to demonstrate that both SLBP and 3'hExo can bind to uridylated and partially degraded stem-loop intermediates, although with lower affinity. We further characterized this complex by performing 1-µs molecular dynamics simulations using the AMBER force field and Nanoscale Molecular Dynamics (NAMD). These simulations show that while uridylation helps maintain the overall shape of the stem-loop, the combination of uridylation and dephosphorylation of the TPNK motif in SLBP disrupts key RNA-protein interactions. They also demonstrate that uridylation allows 3'hExo to maintain contact with the stem-loop after partial degradation and plays a role in disrupting key base pairs in partially degraded histone mRNA intermediates. Together, these experiments and simulations suggest that trimming by 3'hExo, uridylation, and SLBP dephosphorylation weakens both RNA-protein interactions and the stem-loop itself. Our results further elucidate the role of uridylation and SLBP dephosphorylation in the early stages of histone mRNA degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Shine
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kendy A Pellegrene
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adam H Kensinger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mihaela Rita Mihailescu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Evanseck
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Patrick E Lackey
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Design and Immunoinformatic Assessment of Candidate Multivariant mRNA Vaccine Construct against Immune Escape Variants of SARS-CoV-2. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14163263. [PMID: 36015519 PMCID: PMC9414445 DOI: 10.3390/polym14163263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To effectively counter the evolving threat of SARS-CoV-2 variants, modifications and/or redesigning of mRNA vaccine construct are essentially required. Herein, the design and immunoinformatic assessment of a candidate novel mRNA vaccine construct, DOW-21, are discussed. Briefly, immunologically important domains, N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor binding domain (RBD), of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs) were assessed for sequence, structure, and epitope variations. Based on the assessment, a novel hypothetical NTD (h-NTD) and RBD (h-RBD) were designed to hold all overlapping immune escape variations. The construct sequence was then developed, where h-NTD and h-RBD were intervened by 10-mer gly-ala repeat and the terminals were flanked by regulatory sequences for better intracellular transportation and expression of the coding regions. The protein encoded by the construct holds structural attributes (RMSD NTD: 0.42 Å; RMSD RBD: 0.15 Å) found in the respective domains of SARS-CoV-2 immune escape variants. In addition, it provides coverage to the immunogenic sites of the respective domains found in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Later, the nucleotide sequence of the construct was optimized for GC ratio (56%) and microRNA binding sites to ensure smooth translation. Post-injection antibody titer was also predicted (~12000 AU) to be robust. In summary, the construct proposed in this study could potentially provide broad spectrum coverage in relation to SARS-CoV-2 immune escape variants.
Collapse
|
8
|
Tucker MR, Piana S, Tan D, LeVine MV, Shaw DE. Development of Force Field Parameters for the Simulation of Single- and Double-Stranded DNA Molecules and DNA-Protein Complexes. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:4442-4457. [PMID: 35694853 PMCID: PMC9234960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c10971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Although molecular
dynamics (MD) simulations have been used extensively
to study the structural dynamics of proteins, the role of MD simulation
in studies of nucleic acid based systems has been more limited. One
contributing factor to this disparity is the historically lower level
of accuracy of the physical models used in such simulations to describe
interactions involving nucleic acids. By modifying nonbonded and torsion
parameters of a force field from the Amber family of models, we recently
developed force field parameters for RNA that achieve a level of accuracy
comparable to that of state-of-the-art protein force fields. Here
we report force field parameters for DNA, which we developed by transferring
nonbonded parameters from our recently reported RNA force field and
making subsequent adjustments to torsion parameters. We have also
modified the backbone charges in both the RNA and DNA parameter sets
to make the treatment of electrostatics compatible with our recently
developed variant of the Amber protein and ion force field. We name
the force field resulting from the union of these three parameter
sets (the new DNA parameters, the revised RNA parameters, and the
existing protein and ion parameters) DES-Amber. Extensive
testing of DES-Amber indicates that it can describe the thermal stability
and conformational flexibility of single- and double-stranded DNA
systems with a level of accuracy comparable to or, especially for
disordered systems, exceeding that of state-of-the-art nucleic acid
force fields. Finally, we show that, in certain favorable cases, DES-Amber
can be used for long-timescale simulations of protein–nucleic
acid complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Piana
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Dazhi Tan
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | | | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ma J, Wang Y. Studies on Viroid Shed Light on the Role of RNA Three-Dimensional Structural Motifs in RNA Trafficking in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:836267. [PMID: 35401640 PMCID: PMC8983868 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.836267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
RNAs play essential roles in various biological processes. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that RNA subcellular localization and intercellular/systemic trafficking govern their functions in coordinating plant growth at the organismal level. While numerous types of RNAs (i.e., mRNAs, small RNAs, rRNAs, tRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs) have been found to traffic in a non-cell-autonomous fashion within plants, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Viroids are single-stranded circular noncoding RNAs, which entirely rely on their RNA motifs to exploit cellular machinery for organelle entry and exit, cell-to-cell movement through plasmodesmata, and systemic trafficking. Viroids represent an excellent model to dissect the role of RNA three-dimensional (3D) structural motifs in regulating RNA movement. Nearly two decades of studies have found multiple RNA 3D motifs responsible for viroid nuclear import as well as trafficking across diverse cellular boundaries in plants. These RNA 3D motifs function as "keys" to unlock cellular and subcellular barriers and guide RNA movement within a cell or between cells. Here, we summarize the key findings along this line of research with implications for future studies on RNA trafficking in plants.
Collapse
|
10
|
Bradford BR, Jin C. Stem-loop binding protein and metal carcinogenesis. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 76:38-44. [PMID: 34416372 PMCID: PMC8627438 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Pre-mRNA processing of the replication-dependent canonical histone mRNAs requires an endonucleolytic cleavage immediately after a conserved stem loop structure which occurs before RNA Pol II encounters any poly(A) signal. Thus, in contrast to all other eukaryotic mRNAs, the canonical histone mRNAs are not polyadenylated in their 3' ends. The binding of stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) to the stem loop structure of the histone mRNAs is required for this process. SLBP is also involved in regulation of histone mRNA nuclear export, degradation, and translation. Depletion of SLBP has been shown to induce polyadenylation of histone mRNAs and alteration of histone protein levels, which are considered to contribute to the observed aberrant cell cycle progress and genomic instability resulting from the loss of SLBP function. Recent studies have demonstrated that some heavy metal carcinogens, including arsenic and nickel, can induce the loss of SLBP and the gain of polyadenylation of canonical histone mRNAs. Polyadenylated canonical histone H3 can result in abnormal transcription, cell cycle arrest, genomic instability, and cell transformation, which links SLBP depletion and subsequent histone mRNA misprocessing to cancer. This review seeks to briefly summarize what is known about regulation of SLBP expression, consequences of SLBP depletion, its roles in cancer-related end points, with particular focus on metal-induced SLBP depletion and the potential of SLBP depletion as a new mechanism for metal-induced carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrix R Bradford
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Chunyuan Jin
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gutierrez PA, Baughman K, Sun Y, Tong L. A real-time fluorescence assay for CPSF73, the nuclease for pre-mRNA 3'-end processing. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:1148-1154. [PMID: 34230059 PMCID: PMC8457007 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078764.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
CPSF73 is the endonuclease that catalyzes the cleavage reaction for 3'-end processing of mRNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) in two distinct machineries, a canonical machinery for the majority of pre-mRNAs and a U7 snRNP (U7 machinery) for replication-dependent histone pre-mRNAs in animal cells. CPSF73 also possesses 5'-3' exonuclease activity in the U7 machinery, degrading the downstream cleavage product after the endonucleolytic cleavage. Recent studies show that CPSF73 is a potential target for developing anticancer, antimalarial, and antiprotozoal drugs, spurring interest in identifying new small-molecule inhibitors against this enzyme. CPSF73 nuclease activity has so far been demonstrated using a gel-based end-point assay, using radiolabeled or fluorescently labeled RNA substrates. By taking advantage of unique properties of the U7 machinery, we have developed a novel, real-time fluorescence assay for the nuclease activity of CPSF73. This assay is facile and high-throughput, and should also be helpful for the discovery of new CPSF73 inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Gutierrez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Kirk Baughman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Yadong Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
U7 deciphered: the mechanism that forms the unusual 3' end of metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2229-2240. [PMID: 34351387 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In animal cells, replication-dependent histone mRNAs end with a highly conserved stem-loop structure followed by a 4- to 5-nucleotide single-stranded tail. This unique 3' end distinguishes replication-dependent histone mRNAs from all other eukaryotic mRNAs, which end with a poly(A) tail produced by the canonical 3'-end processing mechanism of cleavage and polyadenylation. The pioneering studies of Max Birnstiel's group demonstrated nearly 40 years ago that the unique 3' end of animal replication-dependent histone mRNAs is generated by a distinct processing mechanism, whereby histone mRNA precursors are cleaved downstream of the stem-loop, but this cleavage is not followed by polyadenylation. The key role is played by the U7 snRNP, a complex of a ∼60 nucleotide U7 snRNA and many proteins. Some of these proteins, including the enzymatic component CPSF73, are shared with the canonical cleavage and polyadenylation machinery, justifying the view that the two metazoan pre-mRNA 3'-end processing mechanisms have a common evolutionary origin. The studies on U7 snRNP culminated in the recent breakthrough of reconstituting an entirely recombinant human machinery that is capable of accurately cleaving histone pre-mRNAs, and determining its structure in complex with a pre-mRNA substrate (with 13 proteins and two RNAs) that is poised for the cleavage reaction. The structure uncovered an unanticipated network of interactions within the U7 snRNP and a remarkable mechanism of activating catalytically dormant CPSF73 for the cleavage. This work provides a conceptual framework for understanding other eukaryotic 3'-end processing machineries.
Collapse
|
13
|
Machado de Amorim A, Chakrabarti S. Assembly of multicomponent machines in RNA metabolism: A common theme in mRNA decay pathways. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 13:e1684. [PMID: 34351053 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Multicomponent protein-RNA complexes comprising a ribonuclease and partner RNA helicase facilitate the turnover of mRNA in all domains of life. While these higher-order complexes provide an effective means of physically and functionally coupling the processes of RNA remodeling and decay, most ribonucleases and RNA helicases do not exhibit sequence specificity in RNA binding. This raises the question as to how these assemblies select substrates for processing and how the activities are orchestrated at the precise moment to ensure efficient decay. The answers to these apparent puzzles lie in the auxiliary components of the assemblies that might relay decay-triggering signals. Given their function within the assemblies, these components may be viewed as "sensors." The functions and mechanisms of action of the sensor components in various degradation complexes in bacteria and eukaryotes are highlighted here to discuss their roles in RNA decay processes. This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sutapa Chakrabarti
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zaharias S, Zhang Z, Davis K, Fargason T, Cashman D, Yu T, Zhang J. Intrinsically disordered electronegative clusters improve stability and binding specificity of RNA-binding proteins. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100945. [PMID: 34246632 PMCID: PMC8348266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins play crucial roles in various cellular functions and contain abundant disordered protein regions. The disordered regions in RNA-binding proteins are rich in repetitive sequences, such as poly-K/R, poly-N/Q, poly-A, and poly-G residues. Our bioinformatic analysis identified a largely neglected repetitive sequence family we define as electronegative clusters (ENCs) that contain acidic residues and/or phosphorylation sites. The abundance and length of ENCs exceed other known repetitive sequences. Despite their abundance, the functions of ENCs in RNA-binding proteins are still elusive. To investigate the impacts of ENCs on protein stability, RNA-binding affinity, and specificity, we selected one RNA-binding protein, the ribosomal biogenesis factor 15 (Nop15), as a model. We found that the Nop15 ENC increases protein stability and inhibits nonspecific RNA binding, but minimally interferes with specific RNA binding. To investigate the effect of ENCs on sequence specificity of RNA binding, we grafted an ENC to another RNA-binding protein, Ser/Arg-rich splicing factor 3. Using RNA Bind-n-Seq, we found that the engineered ENC inhibits disparate RNA motifs differently, instead of weakening all RNA motifs to the same extent. The motif site directly involved in electrostatic interaction is more susceptible to the ENC inhibition. These results suggest that one of functions of ENCs is to regulate RNA binding via electrostatic interaction. This is consistent with our finding that ENCs are also overrepresented in DNA-binding proteins, whereas underrepresented in halophiles, in which nonspecific nucleic acid binding is inhibited by high concentrations of salts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steve Zaharias
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kenneth Davis
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Talia Fargason
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Derek Cashman
- Department of Chemistry, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tao Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Alvarez DR, Ospina A, Barwell T, Zheng B, Dey A, Li C, Basu S, Shi X, Kadri S, Chakrabarti K. The RNA structurome in the asexual blood stages of malaria pathogen plasmodium falciparum. RNA Biol 2021; 18:2480-2497. [PMID: 33960872 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1926747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is a deadly human pathogen responsible for the devastating disease called malaria. In this study, we measured the differential accumulation of RNA secondary structures in coding and non-coding transcripts from the asexual developmental cycle in P. falciparum in human red blood cells. Our comprehensive analysis that combined high-throughput nuclease mapping of RNA structures by duplex RNA-seq, SHAPE-directed RNA structure validation, immunoaffinity purification and characterization of antisense RNAs collectively measured differentially base-paired RNA regions throughout the parasite's asexual RBC cycle. Our mapping data not only aligned to a diverse pool of RNAs with known structures but also enabled us to identify new structural RNA regions in the malaria genome. On average, approximately 71% of the genes with secondary structures are found to be protein coding mRNAs. The mapping pattern of these base-paired RNAs corresponded to all regions of mRNAs, including the 5' UTR, CDS and 3' UTR as well as the start and stop codons. Histone family genes which are known to form secondary structures in their mRNAs and transcripts from genes which are important for transcriptional and post-transcriptional control, such as the unique plant-like transcription factor family, ApiAP2, DNA-/RNA-binding protein, Alba3 and proteins important for RBC invasion and malaria cytoadherence also showed strong accumulation of duplex RNA reads in various asexual stages in P. falciparum. Intriguingly, our study determined stage-specific, dynamic relationships between mRNA structural contents and translation efficiency in P. falciparum asexual blood stages, suggesting an essential role of RNA structural changes in malaria gene expression programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Renteria Alvarez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alejandra Ospina
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tiffany Barwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bo Zheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Abhishek Dey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chong Li
- Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shrabani Basu
- Division of Medical Genetics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Sabah Kadri
- Division of Health and Biomedical Informatics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kausik Chakrabarti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sun Y, Aik WS, Yang XC, Marzluff WF, Dominski Z, Tong L. Reconstitution and biochemical assays of an active human histone pre-mRNA 3'-end processing machinery. Methods Enzymol 2021; 655:291-324. [PMID: 34183127 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In animal cells, replication-dependent histone pre-mRNAs are processed at the 3'-end by an endonucleolytic cleavage carried out by the U7 snRNP, a machinery that contains the U7 snRNA and many protein subunits. Studies on the composition of this machinery and understanding of its role in 3'-end processing were greatly facilitated by the development of an in vitro system utilizing nuclear extracts from mammalian cells 35 years ago and later from Drosophila cells. Most recently, recombinant expression and purification of the components of the machinery have enabled the full reconstitution of an active machinery and its complex with a model pre-mRNA substrate, using 13 proteins and 2 RNAs, and the determination of the structure of this active machinery. This chapter presents protocols for preparing nuclear extracts containing endogenous processing machinery, for assembling semi-recombinant and fully reconstituted machineries, and for histone pre-mRNA 3'-end processing assays with these samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Wei Shen Aik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xiao-Cui Yang
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Zbigniew Dominski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Yang XC, Sun Y, Aik WS, Marzluff WF, Tong L, Dominski Z. Studies with recombinant U7 snRNP demonstrate that CPSF73 is both an endonuclease and a 5'-3' exonuclease. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:1345-1359. [PMID: 32554553 PMCID: PMC7491329 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076273.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Metazoan replication-dependent histone pre-mRNAs are cleaved at the 3' end by U7 snRNP, an RNA-guided endonuclease that contains U7 snRNA, seven proteins of the Sm ring, FLASH, and four polyadenylation factors: symplekin, CPSF73, CPSF100, and CstF64. A fully recombinant U7 snRNP was recently reconstituted from all 13 components for functional and structural studies and shown to accurately cleave histone pre-mRNAs. Here, we analyzed the activity of recombinant U7 snRNP in more detail. We demonstrate that in addition to cleaving histone pre-mRNAs endonucleolytically, reconstituted U7 snRNP acts as a 5'-3' exonuclease that degrades the downstream product generated from histone pre-mRNAs as a result of the endonucleolytic cleavage. Surprisingly, recombinant U7 snRNP also acts as an endonuclease on single-stranded DNA substrates. All these activities depend on the ability of U7 snRNA to base-pair with the substrate and on the presence of the amino-terminal domain (NTD) of symplekin in either cis or trans, and are abolished by mutations within the catalytic center of CPSF73, or by binding of the NTD to the SSU72 phosphatase of RNA polymerase II. Altogether, our results demonstrate that recombinant U7 snRNP functionally mimics its endogenous counterpart and provide evidence that CPSF73 is both an endonuclease and a 5'-3' exonuclease, consistent with the activity of other members of the β-CASP family. Our results also raise the intriguing possibility that CPSF73 may be involved in some aspects of DNA metabolism in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Cui Yang
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Yadong Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Wei Shen Aik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Zbigniew Dominski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chen D, Chen QY, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Kluz T, Tan W, Li J, Wu F, Fang L, Zhang X, He R, Shen S, Sun H, Zang C, Jin C, Costa M. Polyadenylation of Histone H3.1 mRNA Promotes Cell Transformation by Displacing H3.3 from Gene Regulatory Elements. iScience 2020; 23:101518. [PMID: 32920490 PMCID: PMC7492993 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication-dependent canonical histone messenger RNAs (mRNAs) do not terminate with a poly(A) tail at the 3' end. We previously demonstrated that exposure to arsenic, an environmental carcinogen, induces polyadenylation of canonical histone H3.1 mRNA, causing transformation of human cells in vitro. Here we report that polyadenylation of H3.1 mRNA increases H3.1 protein, resulting in displacement of histone variant H3.3 at active promoters, enhancers, and insulator regions, leading to transcriptional deregulation, G2/M cell-cycle arrest, chromosome aneuploidy, and aberrations. In support of these observations, knocking down the expression of H3.3 induced cell transformation, whereas ectopic expression of H3.3 attenuated arsenic-induced cell transformation. Notably, arsenic exposure also resulted in displacement of H3.3 from active promoters, enhancers, and insulator regions. These data suggest that H3.3 displacement might be central to carcinogenesis caused by polyadenylation of H3.1 mRNA upon arsenic exposure. Our findings illustrate the importance of proper histone stoichiometry in maintaining genome integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danqi Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Qiao Yi Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Zhenjia Wang
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Yusha Zhu
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Thomas Kluz
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Wuwei Tan
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Jinquan Li
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Xiaoru Zhang
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Rongquan He
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Steven Shen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Chongzhi Zang
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Chunyuan Jin
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Max Costa
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sun Y, Zhang Y, Aik WS, Yang XC, Marzluff WF, Walz T, Dominski Z, Tong L. Structure of an active human histone pre-mRNA 3'-end processing machinery. Science 2020; 367:700-703. [PMID: 32029631 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz7758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The 3'-end processing machinery for metazoan replication-dependent histone precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) contains the U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein and shares the key cleavage module with the canonical cleavage and polyadenylation machinery. We reconstituted an active human histone pre-mRNA processing machinery using 13 recombinant proteins and two RNAs and determined its structure by cryo-electron microscopy. The overall structure is highly asymmetrical and resembles an amphora with one long handle. We captured the pre-mRNA in the active site of the endonuclease, the 73-kilodalton subunit of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor, poised for cleavage. The endonuclease and the entire cleavage module undergo extensive rearrangements for activation, triggered through the recognition of the duplex between the authentic pre-mRNA and U7 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). Our study also has notable implications for understanding canonical and snRNA 3'-end processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yixiao Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Electron Microscopy, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Wei Shen Aik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Xiao-Cui Yang
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas Walz
- Laboratory of Molecular Electron Microscopy, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Zbigniew Dominski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bucholc K, Aik WS, Yang XC, Wang K, Zhou ZH, Dadlez M, Marzluff WF, Tong L, Dominski Z. Composition and processing activity of a semi-recombinant holo U7 snRNP. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1508-1530. [PMID: 31819999 PMCID: PMC7026596 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal cells, replication-dependent histone pre-mRNAs are cleaved at the 3' end by U7 snRNP consisting of two core components: a ∼60-nucleotide U7 snRNA and a ring of seven proteins, with Lsm10 and Lsm11 replacing the spliceosomal SmD1 and SmD2. Lsm11 interacts with FLASH and together they recruit the endonuclease CPSF73 and other polyadenylation factors, forming catalytically active holo U7 snRNP. Here, we assembled core U7 snRNP bound to FLASH from recombinant components and analyzed its appearance by electron microscopy and ability to support histone pre-mRNA processing in the presence of polyadenylation factors from nuclear extracts. We demonstrate that semi-recombinant holo U7 snRNP reconstituted in this manner has the same composition and functional properties as endogenous U7 snRNP, and accurately cleaves histone pre-mRNAs in a reconstituted in vitro processing reaction. We also demonstrate that the U7-specific Sm ring assembles efficiently in vitro on a spliceosomal Sm site but the engineered U7 snRNP is functionally impaired. This approach offers a unique opportunity to study the importance of various regions in the Sm proteins and U7 snRNA in 3' end processing of histone pre-mRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bucholc
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wei Shen Aik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Xiao-Cui Yang
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kaituo Wang
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michał Dadlez
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.,Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Warsaw University, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zbigniew Dominski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wu X, Qu L, Li S, Guo Y, He J, Liu M, Liu X, Lin H. Molecular characterization and expression patterns of stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) genes in protogynous hermaphroditic grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Gene 2019; 700:120-130. [PMID: 30910559 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) binds a stem-loop structure of the mRNA, which is important for the stability of histone mRNAs and translation process. In the present study, two slbp cDNAs (Ecslbp1 and Ecslbp2) were cloned from a protogynous hermaphroditic orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Ecslbp1 cDNA contained a 678 base pair (bp) open reading frame (ORF), encoding a predicted polypeptide of 225 amino acids. Ecslbp2 cDNA contained a 1041 bp, encoding a predicted protein of 346 amino acids. The result of real-time PCR revealed that Ecslbp2 mRNA was exclusively detected in the ovary. Moreover, it was found to be restricted to oocytes according to in situ hybridization (ISH) analysis. Ecslbp2 was found to be hardly detected in gonia and significantly increase in the cytoplasm of primary-growth stage oocytes, but decreased during the process of vitellogenesis. Interestingly, Ecslbp2 expression centralized as a perinuclear speckle in early-primary-growth stage oocytes, which appeared to form into the Balbiani body (Bb) in late-primary-growth stage oocytes. These data indicated that Ecslbp2 might play an important role in the process of oocyte development, and could serve as an oocyte-specific molecular marker for the study of ovary development and sex reversal in groupers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Ling Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shuisheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
| | - Yin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jianan He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Meifeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xiaochun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
| | - Haoran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Improved Variety Reproduction of Aquatic Economic Animals, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Application of tyrosine-tryptophan fluorescence resonance energy transfer in monitoring protein size changes. Anal Biochem 2018; 557:142-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
23
|
Marzluff WF, Koreski KP. Birth and Death of Histone mRNAs. Trends Genet 2017; 33:745-759. [PMID: 28867047 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In metazoans, histone mRNAs are not polyadenylated but end in a conserved stem-loop. Stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) binds to the stem-loop and is required for all steps in histone mRNA metabolism. The genes for the five histone proteins are linked. A histone locus body (HLB) forms at each histone gene locus. It contains factors essential for transcription and processing of histone mRNAs, and couples transcription and processing. The active form of U7 snRNP contains the HLB component FLASH (FLICE-associated huge protein), the histone cleavage complex (HCC), and a subset of polyadenylation factors including the endonuclease CPSF73. Histone mRNAs are rapidly degraded when DNA replication is inhibited by a 3' to 5' pathway that requires extensive uridylation of mRNA decay intermediates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Kaitlin P Koreski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Cook KB, Vembu S, Ha KCH, Zheng H, Laverty KU, Hughes TR, Ray D, Morris QD. RNAcompete-S: Combined RNA sequence/structure preferences for RNA binding proteins derived from a single-step in vitro selection. Methods 2017; 126:18-28. [PMID: 28651966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins recognize RNA sequences and structures, but there is currently no systematic and accurate method to derive large (>12base) motifs de novo that reflect a combination of intrinsic preference to both sequence and structure. To address this absence, we introduce RNAcompete-S, which couples a single-step competitive binding reaction with an excess of random RNA 40-mers to a custom computational pipeline for interrogation of the bound RNA sequences and derivation of SSMs (Sequence and Structure Models). RNAcompete-S confirms that HuR, QKI, and SRSF1 prefer binding sites that are single stranded, and recapitulates known 8-10bp sequence and structure preferences for Vts1p and RBMY. We also derive an 18-base long SSM for Drosophila SLBP, which to our knowledge has not been previously determined by selections from pure random sequence, and accurately discriminates human replication-dependent histone mRNAs. Thus, RNAcompete-S enables accurate identification of large, intrinsic sequence-structure specificities with a uniform assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate B Cook
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Shankar Vembu
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Kevin C H Ha
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hong Zheng
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Kaitlin U Laverty
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Timothy R Hughes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Debashish Ray
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Quaid D Morris
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 2E4, Canada; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3G4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Skrajna A, Yang XC, Bucholc K, Zhang J, Hall TMT, Dadlez M, Marzluff WF, Dominski Z. U7 snRNP is recruited to histone pre-mRNA in a FLASH-dependent manner by two separate regions of the stem-loop binding protein. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:938-951. [PMID: 28289156 PMCID: PMC5435866 DOI: 10.1261/rna.060806.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cleavage of histone pre-mRNAs at the 3' end requires stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) and U7 snRNP that consists of U7 snRNA and a unique Sm ring containing two U7-specific proteins: Lsm10 and Lsm11. Lsm11 interacts with FLASH and together they bring a subset of polyadenylation factors to U7 snRNP, including the CPSF73 endonuclease that cleaves histone pre-mRNA. SLBP binds to a conserved stem-loop structure upstream of the cleavage site and acts by promoting an interaction between the U7 snRNP and a sequence element located downstream from the cleavage site. We show that both human and Drosophila SLBPs stabilize U7 snRNP on histone pre-mRNA via two regions that are not directly involved in recognizing the stem-loop structure: helix B of the RNA binding domain and the C-terminal region that follows the RNA binding domain. Stabilization of U7 snRNP binding to histone pre-mRNA by SLBP requires FLASH but not the polyadenylation factors. Thus, FLASH plays two roles in 3' end processing of histone pre-mRNAs: It interacts with Lsm11 to form a docking platform for the polyadenylation factors, and it cooperates with SLBP to recruit U7 snRNP to histone pre-mRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Skrajna
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Xiao-Cui Yang
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Katarzyna Bucholc
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jun Zhang
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Traci M Tanaka Hall
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Michał Dadlez
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - William F Marzluff
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Zbigniew Dominski
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lampert F, Brodersen MML, Peter M. Guard the guardian: A CRL4 ligase stands watch over histone production. Nucleus 2017; 8:134-143. [PMID: 28072566 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2016.1276143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Histones are evolutionarily conserved proteins that together with DNA constitute eukaryotic chromatin in a defined stoichiometry. Core histones are dynamic scaffolding proteins that undergo a myriad of post-translational modifications, which selectively engage chromosome condensation, replication, transcription and DNA damage repair. Cullin4-RING ubiquitin E3 ligases are known to hold pivotal roles in a wide spectrum of chromatin biology ranging from chromatin remodeling and transcriptional repression, to sensing of cytotoxic DNA lesions. Our recent work uncovers an unexpected function of a CRL4 ligase upstream of these processes in promoting histone biogenesis. The CRL4WDR23 ligase directly controls the activity of the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP), which orchestrates elemental steps of canonical histone transcript metabolism. We demonstrate that non-proteolytic ubiquitination of SLBP ensures sufficient histone reservoirs during DNA replication and is vital for genome integrity and cellular fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mia M L Brodersen
- a Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich , Zürich , Switzerland.,b nspm. ltd. , Meggen , Switzerland
| | - Matthias Peter
- a Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich , Zürich , Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
RNAs adopt diverse folded structures that are essential for function and thus play critical roles in cellular biology. A striking example of this is the ribosome, a complex, three-dimensionally folded macromolecular machine that orchestrates protein synthesis. Advances in RNA biochemistry, structural and molecular biology, and bioinformatics have revealed other non-coding RNAs whose functions are dictated by their structure. It is not surprising that aberrantly folded RNA structures contribute to disease. In this Review, we provide a brief introduction into RNA structural biology and then describe how RNA structures function in cells and cause or contribute to neurological disease. Finally, we highlight successful applications of rational design principles to provide chemical probes and lead compounds targeting structured RNAs. Based on several examples of well-characterized RNA-driven neurological disorders, we demonstrate how designed small molecules can facilitate the study of RNA dysfunction, elucidating previously unknown roles for RNA in disease, and provide lead therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viachaslau Bernat
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Stefanovic L, Longo L, Zhang Y, Stefanovic B. Characterization of binding of LARP6 to the 5' stem-loop of collagen mRNAs: implications for synthesis of type I collagen. RNA Biol 2014; 11:1386-401. [PMID: 25692237 PMCID: PMC4615758 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2014.996467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I collagen is composed of 2 polypeptides, α1(I) and α2(I), which fold into triple helix. Collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs have a conserved stem-loop structure in their 5' UTRs, the 5'SL. LARP6 binds the 5'SL to regulate type I collagen expression. We show that 5 nucleotides within the single stranded regions of 5'SL contribute to the high affinity of LARP6 binding. Mutation of individual nucleotides abolishes the binding in gel mobility shift assay. LARP6 binding to 5'SL of collagen α2(I) mRNA is more stable than the binding to 5'SL of α1(I) mRNA, although the equilibrium binding constants are similar. The more stable binding to α2(I) mRNA may favor synthesis of the heterotrimeric type I collagen. LARP6 needs 2 domains to contact 5'SL, the La domain and the RRM. T133 in the La domain is critical for folding of the protein, while loop 3 in the RRM is critical for binding 5'SL. Loop 3 is also involved in the interaction of LARP6 and protein translocation channel SEC61. This interaction is essential for type I collagen synthesis, because LARP6 mutant which binds 5'SL but which does not interact with SEC61, suppresses collagen synthesis in a dominant negative manner. We postulate that LARP6 directly targets collagen mRNAs to the SEC61 translocons to facilitate coordinated translation of the 2 collagen mRNAs. The unique sequences of LARP6 identified in this work may have evolved to enable its role in type I collagen biosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lela Stefanovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; College of Medicine; Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL USA
- Current affiliation: Molecular Biophysics; Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL USA
| | - Liam Longo
- Current affiliation: Molecular Biophysics; Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL USA
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; College of Medicine; Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL USA
- Current affiliation: Molecular Biophysics; Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL USA
| | | |
Collapse
|