The mammalian proteins MMS19, MIP18, and ANT2 are involved in cytoplasmic iron-sulfur cluster protein assembly

Structural aspects of iron‑sulfur protein biogenesis: An NMR view

Over the last decade, structural aspects involving iron‑sulfur (Fe/S) protein biogenesis have played an increasingly important role in understanding the high mechanistic complexity of mitochondrial and cytosolic machineries maturing Fe/S proteins. In this respect, solution NMR has had a significant impact because of its ability to monitor transient protein-protein interactions, which are abundant in the networks of pathways leading to Fe/S cluster biosynthesis and transfer, as well as thanks to the developments of paramagnetic NMR in both terms of new methodologies and accurate data interpretation. Here, we review the use of solution NMR in characterizing the structural aspects of human Fe/S proteins and their interactions in the framework of Fe/S protein biogenesis. We will first present a summary of the recent advances that have been achieved by paramagnetic NMR and then we will focus our attention on the role of solution NMR in the field of human Fe/S protein biogenesis.

Structural and biochemical investigations of a HEAT-repeat protein involved in the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly pathway

Iron-sulfur clusters are essential for life and defects in their biosynthesis lead to human diseases. The mechanism of cluster assembly and delivery to cytosolic and nuclear client proteins via the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) pathway is not well understood. Here we report cryo-EM structures of the HEAT-repeat protein Met18 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a key component of the CIA targeting complex (CTC) that identifies cytosolic and nuclear client proteins and delivers a mature iron-sulfur cluster. We find that in the absence of other CTC proteins, Met18 adopts tetrameric and hexameric states. Using mass photometry and negative stain EM, we show that upon the addition of Cia2, these higher order oligomeric states of Met18 disassemble. We also use pulldown assays to identify residues of critical importance for Cia2 binding and recognition of the Leu1 client, many of which are buried when Met18 oligomerizes. Our structures show conformations of Met18 that have not been previously observed in any Met18 homolog, lending support to the idea that a highly flexible Met18 may be key to how the CTC is able to deliver iron-sulfur clusters to client proteins of various sizes and shapes, i.e. Met18 conforms to the dimensions needed.

Maintenance of genome integrity by the late-acting cytoplasmic iron-sulfur assembly (CIA) complex

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are unique, redox-active co-factors ubiquitous throughout cellular metabolism. Fe-S cluster synthesis, trafficking, and coordination result from highly coordinated, evolutionarily conserved biosynthetic processes. The initial Fe-S cluster synthesis occurs within the mitochondria; however, the maturation of Fe-S clusters culminating in their ultimate insertion into appropriate cytosolic/nuclear proteins is coordinated by a late-acting cytosolic iron-sulfur assembly (CIA) complex in the cytosol. Several nuclear proteins involved in DNA replication and repair interact with the CIA complex and contain Fe-S clusters necessary for proper enzymatic activity. Moreover, it is currently hypothesized that the late-acting CIA complex regulates the maintenance of genome integrity and is an integral feature of DNA metabolism. This review describes the late-acting CIA complex and several [4Fe-4S] DNA metabolic enzymes associated with maintaining genome stability.

FAM96A and FAM96B function as new tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer through regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

AIMS

Family with sequence similarity 96 member A and B (FAM96A and FAM96B) are two highly conserved homologous proteins belonging to MIP18 family. Some studies have shown that FAM96A and FAM96B are significantly down-regulated in human gastrointestinal stromal tumors, colon cancer, and liver cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of FAM96A/B in breast cancer are unknown. This work aims to explore the roles of FAM96A/B in breast cancer progression.

MAIN METHODS

Specific siRNAs were used to down-regulate FAM96A/B expression, and recombinant plasmids were used to up-regulate FAM96A/B expression in breast cancer cells. Cell proliferation was measured using MTT and colony formation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were examined by wound healing and transwell assays. The relationships among FAM96A/B, EMT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were determined by analyzing expression changes of classical markers.

KEY FINDINGS

We found that FAM96A/B expression was down-regulated in breast cancer. FAM96A/B overexpression suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, induced cell apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest. Conversely, FAM96A/B knockdown exhibited the opposite effects. Moreover, our data demonstrated that FAM96A/B overexpression suppressed EMT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while FAM96A/B knockdown showed the promoting effects on EMT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, a Wnt pathway inhibitor, XAV-939 reversed the promoting effects of FAM96A/B knockdown on breast cancer progression.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings suggest that FAM96A/B may function as new tumor suppressor genes and inhibit breast cancer progression via modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which can provide the potential markers for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Biogenesis of Iron-Sulfur Clusters and Their Role in DNA Metabolism

Iron–sulfur (Fe/S) clusters (ISCs) are redox-active protein cofactors that their synthesis, transfer, and insertion into target proteins require many components. Mitochondrial ISC assembly is the foundation of all cellular ISCs in eukaryotic cells. The mitochondrial ISC cooperates with the cytosolic Fe/S protein assembly (CIA) systems to accomplish the cytosolic and nuclear Fe/S clusters maturation. ISCs are needed for diverse cellular functions, including nitrogen fixation, oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial respiratory pathways, and ribosome assembly. Recent research advances have confirmed the existence of different ISCs in enzymes that regulate DNA metabolism, including helicases, nucleases, primases, DNA polymerases, and glycosylases. Here we outline the synthesis of mitochondrial, cytosolic and nuclear ISCs and highlight their functions in DNA metabolism.

Mms19 promotes spindle microtubule assembly in Drosophila neural stem cells

Mitotic divisions depend on the timely assembly and proper orientation of the mitotic spindle. Malfunctioning of these processes can considerably delay mitosis, thereby compromising tissue growth and homeostasis, and leading to chromosomal instability. Loss of functional Mms19 drastically affects the growth and development of mitotic tissues in Drosophila larvae and we now demonstrate that Mms19 is an important factor that promotes spindle and astral microtubule (MT) growth, and MT stability and bundling. Mms19 function is needed for the coordination of mitotic events and for the rapid progression through mitosis that is characteristic of neural stem cells. Surprisingly, Mms19 performs its mitotic activities through two different pathways. By stimulating the mitotic kinase cascade, it triggers the localization of the MT regulatory complex TACC/Msps (Transforming Acidic Coiled Coil/Minispindles, the homolog of human ch-TOG) to the centrosome. This activity of Mms19 can be rescued by stimulating the mitotic kinase cascade. However, other aspects of the Mms19 phenotypes cannot be rescued in this way, pointing to an additional mechanism of Mms19 action. We provide evidence that Mms19 binds directly to MTs and that this stimulates MT stability and bundling.

Positional cloning and characterization of the papaya diminutive mutant reveal a truncating mutation in the CpMMS19 gene

The papaya diminutive mutant exhibits miniature stature, retarded growth and reduced fertility. This undesirable mutation appeared in the variety 'Sunset', the progenitor of the transgenic line 'SunUp', and was accidentally carried forward into breeding populations. The diminutive mutation was mapped to chromosome 2 and fine mapped to scaffold 25. Sequencing of a bacterial artificial chromosome in the fine mapped region led to the identification of the target gene responsible for the diminutive mutant, a gene orthologous to MMS19 with a 36.8 kb deletion co-segregating with the diminutive mutant. The genomic sequence of CpMMS19 is 62 kb, consisting of 20 exons and 19 introns. It encodes a protein of 1143 amino acids while the diminutive allele encodes a truncated protein of 287 amino acids. Expression of the full-length CpMMS19 was able to complement the thermosensitive growth of the yeast mms19 deletion mutant while expression of the diminutive allele resulted in increased thermosensitivity. Over-expression of the diminutive allele in Arabidopsis met18 mutant results in a high frequency of seed abortion. The papaya diminutive phenotype is caused by an alteration in gene function rather than a loss-of-function mutation. SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) markers were developed for rapid detection of the diminutive allele in breeding populations.

Helicases FANCJ, RTEL1 and BLM Act on Guanine Quadruplex DNA in Vivo

Guanine quadruplex (G4) structures are among the most stable secondary DNA structures that can form in vitro, and evidence for their existence in vivo has been steadily accumulating. Originally described mainly for their deleterious effects on genome stability, more recent research has focused on (potential) functions of G4 structures in telomere maintenance, gene expression, and other cellular processes. The combined research on G4 structures has revealed that properly regulating G4 DNA structures in cells is important to prevent genome instability and disruption of normal cell function. In this short review we provide some background and historical context of our work resulting in the identification of FANCJ, RTEL1 and BLM as helicases that act on G4 structures in vivo. Taken together these studies highlight important roles of different G4 DNA structures and specific G4 helicases at selected genomic locations and telomeres in regulating gene expression and maintaining genome stability.

Branched late-steps of the cytosolic iron-sulphur cluster assembly machinery of Trypanosoma brucei

Fe-S clusters are ubiquitous cofactors of proteins involved in a variety of essential cellular processes. The biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in the cytosol and their insertion into proteins is accomplished through the cytosolic iron-sulphur protein assembly (CIA) machinery. The early- and middle-acting modules of the CIA pathway concerned with the assembly and trafficking of Fe-S clusters have been previously characterised in the parasitic protist Trypanosoma brucei. In this study, we applied proteomic and genetic approaches to gain insights into the network of protein-protein interactions of the late-acting CIA targeting complex in T. brucei. All components of the canonical CIA machinery are present in T. brucei including, as in humans, two distinct CIA2 homologues TbCIA2A and TbCIA2B. These two proteins are found interacting with TbCIA1, yet the interaction is mutually exclusive, as determined by mass spectrometry. Ablation of most of the components of the CIA targeting complex by RNAi led to impaired cell growth in vitro, with the exception of TbCIA2A in procyclic form (PCF) trypanosomes. Depletion of the CIA-targeting complex was accompanied by reduced levels of protein-bound cytosolic iron and decreased activity of an Fe-S dependent enzyme in PCF trypanosomes. We demonstrate that the C-terminal domain of TbMMS19 acts as a docking site for TbCIA2B and TbCIA1, forming a trimeric complex that also interacts with target Fe-S apo-proteins and the middle-acting CIA component TbNAR1.

Cytosolic and nuclear proteins containing iron-sulphur clusters (Fe-S) are essential for the survival of every extant eukaryotic cell. The biogenesis of Fe-S clusters and their insertion into proteins is accomplished through the cytosolic iron-sulphur protein assembly (CIA) machinery. Recently, the CIA factors that generate cytosolic Fe-S clusters were characterised in T. brucei, a unicellular parasite that causes diseases in humans and animals. However, an outstanding question in this organism is the way by which the CIA machinery directs and inserts newly formed Fe-S clusters into proteins. We found that the T. brucei proteins TbCIA2B and TbCIA1 assemble at a region of the C-terminal domain of a third protein, TbMMS19, to form a complex labelled the CIA targeting complex (CTC). The CTC interacts with TbNAR1 and with Fe-S proteins, meaning that the complex assists in the transfer of Fe-S clusters from the upstream members of the pathway into target Fe-S proteins. T. brucei cells depleted of CTC had decreased levels of protein-bound cytosolic iron, and lower activities of cytosolic aconitase, an enzyme that depends upon Fe-S clusters to function.

The elemental role of iron in DNA synthesis and repair

Iron is an essential redox element that functions as a cofactor in many metabolic pathways. Critical enzymes in DNA metabolism, including multiple DNA repair enzymes (helicases, nucleases, glycosylases, demethylases) and ribonucleotide reductase, use iron as an indispensable cofactor to function. Recent striking results have revealed that the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerases also contains conserved cysteine-rich motifs that bind iron-sulfur (Fe/S) clusters that are essential for the formation of stable and active complexes. In line with this, mitochondrial and cytoplasmic defects in Fe/S cluster biogenesis and insertion into the nuclear iron-requiring enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and repair lead to DNA damage and genome instability. Recent studies have shown that yeast cells possess multi-layered mechanisms that regulate the ribonucleotide reductase function in response to fluctuations in iron bioavailability to maintain optimal deoxyribonucleotide concentrations. Finally, a fascinating DNA charge transport model indicates how the redox active Fe/S centers present in DNA repair machinery components are critical for detecting and repairing DNA mismatches along the genome by long-range charge transfers through double-stranded DNA. These unexpected connections between iron and DNA replication and repair have to be considered to properly understand cancer, aging and other DNA-related diseases.

Defining the domains of Cia2 required for its essential function in vivo and in vitro

The cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) system biosynthesizes iron-sulfur (FeS) cluster cofactors for cytosolic and nuclear proteins. The yeast Cia2 protein is the central component of the targeting complex which identifies apo-protein targets in the final step of the pathway. Herein, we determine that Cia2 contains five conserved motifs distributed between an intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain and a C-terminal domain of unknown function 59 (DUF59). The disordered domain is dispensible for binding the other subunits of the targeting complex, Met18 and Cia1, and the apo-target Rad3 in vitro. While in vivo assays reveal that the C-terminal domain is sufficient to support viability, several phenotypic assays indicate that deletion of the N-terminal domain negatively impacts CIA function. We additionally establish that Glu208, located within a conserved motif found only in eukaryotic DUF59 proteins, is important for the Cia1-Cia2 interaction in vitro. In vivo, E208A-Cia2 results in a diminished activity of the cytosolic iron sulfur cluster protein, Leu1 but only modest effects on hydroxyurea or methylmethane sulfonate sensitivity. Finally, we demonstrate that neither of the two highly conserved motifs of the DUF59 domain are vital for any of Cia2's interactions in vitro yet mutation of the DPE motif in the DUF59 domain results in a nonfunctional allele in vivo. Our observation that four of the five highly conserved motifs of Cia2 are dispensable for targeting complex formation and apo-target binding suggests that Cia2 is not simply a protein-protein interaction mediator but it likely possesses an additional, currently cryptic, function during the final cluster insertion step of CIA.

Iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis and trafficking - impact on human disease conditions

Iron-sulfur clusters (Fe-S) are one of the most ancient, ubiquitous and versatile classes of metal cofactors found in nature. Proteins that contain Fe-S clusters constitute one of the largest families of proteins, with varied functions that include electron transport, regulation of gene expression, substrate binding and activation, radical generation, and, more recently discovered, DNA repair. Research during the past two decades has shown that mitochondria are central to the biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in eukaryotic cells via a conserved cluster assembly machinery (ISC assembly machinery) that also controls the synthesis of Fe-S clusters of cytosolic and nuclear proteins. Several key steps for synthesis and trafficking have been determined for mitochondrial Fe-S clusters, as well as the cytosol (CIA - cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly), but detailed mechanisms of cluster biosynthesis, transport, and exchange are not well established. Genetic mutations and the instability of certain steps in the biosynthesis and maturation of mitochondrial, cytosolic and nuclear Fe-S cluster proteins affects overall cellular iron homeostasis and can lead to severe metabolic, systemic, neurological and hematological diseases, often resulting in fatality. In this review we briefly summarize the current molecular understanding of both mitochondrial ISC and CIA assembly machineries, and present a comprehensive overview of various associated inborn human disease states.

The CIA Targeting Complex Is Highly Regulated and Provides Two Distinct Binding Sites for Client Iron-Sulfur Proteins

The cytoplasmic iron-sulfur assembly (CIA) targeting complex is required for the transfer of an iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster to cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins, but how it engages with client proteins is unknown. Here, we show that the complex members MIP18 and CIAO1 associate with the C terminus of MMS19. By doing so, they form a docking site for Fe-S proteins that is disrupted in the absence of either MMS19 or MIP18. The Fe-S helicase XPD seems to be the only exception, since it can interact with MMS19 independently of MIP18 and CIAO1. We further show that the direct interaction between MMS19 and MIP18 is required to protect MIP18 from proteasomal degradation. Taken together, these data suggest a remarkably regulated interaction between the CIA targeting complex and client proteins and raise the possibility that Fe-S cluster transfer is controlled, at least in part, by the stability of the CIA targeting complex itself.

Cellular requirements for iron-sulfur cluster insertion into the antiviral radical SAM protein viperin

Viperin (RSAD2) is an interferon-stimulated antiviral protein that belongs to the radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme family. Viperin's iron-sulfur (Fe/S) cluster is critical for its antiviral activity against many different viruses. CIA1 (CIAO1), an essential component of the cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly (CIA) machinery, is crucial for Fe/S cluster insertion into viperin and hence for viperin's antiviral activity. In the CIA pathway, CIA1 cooperates with CIA2A, CIA2B, and MMS19 targeting factors to form various complexes that mediate the dedicated maturation of specific Fe/S recipient proteins. To date, however, the mechanisms of how viperin acquires its radical SAM Fe/S cluster to gain antiviral activity are poorly understood. Using co-immunoprecipitation and ⁵⁵Fe-radiolabeling experiments, we therefore studied the roles of CIA2A, CIA2B, and MMS19 for Fe/S cluster insertion. CIA2B and MMS19 physically interacted with the C terminus of viperin and used CIA1 as the primary viperin-interacting protein. In contrast, CIA2A bound to viperin's N terminus in a CIA1-, CIA2B-, and MMS19-independent fashion. Of note, the observed interaction of both CIA2 isoforms with a single Fe/S target protein is unprecedented in the CIA pathway. ⁵⁵Fe-radiolabeling experiments with human cells depleted of CIA1, CIA2A, CIA2B, or MMS19 revealed that CIA1, but none of the other CIA factors, is predominantly required for ⁵⁵Fe/S cluster incorporation into viperin. Collectively, viperin maturation represents a novel CIA pathway with a minimal requirement of the CIA-targeting factors and represents a new paradigm for the insertion of the Fe/S cofactor into a radical SAM protein.

Glutaredoxin GRXS17 Associates with the Cytosolic Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Pathway

Cytosolic monothiol glutaredoxins (GRXs) are required in iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster delivery and iron sensing in yeast and mammals. In plants, it is unclear whether they have similar functions. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has a sole class II cytosolic monothiol GRX encoded by GRXS17 Here, we used tandem affinity purification to establish that Arabidopsis GRXS17 associates with most known cytosolic Fe-S assembly (CIA) components. Similar to mutant plants with defective CIA components, grxs17 loss-of-function mutants showed some degree of hypersensitivity to DNA damage and elevated expression of DNA damage marker genes. We also found that several putative Fe-S client proteins directly bind to GRXS17, such as XANTHINE DEHYDROGENASE1 (XDH1), involved in the purine salvage pathway, and CYTOSOLIC THIOURIDYLASE SUBUNIT1 and CYTOSOLIC THIOURIDYLASE SUBUNIT2, both essential for the 2-thiolation step of 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine (mcm⁵s²U) modification of tRNAs. Correspondingly, profiling of the grxs17-1 mutant pointed to a perturbed flux through the purine degradation pathway and revealed that it phenocopied mutants in the elongator subunit ELO3, essential for the mcm⁵ tRNA modification step, although we did not find XDH1 activity or tRNA thiolation to be markedly reduced in the grxs17-1 mutant. Taken together, our data suggest that plant cytosolic monothiol GRXs associate with the CIA complex, as in other eukaryotes, and contribute to, but are not essential for, the correct functioning of client Fe-S proteins in unchallenged conditions.

Emerging links between iron-sulfur clusters and 5-methylcytosine base excision repair in plants

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are ancient cofactors present in all kingdoms of life. Both the Fe-S cluster assembly machineries and target apoproteins are distributed across different subcellular compartments. The essential function of Fe-S clusters in nuclear enzymes is particularly difficult to study. The base excision repair (BER) pathway guards the integrity of DNA; enzymes from the DEMETER family of DNA glycosylases in plants are Fe-S cluster-dependent and extend the BER repertowere to excision of 5-methylcytosine (5mC). Recent studies in plants genetically link the majority of proteins from the cytosolic Fe-S cluster biogenesis (CIA) pathway with 5mC BER and DNA repair. This link can now be further explored. First, it opens new possibilities for understanding how Fe-S clusters participate in 5mC BER and related processes. I describe DNA-mediated charge transfer, an Fe-S cluster-based mechanism for locating base lesions with high efficiency, which is used by bacterial DNA glycosylases encoding Fe-S cluster binding domains that are also conserved in the DEMETER family. Second, because detailed analysis of the mutant phenotype of CIA proteins relating to 5mC BER revealed that they formed two groups, we may also gain new insights into both the composition of the Fe-S assembly pathway and the biological contexts of Fe-S proteins.

Role of XPD in cellular functions: To TFIIH and beyond

XPD, as part of the TFIIH complex, has classically been linked to the damage verification step of nucleotide excision repair (NER). However, recent data indicate that XPD, due to its iron-sulfur center interacts with the iron sulfur cluster assembly proteins, and may interact with other proteins in the cell to mediate a diverse set of biological functions including cell cycle regulation, mitosis, and mitochondrial function. In this perspective, after first reviewing the function and some of the key disease causing variants that affect XPD's interaction with TFIIH and the CDK-activating kinase complex (CAK), we investigate these intriguing cellular roles of XPD and highlight important unanswered questions that provide a fertile ground for further scientific exploration.

Epithelial Cadherin Determines Resistance to Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus in Atlantic Salmon

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is the cause of one of the most prevalent diseases in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). A quantitative trait locus (QTL) has been found to be responsible for most of the genetic variation in resistance to the virus. Here we describe how a linkage disequilibrium-based test for deducing the QTL allele was developed, and how it was used to produce IPN-resistant salmon, leading to a 75% decrease in the number of IPN outbreaks in the salmon farming industry. Furthermore, we describe how whole-genome sequencing of individuals with deduced QTL genotypes was used to map the QTL down to a region containing an epithelial cadherin (cdh1) gene. In a coimmunoprecipitation assay, the Cdh1 protein was found to bind to IPNV virions, strongly indicating that the protein is part of the machinery used by the virus for internalization. Immunofluorescence revealed that the virus colocalizes with IPNV in the endosomes of homozygous susceptible individuals but not in the endosomes of homozygous resistant individuals. A putative causal single nucleotide polymorphism was found within the full-length cdh1 gene, in phase with the QTL in all observed haplotypes except one; the absence of a single, all-explaining DNA polymorphism indicates that an additional causative polymorphism may contribute to the observed QTL genotype patterns. Cdh1 has earlier been shown to be necessary for the internalization of certain bacteria and fungi, but this is the first time the protein is implicated in internalization of a virus.

Proteome changes in the small intestinal mucosa of broilers (Gallus gallus) induced by high concentrations of atmospheric ammonia

Background

Ammonia is a well-known toxicant both existing in atmospheric and aquatic system. So far, most studies of ammonia toxicity focused on mammals or aquatic animals. With the development of poultry industry, ammonia as a main source of contaminant in the air is causing more and more problems on broiler production, especially lower growth rate. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the negative effects of ammonia on the growth and intestine of broilers are yet unclear. We investigated the growth, gut morphology, and mucosal proteome of Arbor Acres broilers (Gallus gallus) exposed to high concentrations of atmospheric ammonia by performing a proteomics approach integrated with traditional methods.

Results

Exposure to ammonia interfered with the development of immune organ and gut villi. Meanwhile, it greatly reduced daily weight gain and feed intake, and enhanced feed conversion ratio. A total of 43 intestinal mucosal proteins were found to be differentially abundant. Up-regulated proteins are related to oxidative phosphorylation and apoptosis. Down-regulated proteins are related to cell structure and growth, transcriptional and translational regulation, immune response, oxidative stress and nutrient metabolism. These results indicated that exposure to ammonia triggered oxidative stress, and interfered with nutrient absorption and immune function in the small intestinal mucosa of broilers.

Conclusions

These findings have important implications for understanding the toxic mechanisms of ammonia on intestine of broilers, which provides new information that can be used for intervention using nutritional strategies in the future.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12953-015-0067-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Biogenesis of cytosolic and nuclear iron-sulfur proteins and their role in genome stability

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are versatile protein cofactors that require numerous components for their synthesis and insertion into apoproteins. In eukaryotes, maturation of cytosolic and nuclear Fe-S proteins is accomplished by cooperation of the mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) assembly and export machineries, and the cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly (CIA) system. Currently, nine CIA proteins are known to specifically assist the two major steps of the biogenesis reaction. They are essential for cell viability and conserved from yeast to man. The essential character of this biosynthetic process is explained by the involvement of Fe-S proteins in central processes of life, e.g., protein translation and numerous steps of nuclear DNA metabolism such as DNA replication and repair. Malfunctioning of these latter Fe-S enzymes leads to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer. This review is focused on the maturation and biological function of cytosolic and nuclear Fe-S proteins, a topic of central interest for both basic and medical research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.

Interaction between Nbp35 and Cfd1 proteins of cytosolic Fe-S cluster assembly reveals a stable complex formation in Entamoeba histolytica

Iron-Sulfur (Fe-S) proteins are involved in many biological functions such as electron transport, photosynthesis, regulation of gene expression and enzymatic activities. Biosynthesis and transfer of Fe-S clusters depend on Fe-S clusters assembly processes such as ISC, SUF, NIF, and CIA systems. Unlike other eukaryotes which possess ISC and CIA systems, amitochondriate Entamoeba histolytica has retained NIF & CIA systems for Fe-S cluster assembly in the cytosol. In the present study, we have elucidated interaction between two proteins of E. histolytica CIA system, Cytosolic Fe-S cluster deficient 1 (Cfd1) protein and Nucleotide binding protein 35 (Nbp35). In-silico analysis showed that structural regions ranging from amino acid residues (P33-K35, G131-V135 and I147-E151) of Nbp35 and (G5-V6, M34-D39 and G46-A52) of Cfd1 are involved in the formation of protein-protein complex. Furthermore, Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations study suggested that hydrophobic forces surpass over hydrophilic forces between Nbp35 and Cfd1 and Van-der-Waal interaction plays crucial role in the formation of stable complex. Both proteins were separately cloned, expressed as recombinant fusion proteins in E. coli and purified to homogeneity by affinity column chromatography. Physical interaction between Nbp35 and Cfd1 proteins was confirmed in vitro by co-purification of recombinant Nbp35 with thrombin digested Cfd1 and in vivo by pull down assay and immunoprecipitation. The insilico, in vitro as well as in vivo results prove a stable interaction between these two proteins, supporting the possibility of its involvement in Fe-S cluster transfer to target apo-proteins through CIA machinery in E. histolytica. Our study indicates that initial synthesis of a Fe-S precursor in mitochondria is not necessary for the formation of Cfd1-Nbp35 complex. Thus, Cfd1 and Nbp35 with the help of cytosolic NifS and NifU proteins can participate in the maturation of non-mitosomal Fe-S proteins without any apparent assistance of mitosomes.

Metabolic and environmental conditions determine nuclear genomic instability in budding yeast lacking mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial dysfunctions are an internal cause of nuclear genome instability. Because mitochondria are key regulators of cellular metabolism, we have investigated a potential link between external growth conditions and nuclear chromosome instability in cells with mitochondrial defects. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we found that cells lacking mitochondrial DNA (rho0 cells) have a unique feature, with nuclear chromosome instability that occurs in nondividing cells and strongly fluctuates depending on the cellular environment. Calorie restriction, lower growth temperatures, growth at alkaline pH, antioxidants (NAC, Tiron), or presence of nearby wild-type cells all efficiently stabilize nuclear genomes of rho0 cells, whereas high glucose and ethanol boost instability. In contrast, other respiratory mutants that still possess mitochondrial DNA (RHO(+)) keep fairly constant instability rates under the same growth conditions, like wild-type or other RHO(+) controls. Our data identify mitochondrial defects as an important driver of nuclear genome instability influenced by environmental factors.

Two steps forward, one step back: determining XPD helicase mechanism by single-molecule fluorescence and high-resolution optical tweezers

XPD-like helicases constitute a prominent DNA helicase family critical for many aspects of genome maintenance. These enzymes share a unique structural feature, an auxiliary domain stabilized by an iron-sulphur (FeS) cluster, and a 5'-3' polarity of DNA translocation and duplex unwinding. Biochemical analyses alongside two single-molecule approaches, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and high-resolution optical tweezers, have shown how the unique structural features of XPD helicase and its specific patterns of substrate interactions tune the helicase for its specific cellular function and shape its molecular mechanism. The FeS domain forms a duplex separation wedge and contributes to an extended DNA binding site. Interactions within this site position the helicase in an orientation to unwind the duplex, control the helicase rate, and verify the integrity of the translocating strand. Consistent with its cellular role, processivity of XPD is limited and is defined by an idiosyncratic stepping kinetics. DNA duplex separation occurs in single base pair steps punctuated by frequent backward steps and conformational rearrangements of the protein-DNA complex. As such, the helicase in isolation mainly stabilizes spontaneous base pair opening and exhibits a limited ability to unwind stable DNA duplexes. The presence of a cognate ssDNA binding protein converts XPD into a vigorous helicase by destabilizing the upstream dsDNA as well as by trapping the unwound strands. Remarkably, the two proteins can co-exist on the same DNA strand without competing for binding. The current model of the XPD unwinding mechanism will be discussed along with possible modifications to this mechanism by the helicase interacting partners and unique features of such bio-medically important XPD-like helicases as FANCJ (BACH1), RTEL1 and CHLR1 (DDX11).

Maturation of cytosolic and nuclear iron-sulfur proteins

Eukaryotic cells contain numerous cytosolic and nuclear iron-sulfur (Fe/S) proteins that perform key functions in metabolic catalysis, iron regulation, protein translation, DNA synthesis, and DNA repair. Synthesis of Fe/S clusters and their insertion into apoproteins are essential for viability and are conserved in eukaryotes. The process is catalyzed in two major steps by the CIA (cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly) machinery encompassing nine known proteins. First, a [4Fe-4S] cluster is assembled on a scaffold complex. This step requires a sulfur-containing compound from mitochondria and reducing equivalents from an electron transfer chain. Second, the Fe/S cluster is transferred from the scaffold to specific apoproteins by the CIA targeting complex. This review summarizes our molecular knowledge on CIA protein function during the assembly process.

Evolution of the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery in Blastocystis species and other microbial eukaryotes

The cytosolic iron/sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) machinery is responsible for the assembly of cytosolic and nuclear iron/sulfur clusters, cofactors that are vital for all living cells. This machinery is uniquely found in eukaryotes and consists of at least eight proteins in opisthokont lineages, such as animals and fungi. We sought to identify and characterize homologues of the CIA system proteins in the anaerobic stramenopile parasite Blastocystis sp. strain NandII. We identified transcripts encoding six of the components-Cia1, Cia2, MMS19, Nbp35, Nar1, and a putative Tah18-and showed using immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, and subcellular fractionation that the last three of them localized to the cytoplasm of the cell. We then used comparative genomic and phylogenetic approaches to investigate the evolutionary history of these proteins. While most Blastocystis homologues branch with their eukaryotic counterparts, the putative Blastocystis Tah18 seems to have a separate evolutionary origin and therefore possibly a different function. Furthermore, our phylogenomic analyses revealed that all eight CIA components described in opisthokonts originated before the diversification of extant eukaryotic lineages and were likely already present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA). The Nbp35, Nar1 Cia1, and Cia2 proteins have been conserved during the subsequent evolutionary diversification of eukaryotes and are present in virtually all extant lineages, whereas the other CIA proteins have patchy phylogenetic distributions. Cia2 appears to be homologous to SufT, a component of the prokaryotic sulfur utilization factors (SUF) system, making this the first reported evolutionary link between the CIA and any other Fe/S biogenesis pathway. All of our results suggest that the CIA machinery is an ubiquitous biosynthetic pathway in eukaryotes, but its apparent plasticity in composition raises questions regarding how it functions in nonmodel organisms and how it interfaces with various iron/sulfur cluster systems (i.e., the iron/sulfur cluster, nitrogen fixation, and/or SUF system) found in eukaryotic cells.

Reverse PCA, a systematic approach for identifying genes important for the physical interaction between protein pairs

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are of central importance for many areas of biological research. Several complementary high-throughput technologies have been developed to study PPIs. The wealth of information that emerged from these technologies led to the first maps of the protein interactomes of several model organisms. Many changes can occur in protein complexes as a result of genetic and biochemical perturbations. In the absence of a suitable assay, such changes are difficult to identify, and thus have been poorly characterized. In this study, we present a novel genetic approach (termed “reverse PCA”) that allows the identification of genes whose products are required for the physical interaction between two given proteins. Our assay starts with a yeast strain in which the interaction between two proteins of interest can be detected by resistance to the drug, methotrexate, in the context of the protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA). Using synthetic genetic array (SGA) technology, we can systematically screen mutant libraries of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify those mutations that disrupt the physical interaction of interest. We were able to successfully validate this novel approach by identifying mutants that dissociate the conserved interaction between Cia2 and Mms19, two proteins involved in Iron-Sulfur protein biogenesis and genome stability. This method will facilitate the study of protein structure-function relationships, and may help in elucidating the mechanisms that regulate PPIs.

Protein–protein interactions (PPI) occur when two or more proteins bind together to form large molecular machines. The importance of PPIs led to the development of multitude technologies to detect them, and to the first maps of the protein interactomes. One important challenge in biology is to understand how protein complexes respond to genetic perturbations; however, in the absence of a suitable assay, such changes have been poorly characterized. Here, we present a novel systematic genetic approach (termed “reverse PCA”), that demonstrates how the yeast protein complementation assay (PCA), coupled with the synthetic genetic array (SGA) technology may be used to study the modulation of protein–protein interactions in-vivo in response to genetic perturbations. Our assay starts with a yeast strain in which the interaction between given proteins can be detected by resistance to the drug, methotrexate. Using the SGA technology, we can systematically identify yeast mutants that reverse this interaction. We were able to successfully validate this approach by identifying mutants that dissociate the conserved interaction between Cia2 and Mms19, two proteins involved in Iron-Sulfur protein biogenesis and genome stability. This method will facilitate the study of protein structure-function relationships, and elucidate the mechanisms that regulate PPIs.

Identification of FAM96B as a novel prelamin A binding partner

Prelamin A accumulation causes nuclear abnormalities, impairs nuclear functions, and eventually promotes cellular senescence. However, the underlying mechanism of how prelamin A promotes cellular senescence is still poorly understood. Here we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen using a human skeletal muscle cDNA library to search for prelamin A binding partners, and identified FAM96B as a prelamin A binding partner. The interaction of FAM96B with prelamin A was confirmed by GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, co-localization experiments by fluorescent confocal microscopy revealed that FAM96B colocalized with prelamin A in HEK-293 cells. Taken together, our data demonstrated the physical interaction between FAM96B and prelamin A, which may provide some clues to the mechanisms of prelamin A in premature aging.

Human CIA2A-FAM96A and CIA2B-FAM96B integrate iron homeostasis and maturation of different subsets of cytosolic-nuclear iron-sulfur proteins

Numerous cytosolic and nuclear proteins involved in metabolism, DNA maintenance, protein translation, or iron homeostasis depend on iron-sulfur (Fe/S) cofactors, yet their assembly is poorly defined. Here, we identify and characterize human CIA2A (FAM96A), CIA2B (FAM96B), and CIA1 (CIAO1) as components of the cytosolic Fe/S protein assembly (CIA) machinery. CIA1 associates with either CIA2A or CIA2B and the CIA-targeting factor MMS19. The CIA2B-CIA1-MMS19 complex binds to and facilitates assembly of most cytosolic-nuclear Fe/S proteins. In contrast, CIA2A specifically matures iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1), which is critical for cellular iron homeostasis. Surprisingly, a second layer of iron regulation involves the stabilization of IRP2 by CIA2A binding or upon depletion of CIA2B or MMS19, even though IRP2 lacks an Fe/S cluster. In summary, CIA2B-CIA1-MMS19 and CIA2A-CIA1 assist different branches of Fe/S protein assembly and intimately link this process to cellular iron regulation via IRP1 Fe/S cluster maturation and IRP2 stabilization.

IOP1 protein is an external component of the human cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) machinery and functions in the MMS19 protein-dependent CIA pathway

The emerging link between iron metabolism and genome integrity is increasingly clear. Recent studies have revealed that MMS19 and cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) factors form a complex and have central roles in CIA pathway. However, the composition of the CIA complex, particularly the involvement of the Fe-S protein IOP1, is still unclear. The roles of each component are also largely unknown. Here, we show that MMS19, MIP18, and CIAO1 form a tight "core" complex and that IOP1 is an "external" component of this complex. Although IOP1 and the core complex form a complex both in vivo and in vitro, IOP1 behaves differently in vivo. A deficiency in any core component leads to down-regulation of all of the components. In contrast, IOP1 knockdown does not affect the level of any core component. In MMS19-overproducing cells, other core components are also up-regulated, but the protein level of IOP1 remains unchanged. IOP1 behaves like a target protein in the CIA reaction, like other Fe-S helicases, and the core complex may participate in the maturation process of IOP1. Alternatively, the core complex may catch and hold IOP1 when it becomes mature to prevent its degradation. In any case, IOP1 functions in the MMS19-dependent CIA pathway. We also reveal that MMS19 interacts with target proteins. MIP18 has a role to bridge MMS19 and CIAO1. CIAO1 also binds IOP1. Based on our in vivo and in vitro data, new models of the CIA machinery are proposed.