Schizosaccharomyces pombe possesses two paralogous valyl-tRNA synthetase genes of mitochondrial origin

Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a fundamental model for research on mitochondrial gene expression: Progress, achievements and outlooks

Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) is an attractive model for mitochondrial research. The organism resembles human cells in terms of mitochondrial inheritance, mitochondrial transport, sugar metabolism, mitogenome structure and dependence of viability on the mitogenome (the petite-negative phenotype). Transcriptions of these genomes produce only a few polycistronic transcripts, which then undergo processing as per the tRNA punctuation model. In general, the machinery for mitochondrial gene expression is structurally and functionally conserved between fission yeast and humans. Furthermore, molecular research on S. pombe is supported by a considerable number of experimental techniques and database resources. Owing to these advantages, fission yeast has significantly contributed to biomedical and fundamental research. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding S. pombe mitochondrial gene expression, and emphasise the pertinence of fission yeast as both a model and tool, especially for studies on mitochondrial translation.

Multiple nutritional phenotypes of fission yeast mutants defective in genes encoding essential mitochondrial proteins

Mitochondria are essential for regulation of cellular respiration, energy production, small molecule metabolism, anti-oxidation and cell ageing, among other things. While the mitochondrial genome contains a small number of protein-coding genes, the great majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by chromosomal genes. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, 770 proteins encoded by chromosomal genes are located in mitochondria. Of these, 195 proteins, many of which are implicated in translation and transport, are absolutely essential for viability. We isolated and characterized eight temperature-sensitive (ts) strains with mutations in essential mitochondrial proteins. Interestingly, they are also sensitive to limited nutrition (glucose and/or nitrogen), producing low-glucose-sensitive and ‘super-housekeeping' phenotypes. They fail to produce colonies under low-glucose conditions at the permissive temperature or lose cell viability under nitrogen starvation at the restrictive temperature. The majority of these ts mitochondrial mutations may cause defects of gene expression in the mitochondrial genome. mrp4 and mrp17 are defective in mitochondrial ribosomal proteins. ppr3 is defective in rRNA expression, and trz2 and vrs2 are defective in tRNA maturation. This study promises potentially large dividends because mitochondrial quiescent functions are vital for human brain and muscle, and also for longevity.

Quantitative global studies reveal differential translational control by start codon context across the fungal kingdom

Eukaryotic protein synthesis generally initiates at a start codon defined by an AUG and its surrounding Kozak sequence context, but the quantitative importance of this context in different species is unclear. We tested this concept in two pathogenic Cryptococcus yeast species by genome-wide mapping of translation and of mRNA 5' and 3' ends. We observed thousands of AUG-initiated upstream open reading frames (uORFs) that are a major contributor to translation repression. uORF use depends on the Kozak sequence context of its start codon, and uORFs with strong contexts promote nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Transcript leaders in Cryptococcus and other fungi are substantially longer and more AUG-dense than in Saccharomyces. Numerous Cryptococcus mRNAs encode predicted dual-localized proteins, including many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, in which a leaky AUG start codon is followed by a strong Kozak context in-frame AUG, separated by mitochondrial-targeting sequence. Analysis of other fungal species shows that such dual-localization is also predicted to be common in the ascomycete mould, Neurospora crassa. Kozak-controlled regulation is correlated with insertions in translational initiation factors in fidelity-determining regions that contact the initiator tRNA. Thus, start codon context is a signal that quantitatively programs both the expression and the structures of proteins in diverse fungi.

Naturally occurring dual recognition of tRNAHis substrates with and without a universal identity element

The extra 5' guanine nucleotide (G-1) on tRNA^His is a nearly universal feature that specifies tRNA^His identity. The G-1 residue is either genome encoded or post-transcriptionally added by tRNA^His guanylyltransferase (Thg1). Despite Caenorhabditis elegans being a Thg1-independent organism, its cytoplasmic tRNA^His (CetRNA_n^His) retains a genome-encoded G-1. Our study showed that this eukaryote possesses a histidyl-tRNA synthetase (CeHisRS) gene encoding two distinct HisRS isoforms that differ only at their N-termini. Most interestingly, its mitochondrial tRNA^His (CetRNA_m^His) lacks G-1, a scenario never observed in any organelle. This tRNA, while lacking the canonical identity element, can still be efficiently aminoacylated in vivo. Even so, addition of G-1 to CetRNA_m^His strongly enhanced its aminoacylation efficiency in vitro. Overexpression of CeHisRS successfully bypassed the requirement for yeast THG1 in the presence of CetRNA_n^His without G-1. Mutagenesis assays showed that the anticodon takes a primary role in CetRNA^His identity recognition, being comparable to the universal identity element. Consequently, simultaneous introduction of both G-1 and the anticodon of tRNA^His effectively converted a non-cognate tRNA to a tRNA^His-like substrate. Our study suggests that a new balance between identity elements of tRNA^His relieves HisRS from the absolute requirement for G-1.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains separate CC- and A-adding tRNA nucleotidyltransferases

A specific cytidine-cytidine-adenosine (CCA) sequence is required at the 3'-terminus of all functional tRNAs. This sequence is added during tRNA maturation or repair by tRNA nucleotidyltransferase enzymes. While most eukaryotes have a single enzyme responsible for CCA addition, some bacteria have separate CC- and A-adding activities. The fungus, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has two genes (cca1 and cca2) that are thought, based on predicted amino acid sequences, to encode tRNA nucleotidyltransferases. Here, we show that both genes together are required to complement a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain bearing a null mutation in the single gene encoding its tRNA nucleotidyltransferase. Using enzyme assays we show further that the purified S. pombe cca1 gene product specifically adds two cytidine residues to a tRNA substrate lacking this sequence while the cca2 gene product specifically adds the terminal adenosine residue thereby completing the CCA sequence. These data indicate that S. pombe represents the first eukaryote known to have separate CC- and A-adding activities for tRNA maturation and repair. In addition, we propose that a novel structural change in a tRNA nucleotidyltransferase is responsible for defining a CC-adding enzyme.

Evolutionary gain of highly divergent tRNA specificities by two isoforms of human histidyl-tRNA synthetase

The discriminator base N73 is a key identity element of tRNAHis. In eukaryotes, N73 is an "A" in cytoplasmic tRNAHis and a "C" in mitochondrial tRNAHis. We present evidence herein that yeast histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) recognizes both A73 and C73, but somewhat prefers A73 even within the context of mitochondrial tRNAHis. In contrast, humans possess two distinct yet closely related HisRS homologues, with one encoding the cytoplasmic form (with an extra N-terminal WHEP domain) and the other encoding its mitochondrial counterpart (with an extra N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal). Despite these two isoforms sharing high sequence similarities (81% identity), they strongly preferred different discriminator bases (A73 or C73). Moreover, only the mitochondrial form recognized the anticodon as a strong identity element. Most intriguingly, swapping the discriminator base between the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAHis isoacceptors conveniently switched their enzyme preferences. Similarly, swapping seven residues in the active site between the two isoforms readily switched their N73 preferences. This study suggests that the human HisRS genes, while descending from a common ancestor with dual function for both types of tRNAHis, have acquired highly specialized tRNA recognition properties through evolution.

Divergent Alanyl-tRNA Synthetase Genes of Vanderwaltozyma polyspora Descended from a Common Ancestor through Whole-Genome Duplication Followed by Asymmetric Evolution

Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of a eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) are generally encoded by two distinct nuclear genes, one of eukaryotic origin and the other of mitochondrial origin. However, in most known yeasts, only the mitochondrial-origin alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) gene is retained and plays a dual-functional role. Here, we present a novel scenario of AlaRS evolution in the yeast Vanderwaltozyma polyspora. V. polyspora possesses two significantly diverged AlaRS gene homologues, one encoding the cytoplasmic form and the other its mitochondrial counterpart. Clever selection of transcription and translation initiation sites enables the two isoforms to be localized and thus functional in their respective cellular compartments. However, the two isoforms can also be stably expressed and function in the reciprocal compartments by insertion or removal of a mitochondrial targeting signal. Synteny and phylogeny analyses revealed that the AlaRS homologues of V. polyspora arose from a dual-functional common ancestor through whole-genome duplication (WGD). Moreover, the mitochondrial form had higher synonymous (1.6-fold) and nonsynonymous (2.8-fold) substitution rates than did its cytoplasmic counterpart, presumably due to a lesser constraint imposed on components of the mitochondrial translational apparatus. Our study suggests that asymmetric evolution confers the divergence between the AlaRS paralogues of V. polyspora.

Vanderwaltozyma polyspora possesses two glycyl-tRNA synthetase genes: one constitutive and one inducible

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are housekeeping enzymes essential for protein synthesis. We herein present evidence that the yeast Vanderwaltozyma polyspora possesses two paralogous glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) genes-GRS1 and GRS2. Paradoxically, GRS1 provided functions in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria, while GRS2 was essentially silent under normal growth conditions. Expression of GRS2 could be activated by stresses such as high pH or ethanol and most effectively by high temperature. The expressed GlyRS2 protein was exclusively found in the cytoplasm and more stable under heat-shock conditions (37°C) than under normal growth conditions (30°C) in vivo. In addition, GRS2 effectively rescued the cytoplasmic defect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae GRS1 knockout strain when expressed from a constitutive promoter. Moreover, the purified GlyRS2 enzyme was fairly active at both 30°C and 37°C in glycylation of yeast tRNA in vitro. However, unexpectedly, the purified GlyRS2 enzyme was practically inactive at temperature above 40°C in vitro. Our study suggests that GRS2 is an inducible gene that acts under stress conditions where GlyRS1 may be insufficient, unavailable, or rendered inactive.

Functional substitution of a eukaryotic glycyl-tRNA synthetase with an evolutionarily unrelated bacterial cognate enzyme

Two oligomeric types of glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) are found in nature: a α₂ type and a α₂β₂ type. The former has been identified in all three kingdoms of life and often pairs with tRNA^Gly that carries an A73 discriminator base, while the latter is found only in bacteria and chloroplasts and is almost always coupled with tRNA^Gly that contains U73. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a single GlyRS gene, GRS1, provides both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial functions, and tRNA^Gly isoacceptors in both compartments possess A73. We showed herein that Homo sapiens and Arabidopsis thaliana cytoplasmic GlyRSs (both α₂-type enzymes) can rescue both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial defects of a yeast grs1^- strain, while Escherichia coli GlyRS (a α₂β₂-type enzyme) and A. thaliana organellar GlyRS (a (αβ)₂-type enzyme) failed to rescue either defect of the yeast mull allele. However, a head-to-tail αβ fusion of E. coli GlyRS effectively supported the mitochondrial function. Our study suggests that a α₂-type eukaryotic GlyRS may be functionally substituted with a α₂β₂-type bacterial cognate enzyme despite their remote evolutionary relationships.

An insertion peptide in yeast glycyl-tRNA synthetase facilitates both productive docking and catalysis of cognate tRNAs

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses two distinct glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) genes: GRS1 and GRS2. GRS1 is dually functional, encoding both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial activities, while GRS2 is dysfunctional and not required for growth. The protein products of these two genes, GlyRS1 and GlyRS2, are much alike but are distinguished by an insertion peptide of GlyRS1, which is absent from GlyRS2 and other eukaryotic homologues. We show that deletion or mutation of the insertion peptide modestly impaired the enzyme's catalytic efficiency in vitro (with a 2- to 3-fold increase in Km and a 5- to 8-fold decrease in kcat). Consistently, GRS2 can be conveniently converted to a functional gene via codon optimization, and the insertion peptide is dispensable for protein stability and the rescue activity of GRS1 at 30°C in vivo. A phylogenetic analysis further showed that GRS1 and GRS2 are paralogues that arose from a gene duplication event relatively recently, with GRS1 being the predecessor. These results indicate that GlyRS2 is an active enzyme essentially resembling the insertion peptide-deleted form of GlyRS1. Our study suggests that the insertion peptide represents a novel auxiliary domain, which facilitates both productive docking and catalysis of cognate tRNAs.

Trans-kingdom rescue of Gln-tRNAGln synthesis in yeast cytoplasm and mitochondria

Aminoacylation of transfer RNA^Gln (tRNA^Gln) is performed by distinct mechanisms in different kingdoms and represents the most diverged route of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis found in nature. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cytosolic Gln-tRNA^Gln is generated by direct glutaminylation of tRNA^Gln by glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS), whereas mitochondrial Gln-tRNA^Gln is formed by an indirect pathway involving charging by a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and the subsequent transamidation by a specific Glu-tRNA^Gln amidotransferase. Previous studies showed that fusion of a yeast non-specific tRNA-binding cofactor, Arc1p, to Escherichia coli GlnRS enables the bacterial enzyme to substitute for its yeast homologue in vivo. We report herein that the same fusion enzyme, upon being imported into mitochondria, substituted the indirect pathway for Gln-tRNA^Gln synthesis as well, despite significant differences in the identity determinants of E. coli and yeast cytosolic and mitochondrial tRNA^Gln isoacceptors. Fusion of Arc1p to the bacterial enzyme significantly enhanced its aminoacylation activity towards yeast tRNA^Gln isoacceptors in vitro. Our study provides a mechanism by which trans-kingdom rescue of distinct pathways of Gln-tRNA^Gln synthesis can be conferred by a single enzyme.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses a stress-inducible glycyl-tRNA synthetase gene

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are a large family of housekeeping enzymes that are pivotal in protein translation and other vital cellular processes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses two distinct nuclear glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) genes, GRS1 and GRS2. GRS1 encodes both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial activities, while GRS2 is essentially silent and dispensable under normal conditions. We herein present evidence that expression of GRS2 was drastically induced upon heat shock, ethanol or hydrogen peroxide addition, and high pH, while expression of GRS1 was somewhat repressed under those conditions. In addition, GlyRS2 (the enzyme encoded by GRS2) had a higher protein stability and a lower K_M value for yeast tRNA^Gly under heat shock conditions than under normal conditions. Moreover, GRS2 rescued the growth defect of a GRS1 knockout strain when highly expressed by a strong promoter at 37°C, but not at the optimal temperature of 30°C. These results suggest that GRS2 is actually an inducible gene that may function to rescue the activity of GRS1 under stress conditions.

Rescuing a dysfunctional homologue of a yeast glycyl-tRNA synthetase gene

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct nuclear glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) genes, GRS1 and GRS2. GRS1 is dual functional in that possesses both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial activities, whereas GRS2 is pseudogene-like. GlyRS1 and GlyRS2 are highly similar on the whole but are distinguished by a lysine-rich insertion domain of 44 amino acid residues, present only in GlyRS1. We herein present evidence that whereas the insertion domain is dispensable for the complementary activity of GRS1in vivo, deletion of this domain from GlyRS1 reduced its aminoacylation activity by up to 9-fold. On the other hand, fusion of a constitutive ADH promoter to GRS2 failed to confer a functional phenotype to the gene, but further fusion of ARC1 (a yeast gene encoding a tRNA-binding protein, Arc1p) to this hybrid gene successfully rescued its activity. Most intriguingly, purified GlyRS2 retained a substantial level of aminoacylation activity. Fusion of Arc1p to this enzyme further enhanced its activity and stability. These findings highlight not only the structural integrity of the pseudogene-encoded enzyme but also the necessity of obtaining an auxiliary tRNA-binding domain for functioning of a yeast tRNA synthetase.

Alanyl-tRNA synthetase genes of Vanderwaltozyma polyspora arose from duplication of a dual-functional predecessor of mitochondrial origin

In eukaryotes, the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of a given aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) are typically encoded by two orthologous nuclear genes, one of eukaryotic origin and the other of mitochondrial origin. We herein report a novel scenario of aaRS evolution in yeast. While all other yeast species studied possess a single nuclear gene encoding both forms of alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS), Vanderwaltozyma polyspora, a yeast species descended from the same whole-genome duplication event as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, contains two distinct nuclear AlaRS genes, one specifying the cytoplasmic form and the other its mitochondrial counterpart. The protein sequences of these two isoforms are very similar to each other. The isoforms are actively expressed in vivo and are exclusively localized in their respective cellular compartments. Despite the presence of a promising AUG initiator candidate, the gene encoding the mitochondrial form is actually initiated from upstream non-AUG codons. A phylogenetic analysis further revealed that all yeast AlaRS genes, including those in V. polyspora, are of mitochondrial origin. These findings underscore the possibility that contemporary AlaRS genes in V. polyspora arose relatively recently from duplication of a dual-functional predecessor of mitochondrial origin.