A cytidine deaminase edits C to U in transfer RNAs in Archaea

ADATs: roles in tRNA editing and relevance to disease

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) play central roles in protein biosynthesis. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications affect tRNA function and stability. Among these modifications, RNA editing is a widespread RNA modification in three domains of life. Proteins of the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) family were discovered more than 20 years ago. They catalyze the deamination of adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) or cytidine to uridine (C-to-U) during tRNA maturation. The most studied example is the TadA- or ADAT2/3-mediated A-to-I conversion of the tRNA wobble position in the anticodon of prokaryotic or eukaryotic tRNAs, respectively. This review provides detailed information on A-to-I and C-to-U editing of tRNAs in different domains of life, presents recent new findings on ADATs for DNA editing, and finally comments on the association of mutations in the ADAT3 gene with intellectual disability.

Activity reconstitution of Kre33 and Tan1 reveals a molecular ruler mechanism in eukaryotic tRNA acetylation

RNA acetylation is a universal post-transcriptional modification that occurs in various RNAs. Transfer RNA (tRNA) acetylation is found at position 34 (ac4C34) in bacterial tRNAMet and position 12 (ac4C12) in eukaryotic tRNASer and tRNALeu. The biochemical mechanism, structural basis and functional significance of ac4C34 are well understood; however, despite being discovered in the 1960s and identification of Kre33/NAT10 and Tan1/THUMPD1 as modifying apparatuses, ac4C12 modification activity has never been reconstituted for nearly six decades. Here, we successfully reconstituted the ac4C12 modification activity of yeast Kre33 and Tan1. Biogenesis of ac4C12 is primarily dependent on a minimal set of elements, including a canonical acceptor stem, the presence of the 11CCG13 motif and correct D-arm orientation, indicating a molecular ruler mechanism. A single A13G mutation conferred ac4C12 modification to multiple non-substrate tRNAs. Moreover, we were able to introduce ac4C modifications into small RNAs. ac4C12 modification contributed little to tRNA melting temperature and aminoacylation in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our results realize in vitro activity reconstitution, delineate tRNA substrate selection mechanism for ac4C12 biogenesis and develop a valuable system for preparing acetylated tRNAs as well as non-tRNA RNA species, which will advance the functional interpretation of the acetylation in RNA structures and functions.

Transfer RNA Modification Enzymes with a Thiouridine Synthetase, Methyltransferase and Pseudouridine Synthase (THUMP) Domain and the Nucleosides They Produce in tRNA

The existence of the thiouridine synthetase, methyltransferase and pseudouridine synthase (THUMP) domain was originally predicted by a bioinformatic study. Since the prediction of the THUMP domain more than two decades ago, many tRNA modification enzymes containing the THUMP domain have been identified. According to their enzymatic activity, THUMP-related tRNA modification enzymes can be classified into five types, namely 4-thiouridine synthetase, deaminase, methyltransferase, a partner protein of acetyltransferase and pseudouridine synthase. In this review, I focus on the functions and structures of these tRNA modification enzymes and the modified nucleosides they produce. Biochemical, biophysical and structural studies of tRNA 4-thiouridine synthetase, tRNA methyltransferases and tRNA deaminase have established the concept that the THUMP domain captures the 3'-end of RNA (in the case of tRNA, the CCA-terminus). However, in some cases, this concept is not simply applicable given the modification patterns observed in tRNA. Furthermore, THUMP-related proteins are involved in the maturation of other RNAs as well as tRNA. Moreover, the modified nucleosides, which are produced by the THUMP-related tRNA modification enzymes, are involved in numerous biological phenomena, and the defects of genes for human THUMP-related proteins are implicated in genetic diseases. In this review, these biological phenomena are also introduced.

A subclass of archaeal U8-tRNA sulfurases requires a [4Fe-4S] cluster for catalysis

Sulfuration of uridine 8, in bacterial and archaeal tRNAs, is catalyzed by enzymes formerly known as ThiI, but renamed here TtuI. Two different classes of TtuI proteins, which possess a PP-loop-containing pyrophosphatase domain that includes a conserved cysteine important for catalysis, have been identified. The first class, as exemplified by the prototypic Escherichia coli enzyme, possesses an additional C-terminal rhodanese domain harboring a second cysteine, which serves to form a catalytic persulfide. Among the second class of TtuI proteins that do not possess the rhodanese domain, some archaeal proteins display a conserved CXXC + C motif. We report here spectroscopic and enzymatic studies showing that TtuI from Methanococcus maripaludis and Pyrococcus furiosus can assemble a [4Fe-4S] cluster that is essential for tRNA sulfuration activity. Moreover, structural modeling studies, together with previously reported mutagenesis experiments of M. maripaludis TtuI, indicate that the [4Fe-4S] cluster is coordinated by the three cysteines of the CXXC + C motif. Altogether, our results raise a novel mechanism for U8-tRNA sulfuration, in which the cluster is proposed to catalyze the transfer of sulfur atoms to the activated tRNA substrate.

Sequential action of a tRNA base editor in conversion of cytidine to pseudouridine

Post-transcriptional RNA editing modulates gene expression in a condition-dependent fashion. We recently discovered C-to-Ψ editing in Vibrio cholerae tRNA. Here, we characterize the biogenesis, regulation, and functions of this previously undescribed RNA editing process. We show that an enzyme, TrcP, mediates the editing of C-to-U followed by the conversion of U to Ψ, consecutively. AlphaFold-2 predicts that TrcP consists of two globular domains (cytidine deaminase and pseudouridylase) and a long helical domain. The latter domain tethers tRNA substrates during both the C-to-U editing and pseudouridylation, likely enabling a substrate channeling mechanism for efficient catalysis all the way to the terminal product. C-to-Ψ editing both requires and suppresses other modifications, creating an interdependent network of modifications in the tRNA anticodon loop that facilitates coupling of tRNA modification states to iron availability. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into an RNA editing process that likely promotes environmental adaptation.

C-to-U RNA Editing: A Site Directed RNA Editing Tool for Restoration of Genetic Code

The restoration of genetic code by editing mutated genes is a potential method for the treatment of genetic diseases/disorders. Genetic disorders are caused by the point mutations of thymine (T) to cytidine (C) or guanosine (G) to adenine (A), for which gene editing (editing of mutated genes) is a promising therapeutic technique. In C-to-Uridine (U) RNA editing, it converts the base C-to-U in RNA molecules and leads to nonsynonymous changes when occurring in coding regions; however, for G-to-A mutations, A-to-I editing occurs. Editing of C-to-U is not as physiologically common as that of A-to-I editing. Although hundreds to thousands of coding sites have been found to be C-to-U edited or editable in humans, the biological significance of this phenomenon remains elusive. In this review, we have tried to provide detailed information on physiological and artificial approaches for C-to-U RNA editing.

Required Elements in tRNA for Methylation by the Eukaryotic tRNA (Guanine-N2-) Methyltransferase (Trm11-Trm112 Complex)

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Trm11 and Trm112 complex (Trm11-Trm112) methylates the 2-amino group of guanosine at position 10 in tRNA and forms N²-methylguanosine. To determine the elements required in tRNA for methylation by Trm11-Trm112, we prepared 60 tRNA transcript variants and tested them for methylation by Trm11-Trm112. The results show that the precursor tRNA is not a substrate for Trm11-Trm112. Furthermore, the CCA terminus is essential for methylation by Trm11-Trm112, and Trm11-Trm112 also only methylates tRNAs with a regular-size variable region. In addition, the G10-C25 base pair is required for methylation by Trm11-Trm112. The data also demonstrated that Trm11-Trm112 recognizes the anticodon-loop and that U38 in tRNA^Ala acts negatively in terms of methylation. Likewise, the U32-A38 base pair in tRNA^Cys negatively affects methylation. The only exception in our in vitro study was tRNA^Val_AAC1. Our experiments showed that the tRNA^Val_AAC1 transcript was slowly methylated by Trm11-Trm112. However, position 10 in this tRNA was reported to be unmodified G. We purified tRNA^Val_AAC1 from wild-type and trm11 gene deletion strains and confirmed that a portion of tRNA^Val_AAC1 is methylated by Trm11-Trm112 in S. cerevisiae. Thus, our study explains the m²G10 modification pattern of all S. cerevisiae class I tRNAs and elucidates the Trm11-Trm112 binding sites.

Characterization of ADAT2/3 molecules in Trypanosoma cruzi and regulation of mucin gene expression by tRNA editing

Adenosine-to-inosine conversion at position 34 (A34-to-I) of certain tRNAs is essential for expanding their decoding capacity. This reaction is catalyzed by the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) complex, which in Eukarya is formed by two subunits: ADAT2 and ADAT3. We herein identified and thoroughly characterized the ADAT molecules from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. TcADAT2 and TcADAT3 spontaneously form a catalytically active complex, as shown by expression in engineered bacteria and/or by the increased ex vivo tRNA A-to-I deamination activity of T. cruzi epimastigotes overexpressing TcADAT subunits. Importantly, enhanced TcADAT2/3 activity in transgenic parasites caused a shift in their in vivo tRNAThrAGU signature, which correlated with significant changes in the expression of the Thr-rich TcSMUG proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating that T. cruzi tRNA editing can be modulated in vivo, in turn post-transcriptionally changing the expression of specific genes. Our findings suggest tRNA editing/availability as a forcible step in controlling gene expression and driving codon adaptation in T. cruzi. Moreover, we unveil certain differences between parasite and mammalian host tRNA editing and processing, such as cytosine-to-uridine conversion at position 32 of tRNAThrAGU in T. cruzi, that may be exploited for the identification of novel druggable targets of intervention.

THUMPD3-TRMT112 is a m2G methyltransferase working on a broad range of tRNA substrates

Post-transcriptional modifications affect tRNA biology and are closely associated with human diseases. However, progress on the functional analysis of tRNA modifications in metazoans has been slow because of the difficulty in identifying modifying enzymes. For example, the biogenesis and function of the prevalent N2-methylguanosine (m2G) at the sixth position of tRNAs in eukaryotes has long remained enigmatic. Herein, using a reverse genetics approach coupled with RNA-mass spectrometry, we identified that THUMP domain-containing protein 3 (THUMPD3) is responsible for tRNA: m2G6 formation in human cells. However, THUMPD3 alone could not modify tRNAs. Instead, multifunctional methyltransferase subunit TRM112-like protein (TRMT112) interacts with THUMPD3 to activate its methyltransferase activity. In the in vitro enzymatic assay system, THUMPD3-TRMT112 could methylate all the 26 tested G6-containing human cytoplasmic tRNAs by recognizing the characteristic 3'-CCA of mature tRNAs. We also showed that m2G7 of tRNATrp was introduced by THUMPD3-TRMT112. Furthermore, THUMPD3 is widely expressed in mouse tissues, with an extremely high level in the testis. THUMPD3-knockout cells exhibited impaired global protein synthesis and reduced growth. Our data highlight the significance of the tRNA: m2G6/7 modification and pave a way for further studies of the role of m2G in sperm tRNA derived fragments.

RDDSVM: accurate prediction of A-to-I RNA editing sites from sequence using support vector machines

Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) editing in RNA is involved in various biological processes like gene expression, alternative splicing, and mRNA degradation associated with carcinogenesis and various human diseases. Therefore, accurate identification of RNA editing sites in transcriptome is valuable for research and medicine. RNA-seq is very useful for the detection of RNA editing events in condition-specific cells. However, computational analysis methods of RNA-seq data have considerable false-positive risks due to mapping errors. In this study, we developed a simple machine learning method using support vector machines to train sequence and structure information derived from flanking sequences of experimentally verified A-to-I editing sites to predict new A-to-I editing sites in RNA. The highest performance results were obtained by the model that utilizes the composition of the triplet sequence elements in the flanking regions of the in A-to-I editing sites. Using this model, the SVM classifier also showed high performance on experimentally verified data providing a sensitivity of 92.8%, specificity of 77.1%, and accuracy of 90.2%. To compare the predictive capacity of our method with other classifiers that use sequence information, we have used validated human A-to-I RNA editing sites by Sanger sequencing. Out of 58 validated editing sites, our method recognized 53 of them correctly with an accuracy of 91.4% outperforming other classifiers. As to our knowledge, this is the first case of utilization of the composition of the triplet sequence elements neighboring A-to-I editing sites for the prediction of new A-to-I editing sites in RNA. The methodology is very easy to perform and computationally low demanding making it a convenient and valuable choice for facilities with low sources. To facilitate the usage of the method publicly, we developed an open-source program called RDDSVM to perform prediction on candidate A-to-I RNA editing sites using support vector machines.

The structure of the mouse ADAT2/ADAT3 complex reveals the molecular basis for mammalian tRNA wobble adenosine-to-inosine deamination

Post-transcriptional modification of tRNA wobble adenosine into inosine is crucial for decoding multiple mRNA codons by a single tRNA. The eukaryotic wobble adenosine-to-inosine modification is catalysed by the ADAT (ADAT2/ADAT3) complex that modifies up to eight tRNAs, requiring a full tRNA for activity. Yet, ADAT catalytic mechanism and its implication in neurodevelopmental disorders remain poorly understood. Here, we have characterized mouse ADAT and provide the molecular basis for tRNAs deamination by ADAT2 as well as ADAT3 inactivation by loss of catalytic and tRNA-binding determinants. We show that tRNA binding and deamination can vary depending on the cognate tRNA but absolutely rely on the eukaryote-specific ADAT3 N-terminal domain. This domain can rotate with respect to the ADAT catalytic domain to present and position the tRNA anticodon-stem-loop correctly in ADAT2 active site. A founder mutation in the ADAT3 N-terminal domain, which causes intellectual disability, does not affect tRNA binding despite the structural changes it induces but most likely hinders optimal presentation of the tRNA anticodon-stem-loop to ADAT2.

A mitochondrial cytidine deaminase is responsible for C to U editing of tRNATrp to decode the UGA codon in Trypanosoma brucei

In kinetoplastid protists, all mitochondrial tRNAs are encoded in the nucleus and imported from the cytoplasm to maintain organellar translation. This also applies to the tryptophanyl tRNA (tRNA^Trp) encoded by a single-copy nuclear gene, with a CCA anticodon to read UGG codon used in the cytosolic translation. Yet, in the mitochondrion it is unable to decode the UGA codon specifying tryptophan. Following mitochondrial import of tRNA^Trp, this problem is solved at the RNA level by a single C34 to U34 editing event that creates the UCA anticodon, recognizing UGA. To identify the enzyme responsible for this critical editing activity, we scrutinized the genome of Trypanosoma brucei for putative cytidine deaminases as the most likely candidates. Using RNAi silencing and poisoned primer extension, we have identified a novel deaminase enzyme, named here TbmCDAT for mitochondrial Cytidine Deaminase Acting on tRNA, which is responsible for this organelle-specific activity in T. brucei. The ablation of TbmCDAT led to the downregulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis, supporting its role in decoding the UGA tryptophan codon.

Crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana cytidine deaminase

Cytidine deaminase (CDA) catalyzes the (deoxy)cytidine deamination to (deoxy)uridine, which involves in the catabolic and salvage pathways of pyrimidine nucleotides in plants. CDA serves as a prototype of the cytidine deaminase superfamily that contains a number of RNA editing enzymes. Arabidopsis thaliana has only one functional CDA, AtCDA1. We solved the crystal structures of AtCDA1, which is a dimeric zinc-containing enzyme and each protomer consists of an N-terminal zinc-binding catalytic domain and a C-terminal non-catalytic domain. Both domains adopt a typical α/β/α sandwich fold. In vitro biochemical assays showed that the ribose moiety of cytidine is required for ligand binding, and structural analyses revealed a conserved catalytic mechanism is adopted by AtCDA1.

Comparative tRNA sequencing and RNA mass spectrometry for surveying tRNA modifications

Chemical modifications of the nucleosides that comprise transfer RNAs are diverse. However, the structure, location and extent of modifications have been systematically charted in very few organisms. Here, we describe an approach in which rapid prediction of modified sites through reverse transcription-derived signatures in high-throughput transfer RNA-sequencing (tRNA-seq) data is coupled with identification of tRNA modifications through RNA mass spectrometry. Comparative tRNA-seq enabled prediction of several Vibrio cholerae modifications that are absent from Escherichia coli and also revealed the effects of various environmental conditions on V. cholerae tRNA modification. Through RNA mass spectrometric analyses, we showed that two of the V. cholerae-specific reverse transcription signatures reflected the presence of a new modification (acetylated acp³U (acacp³U)), while the other results from C-to-Ψ RNA editing, a process not described before. These findings demonstrate the utility of this approach for rapid surveillance of tRNA modification profiles and environmental control of tRNA modification.

RNA editing in the forefront of epitranscriptomics and human health

Post-transcriptional modifications have been recently expanded with the addition of RNA editing, which is predominantly mediated by adenosine and cytidine deaminases acting on DNA and RNA. Here, we review the full spectrum of physiological processes in which these modifiers are implicated, among different organisms. Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) editors, members of the ADAR and ADAT protein families are important regulators of alternative splicing and transcriptional control. On the other hand, cytidine to uridine (C-to-U) editors, members of the AID/APOBEC family, are heavily implicated in innate and adaptive immunity with important roles in antibody diversification and antiviral response. Physiologically, these enzymes are present in the nucleus and/or the cytoplasm, where they modify various RNA molecules, including miRNAs, tRNAs apart from mRNAs, whereas DNA editing is also possible by some of them. The expansion of next generation sequencing technologies provided a wealth of data regarding such modifications. RNA editing has been implicated in various disorders including cancer, and neurological diseases of the brain or the central nervous system. It is also related to cancer heterogeneity and the onset of carcinogenesis. Response to treatment can also be affected by the RNA editing status where drug efficacy is significantly compromised. Studying RNA editing events can pave the way to the identification of new disease biomarkers, and provide a more personalised therapy to various diseases.

Multi-Substrate Specificity and the Evolutionary Basis for Interdependence in tRNA Editing and Methylation Enzymes

Among tRNA modification enzymes there is a correlation between specificity for multiple tRNA substrates and heteromultimerization. In general, enzymes that modify a conserved residue in different tRNA sequences adopt a heterodimeric structure. Presumably, such changes in the oligomeric state of enzymes, to gain multi-substrate recognition, are driven by the need to accommodate and catalyze a particular reaction in different substrates while maintaining high specificity. This review focuses on two classes of enzymes where the case for multimerization as a way to diversify molecular recognition can be made. We will highlight several new themes with tRNA methyltransferases and will also discuss recent findings with tRNA editing deaminases. These topics will be discussed in the context of several mechanisms by which heterodimerization may have been achieved during evolution and how these mechanisms might impact modifications in different systems.

Unique Archaeal Small RNAs

Advances in genome-wide sequence technologies allow for detailed insights into the complexity of RNA landscapes of organisms from all three domains of life. Recent analyses of archaeal transcriptomes identified interaction and regulation networks of noncoding RNAs in this understudied domain. Here, we review current knowledge of small, noncoding RNAs with important functions for the archaeal lifestyle, which often requires adaptation to extreme environments. One focus is RNA metabolism at elevated temperatures in hyperthermophilic archaea, which reveals elevated amounts of RNA-guided RNA modification and virus defense strategies. Genome rearrangement events result in unique fragmentation patterns of noncoding RNA genes that require elaborate maturation pathways to yield functional transcripts. RNA-binding proteins, e.g., L7Ae and LSm, are important for many posttranscriptional control functions of RNA molecules in archaeal cells. We also discuss recent insights into the regulatory potential of their noncoding RNA partners.

Functional annotation of operome from Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH: An insight to metabolic gap filling

Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH (MTH) is a potential methanogen known to reduce CO₂ with H₂ for producing methane biofuel in thermophilic digesters. The genome of this organism contains ~50.5% conserved hypothetical proteins (HPs; operome) whose function is still not determined precisely. Here, we employed a combined bioinformatics approach to annotate a precise function to HPs and categorize them as enzymes, binding proteins, and transport proteins. Results of our study show that 315 (35.6%) HPs have exhibited well-defined functions contributing imperative roles in diverse cellular metabolism. Some of them are responsible for stress-response mechanisms and cell cycle, membrane transport, and regulatory processes. The genome-neighborhood analysis found five important gene clusters (dsr, ehb, kaiC, cmr, and gas) involving in the energetic metabolism and defense systems. MTH operome contains 223 enzymes with 15 metabolic subsystems, 15 cell cycle proteins, 17 transcriptional regulators and 33 binding proteins. Functional annotation of its operome is thus more fundamental to a profound understanding of the molecular and cellular machinery at systems-level.

Transfer RNA Modification Enzymes from Thermophiles and Their Modified Nucleosides in tRNA

To date, numerous modified nucleosides in tRNA as well as tRNA modification enzymes have been identified not only in thermophiles but also in mesophiles. Because most modified nucleosides in tRNA from thermophiles are common to those in tRNA from mesophiles, they are considered to work essentially in steps of protein synthesis at high temperatures. At high temperatures, the structure of unmodified tRNA will be disrupted. Therefore, thermophiles must possess strategies to stabilize tRNA structures. To this end, several thermophile-specific modified nucleosides in tRNA have been identified. Other factors such as RNA-binding proteins and polyamines contribute to the stability of tRNA at high temperatures. Thermus thermophilus, which is an extreme-thermophilic eubacterium, can adapt its protein synthesis system in response to temperature changes via the network of modified nucleosides in tRNA and tRNA modification enzymes. Notably, tRNA modification enzymes from thermophiles are very stable. Therefore, they have been utilized for biochemical and structural studies. In the future, thermostable tRNA modification enzymes may be useful as biotechnology tools and may be utilized for medical science.

The RNA-splicing endonuclease from the euryarchaeaon Methanopyrus kandleri is a heterotetramer with constrained substrate specificity

Four different types (α4, α'2, (αβ)2 and ϵ2) of RNA-splicing endonucleases (EndAs) for RNA processing are known to exist in the Archaea. Only the (αβ)2 and ϵ2 types can cleave non-canonical introns in precursor (pre)-tRNA. Both enzyme types possess an insert associated with a specific loop, allowing broad substrate specificity in the catalytic α units. Here, the hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Methanopyrus kandleri (MKA) was predicted to harbor an (αβ)2-type EndA lacking the specific loop. To characterize MKA EndA enzymatic activity, we constructed a fusion protein derived from MKA α and β subunits (fMKA EndA). In vitro assessment demonstrated complete removal of the canonical bulge-helix-bulge (BHB) intron structure from MKA pre-tRNAAsn. However, removal of the relaxed BHB structure in MKA pre-tRNAGlu was inefficient compared to crenarchaeal (αβ)2 EndA, and the ability to process the relaxed intron within mini-helix RNA was not detected. fMKA EndA X-ray structure revealed a shape similar to that of other EndA types, with no specific loop. Mapping of EndA types and their specific loops and the tRNA gene diversity among various Archaea suggest that MKA EndA is evolutionarily related to other (αβ)2-type EndAs found in the Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Aigarchaeota but uniquely represents constrained substrate specificity.

Activation mode of the eukaryotic m2G10 tRNA methyltransferase Trm11 by its partner protein Trm112

Post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications of factors involved in translation are very important for the control and accuracy of protein biosynthesis. Among these factors, tRNAs harbor the largest variety of grafted chemical structures, which participate in tRNA stability or mRNA decoding. Here, we focused on Trm112 protein, which associates with four different eukaryotic methyltransferases modifying tRNAs (Trm9 and Trm11) but also 18S-rRNA (Bud23) and translation termination factor eRF1 (Mtq2). In particular, we have investigated the role of Trm112 in the Trm11–Trm112 complex, which forms 2-methylguanosine at position 10 on several tRNAs and thereby is assumed to stabilize tRNA structure. We show that Trm112 is important for Trm11 enzymatic activity by influencing S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding and by contributing to tRNA binding. Using hydrogen-deuterium eXchange coupled to mass spectrometry, we obtained experimental evidences that the Trm11–Trm112 interaction relies on the same molecular bases as those described for other Trm112–methyltransferases complexes. Hence, all Trm112-dependent methyltransferases compete to interact with this partner.

Genotyping and Bio-Sensing Chemosensory Proteins in Insects

Genotyping is the process of determining differences in the genetic make-up of an individual and comparing it to that of another individual. Focus on the family of chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in insects reveals differences at the genomic level across various strains and biotypes, but none at the level of individuals, which could be extremely useful in the biotyping of insect pest species necessary for the agricultural, medical and veterinary industries. Proposed methods of genotyping CSPs include not only restriction enzymatic cleavage and amplification of cleaved polymorphic sequences, but also detection of retroposons in some specific regions of the insect chromosome. Design of biosensors using CSPs addresses tissue-specific RNA mutations in a particular subtype of the protein, which could be used as a marker of specific physiological conditions. Additionally, we refer to the binding properties of CSP proteins tuned to lipids and xenobiotic insecticides for the development of a new generation of biosensor chips, monitoring lipid blood concentration and chemical environmental pollution.

Editing and methylation at a single site by functionally interdependent activities

Nucleic acids undergo naturally occurring chemical modifications. Over 100 different modifications have been described and every position in the purine and pyrimidine bases can be modified; often the sugar is also modified. Despite recent progress, the mechanism for the biosynthesis of most modifications is not fully understood, owing, in part, to the difficulty associated with reconstituting enzyme activity in vitro. Whereas some modifications can be efficiently formed with purified components, others may require more intricate pathways. A model for modification interdependence, in which one modification is a prerequisite for another, potentially explains a major hindrance in reconstituting enzymatic activity in vitro. This model was prompted by the earlier discovery of tRNA cytosine-to-uridine editing in eukaryotes, a reaction that has not been recapitulated in vitro and the mechanism of which remains unknown. Here we show that cytosine 32 in the anticodon loop of Trypanosoma brucei tRNA^Thr is methylated to 3-methylcytosine (m³C) as a pre-requisite for C-to-U deamination. Formation of m³C in vitro requires the presence of both the T. brucei m³C methyltransferase TRM140 and the deaminase ADAT2/3. Once formed, m³C is deaminated to 3-methyluridine (m³U) by the same set of enzymes. ADAT2/3 is a highly mutagenic enzyme, but we also show that when co-expressed with the methyltransferase its mutagenicity is kept in check. This helps to explain how T. brucei escapes 'wholesale deamination' of its genome while harbouring both enzymes in the nucleus. This observation has implications for the control of another mutagenic deaminase, human AID, and provides a rationale for its regulation.

The Evolution of Substrate Specificity by tRNA Modification Enzymes

All types of nucleic acids in cells undergo naturally occurring chemical modifications, including DNA, rRNA, mRNA, snRNA, and most prominently tRNA. Over 100 different modifications have been described and every position in the purine and pyrimidine bases can be modified; often the sugar is also modified [1]. In tRNA, the function of modifications varies; some modulate global and/or local RNA structure, and others directly impact decoding and may be essential for viability. Whichever the case, the overall importance of modifications is highlighted by both their evolutionary conservation and the fact that organisms use a substantial portion of their genomes to encode modification enzymes, far exceeding what is needed for the de novo synthesis of the canonical nucleotides themselves [2]. Although some modifications occur at exactly the same nucleotide position in tRNAs from the three domains of life, many can be found at various positions in a particular tRNA and their location may vary between and within different tRNAs. With this wild array of chemical diversity and substrate specificities, one of the big challenges in the tRNA modification field has been to better understand at a molecular level the modes of substrate recognition by the different modification enzymes; in this realm RNA binding rests at the heart of the problem. This chapter will focus on several examples of modification enzymes where their mode of RNA binding is well understood; from these, we will try to draw general conclusions and highlight growing themes that may be applicable to the RNA modification field at large.

Structural and functional analyses of the archaeal tRNA m2G/m22G10 methyltransferase aTrm11 provide mechanistic insights into site specificity of a tRNA methyltransferase that contains common RNA-binding modules

N(2)-methylguanosine is one of the most universal modified nucleosides required for proper function in transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules. In archaeal tRNA species, a specific S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent tRNA methyltransferase (MTase), aTrm11, catalyzes formation of N(2)-methylguanosine and N(2),N(2)-dimethylguanosine at position 10. Here, we report the first X-ray crystal structures of aTrm11 from Thermococcus kodakarensis (Tko), of the apo-form, and of its complex with SAM. The structures show that TkoTrm11 consists of three domains: an N-terminal ferredoxinlike domain (NFLD), THUMP domain and Rossmann-fold MTase (RFM) domain. A linker region connects the THUMP-NFLD and RFM domains. One SAM molecule is bound in the pocket of the RFM domain, suggesting that TkoTrm11 uses a catalytic mechanism similar to that of other tRNA MTases containing an RFM domain. Furthermore, the conformation of NFLD and THUMP domains in TkoTrm11 resembles that of other tRNA-modifying enzymes specifically recognizing the tRNA acceptor stem. Our docking model of TkoTrm11-SAM in complex with tRNA, combined with biochemical analyses and pre-existing evidence, provides insights into the substrate tRNA recognition mechanism: The THUMP domain recognizes a 3'-ACCA end, and the linker region and RFM domain recognize the T-stem, acceptor stem and V-loop of tRNA, thereby causing TkoTrm11 to specifically identify its methylation site.

Novel modes of RNA editing in mitochondria

Gene structure and expression in diplonemid mitochondria are unparalleled. Genes are fragmented in pieces (modules) that are separately transcribed, followed by the joining of module transcripts to contiguous RNAs. Some instances of unique uridine insertion RNA editing at module boundaries were noted, but the extent and potential occurrence of other editing types remained unknown. Comparative analysis of deep transcriptome and genome data from Diplonema papillatum mitochondria reveals ∼220 post-transcriptional insertions of uridines, but no insertions of other nucleotides nor deletions. In addition, we detect in total 114 substitutions of cytosine by uridine and adenosine by inosine, amassed into unusually compact clusters. Inosines in transcripts were confirmed experimentally. This is the first report of adenosine-to-inosine editing of mRNAs and ribosomal RNAs in mitochondria. In mRNAs, editing causes mostly amino-acid additions and non-synonymous substitutions; in ribosomal RNAs, it permits formation of canonical secondary structures. Two extensively edited transcripts were compared across four diplonemids. The pattern of uridine-insertion editing is strictly conserved, whereas substitution editing has diverged dramatically, but still rendering diplonemid proteins more similar to other eukaryotic orthologs. We posit that RNA editing not only compensates but also sustains, or even accelerates, ultra-rapid evolution of genome structure and sequence in diplonemid mitochondria.

Distribution and frequencies of post-transcriptional modifications in tRNAs

Functional tRNA molecules always contain a wide variety of post-transcriptionally modified nucleosides. These modifications stabilize tRNA structure, allow for proper interaction with other macromolecules and fine-tune the decoding of mRNAs during translation. Their presence in functionally important regions of tRNA is conserved in all domains of life. However, the identities of many of these modified residues depend much on the phylogeny of organisms the tRNAs are found in, attesting for domain-specific strategies of tRNA maturation. In this work we present a new tool, tRNAmodviz web server (http://genesilico.pl/trnamodviz) for easy comparative analysis and visualization of modification patterns in individual tRNAs, as well as in groups of selected tRNA sequences. We also present results of comparative analysis of tRNA sequences derived from 7 phylogenetically distinct groups of organisms: Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, cytosol of eukaryotic single cell organisms, Fungi and Metazoa, cytosol of Viridiplantae, mitochondria, plastids and Euryarchaeota. These data update the study conducted 20 y ago with the tRNA sequences available at that time.

From end to end: tRNA editing at 5'- and 3'-terminal positions

During maturation, tRNA molecules undergo a series of individual processing steps, ranging from exo- and endonucleolytic trimming reactions at their 5'- and 3'-ends, specific base modifications and intron removal to the addition of the conserved 3'-terminal CCA sequence. Especially in mitochondria, this plethora of processing steps is completed by various editing events, where base identities at internal positions are changed and/or nucleotides at 5'- and 3'-ends are replaced or incorporated. In this review, we will focus predominantly on the latter reactions, where a growing number of cases indicate that these editing events represent a rather frequent and widespread phenomenon. While the mechanistic basis for 5'- and 3'-end editing differs dramatically, both reactions represent an absolute requirement for generating a functional tRNA. Current in vivo and in vitro model systems support a scenario in which these highly specific maturation reactions might have evolved out of ancient promiscuous RNA polymerization or quality control systems.

Identification of the determinants of tRNA function and susceptibility to rapid tRNA decay by high-throughput in vivo analysis

In order to comprehensively define the effects of sequence variation on tRNA function, Guy et al. developed a high-throughput in vivo screen to quantify the activity of the nonsense suppressor SUP4oc of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SUP4oc tolerated numerous sequence variations, accommodated slippage in tertiary and secondary interactions, and exhibited genetic interactions that suggest an alternative functional tRNA conformation. Mutations that sensitized SUP4oc to rapid tRNA decay were found to be located throughout the sequence. This shows that the integrity of the entire tRNA molecule is under surveillance by cellular quality control machinery.

Sequence variation in tRNA genes influences the structure, modification, and stability of tRNA; affects translation fidelity; impacts the activity of numerous isodecoders in metazoans; and leads to human diseases. To comprehensively define the effects of sequence variation on tRNA function, we developed a high-throughput in vivo screen to quantify the activity of a model tRNA, the nonsense suppressor SUP4_oc of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using a highly sensitive fluorescent reporter gene with an ochre mutation, fluorescence-activated cell sorting of a library of SUP4_oc mutant yeast strains, and deep sequencing, we scored 25,491 variants. Unexpectedly, SUP4_oc tolerates numerous sequence variations, accommodates slippage in tertiary and secondary interactions, and exhibits genetic interactions that suggest an alternative functional tRNA conformation. Furthermore, we used this methodology to define tRNA variants subject to rapid tRNA decay (RTD). Even though RTD normally degrades tRNAs with exposed 5′ ends, mutations that sensitize SUP4_oc to RTD were found to be located throughout the sequence, including the anti-codon stem. Thus, the integrity of the entire tRNA molecule is under surveillance by cellular quality control machinery. This approach to assess activity at high throughput is widely applicable to many problems in tRNA biology.

Mitochondrial tRNA 5'-editing in Dictyostelium discoideum and Polysphondylium pallidum

Mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) 5'-editing was first described more than 20 years ago; however, the first candidates for 5'-editing enzymes were only recently identified in a eukaryotic microbe (protist), the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. In this organism, eight of 18 mt-tRNAs are predicted to be edited based on the presence of genomically encoded mismatched nucleotides in their aminoacyl-acceptor stem sequences. Here, we demonstrate that mt-tRNA 5'-editing occurs at all predicted sites in D. discoideum as evidenced by changes in the sequences of isolated mt-tRNAs compared with the expected sequences encoded by the mitochondrial genome. We also identify two previously unpredicted editing events in which G-U base pairs are edited in the absence of any other genomically encoded mismatches. A comparison of 5'-editing in D. discoideum with 5'-editing in another slime mold, Polysphondylium pallidum, suggests organism-specific idiosyncrasies in the treatment of U-G/G-U pairs. In vitro activities of putative D. discoideum editing enzymes are consistent with the observed editing reactions and suggest an overall lack of tRNA substrate specificity exhibited by the repair component of the editing enzyme. Although the presence of terminal mismatches in mt-tRNA sequences is highly predictive of the occurrence of mt-tRNA 5'-editing, the variability in treatment of U-G/G-U base pairs observed here indicates that direct experimental evidence of 5'-editing must be obtained to understand the complete spectrum of mt-tRNA editing events in any species.

Crystal structure of a 4-thiouridine synthetase-RNA complex reveals specificity of tRNA U8 modification

In prokaryotes and archaea transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) stability as well as cellular UV protection relies on the post-transcriptional modification of uracil at position 8 (U8) of tRNAs by the 4-thiouridine synthetase ThiI. Here, we report three crystal structures of ThiI from Thermotoga maritima in complex with a truncated tRNA. The RNA is mainly bound by the N-terminal ferredoxin-like domain (NFLD) and the THUMP domain of one subunit within the ThiI homo-dimer thereby positioning the U8 close to the catalytic center in the pyrophosphatase domain of the other subunit. The recognition of the 3’-CCA end by the THUMP domain yields a molecular ruler defining the specificity for U8 thiolation. This first structure of a THUMP/NFLD-RNA complex might serve as paradigm for the RNA recognition by THUMP domains of other proteins. The ternary ThiI–RNA–ATP complex shows no significant structural changes due to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding, but two different states of active site loops are observed independent of the nucleotide loading state. Thereby conformational changes of the active site are coupled with conformational changes of the bound RNA. The ThiI–RNA complex structures indicate that full-length tRNA has to adopt a non-canonical conformation upon binding to ThiI.

RNA-Seq analyses reveal the order of tRNA processing events and the maturation of C/D box and CRISPR RNAs in the hyperthermophile Methanopyrus kandleri

The methanogenic archaeon Methanopyrus kandleri grows near the upper temperature limit for life. Genome analyses revealed strategies to adapt to these harsh conditions and elucidated a unique transfer RNA (tRNA) C-to-U editing mechanism at base 8 for 30 different tRNA species. Here, RNA-Seq deep sequencing methodology was combined with computational analyses to characterize the small RNome of this hyperthermophilic organism and to obtain insights into the RNA metabolism at extreme temperatures. A large number of 132 small RNAs were identified that guide RNA modifications, which are expected to stabilize structured RNA molecules. The C/D box guide RNAs were shown to exist as circular RNA molecules. In addition, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats RNA processing and potential regulatory RNAs were identified. Finally, the identification of tRNA precursors before and after the unique C8-to-U8 editing activity enabled the determination of the order of tRNA processing events with termini truncation preceding intron removal. This order of tRNA maturation follows the compartmentalized tRNA processing order found in Eukaryotes and suggests its conservation during evolution.

Transfer RNA modifications: nature's combinatorial chemistry playground

Following synthesis, tRNAs are peppered by numerous chemical modifications which may differentially affect a tRNA's structure and function. Although modifications affecting the business ends of a tRNA are predictably important for cell viability, a majority of modifications play more subtle structural roles that can affect tRNA stability and folding. The current trend is that modifications act in concert and it is in the context of the specific sequence of a given tRNA that they impart their differing effects. Recent developments in the modification field have highlighted the diversity of modifications in tRNA. From these, the combinatorial nature of modifications in explaining previously described phenotypes derived from their absence has emerged as a growing theme.

Crystal structure of RlmM, the 2'O-ribose methyltransferase for C2498 of Escherichia coli 23S rRNA

RlmM (YgdE) catalyzes the S-adenosyl methionine (AdoMet)-dependent 2'O methylation of C2498 in 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of Escherichia coli. Previous experiments have shown that RlmM is active on 23S rRNA from an RlmM knockout strain but not on mature 50S subunits from the same strain. Here, we demonstrate RlmM methyltransferase (MTase) activity on in vitro transcribed 23S rRNA and its domain V. We have solved crystal structures of E. coli RlmM at 1.9 Å resolution and of an RlmM-AdoMet complex at 2.6 Å resolution. RlmM consists of an N-terminal THUMP domain and a C-terminal catalytic Rossmann-like fold MTase domain in a novel arrangement. The catalytic domain of RlmM is closely related to YiiB, TlyA and fibrillarins, with the second K of the catalytic tetrad KDKE shifted by two residues at the C-terminal end of a beta strand compared with most 2'O MTases. The AdoMet-binding site is open and shallow, suggesting that RNA substrate binding may be required to form a conformation needed for catalysis. A continuous surface of conserved positive charge indicates that RlmM uses one side of the two domains and the inter-domain linker to recognize its RNA substrate.

The RNA world hypothesis: the worst theory of the early evolution of life (except for all the others)(a)

The problems associated with the RNA world hypothesis are well known. In the following I discuss some of these difficulties, some of the alternative hypotheses that have been proposed, and some of the problems with these alternative models. From a biosynthetic - as well as, arguably, evolutionary - perspective, DNA is a modified RNA, and so the chicken-and-egg dilemma of "which came first?" boils down to a choice between RNA and protein. This is not just a question of cause and effect, but also one of statistical likelihood, as the chance of two such different types of macromolecule arising simultaneously would appear unlikely. The RNA world hypothesis is an example of a 'top down' (or should it be 'present back'?) approach to early evolution: how can we simplify modern biological systems to give a plausible evolutionary pathway that preserves continuity of function? The discovery that RNA possesses catalytic ability provides a potential solution: a single macromolecule could have originally carried out both replication and catalysis. RNA - which constitutes the genome of RNA viruses, and catalyzes peptide synthesis on the ribosome - could have been both the chicken and the egg! However, the following objections have been raised to the RNA world hypothesis: (i) RNA is too complex a molecule to have arisen prebiotically; (ii) RNA is inherently unstable; (iii) catalysis is a relatively rare property of long RNA sequences only; and (iv) the catalytic repertoire of RNA is too limited. I will offer some possible responses to these objections in the light of work by our and other labs. Finally, I will critically discuss an alternative theory to the RNA world hypothesis known as 'proteins first', which holds that proteins either preceded RNA in evolution, or - at the very least - that proteins and RNA coevolved. I will argue that, while theoretically possible, such a hypothesis is probably unprovable, and that the RNA world hypothesis, although far from perfect or complete, is the best we currently have to help understand the backstory to contemporary biology.

Evolutionary origin of RNA editing

The term "RNA editing" encompasses a wide variety of mechanistically and phylogenetically unrelated processes that change the nucleotide sequence of an RNA species relative to that of the encoding DNA. Two general classes of editing, substitution and insertion/deletion, have been described, with all major types of cellular RNA (messenger, ribosomal, and transfer) undergoing editing in different organisms. In cases where RNA editing is required for function (e.g., to generate a translatable open reading frame in a mRNA), editing is an obligatory step in the pathway of genetic information expression. How, when, and why individual RNA editing systems originated are intriguing biochemical and evolutionary questions. Here I review briefly what is known about the biochemistry, genetics, and phylogenetics of several very different RNA editing systems, emphasizing what we can deduce about their origin and evolution from the molecular machinery involved. An evolutionary model, centered on the concept of "constructive neutral evolution", is able to account in a general way for the origin of RNA editing systems. The model posits that the biochemical elements of an RNA editing system must be in place before there is an actual need for editing, and that RNA editing systems are inherently mutagenic because they allow potentially deleterious or lethal mutations to persist at the genome level, whereas they would otherwise be purged by purifying selection.

Base methylations in the double-stranded RNA by a fused methyltransferase bearing unwinding activity

Modifications of rRNAs are clustered in functional regions of the ribosome. In Helix 74 of Escherichia coli 23S rRNA, guanosines at positions 2069 and 2445 are modified to 7-methylguanosine(m(7)G) and N(2)-methylguanosine(m(2)G), respectively. We searched for the gene responsible for m(7)G2069 formation, and identified rlmL, which encodes the methyltransferase for m(2)G2445, as responsible for the biogenesis of m(7)G2069. In vitro methylation of rRNA revealed that rlmL encodes a fused methyltransferase responsible for forming both m(7)G2069 and m(2)G2445. We renamed the gene rlmKL. The N-terminal RlmL activity for m(2)G2445 formation was significantly enhanced by the C-terminal RlmK. Moreover, RlmKL had an unwinding activity of Helix 74, facilitating cooperative methylations of m(7)G2069 and m(2)G2445 during biogenesis of 50S subunit. In fact, we observed that RlmKL was involved in the efficient assembly of 50S subunit in a mutant strain lacking an RNA helicase deaD.

APOBEC2 is a monomer in solution: implications for APOBEC3G models

Although the physiological role of APOBEC2 is still largely unknown, a crystal structure of a truncated variant of this protein was determined several years ago [Prochnow, C. (2007) Nature445, 447-451]. This APOBEC2 structure had considerable impact in the HIV field because it was considered a good model for the structure of APOBEC3G, an important HIV restriction factor that abrogates HIV infectivity in the absence of the viral accessory protein Vif. The quaternary structure and the arrangement of the monomers of APOBEC2 in the crystal were taken as being representative for APOBEC3G and exploited in explaining its enzymatic and anti-HIV activity. Here we show, unambiguously, that in contrast to the findings for the crystal, APOBEC2 is monomeric in solution. The nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of full-length APOBEC2 reveals that the N-terminal tail that was removed for crystallization resides close to strand β2, the dimer interface in the crystal structure, and shields this region of the protein from engaging in intermolecular contacts. In addition, the presence of the N-terminal region drastically alters the aggregation propensity of APOBEC2, rendering the full-length protein highly soluble and not prone to precipitation. In summary, our results cast doubt on all previous structure-function predictions for APOBEC3G that were based on the crystal structure of APOBEC2.

Structure of the bifunctional methyltransferase YcbY (RlmKL) that adds the m7G2069 and m2G2445 modifications in Escherichia coli 23S rRNA

The 23S rRNA nucleotide m(2)G2445 is highly conserved in bacteria, and in Escherichia coli this modification is added by the enzyme YcbY. With lengths of around 700 amino acids, YcbY orthologs are the largest rRNA methyltransferases identified in Gram-negative bacteria, and they appear to be fusions from two separate proteins found in Gram-positives. The crystal structures described here show that both the N- and C-terminal halves of E. coli YcbY have a methyltransferase active site and their folding patterns respectively resemble the Streptococcus mutans proteins Smu472 and Smu776. Mass spectrometric analyses of 23S rRNAs showed that the N-terminal region of YcbY and Smu472 are functionally equivalent and add the m(2)G2445 modification, while the C-terminal region of YcbY is responsible for the m(7)G2069 methylation on the opposite side of the same helix (H74). Smu776 does not target G2069, and this nucleotide remains unmodified in Gram-positive rRNAs. The E.coli YcbY enzyme is the first example of a methyltransferase catalyzing two mechanistically different types of RNA modification, and has been renamed as the Ribosomal large subunit methyltransferase, RlmKL. Our structural and functional data provide insights into how this bifunctional enzyme evolved.

Crystal structures of the tRNA:m2G6 methyltransferase Trm14/TrmN from two domains of life

Methyltransferases (MTases) form a major class of tRNA-modifying enzymes needed for the proper functioning of tRNA. Recently, RNA MTases from the TrmN/Trm14 family that are present in Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota have been shown to specifically modify tRNA^Phe at guanosine 6 in the tRNA acceptor stem. Here, we report the first X-ray crystal structures of the tRNA m²G6 (N²-methylguanosine) MTase _TTCTrmN from Thermus thermophilus and its ortholog _PfTrm14 from Pyrococcus furiosus. Structures of _PfTrm14 were solved in complex with the methyl donor S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM or AdoMet), as well as the reaction product S-adenosyl-homocysteine (SAH or AdoHcy) and the inhibitor sinefungin. _TTCTrmN and _PfTrm14 consist of an N-terminal THUMP domain fused to a catalytic Rossmann-fold MTase (RFM) domain. These results represent the first crystallographic structure analysis of proteins containing both THUMP and RFM domain, and hence provide further insight in the contribution of the THUMP domain in tRNA recognition and catalysis. Electrostatics and conservation calculations suggest a main tRNA binding surface in a groove between the THUMP domain and the MTase domain. This is further supported by a docking model of TrmN in complex with tRNA^Phe of T. thermophilus and via site-directed mutagenesis.

Determinants of tRNA editing and modification: avoiding conundrums, affecting function

In all organisms tRNAs play the essential role of connecting the genetic information found in DNA with the protein synthesis machinery ensuring fidelity during translation. Following transcription tRNAs undergo a number of processing events including numerous post-transcriptional modifications that render a tRNA molecule fully functional. The effects of some modifications go beyond simply affecting tRNA structure and can alter the meaning of the tRNA. This review will summarize the current state of the tRNA editing field, highlighting how editing affects tRNA structure and function in various organisms. It will also discuss recent data that hints at connections between editing and modification that may be exploited by cells to modulate a tRNA's role in translation.

Evolution of the deaminase fold and multiple origins of eukaryotic editing and mutagenic nucleic acid deaminases from bacterial toxin systems

The deaminase-like fold includes, in addition to nucleic acid/nucleotide deaminases, several catalytic domains such as the JAB domain, and others involved in nucleotide and ADP-ribose metabolism. Using sensitive sequence and structural comparison methods, we develop a comprehensive natural classification of the deaminase-like fold and show that its ancestral version was likely to operate on nucleotides or nucleic acids. Consequently, we present evidence that a specific group of JAB domains are likely to possess a DNA repair function, distinct from the previously known deubiquitinating peptidase activity. We also identified numerous previously unknown clades of nucleic acid deaminases. Using inference based on contextual information, we suggest that most of these clades are toxin domains of two distinct classes of bacterial toxin systems, namely polymorphic toxins implicated in bacterial interstrain competition and those that target distantly related cells. Genome context information suggests that these toxins might be delivered via diverse secretory systems, such as Type V, Type VI, PVC and a novel PrsW-like intramembrane peptidase-dependent mechanism. We propose that certain deaminase toxins might be deployed by diverse extracellular and intracellular pathogens as also endosymbionts as effectors targeting nucleic acids of host cells. Our analysis suggests that these toxin deaminases have been acquired by eukaryotes on several independent occasions and recruited as organellar or nucleo-cytoplasmic RNA modifiers, operating on tRNAs, mRNAs and short non-coding RNAs, and also as mutators of hyper-variable genes, viruses and selfish elements. This scenario potentially explains the origin of mutagenic AID/APOBEC-like deaminases, including novel versions from Caenorhabditis, Nematostella and diverse algae and a large class of fast-evolving fungal deaminases. These observations greatly expand the distribution of possible unidentified mutagenic processes catalyzed by nucleic acid deaminases.

Formation of m2G6 in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii tRNA catalyzed by the novel methyltransferase Trm14

The modified nucleosides N(2)-methylguanosine and N(2)(2)-dimethylguanosine in transfer RNA occur at five positions in the D and anticodon arms, and at positions G6 and G7 in the acceptor stem. Trm1 and Trm11 enzymes are known to be responsible for several of the D/anticodon arm modifications, but methylases catalyzing post-transcriptional m(2)G synthesis in the acceptor stem are uncharacterized. Here, we report that the MJ0438 gene from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii encodes a novel S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase, now identified as Trm14, which generates m(2)G at position 6 in tRNA(Cys). The 381 amino acid Trm14 protein possesses a canonical RNA recognition THUMP domain at the amino terminus, followed by a γ-class Rossmann fold amino-methyltransferase catalytic domain featuring the signature NPPY active site motif. Trm14 is associated with cluster of orthologous groups (COG) 0116, and most closely resembles the m(2)G10 tRNA methylase Trm11. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a canonical archaeal/bacterial evolutionary separation with 20-30% sequence identities between the two branches, but it is likely that the detailed functions of COG 0116 enzymes differ between the archaeal and bacterial domains. In the archaeal branch, the protein is found exclusively in thermophiles. More distantly related Trm14 homologs were also identified in eukaryotes known to possess the m(2)G6 tRNA modification.

Deficiency of X-linked inverted duplicates with male-biased expression and the underlying evolutionary mechanisms in the Drosophila genome

Inverted duplicates (IDs) are pervasive in genomes and have been reported to play functional roles in various biological processes. However, the general underlying evolutionary forces that maintain IDs in genomes remain largely elusive. Through a systematic screening of the Drosophila melanogaster genome, 20,223 IDs were detected in nonrepetitive intergenic regions, far more than expectation under the neutrality model. 3,846 of these IDs were identified to have stable hairpin structure (i.e., the structural IDs). Based on whole-genome transcriptome profiling data, we found 628 unannotated expressed structural IDs, which had significantly different genomic distributions and structural properties from the unexpressed IDs. Among the expressed structural IDs, 130 exhibited higher expression in males than in females (i.e., male-biased expression). Compared with sex-unbiased ones, these male-biased IDs were significantly underrepresented on the X chromosome, similar to previously reported pattern of male-biased protein-coding genes. These analyses suggest that a selection-driven process, rather than a purely neutral mutation-driven mechanism, contributes to the maintenance of IDs in the Drosophila genome.