1
|
Isaacson JR, Berg MD, Yeung W, Villén J, Brandl CJ, Moehring AJ. Impact of tRNA-induced proline-to-serine mistranslation on the transcriptome of Drosophila melanogaster. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.593249. [PMID: 38766246 PMCID: PMC11100759 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.593249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Mistranslation is the misincorporation of an amino acid into a polypeptide. Mistranslation has diverse effects on multicellular eukaryotes and is implicated in several human diseases. In Drosophila melanogaster, a serine transfer RNA (tRNA) that misincorporates serine at proline codons (P→S) affects male and female flies differently. The mechanisms behind this discrepancy are currently unknown. Here, we compare the transcriptional response of male and female flies to P→S mistranslation to identify genes and cellular processes that underlie sex-specific differences. Both males and females downregulate genes associated with various metabolic processes in response to P→S mistranslation. Males downregulate genes associated with extracellular matrix organization and response to negative stimuli such as wounding, whereas females downregulate aerobic respiration and ATP synthesis genes. Both sexes upregulate genes associated with gametogenesis, but females also upregulate cell cycle and DNA repair genes. These observed differences in the transcriptional response of male and female flies to P→S mistranslation have important implications for the sex-specific impact of mistranslation on disease and tRNA therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew D. Berg
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195
| | - William Yeung
- Department of Biology, Western University, N6A 5B7, London, Canada
| | - Judit Villén
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tomaz da Silva P, Zhang Y, Theodorakis E, Martens LD, Yépez VA, Pelechano V, Gagneur J. Cellular energy regulates mRNA degradation in a codon-specific manner. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:506-520. [PMID: 38491213 PMCID: PMC11066088 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00026-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Codon optimality is a major determinant of mRNA translation and degradation rates. However, whether and through which mechanisms its effects are regulated remains poorly understood. Here we show that codon optimality associates with up to 2-fold change in mRNA stability variations between human tissues, and that its effect is attenuated in tissues with high energy metabolism and amplifies with age. Mathematical modeling and perturbation data through oxygen deprivation and ATP synthesis inhibition reveal that cellular energy variations non-uniformly alter the effect of codon usage. This new mode of codon effect regulation, independent of tRNA regulation, provides a fundamental mechanistic link between cellular energy metabolism and eukaryotic gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Tomaz da Silva
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Munich Center for Machine Learning, Munich, Germany
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Scilifelab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evangelos Theodorakis
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Laura D Martens
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Vicente A Yépez
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Vicent Pelechano
- Scilifelab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julien Gagneur
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.
- Institute of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Barrington CL, Galindo G, Koch AL, Horton ER, Morrison EJ, Tisa S, Stasevich TJ, Rissland OS. Synonymous codon usage regulates translation initiation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113413. [PMID: 38096059 PMCID: PMC10790568 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonoptimal synonymous codons repress gene expression, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We and others have previously shown that nonoptimal codons slow translation elongation speeds and thereby trigger messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation. Nevertheless, transcript levels are often insufficient to explain protein levels, suggesting additional mechanisms by which codon usage regulates gene expression. Using reporters in human and Drosophila cells, we find that transcript levels account for less than half of the variation in protein abundance due to codon usage. This discrepancy is explained by translational differences whereby nonoptimal codons repress translation initiation. Nonoptimal transcripts are also less bound by the translation initiation factors eIF4E and eIF4G1, providing a mechanistic explanation for their reduced initiation rates. Importantly, translational repression can occur without mRNA decay and deadenylation, and it does not depend on the known nonoptimality sensor, CNOT3. Our results reveal a potent mechanism of regulation by codon usage where nonoptimal codons repress further rounds of translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe L Barrington
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Gabriel Galindo
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Amanda L Koch
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Emma R Horton
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Evan J Morrison
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Samantha Tisa
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Timothy J Stasevich
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Olivia S Rissland
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stewart RK, Nguyen P, Laederach A, Volkan PC, Sawyer JK, Fox DT. Orb2 enables rare-codon-enriched mRNA expression during Drosophila neuron differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550700. [PMID: 37546801 PMCID: PMC10402044 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of codon optimality is an increasingly appreciated layer of cell- and tissue-specific protein expression control. Here, we use codon-modified reporters to show that differentiation of Drosophila neural stem cells into neurons enables protein expression from rare-codon-enriched genes. From a candidate screen, we identify the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein Orb2 as a positive regulator of rare-codon-dependent expression in neurons. Using RNA sequencing, we reveal that Orb2-upregulated mRNAs in the brain with abundant Orb2 binding sites have a rare-codon bias. From these Orb2-regulated mRNAs, we demonstrate that rare-codon enrichment is important for expression control and social behavior function of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which neural stem cell differentiation shifts genetic code regulation to enable critical mRNA and protein expression.
Collapse
|
5
|
Lidsky PV, Yuan J, Lashkevich KA, Dmitriev SE, Andino R. Monitoring integrated stress response in live Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.13.548942. [PMID: 37502856 PMCID: PMC10369977 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.13.548942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Cells exhibit stress responses to various environmental changes. Among these responses, the integrated stress response (ISR) plays a pivotal role as a crucial stress signaling pathway. While extensive ISR research has been conducted on cultured cells, our understanding of its implications in multicellular organisms remains limited, largely due to the constraints of current techniques that hinder our ability to track and manipulate the ISR in vivo. To overcome these limitations, we have successfully developed an internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-based fluorescent reporter system. This innovative reporter enables us to label Drosophila cells, within the context of a living organism, that exhibit eIF2 phosphorylation-dependent translational shutoff - a characteristic feature of the ISR and viral infections. Through this methodology, we have unveiled tissue- and cell-specific regulation of stress response in Drosophila flies and have even been able to detect stressed tissues in vivo during virus and bacterial infections. To further validate the specificity of our reporter, we have engineered ISR-null eIF2αS50A mutant flies for stress response analysis. Our results shed light on the tremendous potential of this technique for investigating a broad range of developmental, stress, and infection-related experimental conditions. Combining the reporter tool with ISR-null mutants establishes Drosophila as an exceptionally powerful model for studying the ISR in the context of multicellular organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter V Lidsky
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158
| | - Jing Yuan
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158
| | - Kseniya A Lashkevich
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234 Russia
| | - Sergey E Dmitriev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234 Russia
| | - Raul Andino
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Alonso AM, Diambra L. Dicodon-based measures for modeling gene expression. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:btad380. [PMID: 37307098 PMCID: PMC10287933 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Codon usage preference patterns have been associated with modulation of translation efficiency, protein folding, and mRNA decay. However, new studies support that codon pair usage has also a remarkable effect at the gene expression level. Here, we expand the concept of CAI to answer if codon pair usage patterns can be understood in terms of codon usage bias, or if they offer new information regarding coding translation efficiency. RESULTS Through the implementation of a weighting strategy to consider the dicodon contributions, we observe that the dicodon-based measure has greater correlations with gene expression level than CAI. Interestingly, we have noted that dicodons associated with a low value of adaptiveness are related to dicodons which mediate strong translational inhibition in yeast. We have also noticed that some codon-pairs have a smaller dicodon contribution than estimated by the product of the respective codon contributions. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Scripts, implemented in Python, are freely available for download at https://zenodo.org/record/7738276#.ZBIDBtLMIdU.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres M Alonso
- Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino km 8.2, Chascomús, 7130 Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CCT-La Plata, CONICET, Calle 8 Nº 1467, La Plata, B1904CMC Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Diambra
- CCT-La Plata, CONICET, Calle 8 Nº 1467, La Plata, B1904CMC Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, FCE-UNLP, Blvd 120 N∘ 1461, La Plata, 1900 Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khandia R, Pandey MK, Rzhepakovsky IV, Khan AA, Alexiou A. Synonymous Codon Variant Analysis for Autophagic Genes Dysregulated in Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2252-2267. [PMID: 36637744 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03081-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are often a culmination of the accumulation of abnormally folded proteins and defective organelles. Autophagy is a process of removing these defective proteins, organelles, and harmful substances from the body, and it works to maintain homeostasis. If autophagic removal of defective proteins has interfered, it affects neuronal health. Some of the autophagic genes are specifically found to be associated with neurodegenerative phenotypes. Non-functional, mutated, or gene copies having silent mutations, often termed synonymous variants, might explain this. However, these synonymous variant which codes for exactly similar proteins have different translation rates, stability, and gene expression profiling. Hence, it would be interesting to study the pattern of synonymous variant usage. In the study, synonymous variant usage in various transcripts of autophagic genes ATG5, ATG7, ATG8A, ATG16, and ATG17/FIP200 reported to cause neurodegeneration (if dysregulated) is studied. These genes were analyzed for their synonymous variant usage; nucleotide composition; any possible nucleotide skew in a gene; physical properties of autophagic protein including GRAVY and AROMA; hydropathicity; instability index; and frequency of acidic, basic, neutral amino acids; and gene expression level. The study will help understand various evolutionary forces acting on these genes and the possible augmentation of a gene if showing unusual behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, 462026, India.
| | - Megha Katare Pandey
- Department of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, 462020, India
| | | | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia
- AFNP Med, Wien, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Although differential transcription drives the development of multicellular organisms, the ultimate readout of a protein-coding gene is ribosome-dependent mRNA translation. Ribosomes were once thought of as uniform molecular machines, but emerging evidence indicates that the complexity and diversity of ribosome biogenesis and function should be given a fresh look in the context of development. This Review begins with a discussion of different developmental disorders that have been linked with perturbations in ribosome production and function. We then highlight recent studies that reveal how different cells and tissues exhibit variable levels of ribosome production and protein synthesis, and how changes in protein synthesis capacity can influence specific cell fate decisions. We finish by touching upon ribosome heterogeneity in stress responses and development. These discussions highlight the importance of considering both ribosome levels and functional specialization in the context of development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Michael Buszczak
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hernandez-Alias X, Benisty H, Radusky LG, Serrano L, Schaefer MH. Using protein-per-mRNA differences among human tissues in codon optimization. Genome Biol 2023; 24:34. [PMID: 36829202 PMCID: PMC9951436 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02868-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Codon usage and nucleotide composition of coding sequences have profound effects on protein expression. However, while it is recognized that different tissues have distinct tRNA profiles and codon usages in their transcriptomes, the effect of tissue-specific codon optimality on protein synthesis remains elusive. RESULTS We leverage existing state-of-the-art transcriptomics and proteomics datasets from the GTEx project and the Human Protein Atlas to compute the protein-to-mRNA ratios of 36 human tissues. Using this as a proxy of translational efficiency, we build a machine learning model that identifies codons enriched or depleted in specific tissues. We detect two clusters of tissues with an opposite pattern of codon preferences. We then use these identified patterns for the development of CUSTOM, a codon optimizer algorithm which suggests a synonymous codon design in order to optimize protein production in a tissue-specific manner. In human cell-line models, we provide evidence that codon optimization should take into account particularities of the translational machinery of the tissues in which the target proteins are expressed and that our approach can design genes with tissue-optimized expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS We provide proof-of-concept evidence that codon preferences exist in tissue-specific protein synthesis and demonstrate its application to synthetic gene design. We show that CUSTOM can be of benefit in biological and biotechnological applications, such as in the design of tissue-targeted therapies and vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Hernandez-Alias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Hannah Benisty
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leandro G Radusky
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Serrano
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain. .,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Martin H Schaefer
- IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gurjar P, Karuvantevida N, Rzhepakovsky IV, Khan AA, Khandia R. A Synthetic Biology Approach for Vaccine Candidate Design against Delta Strain of SARS-CoV-2 Revealed Disruption of Favored Codon Pair as a Better Strategy over Using Rare Codons. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020487. [PMID: 36851364 PMCID: PMC9967482 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (B.1.617.2) appeared for the first time in December 2020 and later spread worldwide. Currently available vaccines are not so efficacious in curbing the viral pathogenesis of the delta strain of COVID; therefore, the development of a safe and effective vaccine is required. In the present study, we envisaged molecular patterns in the structural genes' spike, nucleoprotein, membrane, and envelope of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant. The study was based on determining compositional features, dinucleotide odds ratio, synonymous codon usage, positive and negative codon contexts, rare codons, and insight into relatedness between the human host isoacceptor tRNA and preferred codons from the structural genes. We found specific patterns, including a significant abundance of T nucleotide over all other three nucleotides. The underrepresentation of GpA, GpG, CpC, and CpG dinucleotides and the overrepresentation of TpT, ApA, CpT, and TpG were observed. A preference towards ACT- (Thr), AAT- (Asn), TTT- (Phe), and TTG- (Leu) initiated codons and aversion towards CGG (Arg), CCG (Pro), and CAC (His) was present in the structural genes of the delta strain. The interaction between the host tRNA pool and preferred codons of the envisaged structural genes revealed that the virus preferred the codons for those suboptimal numbers of isoacceptor tRNA were present. We see this as a strategy adapted by the virus to keep the translation rate low to facilitate the correct folding of viral proteins. The information generated in the study helps design the attenuated vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant using a synthetic biology approach. Three strategies were tested: changing TpT to TpA, introducing rare codons, and disrupting favored codons. It found that disrupting favored codons is a better approach to reducing virus fitness and attenuating SARS-CoV-2 delta strain using structural genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Gurjar
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
| | - Noushad Karuvantevida
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.A.K.); or (R.K.)
| | - Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah Universty, Bhopal 462026, India
- Correspondence: (A.A.K.); or (R.K.)
| |
Collapse
|