Cloning and Detection of Genomic Retrozymes and Their circRNA Intermediates

Retrozymes are a novel family of non-autonomous retrotransposable elements that contain hammerhead ribozyme motifs. These retroelements are found widespread in eukaryotic genomes, with active copies present in many species, which rely on other autonomous transposons for mobilization. Contrary to other retrotransposons, transcription of retrozymes in vivo leads to the formation and accumulation of circular RNAs, which can be readily detected by RNA blotting. In this chapter, we describe the procedures needed to carry out the cloning of genomic retrozymes, and to detect by northern blot their circular RNA retrotransposition intermediates.

In Vitro Selection of Varkud Satellite Ribozyme Variants that Cleave a Modified Stem-Loop Substrate

In vitro selection is an established approach to create artificial ribozymes with defined activities or to modify the properties of naturally occurring ribozymes. For the Varkud satellite ribozyme of Neurospora, an in vitro selection protocol based on its phosphodiester bond cleavage activity has not been previously reported. Here, we describe a simple protocol for cleavage-based in vitro selection that we recently used to identify variants of the Varkud satellite ribozyme able to target and cleave a non-natural stem-loop substrate derived from the HIV-1 TAR RNA. It allows quick selection of active ribozyme variants from the transcription reaction based on the size of the self-cleavage product without the need for RNA labeling. This results in a streamlined procedure that is easily adaptable to engineer ribozymes with new activities.

Novel ribozymes: discovery, catalytic mechanisms, and the quest to understand biological function

Small endonucleolytic ribozymes promote the self-cleavage of their own phosphodiester backbone at a specific linkage. The structures of and the reactions catalysed by members of individual families have been studied in great detail in the past decades. In recent years, bioinformatics studies have uncovered a considerable number of new examples of known catalytic RNA motifs. Importantly, entirely novel ribozyme classes were also discovered, for most of which both structural and biochemical information became rapidly available. However, for the majority of the new ribozymes, which are found in the genomes of a variety of species, a biological function remains elusive. Here, we concentrate on the different approaches to find catalytic RNA motifs in sequence databases. We summarize the emerging principles of RNA catalysis as observed for small endonucleolytic ribozymes. Finally, we address the biological functions of those ribozymes, where relevant information is available and common themes on their cellular activities are emerging. We conclude by speculating on the possibility that the identification and characterization of proteins that we hypothesize to be endogenously associated with catalytic RNA might help in answering the ever-present question of the biological function of the growing number of genomically encoded, small endonucleolytic ribozymes.

Artificial ligase ribozymes isolated by a "design and selection" strategy

We developed a new in vitro selection strategy "design and selection" to isolate effectively artificial ribozymes (catalytic RNAs). An overall RNA structure (scaffold) is initially designed, and then a relatively short randomized sequence is installed at the reaction point of the scaffold, followed by the in vitro selection. This method can reduce the length of randomized sequence, providing large coverage of the sequence space in contrast with the conventional way, which makes the selection experiment effectively. Additionally, further analysis of ribozymes obtained by this approach is practically easy since the overall molecular structure is predesigned and well known. Here we show the procedure to isolate artificial RNA ligase ribozymes by this strategy. We have succeeded in isolation of the designed and selected ligase (DSL) ribozymes.

Using droplet-based microfluidics to improve the catalytic properties of RNA under multiple-turnover conditions

In vitro evolution methodologies are powerful approaches to identify RNA with new functionalities. While Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) is an efficient approach to generate new RNA aptamers, it is less suited for the isolation of efficient ribozymes as it does not select directly for the catalysis. In vitro compartmentalization (IVC) in aqueous droplets in emulsions allows catalytic RNAs to be selected under multiple-turnover conditions but suffers severe limitations that can be overcome using the droplet-based microfluidics workflow described in this paper. Using microfluidics, millions of genes in a library can be individually compartmentalized in highly monodisperse aqueous droplets and serial operations performed on them. This allows the different steps of the evolution process (gene amplification, transcription, and phenotypic assay) to be uncoupled, making the method highly flexible, applicable to the selection and evolution of a variety of RNAs, and easily adaptable for evolution of DNA or proteins. To demonstrate the method, we performed cycles of random mutagenesis and selection to evolve the X-motif, a ribozyme which, like many ribozymes selected using SELEX, has limited multiple-turnover activity. This led to the selection of variants, likely to be the optimal ribozymes that can be generated using point mutagenesis alone, with a turnover number under multiple-turnover conditions, k(ss) cat, ∼ 28-fold higher than the original X-motif, primarily due to an increase in the rate of product release, the rate-limiting step in the multiple-turnover reaction.

Strong anion-exchange fast performance liquid chromatography as a versatile tool for preparation and purification of RNA produced by in vitro transcription

Here we demonstrate the use of strong anion-exchange fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) as a simple, fast, and robust method for RNA production by in vitro transcription. With this technique, we have purified different transcription templates from unreacted reagents in large quantities. The same buffer system could be used to readily remove nuclease contamination from the overexpressed pyrophosphatase, the important reagent for in vitro transcription. In addition, the method can be used to monitor in vitro transcription reactions to enable facile optimization of reaction conditions, and we have compared the separation performance between strong and weak anion-exchange FPLC for various transcribed RNAs, including the Diels-Alder ribozyme, the hammerhead ribozyme tRNA, and 4.5S RNA. The functionality of the purified tRNA(Cys) has been confirmed by the aminoacylation assay. Only the purification by strong anion-exchange FPLC has led to the enrichment of the functional tRNA from run-off transcripts as revealed by both enzymatic and electrophoretic analysis.

Crystallographic analysis of small ribozymes and riboswitches

Ribozymes and riboswitches are RNA motifs that accelerate biological reactions and regulate gene expression in response to metabolite recognition, respectively. These RNA molecules gain functionality via complex folding that cannot be predicted a priori, and thus requires high-resolution three-dimensional structure determination to locate key functional attributes. Herein, we present an overview of the methods used to determine small RNA structures with an emphasis on RNA preparation, crystallization, and structure refinement. We draw upon examples from our own research in the analysis of the leadzyme ribozyme, the hairpin ribozyme, a class I preQ(1) riboswitch, and variants of a larger class II preQ(1) riboswitch. The methods presented provide a guide for comparable investigations of noncoding RNA molecules including a 48-solution, "first choice" RNA crystal screen compiled from our prior successes with commercially available screens.

RNase P of the Cyanophora paradoxa cyanelle: A plastid ribozyme

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that generates the mature 5' ends of tRNAs. Ubiquitous across all three kingdoms of life, the composition and functional contributions of the RNA and protein components of RNase P differ between the kingdoms. RNA-alone catalytic activity has been reported throughout bacteria, but only for some archaea, and only as trace activity for eukarya. Available information for RNase P from photosynthetic organelles points to large differences to bacterial as well as to eukaryotic RNase P: for spinach chloroplasts, protein-alone activity has been discussed; for RNase P from the cyanelle of the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa, a type of organelle sharing properties of both cyanobacteria and chloroplasts, the proportion of protein was found to be around 80% rather than the usual 10% in bacteria. Furthermore, the latter RNase P was previously found catalytically inactive in the absence of protein under a variety of conditions; however, the RNA could be activated by a cyanobacterial protein, but not by the bacterial RNase P protein from Escherichia coli. Here we demonstrate that, under very high enzyme concentrations, the RNase P RNA from the cyanelle of C. paradoxa displays RNA-alone activity well above the detection level. Moreover, the RNA can be complemented to a functional holoenzyme by the E. coli RNase P protein, further supporting its overall bacterial-like architecture. Mutational analysis and domain swaps revealed that this A,U-rich cyanelle RNase P RNA is globally optimized but conformationally unstable, since changes as little as a single point mutation or a base pair identity switch at positions that are not part of the universally conserved catalytic core led to a complete loss of RNA-alone activity. Likely related to this low robustness, extensive structural changes towards an E. coli-type P5-7/P15-17 subdomain as a canonical interaction site for tRNA 3'-CCA termini could not be coaxed into increased ribozyme activity.

Improved native affinity purification of RNA

RNA biochemical or structural studies often require an RNA sample that is chemically pure, and most protocols for its in vitro production use denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to achieve this. Unfortunately, many RNAs do not quantitatively refold into an active conformation after denaturation, creating significant problems for downstream characterization or use. In addition, this traditional purification method is not amenable to studies demanding high-throughput RNA production. Recently, we presented the first general method for producing almost any RNA sequence that employs an affinity tag that is removed during the purification process. Because technical difficulties prevented application of this method to many RNAs, we have developed an improved version that utilizes a different activatable ribozyme and affinity tag that are considerably more robust, rapid, and broadly applicable.

Selection of an improved RNA polymerase ribozyme with superior extension and fidelity

Our current understanding of biology suggests that early life relied predominantly on RNA for catalysis and replication. Here, we report the isolation of an RNA polymerase ribozyme called B6.61 that exhibits superior extension and fidelity relative to its progenitor, the Round-18 polymerase. The B6.61 polymerase was selected from a mutagenized pool containing approximately 9 x 10(14) sequence variants through the use of a novel large-scale in vitro compartmentalization system. B6.61 polymerized all tested primer-template (PT) complexes faster than the Round-18 variant. For one PT, B6.61 exhibited dramatically faster elongation past one full helical turn and incorporated at least 20 nucleotides of sequence, setting a new extension record for an RNA polymerase ribozyme. The increased efficiency of the B6.61 construct was related to improvements in fidelity, with the new variant incorporating less incorrect wobble base pairs than its parent. This new polymerase demonstrates the feasibility of evolving an artificial RNA replicase ribozyme in the foreseeable future.

Rapid purification of RNAs using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC)

We present here an improved RNA purification method using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) size-exclusion chromatography in place of denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The method allows preparation of milligram quantities of pure RNA in a single day. As RNA oligonucleotides behave differently from globular proteins in the size-exclusion column, we present standard curves for RNA oligonucleotides of different lengths on both the Superdex 75 column and the Superdex 200 size-exclusion column. Using this approach, we can separate monomer from multimeric RNA species, purify the desired RNA product from hammerhead ribozyme reactions, and isolate refolded RNA that has aggregated after long-term storage. This methodology allows simple and rapid purification of RNA oligonucleotides for structural and biophysical studies.

A genomewide search for ribozymes reveals an HDV-like sequence in the human CPEB3 gene

Ribozymes are thought to have played a pivotal role in the early evolution of life, but relatively few have been identified in modern organisms. We performed an in vitro selection aimed at isolating self-cleaving RNAs from the human genome. The selection yielded several ribozymes, one of which is a conserved mammalian sequence that resides in an intron of the CPEB3 gene, which belongs to a family of genes regulating messenger RNA polyadenylation. The CPEB3 ribozyme is structurally and biochemically related to the human hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozymes. The occurrence of this ribozyme exclusively in mammals suggests that it may have evolved as recently as 200 million years ago. We postulate that HDV arose from the human transcriptome.

Calcium(II)-dependent catalytic activity of the Azoarcus ribozyme: testing the limits of resolution for in vitro selection

Group I intron ribozymes isolated from natural sources have a strict dependence on the divalent metal cations Mg(II) or Mn(II) for catalytic activity. However, mutant versions of the Tetrahymena ribozyme have been previously isolated in the laboratory that show demonstrable activity in 10 mM CaCl(2) as the only supplied salt. Here, we sought to discover similar variants of another group I intron that is likely more evolutionarily specialized. We used in vitro selection to isolate a Ca(II)-dependent variant of the naturally-occurring form of the Azoarcus ribozyme, which is half the size of the Tetrahymena ribozyme and possesses an extremely high G+C content of 71%. A mutation of G to A at position 118 was selected in multiple independent trials. Activity of the mutant is very poor in Ca(II) and can only be observed after RT-PCR, highlighting the power of in vitro selection to isolate molecules with rare and low-level activities. The mutation likely confers an alternate but rare folded conformation that permits accommodation of Ca(II) ions and catalysis. This work also serves to caution that although a selection may be successful, isolates may not be catalytically proficient enough to provide useful levels of activity.

A ribozyme for the aldol reaction

Directed in vitro evolution can create RNA catalysts for a variety of organic reactions, supporting the "RNA world" hypothesis, which proposes that metabolic transformations in early life were catalyzed by RNA molecules rather than proteins. Among the most fundamental carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in nature is the aldol reaction, mainly catalyzed by aldolases that utilize either an enamine mechanism (class I) or a Zn(2+) cofactor (class II). We report on isolation of a Zn(2+)-dependent ribozyme that catalyzes an aldol reaction at its own modified 5' end with a 4300-fold rate enhancement over the uncatalyzed background reaction. The ribozyme can also act as an intermolecular catalyst that transfers a biotinylated benzaldehyde derivative to the aldol donor substrate, coupled to an external hexameric RNA oligonucleotide, supporting the existence of RNA-originated biosynthetic pathways for metabolic sugar precursors and other biomolecules.

RNA-directed construction of structurally complex and active ligase ribozymes through recombination

RNA-directed recombination can be used to catalyze a disproportionation reaction among small RNA substrates to create new combinations of sequences. But the accommodation of secondary and tertiary structural constraints in the substrates by recombinase ribozymes has not been explored. Here, we show that the Azoarcus group I intron can recombine oligoribonucleotides to construct class I ligase ribozymes, which are catalytically active upon synthesis. The substrate oligonucleotides, ranging in size from 58 to 104 nucleotides (nt), along with the 152-nt ligase ribozymes they reconstitute, can contain significant amounts of secondary structure. However, substrate recognition by the Azoarcus ribozyme depends on the existence of a single accessible CAU triplet for effective recombination. A biphasic temperature reaction profile was designed such that the sequential recombination/ligation events could take place in a thermocycler without human intervention. A temperature-dependent pH shift of the reaction buffer contributes to the success of the net reaction. When the substrate for the ligase ribozyme is introduced into the reaction mixture, as much as 11% can be observed being converted to product by the recombined ligase in the same reaction vessel. Recombination followed by ligation can also occur under isothermal conditions at 37 degrees C. Tertiary structure formation of the ligase upon construction can provide some protection from cleavage by the Azoarcus ribozyme when compared to the constituent substrates. These data suggest that RNA-directed recombination can, in fact, articulate complex ribozymes, and that there are logical rules that can guide the optimal placement of the CAU recognition sequence.

Optimal random libraries for the isolation of catalytic RNA

The relationship between ribozyme size and catalytic activity is of fundamental importance for RNA catalysis and molecular evolution in the RNA world. We have performed a series of competitive in vitro selection experiments to probe the relationship using RNA libraries containing size-heterogeneous random regions. Our experiments have established an inverse correlation between RNA replication efficiency (the combined efficiency of PCR amplification, transcription, and reverse transcription) and RNA size. A number of ribozyme sequences have been isolated from different RNA size groups under competitive selection conditions. Comprehensive kinetic analysis on isolated ribozymes has revealed that large ribozymes do not confer a significant catalytic superiority over smaller ones under most selection conditions, and actually impose two significant problems of replication inefficiency and RNA misfolding into inactive conformations. The fraction of a misfolded ribozyme population is defined as alpha. Large ribozymes tend to possess high alpha values, which may significantly reduce ribozyme performance. Our results suggest that a random region of around 60 nucleotides represents the optimal balance between ribozyme catalytic activity, RNA misfolding (alpha), and replication efficiency, and may therefore constitute the most advantageous RNA libraries for successful isolation of functional RNA sequences.

Direct selection of trans-acting ligase ribozymes by in vitro compartmentalization

We have used a compartmentalized in vitro selection method to directly select for ligase ribozymes that are capable of acting on and turning over separable oligonucleotide substrates. Starting from a degenerate pool, we selected a trans-acting variant of the Bartel class I ligase which statistically may have been the only active variant in the starting pool. The isolation of this sequence from the population suggests that this selection method is extremely robust at selecting optimal ribozymes and should, therefore, prove useful for the selection and optimization of other trans-acting nucleic acid catalysts capable of multiple turnover catalysis.

Interfering with hepatitis C virus IRES activity using RNA molecules identified by a novel in vitro selection method

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the world's major health problems, and the identification of efficient HCV inhibitors is a major goal. Here we report the isolation of efficient anti-HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA molecules identified by a new in vitro selection method. The newly developed procedure consists of two sequential steps that use distinct criteria for selection: selection for binding and selection for cleaving. The selection protocol was applied to a population of more than 10(15) variants of an anti-hepatitis C virus ribozyme covalently linked to an aptamer motif. The ribozyme was directed against positions 357 to 369 of the HCV IRES, and the cleavage substrate was a 691-nucleotide-long RNA fragment that comprises the entire HCV IRES domain. After six selection cycles, seven groups of RNA variants were identified. A representative of each group was tested for its capacity to inhibit IRES activity using in vitro translation assays. All selected RNAs promoted significant inhibition, some by as much as 95%.

Ribozyme-catalyzed aminoacylation from CoA thioesters

Coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters play essential roles in modern metabolism. To demonstrate plausible biochemical functions of thioesters in the RNA world, we have isolated a new class of ribozymes (ACT) that catalyze self-aminoacylation from a number of CoA thioesters with catalytic efficiencies ranging from 7000 to 24 000 M(-1) x min(-1). Active thioester substrates are required to contain both a free alpha-amino group in the acyl moiety and a CoA as the thiol component. We hypothesize ribozyme-based aminoacylation systems using aminoacyl thioesters of CoA as the ancestors of modern aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. On the basis of our previous results [Huang et al. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 15548-15555; Coleman and Huang (2002) Chem. Biol. 9, 1227-1236], an extensive RNA-catalyzed "metabolic pathway" involving CoA and its thioesters is proposed. Complex contemporary metabolic systems could have evolved from the proposed ribozyme pathways.

Isolation of fast purine nucleotide synthase ribozymes

Here we report the in vitro selection of fast ribozymes capable of promoting the synthesis of a purine nucleotide (6-thioguanosine monophosphate) from tethered 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and 6-thioguanine ((6S)Gua). The two most proficient purine synthases have apparent efficiencies of 284 and 230 M(-1) min(-1) and are both significantly more efficient than pyrimidine nucleotide synthase ribozymes selected previously by a similar approach. Interestingly, while both ribozymes showed good substrate discrimination, one ribozyme had no detectable affinity for 6-thioguanine while the second had a K(m) of approximately 80 muM, indicating that these ribozymes use considerably different modes of substrate recognition. The purine synthases were isolated after 10 rounds of selection from two high-diversity RNA pools. The first pool contained a long random sequence region. The second pool contained random sequence elements interspersed with the mutagenized helical elements of a previously characterized 4-thiouridine synthase ribozyme. While nearly all of the ribozymes isolated from this biased pool population appeared to have benefited from utilizing one of the progenitor's helical elements, little evidence for more complicated secondary structure preservation was evident. The discovery of purine synthases, in addition to pyrimidine synthases, demonstrates the potential for nucleotide synthesis in an 'RNA World' and provides a context from which to study small molecule RNA catalysis.

Single-Cell Detection of Trans-Splicing Ribozyme In Vivo Activity

The Tetrahymena trans-splicing ribozyme can edit RNA in a sequence-specific manner, but its efficiency needs to be improved for any functional rescues. This communication describes a simple method that uses a bacterial enzyme beta-lactamase to report trans-splicing activity of Tetrahymena ribozyme in single living mammalian cells by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. This enzyme-based single-cell detection method is highly sensitive and compatible with living cell flow cytometry, and should allow a cell-based systematic screening of a vast library of ribozymes for better trans-spliced ribozyme variants.

Reconstitution of archaeal ribonuclease P from RNA and four protein components

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an endonuclease responsible for generating the 5(') end of matured tRNA molecules. A homology search of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 genome database revealed that the four genes, PH1481, PH1601, PH1771, and PH1877, have a significant homology to those encoding RNase P protein subunits, hpop5, Rpp21, Rpp29, and Rpp30, of human, respectively. These genes were expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and the resulting proteins Ph1481p, Ph1601p, Ph1771p, and Ph1877p were purified to apparent homogeneity in a set of column chromatographies. The four proteins were characterized in terms of their capability to bind the cognate RNase P RNA from P. horikoshii. All four proteins exhibited the binding activity to the RNase P RNA. In vitro reconstitution of four putative RNase P proteins with the in vitro transcripted P. horikoshii RNase P RNA revealed that three proteins Ph1481p, Ph1601p, and Ph1771p, and RNase P RNA are minimal components for the RNase P activity. However, addition of the fourth protein Ph1877p strongly stimulated enzymatic activity, indicating that all four proteins and RNase P RNA are essential for optimal RNase P activity. The present data will pave the way for the elucidation of the reaction mechanism for archaeal as well as eukaryotic RNase P.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary diffraction analysis of RNase P protein from Thermotoga maritima

Ribonuclease P (RNase P), the ubiquitous endonuclease that catalyzes maturation of the 5'-end of tRNA in bacteria, is a ribonucleoprotein particle composed of one large RNA and one small protein. Two major structural types of bacterial RNase P RNA have been identified by phylogenetic comparative analysis: the A (ancestral) and B (Bacillus) types. The RNase P protein from Thermotoga maritima, a hyperthermophilic bacterium with an A-type RNase P RNA, has been expressed in Escherichia coli. A purification strategy was developed to obtain a protein preparation suitable for crystallization. Protein crystals suitable for diffraction studies were obtained and characterized.

A tRNA aminoacylation system for non-natural amino acids based on a programmable ribozyme

The ability to recognize tRNA identities is essential to the function of the genetic coding system. In translation aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) recognize the identities of tRNAs and charge them with their cognate amino acids. We show that an in vitro evolved ribozyme can also discriminate between specific tRNAs, and can transfer amino acids to the 3' ends of cognate tRNAs. The ribozyme interacts with both the CCA-3' terminus and the anticodon loop of tRNA(fMet), and its tRNA specificity is controlled by these interactions. This feature allows us to program the selectivity of the ribozyme toward specific tRNAs, and therefore to tailor effective aminoacyl-transfer catalysts. This method potentially provides a means of generating aminoacyl tRNAs that are charged with non-natural amino acids, which could be incorporated into proteins through cell-free translation.

Archaeal RNase P has multiple protein subunits homologous to eukaryotic nuclear RNase P proteins

Although archaeal RNase P RNAs are similar in both sequence and structure to those of Bacteria rather than eukaryotes, and heterologous reconstitution between the Bacillus subtilis RNase P protein and some archaeal RNase P RNAs has been demonstrated, no archaeal protein sequences with similarity to any known bacterial RNase P protein subunit have been identified, and the density of Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus RNase P in Cs2SO4 (1.42 g/mL) is inconsistent with a single small bacterial-like protein subunit. Four hypothetical open reading frames (MTH11, MTH687, MTH688, and MTH1618) were identified in the genome of M. thermoautotrophicus that have sequence similarity to four of the nine Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase P protein subunits: Pop4p, Pop5p, Rpp1p, and Rpr2p, respectively. Polyclonal antisera generated to recombinant Mth11p, Mth687p, Mth688p, and Mth1618p each recognized a protein of the predicted molecular weight in western blots of partially purified M. thermoautotrophicus RNase P, and immunoprecipitated RNase P activity from the same partially purified preparation. RNase P in Archaea is therefore composed of an RNA subunit similar to bacterial RNase P RNA and multiple protein subunits similar to those in the eukaryotic nucleus.

Mitochondrial ribonuclease P activity of Trypanosoma brucei

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an essential enzyme that cleaves the 5' leader sequences of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs) to generate mature tRNAs. The RNase P-like activity from Trypanosoma brucei mitochondria (mtRNase P) was purified over 10000-fold by sequential column chromatography. This is the first demonstration of such activity from mitochondria of parasitic protozoa. Its apparent molecular weight is approximately 70 kDa, considerably less than bacterial RNase P. Preliminary characterizations revealed no RNA component that is essential for this activity. Like other RNase P activities, the cleavage generates mature tRNAs with a terminal 5'-phosphate at the cleavage site and the 5' leader sequence with a 3'-hydroxyl. Disruption of the pre-tRNA tertiary structure inhibits the cleavage of the substrates. These data suggest that although all mitochondrial tRNAs are encoded in nuclear DNA in T. brucei, these cells contain an RNase P in the mitochondrion that cleaves the 5' terminal leader sequences of pre-tRNAs to generate mature tRNAs. Cleavage by mtRNase P of a pre-tRNA substrate that was divided into two fragments was demonstrated. This shows the feasibility of artificial regulation of gene expression that can be achieved by creating a complex made of target mRNA and a complementary small oligonucleotide that resembles natural substrates for RNase P.

Novel RNA catalysts for the Michael reaction

BACKGROUND

In vitro selected ribozymes with nucleotide synthase, peptide and carbon-carbon bond forming activity provide insight into possible scenarios on how chemical transformations may have been catalyzed before protein enzymes had evolved. Metabolic pathways based on ribozymes may have existed at an early stage of evolution.

RESULTS

We have isolated a novel ribozyme that mediates Michael-adduct formation at a Michael-acceptor substrate, similar to the rate-limiting step of the mechanistic sequence of thymidylate synthase. The kinetic characterization of this catalyst revealed a rate enhancement by a factor of approximately 10(5). The ribozyme shows substrate specificity and can act as an intermolecular catalyst which transfers the Michael-donor substrate onto an external 20-mer RNA oligonucleotide containing the Michael-acceptor system.

CONCLUSION

The ribozyme described here is the first example of a catalytic RNA with Michael-adduct forming activity which represents a key mechanistic step in metabolic pathways and other biochemical reactions. Therefore, previously unforeseen RNA-evolution pathways can be considered, for example the formation of dTMP from dUMP. The substrate specificity of this ribozyme may also render it useful in organic syntheses.

In vitro selection of catalytic RNAs

In vitro selection techniques are poised to allow a rapid expansion of the study of catalysis by RNA enzymes (ribozymes). This truly molecular version of genetics has already been applied to the study of the structures of known ribozymes and to the tailoring of their catalytic activity to meet specific requirements of substrate specificity or reaction conditions. During the past year, in vitro selection has been successfully used to isolate novel RNA catalysts from random sequence pools.

Characterization of RNase P holoenzymes from Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus

The partial purification and basic biochemical characterization of the RNase P holoenzymes of two species of methanogenic Archaea, Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus (previously Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum strain deltaH) and Methanococcus jannaschii, are described. The properties of these enzymes, particularly buoyant density in Cs2SO4 and recent information about the subunit composition of the archaeal enzymes, suggest that RNase P enzymes in Archaea are much more alike than earlier studies in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Haloferax volcanii suggested.

Significantly higher activity of a cytoplasmic hammerhead ribozyme than a corresponding nuclear counterpart: engineered tRNAs with an extended 3' end can be exported efficiently and specifically to the cytoplasm in mammalian cells

Hammerhead ribozymes were expressed under the control of similar tRNA promoters, localizing transcripts either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus. The tRNA(Val)-driven ribozyme (tRNA-Rz; tRNA with extra sequences at the 3' end) that has been used in our ribozyme studies was exported efficiently into the cytoplasm and ribozyme activity was detected only in the cytoplasmic fraction. Both ends of the transported tRNA-Rz were characterized comprehensively and the results confirmed that tRNA-Rz had unprocessed 5' and 3' ends. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that the activity of the exported ribozyme was significantly higher than that of the ribozyme which remained in the nucleus. We suggest that it is possible to engineer tRNA-Rz, which can be exported to the cytoplasm based on an understanding of secondary structures, and then tRNA-driven ribozymes may be co-localized with their target mRNAs in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells.

The first phytoplasma RNase P RNA provides new insights into the sequence requirements of this ribozyme

A high variability of RNase P RNA structures is seen among members of the Mycoplasma group. To gain further insight into the structure-function relations of this ribozyme, we have searched for the RNase P RNA gene from more distant relatives, the phytoplasmas. These mycoplasma-like organisms are the aetiological agents of many severe plant diseases. We report the sequence and catalytic properties of RNase P RNA from the phytoplasma causing apple proliferation disease. The primary and postulated secondary structure of this 443 nt long RNA are most similar to those of Acholeplasma, supporting the phylogenetic position of this pathogen. Remarkably, the extremely AT-rich (73.6%) phytoplasma RNA differs from the known bacterial consensus sequence by a single base pair, which is positioned close to the substrate cleavage site in current three-dimensional models. Phytoplasma RNase P RNA functions as an efficient ribozyme in vitro. Conversion of its sequence to the full consensus and kinetic analysis of the resulting mutant RNAs suggests that neither the sequence alone, nor the type of pairing at this position is crucial for substrate binding or catalysis by the RNase P ribozyme. These results refine the bacterial consensus structure close to the catalytic core and thus improve our understanding of RNase P RNA function.

Streptavidin aptamers: affinity tags for the study of RNAs and ribonucleoproteins

RNA affinity tags would be very useful for the study of RNAs and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) as a means for rapid detection, immobilization, and purification. To develop a new affinity tag, streptavidin-binding RNA ligands, termed "aptamers," were identified from a random RNA library using in vitro selection. Individual aptamers were classified into two groups based on common sequences, and representative members of the groups had sufficiently low dissociation constants to suggest they would be useful affinity tools. Binding of the aptamers to streptavidin was blocked by presaturation of the streptavidin with biotin, and biotin could be used to dissociate RNA/streptavidin complexes. To investigate the practicality of using the aptamer as an affinity tag, one of the higher affinity aptamers was inserted into RPR1 RNA, the large RNA subunit of RNase P. The aptamer-tagged RNase P could be specifically isolated using commercially available streptavidin-agarose and recovered in a catalytically active form when biotin was used as an eluting agent under mild conditions. The aptamer tag was also used to demonstrate that RNase P exists in a monomeric form, and is not tightly associated with RNase MRP, a closely related ribonucleoprotein enzyme. These results show that the streptavidin aptamers are potentially powerful tools for the study of RNAs or RNPs.

Characterization of RNase P from Thermotoga maritima

The protein subunit of RNase P from a thermophilic bacterium, Thermotoga maritima, was overexpressed in and purified from Escherichia coli. The cloned protein was reconstituted with the RNA subunit transcribed in vitro. The temperature optimum of the holoenzyme is near 50 degrees C, with no enzymatic activity at 65 degrees C or above. This finding is in sharp contrast to the optimal growth temperature of T.maritima, which is near 80 degrees C. However, in heterologous reconstitution experiments in vitro with RNase P subunits from other species, we found that the protein subunit from T.maritima was responsible for the comparative thermal stability of such complexes.

New insight into RNase P RNA structure from comparative analysis of the archaeal RNA

A detailed comparative analysis of archaeal RNase P RNA structure and a comparison of the resulting structural information with that of the bacterial RNA reveals that the archaeal RNase P RNAs are strikingly similar to those of Bacteria. The differences between the secondary structure models of archaeal and bacterial RNase P RNA have largely disappeared, and even variation in the sequence and structure of the RNAs are similar in extent and type. The structure of the cruciform (P7-11) has been reevaluated on the basis of a total of 321 bacterial and archaeal sequences, leading to a model for the structure of this region of the RNA that includes an extension to P11 that consistently organizes the cruciform and adjacent highly-conserved sequences.

The RNase P associated with HeLa cell mitochondria contains an essential RNA component identical in sequence to that of the nuclear RNase P

The mitochondrion-associated RNase P activity (mtRNase P) was extensively purified from HeLa cells and shown to reside in particles with a sedimentation constant ( approximately 17S) very similar to that of the nuclear enzyme (nuRNase P). Furthermore, mtRNase P, like nuRNase P, was found to process a mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) precursor [ptRNA(Ser(UCN))] at the correct site. Treatment with micrococcal nuclease of highly purified mtRNase P confirmed earlier observations indicating the presence of an essential RNA component. Furthermore, electrophoretic analysis of 3'-end-labeled nucleic acids extracted from the peak of glycerol gradient-fractionated mtRNase P revealed the presence of a 340-nucleotide RNA component, and the full-length cDNA of this RNA was found to be identical in sequence to the H1 RNA of nuRNase P. The proportions of the cellular H1 RNA recovered in the mitochondrial fractions from HeLa cells purified by different treatments were quantified by Northern blots, corrected on the basis of the yield in the same fractions of four mitochondrial nucleic acid markers, and shown to be 2 orders of magnitude higher than the proportions of contaminating nuclear U2 and U3 RNAs. In particular, these experiments revealed that a small fraction of the cell H1 RNA (of the order of 0.1 to 0.5%), calculated to correspond to approximately 33 to approximately 175 intact molecules per cell, is intrinsically associated with mitochondria and can be removed only by treatments which destroy the integrity of the organelles. In the same experiments, the use of a probe specific for the RNA component of RNase MRP showed the presence in mitochondria of 6 to 15 molecules of this RNA per cell. The available evidence indicates that the levels of mtRNase P detected in HeLa cells should be fully adequate to satisfy the mitochondrial tRNA synthesis requirements of these cells.

Effective inhibition of human cytomegalovirus gene expression and replication by a ribozyme derived from the catalytic RNA subunit of RNase P from Escherichia coli

A sequence-specific ribozyme (M1GS RNA) derived from the catalytic RNA subunit of RNase P from Escherichia coli was used to target the overlapping exon 3 region of the mRNAs encoding the major transcription regulatory proteins IE1 and IE2 of human cytomegalovirus. A reduction of more than 80% in the expression levels of IE1 and IE2 and a reduction of about 150-fold in viral growth were observed in human cells that stably expressed the ribozyme. In contrast, a reduction of less than 10% in the IE1/IE2 expression and viral growth was observed in cells that either did not express the ribozyme or produced a "disabled" ribozyme that carried mutations that abolished its catalytic activity. Examination of the expression of several other viral early and late genes in the cells that expressed the M1GS ribozyme further revealed an overall reduction of at least 80% in their expression. These results are consistent with the notion that the antiviral effects in these cells are due to the fact that the ribozyme specifically inhibits the expression of IE1 and IE2 and, consequently, abolishes the expression of viral early and late genes as well as viral growth. Our study is the first, to our knowledge, to use M1GS ribozyme for inhibiting human cytomegalovirus replication and demonstrates the utility of this ribozyme for antiviral applications.

Evidence for an RNA-based catalytic mechanism in eukaryotic nuclear ribonuclease P

Ribonuclease P is the enzyme responsible for removing the 5'-leader segment of precursor transfer RNAs in all organisms. All eukaryotic nuclear RNase Ps are ribonucleoproteins in which multiple protein components and a single RNA species are required for activity in vitro as well as in vivo. It is not known, however, which subunits participate directly in phosphodiester-bond hydrolysis. The RNA subunit of nuclear RNase P is evolutionarily related to its catalytically active bacterial counterpart, prompting speculation that in eukaryotes the RNA may be the catalytic component. In the bacterial RNase P reaction, Mg(II) is required to coordinate the nonbridging phosphodiester oxygen(s) of the scissile bond. As a consequence, bacterial RNase P cannot cleave pre-tRNA in which the pro-Rp nonbridging oxygen of the scissile bond is replaced by sulfur. In contrast, the RNase P reaction in plant chloroplasts is catalyzed by a protein enzyme whose mechanism does not involve Mg(II) coordinated by the pro-Rp oxygen. To determine whether the mechanism of nuclear RNase P resembles more closely an RNA- or a protein-catalyzed reaction, we analyzed the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear RNase P to cleave pre-tRNA containing a sulfur substitution of the pro-Rp oxygen at the cleavage site. Sulfur substitution at this position prohibits correct cleavage of pre-tRNA. Cleavage by eukaryotic RNase P thus depends on the presence of a thio-sensitive ligand to the pro-Rp oxygen of the scissile bond, and is consistent with a common, RNA-based mechanism for the bacterial and eukaryal enzymes.

In vitro selection of nucleic acids for diagnostic applications

In vitro selection methods have proven to be extraordinarily adept at generating a wide variety of nucleic acid-binding species (aptamers) and catalysts (ribozymes). To date, selected nucleic acids have primarily been of academic interest. However, just as antibodies have proven utility as 'universal receptors' that can be crafted against a huge variety of ligands and can be readily adapted to diagnostic assays, aptamers may yet find application in assays. A new class of research reagents, aptazymes, are not mere mimics of antibodies but in fact allow the direct transduction of molecular recognition to catalysis. Aptamers and aptazymes may prove to be uniquely useful for the development of chip arrays for the detection and quantitation of a wide range of molecules in organismal proteomes and metabolomes.

Dose-dependent inhibition of ribonuclease P activity by anthralin

The effect of five different anthralin concentrations on tRNA biogenesis was investigated employing the ribonuclease P (RNase P) of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as an in vitro cell-free experimental system. RNase P is an ubiquitous and essential enzyme that endonucleolytically cleaves all tRNA precursors to produce the mature 5' end. Anthralin revealed a dose-dependent inhibition of RNase P activity indicating that this compound may have a direct effect on tRNA biogenesis. Taking into account that anthralin has no structural similarities to the substrate (pre-tRNA) of RNase P, it seems reasonable to suggest that this compound may bind to allosteric inhibition sites of the enzyme.