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The role of endoribonucleases in the regulation of RNase R.

RNase R is an important exoribonuclease involved in the maturation and degradation of RNA. RNase R is co-transcribed with other genes in the same operon. In this report, we show that under physiological conditions maturation of these co-transcripts and the levels of RNase R are mainly dependent on the endoribonuclease RNase E. The presence of the full-length RNase E is necessary for the decay of intermediary products that arise from the maturation of transcripts from the rnr operon. RNase G and RNase III do not seem to have a primary role in the processing of the rnr transcripts. However, the accumulation of intermediary transcripts in an rng mutant suggests that RNase G may act in the degradation of the transcripts already cleaved by RNase E. These results demonstrated that other ribonucleases can act as an additional level of regulation in the control of the expression of RNase R.

Endoribonucleases↗

Reconstitution, activities, and structure of the eukaryotic RNA exosome.

The RNA exosome is a multisubunit 3' to 5' exoribonuclease complex that participates in degradation and processing of cellular RNA. To determine the activities and structure of the eukaryotic exosome, we report the reconstitution of 9-subunit exosomes from yeast and human and reconstitution of 10- and 11-subunit exosomes from yeast. Comparative biochemical analysis between purified subunits and reconstituted exosomes using AU-rich, polyadenylated (poly[A]), generic, and structured RNA substrates reveals processive phosphorolytic activities for human Rrp41/Rrp45 and the 9-subunit human exosome, processive hydrolytic activities for yeast Rrp44 and the yeast 10-subunit exosome, distributive hydrolytic activities for Rrp6, and processive and distributive hydrolytic activities for the yeast 11-subunit exosome. To elucidate the architecture of a eukaryotic exosome, its conserved surfaces, and the structural basis for RNA decay, we report the X-ray structure determination for the 286 kDa nine-subunit human exosome at 3.35 A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A view to a kill: structure of the RNA exosome.

The exosome is a 3' to 5' exoribonuclease central to many cellular processes, including mRNA decay. now present the biochemical reconstitution and crystal structure of the eukaryotic exosome. This remarkable achievement provides key insights into the composition and assembly of the human and yeast exosomes, revealing functions of individual subunits.

Archaea↗

Crystal structure of human ISG20, an interferon-induced antiviral ribonuclease.

ISG20 is an interferon-induced antiviral exoribonuclease that acts on single-stranded RNA and also has minor activity towards single-stranded DNA. It belongs to the DEDDh group of RNases of the DEDD exonuclease superfamily. We have solved the crystal structure of human ISG20 complexed with two Mn2+ ions and uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP) at 1.9 A resolution. Its structure, including that of the active site, is very similar to those of the corresponding domains of two DEDDh-group DNases, the epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III and E. coli exonuclease I, strongly suggesting that its catalytic mechanism is identical to that of the two DNases. However, ISG20 also has distinctive residues, Met14 and Arg53, to accommodate hydrogen bonds with the 2'-OH group of the UMP ribose, and these residues may be responsible for the preference of ISG20 for RNA substrates.

Antiviral Agents↗

Crystallographic structure of the nuclease domain of 3'hExo, a DEDDh family member, bound to rAMP.

A human 3'-5'-exoribonuclease (3'hExo) has recently been identified and shown to be responsible for histone mRNA degradation. Functionally, 3'hExo and a stem-loop binding protein (SLBP) target opposite faces of a unique highly conserved stem-loop RNA scaffold towards the 3' end of histone mRNA, which is composed of a 6 bp stem and a 4 nt loop, followed by an ACCCA sequence. Its Caenorhabditis elegans homologue, ERI-1, has been shown to degrade small interfering RNA in vitro and to function as a negative regulator of RNA interference in neuronal cells. We have determined the structure of the nuclease domain (Nuc) of 3'hExo complexed with rAMP in the presence of Mg2+ at 1.6 A resolution. The Nuc domain adopts an alpha/beta globular fold, with four acidic residues coordinating a binuclear metal cluster within the active site, whose topology is related to DEDDh exonuclease family members, despite a very low level of primary sequence identity. The two magnesium cations in the Nuc active site are coordinated to D134, E136, D234 and D298, and together with H293, which can potentially act as a general base, provide a platform for hydrolytic cleavage of bound RNA in the 3' --> 5' direction. The bound rAMP is positioned within a deep active-site pocket, with its purine ring close-packed with the hydrophobic F185 and L189 side-chains and its sugar 2'-OH and 3'-OH groups hydrogen bonded to backbone atoms of Nuc. There are striking similarities between the active sites of Nuc and epsilon186, an Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III proofreading domain, providing a common hydrolytic cleavage mechanism for RNA degradation and DNA editing, respectively.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Characterization of the functional domains of Escherichia coli RNase II.

RNase II is a single-stranded-specific 3'-exoribonuclease that degrades RNA generating 5'-mononucleotides. This enzyme is the prototype of an ubiquitous family of enzymes that are crucial in RNA metabolism and share a similar domain organization. By sequence prediction, three different domains have been assigned to the Escherichia coli RNase II: two RNA-binding domains at each end of the protein (CSD and S1), and a central RNB catalytic domain. In this work we have performed a functional characterization of these domains in order to address their role in the activity of RNase II. We have constructed a large set of RNase II truncated proteins and compared them to the wild-type regarding their exoribonucleolytic activity and RNA-binding ability. The dissociation constants were determined using different single- or double-stranded substrates. The results obtained revealed that S1 is the most important domain in the establishment of stable RNA-protein complexes, and its elimination results in a drastic reduction on RNA-binding ability. In addition, we also demonstrate that the N-terminal CSD plays a very specific role in RNase II, preventing a tight binding of the enzyme to single-stranded poly(A) chains. Moreover, the biochemical results obtained with RNB mutant that lacks both putative RNA-binding domains, revealed the presence of an additional region involved in RNA binding. Such region, was identified by sequence analysis and secondary structure prediction as a third putative RNA-binding domain located at the N-terminal part of RNB catalytic domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The subcellular localisation of trypanosome RRP6 and its association with the exosome.

The exosome, a complex of 3'-exoribonucleases and associated proteins, is involved in the degradation of eukaryotic mRNAs in the cytoplasm, and has RNA processing and quality control functions in the nucleus. In yeast, the nuclear exosome differs from the cytoplasmic one in that it contains an additional non-essential component, Rrp6p. In contrast, a small proportion of human RRP6 has been shown to localise to the cytoplasm as well. When we purified the Trypanosoma brucei exosome from cytosolic extracts we found RRP6, apparently in stoichiometric amounts. We here confirm that RRP6 is in the trypanosome cytoplasm and nucleus. The level of RRP6 was unaffected by depletion of core exosome subunits by RNA interference and over-expression of tagged RRP6 was possible, indicating that RRP6 can be present independent of exosome association.

Animals↗

AtXRN4 degrades mRNA in Arabidopsis and its substrates include selected miRNA targets.

Messenger RNA degradation is an essential step in gene expression that can be regulated by siRNAs or miRNAs. However, most of our knowledge of in vivo eukaryotic mRNA degradation mechanisms derives from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which lacks miRNAs and RNAi capability. Using reverse genetic and microarray analyses, we have identified multiple substrates of AtXRN4, the Arabidopsis homolog of the major yeast mRNA degrading exoribonuclease, Xrn1p. Insertional mutation of AtXRN4 leads to accumulation of the 3' end of several mRNAs, in a manner that correlates with increased stability of the 3' end, and is reversed following complementation with AtXRN4. Moreover, 3' products of miRNA-mediated cleavage of SCARECROW-LIKE transcripts and several other miRNA target transcripts are among those that accumulate in xrn4 mutants. The demonstration that an Xrn1p homolog degrades mRNA in a multicellular eukaryote and contributes to the miRNA-mediated decay pathway of selected targets has implications for XRNs in other organisms.

Arabidopsis↗

Adenylation and exosome-mediated degradation of cotranscriptionally cleaved pre-messenger RNA in human cells.

In humans, polyadenylation of messenger RNA (mRNA) protects transcripts from degradation and enhances translation efficiency. Conversely, in bacteria, polyadenylation destabilizes mRNA. RNA adenylation was recently implicated in promoting degradation of some yeast RNAs by the exosome. The exosome complex of exoribonucleases is a major degradation machine in eukaryotes, and many of its components share significant homology with bacterial exonucleases. The human beta-globin pre-mRNA is cotranscriptionally cleaved within its 3' flank. Here, we show that some RNA ends, coinciding with these cotranscriptionally cleaved regions, contain short A tails on their 3' ends. Moreover, all of the pre-mRNA species detected accumulate in the absence of the exosome. We have also detected adenylation on RNA 3' ends originating within the mouse serum albumin (MSA) 3' flanking region RNA. This step in pre-mRNA degradation may represent an additional role for adenylation in mammals.

Animals↗

Structural basis for processivity and single-strand specificity of RNase II.

RNase II is a member of the widely distributed RNR family of exoribonucleases, which are highly processive 3'-->5' hydrolytic enzymes that play an important role in mRNA decay. Here, we report the crystal structure of E. coli RNase II, which reveals an architecture reminiscent of the RNA exosome. Three RNA-binding domains come together to form a clamp-like assembly, which can only accommodate single-stranded RNA. This leads into a narrow, basic channel that ends at the putative catalytic center that is completely enclosed within the body of the protein. The putative path for RNA agrees well with biochemical data indicating that a 3' single strand overhang of 7-10 nt is necessary for binding and hydrolysis by RNase II. The presence of the clamp and the narrow channel provides an explanation for the processivity of RNase II and for why its action is limited to single-stranded RNA.

Binding Sites↗

Polynucleotide phosphorylase: an evolutionary conserved gene with an expanding repertoire of functions.

RNA metabolism plays a seminal role in regulating diverse physiological processes. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is an evolutionary conserved 3',5' exoribonuclease, which plays a central role in RNA processing in bacteria and plants. Human polynucleotide phosphorylase (hPNPase old-35) was cloned using an inventive strategy designed to identify genes regulating the fundamental physiological processes of differentiation and senescence. Although hPNPase old-35 structurally and biochemically resembles PNPase of other species, targeted overexpression and inhibition studies reveal that hPNPase old-35 has evolved to serve more specialized functions in humans. The present review provides a global perspective on the structure and function of PNPase and then focuses on hPNPase old-35 in the contexts of differentiation and senescence.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Protein-protein interactions between human exosome components support the assembly of RNase PH-type subunits into a six-membered PNPase-like ring.

The exosome is a complex of 3'-->5' exoribonucleases, which functions in a variety of cellular processes, all requiring the processing or degradation of RNA. Here we present a model for the assembly of the six human RNase PH-like exosome subunits into a hexameric ring structure. In part, this structure is on the basis of the evolutionarily related bacterial degradosome, the core of which consists of three copies of the PNPase protein, each containing two RNase PH domains. In our model three additional exosome subunits, which contain S1 RNA-binding domains, are positioned on the outer surface of this ring. Evidence for this model was obtained by the identification of protein-protein interactions between individual exosome subunits in a mammalian two-hybrid system. In addition, the results of co-immunoprecipitation assays indicate that at least two copies of hRrp4p and hRrp41p are associated with a single exosome, suggesting that at least two of these ring structures are present in this complex. Finally, the identification of a human gene encoding the putative human counterpart of the bacterial PNPase protein is described, which suggests that the exosome is not the eukaryotic equivalent of the bacterial degradosome, although they do share similar functional activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The reaction mechanism of ribonuclease II and its interaction with nucleic acid secondary structures.

Ribonuclease II is a processive 3'- to 5'-exoribonuclease in Escherichia coli with two binding sites: a catalytic site associated with the first few 3'-nucleotides and an anchor site binding nucleotides approximately 15 to 25 from the 3'-end. When RNase II degrades single-stranded helical poly(C), the enzyme-substrate complex dissociates at discrete intervals of 12 nucleotides. RNase II stalled at the last rC of single-stranded 3'-(rC)(n)(dC)(m) oligonucleotides. The more residues released, the faster the stalled complex dissociated and the less it inhibited RNase II activity, i.e. the enzyme-substrate association weakened progressively. Using phosphodiesterase I (PDE I) as a probe, a method was developed to identify cytidine residues in (32)P-oligonucleotides interacting with a protein. PAGE bands corresponding to nucleotides 1-6 from the 3'-end were consistent with interaction at the catalytic site, and following a gap, bands approximately 15 to 25 from the 3'-end, with anchor site association. Both 3' and 5' binding were necessary to maintain the complex. Of most significance, the original anchor site nucleotides remained fixed at the anchor site while the 3'-end was pulled, or threaded, through the catalytic site, i.e. the substrate did not 'slide' through the enzyme. DNA oligonucleotides with double-stranded stem-loops were good competitive inhibitors of RNase II. A 3'-single-stranded arm was essential, while optimal binding required both 5'- and 3'-arms. PDE I probing indicated that the nucleotides at the anchor site were specified by the spatial distance from the catalytic site, and on only one of the duplex strands. When degradation of a structured RNA paused or stopped, the RNase II-product commenced cycles of dissociation-reassociation. Duplex strand binding by RNase II made complex DNA or RNA structures accessible to degradation by other nucleases and further verified the PDE I footprinting method.

Base Sequence↗

Running rings around RNA: a superfamily of phosphate-dependent RNases.

The exosome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the degradosome of Escherichia coli are multienzyme complexes involved in the degradation of mRNA. Both contain enzymes that are similar to the phosphate-dependent exoribonuclease RNase PH. These enzymes are phosphorylases that degrade RNA from the 3'-end. A recent X-ray crystallographic study of the polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) from Streptomyces antibioticus reveals, for the first time, the atomic structure of a member of the RNase PH superfamily. Here, information from the structure of PNPase is used to address two related issues. First, the structure supports the idea that PNPase, which is a trimer of multidomain subunits, arose by duplication of a gene encoding an RNase PH-like enzyme. Second, the structure might explain how RNase PH-like enzymes associate into oligomeric rings that degrade RNA in a processive reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Facilitation of mRNA deadenylation and decay by the exosome-bound, DExH protein RHAU.

The AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3' untranslated region of unstable mRNAs mediate their rapid degradation. ARE binding proteins (AUBPs) have been described that either stabilize or otherwise degrade ARE-mRNAs by recruiting the exosome, a complex of 3'-to-5' exoribonucleases. We have identified RHAU, a putative DExH RNA helicase that was isolated in association with the ARE of urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA (ARE(uPA)). RHAU physically interacts with the deadenylase PARN and the human exosome and enhances the deadenylation and decay of ARE(uPA)-mRNAs. An alternatively spliced isoform of RHAU that localized to the cytoplasm had a more pronounced effect on ARE(uPA)-mRNA destabilization than full-length RHAU. Furthermore, the ATPase activity of RHAU is essential for its mRNA-destabilizing function. ARE(uPA)-mRNA recognition by RHAU may be mediated through its RNA-dependent interaction with the AUBPs HuR and NFAR1. A model is presented to describe the action of RHAU in ARE(uPA)-directed mRNA turnover.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

RNase II removes the oligo(A) tails that destabilize the rpsO mRNA of Escherichia coli.

Polyadenylation controls mRNA stability in procaryotes, eucaryotes, and organelles. In bacteria, oligo(A) tails synthesized by poly(A) polymerase I are the targets of the 3'-to-5' exoribonucleases: polynucleotide phosphorylase and RNase II. Here we show that RNase II very efficiently removes the oligo(A) tails that can be used as binding sites by PNPase to start degradation of the rpsO mRNA. Both enzymes are impeded by the secondary structure of the transcription terminator at the 3' end of the mRNA. RNase II mostly generates tailless transcripts harboring 2 unpaired nt downstream of the transcription terminator hairpin, whereas PNPase releases molecules that exhibit a single-stranded stretch of 5-7 nt terminated by a tail of 3-5 As. The rpsO mRNAs whose oligo(A) tails have been removed by RNase II are more stable than oligoadenylated molecules that occur in strains deficient for RNase II. Moreover, the rpsO mRNA is stabilized when RNase II is overproduced. This modulation of mRNA stability by RNase II is only observed when poly(A) polymerase I is active. These in vivo data demonstrate that RNase II protects mRNAs ending by stable terminal hairpins, such as primary transcripts, from degradation by poly(A)-dependent ribonucleases.

Blotting, Northern↗

Musing on the structural organization of the exosome complex.

The exosome complex of 3'-->5' exoribonucleases functions in both the precise processing of 3' extended precursor molecules to mature stable RNAs and the complete degradation of other RNAs. Both processing and degradative activities of the exosome depend on additional cofactors, notably the putative RNA helicases Mtr4p and Ski2p. It is not known how these factors regulate exosome function or how the exosome distinguishes RNAs destined for processing events from substrates that are to be completely degraded. Here we review the available data concerning the modes of action of the exosome and relate these to possible structural arrangements for the complex. As no detailed structural data are yet available for the exosome complex, or any of its constituent enzymes, this discussion will rely heavily on rather speculative models.

Allosteric Regulation↗

The RNA processing exosome is linked to elongating RNA polymerase II in Drosophila.

The RNA polymerase II elongation complex contains several factors that facilitate transcription elongation and catalyse the processing of precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). The conserved elongation factor Spt6 is recruited rapidly and robustly to sites of active transcription. Here we show that Drosophila Spt6 (dSpt6) co-purifies with the exosome, a complex of 3' to 5' exoribonucleases that is implicated in the processing of structural RNA and in the degradation of improperly processed pre-mRNA. Immunoprecipitation assays of Drosophila nuclear extracts show that the exosome also associates with the elongation factor dSpt5 and RNA polymerase II. In vivo, exosome subunits colocalize with dSpt6 at transcriptionally active loci on polytene chromosomes during normal development and are strongly recruited to heat-shock loci on gene induction. At higher resolution, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis shows that the exosome is recruited to transcriptionally active units of heat-shock genes. These data provide a physical basis for the hypothesis that exosome-mediated pre-mRNA surveillance accompanies transcription elongation.

Animals↗