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Escherichia coli tRNAs are resistant to the hyperprocessing reaction of homologous E. coli ribonuclease P ribozyme.

Bacterial ribonuclease P RNA ribozyme can do the hyperprocessing reaction, the internal cleavage reaction of some floppy eukaryotic tRNAs. The hyperprocessing reaction can be used as a detection tool to examine the stability of the cloverleaf shape of tRNA. Until now, the hyperprocessing reaction has been observed in the heterologous combination of eukaryotic tRNAs and bacterial RNase P enzymes. In this paper, we examined the hyperprocessing reaction of Escherichia coli tRNAs by homologous E. coli RNase P, to find that these homologous tRNAs were resistant to the toxic hyperprocessing reaction. Our results display the evidence for molecular co-evolution between homologous tRNAs and RNase P in the bacterium E. coli.

Bacillus subtilis↗

[Autoadenylation of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase].

Incubation of bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.2) deprived of endogenous tryptophan, with [14C]ATP and without [gamma-32P]ATP, causes an appearance of radioactivity in protein due to formation of adenylated enzyme, [14C]AMP-E. Examination of the properties of the [14C]AMP-E thus obtained led to the conclusion that AMP is linked to the protein molecule via a macroergetic phosphoanhydride bond. ATP is formed when AMP-E is incubated with PPi. However, no tryptophanyl adenylate formation was observed when AMP-E was treated with tryptophan. The functional role of AMP-E remains obscure.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

15N-labeled Escherichia coli tRNAfMet, tRNAGlu, tRNATyr, and tRNAPhe. Double resonance and two-dimensional NMR of N1-labeled pseudouridine.

The N1 imino units in Escherichia coli tRNAfMet, tRNAGlu, tRNAPhe, and tRNATyr were studied by 1H-15N NMR using three different techniques to suppress signals of protons not attached to 15N. Two of the procedures, Fourier internuclear difference spectroscopy and two-dimensional forbidden echo spectroscopy permitted 1H and 15N chemical shifts to be measured simultaneously at 1H sensitivity. The tRNAs were labeled by fermentation of the uracil auxotroph S phi 187 on a minimal medium containing [1-15N]uracil. 1H and 15N resonances were detected for all of the N1 psi imino units except psi 13 at the end of the dihydrouridine stem in tRNAGlu. Chemical shifts for imino units in the tRNAs were compared with "intrinsic" values in model systems. The comparisons show that the A X psi pairs at the base of the anticodon stem in E. coli tRNAPhe and tRNATyr have psi in an anti conformation. The N1 protons of psi in other locations, including psi 32 in the anticodon loop of tRNAPhe, form internal hydrogen bonds to bridging water molecules or 2'-hydroxyl groups in nearby ribose units. These interactions permit psi to stabilize the tertiary structure of a tRNA beyond what is provided by the U it replaces.

Escherichia coli↗

A study of codon-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA with the ribosomal 30-S subparticle of Escherichia coli. Determination of the active-particle fraction and binding constants in different media.

Titration of isolated Escherichia coli ribosomal 30-S particles with [14C]phenylalanyl-tRNA in the presence of poly(uridylic acid) was used for a quantitative assay of codon-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA with the small ribosomal subparticle. The technique has allowed the estimation both of the fraction of "active" 30-S subparticles capable of forming the 30-S - poly(U) - phenylalanyl-tRNA complexes and the equilibrium constants of phenylalanyl-tRNA binding in different media. Heterogeneity of the ternary complexes formed has been revealed: at least two classes of complexes differing in stability have been observed. The stability of the 30-S - poly(U) - phenylalanyl-tRNA complexes has been shown to decrease with the lowering of the Mg2+ concentration, the increase of K+ concentration and the addition of urea. The stability of the complexes increases with the increase of Mg2+ concentration, with the addition of ethanol and decrease of temperature. It is demonstrated that the fraction of actively binding 30-S particles also varies in different medium conditions; it decreases with the increase of ionic strength (K+) and with the addition of urea, and increases with the increase of Mg2+ concentration and addition of ethanol.

Binding Sites↗

TATA-Binding protein-TATA interaction is a key determinant of differential transcription of silkworm constitutive and silk gland-specific tRNA(Ala) genes.

We have investigated the contribution of specific TATA-binding protein (TBP)-TATA interactions to the promoter activity of a constitutively expressed silkworm tRNA(C)(Ala) gene and have also asked whether the lack of similar interactions accounts for the low promoter activity of a silk gland-specific tRNA(SG)(Ala) gene. We compared TBP binding, TFIIIB-promoter complex stability (measured by heparin resistance), and in vitro transcriptional activity in a series of mutant tRNA(C)(Ala) promoters and found that specific TBP-TATA contacts are important for TFIIIB-promoter interaction and for transcriptional activity. Although the wild-type tRNA(C)(Ala) promoter contains two functional TBP binding sequences that overlap, the tRNA(SG)(Ala) promoter lacks any TBP binding site in the corresponding region. This feature appears to account for the inefficiency of the tRNA(SG)(Ala) promoter since provision of either of the wild-type TATA sequences derived from the tRNA(C)(Ala) promoter confers robust transcriptional activity. Transcriptional impairment of the wild-type tRNA(SG)(Ala) gene is not due to reduced incorporation of TBP into transcription complexes since both the tRNA(C)(Ala) and tRNA(SG)(Ala) promoters form transcription complexes that contain the same amount of TBP. Thus, the deleterious consequences of the lack of appropriate TBP-TATA contacts in the tRNA(SG)(Ala) promoter must come from failure to incorporate some other essential transcription factor(s) or to stabilize the complete complex in an active conformation.

Animals↗

Functional characterization of the conserved amino acids in Pop1p, the largest common protein subunit of yeast RNases P and MRP.

RNase P and RNase MRP are ribonucleoprotein enzymes required for 5'-end maturation of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs) and processing of precursor ribosomal RNAs, respectively. In yeast, RNase P and MRP holoenzymes have eight protein subunits in common, with Pop1p being the largest at >100 kDa. Little is known about the functions of Pop1p, beyond the fact that it binds specifically to the RNase P RNA subunit, RPR1 RNA. In this study, we refined the previous Pop1 phylogenetic sequence alignment and found four conserved regions. Highly conserved amino acids in yeast Pop1p were mutagenized by randomization and conditionally defective mutations were obtained. Effects of the Pop1p mutations on pre-tRNA processing, pre-rRNA processing, and stability of the RNA subunits of RNase P and MRP were examined. In most cases, functional defects in RNase P and RNase MRP in vivo were consistent with assembly defects of the holoenzymes, although moderate kinetic defects in RNase P were also observed. Most mutations affected both pre-tRNA and pre-rRNA processing, but a few mutations preferentially interfered with only RNase P or only RNase MRP. In addition, one temperature-sensitive mutation had no effect on either tRNA or rRNA processing, consistent with an additional role for RNase P, RNase MRP, or Pop1p in some other form. This study shows that the Pop1p subunit plays multiple roles in the assembly and function of of RNases P and MRP, and that the functions can be differentiated through the mutations in conserved residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Alteration of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase with age: heat-labilization of the enzyme by oxidative damage.

Active oxygens have been suggested to be involved in age-related alterations of organelles and molecules. In this study we investigated the influence of active oxygen on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases partially purified from rat liver. Treatment of leucyl-tRNA synthetase with Fe3(+)-ascorbate resulted in the increased heat-lability of the enzyme. The inactivation was inhibited by radical scavengers such as mannitol and benzoate, suggesting that hydroxyl radicals are responsible for heat-labilization of the enzyme. On the other hand, a considerable part of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase was converted to heat-labile forms without added iron and ascorbate under aerobic conditions but not under anaerobic conditions. These and other findings suggested that the heat-labilization of this enzyme is caused by active oxygens probably generated by the reaction of dioxygen and transition metal ions present in the enzyme preparations. Heat-inactivation curves of the enzymes modified as described above were similar to those observed for the enzymes from aged animals in that these enzymes exhibited higher percentages of heat-labile forms than the unmodified enzymes from young animals [Takahashi and Goto, 1987, Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 6, 73-82; Takahashi and Goto, 1987, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 257, 200-206]. The present findings are consistent with the theory that active oxygens are involved in the age-related alterations of enzymes.

Aging↗

Specific cleavage of a target RNA from HIV-1 by mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease directed by an RNA heptamer.

Mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease (3' tRNase) can recognize pre-tRNA-like complexes between a 5' half tRNA(Arg) and a 3' half tRNA(Arg) with a 3' trailer, and can cleave the 3' half tRNA(Arg) after the discriminator nucleotide (Nashimoto M., 1996, RNA, 2:523-534). 3' tRNase cleaved the 3' half tRNA(Arg) in the presence of a 7-nt 5' tRNA(Arg) composed only of the acceptor stem region with a catalytic efficiency comparable to that of cleavage directed by the intact 5' half tRNA(Arg). The catalytic efficiency of cleavage directed by the heptamer decreased as the stability of the T stem-loop structures of 3' half tRNA(Arg) variants decreased. No heptamer-directed cleavage of a 3' half tRNA(Arg) was detected in the absence of T-stem base pairs. This strategy for targeted RNA cleavage using an RNA heptamer was applied to the cleavage of two target RNAs from HIV-1. An HIV-1 RNA containing a stable hairpin structure corresponding to the T stem-loop was cleaved efficiently, whereas no cleavage of a second HIV-1 target without any stable hairpin structure was detected. In this method, an RNA heptamer can direct efficient RNA cleavage with a higher specificity than expected.

Base Sequence↗

MnmA and IscS are required for in vitro 2-thiouridine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

Thionucleosides are uniquely present in tRNA. In many organisms, tRNA specific for Lys, Glu, and Gln contain hypermodified 2-thiouridine (s(2)U) derivatives at wobble position 34. The s(2) group of s(2)U34 stabilizes anticodon structure, confers ribosome binding ability to tRNA and improves reading frame maintenance. Earlier studies have mapped and later identified the mnmA gene (formerly asuE or trmU) as required for the s(2)U modification in Escherichia coli. We have prepared a nonpolar deletion of the mnmA gene and show that it is not required for viability in E. coli. We also cloned mnmA from E. coli, and overproduced and purified the protein. Using a gel mobility shift assay, we show that MnmA binds to unmodified E. coli tRNA(Lys) with affinity in the low micromolar range. MnmA does not bind observably to the nonsubstrate E. coli tRNA(Phe). Corroborating this, tRNA(Glu) protected MnmA from tryptic digestion. ATP also protected MnmA from trypsinolysis, suggesting the presence of an ATP binding site that is consistent with analysis of the amino acid sequence. We have reconstituted the in vitro biosynthesis of s(2)U using unmodified E. coli tRNA(Glu) as a substrate. The activity requires MnmA, Mg-ATP, l-cysteine, and the cysteine desulfurase IscS. HPLC analysis of thiolated tRNA digests using [(35)S]cysteine confirms that the product of the in vitro reaction is s(2)U. As in the case of 4-thiouridine synthesis, purified IscS-persulfide is able to provide sulfur for in vitro s(2)U synthesis in the absence of cysteine. Small RNAs that represent the anticodon stem loops for tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Lys) are substrates of comparable activity to the full length tRNAs, indicating that the major determinants for substrate recognition are contained within this region.

Aminopeptidases↗

Effect of threonylcarbamoyl modification (t6A) in yeast tRNA Arg III on codon-anticodon and anticodon-anticodon interactions. A thermodynamic and kinetic evaluation.

The effect of N-[9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl) purin-6-ylcarbamoyl]threonine (t6A) adjacent to anticodon U-C-U of yeast tRNA Arg III (where U is a modified U), compared to its unmodified adenosine counterpart, has been evaluated by three independent methods: (a) the polynucleotide-directed binding of tRNA on ribosomes, (b) the ribosome-free trinucleotide binding to the anticodon, (c) the anticodon-anticodon binding test. The results obtained by these three methods indicate a small but significant stabilization effect of t6A on the binding of yeast tRNA Arg III with (a) poly(A,G) in the presence of Escherichia coli ribosomes, (b) free A-G-A triplet, and (c) E. coli tRNA Ser V (anticodon G-G-A). We therefore conclude that the stabilization effect of t6A occurs on U x A and U x G base pairs adjacent to the 5' side of the modified nucleoside, most probably by stacking.

Adenosine↗

A novel mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(AGY)) gene associated with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, and complex I deficiency.

PURPOSE: To identify molecular defects in a girl with clinical features of MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and lactic acidosis) and MERRF (ragged-red fibres) syndromes. METHODS: The enzyme complex activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain were assayed. Temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis was used to scan the entire mitochondrial genome for unknown mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations, which were then identified by direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: A novel heteroplasmic mtDNA mutation, G12207A, in the tRNA(Ser(AGY)) gene was identified in the patient who had a history of developmental delay, feeding difficulty, lesions within her basal ganglia, cerebral atrophy, proximal muscle weakness, increased blood lactate, liver dysfunction, and fatty infiltration of her muscle. Muscle biopsy revealed ragged red fibres and pleomorphic mitochondria. Study of skeletal muscle mitochondria revealed complex I deficiency associated with mitochondrial proliferation. Real time quantitative PCR analysis showed elevated mtDNA content, 2.5 times higher than normal. The tRNA(Ser(AGY)) mutation was found in heteroplasmic state (92%) in the patient's skeletal muscle. It was not present in her unaffected mother's blood or in 200 healthy controls. This mutation occurs at the first nucleotide of the 5' end of tRNA, which is involved in the formation of the stem region of the amino acid acceptor arm. Mutation at this position may affect processing of the precursor RNA, the stability and amino acid charging efficiency of the tRNA, and overall efficiency of protein translation. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of comprehensive mutational analysis of the entire mitochondrial genome when a mtDNA defect is strongly suggested.

Base Sequence↗

An example of non-conservation of oligomeric structure in prokaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Biochemical and structural properties of glycyl-tRNA synthetase from Thermus thermophilus.

Glycyl-tRNA synthetase (Gly-tRNA synthetase) from Thermus thermophilus was purified to homogeneity and with high yield using a five-step purification procedure in amounts sufficient to solve its crystallographic structure [Logan, D.T., Mazauric, M.-H., Kern, D. & Moras, D. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 4156-4167]. Molecular-mass determinations of the native and denatured protein indicate an oligomeric structure of the alpha 2 type consistent with that found for eukaryotic Gly-tRNA synthetases (yeast and Bombyx mori), but different from that of Gly-tRNA synthetases from mesophilic prokaryotes (Escherichia coli and Bacillus brevis) which are alpha 2 beta 2 tetramers. N-terminal sequencing of the polypeptide chain reveals significant identity, reaching 50% with those of the eukaryotic enzymes (B. mori, Homo sapiens, yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans) but no significant identity was found with both alpha and beta chains of the prokaryotic enzymes (E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae and Coxiella burnetii) albeit the enzyme is deprived of the N-terminal extension characterizing eukaryotic synthetases. Thus, the thermophilic Gly-tRNA synthetase combines strong structural homologies of eukaryotic Gly-tRNA synthetases with a feature of prokaryotic synthetases. Heat-stability measurements show that this synthetase keeps its ATP-PPi exchange and aminoacylation activities up to 70 degrees C. Glycyladenylate strongly protects the enzyme against thermal inactivation at higher temperatures. Unexpectedly, tRNA(Gly) does not induce protection. Cross-aminoacylations reveal that the thermophilic Gly-tRNA synthetase charges heterologous E. coli tRNA(gly(GCC)) and tRNA(Gly(GCC)) and yeast tRNA(Gly(GCC)) as efficiently as T. thermophilus tRNA(Gly). All these aminoacylation reactions are characterized by similar activation energies as deduced from Arrhenius plots. Therefore, contrary to the E. coli and H. sapiens Gly-tRNA synthetases, the prokaryotic thermophilic enzyme does not possess a strict species specificity. The results are discussed in the context of the three-dimensional structure of the synthetase and in the view of the particular evolution of the glycinylation systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A new antisense tRNA construct for the genetic treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

Different strategies proposed in the literature to attempt gene therapy of AIDS are based mainly on the intracellular production of RNA and protein therapeutics. This report describes the construction and the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity of a new type of antisense tRNA directed against a nucleotide region in the first coding exon of HIV-1 tat (nucleotides 5924 to 5943; Los Alamos data bank) which is conserved among many HIV-1 clones. The anti-tat antisense sequence was inserted into a tRNA(Pro) backbone by replacement of the anticodon loop, without altering the tRNA canonic tetraloop structure. The antisense tRNA was able to interact effectively with its target in vitro. Jurkat cells that constitutively expressed the anti-tat tRNA following retroviral vector transduction exhibited significant resistance to HIV-1 de novo infection. Resistance seemed to correlate with the level of antisense expression. This is the first time that such a tRNA antisense strategy has been shown to be effective as a genetic treatment of HIV-1 infection in tissue culture. The construct design proposed in this report has some intrinsic advantages: the transcript is driven by a polymerase III promoter, the short length of the RNA minimizes effects of intramolecular base pairing that may impair target recognition, and the antisense RNA has the stability and intracellular fate of a native tRNA molecule.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of polyamines on yeast cell-free protein synthesizing system. II. Increase stability of cell-free system in the presence of spermine.

The addition of spermine, at concentration which stimulates protein synthesis, to the yeast cell-free system significantly increases the thermal stability of the latter. Similar stabilizing effect of polyamine is observed for ribosome-poly U-ac-phe-tRNA complexes. These results suggest that the stimulatory effect of polyamines on the in vitro protein synthesis might be partly due to the increased stability of ribosomes and ribosome-peptydyl-tRNA complexes.

Cell-Free System↗

An essential residue in the flexible peptide linking the two idiosynchratic domains of bacterial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases.

Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) from Bacillus stearothermophilus comprises three sequential domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain, an alpha-helical domain with unknown function, and a C-terminal tRNA binding domain (residues 320-419). The properties of the polypeptide segment that links the alpha-helical and C-terminal domains, were analyzed by measuring the effects of sequence changes on the aminoacylation of tRNA(Tyr) with tyrosine. Mutations F323A (Phe323 into Ala), S324A, and G325A showed that the side chain of Phe323 was essential but not those of Ser324 and Gly325. Insertions of Gly residues between Leu322 and Phe323 and the point mutation L322P showed that the position and precise orientation of Phe323 relative to the alpha-helical domain were important. Insertions of Gly residues between Gly325 and Asp326 and deletion of residues 330-339 showed that the length and flexibility of the sequence downstream from Gly325 were unimportant but that this sequence could not be deleted. Mutations F323A, -L, -Y, and -W showed that the essential property of Phe323 was its aromaticity. The Phe323 side chain contributed to the stability of the initial complex between TyrRS and tRNA(Tyr) for 2.0 +/- 0.2 kcal x mol(-1) and to the stability of their transition state complex for 4.2 +/- 0.1 kcal x mol(-1), even though it is located far from the catalytic site. The results indicate that the disorder of the C-terminal domain in the crystals of TyrRS is due to the flexibility of the peptide that links it to the helical domain. They identified Phe323 as an essential residue for the recognition of tRNA(Tyr).

Alanine↗

C-terminal peptide appendix in a class I tRNA synthetase needed for acceptor-helix contacts and microhelix aminoacylation.

The 10 class I tRNA synthetases have an N-terminal nucleotide-binding fold which contains the catalytic center. Insertions into the nucleotide-binding fold provide contacts for acceptor-helix interactions, which stabilize the amino acid acceptor end of the tRNA substrate in the active site. A separate and largely nonconserved C-terminal domain provides contacts with distal parts of the tRNA, including the anticodon. For Escherichia coli methionyl tRNA synthetase, whose structure is known, the C-terminal domain is predominantly alpha-helical and forms a loop which interacts with the anticodon trinucleotide located about 76 A from the amino acid attachment site. Fused to the end of this helical domain is a peptide which curls back into the N-terminal nucleotide-binding fold and region of the active site. We show here that mutations in this peptide appendix disrupt aminoacylation and binding of a 7 base pair microhelix substrate based on the acceptor stem of tRNA(fMet), without affecting interactions with ATP or methionine or with the tRNA(fMet) anticodon. The impairment of acceptor-helix interactions by mutation of the C-terminal peptide can offset favorable anticodon interactions and severely reduce aminoacylation of tRNA(fMet). Thus, in addition to, or as an alternative to, acceptor-helix-binding insertions into the N-terminal nucleotide-binding fold, C-terminal peptide epitopes in some class I enzymes may provide a mechanism for facilitating RNA microhelix interactions with the catalytic site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The ternary complex of aminoacylated tRNA and EF-Tu-GTP. Recognition of a bond and a fold.

The refined crystal structure of the ternary complex of yeast Phe-tRNAPhe, Thermus aquaticus elongation factor EF-Tu and the non-hydrolyzable GTP analog, GDPNP, reveals many details of the EF-Tu recognition of aminoacylated tRNA (aa-tRNA). EF-Tu-GTP recognizes the aminoacyl bond and one side of the backbone fold of the acceptor helix and has a high affinity for all ordinary elongator aa-tRNAs by binding to this aa-tRNA motif. Yet, the binding of deacylated tRNA, initiator tRNA, and selenocysteine-specific tRNA (tRNASec) is effectively discriminated against. Subtle rearrangements of the binding pocket may occur to optimize the fit to any side chain of the aminoacyl group and interactions with EF-Tu stabilize the 3'-aminoacyl isomer of aa-tRNA. A general complementarity is observed in the location of the binding sites in tRNA for synthetases and for EF-Tu. The complex formation is highly specific for the GTP-bound conformation of EF-Tu, which can explain the effects of various mutants.

Aspartic Acid↗

Influences of amino acid, ATP, pyrophosphate and tRNA on binding of aminoalkyl adenylates to isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli MRE 600.

Aminoalcohol-AMP esters, structurally related to the assumed intermediates of the amino acid activation reaction, behave as competitive inhibitors both with respect to the amino acid and ATP, when tested in the ATP-(32P) PPi-exchange or the tRNA-charging reaction. However, closer investigation of the binding of norvalinyl adenylate to isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli MRE 600 by an equilibrium method shows that only the amino acid is a true competitor, while ATP cannot displace the ester from binding. Pyrophosphate enhances the stability of the ester-enzyme complex whereas tRNA is without detectable influence.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗