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At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Lipocortin (Annexin) I heterotetramer binds to purine RNA and pyrimidine DNA.

Lipocortin I-like protein with a molecular weight of 94,000 Da as judged by Western analysis was found to bind to ssDNA rather than to dsDNA in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. This protein was also bound to [(32)P]poly(rA) and [(32)P]poly(rG) as measured by EMSA. Poly(rG), poly(rA), poly(dC), and poly(dT) were competitive against binding of either [(32)P]poly(rA) or [(32)P]poly(rG), while poly(rC), poly(rU), and poly(dA) were less effective binding competitors. The binding of this protein to poly(rA) or poly(rG) was inhibited by immunoprecipitable anti-lipocortin I (calpactin II) and anti-S100 protein antibodies, but not by an anti-Ig antibody. Phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol enhanced the binding of lipocortin I to poly(rA). Taken together, our present observations suggest that the lipocortin I-S100 protein heterotetramer binds to either purine RNAs or pyrimidine ssDNAs in a Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-dependent manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Nuclear and chloroplast poly(A) polymerases from plants share a novel biochemical property.

Poly(A) polymerases are centrally involved in the process of mRNA 3' end formation in eukaryotes. In animals and yeast, this enzyme works as part of a large multimeric complex to add polyadenylate tracts to the 3' ends of precursor RNAs in the nucleus. Plant nuclear enzymes remain largely uncharacterized. In this report, we describe an initial analysis of plant nuclear poly(A) polymerases (nPAPs). An enzyme purified from pea nuclear extracts possesses many features that are seen with the enzymes from yeast and mammals. However, the pea enzyme possesses the ability to polyadenylate RNAs that are associated with polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNP), a chloroplast-localized enzyme involved in RNA turnover. Similar behavior is not seen with the yeast poly(A) polymerase (PAP). A fusion protein consisting of glutathione-S-transferase and the active domain of an Arabidopsis-encoded nuclear poly(A) polymerase was also able to utilize PNP, indicating that the activity of the pea enzyme was due to an interaction between the pea nPAP and PNP, and not to other factors that might copurify with the pea enzyme. These results suggest the existence, in plant nuclei, of factors related to PNP, and an interaction between such factors and poly(A) polymerases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Nucleolytic inactivation and degradation of the RNase III processed pnp message encoding polynucleotide phosphorylase of Escherichia coli.

The two cleavages made by RNase III in the transcripts of the pnp gene of Escherichia coli, 80 nucleotides upstream of the coding sequence of polynucleotide phosphorylase, were previously demonstrated to trigger the rapid degradation of the pnp messenger. In this paper, we demonstrate that the 5' end of the RNase III processed pnp mRNA is attacked by ribonucleases more efficiently than the rest of the molecule. Several 5' extremities resulting from cleavages occurring in the first 500 nucleotides of the pnp transcript have been identified. Three of them referred to as X, Y and W occur in the wild-type strain at the beginning of the coding sequence of the pnp mRNA. The mRNA appears to be cleaved more efficiently at the X site, proximal to the initiation codon, than at sites Y and W located downstream. In vitro, the maturation at X is catalysed by RNase E but not by RNase III. Accumulation of RNA processed at X in RNase E deficient strains leads us to postulate that X is a high affinity primary site which is slowly cleaved by the residual activity of thermosensitive RNase E at non-permissive temperature and that secondary sites located downstream are processed less efficiently than X. Taken together, our results suggest that in wild-type E. coli the degradation of the RNase III processed mRNA is mediated by RNase E.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A residue to residue hydrogen bond mediates the nucleotide specificity of ribonuclease A.

Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) catalyzes the cleavage of the P-O5 bond of RNA after residues bound in the enzyme's B1 subsite. This subsite binds to cytidine 30-fold more tightly than to uridine and > 10(5)-fold more tightly than to adenine. Structural studies had suggested that the hydroxyl group of Thr45 can interact directly with the base of a bound nucleotide. In contrast, the carboxylate group of Asp83 cannot interact directly with bound substrate but can accept a hydrogen bond from the hydroxyl group of Thr45. To assess the role of the Thr45-Asp83 hydrogen bond in catalysis, T45G, D83A and T45G/D83A RNase A were prepared and their abilities to catalyze the cleavage of various substrates were determined. The results indicate that the side-chain of Asp83 enhances catalysis of reactions in which uridine is bound in the B1 subsite, but that this enhancement relies on the side-chain of Thr45. In contrast, the side-chain of Asp83 does not contribute to catalysis of reactions with cytidine in the B1 subsite. Thermodynamic cycles derived from kinetic parameters for the cleavage of poly(U) indicate that the Thr45-Asp83 interaction contributes 1.2 kcal/mol to transition state stabilization, which is 0.9 kcal/mol greater than its contribution to ground state stabilization. Thus, like many residue-substrate interactions, this residue to residue interaction enhances catalysis by becoming stronger as the reaction approaches the transition state.

Alanine↗
PubMed1998

Reconstitution of the degradation of the mRNA for ribosomal protein S20 with purified enzymes.

Previous work has implicated poly(A) polymerase I (PAP I), encoded by the pcnB gene, in the decay of a number of RNAs from Escherichia coli. We show here that PAP I does not promote the initiation of decay of the rpsT mRNA encoding ribosomal protein S20 in vivo; however, it does facilitate the degradation of highly folded degradative intermediates by polynucleotide phosphorylase. As expected, purified degradosomes, a multi-protein complex containing, among others, RNase E, PNPase, and RhlB, generate an authentic 147-residue RNase E cleavage product from the rpsT mRNA in vitro. However, degradosomes are unable to degrade the 147-residue fragment in the presence of ATP even when it is oligoadenylated. Rather, both continuous cycles of polyadenylation and PNPase activity are necessary and sufficient for the complete decay of the 147-residue fragment in a process which can be antagonized by the action of RNase II. Moreover, both ATP and a non-hydrolyzable analog, ATPgammaS, support the PAP I and PNPase-dependent degradation of the 147-residue intermediate implying that ATPase activity, such as that which may reside in RhlB, a putative RNA helicase, is not necessarily required. Alternatively, the rpsT mRNA can be degraded in vitro by a second 3'-decay pathway which is dependent on PAP I, PNPase and ATP alone. Our results demonstrate that a hierarchy of RNA secondary structures controls access to exonucleolytic attack on 3' termini. Moreover, decay of a model mRNA can be reconstituted in vitro by a small number of purified components in a process which is more dynamic and ATP-dependent than previously imagined.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1999

Degradation of FinP antisense RNA from F-like plasmids: the RNA-binding protein, FinO, protects FinP from ribonuclease E.

Transfer of F-like plasmids is regulated by the FinOP system, which controls the expression of traJ, a positive regulator of the transfer operon. F FinP is a 79 base antisense RNA, composed of two stem-loops, complementary to the 5' untranslated leader of traJ mRNA. Binding of FinP to the traJ leader sequesters the traJ ribosome binding site, preventing its translation and repressing plasmid transfer. The FinO protein binds stem-loop II of FinP and traJ mRNA and promotes duplex formation in vitro. FinO stabilizes FinP, increasing its effective concentration in vivo. To determine how FinO protects FinP from decay, the degradation of FinP was examined in a series of ribonuclease-deficient strains. Using Northern blot analysis, full-length FinP was found to be stabilized sevenfold in an RNase E-deficient strain. The major site of RNase E cleavage was mapped on synthetic FinP, to the single-stranded region between stem-loops I and II. A secondary site near the 5' end ( approximately 10 bases) was also observed. A GST-FinO fusion protein protected FinP from RNase E cleavage at both sites in vitro. Two duplexes between FinP and traJ mRNA were detected in an RNase III-deficient strain. The larger duplex resulted from extension of the FinP transcript at its 3' end, suggesting readthrough at the terminator that corresponds to FinP stem-loop II. A point mutant of finP (finP305; C30U) that is unable to repress traJ in the presence of FinO was also characterized. The pattern of RNase E digestion of finP305 RNA differed from FinP, and GST-FinO did not protect finP305 RNA from cleavage in vitro. The half-life of finP305 RNA decreased more than tenfold in vivo, such that the steady-state levels of finP305 RNA, in the presence of FinO, were insufficient to significantly reduce the level of traJ mRNA available for translation, allowing derepressed levels of transfer.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between translational control and mRNA degradation for the Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase gene.

Expression of thrS, the gene encoding Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase, is negatively autoregulated at the translational level. Regulation is due to the binding of threonyl-tRNA synthetase to its own mRNA at a site called the operator, located immediately upstream of the initiation codon. The present work investigates the relationship between regulation and mRNA degradation. We show that two regulatory mutations, which increase thrS expression, cause an increase in the steady-state mRNA concentration. Unexpectedly, however, the half-life of thrS mRNA in the derepressed mutants is equal to that of the wild-type, indicating that mRNA stability is independent of the repression level. All our results can be explained if one assumes that thrS mRNA is either fully translated or immediately degraded. The immediately degraded RNAs are never detected due to their extremely short half-lives, while the fully translated messengers share the same half-lives, irrespective of the mutations. The increase in the steady-state level of thrS mRNA in the derepressed mutants is simply explained by an increase in the population of translated molecules, i.e. those never bound by the repressor, ThrRS. Despite this peculiarity, thrS mRNA degradation seems to follow the classical degradation pathway. Its stability is increased in a strain defective for RNase E, indicating that an endonucleolytic cleavage by this enzyme is the rate-limiting process in degradation. We also observe an accumulation of small fragments corresponding to the 5' end of the message in a strain defective for polynucleotide phosphorylase, indicating that, following the endonucleolytic cleavages, fragments are normally degraded by 3' to 5' exonucleolytic trimming. Although mRNA degradation was suspected to increase the efficiency of translational control based on several considerations, our results indicate that inhibition of mRNA degradation has no effect on the level of repression by ThrRS.

Endoribonucleases↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure of the Escherichia coli RNA degradosome component enolase.

The crystal structure of Escherichia coli enolase (EC 4.2.1.11, phosphopyruvate hydratase), which is a component of the RNA degradosome, has been determined at 2.5 A. There are four molecules in the asymmetric unit of the C2 cell, and in one of the molecules, flexible loops close onto the active site. This closure mimics the conformation of the substrate-bound intermediate. A comparison of the structure of the E. coli enolase with the eukaryotic enolase structures available (lobster and yeast) indicates a high degree of conservation of the hydrophobic core and the subunit interface of this homodimeric enzyme. The dimer interface is enriched in charged residues compared with other protein homodimers, which may explain our observations from analytical ultracentrifugation that dimerisation is affected by ionic strength. The putative role of enolase in the RNA degradosome is discussed; although it was not possible to ascribe a specific role to it, a structural role is possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Identification of a conserved motif that is necessary for binding of the vaccinia virus E3L gene products to double-stranded RNA.

The E3L gene of vaccinia virus encodes the double-stranded (ds) RNA binding proteins p20 and p25 that exhibit inhibitory activity for the IFN-induced, P1/elF-2 alpha protein kinase. A region in the E3L encoded proteins (residues 156-180) shares a high degree of similarity with several proteins that bind double-helical RNA including the P1/elF-1 alpha kinase, bacterial and yeast RNase III, and a human transactivator response element/Rev response element binding protein. In this study, mutants of E3L proteins were constructed in order to determine the region of the proteins required for dsRNA binding and kinase inhibitory activity. Our data indicate that both the region necessary for dsRNA binding and for kinase inhibitory activity are located at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. The E3L proteins with 7 amino acids deleted from the carboxyl terminus (184-190) could bind to dsRNA, but with lower affinity than could the full-length protein. This protein did not detectably inhibit kinase in vitro. Deletion of 26 amino acids from the carboxyl terminus of the E3L proteins (165-190) abolished dsRNA binding activity and kinase inhibitory activity. In addition, mutations at amino acid 164, 167, or 174 severely inhibited binding to dsRNA. On the other hand, deletion of 83 amino acids from the amino terminus did not affect the proteins' ability to bind dsRNA or inhibit kinase. These results suggest that a region of sequence between amino acids 164 and 183 is necessary for E3L proteins' dsRNA binding activity. This region lies within the homologous domain that the E3L proteins share with other dsRNA binding proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

The influence of AUG codons in the hepatitis C virus 5' nontranslated region on translation and mapping of the translation initiation window.

The initiation of translation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is cap-independent and mediated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that is located in the 5' nontranslated region (5' NTR) of the viral genome. This 5' NTR is relatively long and folds into a complex structure involving multiple hairpins and a pseudoknot. Within the sequence encompassing the IRES there are several AUG triplets. Some of these AUG codons are conserved between HCV genotypes and the related pestiviruses. In this study the 5 AUG codons (positions 13, 32, 85, 96, and 215) that are present in the 5' NTR of the HCV H-strain have been mutagenized to determine their influence on HCV cap-independent translation. The effect of these mutations on the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene was tested in vaccinia virus. vTF7-3 infected Hep2 cells transfected with plasmids for the expression of a monocistronic HCV 5' NTR-CAT mRNA. Mutating the AUG codons at positions 13, 32, and 215 does not have a significant effect on CAT expression, inactivating the AUG codons at either position 85 or position 96 severely impaired IRES function. To determine whether ribosomes scan the RNA to select the initiation site, AUG codons were inserted up- and downstream of the authentic HCV polyprotein translation initiation codon (position 342). Analysis of these mutants has revealed that the ribosome is unable to use an AUG codon that is placed either 7 nucleotides upstream or 8 nucleotides downstream of the inactivated AUG at position 342. These results indicate that when scanning is involved in the recognition of the translation initiating AUG, it is limited to a narrow region between nucleotides 335 and 350.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1989

Chloroplast mRNA 3' end maturation is biochemically distinct from prokaryotic mRNA processing.

We have characterized a chloroplast processing activity that catalyzes the conversion of the plastid cytochrome b6/f subunit IV (pet D) mRNA 3' end precursor to the mature RNA possessing a 3' inverted repeat (IR). In a chloroplast soluble protein extract, the activity requires Mg2+ or Mn2+, but not K+. In the absence of Mg2+, the pet D 3' IR-RNA product does not accumulate, and UV-cross-linking indicates that the 3' IR-RNA precursor binds several new proteins in addition to those previously characterized as part of the 3' IR-RNA: protein complex in vitro. In contrast, high concentrations of Zn2+ or Cu2+ suppress protein binding and inhibit the processing reaction. The purified exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (E.C.2.7.7.8) is not efficient in processing the pet D 3' IR-RNA precursor, whereas Escherichia coli ribonuclease II rapidly processes the pet D IR-RNA precursor to a product of a size similar to that of the mature 3' IR-RNA, but also rapidly degrades the mature RNA in the absence of chloroplast extract. We therefore conclude that the maturation of the pet D mRNA in vitro requires specific chloroplast enzymes which process the mRNA 3' end precursor in the absence of efficient transcription termination. The chloroplast enzyme activities are biochemically distinct from their bacterial counterparts. We also note that specific chloroplast components may be required to stabilize the mature pet D mRNA 3' end against further exonucleolytic degradation.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1994

Arabidopsis heat shock factor: isolation and characterization of the gene and the recombinant protein.

We have isolated the Arabidopsis heat shock factor gene Athsf1 as genomic and corresponding cDNA sequences via cross-hybridization with tomato clones. Sequence analysis indicates only a partial homology with the HSFs from tomato and other organisms which is confined to the DNA-binding and the oligomerization domains. The gene is constitutively expressed but the level of mRNA for Athsf1 increases two-fold upon heat shock. However, the putative promoter region lacks the canonical heat shock elements. After expression in Escherichia coli the recombinant Athsf1 protein binds specifically to a synthetic oligonucleotide containing five heat shock elements. The native size of recombinant ATHSF1 in vitro is consistent with a trimer as demonstrated by chemical cross-linking and pore exclusion limit analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Nuclear protein 780BP from cauliflower binds an element in the 780 gene promoter of T-DNA.

A 16 bp site of protein binding has been identified in the promoter of the 780 gene of T-DNA. Specific DNA-protein interactions were demonstrated between a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing this element (5'-TTGAAAAATCAACGCT-3') and a protein isolated from nuclear extracts of cauliflower inflorescences. Specific bases required for this binding activity (780 binding protein; 780BP) were defined by kinetic competition studies with mutated oligonucleotides, methylation interference assays and DNAse I footprinting. 780BP binding was not competed with up to 1000-fold excess of previously characterized plant regulatory elements such as as-1, the LRE, and the ocs, G-box, and AT-rich elements. In addition, 780BP was shown to bind sequences overlapping a mammalian hormone receptor element with greater affinity than the 780 element.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Sensitivities of human glioma cell lines to interferons and double-stranded RNAs individually and in synergistic combinations.

The antiproliferative effects of human interferons (IFNs) and double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) were studied in five human glioma cell lines. Dose response curves were generated over a 72 hour treatment period. The concentration of interferon or double-stranded RNA necessary to produce a 50% antiproliferative response (GI50) was calculated by linear regression analysis. Two cell lines were more sensitive to IFN-beta than to IFN-alpha, one cell line was more sensitive to IFN-alpha than to IFN-beta and two cell lines had approximately equal sensitivities to both interferons. All cell lines showed some sensitivity to either IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. IFN-gamma had no antiproliferative effect on any of the cell lines. In addition, only one of the cell lines displayed sensitivity to dsRNA, in which the response to poly(I).poly(C) was greater than that to a mismatched analogue of poly(I).poly(C), r(I)n.r(C12,U)n (Ampligen). There was no correlation between the sensitivities to type I IFNs (alpha and beta), type II IFN (gamma) or the dsRNAs. The antiproliferative effect of combinations of IFNs, or IFNs and Ampligen, was studied in one of the cell lines. A significant synergistic antitumor effect was seen with all of the IFN/Ampligen combinations (p less than 0.02), including IFN-gamma/Ampligen, even though these cells were resistant to IFN-gamma alone. Synergy was also seen in the IFN-alpha/IFN-gamma (p less than 0.02) and IFN-beta/IFN-gamma (p less than 0.05) combinations. The IFN-alpha/IFN-beta combination gave an additive antitumor effect. These results indicate that IFN-alpha and IFN-beta alone or combinations of type I IFNs, type II IFNs and Ampligen can be effective in inhibiting the growth of glioma cells.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1988

The influence of polyamine-nucleic acid complexes on Fe2+ autoxidation.

Polyamines are able to affect Fe2+ autoxidation in the presence of suitable low molecular weight phosphorus-containing compounds; the inhibitory effect exerted by polyamines is directly related to their ability to bind phosphorus-containing compounds. It is well known that polyamines, as polycations at physiological pH, bind strongly to nucleic acids. In this paper it is shown that polyamines, also in the presence of nucleic acids, inhibit Fe2+ autoxidation and thus depress the generation of free oxygen radicals. Most of the nucleic acids tested inhibited Fe2+ autoxidation although the concentration which causes half maximal effect differs. Polyamine effect on Fe2+ autoxidation varies greatly depending on the single or double stranded nature of the nucleic acid. In the present of single stranded nucleic acids, spermine and spermidine potentiate the inhibition of Fe2+ autoxidation by these nucleic acids. A relationship exists between the ability of spermine to interact with single stranded nucleic acids and to inhibit Fe2+ autoxidation in their presence. When double stranded nucleic acids are present, polyamines reverse the inhibition of Fe2+ autoxidation exerted by these nucleic acids. Molecular mechanisms are proposed to explain these experimental results. The hypothesis that polyamines may inhibit oxidative damage caused to nucleic acids by Fe2+ autoxidation, is also discussed.

Animals↗