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RNA editing by base deamination: more enzymes, more targets, new mysteries.

The posttranscriptional modification of messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) by base deamination can profoundly alter the physiological function of the encoded proteins. The recent identification of tRNA-specific adenosine deaminases (ADATs) has led to the suggestion that these enzymes, as well as the cytidine and adenosine deaminases acting on pre-mRNAs (CDARs and ADARs), belong to a superfamily of RNA-dependent deaminases. This superfamily might have evolved from an ancient cytidine deaminase. This article reviews the reactions catalysed by these enzymes and discusses their evolutionary relationships.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Glycyl-tRNA synthetase: an oligomeric protein containing dissimilar subunits.

Glycyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli is a tetramer containing two small (33,000 daltons) and two large (80,000 daltons) subunits. The subunits can be separated and then reassembled to form active enzyme. Genetically altered glycyl-tRNA synthetases are modified in either the large or the small subunit. Wild type activity can be reconstituted in vitro by mixing extracts containing enzymes with modifications in different subunits.

Benzoates↗

Antibodies to N6-(delta2-isopentenyl) adenosine and its nucleotide: interaction with purified tRNAs and with bases, nucleosides and nucleotides of the isopentenyladenosine family.

The interaction of antibodies directed toward N6-(delta2-isopentenyl)adenosine, i6Ado, or its nucleotide with related bases, nucleosides, nucleotides and purified tRNAs is described. The selectivity of the antibody preparation was tested in inhibition experiments utilizing a sensitive radioimmunoassay to quantitate the binding of [3H]i6Ado to the antibody. Purified tRNAs containing various modified nucleosides adjacent to the 3'-end of the anticodon were tested to provide information about the selectivity of the antibody preparation toward nucleotides in this position of the tRNA chain. Antibodies directed against the nucleotide hapten were used to purify tRNAs which contain i6Ado and to quantitate the amount of that nucleotide. The same order of selectivity was expressed whether the nucleotides were free or in a tRNA molecule. Interaction of the antibody with compounds from the i6Ado family demonstrated dominance of the hydrophobic isopentenyl group and the importance of positional differences of modifications.

Adenosine↗

Nucleotide sequence of a spinach chloroplast threonine tRNA.

The nucleotide sequence of a spinach chloroplast threonine tRNA has been determined. This chloroplast threonine tRNA has been determined. This chloroplast threonine tRNA has 75 nucleotides, which is the same chain length as the recently determined threonine tRNA from yeast mitochondria. This contrasts with the 6 non-organelle threonine tRNAs sequenced to date, which are 76 nucleotides in length. However, other than this similarity in size, the chloropast tRNAThr has little similarlity to the yeast mitochondrial threonine tRNA, and shows essentially equal homology to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic feature of sequence homology to other threonine tRNAs, there is a 19-nucleotide segment encompassing the entire T psi C stem and loop region, that, except for post-transcriptional modifications, is identical in this spinach chloroplast tRNAThr and in yeast cytoplasmic tRNAThr1A. A most unusual feature of this spinach chloroplast tRNAThr is that it has an A residue at the 5'-end of the anticodon loop, a site that is occupied by a pyrimidine in all other tRNAs sequenced to date. Other than this feature, the tRNAThr contains all of the invariant and semi-invariant residues normally found in tRNAs. This tRNA hybridizes to spinach chloroplast DNA, but does not hybridize to the same region of the spinach chloroplast genome that contains the genes for spinach chloroplast tRNA1Thr or tRNA2Thr. This tRNA therefore appears to be a third isoaccepting species of threonine tRNA encoded by spinach chloroplast DNA.

Base Sequence↗

Transcriptome changes in circulating immune cells of critical COVID-19 patients predict a specific metabolic and epigenetic imprint.

BACKGROUND: The progression to critical COVID-19 arises predominantly from a dysregulated host immune response although the underlying regulatory mechanisms still remain partially elusive. This limits a prompt prediction of the disease progression, reduces the therapeutic options and restrains our understanding of “long COVID”. METHODS: Here, we analyzed the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from COVID-19 patients experiencing different degrees of the disease (mild and critical), and control patients enrolled in the clinical trial COntAGIouS as well as independent bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq and proteomic datasets. RESULTS: In critical COVID-19 patients, the integrative analysis of transcriptomic data revealed an altered regulatory network involving microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and coding genes that control mRNA translation-related genes, epigenetics, and metabolism. In parallel, we observed an upregulation of tRNA aminoacylation genes in critical COVID-19 patients by the analysis of either bulk or single-cell RNA-seq data from publicly available independent cohorts. Additionally, we found increased expression of coding genes enriched for the cognate amino acids (glycine, alanine, isoleucine and tyrosine), all related to protein localization, post-translational modifications, and cell metabolism in our cohort. Similar alterations in amino acid frequency were found in an independent proteomic dataset. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings indicate a broad perturbation of the gene expression landscape that characterizes the aberrant host immune response in critical COVID-19 patients and is potentially coordinated by miRNA and tRNA metabolism alterations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: COntAGIouS, NCT04327570. Registered 26 March 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04327570 .

Female↗

Iron-related modification of bacterial transfer RNA.

Transfer RNAs isolated from E. coli grown in media where ferric iron is not freely available show well characterized chromatographic changes due to the absence of the methylthio moiety of ms2i6A. The altered tRNA molecules include tRNA trp tRNA tyr, tRNA phe and two minor tRNA ser species. It has been suggested that methylthiolation of tRNA affects its function in regulation. We now show iron-related changes in tRNA trp from S. typhimurium, Ps. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. tRNA trp from S. typhimurium contains ms2i6A and it seems probable that the availability of iron affects the synthesis of ms2i6A-tRNA trp from i6A-tRNA trp in this organism. An iron-related methylthiolating system may also be operative in K. pneumoniae. S. marcescens tRNA trp, however was not affected by the availability of iron. Neither ms2i6A nor i6A was found in S. marcescens tRNA, although an, as yet unidentified, hydrophobic nucleoside was present.

Bacteria↗

Methylation of yeast tRNAPhe by enzymes from cytoplasm, chloroplasts and mitochondria of Phaseolus vulgaris.

Pure yeast tRNAPhe was used as a substrate to compare the tRNA methylating activities in Phaseolus vulgaris cytoplasm, chloroplasts and mitochondria, in the presence of S-adenosyl[Me-3H]methionine. The resulting [Me-3H]-tRNAPhe was then analyzed, using the techniques of nucleotide sequence determination. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes catalyze the methylation (into m5C) of C48 present in the extra-loop, while chloroplast enzyme preparations catalyze the modification (into m1A) of A14 present in the dihydrouridine loop of tRNAPhe.

Base Sequence↗

Protein thiol modification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a target for nitric oxide signaling.

Nitric oxide signaling is achieved through cGMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The latter are exemplified by the NAD(+)-dependent automodification of the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The experimental post-translational, covalent modification of the enzyme by [32P]NAD+ is achieved using NO-releasing compounds and an active constitutive or inducible NO-synthase. Potential roles for NO in this covalent enzyme modification can be grouped as follows: S-Nitrosylation of GAPDH by NO+ NAD(+)-dependent, post-translational covalent automodification of GAPDH. Oxidative modification of GAPDH by NO-related compounds, probably ONOO. GAPDH modification by one of the proposed mechanisms would lead to inhibition of enzyme catalysis. It is likely that the NAD(+)-dependent automodification process occurs in vitro, in intact cells, and in whole animals. Besides its normal function in glycolysis, GAPDH not only is a target for NO-mediated direct and indirect modifications but also is ADP-ribosylated in the presence of brefeldin A (90). The relation of such ADP-ribosylation to enzyme activity is so far unknown. GAPDH also may be involved in one of the following functions unrelated to its glycolytic activity (81 and refs. therein; 90): binding and transport of tRNA associated with nuclear localization of GAPDH. DNA-repair activity, i.e., uracil DNA glycosylase. Activation of transcription in neurons. Interaction with tubulin and microtubules. The transport of nitric oxide. Serves as a substrate for brefeldin A stimulated ADP-ribosylation. Because some of these alternative functions of GAPDH, just like NO-mediated modification of the enzyme, are related to the NAD+ binding site of the protein, we are interested in searching for the significance of these activities in relation to NO actions. In recent years, several functions of NO have been linked to direct, cGMP-independent actions. Modification of GAPDH is probably just one interesting target related to NO-redox chemistry and active-site thiol modification. It will be challenging to investigate NO biochemistry in closer detail and to elucidate how NO targets biological systems, especially in relation to the patho-physiological role of NO in medically related conditions.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Post-translational arginylation in the bovine lens.

This study demonstrates post-translational arginylation of bovine serum albumin and endogenous lens proteins by bovine lens arginyl-tRNA:protein transferase. This reaction has been proposed to be the first step in marking specific proteins for degradation by the non-lysosomal, ATP-dependent, ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic pathway. The transferase was obtained by the method used for isolation of the same enzyme from reticulocytes (Ferber and Ciechanover, 1987, Nature 326, 808-11). Incorporation of [3H]Arg was linear for at least 2 hr at 37 degrees C. The amount of incorporation was directly proportional to the amount of lens enzyme or substrate added. Arginylation was ATP-dependent. A requirement for tRNA was demonstrated by inhibition upon pretreatment of the enzyme preparation with nuclease to hydrolyse endogenous tRNA, and restoration of activity upon replacement of tRNA. [3H]Leu, [3H]Lys and [3H]His were not incorporated, demonstrating specificity of the reaction for arginine. This is the first demonstration of post-translational modification of proteins by arginylation in the lens.

Acyltransferases↗

Modification of the mouse mitochondrial genome by insertion of an exogenous gene.

Using homologous recombination in yeast we have inserted a synthetic gene encoding human ornithine transcarbamylase (sOTC), designed to allow mitochondrial (mt) translation, into the mouse mt genome. Modification of the mt genome was facilitated by its cloning into a yeast centromeric plasmid. The sOTC gene was initially flanked by 25 bp of the mt tRNA(His) gene at its 5' end and by 23 bp of the mt tRNA(Ser (AGY)) gene at its 3' end (Wheeler et al., 1996). In order to achieve homologous recombination the flanking homology was subsequently extended to 525 and 362 bp by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sOTC gene was thus inserted into the cloned mt genome at a unique location between the tRNA(His) and tRNA(Ser (AGY)) genes. Positioning of the sOTC gene between these normally contiguous tRNA genes should allow its processing from the mt polycistronic transcript. The ability to modify the mammalian mt genome in this way is a valuable step towards a functional analysis of mt genetic mechanisms and possibly also towards a gene therapy approach for mt disorders.

Animals↗

Chemical synthesis and biological investigation of a 77-mer oligoribonucleotide with a sequence corresponding to E. coli tRNA(Asp).

A 77-mer RNA with the sequence of Eschlerichia coli tRNA(Asp) has been chemically synthesised using standard automated phosphoramidite chemistry with the coupling reagent 4,5-dicyanoimidazole (DCI). The synthesis was carried out on a 1000 A CPG-column and. after deprotection and gel purification, a yield of about 7 mmol with a purity of > 95% was reproducibly obtained. By comparing automated synthesis of the 77-mer RNA using 1H-tetrazole and DCI as activator, DCI is advantageous in producing longer RNAs. However, for shorter RNAs ( <40 mer) no difference could be observed. In addition to the all-ribo tRNA(Asp) carrying the wild-type sequence, two variants were synthesised, one with a single C to G48 mutation and the second with a 2'-deoxy modification at C48. The three tRNAs were tested for their aminoacylation efficiency and high affinity binding to E. coli RNase P RNA. The results demonstrate that chemically synthesised 77-mer oligoribonucleotides can be successfully used for structure function studies.

Escherichia coli↗

Inhibition of Escherichia coli RNase P by oligonucleotide directed misfolding of RNA.

Oligonucleotide directed misfolding of RNA (ODMiR) uses short oligonucleotides to inhibit RNA function by exploiting the ability of RNA to fold into different structures with similar free energies. It is shown that the 2'-O-methyl oligonucleotide, m(CAGCCUACCCGG), can trap Escherichia coli RNase P RNA (M1 RNA) in a nonfunctional structure in a transcription mixture containing RNase P protein (C5 protein). At about 200 nM, the 12-mer thus inhibits 50% of pre-tRNA processing by RNase P. Roughly 10-fold more 12-mer is required to inhibit RNase P containing full-length, renatured RNase P RNA. Diethyl pyrocarbonate modification in the presence of 12-mer reveals increased modification of sites in and interacting with P4, suggesting a structural rearrangement of a large pseudoknot important for catalytic activity. Thus, the ODMiR method can be applied to RNAs even when folding is facilitated by a cognate protein.

Base Sequence↗

Structure and evolution of mammalian tRNA genes: sequence of a mouse tRNAiMet gene, the 5'-flanking region of which is homologous to a human gene.

From a recombinant lambda phage, we have determined a 317-bp sequence containing a mouse tRNAiMet gene. The coding region is precisely homologous to mammalian tRNAiMet if post-transcriptional modifications (including addition of the 3'-terminal CCA) are not considered. The gene does not contain introns and has a typical RNA polymerase III termination site in the 3'-flanking region. It is transcribed by RNA polymerase III in the HeLa cell S-100 system in vitro. Notably, the 5'-flanking region of the mouse tRNAiMet gene shares a "patchwork" pattern of homology with one of the human tRNAiMet genes of Santos and Zasloff [Cell 23 (1981) 699-710]. The 5'-flanking regions of the two genes contain strings of nucleotides, 6 to 32 bp in length, the homology of which is 76-100%. These are separated by short strings of unrelated nucleotides. This is one of the first examples of tRNA genes containing homologous 5'-flanking regions isolated from distantly related mammals. We also report a novel method for constructing deletion mutants of sequences cloned in M13 vectors.

Animals↗

Subcellular locations of MOD5 proteins: mapping of sequences sufficient for targeting to mitochondria and demonstration that mitochondrial and nuclear isoforms commingle in the cytosol.

MOD5, a gene responsible for the modification of A37 to isopentenyl A37 of both cytosolic and mitochondrial tRNAs, encodes two isozymes. Initiation of translation at the first AUG of the MOD5 open reading frame generates delta 2-isopentenyl pyrophosphate:tRNA isopentanyl transferase I (IPPT-I), which is located predominantly, but not exclusively, in the mitochondria. Initiation of translation at a second AUG generates IPPT-II, which modifies cytoplasmic tRNA. IPPT-II is unable to target to mitochondria. The N-terminal sequence present in IPPT-I and absent in IPPT-II is therefore necessary for mitochondrial targeting. In these studies, we fused MOD5 sequences encoding N-terminal regions to genes encoding passenger proteins, pseudomature COXIV and dihydrofolate reductase, and studied the ability of these chimeric proteins to be imported into mitochondria both in vivo and in vitro. We found that the sequences necessary for mitochondrial import, amino acids 1 to 11, are not sufficient for efficient mitochondrial targeting and that at least some of the amino acids shared by IPPT-I and IPPT-II comprise part of the mitochondrial targeting information. We used indirect immunofluorescence and cell fractionation to locate the MOD5 isozymes in yeast. IPPT-I was found in two subcellular compartments: mitochondria and the cytosol. We also found that IPPT-II had two subcellular locations: nuclei and the cytosol. The nuclear location of this protein is surprising because the A37-->isopentenyl A37 modification had been predicted to occur in the cytoplasm. MOD5 is one of the first genes reported to encode isozymes found in three subcellular compartments.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Effect of point mutations in the decoding site (C1400) region of 16S ribosomal RNA on the ability of ribosomes to carry out individual steps of protein synthesis.

In order to probe the relationship between structure and function of the ribosome, an in vitro system [Denman et al. (1988) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] was used to make a series of base changes around C1400, a residue known to be at the decoding site. Replacement of C1400 by U, A, or G, deletion of single bases at and to either side of C1400, and insertion of C or U next to C1400 were done. In a separate study, a mutant with seven extra nucleotides at the 3' end was constructed. The activity of these 11 mutants in A and P site binding and in initiation-dependent and initiation-independent peptide synthesis was analyzed. None of the base substitutions of C1400 were markedly inhibitory despite the almost complete conservation of this residue in ribosomal RNAs from a wide range of species. The insertions and deletions completely blocked initiation-dependent peptide synthesis but markedly stimulated the initiation-independent reaction. The effects on tRNA binding were variable. The extra stem and loop at the 3' end blocked initiation-dependent peptide synthesis but did not influence the other assays. The only modification to block all ribosomal function was the deletion of G1401. It appears that while the conserved and cross-linkable C1400 is not essential for function, the adjacent conserved G1401 is.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Molecular dynamics simulations of human tRNA Lys,3 UUU: the role of modified bases in mRNA recognition.

Accuracy in translation of the genetic code into proteins depends upon correct tRNA-mRNA recognition in the context of the ribosome. In human tRNA(Lys,3)UUU three modified bases are present in the anticodon stem-loop--2-methylthio-N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine at position 37 (ms2t6A37), 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine at position 34 (mcm5s2U34) and pseudouridine (psi) at position 39--two of which, ms2t6A37 and mcm5s2U34, are required to achieve wild-type binding activity of wild-type human tRNA(Lys,3)UUU [C. Yarian, M. Marszalek, E. Sochacka, A. Malkiewicz, R. Guenther, A. Miskiewicz and P. F. Agris (2000) Biochemistry, 39, 13390-13395]. Molecular dynamics simulations of nine tRNA anticodon stem-loops with different combinations of nonstandard bases were performed. The wild-type simulation exhibited a canonical anticodon stair-stepped conformation. The ms2t6 modification at position 37 is required for maintenance of this structure and reduces solvent accessibility of U36. Ms2t6A37 generally hydrogen bonds across the loop and may prevent U36 from rotating into solution. A water molecule does coordinate to psi39 most of the simulation time but weakly, as most of the residence lifetimes are <40 ps.

Adenosine↗