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Host mutations (miaA and rpsL) reduce tetracycline resistance mediated by Tet(O) and Tet(M).

The effects of mutations in host genes on tetracycline resistance mediated by the Tet(O) and Tet(M) ribosomal protection proteins, which originated in Campylobacter spp. and Streptococcus spp., respectively, were investigated by using mutants of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. The miaA, miaB, and miaAB double mutants of S. typhimurium specify enzymes for tRNA modification at the adenosine at position 37, adjacent to the anticodon in tRNA. In S. typhimurium, this involves biosynthesis of N6-(4-hydroxyisopentenyl)-2-methylthio-adenosine (ms2io6A). The miaA mutation reduced the level of tetracycline resistance mediated by both Tet(O) and Tet(M), but the latter showed a greater effect, which was ascribed to the isopentenyl (i6) group or to a combination of the methylthioadenosine (ms2) and i6 groups but not to the ms2 group alone (specified by miaB). In addition, mutations in E. coli rpsL genes, generating both streptomycin-resistant and streptomycin-dependent strains, were also shown to reduce the level of tetracycline resistance mediated by Tet(O) and Tet(M). The single-site amino acid substitutions present in the rpsL mutations were pleiotropic in their effects on tetracycline MICs. These mutants affect translational accuracy and kinetics and suggest that Tet(O) and Tet(M) binding to the ribosome may be reduced or slowed in the E. coli rpsL mutants in which the S12 protein is altered. Data from both the miaA and rpsL mutant studies indicate a possible link between stability of the aminoacyl-tRNA in the ribosomal acceptor site and tetracycline resistance mediated by the ribosomal protection proteins.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Dietary effects on cytosolic and mitochondrial tRNA abundance and modification patterns across mouse tissues.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are central to protein synthesis and are increasingly recognized as dynamic regulators of gene expression whose abundance and chemical modifications are subject to precise biological control. Here, we systematically investigate how two distinct dietary interventions, low-protein and high-fat diets, reshape the tRNA landscape across multiple mouse tissues, using RNA mass spectrometry and ordered two-template relay sequencing (OTTR-seq) to comprehensively profile cytosolic and mitochondrial tRNAs at single-nucleotide resolution. We reveal pronounced tissue-specific biases in tRNA isodecoder expression, including the unexpected presence of full-length cytosolic tRNAs in mature sperm with a distinct isotype composition. In somatic tissues such as liver and heart, dietary conditions alter both tRNA abundance and key modifications known to regulate decoding efficiency, whereas in reproductive tissues diet primarily affects the abundance of select tRNAs with comparatively limited changes in modification profiles. We further demonstrate that mitochondrial tRNAs are subject to diet-responsive changes in both abundance and modification status and that even subtle differences in dietary fat composition are sufficient to alter tRNA modification signatures. Together, these findings establish the tRNA epitranscriptome as a sensitive and tissue-specific sensor of nutritional state and provide a resource for understanding how dietary cues interface with translational regulation in somatic and reproductive tissues.

Male↗

A survey of dietary effects on tRNA abundance and modifications.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) play a central role in protein translation and are increasingly recognized as dynamic regulators of gene expression. Both physiological and environmental signals can modulate tRNA abundance and chemical modifications, yet the impact of dietary cues on the tRNA landscape remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of two distinct dietary interventions-low-protein and high-fat diets-on tRNA abundance and modification profiles across multiple mouse tissues. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of tRNA abundance and modification changes in response to these nutritional challenges using RNA mass spectrometry and Ordered Two-Template Relay sequencing (OTTR-seq), a modified-base-sensitive tRNA sequencing method. Our results reveal both shared and tissue-specific alterations in abundance and modifications of specific nuclear and mitochondrial genome-encoded tRNAs in response to dietary conditions at isotype, isoacceptor, and isodecoder levels. As many of the tissue-specific or diet-responsive tRNA modifications have been previously reported to affect decoding efficiency or translational fidelity, these results have implications for understanding translational adaptation in response to dietary conditions.

Journal Article↗

[Selective alkylation of G24 residue in tRNAPhe].

Alkylation of E. coli tRNAPhe with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino) benzyl-5'-phosphamide of oligonucleotide d(pAACCA) was studied. G24 residue located near the sequence C17GGDA21 partially complementary to the oligonucleotide moiety of the reagent was shown to be alkylated. Oligonucleotide d(pAACCA) inhibited the alkylation. Association constant of oligonucleotide derivative with tRNAPhe (10(3) M-1) was evaluated from the dependence of the extent of tRNA modification on the concentration of the reagent. The reported method for selective alkylation of tRNA may be used for preparing photoaffinity derivatives of tRNA bearing an arylazidogroups in desired position.

Alkylation↗

Ribosome binding of DNA analogs of tRNA requires base modifications and supports the "extended anticodon".

The efficiency of translation depends on correct tRNA-ribosome interactions. The ability of chemically synthesized yeast tRNA(Phe) anticodon domains to effectively inhibit the binding of native yeast tRNA(Phe) to poly(U)-programmed Escherichia coli 30S ribosomal subunits was dependent on a Mg(2+)-stabilized stem and an open anticodon loop, both facilitated by base modifications. Analysis of tRNA sequences has revealed that base modifications which negate canonical hydrogen bonding are found in 95% of those tRNA anticodon loop sequences with the potential to form two Watson-Crick base pairs across the loop. Therefore, we postulated that a stable anticodon stem and an open loop are prerequisites for ribosome binding. To test this hypothesis, DNA analogs of the yeast tRNA(Phe) anticodon domain were designed to have modification-induced, Mg(2+)-stabilized stems and open loops. The unmodified DNA analog neither bound to poly(U)-programmed 30S ribosomal subunits nor inhibited the binding of native tRNA(Phe). However, specifically modified DNA analogs did bind to ribosomal subunits and effectively inhibited tRNA(Phe) from binding. Thus, modification-dependent Mg(2+)-stabilized anticodon domain structures with open loops have evolved as the preferred anticodon conformations for ribosome binding.

Anticodon↗

Defects in modification of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial transfer RNAs are caused by single nuclear mutations.

Many nucleus-encoded mitochondrial enzymes differ in physical and chemical properties from analogous cytoplasmic enzymes, and it is therefore generally assumed that different genes encode analogous mitochondrial and cytoplasmic enzymes. However, our genetic studies show that for at least two different tRNA modifications, mutations in nuclear genes affect cytoplasmic as well as mitochondrial tRNAs. These studies utilize two yeast genes: TRM1 and TRM2. trm1 cells do not have the enzyme activity necessary to methylate guanosine to N2,N2-dimethylguanosine. trm2 is a new mutation that we describe here. trm2 cells are deficient in tRNA-(uridine-5)methyltransferase, and hence contain tRNA lacking 5-methyluridine or ribothymidine. Other than lacking 5-methyluridine trm2 cells have no obvious physiological defect. These studies also show that the N2,N2-dimethylguanosine and 5-methyluridine modifications are not added to tRNA in an obligatory order, and that 5-methyluridine is not required for removal of intervening sequences from precursor tRNA.

Cell Nucleus↗

Increased rates of tRNA charging through modification of the enzyme-aminoacyl-adenylate complex of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase.

The transfer of amino acid to tRNA by Escherichia coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) was studied using replacements of Ala294 in the alpha subunit previously shown to have modified amino acid specificity. Steady-state analysis of tRNA charging showed little difference between wild-type and mutants, whereas pre-steady-state analysis revealed higher rates of tRNA charging by both the A294S PheRS-phenylalanyl adenylate and the A294G PheRS-p-Cl-phenylalanyl adenylate. The decrease in energy required for the formation of the transition state of amino acid transfer in these mutants could be related to a weaker binding of the amino acid in the aminoacyl adenylate complex. Thus a compromise appears to exist between amino acid activation and tRNA charging, because slowing down the first step increases the rate of the second step, possibly as a result of decreased stability of the PheRS.amino acid-AMP complex.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

The origin of the protein synthesis mechanism.

The origin and development of the protein synthesis mechanism is considered in four successive steps. The genetic code is supposed to be controlled by the relative amount (availability) of various amino acids and nucleotides on the one hand, and utility on each amino acid in the polypeptide. on the other hand. Thus, more simple (inutile) and abundant amino acids tended to correspond to codons which were rich in the less frequent base species, G and C. Features of primitive tRNA in the discrimination of amino acid are discussed. Primitive tRNA is proposed to have a discriminator site for amino acid and, separated from it, an anticodon site for interaction with nucleotides. A hypothetical course of subdivision of various nucleic acid species is proposed. In the scheme, mRNA and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were derived from more primitive insoluble RNA. DNA appeared in the late, not first, step of the development. Several other aspects of evolutionary development of the whole protein synthesis mechanism, e.g., role of the discriminator site on primitive tRNA, modification and subdivision of code catalogue into a more precise specification of amino acids, and possible primordial interactions between tRNA and tRNA-binding sites on insoluble rRNA, are discussed.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Suppressors of a UGG missense mutation in Escherichia coli.

As part of our investigation of tRNA structure-function relationships, we isolated and preliminarily characterized translational suppressors of the tryptophan codon UGG in a trpA missense mutant of Escherichia coli. the parent strain also contained two other mutant alleles relevant to the suppressor search; these were supD, which codes for a serine-inserting amber suppressor tRNA, and gly V55, the gene for a GGA/G-reading mutationally altered glycine tRNA. On the basis of map location, reversed-phase (RPC-5) column chromatography of glycyl-tRNA, and codon response, several classes have been distinguished so far. The number of suppressors in each class, their codon responses, and their apparent genic identities, respectively, are as follows: class 1--4 suppressors, UGG, supD; class 2--12 suppressors, UGG, glyU; class 3--9 suppressors, UGA and UGG, glyT; class 4--2 suppressors, UGG, glyT; class 5--7 suppressors, UGG, gly V55. Besides these, one suppressor retains supD activity, but so far its map location has not been distinguished from that of supD. Another suppressor clearly does not map near supD or any of the glycine tRNA genes mentioned. These last two suppressors may represent novel missense suppressors such as misacylated tRNA's or mutationally altered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, tRNA modification enzymes, or ribosomes. Finally, three other suppressors were obtained from a strain containing glyT56, the gene for an AGA/G-reading form of glyT tRNA. All three occurred at the expense of glyT56 activity and exhibited the the transductional linkage to argH that is characteristic of glyT.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Inhibition of methylated nucleoside synthesis in vivo: accumulation of incompletely methylated transfer RNA in ethionine-treated cells of Escherichia coli B.

tRNA prepared from cells of E. coli B that had been incubated with 0.5% DL-ethionine (Ethio sRNA) was found to accept methyl groups from 14CH3-S-adenosyl-methionine in the enzymatic reaction catalyzed in vitro by tRNA methyl transferases from untreated cells of the same organism. tRNA from cells that were not exposed to ethionine did not accept a significant level of methyl groups when incubated with the same enzyme system. Base ratio analysis of the product obtained after in vitro addition of methyl groups to Ethio sRNA by enzymes from normal E. coli B indicated that a high proportion of uracil sites in this tRNA were available for enzymatic methylation. These results indicated that tRNA from ethionine-treated organisms was recognized by the homologous enzymes to be incompletely methylated, while, as previously shown, all methyl-acceptor sites on tRNA from normal cells were already filled, and that Ethio sRNA was preferentially deficient in methyl groups on uracil moieties in the RNA molecules. Ethionine thus appears to interfere with normal tRNA modification in vivo.

Cell Division↗

Determination of queuosine derivatives by reverse-phase liquid chromatography for the hypomodification study of Q-bearing tRNAs from various mammal liver cells.

Three queuosine derivatives (Q-derivatives) have been found at position 34 of four mammalian so-called Q-tRNAs: queuosine (Q) in tRNA(Asn) and tRNA(His), mannosyl-queuosine (manQ) in tRNA(Asp), and galactosyl-queuosine (galQ) in tRNA(Tyr). An analytical procedure based on the combined means of purified tRNA isolation from liver cells and ribonucleoside analysis by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with real-time UV-spectrometry (RPLC-UV) was developed for the quantitative analysis of the three Q-derivatives present in total tRNA from liver tissues and liver cell cultures. Using this analytical procedure, the rates of Q-tRNA modification were studied in total tRNAs from various mammalian hepatic cells. Our results show that the four Q-tRNAs are fully modified in liver tissues from adult mammals, regardless of the mammal species. However, a lack in the Q-modification level was observed in Q-tRNAs from newborn rat liver, as well in Q-tRNAs from normal rat liver cell cultures growing in a low queuine content medium, and from a rat hepatoma cell line. It is noteworthy that in all cases of Q-tRNA hypomodification, our analytical procedure showed that tRNA(Asp) is always the least affected by the hypomodification. The biological significance of this phenomenon is discussed.

Animals↗

2'-O-methylation and inosine formation in the wobble position of anticodon-substituted tRNA-Phe in a homologous yeast in vitro system.

Four variants of yeast tRNA-Phe in which the anticodon and 3'-adjacent nucleotide (GmAAY) have been replaced by synthetic tetranucleotides NAAG (where N is each of the four canonical nucleosides G, C, U or A) are substrates for a yeast tRNA modification enzyme which catalyses the S-adenosyl-L-methionine dependent formations of Gm-34, Cm-34, Um-34, Am-34 and Im-34 (where Nm represents a 2'-O-methylnucleoside and I inosine). The kinetics of these nucleosides-34 2'-O-methylations reveal that yeast tRNA-Phe with G-34 (the natural substrate) is less efficiently modified than variants of the same tRNA containing U-34 and C-34. The formation of Am-34 in the tRNA containing A-34 was found to be particularly inefficient. However, in this tRNA, we observed the formation of I-34 followed by a 2'-O-methylation (giving rise to Im-34). In the yeast in vitro system described here, inosine formation is not dependent on the addition of any cofactor including hypoxanthine; the mechanism of inosine formation in yeast tRNA might therefore be distinct from that found in higher eukaryotes.

Anticodon↗

Pleiotropic effects of intron removal on base modification pattern of yeast tRNAPhe: an in vitro study.

Cell-free yeast extract has been successfully used to catalyze the enzymatic formation of 11 out of the 14 naturally occurring modified nucleotides in yeast tRNAPhe(anticodon GAA). They are m2G10, D17, m22G26, Cm32, Gm34,psi39, m5C40, m7G46, m5C49, T54 andpsi55. Only D16, Y37 and m1A58 were not formed under in vitro conditions. However, m1G37was quantitatively produced instead of Y37. The naturally occurring intron was absolutely required for m5C40formation while it hindered completely the enzymatic formation of Cm32, Gm34and m1G37. Enzymatic formation of m22G26,psi39, m7G46, m5C49, T54 andpsi55were not or only slightly affected by the presence of the intron. These results allow us to classify the different tRNA modification enzymes into three groups: intron insensitive, intron dependent, and those requiring the absence of the intron. The fact that truncated tRNAPheconsisting of the anticodon stem and loop prolonged with the 19 nucleotide long intron is a substrate for tRNA: cytosine-40 methylase demonstrates that the enzyme is not only strictly intron dependent, but also does not require fully structured tRNA.

Anticodon↗

Pseudouridine and ribothymidine formation in the tRNA-like domain of turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA.

The last 82 nucleotides of the 6.3 kb genomic RNA of plant turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV), the so-called 'tRNA-like' domain, presents functional, structural and primary sequence homologies with canonical tRNAs. In particular, one of the stem-loops resembles the TPsi(pseudouridine)-branch of tRNA, except for the presence of a guanosine at position 37 (numbering is from the 3'-end) instead of the classical uridine-55 in tRNA (numbering is from the 5'-end). Both the wild-type TYMV-RNA fragment and a variant, TYMV-mut G37U in which G-37 has been replaced by U-37, have been tested as potential substrates for the yeast tRNA modification enzymes. Results indicate that two modified nucleotides were formed upon incubation of the wild-type TYMV-fragment in a yeast extract: one Psi which formed quantitatively at position 65, and one ribothymidine (T) which formed at low level at position U-38. In the TYMV-mutant G37U, besides the quantitative formation of both Psi-65 and T-38, an additional Psi was detected at position 37. Modified nucleotides Psi-65, T-38 and Psi-37 in TYMV RNA are equivalent to Psi-27, T-54 and Psi-55 in tRNA, respectively. Purified yeast recombinant tRNA:Psisynthases (Pus1 and Pus4), which catalyze respectively the formation of Psi-27 and Psi-55 in yeast tRNAs, are shown to catalyze the quantitative formation of Psi-65 and Psi-37, respectively, in the tRNA-like 3'-domain of mutant TYMV RNA in vitro . These results are discussed in relation to structural elements that are needed by the corresponding enzymes in order to catalyze these post-transcriptional modification reactions.

Base Sequence↗

Distinct origins of tRNA(m1G37) methyltransferase.

The enzyme tRNA(m1G37) methyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) to the N1 position of G37 in the anticodon loop of a subset of tRNA. The modified guanosine is 3' to the anticodon and is important for maintenance of reading frame during decoding of genetic information. While the methyltransferase is well conserved in bacteria and is easily identified (encoded by the trmD gene), the identity of the enzyme in eukarya and archaea is less clear. Here, we report that the enzyme encoded by Mj0883 of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii is the archaeal counterpart of the bacterial TrmD. However, despite catalyzing the same reaction and displaying similar enzymatic properties, MJ0883 and bacterial TrmD are completely unrelated in sequence. The catalytic domain of MJ0883, when aligned with the five known structural folds (I-V) that have been described to bind AdoMet, is of the class I fold, similar to the ancient Rossmann fold that binds nucleotides. In contrast, the catalytic domain of the bacterial TrmD has the unusual class IV fold of a trefoil knot structure. Thus, both the sequence and structural arrangements of tRNA(m1G37) methyltransferase have distinct evolutionary origins among primary kingdoms, revealing an unexpected but remarkable non-orthologous gene displacement to achieve an important tRNA modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutation in TRMU related to transfer RNA modification modulates the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA mutations.

The human mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) A1555G mutation has been associated with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic deafness in many families worldwide. Our previous investigation revealed that the A1555G mutation is a primary factor underlying the development of deafness but is not sufficient to produce a deafness phenotype. However, it has been proposed that nuclear-modifier genes modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the A1555G mutation. Here, we identified the nuclear-modifier gene TRMU, which encodes a highly conserved mitochondrial protein related to transfer RNA (tRNA) modification. Genotyping analysis of TRMU in 613 subjects from 1 Arab-Israeli kindred, 210 European (Italian pedigrees and Spanish pedigrees) families, and 31 Chinese pedigrees carrying the A1555G or the C1494T mutation revealed a missense mutation (G28T) altering an invariant amino acid residue (A10S) in the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal region of the TRMU protein. Interestingly, all 18 Arab-Israeli/Italian-Spanish matrilineal relatives carrying both the TRMU A10S and 12S rRNA A1555G mutations exhibited prelingual profound deafness. Functional analysis showed that this mutation did not affect importation of TRMU precursors into mitochondria. However, the homozygous A10S mutation leads to a marked failure in mitochondrial tRNA metabolisms, specifically reducing the steady-state levels of mitochondrial tRNA. As a consequence, these defects contribute to the impairment of mitochondrial-protein synthesis. Resultant biochemical defects aggravate the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with the A1555G mutation, exceeding the threshold for expressing the deafness phenotype. These findings indicate that the mutated TRMU, acting as a modifier factor, modulates the phenotypic manifestation of the deafness-associated 12S rRNA mutations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pseudouridylation at position 32 of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs requires two distinct enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs contain several pseudouridylation sites, and the tRNA:Psi-synthase acting at position 32 had not been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By combining genetic and biochemical analyses, we demonstrate that two enzymes, Rib2/Pus8p and Pus9p, are required for Psi32 formation in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs, respectively. Pus9p acts mostly in mitochondria, and Rib2/Pus8p is strictly cytoplasmic. This is the first case reported so far of two distinct tRNA modification enzymes acting at the same position but present in two different compartments. This peculiarity may be the consequence of a gene fusion that occurred during yeast evolution. Indeed, Rib2/Pus8p displays two distinct catalytic activities involved in completely unrelated metabolism: its C-terminal domain has a DRAP-deaminase activity required for riboflavin biogenesis in the cytoplasm, whereas its N-terminal domain carries the tRNA:Psi32-synthase activity. Pus9p has only a tRNA:Psi32-synthase activity and contains a characteristic mitochondrial targeting sequence at its N terminus. These results are discussed in terms of RNA:Psi-synthase evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic characterization of the sufj frameshift suppressor in Salmonella typhimurium.

A new suppressor of +1 frameshift mutations has been isolated in Salmonella typhimurium. This suppressor, sufJ, maps at minute 89 on the Salmonella genetic map between the argH and rpo(rif) loci, closely linked to the gene for the ochre suppressor tyrU(supM). The suppressor mutation is dominant to its wild-type allele, consistent with the suppressor phenotype being caused by an altered tRNA species. The sufJ map position coincides with that of a threonine tRNA(ACC/U) gene; the suppressor has been shown to read the related fourbase codons ACCU, ACCC, ACCA.--The ability of sufJ to correct one particular mutation depends on the presence of a hisT mutation which causes a defect in tRNA modification. This requirement is allele specific, since other frameshift mutations can be corrected by sufJ regardless of the state of the hisT locus.--Strains carrying both a sufJ and a hisT mutation are acutely sensitive to growth inhibition by uracil; the inhibition is reversed by arginine. This behavior is characteristic of strains with mutations affecting the arginine-uracil biosynthetic enzyme carbamyl phosphate synthetase. The combination of two mutations affecting tRNA structure may reduce expression of the structural gene for this enzyme (pyrA).

Base Sequence↗