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PubMed2024

Determining small RNA-interacting proteomes using endogenously modified tRNA-derived RNAs.

tRNA-derived RNAs (tDRs), resulting from enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of tRNAs, have been implicated as active small RNAs in various molecular processes. While the molecular modes of action for these small RNAs remain unclear, attempts to decipher the mechanistic details of tDR functionality have mostly used synthetic tDR sequences. Since parental tRNAs are extensively post-transcriptionally modified, tDR functionality is likely affected by chemical modifications. To help approach the biological function of endogenously modified tDRs, this contribution details a protocol that allows purifying specific tDRs carrying post-transcriptional modifications from both in vivo and in vitro sources. Purified tDRs can be used for various downstream applications including differential affinity capture of tDR-binding proteins, the details of which are also described in this contribution.

RNA, Transfer↗
PubMed2004

Gene therapy progress and prospects. Downregulating gene expression: the impact of RNA interference.

The control and maintenance of gene expression is critical for cell development and differentiation. Over the last 2 years, our understanding of the role of RNA as a regulator of gene expression has significantly increased. Small RNA molecules are key elements of a machinery that trigger chromosomal modifications, post-transcriptional gene silencing and protein translational blockade depending on the source, the RNA and the nature of the interaction with the target nucleic acid. Currently, the best characterized of this group of RNA-mediated gene regulation pathways is the post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism known as RNA interference. RNAi is triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which induces the formation of a ribonucleoprotein complex that mediates sequence-specific cleavage of the transcript cognate with the input dsRNA. RNAi has been adapted as a functional genomics tool and it has potential as a therapeutic approach. This review will summarize our current understanding of the RNAi mechanism and the various applications of RNAi-based technologies.

Animals↗
PubMed1971

RNA metabolism in HeLa cells at reduced temperature. I. Modified processing of 45S RNA.

Incubation of HeLa cells at suboptimal temperature has been used to study the synthesis of 45S ribosomal RNA precursor and the individual steps of the subsequent processing to 28S RNA. Below 20 degrees C no detectable 45S RNA is formed. The processing of 45S RNA to 32S RNA ceases around 15 degrees C, and the processing of 32S RNA to 28S RNA is inhibited near 25 degrees C. Prolonged incubation at reduced temperature results in further modification of the processing, resulting in the apparent accumulation of 41S RNA. The products of these reactions at reduced temperature appear normal in that the ribosomal RNA made at 27 degrees C can be isolated from functional polyribosomes in the cytoplasm after a short incubation at 37 degrees C.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed1983

Characteristics and regulation of interaction of avian retrovirus pp12 protein with viral RNA.

We investigated the interaction of the avian retrovirus pp12 protein with viral RNA to assess its possible role in virion assembly. Using chemical modification techniques, we found that reagents specific for lysine or arginine residues inactivated the RNA-binding capacity of the protein. The binding of pp12 to 60S viral RNA was also strongly affected by pH (pKapp of 5.5); the affinity for viral RNA decreased by as much as 40-fold after protonation of one or more titratable groups on the protein. When the protein was cleaved by cyanogen bromide, each of the two polypeptide products bound to RNA (with low affinity), but pH dependence was lost. Thus, an intact protein was required for this effect. Since histidine and phosphoserine residues have pKa values close to the pKapp of the pp12-RNA interaction, they were studied to determine whether they were involved in this process. Each of the two histidyl residues in pp12 had pKa values of 6.2, as determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance titrations, values too high to account for the pKapp of binding. The involvement of phosphoserine residues, which have pKa values similar to the pKapp, was investigated by removal of phosphate from pp12. When phosphate groups were chemically or enzymatically removed from the avian myeloblastosis virus, Rous sarcoma virus (Pr-C), and PR-E 95C virus pp12 proteins, the Kapp for binding 60S viral RNA was reduced 100-fold at pH 7.5. Thus, it seems possible that phosphorylation of the pp12 protein could favor viral nucleocapsid formation by increasing its affinity for the viral RNA genome. Dephosphorylation could provide for its release from the viral RNA during reverse transcription after viral infection of cells.

Alpharetrovirus↗
PubMed2003

Forming facultative heterochromatin: silencing of an X chromosome in mammalian females.

Compensating for the dosage difference in X-linked genes between male and female mammals involves the formation of an extremely stable heterochromatin structure on one of the two X chromosomes in females. The inactive X acquires numerous features of silent chromatin, including the expression of a noncoding RNA, a switch to late replication, histone modifications, recruitment of the histone variant macroH2A and DNA hypermethylation. Although the induction of inactivation in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells suggests that the onset of each of these features appears to occur in a sequential manner, it is likely that there is a much more complex interplay between the different features which leads to the extremely stable silencing observed in female somatic cells. Expression of the untranslated RNA, XIST, is required in cis for the establishment of the heterochromatic state. Recent results have started to elucidate how expression of Xist is controlled, including the role of the antisense transcript Tsix.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The methylation of one specific guanosine in a pre-tRNA prevents cleavage by RNase P and by the catalytic M1 RNA.

Several modified nucleosides were introduced during in vitro RNA synthesis into a pre-tRNA(Ser). The pre-tRNAs were used as substrates for RNase P enzymes. No effects were observed with biotin-8-ATP or [alpha-S]-GPT, whereas with m7GTP, the cleavage reaction was completely inhibited. Analysis of pre-tRNAs which contained m7G at various positions has revealed a single base at the 5'-end of the acceptor stem where this modification absolutely prevents cleavage by catalytic M1 RNA, eukaryotic and prokaryotic RNase P holoenzymes. These results suggest that a critical contact must be made between pre-tRNA substrate and enzyme/ribozyme or that the approach of the potential cleaving agent (a positive magnesium ion) is made impossible by the positive charge at N-7 of the guanosine. In addition, we have shown that a pre-tRNA containing only m7G's can still form a complex with M1 RNA in a gel retardation assay.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1976

[Isolation of RNA containing a polyadenylic acid sequence by chromatography on unmodified cellulose].

A new modification of the procedure of the isolation of polyA-containing RNAs is worked out, which makes possible to isolate this RNA fraction free of considerable contamination with rRNA. The administration of 0.0001 M EDTA-Na2 provides the absence of RNA aggregation and prevents non-specific RNA binding on cellulose columns, which takes place when more high EDTA-Na2 concentrations in elution solutions are applied. Under these conditions synthetic polyA in model experiments practically completely binds with cellulose in a broad range of concentrations. It permits to use the procedure described for the preparative isolation of RNA fractions, containing polyA sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Small nucleolar RNAs.

Many small RNA species associate with the nucleolar structure. Some of these small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are required for cleavage processing of ribosomal RNA precursors. There are many pseudouridine residues and methylated riboses in mature ribosomal RNA. For most, if not all, of these modifications, each site is selected by base pairing with a specific snoRNA species. Some snoRNAs are needed for the 2'-O-ribose methylation of at least one spliceosomal small nuclear RNA. Many snoRNAs, particularly in yeast, are generated from independent transcription units. Most vertebrate snoRNAs are produced by processing of introns from protein-coding transcripts. Some snoRNAs are made by processing of introns from non-protein-coding transcripts.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Implications of a functional large ribosomal RNA with only three modified nucleotides.

The sequence and structure of the peptidyl transferase region of large subunit ribosomal RNA is highly conserved and specific modified nucleotides could be important structural or functional elements in the catalytic center responsible for peptide bond formation. In fact, it has not been possible to reconstitute active E coli 50S subunits from in vitro transcripts of 23S rRNA and total 50S proteins. It is significant therefore, that the PET56 gene of yeast encodes an essential ribose methyltransferase that specifically modifies a universally conserved nucleotide, G2270, in the peptidyl transferase center of the mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA (21S). Since the loss of this modification in yeast mitochondrial 21S rRNA severely affects the assembly of 54S subunits, it is likely that the analogous 2'-O-methylguanosine at position 2251 (Gm2251) in E coli 23S rRNA is also required for the assembly of 50S subunits. Gm could be a critical structural determinant for the correct folding of the rRNA, the binding of one or more ribosomal proteins, or the interaction of the rRNA with tRNA. Previous work has shown that the mitochondrial large rRNAs are minimally modified relative to the E coli and eukaryotic cytoplasmic rRNAs. By direct chemical analysis using combined high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the modification status of the yeast mitochondrial rRNAs was reexamined, revealing the presence of Gm, Um and pseudouridine (psi) in 21S rRNA. The Um was mapped to nucleotide 2791, which corresponds to the ribose methylated and universally conserved U2552 in E coli 23S rRNA, and the psi has been recently mapped to position 2819, which corresponds to psi 2580 in E coli 23S rRNA. The retention of Um and psi nucleotides in the peptidyl transferase center of the otherwise minimally modified mitochondrial rRNAs suggests that these modifications, like Gm2270, might be essential for ribosome assembly or function or both.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Modifications of both selectivity factor and upstream binding factor contribute to poliovirus-mediated inhibition of RNA polymerase I transcription.

Soon after infection, poliovirus (PV) shuts off host-cell transcription, which is catalysed by all three cellular RNA polymerases. rRNA constitutes more than 50 % of all cellular RNA and is transcribed from rDNA by RNA polymerase I (pol I). Here, evidence has been provided suggesting that both pol I transcription factors, SL-1 (selectivity factor) and UBF (upstream binding factor), are modified and inactivated in PV-infected cells. The viral protease 3C(pro) appeared to cleave the TATA-binding protein-associated factor 110 (TAF(110)), a subunit of the SL-1 complex, into four fragments in vitro. In vitro protease-cleavage assays using various mutants of TAF(110) and purified 3C(pro) indicated that the Q(265)G(266) and Q(805)G(806) sites were cleaved by 3C(pro). Both SL-1 and UBF were depleted in PV-infected cells and their disappearance correlated with pol I transcription inhibition. rRNA synthesis from a template containing a human pol I promoter demonstrated that both SL-1 and UBF were necessary to restore pol I transcription fully in PV-infected cell extracts. These results suggested that both SL-1 and UBF are transcriptionally inactivated in PV-infected HeLa cells.

3C Viral Proteases↗
PubMed2003

Scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A) is concentrated in inactive X chromosome territories through its RGG domain.

Female mammalian cells inactivate transcription from one of their X chromosomes to equalize gene expression of X-linked genes between males and females. Inactivation is a multistep process that involves a large non-coding RNA termed XIST, a variety of epigenetic modifications of chromatin, and alterations in protein composition such as enrichment of the histone variant macroH2A. We show here that inactive X chromosomes are also enriched in a well-characterized protein component of the nuclear scaffold, SAF-A. This protein has been implicated in chromatin organization, owing to its high specificity for scaffold-associated region (SAR)-DNA, in transcriptional regulation, e.g. of hormone-regulated genes, owing to its functional interaction with steroid receptors, and in RNA processing, owing to its interaction with RNA and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) particles. After near complete removal of DNA and associated chromatin proteins such as macroH2A, SAF-A remains with the "nuclear matrix", still highlighting the former position of inactive X chromosomes. Interestingly, the enrichment of SAF-A in the inactive X chromosome depends on the RNA binding domain of the protein, the RGG box, raising the possibility that interaction of SAF-A with XIST RNA may contribute to the silencing of X-linked genes by local changes in nuclear architecture.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2003

Nervous system targets of RNA editing identified by comparative genomics.

An unknown number of precursor messenger RNAs undergo genetic recoding by modification of adenosine to inosine, a reaction catalyzed by the adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs). Discovery of these edited transcripts has always been serendipitous. Using comparative genomics, we identified a phylogenetic signature of RNA editing. We report the identification and experimental verification of 16 previously unknown ADAR target genes in the fruit fly Drosophila and one in humans-more than the sum total previously reported. All of these genes are involved in rapid electrical and chemical neurotransmission, and many of the edited sites recode conserved and functionally important amino acids. These results point to a pivotal role for RNA editing in nervous system function.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2004

Guide RNAs with 5' caps and novel box C/D snoRNA-like domains for modification of snRNAs in metazoa.

BACKGROUND: Spliceosomal snRNAs and ribosomal RNAs in metazoans contain numerous modified residues that are functionally important. The most common modifications are site-specific 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridylation, both directed by small ribonucleoprotein particles. Each particle is composed of a short guide RNA and a set of several proteins. All previously characterized modification guide RNAs in metazoa are encoded in and processed from introns. RESULTS: We have identified and characterized three novel guide RNAs for conserved 2'-O-methylation of U2, U4, and U12 snRNAs. Two guides, termed mgU2-25/61 and mgU12-22/U4-8, appear to be independently transcribed as judged by the presence of methylated guanosine caps at their 5' ends and upstream promoters similar to those of telomerase RNA. These guide RNAs are each composed of a canonical box C/D snoRNA and a novel box C/D snoRNA-like domain, where the C'/D' motif, rather than C/D, can be folded into a conserved kink-turn structure. The snoRNA-like domains are predicted to direct 2'-O-methylation of invariant G residues that occupy analogous positions in the U2 and U12 snRNA secondary structures. A third guide, mgU2-19/30 RNA, is composed of two canonical box C/D snoRNA domains encoded within a single intron. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first description in metazoan cells of 5'-capped modification guide RNAs that appear to be independently transcribed. Since plant, yeast, and protozoan guide RNAs are mostly independently transcribed, the identification of such RNAs argues that ancestral metazoans possessed independently transcribed guide RNAs and only later, during the evolution of metazoan organisms, did the guide RNA genes shift to introns.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Four newly located pseudouridylate residues in Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA are all at the peptidyltransferase center: analysis by the application of a new sequencing technique.

A new technique has been developed for the facile location of pseudouridylate (psi) residues in any RNA molecule. The method uses two known modification procedures which in combination uniquely identify U residues which have been converted into psi. The first procedure involves reaction of all U-like and G-like residues with N-cyclohexyl-N'-beta-(4-methylmorpholinium)ethylcarbodiimide p-tosylate (CMC), followed by alkaline removal of all CMC groups except those linked to the N3 of psi. This stops reverse transcription, resulting in a gel band which identifies the U residue. The second procedure is uridine-specific hydrazinolysis which cleaves the RNA chain at all U residues and produces a gel band upon reverse transcription. psi residues, being resistant to hydrazinolysis, are not cleaved and do not stop reverse transcription. This leads to the absence of a band at psi residues. The combined method can also distinguish psi from 5-methyluridine, 4-thiouridine, uridine-5-oxyacetic acid, and 2-thio-5-methylaminomethyluridine as shown by treating rRNA and tRNA species known to contain these modified bases at defined sites. By this procedure, four new sites for psi in Escherichia coli 23S RNA were discovered, and one was disproven. The four new sites are at positions 2457, 2504, 2580, and 2605. The erroneous site is at position 2555. These four new psi residues, which are all in or within 2-3 residues of the peptidyltransferase ring, are thus in a position to play a functional and/or structural role at the peptidyltransferase center.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Glutamate receptor RNA editing in vitro by enzymatic conversion of adenosine to inosine.

RNA encoding the B subunit of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR-B) undergoes a posttranscriptional modification in which a genomically encoded adenosine is represented as a guanosine in the GluR-B complementary DNA. In vitro editing of GluR-B RNA transcripts with HeLa cell nuclear extracts was found to result from an activity that converts adenosine to inosine in regions of double-stranded RNA by enzymatic base modification. This activity is consistent with that of a double-stranded RNA-specific adenosine deaminase previously described in Xenopus oocytes and widely distributed in mammalian tissues.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2001

Quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification with molecular beacon detection.

We have developed a hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection and quantification system based on amplification with nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) technology and real-time detection with molecular beacon technology. NASBA is normally applied to amplify single-stranded target RNA, producing RNA amplicons. In this work we show that with modifications like primer design, sample extraction method, and template denaturation, the NASBA technique can be made suitable for DNA target amplification resulting in RNA amplicons. A major advantage of our assay is the one-tube, isothermal nature of the method, which allows high-throughput applications for nucleic acid detection. The homogeneous real-time detection allows a closed-tube format of the assay, avoiding any postamplification handling of amplified material and therefore minimizing the risk of contamination of subsequent reactions. The assay has a detection range of 10(3) to 10(9) HBV DNA copies/ml of plasma or serum (6 logs), with good reproducibility and precision. Compared with other HBV DNA assays, our assay provides good sensitivity, a wide dynamic range, and high-throughput applicability, making it a viable alternative to those based on other amplification or detection methods.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗
PubMed1979

Inactivation of influenza and vesicular stomatitis virion RNA polymerase activities by photoreaction with 4'-substituted psoralens.

Irradiation of purified influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with long-wavelength UV light in the presence of 4'-substituted psoralens inactivated the virion-associated RNA polymerase activity. Inactivation was apparently due to psoralen modification of the viral genome RNAs, since cations that decrease psoralen binding to nucleic acids had a protective effect, and reconstitution of VSV RNA polymerase activity was inhibited by photoreaction of nucleoprotein cores but not by pretreatment of soluble fraction from dissociated virions. Partially inactivated viral particles synthesized reduced amounts of full-length RNA products in vitro without an increase in prematurely terminated transcripts. VSV leader RNA formation was relatively resistant to psoralen photoinactivation, and sequential transcription was maintained by photoreacted VSV. The all-or-none psoralen effect on virion-associated RNA polymerase activities may be due to a differential photosensitivity of promoter sites or to structural changes in modified viral genome RNAs that prevent formation of new mRNA chains.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗