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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ribozyme chemogenetics.

In this review I will outline several chemogenetic approaches used to determine the chemical basis of large ribozyme function and structure. The term chemogenetics was first used to describe site-specific functional group modification experiments in the analysis of DNA-protein interactions. Within the past few years equivalent experiments have been performed on large catalytic RNAs using both single-site substitution and interference mapping techniques with nucleotide analogues. While functional group mutagenesis is an important aspect of a chemogenetic approach, chemical correlates to genetic revertants and suppressors must also be realized for the genetic analogy to be intellectually valid and experimentally useful. Several examples of functional group revertants and suppressors have now been obtained within the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme. These experiments define an ensemble of tertiary hydrogen bonds that have made it possible to construct a detailed model of the ribozyme catalytic core. The model includes a functionally important monovalent metal ion binding site, a wobble-wobble receptor motif for helix-helix packing interactions, and a minor groove triple helix.

Models, Molecular↗

Chemogenetic placental activation and proteomic extracellular vesicle signatures predict functional roles across pregnancy and postpartum.

Mechanisms underlying homeostatic regulation of maternal health during pregnancy and the postpartum period are critical yet remain understudied. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vital sources of cell-to-cell communication that maintain homeostasis and are at their highest circulating concentration during pregnancy. Recent studies have implicated EVs and their cargo as facilitators in important physiological functions during pregnancy, including glucose and immune regulation, but precise mechanisms are not known. In this study, we aimed to compare changes in EVs and their protein cargo using unbiased proteomic analyses across pregnancy and postpartum periods to assert unique EV functions. As expected, we found significantly higher EV concentrations during pregnancy relative to nonpregnant and postpartum groups. We identified unique EV protein profiles across groups, suggesting EVs were highly responsive to their current environment and performing unique functions. Surprisingly, while postpartum mice had similar EV concentrations as nonpregnant mice, their EVs had the least overlap in protein composition between groups and the greatest number of proteins clustered in a biological function-a significant reduction around cell adhesion processes postpartum. Lastly, to examine a homeostatic role for maternal circulating EVs, we used a novel chemogenetic approach to control dynamic EV secretion and measured changes in maternal glucose regulation. We found that an acute increase in circulating EVs reduced maternal glucose sensitivity, keeping glucose levels elevated longer following a glucose challenge. In summary, these results demonstrate the unique EV protein cargo changes that occur in pregnancy and postpartum and their potential importance in maintenance of maternal health.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Extracellular vesicles in maternal circulation express unique proteomic cargo profiles across pregnancy and postpartum. Chemogenetic activation of the placental secretory pathway releases extracellular vesicles into maternal circulation that influence maternal glucose regulation.

Female↗

Enzymes by design: chemogenetic assembly of transamination active sites containing lysine residues for covalent catalysis.

Artificial enzymes can be created by covalent conjugation of a catalytic active group to a protein scaffold. Here, two transamination catalysts were designed via computer modeling and assembled by chemically conjugating a pyridoxamine moiety within the large cavity of intestinal fatty acid binding protein. Each catalyst included a lysine residue, introduced via site-directed mutagenesis, that promotes catalysis by covalent interactions with the pyridoxamine group. Evidence for such interactions include the formation of a Schiff base with the pyridoxal form of the catalyst and a rate versus pH dependence that is bell shaped; both of these features are manifested in natural transaminases. The resulting constructs operate with high enantioselectivity (83-94% ee) and increase the rate of reaction as much as 4200-fold over the rate in the absence of the protein; this is a modest (12-fold) increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) compared to the conjugate lacking the lysine residue. Most importantly, these artificial aminotransferases are the first examples of designed bioconjugates capable of covalent catalysis, highlighting the potential of this chemogenetic approach.

Carrier Proteins↗

Regulation of sexual dimorphism: mutational and chemogenetic analysis of the doublesex DM domain.

Doublesex (dsx) is a transcription factor in Drosophila that regulates somatic sexual differentiation. Male- and female-specific splicing isoforms of DSX share a novel DNA-binding domain, designated the DM motif. Broadly conserved among metazoan sex-determining factors, the DM domain contains a nonclassical zinc module and binds in the DNA minor groove. Here, we characterize the DM motif by site-directed and random mutagenesis using a yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) system and extend this analysis by chemogenetic complementation in vitro. The Y1H system is based on a sex-specific Drosophila enhancer element and validated through studies of intersexual dsx mutations. We demonstrate that the eight motif-specific histidines and cysteines engaged in zinc coordination are each critical and cannot be interchanged; folding also requires conserved aliphatic side chains in the hydrophobic core. Mutations that impair DNA binding tend to occur at conserved positions, whereas neutral substitutions occur at nonconserved sites. Evidence for a specific salt bridge between a conserved lysine and the DNA backbone is obtained through the synthesis of nonstandard protein and DNA analogs. Together, these results provide molecular links between the structure of the DM domain and its function in the regulation of sexual dimorphism.

Alternative Splicing↗

Purification of flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase from Petunia hybrida: antibody preparation and characterization of a chemogenetically defined mutant.

Flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase from Petunia hybrida has been purified to apparent homogeneity utilizing an improved purification protocol including chromatography of the partially purified enzyme on hydroxyapatite, chromatofocusing, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-Superose. The specificity of mouse and rabbit polyclonal antisera directed to flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase was demonstrated by Western blotting and immunotitration with crude extracts from wild-type flowers of P. hybrida and with the purified enzyme. Cross-reactivity was observed with flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase from extracts of illuminated parsley cells. A Petunia mutant with white flowers, previously shown to lack 3 beta-hydroxylase activity and to accumulate flavanone glycosides, showed complete absence of the enzyme protein.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

A chemogenetic approach to RNA function/structure analysis.

Almost two dozen nucleotide analogs have been synthesized with alpha-phosphorothioate-tagged triphosphates and utilized in an interference modification approach termed Nucleotide Analog Interference Mapping. This method has made it possible to determine the chemical basis of RNA function and structure, including the identification of new rules for RNA helix packing, the functional analysis of a binding site for monovalent metal ions within RNA and the characterization of the catalytic mechanism of RNA enzymes.

Animals↗

Chemogenetics.

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Bacterial Proteins↗

Artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis based on the noncovalent incorporation of organometallic moieties in a host protein.

Enzymatic and homogeneous catalysis offer complementary means to produce enantiopure products. Incorporation of achiral, biotinylated aminodiphosphine-rhodium complexes in (strept)avidin affords enantioselective hydrogenation catalysts. A combined chemogenetic procedure allows the optimization of the activity and the selectivity of such artificial metalloenzymes: the reduction of acetamidoacrylate proceeds to produce N-acetamidoalanine in either 96 % ee (R) or 80 % ee (S). In addition to providing a chiral second coordination sphere and, thus, selectivity to the catalyst, the phenomenon of protein-accelerated catalysis (e.g., increased activity) was unraveled. Such artificial metalloenzymes based on the biotin-avidin technology display features that are reminiscent of both homogeneous and of enzymatic catalysis.

Binding Sites↗

Mass spectrometry-based profiling of phospholipids and sphingolipids in extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Lipids are rapidly moving to centre stage in many fields of biological sciences. Lipidomics, the systems-level scale analysis of lipids and their interacting factors, is thus an emerging field which holds great promise for drug and biomarker discovery. Here we present a mass spectrometry-based approach for profiling of polar lipids, in particular phospholipids and sphingolipids, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The first step includes semi-quantitative surveys of lipids in an untargeted fashion, which is particularly powerful for detection of changes that cannot easily be anticipated. This leads to the identification of ions with increased or decreased signal intensities. Comprehensive theoretical calculation of the masses of yeast phospholipid and sphingolipid molecular species, based on fatty acyl and headgroup heterogeneity, is next used to tentatively assign ions of interest. Subsequent targeted analysis using tandem mass spectrometry allows for characterization and quantification of phospholipids and sphingolipids. Given the high degree of conservation in pathways of lipid metabolism between different organisms, it can be expected that this method will lead to the discovery of novel enzymatic activities and modulators of known ones, particularly when used in combination with genetic and chemogenetic libraries and screens. We validated the method using the EUROSCARF library of non-essential deletion mutants. Mutants of SCS7, a lipid hydroxylase, and SLC1, a putative acyl transferase with unknown substrate specificity, were profiled for their phospholipid and sphingolipid content. The observed changes in lipid profiles are consistent with previous observations and extend our knowledge on in vivo substrate use under permissive growth conditions.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Nucleotide analog interference mapping.

Single-atom substitution experiments provide atomic resolution biochemical information concerning RNA structure and function. Traditionally, these experiments are performed using chimeric RNAs generated by reassembly of full-length RNA from a synthetic substituted oligonucleotide and a truncated RNA transcript. Unfortunately, this technique is limited by the technical difficulty of assembling and measuring the effect of each singly substituted molecule in a given RNA. Here we review an alternate method for rapidly screening the effect of chemical group substitutions on RNA function. Nucleotide analog interference mapping is a chemogenetic approach that utilizes a series 5'-O-(1-thio)-nucleoside analog triphosphates to simultaneously, yet individually, probe the contribution of a functional group at every nucleotide position in an RNA molecule. A population of randomly substituted RNAs is prepared by including phosphorothioate-tagged nucleotide analogs in an in vitro transcription reaction. The active molecules in the RNA population are selected by an activity assay, and the location of the analog substitution detrimental to activity is identified by cleavage at the phosphorothioate tag with iodine and resolution of the cleavage fragments by gel electrophoresis. This method, which is as easy as RNA sequencing, is applicable to any RNA that can be transcribed in vitro and has an assayable function. Here we describe protocols for the synthesis of phosphorothioate-tagged analogs and their incorporation into RNA transcripts. The incorporation properties and unique biochemical signatures of each individual analog are discussed.

Adenosine↗

Genetic control of chalcone isomerase activity in flowers of Dianthus caryophyllus.

In flowers of Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation), the gene I is concerned with a discrete step in flavonoid biosynthesis, Genotypes with recessive (ii) alleles produce yellow flowers, which contain the chalcone isosalipurposide (naringenin-chalcone-2'-glucoside) as the major petal pigment, but in genotypes with wild-type alleles flavonols and anthocyanins can be formed and the flowers are white or red. Enzymatic measurements on petal extracts of four strains with different flower coloration revealed a clear correlation between accumulation of chalcone in recessive genotypes and deficiency of chalcone isomerase (E.C. 5.5.1.6) activity. From the chemogenetic and enzymological evidence it can be concluded that naringenin-chalcone is the first product of the synthesis of the flavonoid skeleton and that only the conversion of naringenin-chalcone to naringenin furnishes the substrate for the further reactions to flavonol and anthocyanin.

Chalcone↗

Transcriptomic landscape of microglia in mouse models of social dysfunction and oxytocin-mediated recovery.

Atypical sociability is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental disorders arising from genetic susceptibility and prenatal environmental perturbations that can affect diverse brain cell types. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we previously identified selective vulnerability of parvocellular oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) following embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a teratogen that induces social deficits. Neonatal chemogenetic activation of OT neurons rescued these behavioral abnormalities and partially restored dysregulated gene expression. However, the effects of VPA exposure and OT neuron stimulation on non-neuronal PVH cells remained unclear. Here, we show that VPA induces transcriptional abnormalities in PVH microglia. Spatial transcriptomics revealed altered distributions of PVH microglial subtypes. Notably, neonatal OT neuron stimulation reversed a subset of VPA-induced microglial gene downregulation, while pharmacological manipulation of microglia normalized aberrant OT gene expression in putative parvocellular OT neurons. These findings support bidirectional OT neuron-microglia interactions that may underlie social dysfunction following embryonic VPA exposure.

autism spectrum disorder↗

Artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis based on biotin-avidin.

Homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis offer complementary means to generate enantiomerically pure compounds. Incorporation of achiral biotinylated rhodium-diphosphine complexes into (strept)avidin yields artificial metalloenzymes for the hydrogenation of N-protected dehydroamino acids. A chemogenetic optimization procedure allows one to produce (R)-acetamidoalanine with 96% enantioselectivity. These hybrid catalysts display features reminiscent both of enzymatic and of homogeneous systems.

Acrylates↗

Artificial metalloenzymes: (strept)avidin as host for enantioselective hydrogenation by achiral biotinylated rhodium-diphosphine complexes.

We report on the generation of artificial metalloenzymes based on the noncovalent incorporation of biotinylated rhodium-diphosphine complexes in (strept)avidin as host proteins. A chemogenetic optimization procedure allows one to optimize the enantioselectivity for the reduction of acetamidoacrylic acid (up to 96% ee (R) in streptavidin S112G and up to 80% ee (S) in WT avidin). The association constant between a prototypical cationic biotinylated rhodium-diphosphine catalyst precursor and the host proteins was determined at neutral pH: log K(a) = 7.7 for avidin (pI = 10.4) and log K(a) = 7.1 for streptavidin (pI = 6.4). It is shown that the optimal operating conditions for the enantioselective reduction are 5 bar at 30 degrees C with a 1% catalyst loading.

Acrylates↗

Complementary sets of noncanonical base pairs mediate RNA helix packing in the group I intron active site.

Helix packing is critical for RNA tertiary structure formation, although the rules for helix-helix association within structured RNAs are largely unknown. Docking of the substrate helix into the active site of the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme provides a model system to study this question. Using a novel chemogenetic method to analyze RNA structure in atomic detail, we report that complementary sets of noncanonical base pairs (a G.U wobble pair and two consecutively stacked sheared A.A pairs) create an RNA helix packing motif that is essential for 5'-splice site selection in the group I intron. This is likely to be a general motif for helix-helix interaction within the tertiary structures of many large RNAs.

Animals↗

Cloning and expression of flavone synthase II from Gerbera hybrids.

In Gerbera hybrids, flavone synthesis is controlled by the locus Fns. The responsible enzyme, flavone synthase II, belongs to the NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. From two different chemogenetic defined Gerbera lines with the dominant (fns +.) or recessive (fns fns) alleles at the locus Fns, a cytochrome P450 fragment (CypDDd7a) was isolated using a differential display technique with upstream primers based on the conserved heme-binding region of cytochrome P450 proteins. The full-length cDNA (CYP93B2) which contained the open-reading frame and part of the CypDDd7a sequence was isolated via 5'-RACE and end-to-end PCR with gene specific primers. Northern blot analysis of total RNA of Gerbera hybrids indicated that the CYP93B2 gene was only transcribed in lines with the dominant allele fns + and that the transcript levels during flower development are in agreement with the measured enzyme activity of FNS II and flavone accumulation. Microsomes from yeast cells expressing CYP93B2 catalysed the direct formation of [14C]-flavones from the respective [14C]-flavanones. Thus, CYP93B2 was shown to encode flavone synthase II. This is the first report of the isolation and expression of a functional FNS II cDNA clone from any species. The comparison of amino acid sequences revealed that CYP93B2 had 54% identity with the sequence of CYP93B1, which has recently been reported as a (2S)-flavanone 2-hydroxylase of Glycyrrhiza echinata L.

Amino Acid Sequence↗