Biomedical subjects

Olivier Pellegrini

Publications and source records attributed to Olivier Pellegrini.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Maturation of the 5' end of Bacillus subtilis 16S rRNA by the essential ribonuclease YkqC/RNase J1.

Functional ribosomal RNAs are generated from longer precursor species in every organism known. Maturation of the 5' side of 16S rRNA in Escherichia coli is catalysed in a two-step process by the cooperative action of RNase E and RNase G. However, many bacteria lack RNase E and RNase G orthologues, raising the question as to how 16S rRNA processing occurs in these organisms. Here we show that the maturation of Bacillus subtilis 16S rRNA is also a two-step process and that the enzyme responsible for the generation of the mature 5' end is the widely distributed essential ribonuclease YkqC/RNase J1. Depletion of B. subtilis of RNase J1 results in an accumulation of 16S rRNA precursors in vivo. The precursor species are found in polysomes suggesting that they can function in translation. Mutation of the predicted catalytic site of RNase J1 abolishes both 16S rRNA processing and cell viability. Finally, purified RNase J1 can correctly mature precursor 16S rRNA assembled in 70S ribosomes, showing that its role is direct.

5' Flanking Region↗

PubMed2006

Structure of the ubiquitous 3' processing enzyme RNase Z bound to transfer RNA.

The highly conserved ribonuclease RNase Z catalyzes the endonucleolytic removal of the 3' extension of the majority of tRNA precursors. Here we present the structure of the complex between Bacillus subtilis RNase Z and tRNA(Thr), the first structure of a ribonucleolytic processing enzyme bound to tRNA. Binding of tRNA to RNase Z causes conformational changes in both partners to promote reorganization of the catalytic site and tRNA cleavage.

Bacillus subtilis↗

PubMed2006

Hfq variant with altered RNA binding functions.

The interaction between Hfq and RNA is central to multiple regulatory processes. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have found a missense mutation in Hfq (V43R) which strongly affects2 the RNA binding capacity of the Hfq protein and its ability to stimulate poly(A) tail elongation by poly(A)-polymerase in vitro. In vivo, overexpression of this Hfq variant fails to stimulate rpoS-lacZ expression and does not restore a normal growth rate in hfq null mutant. Cells in which the wild-type gene has been replaced by the hfqV43R allele exhibit a phenotype intermediate between those of the wild-type and of the hfq minus or null strains. This missense mutation derepresses Hfq synthesis. However, not all Hfq functions are affected by this mutation. For example, HfqV43R represses OppA synthesis as strongly as the wild-type protein. The dominant negative effect of the V43R mutation over the wild-type allele suggests that hexamers containing variant and genuine subunits are presumably not functional. Finally, molecular dynamics studies indicate that the V43R substitution mainly changes the position of the K56 and Y55 side chains involved in the Hfq-RNA interaction but has probably no effect on the folding and the oligomerization of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Three-dimensional structures of fibrillar Sm proteins: Hfq and other Sm-like proteins.

Hfq is a nucleic acid-binding protein that functions as a global regulator of gene expression by virtue of its interactions with several small, non-coding RNA species. Originally identified as an Escherichia coli host factor required for RNA phage Qbeta replication, Hfq is now known to post-transcriptionally regulate bacterial gene expression by modulating both mRNA stability and translational activity. Recently shown to be a member of the diverse Sm protein family, Hfq adopts the OB-like fold typical of other Sm and Sm-like (Lsm) proteins, and also assembles into toroidal homo-oligomers that bind single-stranded RNA. Similarities between the structures, functions, and evolution of Sm/Lsm proteins and Hfq are continually being discovered, and we now report an additional, unexpected biophysical property that is shared by Hfq and other Sm proteins: E.coli Hfq polymerizes into well-ordered fibres whose morphologies closely resemble those found for Sm-like archaeal proteins (SmAPs). However, the hierarchical assembly of these fibres is dissimilar: whereas SmAPs polymerize into polar tubes (and striated bundles of such tubes) by head-to-tail stacking of individual homo-heptamers, helical Hfq fibres are formed by cylindrical slab-like layers that consist of 36 subunits arranged as a hexamer of Hfq homo-hexamers (i.e. protofilaments in a 6 x 6 arrangement). The different fibrillar ultrastructures formed by Hfq and SmAP are presented and examined herein, with the overall goal of elucidating another similarity amongst the diverse members of the Sm protein family.

Archaeal Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Ribonuclease PH plays a major role in the exonucleolytic maturation of CCA-containing tRNA precursors in Bacillus subtilis.

In contrast to Escherichia coli, where all tRNAs have the CCA motif encoded by their genes, two classes of tRNA precursors exist in the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Previous evidence had shown that ribonuclease Z (RNase Z) was responsible for the endonucleolytic maturation of the 3' end of those tRNAs lacking an encoded CCA motif, accounting for about one-third of its tRNAs. This suggested that a second pathway of tRNA maturation must exist for those precursors with an encoded CCA motif. In this paper, we examine the potential role of the four known exoribonucleases of B.subtilis, PNPase, RNase R, RNase PH and YhaM, in this alternative pathway. In the absence of RNase PH, precursors of CCA-containing tRNAs accumulate that are a few nucleotides longer than the mature tRNA species observed in wild-type strains or in the other single exonuclease mutants. Thus, RNase PH plays an important role in removing the last few nucleotides of the tRNA precursor in vivo. The presence of three or four exonuclease mutations in a single strain results in CCA-containing tRNA precursors of increasing size, suggesting that, as in E.coli, the exonucleolytic pathway consists of multiple redundant enzymes. Assays of purified RNase PH using in vitro-synthesized tRNA precursor substrates suggest that RNase PH is sensitive to the presence of a CCA motif. The division of labor between the endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic pathways observed in vivo can be explained by the inhibition of RNase Z by the CCA motif in CCA-containing tRNA precursors and by the inhibition of exonucleases by stable secondary structure in the 3' extensions of the majority of CCA-less tRNAs.

Bacillus subtilis↗

PubMed2005

Ribonucleases J1 and J2: two novel endoribonucleases in B.subtilis with functional homology to E.coli RNase E.

Many prokaryotic organisms lack an equivalent of RNase E, which plays a key role in mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. In this paper, we report the purification and identification by mass spectrometry in Bacillus subtilis of two paralogous endoribonucleases, here named RNases J1 and J2, which share functional homologies with RNase E but no sequence similarity. Both enzymes are able to cleave the B.subtilis thrS leader at a site that can also be cleaved by E.coli RNase E. We have previously shown that cleavage at this site increases the stability of the downstream messenger. Moreover, RNases J1/J2 are sensitive to the 5' phosphorylation state of the substrate in a site-specific manner. Orthologues of RNases J1/J2, which belong to the metallo-beta-lactamase family, are evolutionarily conserved in many prokaryotic organisms, representing a new family of endoribonucleases. RNases J1/J2 appear to be implicated in regulatory processing/maturation of specific mRNAs, such as the T-box family members thrS and thrZ, but may also contribute to global mRNA degradation.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2005

Fate of mRNA extremities generated by intrinsic termination: detailed analysis of reactions catalyzed by ribonuclease II and poly(A) polymerase.

In all living cells 3' ends of RNA are posttranscriptionally elongated or shortened by nucleotidyl transferases and ribonucleases. The detailed analysis of the rpsO mRNA of Escherichia coli presented here demonstrates that transcription terminates in vivo at two sites located seven and eight nucleotides downstream from the GC-rich hairpin of the intrinsic terminator and that primary transcripts can be shortened by RNase II. The shortest RNA identified in the cell result from nibbling of primary transcripts. Primary transcripts and nibbled molecules can also be adenylated by poly(A) polymerase I (PAP I). In addition, kinetics of decay performed in vitro demonstrate that RNase II rapidly degrades poly(A) tails longer than 7-8 As processively while it slowly nibbles shorter tails and non adenylated RNAs distributively. Comparison of the kinetics of nibbling of oligoadenylated rpsO mRNA in vivo and in vitro lead us to conclude that the rates of shortening and elongation of the oligo(A) tails detected in vivo are very slow: about 0.5-7 nucleotides per min. We finally speculate that the slowness of oligo(A) synthesis may explain why polyadenylation does not affect the stability of mRNAs whose degradation is controlled by RNase E.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Structural basis for substrate binding, cleavage and allostery in the tRNA maturase RNase Z.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are synthesized as part of longer primary transcripts that require processing of both their 3' and 5' extremities in every living organism known. The 5' side is processed (matured) by the ubiquitously conserved endonucleolytic ribozyme, RNase P, whereas removal of the 3' tails can be either exonucleolytic or endonucleolytic. The endonucleolytic pathway is catalysed by an enzyme known as RNase Z, or 3' tRNase. RNase Z cleaves precursor tRNAs immediately after the discriminator base (the unpaired nucleotide 3' to the last base pair of the acceptor stem, used as an identity determinant by many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) in most cases, yielding a tRNA primed for addition of the CCA motif by nucleotidyl transferase. Here we report the crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis RNase Z at 2.1 A resolution, and propose a mechanism for tRNA recognition and cleavage. The structure explains the allosteric properties of the enzyme, and also sheds light on the mechanisms of inhibition by the CCA motif and long 5' extensions. Finally, it highlights the extraordinary adaptability of the metallo-hydrolase domain of the beta-lactamase family for the hydrolysis of covalent bonds.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed2005

The Bacillus subtilis ydcDE operon encodes an endoribonuclease of the MazF/PemK family and its inhibitor.

Operons encoding stable toxins and their labile antidote are widespread in prokaryotes and play important roles in plasmid partitioning and cellular responses to stress. One such family of toxins MazF/ChpAK/PemK encodes an endoribonuclease that inactivates cellular mRNAs by cleaving them at specific, but frequently occurring sites. Here we show that the Bacillus subtilis ydcE gene encodes a member of this family of RNases, which we have called EndoA. Overexpression of EndoA is toxic for bacterial cell growth and this toxicity is reversed by coexpression of the gene immediately upstream, ydcD. Furthermore, YdcD inhibits EndoA activity directly in vitro. EndoA has similar cleavage specificity to MazF and PemK and yields cleavage products with 3'-phosphate and 5'-hydroxyl groups, typical of EDTA-resistant degradative RNases. This is the first example of an antitoxin-toxin system in B. subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis↗

PubMed2004

Expression of the chitobiose operon of Escherichia coli is regulated by three transcription factors: NagC, ChbR and CAP.

The chitobiose operon, chbBCARFG, encodes genes for the transport and degradation of the N-acetylglucosamine disaccharide, chitobiose. Chitobiose is transported by the phosphotransferase system (PTS) producing chitobiose-6P which is hydrolysed to GlcNAc-6P by the chbF gene product and then further degraded by the nagBA gene products. Expression of the chb operon is repressed by NagC, which regulates genes involved in amino sugar metabolism. The inducer for NagC is GlcNAc-6P. NagC binds to two sites separated by 115 bp and the transcription start point of the chb operon lies within the downstream NagC operator. In addition the chb operon encodes its own specific regulator, ChbR, an AraC-type dual repressor-activator, which binds to two direct repeats of 19 bp located between the two NagC sites. ChbR is necessary for transcription activation in the presence of chitobiose in vivo. Induction of the operon also requires CAP, which binds to a site upstream of the ChbR repeats. In the absence of chitobiose both NagC and ChbR act as repressors. Together these three factors cooperate in switching chb expression from the repressed to the activated state. The need for two specific inducing signals, one for ChbR to activate the expression of the operon and a second for NagC to relieve its repression, ensure that the chb operon is only induced when there is sufficient flux through the combined chb-nag metabolic pathway to activate expression of both the chb and nag operons.

Chitin↗

PubMed2004

Specific recognition of rpsO mRNA and 16S rRNA by Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S15 relies on both mimicry and site differentiation.

The ribosomal protein S15 binds to 16S rRNA, during ribosome assembly, and to its own mRNA (rpsO mRNA), affecting autocontrol of its expression. In both cases, the RNA binding site is bipartite with a common subsite consisting of a G*U/G-C motif. The second subsite is located in a three-way junction in 16S rRNA and in the distal part of a stem forming a pseudoknot in Escherichia coli rpsO mRNA. To determine the extent of mimicry between these two RNA targets, we determined which amino acids interact with rpsO mRNA. A plasmid carrying rpsO (the S15 gene) was mutagenized and introduced into a strain lacking S15 and harbouring an rpsO-lacZ translational fusion. Analysis of deregulated mutants shows that each subsite of rpsO mRNA is recognized by a set of amino acids known to interact with 16S rRNA. In addition to the G*U/G-C motif, which is recognized by the same amino acids in both targets, the other subsite interacts with amino acids also involved in contacts with helix H22 of 16S rRNA, in the region adjacent to the three-way junction. However, specific S15-rpsO mRNA interactions can also be found, probably with A(-46) in loop L1 of the pseudoknot, demonstrating that mimicry between the two targets is limited.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

The C-terminal domain of Escherichia coli Hfq increases the stability of the hexamer.

The Hfq (Host factor 1) polypeptide is a nucleic acid binding protein involved in the synthesis of many polypeptides. Hfq particularly affects the translation and the stability of several RNAs. In an earlier study, the use of fold recognition methods allowed us to detect a relationship between Escherichia coli Hfq and the Sm topology. This topology was further validated by a series of biophysical studies and the Hfq structure was modelled on an Sm protein. Hfq forms a beta-sheet ring-shaped hexamer. As our previous study predicted a large number of alternative conformations for the C-terminal region, we have determined whether the last 19 C-terminal residues are necessary for protein function. We find that the C-terminal truncated protein is fully capable of binding a polyadenylated RNA (K(d) of 120 pm vs. 50 pm for full-length Hfq). This result shows that the functional core of E. coli Hfq resides in residues 1-70 and confirms previous genetic studies. Using equilibrium unfolding studies, however, we find that full-length Hfq is 1.8 kcal x mol(-1) more stable than its truncated variant. Electron microscopy analysis of both truncated and full-length proteins indicates a structural rearrangement between the subunits upon truncation. This conformational change is coupled to a reduction in beta-strand content, as determined by Fourier transform infra-red. On the basis of these results, we propose that the C-terminal domain could protect the interface between the subunits and stabilize the hexameric Hfq structure. The origin of this C-terminal domain is also discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

The poly(A) binding protein Hfq protects RNA from RNase E and exoribonucleolytic degradation.

The Hfq protein, which shares sequence and structural homology with the Sm and Lsm proteins, binds to various RNAs, primarily recognizing AU-rich single-stranded regions. In this paper, we study the ability of the Escherichia coli Hfq protein to bind to a polyadenylated fragment of rpsO mRNA. Hfq exhibits a high specificity for a 100-nucleotide RNA harboring 18 3'-terminal A-residues. Structural analysis of the adenylated RNA-Hfq complex and gel shift assays revealed the presence of two Hfq binding sites. Hfq binds primarily to the poly(A) tail, and to a lesser extent a U-rich sequence in a single-stranded region located between two hairpin structures. The oligo(A) tail and the interhelical region are sensitive to 3'-5' exoribonucleases and RNase E hydrolysis, respectively, in vivo. In vitro assays demonstrate that Hfq protects poly(A) tails from exonucleolytic degradation by both PNPase and RNase II. In addition, RNase E processing, which occurred close to the U-rich sequence, is impaired by the presence of Hfq. These data suggest that Hfq modulates the sensitivity of RNA to ribonucleases in the cell.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Endonucleolytic processing of CCA-less tRNA precursors by RNase Z in Bacillus subtilis.

In contrast to Escherichia coli, where the 3' ends of tRNAs are primarily generated by exoribonucleases, maturation of the 3' end of tRNAs is catalysed by an endoribonuclease, known as RNase Z (or 3' tRNase), in many eukaryotic and archaeal systems. RNase Z cleaves tRNA precursors 3' to the discriminator base. Here we show that this activity, previously unsuspected in bacteria, is encoded by the yqjK gene of Bacillus subtilis. Decreased yqjK expression leads to an accumulation of a population of B.subtilis tRNAs in vivo, none of which have a CCA motif encoded in their genes, and YqjK cleaves tRNA precursors with the same specificity as plant RNase Z in vitro. We have thus renamed the gene rnz. A CCA motif downstream of the discriminator base inhibits RNase Z activity in vitro, with most of the inhibition due to the first C residue. Lastly, tRNAs with long 5' extensions are poor substrates for cleavage, suggesting that for some tRNAs, processing of the 5' end by RNase P may have to precede RNase Z cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗