Biomedical subjects

Ryszard Stolarski

Publications and source records attributed to Ryszard Stolarski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Enzymatically stable 5' mRNA cap analogs: synthesis and binding studies with human DcpS decapping enzyme.

Four novel 5' mRNA cap analogs have been synthesized with one of the pyrophosphate bridge oxygen atoms of the triphosphate linkage replaced with a methylene group. The analogs were prepared via reaction of nucleoside phosphor/phosphon-1-imidazolidates with nucleoside phosphate/phosphonate in the presence of ZnCl2. Three of the new cap analogs are completely resistant to degradation by human DcpS, the enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of free cap resulting from 3' to 5' cellular mRNA decay. One of the new analogs has very high affinity for binding to human DcpS. Two of these analogs are Anti Reverse Cap Analogs which ensures that they are incorporated into mRNA chains exclusively in the correct orientation. These new cap analogs should be useful in a variety of biochemical studies, in the analysis of the cellular function of decapping enzymes, and as a basis for further development of modified cap analogs as potential anti-cancer and anti-parasite drugs.

Endoribonucleases↗

PubMed2005

The antiviral drug ribavirin does not mimic the 7-methylguanosine moiety of the mRNA cap structure in vitro.

The eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E binds the mRNA 5' cap structure and has a central role during translational initiation. eIF4E and the mechanisms to control its activity have oncogenic properties and thus have become targets for anticancer drug development. A recent study (Kentsis et al. 2004) presented evidence that the antiviral nucleoside ribavirin and its phosphorylated derivatives were structural mimics of the mRNA cap, high-affinity ligands for eIF4E, and potent repressors of eIF4E-mediated cell transformation and tumor growth. Based on these findings, we tested ribavirin, ribavirin triphosphate (RTP), and the dinucleotide RpppG for their ability to inhibit translation in vitro. Surprisingly, the ribavirin-based compounds did not affect translation at concentrations where canonical cap analogs efficiently block cap-dependent translation. Using a set of reporter mRNAs that are translated via either cap-dependent or viral internal ribosome entry sites (IRES)-dependent initiation, we found that these ribavirin-containing compounds did inhibit translation at high (millimolar) concentrations, but there was no correlation of this inhibition with an eIF4E requirement for translation. The addition of a ribavirin-containing cap to mRNA did not stimulate translation. Fluorescence titration experiments with eIF4E and the nuclear cap-binding complex CBC indicated affinities for RTP and RpppG that were two to four orders of magnitude lower than those of m(7)GTP and m(7)GpppG. We conclude that, at least with respect to translation, ribavirin does not act in vitro as a functional mimic of the mRNA cap.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2005

Specificity of recognition of mRNA 5' cap by human nuclear cap-binding complex.

The heterodimeric nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC) binds to the mono-methylated 5' cap of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II transcripts such as mRNA and U snRNA. The binding is important for nuclear maturation of mRNAs and possibly in the first round of translation and nonsense-mediated decay. It is also essential for nuclear export of U snRNAs in metazoans. We report characterization by fluorescence spectroscopy of the recognition of 5' capped RNA by human CBC. The association constants (K(as)) for 17 mono- and dinucleotide cap analogs as well as for the oligomer m7GpppA(m2') pU(m2')pA(m2') cover the range from 1.8 x 10(6) M(-1) to 2.3 x 10(8) M(-1). Higher affinity for CBC is observed for the dinucleotide compared with mononucleotide analogs, especially for those containing a purine nucleoside next to m7G. The mRNA tetramer associates with CBC as tightly as the dinucleotide analogs. Replacement of Tyr138 by alanine in the CBP20 subunit of CBC reduces the cap affinity except for the mononucleotide analogs, consistent with the crystallographic observation of the second base stacking on this residue. Our spectroscopic studies showed that contrary to the other known cap-binding proteins, the first two nucleotides of a capped-RNA are indispensable for its specific recognition by CBC. Differences in the cap binding of CBC compared with the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) are analyzed and discussed regarding replacement of CBC by eIF4E.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and biochemical properties of novel mRNA 5' cap analogs resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis.

A series of new dinucleotide cap analogs with methylene groups replacing oxygens within the pyrophosphate moieties have been synthesized. All the compounds were resistant to the human scavenger decapping hydrolase, DcpS. Binding constants of the modified caps to eIF4E are comparable to those obtained for m7GpppG. This suggests these methylene modifications in the pyrophosphate chain do not significantly affect cap-binding at least for eIF4E. These cap analogs are also good inhibitors of in vitro translation. mRNAs capped with novel analogs were translated similarly to the mRNA capped with the parent m7GpppG.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Novel dinucleoside 5',5'-triphosphate cap analogues. Synthesis and affinity for murine translation factor eIF4E.

Chemical synthesis of a series of novel dinucleoside cap analogues, m7GpppN, where N is formycin A, 3'-O-methylguanosine, 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine, and isoguanosine, has been performed using our new methodology. The key reactions of pyrophosphate bonds formation were achieved in anhydrous dimethylformamide solutions employing the catalytic properties of zinc salts. Structures of the new cap analogues were confirmed by 1H NMR and 31p NMR spectra. The binding affinity of the new cap analogues for murine eIF4E(28-217) were determined spectroscopically showing the highest association constant for the analogue that contains formycin A.

Adenosine↗

PubMed2005

Deaggregation of eIF4E induced by mRNA 5' cap binding.

All eukaryotic mRNAs contain a 5' terminal cap structure, which consists of 7-methylguanosine linked by a 5-5' triphosphate bridge to the first transcribed nucleoside (m7GpppN). Specific recognition of the cap by the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E plays a key role in regulation of translation initiation as a rate-limiting step. Using dynamic light scattering (DLS), the apo-form of murine eIF4E (33-217) was shown to aggregate. After addition of m7G7P, progressive deaggregation with the time of incubation in the presence of the cap analogue has been observed.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Novel way of capping mRNA trimer and studies of its interaction with human nuclear cap-binding complex.

Binding of mRNA 5' cap by the nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC) is crucial for a wide variety of mRNA metabolic events. The interaction involving the CBP20 subunit of CBC is mediated by numerous hydrogen bonds and by stacking of the tyrosine sidechains with two first bases of the capped mRNA. To examine a possible role of a longer mRNA chain in the CBC-cap recognition, we have synthesized an mRNA tetramer using a novel way of capping an RNA trimer and determined its affinity for CBC by fluorescence titration.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and enzymatic characterization of methylene analogs of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (P4A).

A new methodology for synthesis of biologically important nucleoside tri- and tetraphosphates containing a bisphosphonate moiety instead of the terminal pyrophosphate bond is described. The series consists of tri- and tetraphosphate analogs of adenosine, guanosine and 7-methylguanosine (characteristic for mRNA cap). We have adopted a two-step procedure that allowed us to insert a methylene bridge into the phosphate chain. Nucleoside mono- or diphosphates were first activated (as imidazole derivatives) and then used in coupling reactions with organic salts of bisphosphonate. The resulting synthetic method enabled us to obtain the desired compounds with high yields and does not require any protective groups. This makes it very useful for the synthesis of labile compounds such as those containing the 7-methylguanosine ring. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. They were tested as potential substrates and inhibitors of several hydrolases.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and properties of mRNA cap analogs containing phosphorothioate moiety in 5',5'-triphosphate chain.

Nucleosides and oligonucleotides with an oxygen replaced by sulfur atom are an interesting class of compounds because of their improved stability toward enzymatic cleavage by nucleases. We have synthesized several dinucleotide mRNA cap analogs containing a phosphorothioate moiety in the alpha, beta, or gamma position of 5',5'-triphosphate chain [m7Gp(s)ppG, m7Gpp(s)pG, and m7Gppp(s)G]. These are the first examples of the biologically important 5'mRNA cap analogs containing a phosphorothioate moiety, and these compounds may be useful in a variety of biochemical and biotechnological applications. Incorporation of a sulfur atom in the alpha or gamma position within the dinucleotide cap analog was achieved using PSCl3 in a nucleoside phosphorylation reaction followed by coupling the phosphorothioate of nucleoside with a second nucleotide. Synthesis of cap analogs with the phosphorothioate moiety in beta position was performed using an organic phosphorothioate salt in a coupling reaction with an activated nucleotide. The structures of newly synthesized compounds was confirmed using MS and 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. We present here the results of preliminary studies on their interaction with translation initiation factor eIF4E and enzymatic hydrolysis with human and nematode DcpS scavengers.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Thermodynamics of mRNA 5' cap binding by eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E.

Translation of mRNA in eukaryotes begins with specific recognition of the 5' cap structure by the highly conserved protein, eIF4E. The thermodynamics of eIF4E interaction with nine chemical cap analogues has been studied by means of emission spectroscopy. High-sensitivity measurements of intrinsic protein fluorescence quenching upon cap binding provided equilibrium association constants in the temperature range of 279 to 314 K. A van't Hoff analysis yielded the negative binding enthalpies for the entire cap analogue series, -16.6 to -81 kJ mol(-1), and the entropies covering the range of +40.3 to -136 J mol(-1) K(-1) at 293 K. The main enthalpic contributions come from interactions of the phosphate chains and positively charged amino acids and the cation-pi stacking of 7-methylguanine with tryptophans. A nontrivial, statistically important isothermal enthalpy-entropy compensation has been detected (T(c) = 399 +/- 24 K), which points to significant fluctuations of apo-eIF4E and indicates that the cap-binding microstate lies 9.66 +/- 1.7 kJ mol(-1) below the mean energy of all available conformational states. For five cap analogues, large and positive heat capacity changes have been found. The values of DeltaC(p) degrees correlate with the free energies of eIF4E binding due to stiffening of the protein upon interaction with cap analogues. At biological temperatures, binding of the natural caps has both favorable enthalpy and favorable entropy. Thermodynamic coupling of cap-eIF4E association to intramolecular self-stacking of dinucleotide cap analogues strongly influences the enthalpies and entropies of the binding, but has a negligible effect on the resultant DeltaG degrees and DeltaC(p) degrees values.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Chemical synthesis and binding activity of the trypanosomatid cap-4 structure.

Leishmania and other trypanosomatids are early eukaryotes that possess unusual molecular features, including polycistronic transcription and trans-splicing of pre-mRNAs. The spliced leader RNA (SL RNA) is joined to the 5' end of all mRNAs, thus donating a 5' cap that is characterized by complex modifications. In addition to the conserved m7GTP, linked via a 5'-5'-triphosphate bound to the first nucleoside of the mRNA, the trypanosomatid 5' cap includes 2'-O methylations on the first four ribose moieties and unique base methylations on the first adenine and the fourth uracil, resulting in the cap-4 structure, m7Gpppm3(6,6,2')Apm2'Apm2' Cpm2(3,2')U, as reported elsewhere previously. A library of analogs that mimic the cap structure to different degrees has been synthesized. Their differential affinities to the cap binding proteins make them attractive compounds for studying the molecular basis of cap recognition, and in turn, they may have potential therapeutic significance. The interactions between cap analogs and eIF4E, a cap-binding protein that plays a key role in initiation of translation, can be monitored by measuring intrinsic fluorescence quenching of the tryptophan residues. In the present communication we describe the multistep synthesis of the trypanosomatid cap-4 structure. The 5' terminal mRNA tetranucleotide fragment (pm3(6,6,2')Apm2'Apm2'Cpm2(3,2')U) was synthesized by the phosphoramidite solid phase method. After deprotection and purification, the 5'-phosphorylated tetranucleotide was chemically coupled with m7GDP to yield the cap-4 structure. Biological activity of this newly synthesized compound was confirmed in binding studies with eIF4E from Leishmania that we recently cloned (LeishIF4E-1), using the fluorescence time-synchronized titration method.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Influence of electric charge variation at residues 209 and 159 on the interaction of eIF4E with the mRNA 5' terminus.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is essential for efficient protein synthesis in cap-dependent translation. The protein specifically binds the cap structure at the mRNA 5' terminus and facilitates the assembly of the mRNA with other initiation factors and the 40S ribosomal subunit. Phosphorylation of eIF4E is implicated in the regulation of the initiation step of translation. However, the molecular mechanism of this regulation still remains unclear. To address this problem, we have determined the binding affinities of eIF4E specifically mutated at position 209 or 159 for a series of novel mono- and dinucleotide cap analogues by a fluorometric time-synchronized titration method. A 1.5-3-fold reduction in the affinity of cap for the S209E mutant and a 1-2-fold increase in the affinity of cap for the S209K mutant, depending on the negative charge of phosphate chains, indicate that phosphorylation at Ser209 creates electrostatic repulsion between the protein and the negatively charged cap structure. The inhibition of the ability to bind cap analogues by the K159A mutant and its phosphorylated counterpart shows significant participation of Lys159 in the binding of the capped mRNA. Both structural modifications, phosphorylation and the replacement of lysine with alanine, result in an increase in the negative Gibbs free energy of association that is proportional to the length of the cap phosphate chain and additive, i.e., equal to the sum of the individual destabilizing changes of DeltaG degrees. The possible implication of these results for the mechanism of control of eIF4E by phosphorylation, especially for the "clamping model", is discussed.

Alanine↗

PubMed2004

Novel cap analogs for in vitro synthesis of mRNAs with high translational efficiency.

Synthetic analogs of the N7-methylated guanosine triphosphate cap at the 5' end of eukaryotic mRNAs and snRNAs have played an important role in understanding their splicing, intracellular transport, translation, and turnover. We report here a new series of N7-benzylated dinucleoside tetraphosphate analogs, b7Gp4G, b7m(3'-O)Gp4G, and b7m2Gp4G, that extend our knowledge of the role of the cap in translation. We used these novel analogs, along with 10 previously synthesized analogs, to explore five parameters: binding affinity to eIF4E, inhibition of cap-dependent translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, efficiency of incorporation into RNAs during in vitro transcription (% capping), orientation of the analog in the synthetic mRNA (% correct orientation), and in vitro translational efficiency of mRNAs capped with the analog. The 13 cap analogs differed in modifications of the first (distal) and second (proximal) guanine moieties, the first and second ribose moieties, and the number of phosphate residues. Among these were analogs of the naturally occurring cap m3(2,2,7)Gp3G. These compounds varied by 61-fold in affinity for eIF4E, 146-fold in inhibition of cap-dependent translation, 1.4-fold in % capping, and 5.6-fold in % correct orientation. The most stimulatory analog enhanced translation 44-fold compared with uncapped RNA. mRNAs capped with b7m2Gp4G, m7Gp3m7G, b7m(3'-OGp4G, and m7Gp4m7G were translated 2.5-, 2.6-, 2.8-, and 3.1-fold more efficiently than mRNAs capped with m7Gp3G, respectively. Relative translational efficiencies could generally be explained in terms of cap affinity for eIF4E, % capping, and % correct orientation. The measurement of all five parameters provides insight into factors that contribute to translational efficiency.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Charge distribution in 7-methylguanine regarding cation-pi interaction with protein factor eIF4E.

Electric charge distribution in mRNA 5' cap terminus has been exhaustively characterized in respect to the affinity for cap-binding proteins. Formation of the stacked configuration of positively charged 7-methylguanine in between two aromatic amino acid rings, known as sandwich cation-pi stacking, is thought to be prerequisite for the specific recognition of the cap by eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E; i.e., discrimination between the cap and nucleotides without the methyl group at N(7). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of (15)N/(13)C-double-labeled 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate and 7-methylguanosine, as well as their unsubstituted counterparts, GTP and guanosine, yielded characteristic changes of the electron-mediated spin-spin couplings and chemical shifts due to the methylation at N(7). The experimentally measured changes of the nuclear magnetic resonance parameters have been analyzed in respect to the electric charge distribution calculated by means of quantum chemical methods, and interpreted in terms of new proposed positive charge localization in the 7-methylguanine five-member ring.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

PubMed2003

Phosphorylation of eIF4E attenuates its interaction with mRNA 5' cap analogs by electrostatic repulsion: intein-mediated protein ligation strategy to obtain phosphorylated protein.

Phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E in response to mitogenic stimuli and cytokines is implicated in the regulation of the initiation step of translation. It still remains unclear how the phosphorylation of eIF4E regulates the translation. To address this problem, we applied a unique technique in protein engineering, intein-mediated protein ligation, to synthesize eIF4E, which is selectively phosphorylated at Ser 209. Using selectively chosen synthetic cap analogs, we compared quantitatively the cap affinity for phosphorylated and unphosphorylated eIF4E by a fluorometric time-synchronized titration method. A 1.5- to 4.5-fold reduction of the cap affinity for phosphorylated eIF4E was observed, depending on the negative charge of the 5'-to-5' phosphate chains as well as the presence of a longer tetraribonucleotide strand. Possible implications for understanding the regulation of eIF4E functioning, cap complex formation, and stability, are discussed.

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E↗

PubMed2003

Novel "anti-reverse" cap analogs with superior translational properties.

Synthetic analogs of the 5'-terminal caps of eukaryotic mRNAs and snRNAs are used in elucidating such physiological processes as mRNA translation, pre-mRNA splicing, intracellular transport of mRNA and snRNAs, and mRNA turnover. Particularly useful are RNAs capped with synthetic analogs, which are produced by in vitro transcription of a DNA template using a bacteriophage RNA polymerase in the presence of ribonucleoside triphosphates and a cap dinucleotide such as m(7)Gp(3)G. Unfortunately, because of the presence of a 3'-OH on both the m(7)Guo and Guo moieties, up to half of the mRNAs contain caps incorporated in the reverse orientation. Previously we designed and synthesized two "anti-reverse" cap analogs (ARCAs), m(7)3'dGp(3)G and m(2)(7,3'-)(O)Gp(3)G, that cannot be incorporated in the reverse orientation because of modifications at the C3' position of m(7)Guo. In the present study, we have synthesized seven new cap analogs modified in the C2' and C3' positions of m(7)Guo and in the number of phosphate residues, m(2)(7,2'-)(O)Gp(3)G, m(7)2'dGp(3)G, m(7)2'dGp(4)G, m(2)(7,2'-)(O)Gp(4)G, m(2)(7,3'-)(O)Gp(4)G, m(7)Gp(5)G, and m(2)(7,3'-)(O)Gp(5)G. These were analyzed for conformation in solution, binding affinity to eIF4E, inhibition of in vitro translation, degree of reverse capping during in vitro transcription, capping efficiency, and the ability to stimulate cap-dependent translation in vitro when incorporated into mRNA. The results indicate that modifications at C2', like those at C3', prevent reverse incorporation, that tetra- and pentaphosphate cap analogs bind eIF4E and inhibit translation more strongly than their triphosphate counterparts, and that tetraphosphate ARCAs promote cap-dependent translation more effectively than previous cap analogs.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Thermodynamics of specific protein-RNA interactions.

Description of the recognition specificity between proteins and nucleic acids at the level of molecular interactions is one of the most challenging tasks in biophysics. It is key to understanding the course and control of gene expression and to the application of the thus acquired knowledge in chemotherapy. This review presents experimental results of thermodynamic studies and a discussion of the role of thermodynamics in formation and stability of functional protein-RNA complexes, with a special attention to the interactions involving mRNA 5' cap and cap-binding proteins in the initiation of protein biosynthesis in the eukaryotic cell. A theoretical framework for analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of protein-nucleic acid association is also briefly surveyed. Overshadowed by more spectacular achievements in structural studies, the thermodynamic investigations are of equal importance for full comprehension of biopolymers' activity in a quantitative way. In this regard, thermodynamics gives a direct insight into the energetic and entropic characteristics of complex macromolecular systems in their natural environment, aqueous solution, and thus complements the structural view derived from X-ray crystallography and multidimensional NMR. Further development of the thermodynamic approach toward interpretation of recognition and binding specificity in terms of molecular biophysics requires more profound contribution from statistical mechanics.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Positive heat capacity change upon specific binding of translation initiation factor eIF4E to mRNA 5' cap.

Specific recognition of the mRNA 5' cap by eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E is a rate-limiting step in the translation initiation. Fluorescence spectroscopy and high-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry were used to examine the thermodynamics of eIF4E binding to a cap-analogue, 7-methylGpppG. A van't Hoff plot revealed nonlinearity characterized by an unexpected, large positive molar heat capacity change (DeltaC(degree)(p) = +1.92 +/- 0.93 kJ.mol(-1).K(-1)), which was confirmed by direct ITC measurements (DeltaC(degree)(p) = +1.941 +/- 0.059 kJ.mol(-1).K(-1)). This unique result appears to come from an extensive additional hydration upon binding and charge-related interactions within the binding site. As a consequence of the positive DeltaC(degree)(p), the nature of the thermodynamic driving force changes with increasing temperature, from enthalpy-driven and entropy-opposed, through enthalpy- and entropy-driven in the range of biological temperatures, into entropy-driven and enthalpy-opposed. Comparison of the van't Hoff and calorimetric enthalpy values provided proof for the ligand protonation at N(1) upon binding, which is required for tight stabilization of the cap-eIF4E complex. Intramolecular self-stacking of the dinucleotide cap-analogue was analyzed to reveal the influence of this coupled process on the thermodynamic parameters of the eIF4E-mRNA 5' cap interaction. The temperature-dependent change in the conformation of 7-methylGpppG shifts significantly the intrinsic DeltaH(degree)(0) = -72.9 +/- 4.2 kJ.mol(-1) and DeltaS(degree)(0) = -116 +/- 58 J.mol(-1).K(-1) of binding to the less negative resultant values, by DeltaH(degree)(sst) = +9.76 +/- 1.15 kJ.mol(-1) and DeltaS(degree)(sst) = +24.8 +/- 2.1 J.mol(-1).K(-1) (at 293 K), while the corresponding DeltaC(degree)(p)(sst) = -0.0743 +/- 0.0083 kJ.mol(-1).K(-1) is negligible in comparison with the total DeltaC(degree)(p) .

Animals↗