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PubMed2005

Evidence for retro-translocation of pokeweed antiviral protein from endoplasmic reticulum into cytosol and separation of its activity on ribosomes from its activity on capped RNA.

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a single-chain ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) that binds to ribosomes and depurinates the highly conserved alpha-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of the large subunit rRNA. Catalytic depurination of a specific adenine has been proposed to result in translation arrest and cytotoxicity. Here, we show that both precursor and mature forms of PAP are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in yeast. The mature form is retro-translocated from the ER into the cytosol where it escapes degradation unlike the other substrates of the retro-translocation pathway. A mutation of a highly conserved asparagine residue at position 70 (N70A) delays ribosome depurination and the onset of translation arrest. The ribosomes are eventually depurinated, yet cytotoxicity and loss of viability are markedly absent. Analysis of the variant protein, N70A, does not reveal any decrease in the rate of synthesis, subcellular localization, or the rate of transport into the cytosol. N70A destabilizes its own mRNA, binds to cap, and blocks cap dependent translation, as previously reported for the wild-type PAP. However, it cannot depurinate ribosomes in a translation-independent manner. These results demonstrate that N70 near the active-site pocket is required for depurination of cytosolic ribosomes but not for cap binding or mRNA destabilization, indicating that the activity of PAP on capped RNA can be uncoupled from its activity on rRNA. These findings suggest that the altered active site of PAP might accommodate a narrower range of substrates, thus reducing ribotoxicity while maintaining potential therapeutic benefits.

Alanine↗
PubMed1998

Structure of a complex between a cap analogue and mRNA guanylyl transferase demonstrates the structural chemistry of RNA capping.

Paramecium bursaria Chlorella virus PBCV-1 mRNA guanylyl transferase (capping enzyme) has been complexed with an mRNA cap analogue G[5']ppp[5']G and crystallized. The crystals belong to space group C2221 with unit cell dimensions a = 78.4 A, b = 164.1 A, c = 103.3 A, and diffraction data to 3.1 A has been collected by using synchrotron radiation. The structure has been solved by molecular replacement by using each of the two domains in the previously determined structure of the enzyme in complex with GTP. The conformation is open with respect to the active site cleft, and all contacts between enzyme and ligand are mediated by domain 1. One of the guanine bases is bound in the same pocket that is utilized by GTP. The conformation of the ligand positions the beta phosphate and the active site lysine on opposite sides of the alpha phosphate. This geometry is optimal for nucleophilic substitution reactions and has previously been found for GTP in the closed conformational form of the capping enzyme, where the lysine can be guanylylated upon treatment with excess manganese(II) ions. The remainder of the cap analogue runs along the conserved active site Lys82 Thr83 Asp84 Gly85 Ile86 Arg87 motif, and the second guanine, corresponding to the 5' RNA base, is stacked against the hydrophobic Ile86. The ligand displays approximate 2-fold symmetry with intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the 2' and 3' hydroxyls of the two ribose rings.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2005

Giardia lamblia RNA cap guanine-N2 methyltransferase (Tgs2).

Tgs1 is the enzyme responsible for converting 7-methylguanosine RNA caps to the 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine cap structures of small nuclear and small nucleolar RNAs. Whereas budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe encode a single Tgs1 protein, the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia encodes two paralogs, Tgs1 and Tgs2. Here we show that purified Tgs2 is a monomeric enzyme that catalyzes methyl transfer from AdoMet (K(m) of 6 microm) to m(7)GDP (K(m) of 65 microm; k(cat) of 14 min(-1)) to form m(2,7)GDP. Tgs2 also methylates m(7)GTP (K(m) of 30 microm; k(cat) of 13 min(-1)) and m(7)GpppA (K(m) of 7 microm; k(cat)) of 14 min(-1) but is unreactive with GDP, GTP, GpppA, ATP, CTP, or UTP. We find that the conserved residues Asp-68, Glu-91, and Trp-143 are essential for Tgs2 methyltransferase activity in vitro. The m(2,7)GDP product formed by Tgs2 can be converted to m(2,2,7)GDP by S. pombe Tgs1 in the presence of excess AdoMet. However, Giardia Tgs2 itself is apparently unable to add a second methyl group at guanine-N2. This result implies that 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine caps in Giardia are either synthesized by Tgs1 alone or by the sequential action of Tgs2 and Tgs1. The specificity of Tgs2 raises the prospect that some Giardia mRNAs might contain dimethylguanosine caps.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Critical residues of Semliki Forest virus RNA capping enzyme involved in methyltransferase and guanylyltransferase-like activities.

The Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicase protein nsP1 has methyltransferase (MT) and guanylyltransferase-like (GT) activities, which are involved in the capping of viral mRNAs. MT catalyzes the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to position 7 of GTP, and this reaction is followed by GT-catalyzed formation of the covalent complex m7GMP-nsP1. These reactions are virus specific and thus potential targets for inhibitors of virus replication. We have mutated residues of SFV nsP1, which are conserved in related proteins of the large alphavirus-like superfamily. Mutations of D64, D90, R93, C135, C142, and Y249 to alanine destroyed or greatly reduced the MT activity of nsP1. All MT-negative mutants lost also the GT activity, confirming that methylation of GTP is an essential prerequisite for the synthesis of the covalent guanylate complex. Mutation of H38 prevented the GT reaction without destroying MT activity. Conservation of residues essential for both reactions in the alphavirus-like superfamily implies that they use a capping mechanism similar to that for the alphaviruses. Residues D64 and D90 were necessary for AdoMet binding, as measured by UV cross-linking. Secondary structure predictions of nsP1 and other proteins of the superfamily place these residues in positions corresponding to AdoMet-binding sites of cellular methyltransferases, suggesting that they all may be structurally related.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Sequential synthesis of small capped RNA transcripts in vitro by vesicular stomatitis virus.

Using purified viral or intracellular transcriptive complexes (RNP cores) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), we have identified several small RNA species, ranging in size from 12 to 47 nucleotides in length that are synthesized in vitro by the genomic RNA. One group of small RNA transcripts is composed of three species that are capped at their 5' termini. Two of the capped species are from the start of the N gene and one is from the start of the NS gene. Unlike the previously described 5' triphosphated small RNAs, the templates encoding these small capped RNAs had uv target sizes greater than their respective lengths. In addition, these RNAs appeared sequentially during synchronized in vitro transcription reactions. Thus, these results provide evidence that sequences representing the 5'-capped termini of N and NS mRNAs are synthesized concomitantly with their respective mRNAs rather than simultaneously at the onset of transcription as proposed for the multiple entry, start-stop model (D. Testa, P. K. Chanda, and A. K. Banerjee, 1980, Cell 21, pp. 267-275). Together with the inability of the internally initiated 5'-triphosphated RNAs to be chased into mRNA (R. A. Lazzarini, I. Chien, F. Yang, and J. D. Keene, 1982, J. Gen. Virol. 58, 429-441), these results support a single entry model of VSV mRNA transcription.

Genes, Viral↗
PubMed2004

The polynucleotide ligase and RNA capping enzyme superfamily of covalent nucleotidyltransferases.

ATP- and NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases, ATP-dependent RNA ligases and GTP-dependent mRNA capping enzymes comprise a superfamily of proteins that catalyze nucleotidyl transfer to polynucleotide 5' ends via covalent enzyme-(lysyl-N)-NMP intermediates. The superfamily is defined by five peptide motifs that line the nucleotide-binding pocket and contribute amino acid sidechains essential for catalysis. Early crystal structures revealed a shared core tertiary structure for DNA ligases and capping enzymes, which are composed minimally of a nucleotidyltransferase domain fused to a distal OB-fold domain. Recent structures of viral and bacterial DNA ligases, and a fungal mRNA capping enzyme underscore how the substrate-binding and chemical steps of the ligation and capping pathways are coordinated with large rearrangements of the component protein domains and with remodeling of the atomic contacts between the enzyme and the nucleotide at the active site. The first crystal structure of an RNA ligase suggests that contemporary DNA ligases, RNA ligases and RNA capping enzymes evolved by fusion of ancillary effector domains to an ancestral catalytic module involved in RNA repair.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed1978

Wheat embryo ribonucleates. XII. Formal characterization of terminal and penultimate nucleoside residues at the 5'-ends of "capped" RNA from imbibing wheat embryos.

(1) N2,N2,7-Trimethylguanosine, not previously detected as a component of plant RNA, is shown to be present in the RNA which is isotopically labelled when dry wheat embryos imbibe water in a medium that contains[methyl-3H]methionine. (2) N2,N2,7-Trimethylguanosine and 7-methylguanosine are released as part of "capped" oligonucleotides when the isotopically labelled RNA from imbibing wheat embryos is subjected to hydrolysis by RNase T2. (3) By way of contrast with the "capped" RNA of animal cells, 5'-terminal "cap" structures (m7Gppp- and m32,2,7 Gppp-) in the "capped" RNA from the higher plant organism are not bonded to pneultimate O2'-methylnucleoside constituents. (4) In an allied study, it has been found that recovery of poly (A)-rich RNA from dry wheat embryos depends on the inclusion of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) in phosphate-buffered (pH 6.8) phenolic emulsions. By way of contrast, recovery of poly (A)-rich RNA from dry wheat embryos does not depend on the inclusion of SDS in Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffered (pH 9.0) phenolic emulsions.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1987

Identification of two messenger RNA cap binding proteins in wheat germ. Evidence that the 28-kDa subunit of eIF-4B and the 26-kDa subunit of eIF-4F are antigenically distinct polypeptides.

Previous work has shown that eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-4B from wheat germ is a complex containing two subunits, 80 and 28 kDa, and eIF-4F from wheat germ is a complex containing two subunits, 220 and 26 kDa (Lax, S., Fritz, W., Browning, K., and Ravel, J. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 330-333). Here we show that both the 28-kDa subunit of eIF-4B and the 26-kDa subunit of eIF-4F cross-link to the 5' terminus of capped and oxidized satellite tobacco necrosis virus RNA in the absence of ATP and that the cross-linking of both polypeptides is inhibited by m7GDP. Several lines of evidence indicate that the 28-kDa and the 26-kDa cap binding proteins of eIF-4B and eIF-4F are antigenically distinct polypeptides. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised to intact eIF-4B or to the isolated 28-kDa subunit of eIF-4B react strongly with the 28-kDa subunit of eIF-4B on immunoblots, but show only a very weak reaction with the 26-kDa subunit of eIF-4F under the same conditions. In addition, a mouse monoclonal antibody was obtained that reacts strongly with the 26-kDa subunit of eIF-4F but does not react with the 28-kDa subunit of eIF-4B. Evidence is presented also which indicates that the higher molecular weight subunits of eIF-4B and eIF-4F are antigenically distinct. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised to intact eIF-4B or the isolated 80-kDa subunit inhibit eIF-4B-dependent polypeptide synthesis but do not inhibit eIF-4F-dependent polypeptide synthesis. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised to eIF-4F inhibit eIF-4F-dependent polypeptide synthesis but do not inhibit eIF-4B-dependent polypeptide synthesis.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1994

Biochemical studies on capped RNA primers identify a class of oligonucleotide inhibitors of the influenza virus RNA polymerase.

A synthetic 67-nt RNA substrate, containing a 32P-labeled cap-1 structure (m7G32pppGm) was specifically cleaved by the influenza virus RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.48) to yield a single capped 11-nt fragment capable of directly priming transcription. An analysis of systematic truncations of this RNA substrate demonstrated that an additional nucleotide beyond this cleavage site was required for cleavage. The minimal RNA chain length required for priming activity was found to be 9 nt, while in contrast an RNA chain length of at least 4 nt was required for efficient binding to the viral polymerase. On the basis of these chain length requirements we show that a pool of capped oligonucleotides too short to prime transcription, but long enough to bind with high affinity to the viral polymerase, are potent inhibitors of cap-dependent transcription in vitro.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

The small nucle(ol)ar RNA cap trimethyltransferase is required for ribosome synthesis and intact nucleolar morphology.

Nucleolar morphogenesis is a poorly defined process. Here we report that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae nucleolar trimethyl guanosine synthase I (Tgs1p), which specifically selects the m(7)G cap structure of snRNAs and snoRNAs for m(2,2,7)G conversion, is required not only for efficient pre-mRNA splicing but also for pre-rRNA processing and small ribosomal subunit synthesis. Mutational analysis indicates that the requirement for Tgs1p in pre-mRNA splicing, but not its involvement in ribosome synthesis, is dependent upon its function in cap trimethylation. In addition, we report that cells lacking Tgs1p showed a striking and unexpected loss of nucleolar structural organization. Tgs1p is not a core component of the snoRNP proteins; however, in vitro, the protein interacts with the KKD/E domain present at the carboxyl-terminal ends of several snoRNP proteins. Strains expressing versions of the snoRNPs lacking the KKD/E domain were also defective for nucleolar morphology and showed a loss of nucleolar compaction. We propose that the transient and functional interactions of Tgs1p with the abundant snoRNPs, through presumed interactions with the KKD/E domain of the snoRNP proteins, contribute substantially to the coalescence of nucleolar components. This conclusion is compatible with a model of self-organization for nucleolar assembly.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Identification of the major cottontail rabbit papillomavirus late RNA cap site and mapping and quantitation of an E2 and minor E6 coding mRNA in papillomas and carcinomas.

The capsite of the 2.6- and 4.8-kb major late transcripts of cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) has been mapped by primer extension. A leader exon of about 300 nucleotides common to both RNAs is located in the untranslated region of the genome upstream of the capsites for early transcripts. In contrast to the early capsites which are all preceded by TATA boxes, no such sequence is present 30 nucleotides upstream of the late capsite. These data indicate that the switch from early to late transcription involves recognition of a new promoter and suppression of transcription termination at the early polyadenylation site. We have also identified a minor exon with a coding potential for a putative E2 transactivating protein. Quantitation by S1 mapping of the E2 coding exon and a minor exon coding for a full-sized E6 protein unique in size to the highly oncogenic CRPV did not reveal differences in the level of transcription between papillomas and carcinomas.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Specificity and mechanism of RNA cap guanine-N2 methyltransferase (Tgs1).

The 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap structure is characteristic of certain eukaryotic small nuclear and small nucleolar RNAs. Prior studies have suggested that cap trimethylation might be contingent on cis-acting elements in the RNA substrate, protein components of a ribonucleoprotein complex, or intracellular localization of the RNA substrate. However, the enzymatic requirements for TMG cap formation remain obscure because TMG synthesis has not been reconstituted in vitro from defined components. Tgs1 is a conserved eukaryal protein that was initially identified as being required for RNA cap trimethylation in vivo in budding yeast. Here we show that purified recombinant fission yeast Tgs1 catalyzes methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to m7GTP and m7GDP. Tgs1 also methylates the cap analog m(7)GpppA but is unreactive with GTP, GDP, GpppA, m2,2,7GTP, m2,2,7GDP, ATP, CTP, UTP, and ITP. The products of methyl transfer to m7GTP and m7GDP formed under conditions of excess methyl acceptor are 2,7-dimethyl GTP and 2,7-dimethyl GDP, respectively. Under conditions of limiting methyl acceptor, the initial m2,7GDP product is converted to m2,2,7GDP in the presence of excess AdoMet. We conclude that Tgs1 is guanine-specific, that N7 methylation must precede N2 methylation, that Tgs1 acts via a distributive mechanism, and that the chemical steps of TMG synthesis do not require input from RNA or protein cofactors.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗
PubMed1984

RNA capping by the vaccinia virus guanylyltransferase. Structure of enzyme-guanylate intermediate.

GTP:RNA guanylyltransferase isolated from vaccinia virus catalyzes the transfer of GMP from GTP to the 5' terminus of RNA via an enzyme-guanylate intermediate. Incubation of the purified vaccinia RNA guanylyltransferase with [alpha- 32P]GTP and MgCl2 yields [32P]GMP covalently linked to the Mr = 95,000 subunit. The bond involves the phosphate moiety of GMP and the Ne-amino group of lysine. This was verified by treatment of the isolated 95-kDa subunit-[32P]GMP complex with sodium periodate, followed by methylamine-catalyzed beta-elimination. The product was then hydrolyzed by alkali producing 32P-labeled lysine (Ne-P)phosphate.

Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1998

Dual function of the messenger RNA cap structure in poly(A)-tail-promoted translation in yeast.

The messenger RNA 3' poly(A) tail critically affects the initiation and control of translation in eukaryotes. By analogy to elements involved in transcription initiation, the poly(A) tail has been described as a 'translational enhancer' that enhances the 'translational promoter' activity of the mRNA 5'-cap structure. Elongation or shortening of the poly(A) tail regulates translation during development. Here we show, using cell-free and in vivo translation analyses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that the poly(A) tail can act as an independent 'translational promoter', delivering ribosomes to uncapped mRNAs even if their 5' end is blocked. When mRNAs compete for ribosome binding, neither the cap structure nor the poly(A) tail alone is enough to drive efficient translation, but together they synergize and direct ribosome entry to the 5' end. The cap structure both promotes ribosome recruitment, together with the poly(A) tail, and tethers recruited ribosomes to the 5' end. Correct choice of translation initiation codons and the function of translational regulators acting on the 5' untranslated region are thus ensured by the functional interaction of the poly(A) tail with the cap structure.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of a Trypanosoma brucei RNA cap (guanine N-7) methyltransferase.

The m7GpppN cap structure of eukaryotic mRNA is formed by the sequential action of RNA triphosphatase, guanylyltransferase, and (guanine N-7) methyltransferase. In trypanosomatid protozoa, the m7GpppN is further modified by seven methylation steps within the first four transcribed nucleosides to form the cap 4 structure. The RNA triphosphatase and guanylyltransferase components have been characterized in Trypanosoma brucei. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a T. brucei (guanine N-7) methyltransferase (TbCmt1). Sequence alignment of the 324-amino acid TbCmt1 with the corresponding enzymes from human (Hcm1), fungal (Abd1), and microsporidian (Ecm1) revealed the presence of conserved residues known to be essential for methyltransferase activity. Purified recombinant TbCmt1 catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to the N-7 position of the cap guanine in GpppN-terminated RNA to form the m7GpppN cap. TbCmt1 also methylates GpppG and GpppA but not GTP or dGTP. Mutational analysis of individual residues of TbCmt1 that were predicted-on the basis of the crystal structure of Ecm1--to be located at or near the active site identified six conserved residues in the putative AdoMet- or cap-binding pocket that caused significant reductions in TbCmt1 methyltransferase activity. We also report the identification of a second T. brucei RNA (guanine N-7) cap methyltransferase (named TbCgm1). The 1050-amino acid TbCgm1 consists of a C-terminal (guanine N-7) methyltransferase domain, which is homologous with TbCmt1, and an N-terminal guanylyltransferase domain, which contains signature motifs found in the nucleotidyl transferase superfamily.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed1984

Limited tryptic digestion of messenger RNA capping enzyme from Artemia salina. Isolation of domains for guanylyltransferase and RNA 5'-triphosphatase.

The partially purified preparation of messenger RNA guanylyltransferase from Artemia salina contains, as in the case of the rat liver enzyme (Yagi, Y., Mizumoto, K., and Kaziro, Y. (1983) EMBO J. 2, 611-615), the RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity which specifically removes the gamma-phosphoryl group from the 5'-triphosphoryl end of the newly synthesized mRNA molecule. The enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain of Mr = 73,000 and forma a covalent enzyme-GMP complex as an intermediate for the guanylyltransferase reaction. Upon limited hydrolysis with trypsin, the enzyme-[32P]GMP complex is converted to a smaller 32P-containing fragment of Mr = 44,000. When the free enzyme, not complexed with GMP, is digested with trypsin under the same condition as above, the digests retain almost full activities of both guanylyltransferase and RNA 5'-triphosphatase and can form an enzyme-[32P]GMP complex of the size of Mr = 44,000 on incubation with [alpha-32P]GTP. Functional domains harboring the activities of guanylyltransferase and RNA 5'-triphosphatase are separated by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200 column at positions corresponding to Mr = 44,000 and 20,000, respectively. They can be separated completely from each other by CM-Sephadex column chromatography. While the native, undigested enzyme can transfer the GMP moiety to mRNA molecules with either triphosphoryl (pppN-) or diphosphoryl (ppN-)5'terminal, the purified Mr = 44,000 domain with the guanylyltransferase activity can utilize only the latter as an acceptor.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗
PubMed1995

RNA capping enzyme and DNA ligase: a superfamily of covalent nucleotidyl transferases.

mRNA capping entails GMP transfer from GTP to a 5' diphosphate RNA end to form the structure G(5')ppp(5')N. A similar reaction involving AMP transfer to the 5' monophosphate end of DNA or RNA occurs during strand joining by polynucleotide ligases. In both cases, nucleotidyl transfer occurs through a covalent lysyl-NMP intermediate. Sequence conservation among capping enzymes and ATP-dependent ligases in the vicinity of the active site lysine (KxDG) and at five other co-linear motifs suggests a common structural basis for covalent catalysis. Mutational studies support this view. We propose that the cellular and DNA virus capping enzymes and ATP-dependent ligases constitute a protein superfamily evolved from a common ancestral enzyme. Within this superfamily, the cellular capping enzymes display more extensive similarity to the ligases than they do to the poxvirus capping enzymes. Recent studies suggest that eukaryotic RNA viruses have evolved alternative pathways of cap metabolism catalysed by structurally unrelated enzymes that nonetheless employ a phosphoramidate intermediate. Comparative analysis of these enzymes, particularly at the structural level, should illuminate the shared reaction mechanism while clarifying the basis for nucleotide specificity and end recognition. The capping enzymes merit close attention as potential targets for antiviral therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗