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Transposable group II introns in fission and budding yeast. Site-specific genomic instabilities and formation of group II IVS plDNAs.

The recent report on RNA-mediated group II intron (IVS, intervening sequence) transposition in mitochondria (mt) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Podospora anserina and the demonstration of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity encoded by the mobile S. cerevisiae intron cox1-aI1 suggests that group II introns constitute a new class of site-specific retro-like (retroid) elements. This is supported by the finding that the mitochondrial cob1-bI1 intron from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, encoding an RT-like open reading frame, is transposed in mtDNA populations. In agreement with the involvement of an RNA-intermediate in IVS transposition: First, the insertion sites were preceded by at least an IBS1-like (intron binding site) motif, which corresponds to the upstream exon and suffices to form the IBS1/EBS1 (EBS: exon binding site) base-pairing interactions. Second, intron transposition was conservative with respect to sequences flanking the insertion sites. We formulated the hypothesis that transient IVS insertion at non-allelic sites followed by recombination can be viewed as a general molecular mechanism, applicable equally well to site-specific genomic instabilities involving splice-site borders of group II introns and to the formation of extra-genomic IVS plasmid DNAs (plDNAs). We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to detect infrequent rearrangements in mtDNA and report here on duplicative IVS transposition, twintron formation (e.g. bI1 insertion into another bI1 intron), and IVS insertions at canonical 5' exon-intron borders in S. pombe (cob1-bI1) and in S. cerevisiae (cox1-aI1). These data substantiate the concept that group II intron homing, IVS transposition and circular IVS plDNA formation involve a common RNA-mediated mechanism. Finally, the findings suggest that extra-genomic group II IVS copies are not restricted to senescence mycelia of P. anserina, but constitute natural components of group II IVS-containing genomes.

Apoproteins↗

Probing of tertiary interactions in RNA: 2'-hydroxyl-base contacts between the RNase P RNA and pre-tRNA.

A general method has been developed to analyze all 2' hydroxyl groups involved in tertiary interactions in RNA in a single experiment. This method involves comparing the activity of populations of circularly permuted RNAs that contain or lack potential hydrogen-bond donors at each position. The 2' hydroxyls of the pre-tRNA substrate identified as potential hydrogen bond donors in intermolecular interactions with the ribozyme from eubacterial RNase P (P RNA) are located in the T stem and T loop, acceptor stem, and 3' CCA regions. To locate the hydrogen-bond acceptors for one of those 2' hydroxyls in the P RNA, a phylogenetically conserved adenosine was mutated to a guanosine. When this mutant P RNA was used, increased cleavage activity of a single circularly permuted substrate within the population was observed. The cleavage efficiency (kcat/Km) of a singly 2'-deoxy-substituted substrate at this position in the T stem was also determined. For the wild-type P RNA, the catalytic efficiency was significantly decreased compared with that of the all-ribo substrate, consistent with the notion that this 2' hydroxyl plays an important role. For the P RNA mutant, no additional effect was found upon 2'-deoxy substitution. We propose that this particular 2' hydroxyl in the pre-tRNA interacts specifically with this adenosine in the P RNA. This method should be useful in examining the role of 2' hydroxyl groups in other RNA-RNA and RNA-protein complexes.

Adenosine↗

Control of transcription of the globin gene.

This report provides a more rigorous proof of previous findings that the RNA transcribed in vitro from the chromatins of different organs shows different sequence specificities. Here the particular case of the globin gene is considered for a comparison of embryonic mouse liver chromatin and mouse brain chromatin using the reverse transcriptase cDNA copy of globin 9S m RNA as a definitive probe. It can be shown that globin sequences are transcribed in vitro from embryonic liver chromatin and not brain chromatin. This specificity in liver chromatin can be reconstituted after dissociation of the structural elements of the chromatin. It can be shown that the non-histone protein fraction of liver chromatin can confer specificity for the transcription of globin sequences from brain chromatin which otherwise lacks this ability. Preliminary results are described with the Friend cell system, in which haemoglobin synthesis can be induced in vitro in the presence of dimethylsulphoxide.

Animals↗

Construction of peptides with nucleobase amino acids: design and synthesis of the nucleobase-conjugated peptides derived from HIV-1 Rev and their binding properties to HIV-1 RRE RNA.

In order to develop a novel molecule that recognizes a specific structure of RNA, we have attempted to design peptides having L-alpha-amino acids with a nucleobase at the side chain (nucleobase amino acid (NBA)), expecting that the function of a nucleobase which can specifically recognize a base in RNA is regulated in a peptide conformation. In this study, to demonstrate the applicability of the NBA units in the peptide to RNA recognition, we designed and synthesized a variety of NBA-conjugated peptides, derived from HIV-1 Rev. Circular dichroism study revealed that the conjugation of the Rev peptide with an NBA unit did not disturb the peptide conformation. RNA-binding affinities of the designed peptides with RRE IIB RNA were dependent on the structure of the nucleobase moieties in the peptides. The peptide having the cytosine NBA at the position of the Asn40 site in the Rev showed a higher binding ability for RRE IIB RNA, despite the diminishing the Asn40 function. Furthermore, the peptide having the guanine NBA at the position of the Arg44 site, which is the most important residue for the RNA binding in the Rev, bound to RRE IIB RNA in an ability similar to Rev34-50 with native sequence. These results demonstrate that an appropriate NBA unit in the peptide plays an important role in the RNA binding with a specific contact such as hydrogen bonding, and the interaction between the nucleobase in the peptide and the base in the RNA can enhance the RNA-binding affinity and specificity.

Amino Acids↗

Efficient initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription in vitro. Requirement for RNA sequences downstream of the primer binding site abrogated by nucleocapsid protein-dependent primer-template interactions.

Synthesis of HIV-1 (-) strong-stop DNA is initiated following annealing of the 3' 18 nucleotides (nt) of tRNA(3)(Lys) to the primer binding site (PBS) near the 5' terminus of viral RNA. Here, we have investigated whether sequences downstream of the PBS play a role in promoting efficient (-) strong-stop DNA synthesis. Our findings demonstrate a template requirement for at least 24 bases downstream of the PBS when tRNA(3)(Lys) or an 18-nt RNA complementary to the PBS (R18), but not an 18-nt DNA primer, are used. Additional assays using 18-nt DNA-RNA chimeric primers, as well as melting studies and circular dichroism spectra of 18-nt primer:PBS duplexes, suggest that priming efficiency is correlated with duplex conformation and stability. Interestingly, in the presence of nucleocapsid protein (NC), the 24 downstream bases are dispensable for synthesis primed by tRNA(3)(Lys) but not by R18. We present data supporting the conclusion that NC promotes extended interactions between the anticodon stem and variable loop of tRNA(3)(Lys) and a sequence upstream of the A-rich loop in the template. Taken together, this study leads to new insights into the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription and the functional role of NC-facilitated tRNA-template interactions in this process.

Base Sequence↗

RNA LEGO: magnesium-dependent formation of specific RNA assemblies through kissing interactions.

The high affinity and specificity of nucleic acid base complementarity has been proven to be a powerful method for constructing specific molecular assemblies. On the other hand, recent structural studies of RNA have revealed the wide range of tertiary interactions utilized in RNA folding, which may potentially be used as tools for the design of specific macromolecular assemblies. Here, RNA building blocks containing two hairpin loops, based on the dimerization initiation site (DIS) of HIV RNA, connected by a short linker were used to construct large RNA assemblies through hairpin loop-loop ("kissing") interactions. We show that specific linear and circular assemblies can be constructed in a magnesium-dependent manner using several non-self-complementary loop-loop interactions designed in this study. These results show that the use of RNA tertiary interactions may broaden the repertoire of nucleic acid-based nanostructures.

Circular Dichroism↗

Studies of the replication of a bovine enterovirus RNA.

Replicative intermediate (RI), replicative form (RF) and single-stranded (SS) RNA have been isolated from BHK cells infected with a bovine enterovirus by salt precipitation and gel filtration techniques. Kinetic experiments showed that at no time up to 16 h post-infection (p.i.) did the amount of RF exceed that of RI or SS RNA. Electrophoresis of RF on 1.5% polyacrylamide-agarose gels showed that at least three species of double-stranded RNA were present, one of which was associated with an accessible poly(A)-containing tract. All of the RF was denatured by 99% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), although reannealling occurred rapidly when samples were returned to aqueous conditions. No evidence for circular structures in the RF molecular population was found by use of caesium sulphate density gradients containing ethidium bromide. Treatment of RI with ribonuclease produced double-stranded RNA molecules, some of which were smaller in size than intact RF. Denaturation with DMSO and analysis on 99% DMSO sucrose gradients showed that the RI did not contain single strands of greater length than virion RNA. A portion of the RI bound to poly(U)-Sepharose 4B columns. The poly(A) tracts involved were present only in the nascent RNA strands with greatest sedimentation coefficients (30 to 35S). Bovine enterovirus induced SS RNA was heterogeneous with regard to both sedimentation through sucrose gradients and mobility on acrylamide gels compared to purified virion RNA. The reason for this difference has never been satisfactorily resolved. Sedimentation through 99% DMSO-sucrose gradients showed that the heterogeneity was due to aggregation rather than any variation in chain length or conformational differences. Our results support the single-stranded template model rather than a circular model for picornavirus RNA replication.

Animals↗

Small satellite of arabis mosaic virus: autolytic processing of in vitro transcripts of (+) and (-) polarity and infectivity of (+) strand transcripts.

In vitro RNA transcripts of both (+) and (-) polarities were obtained from a circularly permuted dimer clone of the small satellite of arabis mosaic virus (sArMV). The transcripts show efficient self-cleavage at the two specific sites in the sequence where the monomers were joined. Autolytic processing of the full-length transcript in both orientations releases promoter-proximate fragments (+) or (-) P, promoter-distal fragments (+) or (-) D, and the monomer fragments (+) or (-) M. The presence of an OH group at their 5' ends and a 2',3' cyclophosphate at their 3' ends suggests that (+) and (-) M originated via two self-cleavage reactions within the full-length transcript of corresponding polarity. Infectivity assays showed that the (+) M fragment but not the (-) M fragment initiates replication as efficiently as the natural linear sArMV in Chenopodium quinoa. Two (-) fragments were identified which are the result of religation activity: a P-D fragment formed by religation of P and D, and c-M, which is the result of efficient self-ligation of (-) M. In contrast, linear (+) M self-ligates in vitro to a very limited extent but could be circularized enzymically in a wheat germ extract.

Base Sequence↗

Inter- and intra-strain variation in the 5.8S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer sequences of Entamoeba histolytica and comparison with Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba invadens.

The ribosomal RNA genes in Entamoeba histolytica are located on circular DNA molecules in about 200 copies per genome equivalent. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5.8S rRNA gene and the flanking internal transcribed spacers was carried out to determine the degree of sequence divergence in the multiple rRNA gene copies of a given strain; amongst three different E. histolytica strains (HM-1:IMSS, Rahman and HK-9); and amongst four species of Entamoeba (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba invadens). The results show that all rRNA gene copies of a given strain are identical. Few nucleotide positions varied between strains of a species but the differences were very pronounced amongst species. In general, the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence was more variable and may be useful for strain- and species-identification. The 5.8S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer 2 of E. invadens were unusually small in size.

Animals↗

Selective binding of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to topoisomers of minicircles carrying the TAC16 and TAC17 promoters.

We have studied the effect of DNA supercoiling on open complex formation by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at the TAC16 and TAC17 promoters. A two-dimensional gel retardation assay was used to measure the relative rate of association between RNA polymerase and the TAC promoters on individual topoisomers. Plasmid DNAs usually have several promoters that complicate the analysis of RNA polymerase binding to only one of them. We avoided this problem by using minicircles of DNA carrying only a single promoter. These were generated in vivo by the site-specific recombination system of bacteriophage lambda. Both the TAC16 and TAC17 promoters exhibited a biphasic response to negative supercoiling. Between superhelical densities of 0 and -0.04, increases in the negative linking difference favored binding. Beyond -0.04, either no effect on binding (TAC16) or a slight inhibition of binding (TAC17) was observed for increases in the negative linking difference. The unwinding at the rate-limiting step was calculated for both TAC promoters at moderate superhelical densities. This unwinding was found to be a fraction (about 20-30%) of the total unwinding measured by topoisomerase I relaxation (about one turn). In addition, the 1-base pair difference in spacer length between the TAC16 and TAC17 promoters resulted in different extents of activation and inhibition by negative supercoiling.

DNA Topoisomerases, Type I↗

Thermodynamics of interactions of water-soluble porphyrins with RNA duplexes.

We characterized the interactions of meso-tetrakis(4N-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TEtOHPyP4), meso-tetrakis(4N-allylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TAlPyP4), and meso-tetrakis(4N-metallylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMetAlPyP4) with the poly(rA)poly(rU) and poly(rI)poly(rC) RNA duplexes between 18 and 45 degrees C by employing circular dichroism, light absorption, and fluorescence intensity spectroscopic measurements. Our results suggest that TEtOHPyP4 and TAlPyP4 intercalate into the poly(rA)poly(rU) and poly(rI)poly(rC) host duplexes, while TMetAlPyP4 associates with these RNA duplexes by forming outside-bound, self-stacked aggregates. We used our temperature-dependent absorption titration data to determine the binding constants and stoichiometry for each porphyrin-RNA binding event studied in this work. From the temperature dependences of the binding constants, we calculated the binding free energies, DeltaG(b), enthalpies, DeltaH(b), and entropies, DeltaS(b). For each RNA duplex, the binding enthalpy, DeltaH(b), is the most favorable for TEtOHPyP4 (an intercalator) followed by TAlPyP4 (an intercalator) and TMetAlPyP4 (an outside binder). On the other hand, for each duplex, external self-stacking of TMetAlPyP4 produces the most favorable change in entropy, DeltaS(b), followed by the intercalators TAlPyP4 and TEtOHPyP4. Thus, our results suggest that the thermodynamic profile of porphyrin-RNA binding may correlate with the binding mode. This correlation reflects the differential nature of molecular forces that stabilize/destabilize the two modes of binding-intercalation versus external self-stacking along the host duplex.

Kinetics↗

In vitro analysis of an RNA binding site within the N-terminal 30 amino acids of the southern cowpea mosaic virus coat protein.

Southern cowpea mosaic virus (SCPMV) is a positive-sense RNA virus with T = 3 icosahedral symmetry. The coat protein (CP) has two domains, the random (R) domain and the shell (S) domain. The R domain is formed by the N-terminal 64 amino acids (aa) and is localized to the interior of the particle where it is expected to interact with the viral RNA. The R domain (aa 1--57) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombinant protein (rWTR) containing a nonviral C-terminal extension with two histidine tags. The RNA binding site of the R domain was identified by Northwestern blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using recombinant wild-type and mutant R domain proteins. Deletions within the R domain revealed that the RNA binding site is localized to its N-terminal 30 aa. RNA binding by this element was found to be nonspecific with regard to RNA sequence and was sensitive to high salt concentrations, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are important for RNA binding by the R domain. The RNA binding site includes 11 basic residues, eight of which are located in the arginine-rich region between aa 22 and 30. It was demonstrated using alanine substitution mutants that the basic residues of the arginine-rich region but not those present at positions 3, 4, and 7 are necessary for RNA binding. None of the basic residues within the arginine-rich region are specifically required for RNA binding, but the overall charge of the N-terminal 30 aa is important. Proline substitution mutations within the N-terminal 30 aa, and alanine substitutions for prolines at positions 18, 20, and 21, did not affect the RNA binding activity of the R domain. However, it was demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) that the conformation of the N-terminal 30 aa of the R domain changes from a random coil to an alpha-helix in the presence of 50% trifluoroethanol (TFE). The possible role for this structural change in RNA binding by the R domain is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The presence of nucleosomes on a DNA template prevents initiation by RNA polymerase II in vitro.

RNA was synthesized in vitro using HeLa cell nuclear extracts and circular DNA templates onto which varying numbers of nucleosomes had been reconstituted with Xenopus oocyte extracts. We found that fully reconstituted templates supported no specific initiation by RNA polymerase II; however, DNA exposed to the reconstitution extracts under conditions which did not allow nucleosome deposition was transcribed normally. A set of successively less reconstituted templates was also transcribed. No initiation occurred on reconstitutes with more than two-thirds of the physiological nucleosome density; reconstitutes with less than one-third of the physiological nucleosome density were transcribed as efficiently as naked DNA.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Folding of yeast 5S ribosomal RNA induced by magnesium binding.

The magnesium-induced conformational changes of yeast 5S ribosomal RNA have been studied by means of difference absorption spectroscopy and circular dichroism. A hypochromic difference absorption spectrum with a trough at approximately 260 nm was observed together with a slight increase and blue shift of the peak at 265 nm and a significant increase of the absolute magnitude of the trough at 208 nm in the circular dichroism spectrum. The magnesium concentration dependence of the difference absorption gave a Hill coefficient of 2.0 +/- 0.2. All of the equilibrium data indicate that magnesium ions produce a more ordered form of the molecule. Transient kinetic studies using a magnesium concentration-jump were carried out. The kinetic curves were biphasic, each phase being associated with a relatively slow unimolecular conformational change induced by magnesium binding. A simple scheme was able to accommodate all of the equilibrium and kinetic data, and the kinetic parameters were calculated. Activation parameters for the unimolecular steps suggest that the conformational changes of the 5S RNA involved the breaking of several base pairs and tertiary folding.

Circular Dichroism↗

RNA structure inhibits the TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein)-RNA interaction.

TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein) regulates expression of the tryptophan biosynthetic genes in response to tryptophan in Bacillus subtilis by binding to two sites containing a series of 9 or 11 (G/U)AG triplet repeats that are generally separated by two or three spacer nucleotides. Previous mutagenesis experiments have identified three TRAP residues, Lys-37, Lys-56, and Arg-58 that are essential for RNA binding. The location of these residues on the TRAP oligomer supports the proposal that RNA binds TRAP by encircling the TRAP oligomer. In this work, we show that RNAs containing 11 GAG or UAG repeats separated by CC dinucleotide spacers (((G/U)AGCC)11) form stable structures that inhibit binding to TRAP. This conclusion is based on the effects of temperature and Mg2+ on the affinity of TRAP for RNAs with CC spacers combined with UV hyperchromicity and circular dichroism. Furthermore, introducing the base analogue 7-deazaguanosine in the ((G/U)AGCC)11 RNAs stabilized the TRAP-RNA interaction. This effect was associated with decreased stability of the RNA structure as measured by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The precise nature of the structure of the ((G/U)AGCC)11 RNAs is not known but evidence is presented that it involves noncanonical interactions. We also observed that substitution of Arg-58 with Lys further reduced the ability of TRAP to interact with structured RNAs. Since in vivo function of TRAP may involve binding to structured RNAs, we suggest a potential function for this residue, which is conserved in TRAP from three different bacilli.

Bacillus↗

Interactions of the antiviral quinoxaline derivative 9-OH-B220 [2, 3-dimethyl-6-(dimethylaminoethyl)- 9-hydroxy-6H-indolo-[2, 3-b]quinoxaline] with duplex and triplex forms of synthetic DNA and RNA.

The binding of an antiviral quinoxaline derivative, 2,3-dimethyl- 6 - (dimethylaminoethyl) - 9 - hydroxy - 6H - indolo - [2,3 - b]quinoxaline (9-OH-B220), to synthetic double and triple helical DNA (poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dA).2poly(dT)) and RNA (poly(rA). poly(rU) and poly (rA).2poly(rU)) has been characterized using flow linear dichroism (LD), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermal denaturation. When either of the DNA structures or the RNA duplex serve as host polymers a strongly negative LD is displayed, consistent with intercalation of the chromophoric ring system between the base-pairs/triplets of the nucleic acid structures. Evidence for this geometry also includes weak induced CD signals and strong increments of the fluorescence emission intensities upon binding of the drug to each of these polymer structures. In agreement with intercalative binding, 9-OH-B220 is found to effectively enhance the thermal stability of both the double and triple helical states of DNA as well as the RNA duplex. In the case of poly(dA).2poly(dT), the drug provides an unusually large stabilization of its triple helical state; upon binding of 9-OH-B220 the triplex-to-duplex equilibrium is shifted towards higher temperature by 52.5 deg. C in a 10 mM sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 100 mM NaCl and 1 mM EDTA. When triplex RNA serves as host structure, LD indicates that the average orientation angle between the drug chromophore plane and the helix axis of the triple helical RNA is only about 60 to 65 degrees. Moreover, the thermal stabilizing capability, as well as the fluorescence increment, CD inducing power and perturbations of the absorption envelope, of 9-OH-B220 in complex with the RNA triplex are all less pronounced than those observed for the complexes with DNA and duplex RNA. These features indicate binding of 9-OH-B220 in the wide and shallow minor groove of poly(rA).2poly(rU). Based on the present results, some implications for the applications of this low-toxic, antiviral and easily administered drug in an antigene strategy, as well as its potential use as an antiretroviral agent, are discussed.

Antiviral Agents↗