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Stop codons preceded by rare arginine codons are efficient determinants of SsrA tagging in Escherichia coli.

The SsrA or tmRNA quality control system intervenes when ribosomes stall on mRNAs and directs the addition of a C-terminal peptide tag that targets the modified polypeptide for degradation. Although hundreds of SsrA-tagged proteins can be detected in cells when degradation is prevented, most of these species have not been identified. Consequently, the mRNA sequence determinants that cause ribosome stalling and SsrA tagging are poorly understood. SsrA tagging of Escherichia coli ribokinase occurs at three specific sites at or near the C terminus of this protein. The sites of tagging correspond to ribosome stalling at the termination codon and at rare AGG codons encoding Arg-307 and Arg-309, the antepenultimate and C-terminal residues of E. coli ribokinase. Mutational analyses and studies of the effects of overexpressing the tRNA that decodes AGG reveal that the combination of a rare arginine codon at the C terminus and the adjacent inefficient UGA termination codon act to recruit the SsrA-tagging system, presumably by slowing the rate of translation elongation and termination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of the Arabidopsis G-protein GP alpha1: purification and characterisation of the recombinant protein.

The Arabidopsis G alpha subunit, GP alpha1, was expressed within Escherichia coli by co-transformation with the expression vector and the dnaY gene which encodes tRNA(Arg)(AGA/AGG) Isolation of the recombinant GP alpha1 in a highly pure form could be achieved by a combination of anion exchange and dye affinity chromatography or by a single step affinity procedure via chromatography on 4-amino-anilido-GTP agarose. The recombinant protein yielded by both procedures was highly active and bound GTPgammaS with an apparent Kd in the nM range. GTPgammaS binding was stimulated two-fold in the presence of Zn2+ compared with that in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+ or Ca2+.

Arabidopsis↗

Post-translational arginylation in the bovine lens.

This study demonstrates post-translational arginylation of bovine serum albumin and endogenous lens proteins by bovine lens arginyl-tRNA:protein transferase. This reaction has been proposed to be the first step in marking specific proteins for degradation by the non-lysosomal, ATP-dependent, ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic pathway. The transferase was obtained by the method used for isolation of the same enzyme from reticulocytes (Ferber and Ciechanover, 1987, Nature 326, 808-11). Incorporation of [3H]Arg was linear for at least 2 hr at 37 degrees C. The amount of incorporation was directly proportional to the amount of lens enzyme or substrate added. Arginylation was ATP-dependent. A requirement for tRNA was demonstrated by inhibition upon pretreatment of the enzyme preparation with nuclease to hydrolyse endogenous tRNA, and restoration of activity upon replacement of tRNA. [3H]Leu, [3H]Lys and [3H]His were not incorporated, demonstrating specificity of the reaction for arginine. This is the first demonstration of post-translational modification of proteins by arginylation in the lens.

Acyltransferases↗

A La protein requirement for efficient pre-tRNA folding.

The La protein protects the 3' ends of many nascent small RNAs from exonucleases. Here we report that La is required for efficient folding of certain pre-tRNAs. A mutation in pre-tRNA(Arg)(CCG) causes yeast cells to be cold-sensitive and to require the La protein Lhp1p for efficient growth. When the mutant cells are grown at low temperature, or when Lhp1p is depleted, mature tRNA(Arg)(CCG) is not efficiently aminoacylated. The mutation causes the anticodon stem of pre-tRNA(Arg)(CCG) to misfold into an alternative helix in vitro. Intragenic suppressor mutations that disrupt the misfolded helix or strengthen the correct helix alleviate the requirement for Lhp1p, providing evidence that the anticodon stem misfolds in vivo. Chemical and enzymatic footprinting experiments suggest a model in which Lhp1p stabilizes the correctly folded stem. Lhp1p is also required for efficient aminoacylation of two wild-type tRNAs when yeast are grown at low temperature. These experiments reveal that pre-tRNAs can require protein assistance for efficient folding in vivo.

Autoantigens↗

The increase in gene expression induced by introduction of rare codons into the C terminus of the template.

Short oligodeoxynucleotides (oligos) possessing two tandem Arg codons followed by TGA stop codon were inserted near the 3' end of a modified cat gene. It was found that while being decoded in vivo, the AGGAGGTGA oligo increased the yield of gene product and, in addition, caused -1 frameshifting. The 3-10-fold increase of the yield of the polypeptide was accompanied by increased accumulation of corresponding mRNA, indicating a protection from messenger decay. Transformation of the cells by a plasmid overproducing tRNA(4Arg) gene compensates for all the anomalies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Saturation mutagenesis of the Drosophila tRNA(Arg) gene B-Box intragenic promoter element: requirements for transcription activation and stable complex formation.

Transcription of eukaryotic tRNA genes is dependent on the A- and B-Box internal control regions (ICRs) and the upstream transcription modulatory region. The B-Box ICR spans nucleotides 52 to 62 and directs the primary binding of transcription factor C as the first step in the formation of a transcription complex. The conservation of the sequence of the B-Box in all tRNA species reflects its importance in both the expression of the gene and the processing, structure and function of the gene product. In order to identify the nucleotides essential to the promoter function of the B-Box ICR, site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate all the possible single point mutations at positions 52 to 58, 61 and 62 of a Drosophila melanogaster tRNA(Arg) gene. The effect of these mutations on gene transcription was evaluated using in vitro transcription and template exclusion competition assays. Optimal activity was displayed by the wild type tDNA(Arg) B-Box sequence but several other sequences supported in vitro transcription at wild type levels. The majority of mutants, however, showed lower efficiency in the in vitro transcription assay. Of the single point mutations, those at positions 53, 55, and 56 had a critical effect on gene function in Drosophila and HeLa transcription extracts and transcription factor interaction most likely requires base contacts at these positions. Since the effect of several of the point mutations cannot be explained in terms of possible major or minor groove contributions the possibility is raised that local DNA geometry also is an important determinant in specifying B-Box function.

Animals↗

A rare tRNA-Arg(CCU) that regulates Ty1 element ribosomal frameshifting is essential for Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Translation of the yeast retrotransposon Ty1 TYA1(gag)-TYB1(pol) gene occurs by a +1 ribosomal frameshifting event at the sequence CUU AGG C. Because overexpression of a low abundance tRNA-Arg(CCU) encoded by the HSX1 gene resulted in a reduction in Ty1 frameshifting, it was suggested that a translational pause at the AGG-Arg codon is required for optimum frameshifting. The present work shows that the absence of tRNA-Arg(CCU) affects Ty1 transposition, translational frameshifting, and accumulation of mature TYB1 proteins. Transposition of genetically tagged Ty1 elements decreases at least 50-fold and translational frameshifting increases 3-17-fold in cells lacking tRNA-Arg(CCU). Accumulation of Ty1-integrase and Ty1-reverse transcriptase/ribonuclease H is defective in an hsx1 mutant. The defect in Ty1 transposition is complemented by the wild-type HSX1 gene or a mutant tRNA-Arg(UCU) gene containing a C for T substitution in the first position of the anticodon. Overexpression of TYA1 stimulates Ty1 transposition 50-fold above wild-type levels when the level of transposition is compared in isogenic hsx1 and HSX1 strains. Thus, the HSX1 gene determines the ratio of the TYA1 to TYA1-TYB1 precursors required for protein processing or stability, and keeps expression of TYB1 a rate-limiting step in the retrotransposition cycle.

Base Sequence↗

Relation between tRNase activity and the structure of colicin D according to X-ray crystallography.

Colicin D is a plasmid-encoded proteinaceous toxin which kills sensitive Escherichia coli. Toxicity stems from ribonuclease activity that targets exclusively four isoacceptors of tRNA(Arg) with a cleavage position between 38 and 39 of the corresponding anticodons. Since no other tRNAs with the same sequences at 38 and 39 as tRNA(Arg)s are cleaved, colicin D should be capable of recognizing some higher order structure of tRNAs. We report here two crystal structures of catalytic domains of colicin D which have different N-terminal lengths, both complexed with its cognate inhibitor protein, ImmD. A row of positive charge patches is found on the surface of the catalytic domain, suggestive of the binding site of the tRNAs. This finding, together with our refined tRNase activity experiments, indicates that the catalytic domain starting at position 595 has activity almost equivalent to that of colicin D.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast. Discrimination between 20 amino acids in aminoacylation of tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A and tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A(3'NH2).

For discrimination between arginine and 19 other amino acids in aminoacylation of tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A by arginyl-tRNA synthetase from baker's yeast, discrimination factors (D) have been determined from kcat and Km values. The lowest values were found for Trp, Cys, Lys (D = 800-8500), showing that arginine is 800-8500 times more often incorporated into tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A than noncognate acids at the same amino acid concentrations. The other noncognate amino acids exhibit D values between 10,000 and 60,000. In aminoacylation of tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A(3'NH2) discrimination factors D1 are in the range 10-600. From these values and AMP formation stoichiometry, pretransfer proof-reading factors II1 were determined; from D values and AMP stoichiometry in aminoacylation of tRNA(Arg)-C-C-A, posttransfer proof-reading factors II2 could be calculated, II1 values between 2 and 120 show that pretransfer proof-reading is the main correction step, posttransfer proof-reading (II2 approximately 1-10) plays a marginal role. Initial discrimination factors due to different Gibbs free energies of binding between arginine and the noncognate amino acids were calculated from discrimination and proof-reading factors. According to a two-step binding process, two factors (I1 and I2) were determined. They can be related to hydrophobic interaction forces and hydrogen bonds that are especially formed by the arginine side chain. A hypothetical 'stopper' model of the amino acid recognition site is discussed.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli affinity labeling with 3'-oxidized tRNA(Arg).

The covalent modification of E. coli arginyl-tRNA synthetase by the 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of tRNA(Arg) (tRNA(oxArg)) resulted in the complete inactivation of the ATP-PPi exchange and aminoacylation activities of the enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ArgRS-tRNA(oxArg) covalent complexes indicated that two bands simultaneously appeared on the gel parallel with inactivation corresponding to different higher molecular weights. This result was different from that of the other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase labeling systems as previously reported. Upon the ribonuclease treatment of the modified ArgRS, less than 15% of both the initial ATP-PPi exchange and aminocylation activities were recovered. During the whole process of labeling and RNase treatment, the two activities of the enzyme were closely associated.

Affinity Labels↗

A candidate prostate cancer susceptibility gene encodes tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease.

tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease (3' tRNase) is an enzyme responsible for the removal of a 3' trailer from precursor tRNA (pre-tRNA). We purified approximately 85 kDa 3' tRNase from pig liver and determined its partial sequences. BLAST search of them suggested that the enzyme was the product of a candidate human prostate cancer susceptibility gene, ELAC2, the biological function of which was totally unknown. We cloned a human ELAC2 cDNA and expressed the ELAC2 protein in Escherichia coli. The recombinant ELAC2 was able to cleave human pre-tRNA(Arg) efficiently. The 3' tRNase activity of the yeast ortholog YKR079C was also observed. The C-terminal half of human ELAC2 was able to remove a 3' trailer from pre-tRNA(Arg), while the N-terminal half failed to do so. In the human genome exists a gene, ELAC1, which seems to correspond to the C-terminal half of 3' tRNase from ELAC2. We showed that human ELAC1 also has 3'-tRNase activity. Furthermore, we examined eight ELAC2 variants that seem to be associated with the occurrence of prostate cancer for 3'-tRNase activity. Seven ELAC2 variants which contain one to three amino acid substitutions showed efficient 3'-tRNase activities, while one truncated variant, which lacked a C-terminal half region, had no activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sperm mobility: phenotype in roosters (Gallus domesticus) determined by mitochondrial function.

Previously, inheritance of sperm mobility entailed a maternal additive genetic effect, and sperm ATP content was correlated (r = 0.80) with phenotype. The present study was conducted to determine if mitochondrial function was critical to phenotypic expression. Whereas phenotype was independent of mitochondrial helix length, phenotype was correlated with sperm oxygen consumption (r = 0.83) using random-bred roosters. Aberrant mitochondria characterized immobile sperm, as evidenced by transmission-electron microscopy. Such mitochondria were swollen and contained disorganized cristae. Additional experiments were performed with roosters from lines selected for low or high sperm mobility. A threefold difference in sperm oxygen consumption was observed between lines. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed in mitochondrial DNA by sequencing replicate mitochondrial genomes from each line. An A-to-G substitution in the gene encoding tRNA(Arg) was inherited consistently, as evidenced by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using two male and two female progeny per family group and 14 family groups per line. Motile concentration in semen from low-line males was half that observed in semen from high-line males, as evidenced by computer-assisted sperm motion analysis. Likewise, 47% of sperm from low-line males contained aberrant mitochondria, compared to 4% for high-line males. In summary, sperm mobility phenotype was dependent on mitochondrial function, which in turn was altered by genetic selection. Fowl deferent duct fluid contains a high concentration of glutamate. We propose that variation in sperm mobility phenotype stems from the extent to which glutamate induces excessive mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake before ejaculation.

Animals↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of yeast arginyl-tRNA synthetase-yeast tRNAArg complexes.

Three different crystal forms of complexes between arginyl-tRNA synthetase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae (yArgRS) and the yeast second major tRNA(Arg) (tRNA(Arg)(ICG)) isoacceptor have been crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of ammonium sulfate. Crystal form II, which diffracts beyond 2.2 A resolution at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility ID14-4 beamline, belongs to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 129.64, b = 107.47, c = 71. 38 A. This crystal form presents the highest resolution obtained for an active form of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA complex. The estimated V(m) of 2.6 A(3) Da(-1) indicates one molecule of complex in the asymmetric unit. The three crystal forms were solved by the molecular-replacement method using the coordinates of the free yArgRS.

Arginine-tRNA Ligase↗

tRNA(Arg) (fimU) and expression of SEF14 and SEF21 in Salmonella enteritidis.

A Tn10 insertion affecting SEF14 fimbrial synthesis in Salmonella enteritidis was located 13 bp upstream of a gene designated fimU. The 77-bp DNA sequence of fimU from S. enteritidis was identical to that of fimU encoding tRNA(Arg) (UCU) from Salmonella typhimurium and 96% identical to that of the Escherichia coli argU homolog. Furthermore, the open reading frame adjacent to and overlapping the 3' end of fimU was similar to the prophage DLP12 integrase gene. The fimU-encoded transcript comigrated with total cellular tRNA and was predicted to form a tRNA-like cloverleaf structure containing the arginine anticodon UCU. Thus, fimU encoded a tRNA(Arg) specific for the rare codon AGA. fimU mapped to the SEF21 fim operon located 15 C's from the sef14 gene cluster. Although fimU was located within the SEF21 fim gene cluster, the fimU Tn10 insertion mutant of S. enteritidis was found to be defective in SEF14 as well as SEF21 (type 1) fimbria production. SEF17 and SEF18 fimbria production was not affected. Complementation of this mutant with plasmid-borne fimU restored normal production of the fimbrins SefA and FimA as well as their respective fimbriae SEF14 and SEF21. This is the first description of tRNA simultaneously controlling the production of two distinct fimbriae.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Partial functional correction of xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells by suppressor tRNA.

Genetic diseases are often caused by nonsense mutations. The resulting defect in protein translation can be restored by expressing suppressor tRNA in the mutant cells. Our goal was to demonstrate both protein restoration and phenotypic correction using these small transgenes. Functional activity of an arginine opal suppressor tRNA in cells expressing a nonsense mutated GFP gene was demonstrated by restored fluorescence. This suppressor tRNA was expressed in xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells, containing a homozygous nonsense mutation at Arg-207 in the XPA complementing gene. The transfected XPA cell population showed a twofold increase in cell survival after UV irradiation as determined by colony-forming assays compared with cell populations without the suppressor tRNA gene. The UV doses required for 37% survival of XP cells and XP cells expressing the suppressor tRNA were 0.6 and 1.2 J/m2. A similar twofold increase in the reactivation of UV-irradiated plasmid DNA was observed in XP cells expressing the suppressor tRNA. However, there was no detectable increase in XPA protein levels. Several potential limitations of this approach exist, including the availability of mutant RNA transcripts, the efficiency of suppression by the suppressor tRNA, and the abundance and availability and continued expression of the suppressor tRNA. The unique feature of this study is the relatively small size (88 bp) of the suppressor tRNA. Small-sized suppressor tRNAs can be synthetically constructed and subcloned into different viral vectors for delivery into the target cells. This approach may be useful for other genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations.

Cell Line↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of E. coli arginyl-tRNA synthetase in complex form with a tRNAArg.

Amino acids are building blocks of proteins, while aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the first reaction in such building: the biosynthesis of proteins. The E. coli arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS) has been crystallized in complex form with tRNA(Arg) (B. stearothermophilus), at pH 5.6 using ammonium sulfate as a precipitating agent. Two crystal forms have been identified based on unit cell dimension. The complete data sets from both crystal forms have been collected with a primitive hexagonal space group. A data set of Form II crystals at 3.2 A and 94% completeness has been obtained, with unit cell parameters a = b = 98.0 A, c = 463.2 A, and alpha = beta = 90 degrees , gamma = 120 degrees , being different from a = b = 110.8 A, c = 377.8 A for form I. The structure determination will demonstrate the interaction of these two macromolecules to understand the special mechanism of ArgRS that requires the presence of tRNA for amino acid activation. Such complex structure also provides a wide opening for inhibitor search using bioinformatics.

Arginine-tRNA Ligase↗

The tRNA-dependent activation of arginine by arginyl-tRNA synthetase requires inter-domain communication.

The tRNA-dependent amino acid activation catalyzed by mammalian arginyl-tRNA synthetase has been characterized. A conditional lethal mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cells that exhibits reduced arginyl-tRNA synthetase activity (Arg-1), and two of its derived revertants (Arg-1R4 and Arg-1R5) were analyzed at the structural and functional levels. A single nucleotide change, resulting in a Cys to Tyr substitution at position 599 of arginyl-tRNA synthetase, is responsible for the defective phenotype of the thermosensitive and arginine hyper-auxotroph Arg-1 cell line. The two revertants have a single additional mutation resulting in a Met222 to Ile change for Arg-1R4 or a Tyr506 to Ser change for Arg-1R5. The corresponding mutant enzymes were expressed in yeast and purified. The Cys599 to Tyr mutation affects both the thermal stability of arginyl-tRNA synthetase and the kinetic parameters for arginine in the ATP-PP(i) exchange and tRNA aminoacylation reactions. This mutation is located underneath the floor of the Rossmann fold catalytic domain characteristic of class 1 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, near the end of a long helix belonging to the alpha-helix bundle C-terminal domain distinctive of class 1a synthetases. For the Met222 to Ile revertant, there is very little effect of the mutation on the interaction of arginyl-tRNA synthetase with either of its substrates. However, this mutation increases the thermal stability of arginyl-tRNA synthetase, thereby leading to reversion of the thermosensitive phenotype by increasing the steady-state level of the enzyme in vivo. In contrast, for the Arg-1R5 cell line, reversion of the phenotype is due to an increased catalytic efficiency of the C599Y/Y506S double mutant as compared to the initial C599Y enzyme. In light of the location of the mutations in the 3D structure of the enzyme modeled using the crystal structure of the closely related yeast arginyl-tRNA synthetase, the kinetic analysis of these mutants suggests that the obligatory tRNA-induced activation of the catalytic site of arginyl-tRNA synthetase involves interdomain signal transduction via the long helices that build the tRNA-binding domain of the enzyme and link the site of interaction of the anticodon domain of tRNA to the floor of the active site.

Acylation↗

tRNA-assisted overproduction of eukaryotic ribosomal proteins.

Structural studies of eukaryotic ribosomes are complicated by the tendency of their constituent proteins to be expressed at very low levels in Escherichia coli. We find that this is mainly due to their exceptionally high content of AGA/AGG arginine codons, which are poorly utilized by the bacterial translational machinery. In fact, we could overcome this limitation by the combined use of a T7 RNA polymerase expression vector and a plasmid carrying the E. coli gene argU, which encodes the minor tRNA(Arg) species that reads AGA/AGG codons. In this system, five cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins from three different eukaryotic lineages (Saccharomyces cerevisiae S8, L13, and L14; Arabidopsis thaliana L13; and Homo sapiens L7) could be overexpressed to up to 50% of total bacterial protein and were purified to homogeneity in tens of milligrams amounts. The purification procedure simply involved metal affinity chromatography followed, in some cases, by an additional heparin chromatography step. Recombinant polypeptides bound RNA with high affinity (K(d) between 50 and 300 nM). This novel overexpression/purification strategy will allow the production of high amounts of most eukaryotic ribosomal proteins in a form suitable for structural and functional studies. Coupled with recently completed and ongoing whole-genome sequencing projects, it will facilitate the molecular characterization of the eukaryotic ribosome.

Arabidopsis↗