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tRNAGlu wobble uridine methylation by Trm9 identifies Elongator's key role for zymocin-induced cell death in yeast.

Zymocin-induced cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the toxin-target (TOT) effector Elongator, a protein complex with functions in transcription, exocytosis and tRNA modification. In line with the latter, trm9Delta cells lacking a tRNA methylase specific for wobble uridine (U(34)) residues survive zymocin and in excess, the Trm9 substrate tRNA(Glu) copies zymocin protection of Elongator mutants. Phenotypes typical of a tot3/elp3Delta Elongator mutant are absent from trm9Delta cells but copied in a tot3Deltatrm9Delta double mutant suggesting that Elongator acts upstream of Trm9. Consistent with Elongator-dependent tRNA modification being more important to mRNA decoding than Trm9, SUP4 and SOE1TRNA suppressors are highly sensitive to loss of Elongator and tRNA U(34) hypomodification. As Trm9 overexpression counteracts the effect of high-copy tRNA(Glu), zymocin suppression by high-copy tRNA(Glu) may reflect tRNA hypomethylation of trm9Delta cells. Thus, Trm9 methylation may enable recognition of tRNA by zymocin, a notion supported by a dramatic reduction of tRNA(Glu) levels in zymocin-treated cells and by cytotoxic zymocin residues conserved between bacterial nucleases and a tRNA modifying GTPase. In sum, Trm9 is a bona fideTOT pathway component whose methylation may be hijacked by zymocin to target tRNA function and eventually, mRNA translation.

Base Sequence↗

A 2-thiouridine derivative in tRNAGlu is a positive determinant for aminoacylation by Escherichia coli glutamyl-tRNA synthetase.

Early investigations into the interaction between Escherichia coli glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) and tRNAGlu have implicated the modified nucleoside 5-[(methylamino)methyl]-2-thiouridine in the first position of the anticodon as an important contact for efficient aminoacylation. However, the experimental methods employed were not sufficient to determine whether the interaction was dependent on the presence of the modification or simply involved other anticodon loop-nucleotides, now occluded from interaction with the synthetase. Unmodified E. coli tRNA(Glu), derived by in vitro transcription of the corresponding gene, is a poor substrate for GluRS, exhibiting a 100-fold reduction in its specificity constant (kcat/KM) compared to that of tRNA(Glu) prepared from an overproducing strain. Through the use of recombinant RNA technology, we created several hybrid tRNAs which combined sequences from the in vitro transcript with that of the native tRNA, resulting in tRNA molecules differing in modified base content. By in vitro aminoacylation of these hybrid tRNA molecules and of tRNAs with base substitutions at positions of nucleotide modification, we show conclusively that the modified uridine at position 34 in tRNA(Glu) is required for efficient aminoacylation by E. coli GluRS. This is only the second example of a tRNA modification acting as a positive determinant for interaction with its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Base Sequence↗

A minimalist glutamyl-tRNA synthetase dedicated to aminoacylation of the tRNAAsp QUC anticodon.

Escherichia coli encodes YadB, a protein displaying 34% identity with the catalytic core of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase but lacking the anticodon-binding domain. We show that YadB is a tRNA modifying enzyme that evidently glutamylates the queuosine residue, a modified nucleoside at the wobble position of the tRNA(Asp) QUC anticodon. This conclusion is supported by a variety of biochemical data and by the inability of the enzyme to glutamylate tRNA(Asp) isolated from an E.coli tRNA-guanosine transglycosylase minus strain deprived of the capacity to exchange guanosine 34 with queuosine. Structural mimicry between the tRNA(Asp) anticodon stem and the tRNA(Glu) amino acid acceptor stem in prokaryotes encoding YadB proteins indicates that the function of these tRNA modifying enzymes, which we rename glutamyl-Q tRNA(Asp) synthetases, is conserved among prokaryotes.

Acylation↗

The identity determinants required for the discrimination between tRNAGlu and tRNAAsp by glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli.

We previously elucidated the major determinant set for Escherichia coli tRNAGlu identity (U34, U35, C36, A37, G1*C72, U2*A71, U11*A24, U13*G22**Alpha46, and Delta47) and showed that the set is sufficient to switch the identity of tRNAGln to Glu [Sekine, S., Nureki, O., Sakamoto, K., Niimi, T., Tateno, M., Go, M., Kohno, T., Brisson, A., Lapointe, J. & Yokoyama, S. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 256, 685-700]. In the present study, we attempted to switch the identity of tRNAAsp, which has a sequence similar to that of tRNAGlu, and consequently possesses many nucleotide residues corresponding to the Glu identity determinants (U35, C36, A37, G1*C72, and U11*A24). A simple transplantation of the rest of the major determinants (U34, U2*A71, U13*G22**Alpha46, and Delta47) to the framework of tRNAAsp did not result in a sufficient switch of the tRNAAsp identity to Glu. To confer an optimal glutamate accepting activity to tRNAAsp, two other elements, C4*G69 in the middle of the acceptor stem and C12*G23**C9 in the augmented D helix, were required. Consistently, the two base pairs, C4*G69 and C12*G23, in tRNAGlu had been shown to exist in the interface with glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) by phosphate-group footprinting. We also found the two elements in the framework of tRNAGln, and determined that their contributions successfully changed the identity of tRNAGln to Glu in the previous study. By the identity-determinant set (C4*G69 and C12*G23**C9 in addition to U34, U35, C36, A37, G1*C72, U2*A71, U11*A24, U13*G22**Alpha46, and Delta47) the activity of GluRS was optimized and efficient discrimination from the noncognate tRNAs was achieved.

Acylation↗

Novel methyltransferase for modified uridine residues at the wobble position of tRNA.

We have identified a novel tRNA methyltransferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that we designate Trm9. This enzyme, the product of the YML014w gene, catalyzes the esterification of modified uridine nucleotides, resulting in the formation of 5-methylcarbonylmethyluridine in tRNA(Arg3) and 5-methylcarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine in tRNA(Glu). In intact yeast cells, disruption of the TRM9 gene results in the complete loss of these modified wobble bases and increased sensitivity at 37 degrees C to paromomycin, a translational inhibitor. These results suggest a role for this potentially reversible methyl esterification reaction when cells are under stress.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

One member of the tRNA(Glu) gene family in yeast codes for a minor GAGtRNA(Glu) species and is associated with several short transposable elements.

During characterization of the whole tRNA-(Glu) family from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we isolated one cosmid clone bearing a tRNA(Glu) gene copy that is deviant from the major tRNA(Glu3) gene members in only five positions. This divergent tRNA-(Glu) is a minor species and is represented by a single gene copy. One of the nucleotide exchanges concerns the anticodon which is modified from T-T-C in the tRNA(Glu3) gene to C-T-C which implies that this tRNA serves the codon triplet G-A-G. Two other minor yeast tRNA species have been reported which appear to be particularly designed for the translation of those codons that have a G in its third (Wobble) position. The low abundance of such minor tRNA species correlates positively to the low occurrence of most of the N-N-G codons in yeast. Furthermore, the GAGtRNA-(Glu) locus represents another case of the general phenomenon in which the majority of the tRNA genes in yeast are associated with one or several transposable elements forming complex patterns. In this particular case, divergent segments of delta and tau are present in the 5' flanking region of the tRNA gene and arranged in a novel configuration. The sequence data lend support to the view that tau is not an evolutionary young element as was earlier anticipated.

Base Sequence↗

5-Aminolevulinic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli.

A hemA mutant of Escherichia coli containing a multicopy plasmid which complemented the mutation excreted 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) into the medium. [1-14C]glutamate was substantially incorporated into ALA by this strain, whereas [2-14C]glycine was not. Periodate degradation of labeled ALA showed that C-5 of ALA was derived from C-1 of glutamate. The synthesis of ALA by two sonicate fractions which had been processed by gel filtration and dialysis, respectively, was dependent on glutamate, ATP, NADPH, tRNA(Glu), and pyridoxal phosphate. tRNA(Glu) stimulated ALA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with RNase reduced this stimulation. The amino acid sequence of the cloned insert, derived from the nucleotide sequence (J.-M. Li, C. S. Russell, and S. D. Cosloy, J. Cell Biol. 107:617a, 1988), showed no homology with any ALA synthase sequenced to date. These results suggest that E. coli synthesizes ALA by the C5 pathway from the intact five-carbon chain of glutamate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The possible evolutionary significance of repeat elements near and within an early chorion gene in the late chorion locus of Bombyx mori.

Three beta-type early chorion gene copies (6F6.1, 6F6.2, and 6F6.3) are dispersed in the late region of chorion locus Ch1-2. Detailed analysis of the 5'-flanking region and the intron of 6F6.1 shows that they contain sequences that are homologous to Bombyx mori Bm1 repeat elements. Interestingly, the Bm1-type segment of the intron is interrupted by the insertion of a sequence that shows significant similarities with part of an intron of B. mori and Bombyx mandarina fibroin genes, and with part of the 3'-flanking region of B. mori prothoracicotropic hormone and tRNA-Glu genes; this sequence may represent a new repetitive, possibly transposable, element of B. mori. Following the Bm1-homologous sequence of the 6F6.1 5'-flanking region and preceding the gene promoter region, a short DNA segment shows sequence motifs that are also present in the ErA.1 promoter region. The occurrence of these sequences near one end or within the Bm1 repeat element is suggestive of complex sequence transfer events. Comparative analysis of known B. mori chorion alpha-gene promoters and of Bm1 repeat elements suggests, with marginal statistical significance, that these two sets of sequences contain common elements.

Animals↗

Magnesium-dependent alternative foldings of active and inactive Escherichia coli tRNA(Glu) revealed by chemical probing.

A stable conformer of Escherichia coli tRNA(Glu), obtained in the absence of Mg(2+), is inactive in the aminoacylation reaction. Probing it with diethylpyrocarbonate, dimethyl sulfate and ribonuclease V1 revealed that it has a hairpin structure with two internal loops; the helical segments at both extremities have the same structure as the acceptor stem and the anticodon arm of the native conformer of tRNA(Glu)and the middle helix is formed of nucleotides from the D-loop (G15-C20:2) and parts of the T-loop and stem (G51-C56), with G19 bulging out. This model is consistent with other known properties of this inactive conformer, including its capacity to dimerize. Therefore, this tRNA requires magnesium to acquire a conformation that can be aminoacylated, as others require a post-transcriptional modification to reach this active conformation.

Adenosine↗

Evidence for unfolding of the single-stranded GCCA 3'-End of a tRNA on its aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase from a stacked helical to a foldback conformation.

The conformation of a tRNA in its initial contact with its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase was investigated with the Escherichia coli glutamyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA(Glu) complex. Covalent complexes between the periodate-oxidized tRNA(Glu) and its synthetase were obtained. These complexes are specific since none were formed with any other oxidized E. coli tRNA. The three major residues cross-linked to the 3'-terminal adenosine of oxidized tRNA(Glu) are Lys115, Arg209, and Arg48. Modeling of the tRNA(Glu)-glutamyl-tRNA synthetase based on the known crystal structures of Thermus thermophilus GluRS and of the E. coli tRNA(Gln)-glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase complex shows that these three residues are located in the pocket that binds the acceptor stem, and that Lys115, located in a 26 residue loop closed by coordination to a zinc atom in the tRNA acceptor stem-binding domain, is the first contact point of the 3'-terminal adenosine of tRNA(Glu). In our model, we assume that the 3'-terminal GCCA single-stranded segment of tRNA(Glu) is helical and extends the stacking of the acceptor stem. This assumption is supported by the fact that the 3' CCA sequence of tRNA(Glu) is not readily circularized in the presence of T4 RNA ligase under conditions where several other tRNAs are circularized. The two other cross-linked sites are interpreted as the contact sites of the 3'-terminal ribose on the enzyme during the unfolding and movement of the 3'-terminal GCCA segment to position the acceptor ribose in the catalytic site for aminoacylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic code origin: are the pathways of type Glu-tRNA(Gln) --> Gln-tRNA(Gln) molecular fossils or not?

A logical-evolutionary analysis is conducted to clarify whether or not pathways of type Glu-tRNA(Gln) --> Gln-tRNA(Gln) are molecular fossils of the mechanism that gave rise to the evolutionary organization of the genetic code. The result of this analysis is that these pathways are most likely a manifestation of this mechanism. This provides strong evidence in favor of the coevolution theory of genetic code origin, as this theory is based on the amino acid biosynthetic transformation taking place on tRNA-like molecules which imprinted the genetic code structuring. Comments on the different interpretations of these pathways found in the literature are also provided.

Evolution, Molecular↗

Light regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis at the level of 5-aminolevulinate formation in Arabidopsis.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the universal precursor of tetrapyrroles, such as chlorophyll and heme. The major control of chlorophyll biosynthesis is at the step of ALA formation. In the chloroplasts of plants, as in Escherichia coli, ALA is derived from the glutamate of Glu-tRNA via the two-step C5 pathway. The first enzyme, Glu-tRNA reductase, catalyzes the reduction of Glu-tRNA to glutamate 1-semialdehyde with the release of intact tRNA. The second enzyme, glutamate 1-semialdehyde 2,1-aminomutase, converts glutamate 1-semialdehyde to ALA. To further examine ALA formation in plants, we isolated Arabidopsis genes that encode the enzymes of the C5 pathway via functional complementation of mutations in the corresponding genes of E. coli. The Glu-tRNA reductase gene was designated HEMA and the glutamate 1-semialdehyde 2,1-aminomutase gene, GSA1. Each gene contains two short introns (149 and 241 nucleotides for HEMA, 153 and 86 nucleotides for GSA1). The deduced amino acid sequence of the HEMA protein predicts a protein of 60 kD with substantial similarity (30 to 47% identity) to sequences derived from the known hemA genes from microorganisms that make ALA by the C5 pathway. Purified Arabidopsis HEMA protein has Glu-tRNA reductase activity. The GSA1 gene encodes a 50-kD protein whose deduced amino acid sequence shows extensive homology (55 to 78% identity) with glutamate 1-semialdehyde 2,1-aminomutase proteins from other species. RNA gel blot analyses indicated that transcripts for both genes are found in root, leaf, stem, and flower tissues and that their levels are dramatically elevated by light. Thus, light may regulate ALA, and hence chlorophyll formation, by exerting coordinated transcriptional control over both enzymes of the C5 pathway.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA: a reliable method for species identification.

A method for identification of game species has been developed on the basis of the amplification of a specific part of the mitochondrial genome (tRNA(Glu)/cytochrome b) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To distinguish between several game species, the obtained 464-bp-long PCR products were cut with different restriction endonucleases (RE) resulting in species-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Even closely related deer species could be distinguished by application of one or two RE. Natural polymorphisms of the target sequence within one species were examined for red deer (Cervus elaphus), and base pair substitutions were identified affecting the RFLP pattern.

Animals↗

A cognate tRNA specific conformational change in glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and its implication for specificity.

Conformational changes that occur upon substrate binding are known to play crucial roles in the recognition and specific aminoacylation of cognate tRNA by glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. In a previous study we had shown that glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase labeled selectively in a nonessential sulfhydryl residue by an environment sensitive probe, acrylodan, monitors many of the conformational changes that occur upon substrate binding. In this article we have shown that the conformational change that occurs upon tRNA(Gln) binding to glnRS/ATP complex is absent in a noncognate tRNA tRNA(Glu)-glnRS/ATP complex. CD spectroscopy indicates that this cognate tRNA(Gln)-induced conformational change may involve only a small change in secondary structure. The Van't Hoff plot of cognate and noncognate tRNA binding in the presence of ATP is similar, suggesting similar modes of interaction. It was concluded that the cognate tRNA induces a local conformational change in the synthetase that may be one of the critical elements that causes enhanced aminoacylation of the cognate tRNA over the noncognate ones.

2-Naphthylamine↗

Divergence of glutamate and glutamine aminoacylation pathways: providing the evolutionary rationale for mischarging.

Aminoacyl-tRNA for protein synthesis is produced through the action of a family of enzymes called aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A general rule is that there is one aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for each of the standard 20 amino acids found in all cells. This is not universal, however, as a majority of prokaryotic organisms and eukaryotic organelles lack the enzyme glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, which is responsible for forming Gln-tRNAGln in eukaryotes and in Gram-negative eubacteria. Instead, in organisms lacking glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, Gln-tRNAGln is provided by misacylation of tRNAGln with glutamate by glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, followed by the conversion of tRNA-bound glutamate to glutamine by the enzyme Glu-tRNAGln amidotransferase. The fact that two different pathways exist for charging glutamine tRNA indicates that ancestral prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms evolved different cellular mechanisms for incorporating glutamine into proteins. Here, we explore the basis for diverging pathways for aminoacylation of glutamine tRNA. We propose that stable retention of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase in prokaryotic organisms following a horizontal gene transfer event from eukaryotic organisms (Lamour et al. 1994) was dependent on the evolving pool of glutamate and glutamine tRNAs in the organisms that acquired glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase by this mechanism. This model also addresses several unusual aspects of aminoacylation by glutamyl- and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases that have been observed.

Acylation↗

An archaebacteria-derived glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA pair for unnatural amino acid mutagenesis of proteins in Escherichia coli.

The addition of novel amino acids to the genetic code of Escherichia coli involves the generation of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA pair that is 'orthogonal', meaning that it functions independently of the synthetases and tRNAs endogenous to E.coli. The amino acid specificity of the orthogonal synthetase is then modified to charge the corresponding orthogonal tRNA with an unnatural amino acid that is subsequently incorporated into a polypeptide in response to a nonsense or missense codon. Here we report the development of an orthogonal glutamic acid synthetase and tRNA pair. The tRNA is derived from the consensus sequence obtained from a multiple sequence alignment of archaeal tRNA(Glu) sequences. The glutamyl-tRNA synthetase is from the achaebacterium Pyrococcus horikoshii. The new orthogonal pair suppresses amber nonsense codons with an efficiency roughly comparable to that of the orthogonal tyrosine pair derived from Methanococcus jannaschii, which has been used to selectively incorporate a variety of unnatural amino acids into proteins in E.coli. Development of the glutamic acid orthogonal pair increases the potential diversity of unnatural amino acid structures that may be incorporated into proteins in E.coli.

Acylation↗

A point mutation in Euglena gracilis chloroplast tRNA(Glu) uncouples protein and chlorophyll biosynthesis.

The universal precursor of tetrapyrrole pigments (e.g., chlorophylls and hemes) is 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which in Euglena gracilis chloroplasts is derived via the two-step C5 pathway from glutamate charged to tRNA(Glu). The first enzyme in this pathway, Glu-tRNA reductase (GluTR) catalyzes the reduction of glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) (Glu-tRNA) to glutamate 1-semialdehyde (GSA) with the release of the uncharged tRNA(Glu). The second enzyme, GSA-2,1-aminomutase, converts GSA to ALA. tRNA(Glu) is a specific cofactor for the NADPH-dependent reduction by GluTR, an enzyme that recognizes the tRNA in a sequence-specific manner. This RNA is the normal tRNA(Glu), a dual-function molecule participating both in protein and in ALA and, hence, chlorophyll biosynthesis. A chlorophyll-deficient mutant of E. gracilis (Y9ZNalL) does not synthesize ALA from glutamate, although it contains GluTR and GSA-2,1-aminomutase activity. The tRNA(Glu) isolated from the mutant can still be acylated with glutamate in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it supports chloroplast protein synthesis; however, it is a poor substrate for GluTR. Sequence analysis of the tRNA and of its gene revealed a C56-->U mutation in the resulting gene product. C56 is therefore an important identity element for GluTR. Thus, a point mutation in the T loop of tRNA uncouples protein from chlorophyll biosynthesis.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Enzymic and mechanistic studies on the conversion of glutamate to 5-aminolaevulinate.

Higher plants, algae, cyanobacteria and several other photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria synthesize 5-aminolaevulinate by a tRNA(Glu)-mediated pathway. Glutamate is activated at the alpha-carboxyl by ligation to tRNA(Glu) with an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. An NADPH-dependent reductase converts glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) to glutamate 1-semialdehyde, which is finally converted to 5-aminolaevulinate by an aminotransferase. These components are soluble and in plants and algae are located in the chloroplast stroma. In plants and algae the tRNA(Glu) is encoded in chloroplast DNA whereas the enzymes are encoded in nuclear DNA. The tRNA(Glu) has a hypermodified 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine-pseudouridine-C anticodon and probably plays a role in the light-dark regulation of 5-aminolaevulinate synthesis. Ligation of glutamate to tRNA(Glu) requires ATP and Mg2+ and proceeds via a ternary intermediate. Glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) reduction appears to involve formation of a complex. Glutamate 1-semialdehyde non-enzymically synthesized by reductive ozonolysis from gamma-vinyl GABA is used as substrate by the last enzyme. Glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase contains pyridoxal phosphate as a prosthetic group. The enzyme is converted to spectrally different forms by treatment with 4,5-diaminovalerate or 4,5-dioxovalerate. The pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate form of the enzyme converts (S)-glutamate 1-semialdehyde to 5-aminolaevulinate via 4,5-diaminovalerate through a bi-bi ping-pong mechanism.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗