The newly discovered Q motif of DEAD-box RNA helicases regulates RNA-binding and helicase activity

DEAD-box proteins are the most common RNA helicases, and they are associated with virtually all processes involving RNA. They have nine conserved motifs that are required for ATP and RNA binding, and for linking phosphoanhydride cleavage of ATP with helicase activity. The Q motif is the most recently identified conserved element, and it occurs approximately 17 amino acids upstream of motif I. There is a highly conserved, but isolated, aromatic group approximately 17 amino acids upstream of the Q motif. These two elements are involved in adenine recognition and in ATPase activity of DEAD-box proteins. We made extensive analyses of the Q motif and upstream aromatic residue in the yeast translation-initiation factor Ded1. We made site-specific mutations and tested them for viability in yeast. Moreover, we purified various mutant proteins and obtained the Michaelis-Menten parameters for the ATPase activities. We also measured RNA affinities and strand-displacement activities. We find that the Q motif not only regulates ATP binding and hydrolysis but also regulates the affinity of the protein for RNA substrates and ultimately the helicase activity.     

Role of p54 RNA Helicase Activity and Its C-terminal Domain in Translational Repression, P-body Localization and Assembly

The RNA helicase p54 (DDX6, Dhh1, Me31B, Cgh-1, RCK) is a prototypic component of P-(rocessing) bodies in cells ranging from yeast to human. Previously, we have shown that it is also a component of the large cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein translation repressor complex in Xenopus oocytes and that when tethered to the 3′ untranslated region, Xp54 represses reporter mRNA translation. Here, we examine the role of the p54 helicase activity in translational repression and in P-body formation. Mutagenesis of conserved p54 helicase motifs activates translation in the tethered function assay, reduces accumulation of p54 in P-bodies in HeLa cells, and inhibits its capacity to assemble P-bodies in p54-depleted cells. Similar results were obtained in four helicase motifs implicated in ATP binding and in coupling ATPase and RNA binding activities. This is accompanied by changes in the interaction of the mutant p54 with the oocyte repressor complex components. Surprisingly, the C-terminal D2 domain alone is sufficient for translational repression and complete accumulation in P-bodies, although it is deficient for P-body assembly. We propose a novel RNA helicase model, in which the D2 domain acts as a protein binding platform and the ATPase/helicase activity allows protein complex remodeling that dictates the balance between repressors and an activator of translation.     

High-throughput genetic identification of functionally important regions of the yeast DEAD-box protein Mss116p

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DEAD-box protein Mss116p is a general RNA chaperone that functions in splicing mitochondrial group I and group II introns. Recent X-ray crystal structures of Mss116p in complex with ATP analogs and single-stranded RNA show that the helicase core induces a bend in the bound RNA, as in other DEAD-box proteins, while a C-terminal extension (CTE) induces a second bend, resulting in RNA crimping. Here, we illuminate these structures by using high-throughput genetic selections, unigenic evolution, and analyses of in vivo splicing activity to comprehensively identify functionally important regions and permissible amino acid substitutions throughout Mss116p. The functionally important regions include those containing conserved sequence motifs involved in ATP and RNA binding or interdomain interactions, as well as previously unidentified regions, including surface loops that may function in protein-protein interactions. The genetic selections recapitulate major features of the conserved helicase motifs seen in other DEAD-box proteins but also show surprising variations, including multiple novel variants of motif III (SAT). Patterns of amino acid substitutions indicate that the RNA bend induced by the helicase core depends on ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions with the bound RNA; identify a subset of critically interacting residues; and indicate that the bend induced by the CTE results primarily from a steric block. Finally, we identified two conserved regions—one the previously noted post II region in the helicase core and the other in the CTE—that may help displace or sequester the opposite RNA strand during RNA unwinding.     

Crystal structure and functional analysis of DEAD-box protein Dhh1p

The control of mRNA translation and degradation are critical for proper gene expression. A key regulator of both translation and degradation is Dhh1p, which is a DEAD-box protein, and functions both to repress translation and enhance decapping. We describe the crystal structure of the N- and C-terminal truncated Dhh1p (tDhh1p) determined at 2.1 A resolution. This reveals that, like other DEAD-box proteins, tDhh1p contains two RecA-like domains, although with a unique arrangement. In contrast to eIF4A and mjDEAD, in which no motif interactions exist, in Dhh1p, motif V interacts with motif I and the Q-motif, thereby linking the two domains together. Electrostatic potential mapping combined with mutagenesis reveals that motifs I, V, and VI are involved in RNA binding. In addition, trypsin digestion of tDhh1p suggests that ATP binding enhances an RNA-induced conformational change. Interestingly, some mutations located in the conserved motifs and at the interface between the two Dhh1 domains confer dominant negative phenotypes in vivo and disrupt the conformational switch in vitro. This suggests that this conformational change is required in Dhh1 function and identifies key residues involved in that transition.     

Dbp5 — From nuclear export to translation

The DEAD-box RNA helicase Dbp5 is an essential and conserved mRNA export factor which functions in the ATP dependent remodeling of RNA/protein complexes. As such it displaces mRNA bound proteins at the cytoplasmic site of the nuclear pore complex. For the regulation of its RNA-dependent ATPase activity during late steps of nuclear transport, Dbp5 requires the nucleoporin Nup159 and its cofactors Gle1 and IP₆. In addition to its role in mRNA export, a second important function of Dbp5 was identified in translation termination, where it acts together with eRF1 once the translation machinery has reached the stop codon. Similar to mRNA export, this function also requires Gle1–IP₆, however, the counterpart of Nup159 is still missing. Potential other functions of the nucleo-cytoplasmic protein Dbp5 are discussed as well as its substrate specificity and details in its regulatory cycle that are based on recent biochemical and structural characterization. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Biology of RNA helicases — Modulation for life.     

The ATPase cycle mechanism of the DEAD-box rRNA helicase, DbpA

DEAD-box proteins are ATPase enzymes that destabilize and unwind duplex RNA. Quantitative knowledge of the ATPase cycle parameters is critical for developing models of helicase activity. However, limited information regarding the rate and equilibrium constants defining the ATPase cycle of RNA helicases is available, including the distribution of populated biochemical intermediates, the catalytic step(s) that limits the enzymatic reaction cycle, and how ATP utilization and RNA interactions are linked. We present a quantitative kinetic and equilibrium characterization of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-activated ATPase cycle mechanism of DbpA, a DEAD-box rRNA helicase implicated in ribosome biogenesis. rRNA activates the ATPase activity of DbpA by promoting a conformational change after ATP binding that is associated with hydrolysis. Chemical cleavage of bound ATP is reversible and occurs via a γ-phosphate attack mechanism. ADP-P_i and RNA binding display strong thermodynamic coupling, which causes DbpA-ADP-P_i to bind rRNA with > 10-fold higher affinity than with bound ATP, ADP or in the absence of nucleotide. The rRNA-activated steady-state ATPase cycle of DbpA is limited both by ATP hydrolysis and by P_i release, which occur with comparable rates. Consequently, the predominantly populated biochemical states during steady-state cycling are the ATP- and ADP-P_i-bound intermediates. Thermodynamic linkage analysis of the ATPase cycle transitions favors a model in which rRNA duplex destabilization is linked to strong rRNA and nucleotide binding. The presented analysis of the DbpA ATPase cycle reaction mechanism provides a rigorous kinetic and thermodynamic foundation for developing testable hypotheses regarding the functions and molecular mechanisms of DEAD-box helicases.     

Isolation and characterization of Plasmodium falciparum UAP56 homolog: evidence for the coupling of RNA binding and splicing activity by site-directed mutations

UAP56 (U2AF65 associated protein) is a member of the DEAD-box helicase family. Helicases are essential enzymes generally involved in the metabolism of nucleic acids. The gene encoding a member of DEAD-box family was cloned and characterized from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PfU52 is homologous to UAP56 and contains the RNA-dependent ATPase, RNA helicase and RNA binding activities. Using the parasite extract we report that PfU52 is involved in splicing reaction. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicate that the conserved residues glycine 181, isoleucine 182 and arginine 206 are involved in RNA binding and this activity is required for the enzymatic activities of PfU52. PfU52 is expressed in all the intraerythrocytic developmental stages of the parasite. In the present study we have reported the detailed characterization of PfU52 from P. falciparum and these results advance the knowledge regarding the function of UAP56 in general.     

eIF4B and eIF4G Jointly Stimulate eIF4A ATPase and Unwinding Activities by Modulation of the eIF4A Conformational Cycle

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) is a DEAD-box protein that participates in translation initiation. As an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, it is thought to resolve secondary structure elements from the 5′-untranslated region of mRNAs to enable ribosome scanning. The RNA-stimulated ATPase and ATP-dependent helicase activities of eIF4A are enhanced by auxiliary proteins, but the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we have dissected the effect of eIF4B and eIF4G on eIF4A RNA-dependent ATPase- and RNA helicase activities and on eIF4A conformation. We show for the first time that yeast eIF4B, like its mammalian counterpart, can stimulate RNA unwinding by eIF4A, although it does not affect the eIF4A conformation. The eIF4G middle domain enhances this stimulatory effect and promotes the formation of a closed eIF4A conformation in the presence of ATP and RNA. The closed state of eIF4A has been inferred but has not been observed experimentally before. eIF4B and eIF4G jointly stimulate ATP hydrolysis and RNA unwinding by eIF4A and favor the formation of the closed eIF4A conformer. Our results reveal distinct functions of eIF4B and eIF4G in synergistically stimulating the eIF4A helicase activity in the mRNA scanning process.     

The HRIGRXXR region of the DEAD box RNA helicase eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A is required for RNA binding and ATP hydrolysis.

eIF-4A is a eukaryotic translation initiation factor that is required for mRNA binding to ribosomes. It exhibits single-stranded RNA-dependent ATPase activity, and in combination with a second initiation factor, eIF-4B, it exhibits duplex RNA helicase activity. eIF-4A is the prototype of a large family of proteins termed the DEAD box protein family, whose members share nine highly conserved amino acid regions. The functions of several of these conserved regions in eIF-4A have previously been assigned to ATP binding, ATPase, and helicase activities. To define the RNA-binding region of eIF-4A, a UV-induced cross-linking assay was used to analyze binding of mutant eIF-4A proteins to RNA. Mutants carrying mutations in the ATP-binding region (AXXXXGKT), ATPase region (DEAD), helicase region (SAT), and the most carboxy-terminal conserved region of the DEAD family, HRIGRXXR, were tested for RNA cross-linking. We show that mutations, either conservative or not, in any one of the three arginines in the HRIGRXXR sequence drastically reduced eIF-4A cross-linking to RNA. In addition, all the mutations in the HRIGRXXR region abrogate RNA helicase activity. Some but not all of these mutations affect ATP binding and ATPase activity. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the HRIGRXXR region is involved in the ATP hydrolysis reaction and would explain the coupling of ATPase and RNA-binding/helicase activities. Our results show that the HRIGRXXR region, which is QRXGRXXR or QXXGRXXR in the RNA and DNA helicases of the helicase superfamily II, is involved in ATP hydrolysis-dependent RNA interaction during unwinding. We also show that mutations in other regions of eIF-4A that abolish ATPase activity sharply decrease eIF-4A cross-linking to RNA. A model is proposed in which eIF-4A first binds ATP, resulting in a change in eIF-4A conformation which allows RNA binding that is dependent on the HRIGRXXR region. Binding of RNA induces ATP hydrolysis, leading to a more stable interaction with RNA. This process is then linked to unwinding of duplex RNA in the presence of eIF-4B.     

Genetic and biochemical characterization of mutations in the ATPase and helicase regions of the Upf1 protein.

mRNA degradation is an important control point in the regulation of gene expression and has been linked to the process of translation. One clear example of this linkage is the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway, in which nonsense mutations in a gene can reduce the abundance of the mRNA transcribed from that gene. For the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Upf1 protein (Upf1p), which contains a cysteine- and histidine-rich region and nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis and helicase motifs, was shown to be a trans-acting factor in this decay pathway. Biochemical analysis of the wild-type Upf1p demonstrates that it has RNA-dependent ATPase, RNA helicase, and RNA binding activities. A UPF1 gene disruption results in stabilization of nonsense-containing mRNAs, leading to the production of enough functional product to overcome an auxotrophy resulting from a nonsense mutation. A genetic and biochemical study of the UPF1 gene was undertaken in order to understand the mechanism of Upf1p function in the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. Our analysis suggests that Upf1p is a multifunctional protein with separable activities that can affect mRNA turnover and nonsense suppression. Mutations in the conserved helicase motifs of Upf1p that inactivate its mRNA decay function while not allowing suppression of leu2-2 and tyr7-1 nonsense alleles have been identified. In particular, one mutation located in the ATP binding and hydrolysis motif of Upf1p that changed the aspartic and glutamic acid residues to alanine residues (DE572AA) lacked ATPase and helicase activities, and the mutant formed a Upf1p:RNA complex in the absence of ATP; surprisingly, however, the Upf1p:RNA complex dissociated as a consequence of ATP binding. This result suggests that ATP binding, independent of its hydrolysis, can modulate Upf1p:RNA complex formation for this mutant protein. The role of the RNA binding activity of Upf1p in modulating nonsense suppression is discussed.     

Authentic interdomain communication in an RNA helicase reconstituted by expressed protein ligation of two helicase domains

RNA helicases mediate structural rearrangements of RNA or RNA-protein complexes at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Members of the DEAD box helicase family consist of two flexibly connected helicase domains. They share nine conserved sequence motifs that are involved in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, RNA binding, and helicase activity. Most of these motifs line the cleft between the two helicase domains, and extensive communication between them is required for RNA unwinding. The two helicase domains of the Bacillus subtilis RNA helicase YxiN were produced separately as intein fusions, and a functional RNA helicase was generated by expressed protein ligation. The ligated helicase binds adenine nucleotides with very similar affinities to the wild-type protein. Importantly, its intrinsically low ATPase activity is stimulated by RNA, and the Michaelis-Menten parameters are similar to those of the wild-type. Finally, ligated YxiN unwinds a minimal RNA substrate to an extent comparable to that of the wild-type helicase, confirming authentic interdomain communication.     

A conserved phenylalanine of motif IV in superfamily 2 helicases is required for cooperative, ATP-dependent binding of RNA substrates in DEAD-box proteins

We have identified a highly conserved phenylalanine in motif IV of the DEAD-box helicases that is important for their enzymatic activities. In vivo analyses of essential proteins in yeast showed that mutants of this residue had severe growth phenotypes. Most of the mutants also were temperature sensitive, which suggested that the mutations altered the conformational stability. Intragenic suppressors of the F405L mutation in yeast Ded1 mapped close to regions of the protein involved in ATP or RNA binding in DEAD-box crystal structures, which implicated a defect at this level. In vitro experiments showed that these mutations affected ATP binding and hydrolysis as well as strand displacement activity. However, the most pronounced effect was the loss of the ATP-dependent cooperative binding of the RNA substrates. Sequence analyses and an examination of the Protein Data Bank showed that the motif IV phenylalanine is conserved among superfamily 2 helicases. The phenylalanine appears to be an anchor that maintains the rigidity of the RecA-like domain. For DEAD-box proteins, the phenylalanine also aligns a highly conserved arginine of motif VI through van der Waals and cation-pi interactions, thereby helping to maintain the network of interactions that exist between the different motifs involved in ATP and RNA binding.     

ATP is a cofactor of the Upf1 protein that modulates its translation termination and RNA binding activities.

The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway decreases the abundance of mRNAs that contain premature termination codons and prevents suppression of nonsense alleles. The UPF1 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was shown to be a trans-acting factor in this decay pathway. The Upf1p demonstrates RNA-dependent ATPase, RNA helicase, and RNA binding activities. The results presented here investigate the binding affinity of the Upf1p for ATP and the consequences of ATP binding on its affinity for RNA. The results demonstrate that the Upf1p binds ATP in the absence of RNA. Consistent with this result, the TR800AA mutant form of the Upf1p still bound ATP, although it does not bind RNA. ATP binding also modulates the affinity of Upf1p for RNA. The RNA binding activity of the DE572AA mutant form of the Upf1p, which lacks ATPase activity, still bound ATP as efficiently as the wild-type Upf1p and destabilized the Upf1p-RNA complex. Similarly, ATPgammaS, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP, interacted with Upf1p and promoted disassociation of the Upf1p-RNA complex. The conserved lysine residue (K436) in the helicase motif Ia in the Upf1p was shown to be critical for ATP binding. Taken together, these findings formally prove that ATP can bind Upf1p in the absence of RNA and that this interaction has consequences on the formation of the Upf1p-RNA complex. Further, the results support the genetic evidence indicating that ATP binding is important for the Upf1p to increase the translation termination efficiency at a nonsense codon. Based on these findings, a model describing how the Upf1p functions in modulating translation and turnover and the potential insights into the mechanism of the Upf1p helicase will be discussed.     

Ded1p, a DEAD-box protein required for translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is an RNA helicase.

The Ded1 protein (Ded1p), a member of the DEAD-box family, has recently been shown to be essential for translation initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we show that Ded1p purified from Escherichia coli has an ATPase activity, which is stimulated by various RNA substrates. Using an RNA strand-displacement assay, we show that Ded1p has also an ATP-dependent RNA unwinding activity. Hydrolysis of ATP is required for this activity: the replacement of ATP by a nonhydrolyzable analog or a mutation in the DEAD motif abolishing ATPase activity results in loss of RNA unwinding. We find that cells harboring a Ded1 protein with this mutated DEAD motif are nonviable, suggesting that the ATPase and RNA helicase activities of this protein are essential to the cell. Finally, RNA binding measurements indicate that the presence of ATP, but not ADP, increases the affinity of Ded1p for duplex versus single-stranded RNA; we discuss how this differential effect might drive the unwinding reaction.     

Mutational analysis of a DEAD box RNA helicase: the mammalian translation initiation factor eIF-4A.

eIF-4A is a translation initiation factor that exhibits bidirectional RNA unwinding activity in vitro in the presence of another translation initiation factor, eIF-4B and ATP. This activity is thought to be responsible for the melting of secondary structure in the 5' untranslated region of eukaryotic mRNAs to facilitate ribosome binding. eIF-4A is a member of a fast growing family of proteins termed the DEAD family. These proteins are believed to be RNA helicases, based on the demonstrated in vitro RNA helicase activity of two members (eIF-4A and p68) and their homology in eight amino acid regions. Several related biochemical activities were attributed to eIF-4A: (i) ATP binding, (ii) RNA-dependent ATPase and (iii) RNA helicase. To determine the contribution of the highly conserved regions to these activities, we performed site-directed mutagenesis. First we show that recombinant eIF-4A, together with recombinant eIF-4B, exhibit RNA helicase activity in vitro. Mutations in the ATPase A motif (AXXXXGKT) affect ATP binding, whereas mutations in the predicted ATPase B motif (DEAD) affect ATP hydrolysis. We report here that the DEAD region couples the ATPase with the RNA helicase activity. Furthermore, two other regions, whose functions were unknown, have also been characterized. We report that the first residue in the HRIGRXXR region is involved in ATP hydrolysis and that the SAT region is essential for RNA unwinding. Our results suggest that the highly conserved regions in the DEAD box family are critical for RNA helicase activity.     

The QRxGRxGRxxxG motif of the vaccinia virus DExH box RNA helicase NPH-II is required for ATP hydrolysis and RNA unwinding but not for RNA binding.

Vaccinia virus NPH-II is an essential nucleic acid-dependent nucleoside triphosphate that catalyzes unidirectional unwinding of duplex RNA containing a 3' tail. NPH-II is the prototypal RNA helicase of the DExH box protein family, which is defined by several shared sequence motifs. The contribution of the conserved QRKGRVGRVNPG region to enzyme activity was assessed by alanine-scanning mutagenesis. Ten mutated versions of NPH-II were expressed in vaccinia virus-infected BSC-40 cells and purified by nickel affinity chromatography and glycerol gradient sedimentation. The mutated proteins were characterized with respect to RNA helicase, nucleic acid-dependent ATPase, and RNA binding functions. Individual alanine substitutions at invariant residues Q-491, G-494, R-495, G-497, R-498, and G-502 caused severe defects in RNA unwinding that correlated with reduced rates of ATP hydrolysis. None of these mutations affected the binding of NPH-II to single-strand RNA or to the tailed duplex RNA used as a helicase substrate. Mutation of the strictly conserved position R-492 inhibited ATPase and helicase activities and also caused a modest decrement in RNA binding. Alanine mutations at the nonconserved position N-500 and the weakly conserved residue P-501 had no apparent effect on any activity associated with NPH-II, whereas a mutation at the weakly conserved position K-493 reduced helicase to one-third and ATPase to two-thirds of the activity of wild-type required for ATP hydrolysis and RNA unwinding but not for RNA binding. Because mutations in the HRxGRxxR motif of the prototypal DEAD box RNA helicase eIF-4A abolish or severely inhibit RNA binding, we surmise that the contribution of conserved helicase motifs to overall protein function is context dependent.