Analyses of the functional regions of DEAD-box RNA "helicases" with deletion and chimera constructs tested in vivo and in vitro

The DEAD-box family of putative RNA helicases is composed of ubiquitous proteins that are found in nearly all organisms and that are involved in virtually all processes involving RNA. They are characterized by two tandemly linked, RecA-like domains that contain 11 conserved motifs and highly variable amino- and carboxy-terminal flanking sequences. For this reason, they are often considered to be modular multi-domain proteins. We tested this by making extensive BLASTs and sequence alignments to elucidate the minimal functional unit in nature. We then used this information to construct chimeras and deletions of six essential yeast proteins that were assayed in vivo. We purified many of the different constructs and characterized their biochemical properties in vitro. We found that sequence elements can only be switched between closely related proteins and that the carboxy-terminal sequences are important for high ATPase and strand displacement activities and for high RNA binding affinity. The amino-terminal elements were often toxic when overexpressed in vivo, and they may play regulatory roles. Both the amino and the carboxyl regions have a high frequency of sequences that are predicted to be intrinsically disordered, indicating that the flanking regions do not form distinct modular domains but probably assume an ordered structure with ligand binding. Finally, the minimal functional unit of the DEAD-box core starts two amino acids before the isolated phenylalanine of the Q motif and extends to about 35 residues beyond motif VI. These experiments provide evidence for how a highly conserved structural domain can be adapted to different cellular needs.     

DEAD-box RNA helicases in Escherichia coli

In spite of their importance in RNA metabolism, the function of DExD/H-box proteins (including DEAD-box proteins) is poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we present recent progress achieved with the five DEAD-box proteins from Escherichia coli, which have been particularly well studied. These proteins, which have orthologues in many bacteria, participate, in particular, in specific steps of mRNA decay and ribosome assembly. In vitro, they behave as poorly processive RNA helicases, presumably because they only unwind a few base pairs at each cycle so that stable duplexes can reanneal rather than dissociate. Except for one of them (DbpA), these proteins lack RNA specificity in vitro, and specificity in vivo is likely conferred by partners that target them to defined substrates. Interestingly, at least one of them is multifunctional, presumably because it can interact with different partners. Altogether, several aspects of the information gathered with these proteins have become paradigms for our understanding of DEAD-box proteins in general.     

DEAD-Box Helicase Proteins Disrupt RNA Tertiary Structure Through Helix Capture

DEAD-box helicase proteins accelerate folding and rearrangements of highly structured RNAs and RNA–protein complexes (RNPs) in many essential cellular processes. Although DEAD-box proteins have been shown to use ATP to unwind short RNA helices, it is not known how they disrupt RNA tertiary structure. Here, we use single molecule fluorescence to show that the DEAD-box protein CYT-19 disrupts tertiary structure in a group I intron using a helix capture mechanism. CYT-19 binds to a helix within the structured RNA only after the helix spontaneously loses its tertiary contacts, and then CYT-19 uses ATP to unwind the helix, liberating the product strands. Ded1, a multifunctional yeast DEAD-box protein, gives analogous results with small but reproducible differences that may reflect its in vivo roles. The requirement for spontaneous dynamics likely targets DEAD-box proteins toward less stable RNA structures, which are likely to experience greater dynamic fluctuations, and provides a satisfying explanation for previous correlations between RNA stability and CYT-19 unfolding efficiency. Biologically, the ability to sense RNA stability probably biases DEAD-box proteins to act preferentially on less stable misfolded structures and thereby to promote native folding while minimizing spurious interactions with stable, natively folded RNAs. In addition, this straightforward mechanism for RNA remodeling does not require any specific structural environment of the helicase core and is likely to be relevant for DEAD-box proteins that promote RNA rearrangements of RNP complexes including the spliceosome and ribosome.     

Structure-Guided Mutational Analysis of a Yeast DEAD-Box Protein Involved in Mitochondrial RNA Splicing

DEAD-box proteins are RNA-dependent ATPase enzymes that have been implicated in nearly all aspects of RNA metabolism. Since many of these enzymes have been shown to possess common biochemical properties in vitro, including the ability to bind and hydrolyze ATP, to bind nucleic acid, and to promote helix unwinding, DEAD-box proteins are generally thought to modulate RNA structure in vivo. However, the extent to which these enzymatic properties are important for the in vivo functions of DEAD-box proteins remains unclear. To evaluate how these properties influence DEAD-box protein native function, we probed the importance of several highly conserved residues in the yeast DEAD-box protein Mss116p, which is required for the splicing of all mitochondrial catalytic introns in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using an MSS116 deletion strain, we have expressed plasmid-borne variants of MSS116 containing substitutions in residues predicted to be important for extensive networks of interactions required for ATP hydrolysis and helix unwinding. We have analyzed the importance of these residues to the splicing functions of Mss116p in vivo and compared these results with the biochemical properties of recombinant proteins determined here and in previously published work. We observed that the efficiency by which an Mss116p variant catalyzes ATP hydrolysis correlates with facilitating mitochondrial splicing, while efficient helix unwinding appears to be insufficient for splicing. In addition, we show that each splicing-defective variant affects the splicing of structurally diverse introns to the same degree. Together, these observations suggest that the efficiency by which Mss116p catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP is critical for all of its splicing functions in vivo. Given that ATP hydrolysis stimulates the recycling of DEAD-box proteins, these observations support a model in which enzyme turnover is a crucial factor in Mss116p splicing function. These results are discussed in the context of current models of Mss116p-facilitated splicing.     

番茄 DEAD-box RNA 解旋酶基因 SlDEAH1 的克隆及表达分析简

DEAD-box RNA解旋酶是一种特殊的RNA分子伴侣,参与了RNA代谢,包括前体RNA剪接、核糖体合成、RNA降解以及基因表达,并对植物的发育和抗性等也具有重要作用。根据已报道的拟南芥DEAD-box蛋白,通过同源比对,在NCBI据库中筛选得到一个DEAD-box RNA解旋酶同源蛋白,命名为SlDEAH1,并根据其基因序列设计特异引物,应用RT-PCR方法从野生型番茄（Solanum lycopersicum）AC⁺⁺中克隆得到了该基因的全长编码区序列。利用生物学网站、软件及实时荧光定量PCR方法,对其进行生物信息学、表达模式、胁迫及激素处理分析。结果表明：SlDEAH1包括2 073 bp的开放阅读框,编码690个氨基酸残基,其编码蛋白有9个保守结构基序,其所涉及到的ATP结合、ATP水解及RNA结合等功能对于解旋酶活性是至关重要的;表达模式分析表明SlDEAH1基因可能在野生型番茄萼片、叶片发育及果实成熟方面起到重要作用;高温、低温、脱水、伤害、盐胁迫不同程度的诱导了SlDEAH1的表达,但在根中该基因的表达受盐胁迫抑制;ABA、ACC、IAA、GA₃、MeJA和ZT均不同程度诱导了SlDEAH1的表达,其中ABA诱导效应最为明显。这些结果为进一步研究SlDEAH1在番茄发育和胁迫响应中的功能奠定了基础。     

Functions of DEAD-box proteins in bacteria: Current knowledge and pending questions

DEAD-box proteins are RNA-dependent ATPases that are widespread in all three kingdoms of life. They are thought to rearrange the structures of RNA or ribonucleoprotein complexes but their exact mechanism of action is rarely known. Whereas in yeast most DEAD-box proteins are essential, no example of an essential bacterial DEAD-box protein has been reported so far; at most, their absence results in cold-sensitive growth. Moreover, whereas yeast DEAD-box proteins are implicated in virtually all reactions involving RNA, in E. coli (the bacterium where DEAD-box proteins have been mostly studied) their role is limited to ribosome biogenesis, mRNA degradation, and possibly translation initiation. Plausible reasons for these differences are discussed here.     

SrmB,a DEAD-box helicase involved in Escherichia coli ribosome assembly,is specifically targeted to 23S rRNA in vivo

DEAD-box proteins play specific roles in remodeling RNA or ribonucleoprotein complexes. Yet, in vitro, they generally behave as nonspecific RNA-dependent ATPases, raising the question of what determines their specificity in vivo. SrmB, one of the five Escherichia coli DEAD-box proteins, participates in the assembly of the large ribosomal subunit. Moreover, when overexpressed, it compensates for a mutation in L24, the ribosomal protein (r-protein) thought to initiate assembly. Here, using the tandem affinity purification (TAP) procedure, we show that SrmB forms a complex with r-proteins L4, L24 and a region near the 5′-end of 23S rRNA that binds these proteins. In vitro reconstitution experiments show that the stability of this complex reflects cooperative interactions of SrmB with L4, L24 and rRNA. These observations are consistent with an early role of SrmB in assembly and explain the genetic link between SrmB and L24. Besides its catalytic core, SrmB possesses a nonconserved C-terminal extension that, we show, is not essential for SrmB function and specificity. In this regard, SrmB differs from DbpA, another DEAD-box protein involved in ribosome assembly.     

The DEAD-box Protein Dbp2 Functions with the RNA-Binding Protein Yra1 to Promote mRNP Assembly

Eukaryotic gene expression involves numerous biochemical steps that are dependent on RNA structure and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex formation. The DEAD-box class of RNA helicases plays fundamental roles in formation of RNA and RNP structure in every aspect of RNA metabolism. In an effort to explore the diversity of biological roles for DEAD-box proteins, our laboratory recently demonstrated that the DEAD-box protein Dbp2 associates with actively transcribing genes and is required for normal gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We now provide evidence that Dbp2 interacts genetically and physically with the mRNA export factor Yra1. In addition, we find that Dbp2 is required for in vivo assembly of mRNA-binding proteins Yra1, Nab2, and Mex67 onto poly(A)+ RNA. Strikingly, we also show that Dbp2 is an efficient RNA helicase in vitro and that Yra1 decreases the efficiency of ATP-dependent duplex unwinding. We provide a model whereby messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) assembly requires Dbp2 unwinding activity and once the mRNP is properly assembled, inhibition by Yra1 prevents further rearrangements. Both Yra1 and Dbp2 are conserved in multicellular eukaryotes, suggesting that this constitutes a broadly conserved mechanism for stepwise assembly of mature mRNPs in the nucleus.     

DEAD-Box RNA Helicases in Bacillus subtilis Have Multiple Functions and Act Independently from Each Other

DEAD-box RNA helicases play important roles in remodeling RNA molecules and in facilitating a variety of RNA-protein interactions that are key to many essential cellular processes. In spite of the importance of RNA, our knowledge about RNA helicases is limited. In this study, we investigated the role of the four DEAD-box RNA helicases in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. A strain deleted of all RNA helicases is able to grow at 37°C but not at lower temperatures. The deletion of cshA, cshB, or yfmL in particular leads to cold-sensitive phenotypes. Moreover, these mutant strains exhibit unique defects in ribosome biogenesis, suggesting distinct functions for the individual enzymes in this process. Based on protein accumulation, severity of the cold-sensitive phenotype, and the interaction with components of the RNA degradosome, CshA is the major RNA helicase of B. subtilis. To unravel the functions of CshA in addition to ribosome biogenesis, we conducted microarray analysis and identified the ysbAB and frlBONMD mRNAs as targets that are strongly affected by the deletion of the cshA gene. Our findings suggest that the different helicases make distinct contributions to the physiology of B. subtilis. Ribosome biogenesis and RNA degradation are two of their major tasks in B. subtilis.     

Rearrangement of structured RNA via branch migration structures catalysed by the highly related DEAD-box proteins p68 and p72

RNA helicases, like their DNA-specific counterparts, can function as processive enzymes, unwinding RNA with a defined step size in a unidirectional fashion. Recombinant nuclear DEAD-box protein p68 and its close relative p72 are reported here to function in a similar fashion, though the processivity of both RNA helicases appears to be limited to only a few consecutive catalytic steps. The two proteins resemble each other also with regard to other biochemical properties. We have found that both proteins exhibit an RNA annealing in addition to their helicase activity. By using both these activities the enzymes are able in vitro to catalyse rearrangements of RNA secondary structures that otherwise are too stable to be resolved by their low processive helicase activities. RNA rearrangement proceeds via protein induced formation and subsequent resolution of RNA branch migration structures, whereby the latter step is dependent on ATP hydrolysis. The analysed DEAD-box proteins are reminiscent of certain DNA helicases, for example those found in bacteriophages T4 and T7, that catalyse homologous DNA strand exchange in cooperation with the annealing activity of specific single strand binding proteins.     

OsBIRH1, a DEAD-box RNA helicase with functions in modulating defence responses against pathogen infection and oxidative stress

DEAD-box proteins comprise a large protein family with members from all kingdoms and play important roles in all types of processes in RNA metabolism. In this study, a rice gene OsBIRH1, which encodes a DEAD-box RNA helicase protein, was cloned and characterized. The predicted OsBIRH1 protein contains a DEAD domain and all conserved motifs that are common characteristics of DEAD-box RNA helicases. Recombinant OsBIRH1 protein purified from Escherichia coli was shown to have both RNA-dependent ATPase and ATP-dependent RNA helicase activities in vitro. Expression of OsBIRH1 was activated in rice seedling leaves after treatment with defence-related signal chemicals, for example benzothiadiazole, salicylic acid, l-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and jasmonic acid, and was also up-regulated in an incompatible interaction between a resistant rice genotype and the blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that overexpress the OsBIRH1 gene were generated. Disease resistance phenotype assays revealed that the OsBIRH1-overexpressing transgenic plants showed an enhanced disease resistance against Alternaria brassicicola and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Meanwhile, defence-related genes, for example PR-1, PR-2, PR-5, and PDF1.2, showed an up-regulated expression in the transgenic plants. Moreover, the OsBIRH1 transgenic Arabidopsis plants also showed increased tolerance to oxidative stress and elevated expression levels of oxidative defence genes, AtApx1, AtApx2, and AtFSD1. The results suggest that OsBIRH1 encodes a functional DEAD-box RNA helicase and plays important roles in defence responses against biotic and abiotic stresses.     

Comparative Structural Analysis of Human DEAD-Box RNA Helicases

DEAD-box RNA helicases play various, often critical, roles in all processes where RNAs are involved. Members of this family of proteins are linked to human disease, including cancer and viral infections. DEAD-box proteins contain two conserved domains that both contribute to RNA and ATP binding. Despite recent advances the molecular details of how these enzymes convert chemical energy into RNA remodeling is unknown. We present crystal structures of the isolated DEAD-domains of human DDX2A/eIF4A1, DDX2B/eIF4A2, DDX5, DDX10/DBP4, DDX18/myc-regulated DEAD-box protein, DDX20, DDX47, DDX52/ROK1, and DDX53/CAGE, and of the helicase domains of DDX25 and DDX41. Together with prior knowledge this enables a family-wide comparative structural analysis. We propose a general mechanism for opening of the RNA binding site. This analysis also provides insights into the diversity of DExD/H- proteins, with implications for understanding the functions of individual family members.     

Crystal structure of the N-terminal RecA-like domain of a DEAD-box RNA helicase, the Dugesia japonica vasa-like gene B protein

The Dugesia japonica vasa-like gene B (DjVLGB) protein is a DEAD-box RNA helicase of a planarian, which is well known for its strong regenerative capacity. DjVLGB shares sequence similarity to the Drosophila germ-line-specific DEAD-box RNA helicase Vasa, and even higher similarity to its paralogue, mouse PL10. In this study, we solved the crystal structure of the DjVLGB N-terminal RecA-like domain. The overall fold and the structures of the putative ATPase active site of the DjVLGB N-terminal RecA-like domain are similar to those of the previously reported DEAD-box RNA helicase structures. In contrast, the surface structure of the side opposite to the putative ATPase active site is different from those of the other DEAD-box RNA helicases; the characteristic hydrophobic pockets are formed with aromatic and proline residues. These pocket-forming residues are conserved in the PL10-subfamily proteins, but less conserved in the Vasa orthologues and not conserved in the DEAD-box RNA helicases. Therefore, the structural features that we found are characteristic of the PL10-subfamily proteins and might contribute to their biological roles in germ-line development.     

Potential Regulatory Interactions of Escherichia coli RraA Protein with DEAD-box Helicases

Members of the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases contribute to virtually every aspect of RNA metabolism, in organisms from all domains of life. Many of these helicases are constituents of multicomponent assemblies, and their interactions with partner proteins within the complexes underpin their activities and biological function. In Escherichia coli the DEAD-box helicase RhlB is a component of the multienzyme RNA degradosome assembly, and its interaction with the core ribonuclease RNase E boosts the ATP-dependent activity of the helicase. Earlier studies have identified the regulator of ribonuclease activity A (RraA) as a potential interaction partner of both RNase E and RhlB. We present structural and biochemical evidence showing how RraA can bind to, and modulate the activity of RhlB and another E. coli DEAD-box enzyme, SrmB. Crystallographic structures are presented of RraA in complex with a portion of the natively unstructured C-terminal tail of RhlB at 2.8-Å resolution, and in complex with the C-terminal RecA-like domain of SrmB at 2.9 Å. The models suggest two distinct mechanisms by which RraA might modulate the activity of these and potentially other helicases.     

Phylogenetic Distribution and Evolutionary History of Bacterial DEAD-Box Proteins

DEAD-box proteins are found in all domains of life and participate in almost all cellular processes that involve RNA. The presence of DEAD and Helicase_C conserved domains distinguish these proteins. DEAD-box proteins exhibit RNA-dependent ATPase activity in vitro, and several also show RNA helicase activity. In this study, we analyzed the distribution and architecture of DEAD-box proteins among bacterial genomes to gain insight into the evolutionary pathways that have shaped their history. We identified 1,848 unique DEAD-box proteins from 563 bacterial genomes. Bacterial genomes can possess a single copy DEAD-box gene, or up to 12 copies of the gene, such as in Shewanella. The alignment of 1,208 sequences allowed us to perform a robust analysis of the hallmark motifs of DEAD-box proteins and determine the residues that occur at high frequency, some of which were previously overlooked. Bacterial DEAD-box proteins do not generally contain a conserved C-terminal domain, with the exception of some members that possess a DbpA RNA-binding domain (RBD). Phylogenetic analysis showed a separation of DbpA-RBD-containing and DbpA-RBD-lacking sequences and revealed a group of DEAD-box protein genes that expanded mainly in the Proteobacteria. Analysis of DEAD-box proteins from Firmicutes and γ-Proteobacteria, was used to deduce orthologous relationships of the well-studied DEAD-box proteins from Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. These analyses suggest that DbpA-RBD is an ancestral domain that most likely emerged as a specialized domain of the RNA-dependent ATPases. Moreover, these data revealed numerous events of gene family expansion and reduction following speciation.