Truncation of the Mrp20 protein reveals new ribosome-assembly subcomplex in mitochondria

Mitochondrial ribosomal protein 20 (Mrp20) is a component of the yeast mitochondrial large (54S) ribosomal subunit and is homologous to the bacterial L23 protein, located at the ribosomal tunnel exit site. The carboxy-terminal mitochondrial-specific domain of Mrp20 was found to have a crucial role in the assembly of the ribosomes. A new, membrane-bound, ribosomal-assembly subcomplex composed of known tunnel-exit-site proteins, an uncharacterized ribosomal protein, MrpL25, and the mitochondrial peroxiredoxin (Prx), Prx1, accumulates in an mrp20ΔC yeast mutant. Finally, data supporting the idea that the inner mitochondrial membrane acts as a platform for the ribosome assembly process are discussed.     

The Human CDK8 Subcomplex Is a Histone Kinase That Requires Med12 for Activity and Can Function Independently of Mediator

The four proteins CDK8, cyclin C, Med12, and Med13 can associate with Mediator and are presumed to form a stable “CDK8 subcomplex” in cells. We describe here the isolation and enzymatic activity of the 600-kDa CDK8 subcomplex purified directly from human cells and also via recombinant expression in insect cells. Biochemical analysis of the recombinant CDK8 subcomplex identifies predicted (TFIIH and RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain [Pol II CTD]) and novel (histone H3, Med13, and CDK8 itself) substrates for the CDK8 kinase. Notably, these novel substrates appear to be metazoan-specific. Such diverse targets imply strict regulation of CDK8 kinase activity. Along these lines, we observe that Mediator itself enables CDK8 kinase activity on chromatin, and we identify Med12—but not Med13—to be essential for activating the CDK8 kinase. Moreover, mass spectrometry analysis of the endogenous CDK8 subcomplex reveals several associated factors, including GCN1L1 and the TRiC chaperonin, that may help control its biological function. In support of this, electron microscopy analysis suggests TRiC sequesters the CDK8 subcomplex and kinase assays reveal the endogenous CDK8 subcomplex—unlike the recombinant submodule—is unable to phosphorylate the Pol II CTD.     

Structure of Actin-related protein 8 and its contribution to nucleosome binding

Nuclear actin-related proteins (Arps) are subunits of several chromatin remodelers, but their molecular functions within these complexes are unclear. We report the crystal structure of the INO80 complex subunit Arp8 in its ATP-bound form. Human Arp8 has several insertions in the conserved actin fold that explain its inability to polymerize. Most remarkably, one insertion wraps over the active site cleft and appears to rigidify the domain architecture, while active site features shared with actin suggest an allosterically controlled ATPase activity. Quantitative binding studies with nucleosomes and histone complexes reveal that Arp8 and the Arp8–Arp4–actin-HSA sub-complex of INO80 strongly prefer nucleosomes and H3–H4 tetramers over H2A–H2B dimers, suggesting that Arp8 functions as a nucleosome recognition module. In contrast, Arp4 prefers free (H3–H4)₂ over nucleosomes and may serve remodelers through binding to (dis)assembly intermediates in the remodeling reaction.