The leader sequence of tobacco mosaic virus RNA devoid of Watson-Crick secondary structure possesses a cooperatively melted, compact conformation

The 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of RNA of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), called omega sequence, is known as an mRNA leader promoting efficient initiation of translation. The central part of the sequence consists of many CAA repeats, which were reported to be mainly responsible for the enhancing activity of the omega leader. In this work we synthesized the polyribonucleotides containing either the natural omega sequence or the regular (CAA)(n) sequence, and studied them using UV spectrophotometry and analytical ultracentrifugation methods. It was demonstrated that the polyribonucleotides manifest significant hypochromicity, cooperative melting of their structures upon heating, high melting temperature, and the sedimentation coefficients typical of compactly folded RNAs of this size. Thus, the omega leader and its core (CAA)(n) repeat sequence devoid of secondary structure of the Watson-Crick type seem to be well structured elements of mRNA.     

Detection of periodic patterns in RNA sequences: the first encapsidated region of the TMV RNA

A method is developed to study the periodic properties of nucleotide sequences allowing the favoured pattern of the repeating unit, as well as the length and localization of this periodic segment to be determined simultaneously. The degree of periodicity is evaluated calculating the probabilities for random occurrence of the maximal deviations of the nucleotide composition in each phase, making use of the binomial formula.The nucleotide sequence of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) RNA responsible for recognition of the homologous protein (“assembly origin”, AO) (Zimmern & Butler, 1977) was investigated in order to find periodic regions of primary structure which might be essential in the recognition process. As a result the most periodic segments of the AO consisting of 31 and 17 nucleotides corresponding to the schemes GAU or GA1 have been found. However, the periodicities in these regions do not exceed that expected for random sequences. It can be considered as an evidence that in addition to peculiarities of primary structure, some other features such as RNA secondary or tertiary structure are essential in this interaction.For comparison the nucleotide sequences of the other fragments of TMV RNA as well as MS2 RNA, TYMV RNA, 16S rRNA and phage fd DNA were investigated by the same method.     

一些抗植物病毒剂对烟草花叶病毒衣壳蛋白体外聚合过程的影响

一些抗植物病毒剂对烟草花叶病毒衣壳蛋白体外聚合过程的影响江山,郭雪柳,韩熹莱（北京农业大学基础科技学院,北京１０００９４）关键词抗植物病毒剂,烟草花叶病毒,病毒衣壳蛋白,体外聚合研究表明,有些植物病毒的核酸对寄主植物的侵染活性只有装配完整的病毒颗粒的...     

A novel function for a ubiquitous plant enzyme pectin methylesterase: the enhancer of RNA silencing

Co-agroinjection of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with the pectin methylesterase (proPME) gene and the TMV:GFP vector resulted in a stimulation of virus-induced RNA silencing (inhibition of GFP production, virus RNA degradation, stimulation of siRNAs production). Conversely, co-expression of TMV:GFP with either antisense PME construct or with enzymatically inactive proPME restored synthesis of viral RNA. Furthermore, expression of proPME enhanced the GFP transgene-induced gene silencing accompanied by relocation of the DCL1 protein from nucleus to the cytoplasm and activation of siRNAs and miRNAs production. It was hypothesized that DCL1 relocated to the cytoplasm may use as substrates both miRNA precursor and viral RNA. The capacity for enhancing the RNA silencing is a novel function for the polyfunctional PME.     

Intramolecular triple helix as a model for regular polyribonucleotide (CAA)n

The regular (CAA)_n polyribonucleotide, as well as the omega leader sequence containing (CAA)-rich core, have recently been shown to form cooperatively melted and compact structures. In this report, we propose a structural model for the (CAA)_n sequence in which the polyribonucleotide chain is folded upon itself, so that it forms an intramolecular triple helix. The triple helix is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between bases thus forming coplanar triads, and by stacking interactions between the base triads. A distinctive feature of the proposed triple helix is that it does not contain the canonical double-helix elements. The difference from the known triple helices is that Watson-Crick hydrogen bond pairings do not take place in the interactions between the bases within the base triads.     

Structure-function relationships in replication origins of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: higher-order structural organization of DNA in regions flanking the ARS consensus sequence

In order to better understand the involvement of the DNA molecule in the replication initiation process we have characterized the structure of the DNA at Autonomously Replicating Sequences (ARSs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using a new method for anti-bent DNA analysis, which allowed us to take into account the bending contribution of each successive base plate, we have investigated the higher-order structural organization of the DNA in the region which immediately surrounds the ARS consensus sequence (ACS). We have identified left- and right-handed anti-bent DNAs which flank this consensus sequence. The data show that this organization correlates with an active ACS. Analysis of the minimum nucleotide sequence providing ARS function to plasmids reveals an example where the critical nucleotides are restricted to the ACS and the right-handed anti-bent DNA domain, although most of the origins considered contained both left- and right-handed anti-bent DNAs. Moreover, mutational analysis shows that the right-handed form is necessary in order to sustain a specific DNA conformation which is correlated with the level of plasmid maintenance. A model for the role of these individual structural components of the yeast replication origin is presented. We discuss the possible role of the right-handed anti-bent DNA domain, in conjunction with the ACS, in the process of replication initiation, and potentialities offered by the combination of left- and right-handed structural components in origin function. Received: 29 October 1999 / Accepted: 14 March 2000     

An NTP-binding motif is the most conserved sequence in a highly diverged monophyletic group of proteins involved in positive strand RNA viral replication

Summary NTP-motif, a consensus sequence previously shown to be characteristic of numerous NTP-utilizing enzymes, was identified in nonstructural proteins of several groups of positive-strand RNA viruses. These groups include picorna-, alpha-, and coronaviruses infecting animals and como-, poty-, tobamo-, tricorna-, hordei-, and furoviruses of plants, totalling 21 viruses. It has been demonstrated that the viral NTP-motif-containing proteins constitute three distinct families, the sequences within each family being similar to each other at a statistically highly significant level. A lower, but still valid similarity has also been revealed between the families. An overall alignment has been generated, which includes several highly conserved sequence stretches. The two most prominent of the latter contain the socalled A and B sites of the NTP-motif, with four of the five invariant amino acid residues observed within these sequences. These observations, taken together with the results of comparative analysis of the positions occupied by respective proteins (domains) in viral multidomain proteins, suggest that all the NTP-motif-containing proteins of positive-strand RNA viruses are homologous, constituting a highly diverged monophyletic group. In this group the A and B sites of the NTP-motif are the most conserved sequences and, by inference, should play the principal role in the functioning of the proteins. A hypothesis is proposed that all these proteins posses NTP-binding capacity and possibly NTPase activity, performing some NTP-dependent function in viral RNA replication. The importance of phylogenetic analysis for the assessment of the significance of the occurrence of the NTP-motif (and of sequence motifs of this sort in general) in proteins is emphasized.     

Assessing the sequence specificity in the binding of Co(III) to DNA via a thermodynamic approach

The interaction specificities of Co(III) with DNA were investigated via consideration of thermodynamic characteristics of the duplex to single strand transition for DNA oligomers incubated in the presence of [Co(NH₃)₅(OH₂)] (ClO₄)₃. It has previously been demonstrated that incubation of the DNA oligomer [(5medC-dG)₄]₂ with this cobalt complex leads to coordination of the cobalt center to the DNA, presumably at N7 of guanine bases [D. C. Calderone, E. J. Mantilla, M. Hicks, D. H. Huchital, W. R. Murphy, Jr. and R. D. Sheardy, (1995) Biochemistry 34, 13841]. In this report, DNA oligomers of different sequence were incubated with [Co(NH₃)₅(OH₂)] (ClO₄)₃ via protocols developed previously and the treated oligomers were subjected to thermal denaturation for comparison to the untreated oligomers. The DNA oligomers were designed in order to investigate the sequence specificity, if any, in the reaction of the cobalt complex with DNA. The values of T_m, ΔH_uH, and Δn (the differential ion binding term) obtained from the thermal denaturations were used to assess the sequence specificity of the interaction. For all oligomers, treated or untreated, T_m and Δ_uH vary linearly with log [Na⁺] and hence the value of Δn is a function of the Na⁺ concentration. The results indicate no significant reaction between the cobalt complex and oligomers possessing isolated -GA- or -CG- sites; however, the thermodynamic characteristics of DNA oligomers possessing either an isolated -GG- site or an isolated -GC- site were altered by the treatment. Atomic absorption studies of the treated oligomers demonstrate that only the DNA oligomers possessing isolated -GG- or -GC- sites bind cobalt. Hence, the changes in the thermodynamic properties of these oligomers are a result of cobalt binding with a remarkable sequence specificity. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 549–599, 1997     

Evolution of the plastid ribosomal RNA operon in a nongreen parasitic plant: Accelerated sequence evolution,altered promoter structure,and tRNA pseudogenes

The nucleotide sequence of a 7.4 kb region containing the entire plastid ribosomal RNA operon of the nongreen parasitic plant Epifagus virginiana has been determined. Analysis of the sequence indicates that all four rRNA genes are intact and almost certainly functional. In contrast, the split genes for tRNA^Ile and tRNA^Ala present in the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region have become pseudogenes, and deletion upstream of the 16S rRNA gene has removed a tRNA^Val gene and most of the promoter region for the rRNA operon. The rate of nucleotide substitution in 16S and 23S rRNAs is several times higher in Epifagus than in tobacco, a related photosynthetic plant. Possible reasons for this, including relaxed translational constraints, are discussed.     

Functional role of a long non-coding RNA LIFR-AS1/miR-29a/TNFAIP3 axis in colorectal cancer resistance to pohotodynamic therapy

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive system malignant tumors. Recently, PDT has been used as a first-line treatment for colon cancer; however, limited curative effect was obtained due to resistance of CRC to PDT. During the past decades, accumulating CRC-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs have been reported to exert diverse functions through various biological processes; their dysregulation might trigger and/or promote the pathological changes. Herein, we performed microarrays analysis to identify dysregulated lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs in PDT-treated HCT116 cells to figure out the lncRNA-miRNA interactions related to the resistance of CRC to PDT treatment, and the downstream mRNA target, as well as the molecular mechanism. We found a total of 1096 lncRNAs dysregulated in PDT-treated CRC HCT116 cells; among them, LIFR-AS1 negatively interacted with miR-29a, one of the dysregulated miRNAs in PDT-treated CRC cells, to affect the resistance of CRC to PDT. LIFR-AS1 knockdown attenuated, whereas miR-29a inhibition enhanced the cellular effect of PDT on HCT116 cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, among the dysregulated mRNAs, TNFAIP3 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-29a and exerted a similar effect to LIFR-AS1 on the cellular effects of PDT. In summary, LIFR-AS1 serves as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-29a to inhibit its expression and up-regulate downstream target TNFAIP3 expression, finally modulating the resistance of CRC to PDT. We provide an experimental basis for this lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA network being a promising target in CRC resistance to PDT treatment.     

Replication of the cauliflower mosaic virus: role and stability of the cloned delta 3 discontinuity sequence

A fragment of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) DNA, containing delta 3, one of the three discontinuity sequences, was cloned in various ways into CaMV DNA deleted for the delta 3 sequence. The series of constructions was monitored for the appearance of the typical single-strand (ss) discontinuity after hybrid CaMV replication in plants. The delta 3 discontinuity was observed only if the orientation of inserted DNA sequence was the same as in the wild-type virus. Long polylinker sequences used for insertion of the fragment into cloned viral DNA, affected the stability of the insert in progeny viral DNA in plants by acting as recombination targets.     

Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25), a negative regulator of luteinizing/chorionic gonadotropin hormone-induced steroidogenesis in Leydig cells: central role of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)

Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25) is a testis-specific gonadotropin-regulated RNA helicase that is present in Leydig cells (LCs) and germ cells and is essential for spermatid development and completion of spermatogenesis. Normal basal levels of testosterone in serum and LCs were observed in GRTH null (GRTH(-/-)) mice. However, testosterone production was enhanced in LCs of GRTH(-/-) mice compared with WT mice by both in vivo and in vitro human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation. LCs of GRTH(-/-) mice had swollen mitochondria with a significantly increased cholesterol content in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Basal protein levels of SREBP2, HMG-CoA reductase, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR; a protein that transports cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane) were markedly increased in LCs of GRTH(-/-) mice compared with WT mice. Gonadotropin stimulation caused an increase in StAR mRNA levels and protein expression in GRTH(-/-) mice versus WT mice, with no further increase in SREBP2 and down-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase protein. The half-life of StAR mRNA was significantly increased in GRTH(-/-) mice. Moreover, association of StAR mRNA with GRTH protein was observed in WT mice. Human chorionic gonadotropin increased GRTH gene expression and its associated StAR protein at cytoplasmic sites. Taken together, these findings indicate that, through its negative role in StAR message stability, GRTH regulates cholesterol availability at the mitochondrial level. The finding of an inhibitory action of GRTH associated with gonadotropin-mediated steroidogenesis has provided insights into a novel negative autocrine molecular control mechanism of this helicase in the regulation of steroid production in the male.     

Motif III in Superfamily 2 “Helicases” Helps Convert the Binding Energy of ATP into a High-Affinity RNA Binding Site in the Yeast DEAD-Box Protein Ded1

Motif III in the putative helicases of superfamily 2 is highly conserved in both its sequence and its structural context. It typically consists of the sequence alcohol-alanine-alcohol (S/T-A-S/T). Historically, it was thought to link ATPase activity with a “helicase” strand displacement activity that disrupts RNA or DNA duplexes. DEAD-box proteins constitute the largest family of superfamily 2; they are RNA-dependent ATPases and ATP-dependent RNA binding proteins that, in some cases, are able to disrupt short RNA duplexes. We made mutations of motif III (S-A-T) in the yeast DEAD-box protein Ded1 and analyzed in vivo phenotypes and in vitro properties. Moreover, we made a tertiary model of Ded1 based on the solved structure of Vasa. We used Ded1 because it has relatively high ATPase and RNA binding activities; it is able to displace moderately stable duplexes at a large excess of substrate. We find that the alanine and the threonine in the second and third positions of motif III are more important than the serine, but that mutations of all three residues have strong phenotypes. We purified the wild-type and various mutants expressed in Escherichia coli. We found that motif III mutations affect the RNA-dependent hydrolysis of ATP (k_cat), but not the affinity for ATP (K_m). Moreover, mutations alter and reduce the affinity for single-stranded RNA and subsequently reduce the ability to disrupt duplexes. We obtained intragenic suppressors of the S-A-C mutant that compensate for the mutation by enhancing the affinity for ATP and RNA. We conclude that motif III and the binding energy of γ-PO₄ of ATP are used to coordinate motifs I, II, and VI and the two RecA-like domains to create a high-affinity single-stranded RNA binding site. It also may help activate the β,γ-phosphoanhydride bond of ATP.     

Atomic resolution crystal structure of VcLMWPTP-1 from Vibrio cholerae O395: Insights into a novel mode of dimerization in the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase family

Low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMWPTP) is a group of phosphotyrosine phosphatase ubiquitously found in a wide range of organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals. Dimerization in the LMWPTP family has been reported earlier which follows a common mechanism involving active site residues leading to an enzymatically inactive species. Here we report a novel form of dimerization in a LMWPTP from Vibrio cholera 0395 (VcLMWPTP-1). Studies in solution reveal the existence of the dimer in solution while kinetic study depicts the active form of the enzyme. This indicates that the mode of dimerization in VcLMWPTP-1 is different from others where active site residues are not involved in the process. A high resolution (1.45 Å) crystal structure of VcLMWPTP-1 confirms a different mode of dimerization where the active site is catalytically accessible as evident by a tightly bound substrate mimicking ligand, MOPS at the active site pocket. Although being a member of a prokaryotic protein family, VcLMWPTP-1 structure resembles very closely to LMWPTP from a eukaryote, Entamoeba histolytica. It also delineates the diverse surface properties around the active site of the enzyme.     

Chromosomal organization of simple sequence repeats in the Pacific oyster (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea gigas</Emphasis>): (GGAT)<Subscript>4</Subscript>, (GT)<Subscript>7</Subscript> and (TA)<Subscript>10</Subscript> chromosome patterns

Chromosome identification is essential in oyster genomic research. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) offers new opportunities for the identification of oyster chromosomes. It has been used to locate satellite DNAs, telomeres or ribosomal DNA sequences. However, regarding chromosome identification, no study has been conducted with simple sequence repeats (SSRs). FISH was used to probe the physical organization of three particular SSRs, (GGAT)(4), (GT)(7) and (TA)(10) onto metaphase chromosomes of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Hybridization signals were observed in all the SSR probes, but the distribution and intensity of signals varied according to the oligonucleotide repeat. The intercalary, centromeric and telomeric bands were observed along the chromosomes, and for each particular repeat every chromosome pair presented a similar pattern, allowing karyotypic analysis with all the SSRs tested. Our study is the first in mollusks to show the application of SSR in situ hybridization for chromosome identification and karyotyping. This technique can be a useful tool for oyster comparative studies and to understand genome organization in different oyster taxa.