Characterization of a trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) mutant with tryptophan independent RNA binding activity

TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein) is an 11 subunit RNA-binding protein that regulates expression of genes involved in tryptophan metabolism (trp) in Bacillus subtilis in response to changes in intracellular tryptophan concentration. When activated by binding up to 11 tryptophan residues, TRAP binds to the mRNAs of several trp genes and down-regulates their expression. Recently, a TRAP mutant was found that binds RNA in the absence of tryptophan. In this mutant protein, Thr30, which is part of the tryptophan-binding site, is replaced with Val (T30V). We have compared the RNA-binding properties of T30V and wild-type (WT) TRAP, as well as of a series of hetero-11-mers containing mixtures of WT and T30V TRAP subunits. The most significant difference between the interaction of T30V and WT TRAP with RNA is that the affinity of T30V TRAP is more dependent on ionic strength. Analysis of the hetero-11-mers allowed us to examine how subunits interact within an 11-mer with regard to binding to tryptophan or RNA. Our data suggest that individual subunits retain properties similar to those observed when they are in homo-11-mers and that individual G/UAG triplets within the RNA can bind to TRAP differently.     

The mechanism of RNA binding to TRAP: initiation and cooperative interactions

The trp RNA-binding Attenuation Protein (TRAP) from Bacillus subtilis is an 11-subunit protein that binds a series of 11 GAG and UAG repeats separated by two to three-spacer nucleosides in trp leader mRNA. The structure of TRAP bound to an RNA containing 11 GAG repeats shows that the RNA wraps around the outside of the protein ring with each GAG interacting with the protein in nearly identical fashion. The only direct hydrogen bond interactions between the protein and the RNA backbone are to the 2'-hydroxyl groups on the third G of each repeat. Replacing all 11 of these guanosines with deoxyriboguanosine eliminates measurable binding to TRAP. In contrast, a single riboguanosine in an otherwise entirely DNA oligonucleotide dramatically stabilizes TRAP binding, and facilitates the interaction of the remaining all-DNA portion with the protein. Studies of TRAP binding to RNAs with between 2 and 11 GAGs, UAGs, AAGs, or CAGs showed that the stability of a TRAP-RNA complex is not directly proportional to the number of repeats in the RNA. These studies also showed that the effect of the identity of the residue in the first position of the triplet, with regard to binding to TRAP, is dependent on the number of repeats in the RNA. Together these data support a model in which TRAP binds to RNA by first forming an initial complex with a small subset of the repeats followed by a cooperative interaction with the remaining triplets.     

Substitutions of Thr30 provide mechanistic insight into tryptophan-mediated activation of TRAP binding to RNA

TRAP is an 11 subunit RNA binding protein that regulates expression of genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and transport in Bacillus subtilis. TRAP is activated to bind RNA by binding up to 11 molecules of l-tryptophan in pockets formed by adjacent subunits. The precise mechanism by which tryptophan binding activates TRAP is not known. Thr30 is in the tryptophan binding pocket. A TRAP mutant in which Thr30 is substituted with Val (T30V) does not bind tryptophan but binds RNA constitutively, suggesting that Thr30 plays a key role in the activation mechanism. We have examined the effects of other substitutions of Thr30. TRAP proteins with small beta-branched aliphatic side chains at residue 30 bind RNA constitutively, whereas those with a small polar side chain show tryptophan-dependent RNA binding. Several mutant proteins exhibited constitutive RNA binding that was enhanced by tryptophan. Although the tryptophan and RNA binding sites on TRAP are distinct and are separated by approximately 7.5 A, several substitutions of residues that interact with the bound RNA restored tryptophan binding to T30V TRAP. These observations support the hypothesis that conformational changes in TRAP relay information between the tryptophan and RNA binding sites of the protein.     

Interaction of the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) with anti-TRAP

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) negatively regulates expression of the tryptophan biosynthesis genes of Bacillus subtilis. In the presence of tryptophan, TRAP is activated to bind to the 5'-leader region of the trp mRNA resulting in termination prior to the structural genes. In addition, accumulation of uncharged tRNA(Trp) induces synthesis of anti-TRAP (AT), which binds to TRAP and inhibits its function. Both of these proteins consist of oligomers of identical subunits. Here, we characterize the self-association of each of these proteins and the TRAP-AT interaction in free solution using equilibrium and velocity analytical ultracentrifugation. TRAP exists as a stable 11-mer in the absence and in the presence of tryptophan. Tryptophan binding induces a conformational change in TRAP. AT exists in a reversible equilibrium between trimer and dodecamer with an equilibrium constant of approximately 3 x 10(14)M(-3). About 20% of the trimer is incompetent to form dodecamer. The AT equilibrium is slow on the time-scale of the velocity experiment. Formation of TRAP-AT complexes occurs only in the presence of tryptophan. A complex containing one TRAP 11-mer and one AT 12-mer forms with high affinity. At higher ratios of TRAP:AT complexes containing two TRAP 11-mers and one AT 12-mer are detected. A model for the structure of the complex is proposed.     

Probing the TRAP-RNA interaction with nucleoside analogs

The trp RNA-binding Attenuation Protein (TRAP) from Bacillus subtilis binds a series of GAG and UAG repeats separated by 2-3 nonconserved spacer nucleotides in trp leader mRNA. To identify chemical groups on the RNA required for stability of the TRAP-RNA complex, we introduced several different nucleoside analogs into each pentamer of the RNA sequence 5'-(UAGCC)-3' repeated 11 times and measured their effect on the TRAP-RNA interaction. Deoxyribonucleoside substitutions revealed that a 2'-hydroxyl group (2'-OH) is required only on the guanosine occupying the third residue of the RNA triplets for high-affinity binding to TRAP. The remaining hydroxyl groups are dispensable. Base analog substitutions identified all of the exocyclic functional groups and N1 nitrogens of adenine and guanine in the second and third nucleotides, respectively, of the triplets as being involved in binding TRAP. In contrast, none of the substitutions made in the first residue caused any detectable changes in affinity, indicating that elements of these bases are not necessary for complex formation and stability. Studies using abasic nucleotides in the first residue of the triplets and in the two spacer residues confirmed that the majority of the specificity and stability of the TRAP-RNA complex is provided by the AG dinucleotide of the triplet repeats. In addition to direct effects on binding, we demonstrate that the N7-nitrogen of adenosine and guanosine in UAG triplet and the 2'-OHs of (UAGCC)11 RNA are involved in the formation of an as yet undetermined structure that interferes with TRAP binding.     

Structure and function in the herpes simplex virus 1 RNA-binding protein U(s)11: mapping of the domain required for ribosomal and nucleolar association and RNA binding in vitro.

The herpes simplex virus 1 US11 protein is an RNA-binding regulatory protein that specifically and stably associates with 60S ribosomal subunits and nucleoli and is incorporated into virions. We report that US11/ beta-galactosidase fusion protein expressed in bacteria bound to rRNA from the 60S subunit and not the 40S subunit. This binding reflects the specificity of ribosomal subunit association. Analyses of deletion mutants of the US11 gene showed that specific RNA binding activity, nucleolar localization, and association with 60S ribosomal subunits were found to map to the amino acid sequences of the carboxyl terminus of US11 protein, suggesting that these activities all reflect specific binding of US11 to large subunit rRNA. The carboxyl-terminal half of the protein consists of a regular tripeptide repeat of the sequence RXP and constitutes a completely novel RNA-binding domain. All of the mutant US11 proteins could be incorporated into virus particles, suggesting that the signal for virion incorporation either is at the amino-terminal four amino acids or is redundant in the protein.     

Regulatory features of the trp operon and the crystal structure of the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Characterization of both the cis and trans -acting regulatory elements indicates that the Bacillus stearothermophilustrp operon is regulated by an attenuation mechanism similar to that which controls the trp operon in Bacillus subtilis. Secondary structure predictions indicate that the leader region of the trp mRNA is capable of folding into terminator and anti- terminator RNA structures. B. stearothermophilus also encodes an RNA-binding protein with 77% sequence identity with the RNA-binding protein (TRAP) that regulates attenuation in B. subtilis. The X-ray structure of this protein has been determined in complex with L-tryptophan at 2.5 A resolution. Like the B. subtilis protein, B. stearothermophilus TRAP has 11 subunits arranged in a ring-like structure. The central cavities in these two structures have different sizes and opposite charge distributions, and packing within the B. stearothermophilus TRAP crystal form does not generate the head-to-head dimers seen in the B. subtilis protein, suggesting that neither of these properties is functionally important. However, the mode of L-tryptophan binding and the proposed RNA binding surfaces are similar, indicating that both proteins are activated by l -tryptophan and bind RNA in essentially the same way. As expected, the TRAP:RNA complex from B. stearothermophilus is significantly more thermostable than that from B. subtilis, with optimal binding occurring at 70 degrees C.     

Characterization of the p33 subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3 (eIF3) is a large multisubunit complex that binds to the 40 S ribosomal subunit and promotes the binding of methionyl-tRNAi and mRNA. The molecular mechanism by which eIF3 exerts these functions is incompletely understood. We report here the cloning and characterization of TIF35, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding the p33 subunit of eIF3. p33 is an essential protein of 30,501 Da that is required in vivo for initiation of protein synthesis. Glucose repression of TIF35 expressed from a GAL1 promoter results in depletion of both the p33 and p39 subunits. Expression of histidine-tagged p33 in yeast in combination with Ni2+ affinity chromatography allows the isolation of a complex containing the p135, p110, p90, p39, and p33 subunits of eIF3. The p33 subunit binds both mRNA and rRNA fragments due to an RNA recognition motif near its C terminus. Deletion of the C-terminal 71 amino acid residues causes loss of RNA binding, but expression of the truncated form as the sole source of p33 nevertheless supports the slow growth of yeast. These results indicate that the p33 subunit of eIF3 plays an important role in the initiation phase of protein synthesis and that its RNA-binding domain is required for optimal activity.     

Insights into activation and RNA binding of trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) through all-atom simulations

Tryptophan biosynthesis in Bacillus stearothermophilus is regulated by a trp RNA binding attenuation protein (TRAP). It is a ring-shaped 11-mer of identical 74 residue subunits. Tryptophan binding pockets are located between adjacent subunits, and tryptophan binding activates TRAP to bind RNA. Here, we report results from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the system, complementing existing extensive experimental studies. We focus on two questions. First, we look at the activation mechanism, of which relatively little is known experimentally. We find that the absence of tryptophan allows larger motions close to the tryptophan binding site, and we see indication of a conformational change in the BC loop. However, complete deactivation seems to occur on much longer time scales than the 40 ns studied here. Second, we study the TRAP-RNA interactions. We look at the relative flexibilities of the different bases in the complex and analyze the hydrogen bonds between the protein and RNA. We also study the role of Lys37, Lys56, and Arg58, which have been experimentally identified as essential for RNA binding. Hydrophobic stacking of Lys37 with the nearby RNA base is confirmed, but we do not see direct hydrogen bonding between RNA and the other two residues, in contrast to the crystal structure. Rather, these residues seem to stabilize the RNA-binding surface, and their positive charge may also play a role in RNA binding. Simulations also indicate that TRAP is able to attract RNA nonspecifically, and the interactions are quantified in more detail using binding energy calculations. The formation of the final binding complex is a very slow process: within the simulation time scale of 40 ns, only two guanine bases become bound (and no others), indicating that the binding initiates at these positions. In general, our results are in good agreement with experimental studies, and provide atomic-scale insights into the processes.