Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases differentially dephosphorylate RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain

RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain (pol II CTD) phosphatases that can dephosphorylate both Ser2-PO₄ and Ser5-PO₄ of CTD have been identified in animals and yeasts, however, only Ser5-PO₄-specific CTD phosphatases have been identified in plants. Among predicted Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases (SSP), SSP4, SSP4b, and SSP5 form a unique group with long N-terminal extensions. While SSPs’ expression showed similar tissue-specificities, SSP4 and SSP4b were localized exclusively in the nuclei, whereas SSP5 accumulated in both nuclei and cytoplasm. Detailed characterization of SSP activities using various peptides and full-length Arabidopsis pol II CTD substrates established that SSP4 and SSP4b could dephosphorylate both Ser2-PO₄ and Ser5-PO₄ of CTD, whereas SSP5 dephosphorylated only Ser5-PO₄. These results indicate that Arabidopsis SSP gene family encodes active CTD phosphatases like animal SCP1 family proteins, with distinct substrate specificities.     

In vivo putative O-GlcNAcylation of human SCP1 and evidence for possible role of its N-terminal disordered structure

RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain (RNAPII CTD) phosphatases are responsible for the dephosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of the small subunit of RNAPII in eukaryotes. Recently, we demonstrated the identification of several interacting partners with human small CTD phosphatase1 (hSCP1) and the substrate specificity to delineate an appearance of the dephosphorylation catalyzed by SCP1. In this study, using the established cells for inducibly expressing hSCP1 proteins, we monitored the modification of β-O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). O-GlcNAcylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications (PTMs). To gain insight into the PTM of hSCP1, we used the Western blot, immunoprecipitation, succinylayed wheat germ agglutininprecipitation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses, and site-directed mutagenesis and identified the Ser⁴¹ residue of hSCP1 as the O-GlcNAc modification site. These results suggest that hSCP1 may be an O-GlcNAcylated protein in vivo, and its N-terminus may function a possible role in the PTM, providing a scaffold for binding the protein(s). [BMB Reports 2014; 47(10): 593-598]     

Interactome analysis reveals versatile functions of Arabidopsis COLD SHOCK DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 in RNA processing within the nucleus and cytoplasm

Arabidopsis COLD SHOCK DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 (AtCSP3) shares an RNA chaperone function with E. coli cold shock proteins and regulates freezing tolerance during cold acclimation. Here, we screened for AtCSP3-interacting proteins using a yeast two-hybrid system and 38 candidate interactors were identified. Sixteen of these were further confirmed in planta interaction between AtCSP3 by a bi-molecular fluorescence complementation assay. We found that AtCSP3 interacts with CONSTANS-LIKE protein 15 and nuclear poly(A)-binding proteins in nuclear speckles. Three 60S ribosomal proteins (RPL26A, RPL40A/UBQ2, and RPL36aB) and the Gar1 RNA-binding protein interacted with AtCSP3 in the nucleolus and nucleoplasm, suggesting that AtCSP3 functions in ribosome biogenesis. Interactions with LOS2/enolase and glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 7 that are cold inducible, and an mRNA decapping protein 5 (DCP5) were observed in the cytoplasm. These data suggest that AtCSP3 participates in multiple complexes that reside in nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and possibly regulates RNA processing and functioning.     

DAZ Family Proteins,Key Players for Germ Cell Development

DAZ family proteins are found almost exclusively in germ cells in distant animal species. Deletion or mutations of their encoding genes usually severely impair either oogenesis or spermatogenesis or both. The family includes Boule (or Boll), Dazl (or Dazla) and DAZ genes. Boule and Dazl are situated on autosomes while DAZ, exclusive of higher primates, is located on the Y chromosome. Deletion of DAZ gene is the most common causes of infertility in humans. These genes, encoding for RNA binding proteins, contain a highly conserved RNA recognition motif and at least one DAZ repeat encoding for a 24 amino acids sequence able to bind other mRNA binding proteins. Basically, Daz family proteins function as adaptors for target mRNA transport and activators of their translation. In some invertebrate species, BOULE protein play a pivotal role in germline specification and a conserved regulatory role in meiosis. Depending on the species, DAZL is expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs) and/or pre-meiotic and meiotic germ cells of both sexes. Daz is found in fetal gonocytes, spermatogonia and spermatocytes of adult testes. Here we discuss DAZ family genes in a phylogenic perspective, focusing on the common and distinct features of these genes, and their pivotal roles during gametogenesis evolved during evolution.     

Structure and functional annotation of hypothetical proteins having putative Rubisco activase function from Vitis vinifera

Rubisco is a very large, complex and one of the most abundant proteins in the world and comprises up to 50% of all soluble protein in plants. The activity of Rubisco, the enzyme that catalyzes CO₂ assimilation in photosynthesis, is regulated by Rubisco activase (Rca). In the present study, we searched for hypothetical protein of Vitis vinifera which has putative Rubisco activase function. The Arabidopsis and tobacco Rubisco activase protein sequences were used as seed sequences to search against Vitis vinifera in UniprotKB database. The selected hypothetical proteins of Vitis vinifera were subjected to sequence, structural and functional annotation. Subcellular localization predictions suggested it to be cytoplasmic protein. Homology modelling was used to define the three-dimensional (3D) structure of selected hypothetical proteins of Vitis vinifera. Template search revealed that all the hypothetical proteins share more than 80% sequence identity with structure of green-type Rubisco activase from tobacco, indicating proteins are evolutionary conserved. The homology modelling was generated using SWISS-MODEL. Several quality assessment and validation parameters computed indicated that homology models are reliable. Further, functional annotation through PFAM, CATH, SUPERFAMILY, CDART suggested that selected hypothetical proteins of Vitis vinifera contain ATPase family associated with various cellular activities (AAA) and belong to the AAA+ super family of ring-shaped P-loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases. This study will lead to research in the optimization of the functionality of Rubisco which has large implication in the improvement of plant productivity and resource use efficiency.     

Analysis of the genes encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II in Arabidopsis and soybean

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) from Arabidopsis thaliana and partially sequenced genes from soybean (Glycine max). We have also determined the nucleotide sequence for a number of cDNA clones which encode the carboxyl terminal domains (CTDs) of RNA polymerase II from both soybean and Arabidopsis. The Arabidopsis RPB1 gene encodes a polypeptide of approximately 205 kDa, consists of 12 exons, and encompasses more than 8 kb. Predicted amino acid sequence shows eight regions of similarity with the largest subunit of other prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases, as well as a highly conserved CTD unique to RNA polymerase II.The CTDs in plants, like those in most other eukaryotes, consist of tandem heptapeptide repeats with the consensus amino acid sequence PTSPSYS. The portion of RPB1 which encodes the CTD in plants differs from that of RPB1 of animals and lower eukaryotes. All the plant genes examined contain 2–3 introns within the CTD encoding regions, and at least two plant genes contain an alternatively spliced intron in the 3 untranslated region. Several clustered amino acid substitutions in the CTD are conserved in the two plant species examined, but are not found in other eukaryotes. RPB1 is encoded by a multigene family in soybean, but a single gene encodes this subunit in Arabidopsis and most other eukaryotes.