Structural basis of translational control by Escherichia coli threonyl tRNA synthetase

Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) represses the translation of its own messenger RNA by binding to an operator located upstream of the initiation codon. The crystal structure of the complex between the core of ThrRS and the essential domain of the operator shows that the mRNA uses the recognition mode of the tRNA anticodon loop to initiate binding. The final positioning of the operator, upon which the control mechanism is based, relies on a characteristic RNA motif adapted to the enzyme surface. The finding of other thrS operators that have this conserved motif leads to a generalization of this regulatory mechanism to a subset of Gram-negative bacteria.     

Molecular mimicry in translational control of E. coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase gene. Competitive inhibition in tRNA aminoacylation and operator-repressor recognition switch using tRNA identity rules.

We previously showed that: (i) E.coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) binds to the leader of its mRNA and represses translation by preventing ribosome binding to its loading site; (ii) the translational operator shares sequence and structure similarities with tRNA(Thr); (iii) it is possible to switch the specificity of the translational control from ThrRS to methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) by changing the CGU anticodon-like sequence to CAU, the tRNA(Met) anticodon. Here, we show that the wild type (CGU) and the mutated (CAU) operators act as competitive inhibitors of tRNA(Thr) and tRNA(fMet) for aminoacylation catalyzed by E.coli ThrRS and MetRS, respectively. The apparent Kd of the MetRS/CAU operator complex is one order magnitude higher than that of the ThrRS/CGU operator complex. Although ThrRS and MetRS shield the anticodon- and acceptor-like domains of their respective operators, the relative contribution of these two domains differs significantly. As in the threonine system, the interaction of MetRS with the CAU operator occludes ribosome binding to its loading site. The present data demonstrate that the anticodon-like sequence is one major determinant for the identity of the operator and the regulation specificity. It further shows that the tRNA-like operator obeys to tRNA identity rules.     

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase of archaea: importance of the discriminator base in the aminoacylation of threonine tRNA.

To investigate the contribution of the discriminator base of archaeal tRNA(Thr) in aminoacylation by threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS), cross-species aminoacylation between Escherichia coli and Haloferax volcanii, halophilic archaea, was studied. It was found that E. coli ThrRS threonylated the H. volcanii tRNA(Thr) but that E. coli threonine tRNA was not aminoacylated by H. volcanii ThrRS. Results of a threonylation experiment using in vitro mutants of E. coli threonine tRNA showed that only the mutant tRNA(Thr) having U73 was threonylated by H. volcanii ThrRS. These findings indicate that the discriminator base U73 of H. volcanii tRNA(Thr) is a strong determinant for the recognition by ThrRS.     

Translational regulation of the Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase gene: Structural and functional importance of the thrS operator domains

Previous work showed that E coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) binds to the leader region of its own mRNA and represses its translation by blocking ribosome binding. The operator consists of four distinct domains, one of them (domain 2) sharing structural analogies with the anticodon arm of the E coli tRNA^Thr. The regulation specificity can be switched by using tRNA identity rules, suggesting that the operator could be recognized by ThrRS as a tRNA-like structure. In the present paper, we investigated the relative contribution of the four domains to the regulation process by using deletions and point mutations. This was achieved by testing the effects of the mutations on RNA conformation (by probing experiments), on ThrRS recognition (by footprinting experiments and measure of the competition with tRNA^Thr for aminoacylation), on ribosome binding and ribosome/ThrRS competition (by toeprinting experiments). It turns out that: i) the four domains are structurally and functionally independent; ii) domain 2 is essential for regulation and contains the major structural determinants for ThrRS binding; iii) domain 4 is involved in control and ThrRS recognition, but to a lesser degree than domain 2. However, the previously described analogies with the acceptor-like stem are not functionally significant. How it is recognized by ThrRS reamins to be resolved; iv) domain 1, which contains the ribosome loading site, is not involved in ThrRS recognition. The binding of ThrRS probably masks the ribosome binding site by steric hindrance and not by direct contacts. This is only achieved when ThrRS interacts with both domains 2 and 4; and v) the unpaired domain 3, which connects domains 2 and 4, is not directly involved in ThrRS recognition. It should serve as an articulation to provide an appropriate spacing between domains 2 and 4. Furthermore, it is possibly involved in ribosome binding.     

Shape-selective RNA recognition by cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase

The crystal structure of Escherichia coli cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS) bound to tRNA(Cys) at a resolution of 2.3 A reveals base-specific and shape-selective interactions across an extensive protein-RNA recognition interface. The complex contains a mixed alpha/beta C-terminal domain, which is disordered in the unliganded enzyme. This domain makes specific hydrogen bonding interactions with all three bases of the GCA anticodon. The tRNA anticodon stem is bent sharply toward the enzyme as compared with its conformation when bound to elongation factor Tu, providing an essential basis for shape-selective recognition. The CysRS structure also reveals interactions of conserved enzyme groups with the sugar-phosphate backbone in the D loop, adjacent to an unusual G15.G48 tertiary base pair previously implicated in tRNA aminoacylation. A combined mutational analysis of enzyme and tRNA groups at G15.G48 supports the notion that contacts between CysRS and the sugar-phosphate backbone contribute to recognition by indirect readout.     

Cleavage of the HIV replication primer tRNALys,3 in human cells expressing bacterial anticodon nuclease.

Anticodon nuclease is a bacterial restriction enzyme directed against tRNA(Lys). We report that anticodon nuclease also cleaves mammalian tRNA(Lys) molecules, with preference and site specificity shown towards the natural substrate. Expression of the anticodon nuclease core polypeptide PrrC in HeLa cells from a recombinant vaccinia virus elicited cleavage of intracellular tRNA(Lys),3. The data justify an inquiry into the possible application of anticodon nuclease as an inhibitor of tRNA(Lys),3-primed HIV replication. They also indicate that the anticodon region of tRNA(Lys) is a substrate recognition site and suggest that PrrC harbors the enzymatic activity.     

Threonyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase from Escherichia coli: Subunit Structure and Genetic Analysis of the Structural Gene by Means of a Mutated Enzyme and of a Specialized Transducing Lambda Bacteriophage

Threonyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase (ThrRS) has been purified from a strain of Escherichia coli that shows a ninefold overproduction of this enzyme. Determination of the molecular weight of the purified, native enzyme by gel chromatography and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at different gel concentrations yielded apparent molecular weight values of 150,000 and 161,000, respectively. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate yields a single protein band of 76,000-dalton size. From these results an alpha(2) subunit structure can be inferred. A mutant with a structurally altered ThrRS, which had been obtained by selection for resistance against the antibiotic borrelidin, was used to map the position of the ThrRS structural gene (thrS) by P1 transductions. It was found that thrS is located in the immediate neighborhood of pheS and pheT, which are the structural genes for the alpha and beta subunits of phenylalanyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase, the gene order being aroD-pheT-pheS-thrS. A lambda phage that was previously shown to specifically transduce pheS, pheT, and also the structural gene for the translation initiation factor IF3 can complement the defect of the altered ThrRS of the borrelidin-resistant strain. This phage also stimulates the synthesis of the 76,000, molecular-weight polypeptide of ThrRS in ultraviolet light-irradiated. E. coli cells. These results indicate that the genes for ThrRS, alpha and beta subunits of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, and initiation factor IF3 are immediately adjacent on the E. coli chromosome.     

Efficient aminoacylation of tRNA(Lys,3) by human lysyl-tRNA synthetase is dependent on covalent continuity between the acceptor stem and the anticodon domain

In this work, we probe the role of the anticodon in tRNA recognition by human lysyl-tRNA synthetase (hLysRS). Large decreases in aminoacylation efficiency are observed upon mutagenesis of anticodon positions U35 and U36 of human tRNA(Lys,3). A minihelix derived from the acceptor-TPsiC stem-loop domain of human tRNA(Lys,3)was not specifically aminoacylated by the human enzyme. The presence of an anticodon-derived stem-loop failed to stimulate aminoacylation of the minihelix. Thus, covalent continuity between the acceptor stem and anticodon domains appears to be an important requirement for efficient charging by hLysRS. To further examine the mechanism of communication between the critical anticodon recognition elements and the catalytic site, a two piece semi-synthetic tRNA(Lys, 3)construct was used. The wild-type semi-synthetic tRNA contained a break in the phosphodiester backbone in the D loop and was an efficient substrate for hLysRS. In contrast, a truncated variant that lacked nucleotides 8-17 in the D stem-loop displayedseverely reduced catalytic efficiency. The elimination of key tRNA tertiary structural elements has little effect on anticodon-dependent substrate binding but severely impacts formation of the proper transition state for catalysis. Taken together, our studies provide new insights into human tRNA structural requirements for effective transmission of the anticodon recognition signal to the distal acceptor stem domain.     

Involvement of the size and sequence of the anticodon loop in tRNA recognition by mammalian and E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetases.

The rates of the cross-aminoacylation reactions of tRNAs(Met) catalyzed by methionyl-tRNA synthetases from various organisms suggest the occurrence of two types of tRNA(Met)/methionyl-tRNA synthetase systems. In this study, the tRNA determinants recognized by mammalian or E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetases, which are representative members of the two types, have been examined. Like its prokaryotic counterpart, the mammalian enzyme utilizes the anticodon of tRNA as main recognition element. However, the mammalian cytoplasmic elongator tRNA(Met) species is not recognized by the bacterial synthetase, and both the initiator and elongator E. coli tRNA(Met) behave as poor substrates of the mammalian cytoplasmic synthetase. Synthetic genes encoding variants of tRNAs(Met), including the elongator one from mammals, were expressed in E. coli. tRNAs(Met) recognized by a synthetase of a given type can be converted into a substrate of an enzyme of the other type by introducing one-base substitutions in the anticodon loop or stem. In particular, a reduction of the size of the anticodon loop of cytoplasmic mammalian elongator tRNA(Met) from 9 to 7 bases, through the creation of an additional Watson-Crick pair at the bottom of the anticodon stem, makes it a substrate of the prokaryotic enzyme and decreases its ability to be methionylated by the mammalian enzyme. Moreover, enlarging the size of the anticodon loop of E. coli tRNA(Metm) from 7 to 9 bases, by disrupting the base pair at the bottom of the anticodon stem, renders the resulting tRNA a good substrate of the mammalian enzyme, while strongly altering its reaction with the prokaryotic synthetase. Finally, E. coli tRNA(Metf) can be rendered a better substrate of the mammalian enzyme by changing its U33 into a C. This modification makes the sequence of the anticodon loop of tRNA(Metf) identical to that of cytoplasmic initiator tRNA(Met).     

Two Complementary Enzymes for Threonylation of tRNA in Crenarchaeota: Crystal Structure of Aeropyrum pernix Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase Lacking a cis-Editing Domain

In protein synthesis, threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) must recognize threonine (Thr) from the 20 kinds of amino acids and the cognate tRNA^Thr from different tRNAs in order to generate Thr-tRNA^Thr. In general, an organism possesses one kind of gene corresponding to ThrRS. However, it has been recently found that some organisms have two different genes for ThrRS in the genome, suggesting that their proteins ThrRS-1 and ThrRS-2 function separately and complement each other in the threonylation of tRNA^Thr, one for catalysis and the other for trans-editing of misacylated Ser-tRNA^Thr. In order to clarify their three-dimensional structures, we performed X-ray analyses of two putatively assigned ThrRSs from Aeropyrum pernix (ApThrRS-1 and ApThrRS-2). These proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and crystallized. The crystal structure of ApThrRS-1 has been successfully determined at 2.3 Å resolution. ApThrRS-1 is a dimeric enzyme composed of two identical subunits, each containing two domains for the catalytic reaction and for anticodon binding. The essential editing domain is completely missing as expected. These structural features reveal that ThrRS-1 catalyzes only the aminoacylation of the cognate tRNA, suggesting the necessity of the second enzyme ThrRS-2 for trans-editing. Since the N-terminal sequence of ApThrRS-2 is similar to the sequence of the editing domain of ThrRS from Pyrococcus abyssi, ApThrRS-2 has been expected to catalyze deaminoacylation of a misacylated serine moiety at the CCA terminus.     

molecular mechanism of lysidine synthesis that determines tRNA identity and codon recognition

Lysidine (2-lysyl cytidine) is a lysine-containing cytidine derivative commonly found at the wobble position of bacterial AUA codon-specific tRNA(Ile). This modification determines both codon and amino acid specificities of tRNA(Ile). We previously identified tRNA(Ile)-lysidine synthetase (tilS) that synthesizes lysidine, for which it utilizes ATP and lysine as substrates. Here, we show that lysidine synthesis consists of two consecutive reactions that involve an adenylated tRNA intermediate. A mutation study revealed that Escherichia coli TilS discriminates tRNA(Ile) from the structurally similar tRNA(Met) having the same anticodon loop by recognizing the anticodon loop, the anticodon stem, and the acceptor stem. TilS was shown to bind to the anticodon region and 3' side of the acceptor stem, which cover the recognition sites. These findings reveal a dedicated mechanism embedded in tRNA(Ile) that controls its recognition and discrimination by TilS, and indicate the significance of this enzyme in the proper deciphering of genetic information.     

The free yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase differs from the tRNA(Asp)-complexed enzyme by structural changes in the catalytic site, hinge region, and anticodon-binding domain

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze the specific charging of amino acid residues on tRNAs. Accurate recognition of a tRNA by its synthetase is achieved through sequence and structural signalling. It has been shown that tRNAs undergo large conformational changes upon binding to enzymes, but little is known about the conformational rearrangements in tRNA-bound synthetases. To address this issue the crystal structure of the dimeric class II aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS) from yeast was solved in its free form and compared to that of the protein associated to the cognate tRNA(Asp). The use of an enzyme truncated in N terminus improved the crystal quality and allowed us to solve and refine the structure of free AspRS at 2.3 A resolution. For the first time, snapshots are available for the different macromolecular states belonging to the same tRNA aminoacylation system, comprising the free forms for tRNA and enzyme, and their complex. Overall, the synthetase is less affected by the association than the tRNA, although significant local changes occur. They concern a rotation of the anticodon binding domain and a movement in the hinge region which connects the anticodon binding and active-site domains in the AspRS subunit. The most dramatic differences are observed in two evolutionary conserved loops. Both are in the neighborhood of the catalytic site and are of importance for ligand binding. The combination of this structural analysis with mutagenesis and enzymology data points to a tRNA binding process that starts by a recognition event between the tRNA anticodon loop and the synthetase anticodon binding module.     

Enzymatic conversion of guanosine 3'' adjacent to the anticodon of yeast tRNAPhe to N1-methylguanosine and the wye nucleoside: dependence on the anticodon sequence.

N1-Methylguanosine (m1G) or wye nucleoside (Y) are found 3' adjacent to the anticodon (position 37) of eukaryotic tRNAPhe. The biosynthesis of these two modified nucleosides has been investigated. The importance of the type of nucleosides in the anticodon of yeast tRNAPhe on the potentiality of this tRNA to be a substrate for the corresponding maturation enzyme has also been studied. This involved microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes and incubation in a yeast extract of restructured yeast tRNAPhe in which the anticodon GmAA and the 3' adjacent Y nucleoside were substituted by various tetranucleotides ending with a guanosine. The results obtained by oocyte microinjection indicate: that all the restructured yeast tRNAsPhe are efficient substrates for the tRNA (guanosine-37 N1)methyltransferase. This means that the anticodon sequence is not critical for the tRNA recognition by this enzyme; in contrast, for Y nucleoside biosynthesis, the anticodon sequence GAA is an absolute requirement; the conversion of G-37 into Y-37 nucleoside is a multienzymatic process in which m1G-37 is the first obligatory intermediate; all the corresponding enzymes are cytoplasmic. In a crude yeast extract, restructured yeast tRNAPhe with G-37 is efficiently modified only into m1G-37; the corresponding enzyme is a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent tRNA methyltransferase. The pure Escherichia coli tRNA (guanosine-37 N1) methyltransferase is unable to modify the guanosine-37 of yeast tRNAPhe.     

tRNA aminoacylation by arginyl-tRNA synthetase: induced conformations during substrates binding

The 2.2 A crystal structure of a ternary complex formed by yeast arginyl-tRNA synthetase and its cognate tRNA(Arg) in the presence of the L-arginine substrate highlights new atomic features used for specific substrate recognition. This first example of an active complex formed by a class Ia aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and its natural cognate tRNA illustrates additional strategies used for specific tRNA selection. The enzyme specifically recognizes the D-loop and the anticodon of the tRNA, and the mutually induced fit produces a conformation of the anticodon loop never seen before. Moreover, the anticodon binding triggers conformational changes in the catalytic center of the protein. The comparison with the 2.9 A structure of a binary complex formed by yeast arginyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA(Arg) reveals that L-arginine binding controls the correct positioning of the CCA end of the tRNA(Arg). Important structural changes induced by substrate binding are observed in the enzyme. Several key residues of the active site play multiple roles in the catalytic pathway and thus highlight the structural dynamics of the aminoacylation reaction.     

人线粒体tRNA修饰碱基与遗传性脑肌病

人的多种遗传疾病与线粒体tRNA基因突变有关,这些突变导致疾病发生的分子机理是当前研究的热点.通过研究线粒体tRNA分子上的碱基修饰情况,人们发现了一类特殊的带有牛磺酸衍生物基团的修饰,这类修饰主要位于线粒体tRNALys和线粒体tRNALeu(UUR)反密码子第一位摆动(wobble)位点的碱基上.最近的研究表明,位于这两种线粒体tRNA基因上的多种突变与遗传性脑肌病相关,包括A8344G,A3243G,T3271C等等,它们可以导致tRNA上相应摆动位点的碱基修饰缺失.无论是在体外培养的带有相应突变的细胞内,还是在来源于脑肌病病人的组织中,科学家都发现了相同的线粒体tRNA碱基修饰缺陷.通过分子手术证实,此类碱基修饰对于维持这两种tRNA的反密码子与mRNA上相应密码子的相互识别至关重要,缺失了这种修饰的tRNA将无法识别一些对应的密码子.通过进一步的实验,人们还鉴定出负责催化此类碱基修饰的酶.这些研究不但揭示了线粒体遗传性脑肌病相关突变的致病机理,也将为研究基因治疗提供可能的新手段.     

Temperature jump relaxation studies on the interactions between transfer RNAs with complementary anticodons. The effect of modified bases adjacent to the anticodon triplet

We have used the temperature-jump relaxation technique to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the association between the following tRNAs pairs having complementary anticodons: tRNA(Ser) with tRNA(Gly), tRNA(Cys) with tRNA(Ala) and tRNA(Trp) with tRNA(Pro). The anticodon sequence of E. coli tRNA(Ser), GGA, is complementary to the U*CC anticodon of E. coli tRNA(Gly(2] (where U* is a still unknown modified uridine base) and A37 is not modified in none of these two tRNAs. E. coli tRNA(Ala) has a VGC anticodon (V is 5-oxyacetic acid uridine) while tRNA(Cys) has the complementary GCA anticodon with a modified adenine on the 3' side, namely 2-methylthio N6-isopentenyl adenine (mS2i6A37) in E. Coli tRNA(Cys) and N6-isopentenyl adenine (i6A37) in yeast tRNA(Cys). The brewer yeast tRNA(Trp) (anticodon CmCA) differs from the wild type E. coli tRNA(Trp) (anticodon CCA) in several positions of the nucleotide sequence. Nevertheless, in the anticodon loop, only two interesting differences are present: A37 is not modified while C34 at the first anticodon position is modified into a ribose 2'-O methyl derivative (Cm). The corresponding complementary tRNA is E.coli tRNA(Pro) with the VGG anticodon. Our results indicate a dominant effect of the nature and sequence of the anticodon bases and their nearest neighbor in the anticodon loop (particularly at position 37 on the 3' side); no detectable influence of modifications in the other tRNA stems has been detected. We found a strong stabilizing effect of the methylthio group on i6A37 as compared to isopentenyl modification of the same residue. We have not been able so far to assess the effect of isopentenyl modification alone in comparison to unmodified A37. The results obtained with the complex yeast tRNA(Trp)-E.coli tRNA(Pro) also suggest that a modification of C34 to Cm34 does not significantly increase the stability of tRNA(Trp) association with its complementary anticodon in tRNA(Pro). The observations are discussed in the light of inter- and intra-strand stacking interactions among the anticodon triplets and with the purine base adjacent to them, and of possible biological implications.     

Anticodon nucleases

A tRNALys-specific anticodon nuclease is kept in a latent form in a rare Escherichia coli strain, complexed with a DNA restriction enzyme. A phage T4 inhibitor of DNA restriction activates anticodon nuclease, but other T4 proteins restore tRNALys. Detection of a homologous system in Neisseria and a different anticodon nuclease in colicin E5 suggest ubiquity and diversity of such tRNA toxins. Analysis of these systems could reveal novel RNA recognition and cleavage mechanisms.     

Divergent adaptation of tRNA recognition by Methanococcus jannaschii prolyl-tRNA synthetase

Analysis of prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) across all three taxonomic domains (Eubacteria, Eucarya, and Archaea) reveals that the sequences are divided into two distinct groups. Recent studies show that Escherichia coli ProRS, a member of the "prokaryotic-like" group, recognizes specific tRNA bases at both the acceptor and anticodon ends, whereas human ProRS, a member of the "eukaryotic-like" group, recognizes nucleotide bases primarily in the anticodon. The archaeal Methanococcus jannaschii ProRS is a member of the eukaryotic-like group, although its tRNA(Pro) possesses prokaryotic features in the acceptor stem. We show here that, in some respects, recognition of tRNA(Pro) by M. jannaschii ProRS parallels that of human, with a strong emphasis on the anticodon and only weak recognition of the acceptor stem. However, our data also indicate differences in the details of the anticodon recognition between these two eukaryotic-like synthetases. Although the human enzyme places a stronger emphasis on G35, the M. jannaschii enzyme places a stronger emphasis on G36, a feature that is shared by E. coli ProRS. These results, interpreted in the context of an extensive sequence alignment, provide evidence of divergent adaptation by M. jannaschii ProRS; recognition of the tRNA acceptor end is eukaryotic-like, whereas the details of the anticodon recognition are prokaryotic-like. This divergence may be a reflection of the unusual dual function of this enzyme, which catalyzes specific aminoacylation with proline as well as with cysteine.