Partial molar volumes of mRNA 5' cap analogues

Partial molar volumes in aqueous solution of eleven selected 7-methylguanine cap-analogues and their guanine counterparts were determined by means of density measurements. Hydrophobicity of the investigated compounds regarding their structural features was analysed within the framework of the solute-solvent interaction model, based on the relative density of the molecular solvation shell.     

Synthesis and translation of mRNA containing 5'-terminal 7-ethylguanosine cap.

Reovirus mRNA synthesis in vitro by the virion-associated RNA polymerase was only slightly (10 to 15%) diminished in the presence of 2 mM S-adenosylethionine. However, methyl group transfer from S-adenosylmethionine (0.05 mM) to the 5'-terminal cap structure, m7GpppGm in this mRNA was markedly inhibited (80%) under these conditions. Replacement of S-adenosylmethionine by S-adenosylethionine (5 mM) yielded mRNAs containing mainly (70%) 5'-terminal e7GpppGe and e7GpppG, but some of the products were unalkylated (5'-GpppG, ppG). The ethylated mRNAs, but not the unalkylated molecules, bound to wheat germ ribosomes and were translated essentially as well as the corresponding methylated mRNAs in wheat germ extracts and in nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Protein synthesis directed by ethylated mRNAs in wheat germ extract was 80% decreased by 0.1 mM m7GMP. Under conditions of limited initiation, methylated mRNA bound to wheat germ ribosomes preferentially as compared to ethylated mRNA. The results document for the first time the synthesis of ethylated mRNA and support the hypothesis that N7-alkylation of the 5'-guanosine in caps, rather than methylation itself, is important for the enhancing effect of cap on the initiation of eukaryotic protein synthesis.     

Diminished sensitivity of re-initiation of translation to inhibition by cap analogues in reticulocyte lysates.

In a nuclease-treated reticuloyte lysate reinitiation of protein biosynthesis was less inhibited by 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate (m7GMP), whereas primary-initiation could be totally blocked by cap analogues. We suggest that a cap binding factor binds to mRNA as a first step in initiation of protein synthesis and that this factor remains bound during the subsequent reinitiation cycles. Primarily because of the greater relative importance of the reinitiation process, globin synthesis in the untreated lysate was less inhibited by m7GMP.     

Poisson–Boltzmann model analysis of binding mRNA cap analogues to the translation initiation factor eIF4E

The electrostatic free energy of binding of two analogues of the 5′-mRNA cap, differing in size and electric charge, to the wild type and mutated eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E was computed using the finite difference solutions to the Poisson–Boltzmann equation. Two definitions of the solute–solvent dielectric boundary were used: van der Waals model, solvent exclusion (SE) model. The computed electrostatic energies were supplemented by estimations of the non polar and entropic contributions. A comparison with experimental data for the investigated systems was done. It appears that the SE model with additional contribution fits experimental findings better than the van der Waals model does.     

Inhibition of noncapped mRNA translation by the cap analogue, 7-methylguanosine-5'-phosphate.

The cap analogue, 7-methylguanosine-5′-phosphate (pm⁷G), inhibits the translation of the noncapped STNV (satellite tobacco necrosis virus) RNA and CPMV (cowpea mosaic virus) RNA in the $\text{in vitro}$ wheat germ protein synthesizing system. While the translation of some capped mRNAs is inhibited more strongly by the analogue, other capped mRNAs have a level of sensitivity similar to that of the noncapped RNAs. Evidence is presented demonstrating that the effect of the analogue is exerted at a cap binding site even when it is inhibiting noncapped mRNAs. These results therefore indicate that the cap binding site of the translational system is either part of or is closely linked to another mRNA binding component, this component being specific for a site on the mRNA other than the 5′ cap. The observations also suggest caution in the use of pm⁷G inhibition to indicate the presence of a 5′ cap on a particular mRNA.     

Interaction of three Caenorhabditis elegans isoforms of translation initiation factor eIF4E with mono- and trimethylated mRNA 5' cap analogues

Translation initiation factor eIF4E binds the m(7)G cap of eukaryotic mRNAs and mediates recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome during cap-dependent translation initiation. This event is the rate-limiting step of translation and a major target for translational control. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, about 70% of genes express mRNAs with an unusual cap structure containing m(3)(2,2,7)G, which is poorly recognized by mammalian eIF4E. C. elegans expresses five isoforms of eIF4E (IFE-1, IFE-2, etc.). Three of these (IFE-3, IFE-4 and IFE-5) were investigated by means of spectroscopy and structural modelling based on mouse eIF4E bound to m(7)GDP. Intrinsic fluorescence quenching of Trp residues in the IFEs by iodide ions indicated structural differences between the apo and m(7)G cap bound proteins. Fluorescence quenching by selected cap analogues showed that only IFE-5 forms specific complexes with both m(7)G- and m(3)(2,2,7)G-containing caps (K(as) 2 x 10(6) M(-1) to 7 x 10(6) M(-1)) whereas IFE-3 and IFE-4 discriminated strongly in favor of m(7)G-containing caps. These spectroscopic results quantitatively confirm earlier qualitative data derived from affinity chromatography. The dependence of K(as) on pH indicated optimal cap binding of IFE-3, IFE-4 and IFE-5 at pH 7.2, lower by 0.4 pH units than that of eIF4E from human erythrocytes. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of recognition of structurally different caps by the highly homologous IFEs.     

Sphingomyelin analogues as inhibitors of sphingomyelinase

To search for neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors we designed and synthesized hydrolytically stable analogues of sphingomyelin. The novel compounds 8 and 9 which were replaced the phosphodiester moiety of sphingomyelin with the carbamate moiety showed inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of micro M on neutral sphingomyelinase in rat brain microsomes. Compound 8i showed a selective neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitory activity.     

Isolation and in vitro translation of a mammalian protamine mRNA

mRNA was isolated from sexually mature rat, rabbit, and bovine testes. Poly(A+) and (A-) RNAs were prepared and hybridized to a rainbow-trout protamine probe. The bovine (A+) fraction showed significant hybridization compared to the other species and these related sequences were also found in total bovine DNA. Bovine mRNA programmed the in vitro synthesis of a basic protein that possessed protamine-like properties. The mRNA was fractionated by agarose-gel electro-phoresis and the fractions hybridized to the trout protamine probe. A significant hybridization signal was observed corresponding to a mRNA of approximately 400 nucleotides in length which coded for the protamine-like protein. The data support the view that we have isolated a mammalian (bovine) protamine mRNA.     

Methionine analogues as inhibitors of methionyl-tRNA synthetase

A series of methionine analogues have been synthesized as inhibitors of methionyl-tRNA synthetase and evaluated for their inhibitory activities of E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase and bacterial growth. Among them, -methionine hydroxamate 20 has proved to be the best inhibitor of the enzyme with K_i = 19 μM and showed a growth inhibition against E.coli JM 109, P. vulganis 6059 and C. freundii 8090.     

An mRNA m7G cap binding-like motif within human Ago2 represses translation

microRNAs (miRNAs) bind to Argonaute (Ago) proteins and inhibit translation or promote degradation of mRNA targets. Human let-7 miRNA inhibits translation initiation of mRNA targets in an m(7)G cap-dependent manner and also appears to block protein production, but the molecular mechanism(s) involved is unknown and the role of Ago proteins in translational regulation remains elusive. Here we identify a motif (MC) within the Mid domain of Ago proteins, which bears significant similarity to the m(7)G cap-binding domain of eIF4E, an essential translation initiation factor. We identify conserved aromatic residues within the MC motif of human Ago2 that are required for binding to the m(7)G cap and for translational repression but do not affect the assembly of Ago2 with miRNA or its catalytic activity. We propose that Ago2 represses the initiation of mRNA translation by binding to the m(7)G cap of mRNA targets, thus likely precluding the recruitment of eIF4E.