The Escherichia coli RNA degradosome: structure, function and relationship to other ribonucleolytic multienyzme complexes

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Carpousis

mRNA instability is an intrinsic property that permits timely changes in gene expression by limiting the lifetime of a transcript. The RNase E of Escherichia coli is a single-strand-specific endonuclease involved in the processing of rRNA and the degradation of mRNA. A nucleolytic multienzyme complex now known as the RNA degradosome was discovered during the purification and characterization of RNase E. Two other components are a 3′ exoribonuclease (polynucleotide phosphorylase, PNPase) and a DEAD-box RNA helicase (RNA helicase B, RhlB). RNase E is a large multidomain protein with N-terminal ribonucleolytic activity, an RNA-binding domain and a C-terminal ‘scaffold’ that binds PNPase, enolase and RhlB. RhlB by itself has little activity but is strongly stimulated by its interaction with RNase E. RhlB in vitro can facilitate the degradation of structured RNA by PNPase. Since the discovery of the RNA degradosome in E. coli, related complexes have been described in other organisms.

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaduo Yan ◽  
Xiuxiu Qin ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Wenli Chen

ABSTRACT At present, little is known about the RNA metabolism driven by the RNA degradosome in cyanobacteria. RNA helicase and enolase are the common components of the RNA degradosome in many bacteria. Here, we provide evidence that both enolase and the DEAD-box RNA helicase CrhB can interact with RNase E in Anabaena (Nostoc) sp. strain PCC 7120 (referred to here as PCC 7120). Furthermore, we found that the C-terminal domains of CrhB and AnaEno (enolase of PCC 7120) are required for the interaction, respectively. Moreover, their recognition motifs for AnaRne (RNase E of PCC 7120) turned out to be located in the N-terminal catalytic domain, which is obviously different from those identified previously in Proteobacteria. We also demonstrated in enzyme activity assays that CrhB can induce AnaRne to degrade double-stranded RNA with a 5′ tail. Furthermore, we investigated the localization of CrhB and AnaRne by green fluorescent protein (GFP) translation fusion in situ and found that they both localized in the center of the PCC 7120 cytoplasm. This localization pattern is also different from the membrane binding of RNase E and RhlB in Escherichia coli. Together with the previous identification of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) in PCC 7120, our results show that there is an RNA degradosome-like complex with a different assembly mechanism in cyanobacteria. IMPORTANCE In all domains of life, RNA turnover is important for gene regulation and quality control. The process of RNA metabolism is regulated by many RNA-processing enzymes and assistant proteins, where these proteins usually exist as complexes. However, there is little known about the RNA metabolism, as well as about the RNA degradation complex. In the present study, we described an RNA degradosome-like complex in cyanobacteria and revealed an assembly mechanism different from that of E. coli. Moreover, CrhB could help RNase E in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 degrade double-stranded RNA with a 5′ tail. In addition, CrhB and AnaRne have similar cytoplasm localizations, in contrast to the membrane localization in E. coli.


2017 ◽  
Vol 199 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel A. Aguirre ◽  
Alexandre M. Vicente ◽  
Steven W. Hardwick ◽  
Daniela M. Alvelos ◽  
Ricardo R. Mazzon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In diverse bacterial lineages, multienzyme assemblies have evolved that are central elements of RNA metabolism and RNA-mediated regulation. The aquatic Gram-negative bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, which has been a model system for studying the bacterial cell cycle, has an RNA degradosome assembly that is formed by the endoribonuclease RNase E and includes the DEAD-box RNA helicase RhlB. Immunoprecipitations of extracts from cells expressing an epitope-tagged RNase E reveal that RhlE, another member of the DEAD-box helicase family, associates with the degradosome at temperatures below those optimum for growth. Phenotype analyses of rhlE, rhlB, and rhlE rhlB mutant strains show that RhlE is important for cell fitness at low temperature and its role may not be substituted by RhlB. Transcriptional and translational fusions of rhlE to the lacZ reporter gene and immunoblot analysis of an epitope-tagged RhlE indicate that its expression is induced upon temperature decrease, mainly through posttranscriptional regulation. RNase E pulldown assays show that other proteins, including the transcription termination factor Rho, a second DEAD-box RNA helicase, and ribosomal protein S1, also associate with the degradosome at low temperature. The results suggest that the RNA degradosome assembly can be remodeled with environmental change to alter its repertoire of helicases and other accessory proteins. IMPORTANCE DEAD-box RNA helicases are often present in the RNA degradosome complex, helping unwind secondary structures to facilitate degradation. Caulobacter crescentus is an interesting organism to investigate degradosome remodeling with change in temperature, because it thrives in freshwater bodies and withstands low temperature. In this study, we show that at low temperature, the cold-induced DEAD-box RNA helicase RhlE is recruited to the RNA degradosome, along with other helicases and the Rho protein. RhlE is essential for bacterial fitness at low temperature, and its function may not be complemented by RhlB, although RhlE is able to complement for rhlB loss. These results suggest that RhlE has a specific role in the degradosome at low temperature, potentially improving adaptation to this condition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Curmi ◽  
Ruben J. Cauchi

Gemin3, also known as DDX20 or DP103, is a DEAD-box RNA helicase which is involved in more than one cellular process. Though RNA unwinding has been determined in vitro, it is surprisingly not required for all of its activities in cellular metabolism. Gemin3 is an essential gene, present in Amoeba and Metazoa. The highly conserved N-terminus hosts the helicase core, formed of the helicase- and DEAD-domains, which, based on crystal structure determination, have key roles in RNA binding. The C-terminus of Gemin3 is highly divergent between species and serves as the interaction site for several accessory factors that could recruit Gemin3 to its target substrates and/or modulate its function. This review article focuses on the known roles of Gemin3, first as a core member of the survival motor neuron (SMN) complex, in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein biogenesis. Although mechanistic details are lacking, a critical function for Gemin3 in this pathway is supported by numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Gene expression activities of Gemin3 are next underscored, mainly messenger ribonucleoprotein trafficking, gene silencing via microRNA processing, and transcriptional regulation. The involvement of Gemin3 in abnormal cell signal transduction pathways involving p53 and NF-κB is also highlighted. Finally, the clinical implications of Gemin3 deregulation are discussed including links to spinal muscular atrophy, poliomyelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and cancer. Impressive progress made over the past two decades since the discovery of Gemin3 bodes well for further work that refines the mechanism(s) underpinning its multiple activities.


Nature ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 381 (6578) ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Béatrice Py ◽  
Christopher F. Higgins ◽  
Henry M. Krisch ◽  
Agamemnon J. Carpousis

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 847-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nida Ali ◽  
Jayaraman Gowrishankar

Abstract RNase E is a 472-kDa homo-tetrameric essential endoribonuclease involved in RNA processing and turnover in Escherichia coli. In its N-terminal half (NTH) is the catalytic active site, as also a substrate 5′-sensor pocket that renders enzyme activity maximal on 5′-monophosphorylated RNAs. The protein's non-catalytic C-terminal half (CTH) harbours RNA-binding motifs and serves as scaffold for a multiprotein degradosome complex, but is dispensable for viability. Here, we provide evidence that a full-length hetero-tetramer, composed of a mixture of wild-type and (recessive lethal) active-site mutant subunits, exhibits identical activity in vivo as the wild-type homo-tetramer itself (‘recessive resurrection’). When all of the cognate polypeptides lacked the CTH, the active-site mutant subunits were dominant negative. A pair of C-terminally truncated polypeptides, which were individually inactive because of additional mutations in their active site and 5′-sensor pocket respectively, exhibited catalytic function in combination, both in vivo and in vitro (i.e. intragenic or allelic complementation). Our results indicate that adjacent subunits within an oligomer are separately responsible for 5′-sensing and cleavage, and that RNA binding facilitates oligomerization. We propose also that the CTH mediates a rate-determining initial step for enzyme function, which is likely the binding and channelling of substrate for NTH’s endonucleolytic action.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (19) ◽  
pp. 6372-6386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Remus R. Rosana ◽  
Denise S. Whitford ◽  
Anzhela Migur ◽  
Claudia Steglich ◽  
Sonya L. Kujat-Choy ◽  
...  

The arrangement of functionally-related genes in operons is a fundamental element of how genetic information is organized in prokaryotes. This organization ensures coordinated gene expression by co-transcription. Often, however, alternative genetic responses to specific stress conditions demand the discoordination of operon expression. During cold temperature stress, accumulation of the gene encoding the sole Asp–Glu–Ala–Asp (DEAD)-box RNA helicase in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, crhR (slr0083), increases 15-fold. Here, we show that crhR is expressed from a dicistronic operon with the methylthiotransferase rimO/miaB (slr0082) gene, followed by rapid processing of the operon transcript into two monocistronic mRNAs. This cleavage event is required for and results in destabilization of the rimO transcript. Results from secondary structure modeling and analysis of RNase E cleavage of the rimO–crhR transcript in vitro suggested that CrhR plays a role in enhancing the rate of the processing in an auto-regulatory manner. Moreover, two putative small RNAs are generated from additional processing, degradation, or both of the rimO transcript. These results suggest a role for the bacterial RNA helicase CrhR in RNase E-dependent mRNA processing in Synechocystis and expand the known range of organisms possessing small RNAs derived from processing of mRNA transcripts.


Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena C. Gaubig ◽  
Torsten Waldminghaus ◽  
Franz Narberhaus

The Escherichia coli ibpAB operon encodes two small heat-shock proteins, the inclusion-body-binding proteins IbpA and IbpB. Here, we report that expression of ibpAB is a complex process involving at least four different layers of control, namely transcriptional control, RNA processing, translation control and protein stability. As a typical member of the heat-shock regulon, transcription of the ibpAB operon is controlled by the alternative sigma factor σ 32 (RpoH). Heat-induced transcription of the bicistronic operon is followed by RNase E-mediated processing events, resulting in monocistronic ibpA and ibpB transcripts and short 3′-terminal ibpB fragments. Translation of ibpA is controlled by an RNA thermometer in its 5′ untranslated region, forming a secondary structure that blocks entry of the ribosome at low temperatures. A similar structure upstream of ibpB is functional in vitro but not in vivo, suggesting downregulation of ibpB expression in the presence of IbpA. The recently reported degradation of IbpA and IbpB by the Lon protease and differential regulation of IbpA and IbpB levels in E. coli are discussed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 1106-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Spickler ◽  
Victoria Stronge ◽  
George A. Mackie

ABSTRACT RNase E, the principal RNase capable of initiating mRNA decay, preferentially attacks 5′-monophosphorylated over 5′-triphosphorylated substrates. Site-specific cleavage in vitro of therpsT mRNA by RNase H directed by chimeric 2′-O-methyl oligonucleotides was employed to create truncated RNAs which are identical to authentic degradative intermediates. The rates of cleavage of two such intermediates by RNase E in the RNA degradosome are significantly faster (2.5- to 8-fold) than that of intact RNA. This verifies the preference of RNase E for degradative intermediates and can explain the frequent “all-or-none” behavior of mRNAs during the decay process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh McQuail ◽  
Agamemnon J. Carpousis ◽  
Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj

AbstractThe regulation of bacterial gene expression is underpinned by the synthesis and degradation of mRNA. In Escherichia coli, RNase E is the central enzyme involved in RNA degradation and serves as a scaffold for the assembly of the multiprotein complex known as the RNA degradosome. The activity of RNase E against specific mRNAs can also be regulated by the action of small RNAs (sRNA). The ubiquitous bacterial chaperone Hfq bound to sRNAs interacts with the RNA degradosome for the sRNA guided degradation of target mRNAs. The association between RNase E and Hfq has never been observed in live bacteria. We now show that in long-term nitrogen starved E. coli, both RNase E and Hfq co-localise in a single, large focus. This subcellular assembly, which we refer to as the H-body, also includes components of the RNA degradosome, namely, the helicase RhlB and the exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase. We further show that H-bodies are important for E. coli to optimally survive sustained nitrogen starvation. Collectively, the properties and features of the H-body suggests that it represents a hitherto unreported example of subcellular compartmentalisation of a process(s) associated with RNA management in stressed bacteria.


2014 ◽  
Vol 458 (1) ◽  
pp. e1-e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp G. Hoch ◽  
Roland K. Hartmann

Controlled RNA degradation is known to be achieved via the exosome in Eukarya and Archaea, and the RNA degradosome in Bacteria. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Taghbalout et al. demonstrate in Escherichia coli that many additional proteins of the RNA degradation and processing network co-localize with the RNA degradosome in supramolecular structures. The latter appear as extended cytoplasmic membrane-associated assemblies that coil around the periphery of the cell when visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. The co-localizing ensemble of RNA metabolic proteins includes RNaseE, PNPase (polynucleotide phosphorylase), the DEAD-box RNA helicase RhlB, the oligo-RNase Orn, RNases II and III, PAP I [poly(A) polymerase I], RppH (RNA pyrophosphohydrolase), proteins RraA and RraB that are negative regulators of RNaseE, and the RNA chaperone Hfq. Not all cellular RNA-binding proteins associate with these structures, as shown for EF-Tu (elongation factor Tu) and Rho helicase. Formation of the supramolecular architecture was shown to not be dependent on two other known cytoskeletal systems or on RNA de novo synthesis or nucleoid positioning within the cell. This novel dimension of compartmentalization in bacteria that lack classic cell compartments opens new perspectives on how RNA homoeostasis is achieved, organized and regulated in bacteria such as E. coli.


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