scholarly journals A quantitative model predicts how m6A reshapes the kinetic landscape of nucleic acid hybridization and conformational transitions

Author(s):  
Bei Liu ◽  
Honglue Shi ◽  
Atul Rangadurai ◽  
Felix Nussbaumer ◽  
Chia-Chieh Chu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a post-transcriptional modification that controls gene expression by recruiting proteins to RNA sites. The modification also slows biochemical processes through mechanisms that are not understood. Using NMR relaxation dispersion, we show that m6A pairs with uridine with the methylamino group in the anti conformation to form a Watson-Crick base pair that transiently exchanges on the millisecond timescale with a singly hydrogen-bonded low-populated (1%) mismatch-like conformation in which the methylamino group is syn. This ability to rapidly interchange between Watson-Crick or mismatch-like forms, combined with different syn:anti isomer preferences when paired (~1:100) versus unpaired (~10:1), explains how m6A robustly slows duplex annealing without affecting melting via two pathways in which isomerization occurs before or after duplex annealing. Our model quantitatively predicts how m6A reshapes the kinetic landscape of nucleic acid hybridization and conformational transitions, and provides an explanation for why the modification robustly slows diverse cellular processes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Liu ◽  
Honglue Shi ◽  
Atul Rangadurai ◽  
Felix Nussbaumer ◽  
Chia-Chieh Chu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a post-transcriptional modification that controls gene expression by recruiting proteins to RNA sites. The modification also slows biochemical processes through mechanisms that are not understood. Using temperature-dependent (20°C–65°C) NMR relaxation dispersion, we show that m6A pairs with uridine with the methylamino group in the anti conformation to form a Watson-Crick base pair that transiently exchanges on the millisecond timescale with a singly hydrogen-bonded low-populated (1%) mismatch-like conformation in which the methylamino group is syn. This ability to rapidly interchange between Watson-Crick or mismatch-like forms, combined with different syn:anti isomer preferences when paired (~1:100) versus unpaired (~10:1), explains how m6A robustly slows duplex annealing without affecting melting at elevated temperatures via two pathways in which isomerization occurs before or after duplex annealing. Our model quantitatively predicts how m6A reshapes the kinetic landscape of nucleic acid hybridization and conformational transitions, and provides an explanation for why the modification robustly slows diverse cellular processes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (18) ◽  
pp. 878-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinéad M. Waters ◽  
Gerard S. Coyne ◽  
David A. Kenny ◽  
David E. MacHugh ◽  
Dermot G. Morris

The potential for dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) to improve reproductive efficiency in cattle has received much interest. The mechanisms by which n-3 PUFA may affect physiological and biochemical processes in key reproductive tissues are likely to be mediated by significant alterations in gene expression. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation on global uterine endometrial gene expression in cattle. Beef heifers were supplemented with a rumen protected source of either a saturated fatty acid (CON; palmitic acid) or high n-3 PUFA (n-3 PUFA; 275 g) diet per animal per day for 45 days and global gene expression was determined in uterine endometrial tissue using an Affymetrix oligonucleotide bovine array. A total of 1,807 (946 up- and 861 downregulated) genes were differentially expressed following n-3 PUFA supplementation. Dietary n-3 PUFA altered numerous cellular processes potentially important in the control of reproduction in cattle. These included prostaglandin biosynthesis, steroidogenesis and transcriptional regulation, while effects on genes involved in maternal immune response and tissue remodeling were also observed. This study provides new insights into the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on the regulation of gene expression in the bovine uterus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjiao Wang ◽  
Ge Han ◽  
Xiuying Jiang ◽  
Tairan Yuwen ◽  
Yi Xue

AbstractNH groups in proteins or nucleic acids are the most challenging target for chemical shift prediction. Here we show that the RNA base pair triplet motif dictates imino chemical shifts in its central base pair. A lookup table is established that links each type of base pair triplet to experimental chemical shifts of the central base pair, and can be used to predict imino chemical shifts of RNAs to remarkable accuracy. Strikingly, the semiempirical method can well interpret the variations of chemical shifts for different base pair triplets, and is even applicable to non-canonical motifs. This finding opens an avenue for predicting chemical shifts of more complicated RNA motifs. Furthermore, we combine the imino chemical shift prediction with NMR relaxation dispersion experiments targeting both 15N and 1HN of the imino group, and verify a previously characterized excited state of P5abc subdomain including an earlier speculated non-native G•G mismatch.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 6054
Author(s):  
Ioanna Kokkinopoulou ◽  
Paraskevi Moutsatsou

Mitochondria are membrane organelles present in almost all eukaryotic cells. In addition to their well-known role in energy production, mitochondria regulate central cellular processes, including calcium homeostasis, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, cell death, thermogenesis, and biosynthesis of lipids, nucleic acids, and steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate the mitochondrially encoded oxidative phosphorylation gene expression and mitochondrial energy metabolism. The identification of Glucocorticoid Response Elements (GREs) in mitochondrial sequences and the detection of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) in mitochondria of different cell types gave support to hypothesis that mitochondrial GR directly regulates mitochondrial gene expression. Numerous studies have revealed changes in mitochondrial gene expression alongside with GR import/export in mitochondria, confirming the direct effects of GCs on mitochondrial genome. Further evidence has made clear that mitochondrial GR is involved in mitochondrial function and apoptosis-mediated processes, through interacting or altering the distribution of Bcl2 family members. Even though its exact translocation mechanisms remain unknown, data have shown that GR chaperones (Hsp70/90, Bag-1, FKBP51), the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, the HDAC6- mediated deacetylation and the outer mitochondrial translocation complexes (Tom complexes) co-ordinate GR mitochondrial trafficking. A role of mitochondrial GR in stress and depression as well as in lung and hepatic inflammation has also been demonstrated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3234
Author(s):  
Juhyun Lee ◽  
Si-Eun Sung ◽  
Janghyun Lee ◽  
Jin Young Kang ◽  
Joon-Hwa Lee ◽  
...  

Riboswitches are segments of noncoding RNA that bind with metabolites, resulting in a change in gene expression. To understand the molecular mechanism of gene regulation in a fluoride riboswitch, a base-pair opening dynamics study was performed with and without ligands using the Bacillus cereus fluoride riboswitch. We demonstrate that the structural stability of the fluoride riboswitch is caused by two steps depending on ligands. Upon binding of a magnesium ion, significant changes in a conformation of the riboswitch occur, resulting in the greatest increase in their stability and changes in dynamics by a fluoride ion. Examining hydrogen exchange dynamics through NMR spectroscopy, we reveal that the stabilization of the U45·A37 base-pair due to the binding of the fluoride ion, by changing the dynamics while maintaining the structure, results in transcription regulation. Our results demonstrate that the opening dynamics and stabilities of a fluoride riboswitch in different ion states are essential for the genetic switching mechanism.


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