scholarly journals An essential RNA-binding lysine residue in the Nab3 RRM domain undergoes mono and trimethylation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwan Yin Lee ◽  
Anand Chopra ◽  
Kyle Biggar ◽  
Marc D. Meneghini

AbstractThe Nrd1-Nab3-Sen1 (NNS) complex integrates molecular inputs to direct termination of noncoding transcription in budding yeast. NNS is positively regulated by methylation of histone H3 lysine-4 as well as through Nrd1 binding to the initiating form of RNA PolII. These cues collaborate with Nrd1 and Nab3 binding to target RNA sequences in nascent transcripts through their RRM RNA recognition motifs. In this study, we identify nine lysine residues distributed amongst Nrd1, Nab3, and Sen1 that are mono-, di-, or trimethylated, suggesting novel molecular inputs for NNS regulation. One of these methylated residues, Nab3 lysine-363 (K363), resides within its RRM, and is known to physically contact target RNA. Although mutation of Nab3-K363 to arginine (Nab3-K363R) causes a severe growth defect, it nevertheless produces a stable protein that is incorporated into the NNS complex, suggesting that RNA binding through Nab3-K363 is crucial for NNS function. Consistent with this hypothesis, K363R mutation decreases RNA binding of the Nab3 RRM in vitro and causes transcription termination defects in vivo. These findings reveal crucial roles for Nab3-K363 and suggest that methylation of this residue may modulate NNS activity through its impact on Nab3 RNA binding.

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2897-2911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwan Yin Lee ◽  
Anand Chopra ◽  
Giovanni L Burke ◽  
Ziyan Chen ◽  
Jack F Greenblatt ◽  
...  

Abstract The Nrd1–Nab3–Sen1 (NNS) complex integrates molecular cues to direct termination of noncoding transcription in budding yeast. NNS is positively regulated by histone methylation as well as through Nrd1 binding to the initiating form of RNA PolII. These cues collaborate with Nrd1 and Nab3 binding to target RNA sequences in nascent transcripts through their RRM RNA recognition motifs. In this study, we identify nine lysine residues distributed amongst Nrd1, Nab3 and Sen1 that are methylated, suggesting novel molecular inputs for NNS regulation. We identify mono-methylation of one these residues (Nab3-K363me1) as being partly dependent on the H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1, a known regulator of NNS function. Moreover, the accumulation of Nab3-K363me1 is essentially abolished in strains lacking SET3, a SET domain containing protein that is positively regulated by H3K4 methylation. Nab3-K363 resides within its RRM and physically contacts target RNA. Mutation of Nab3-K363 to arginine (Nab3-K363R) decreases RNA binding of the Nab3 RRM in vitro and causes transcription termination defects and slow growth. These findings identify SET3 as a potential contextual regulator of Nab3 function through its role in methylation of Nab3-K363. Consistent with this hypothesis, we report that SET3 exhibits genetic activation of NAB3 that is observed in a sensitized context.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1789-1798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Lisbin ◽  
Marshall Gordon ◽  
Yvonne M Yannoni ◽  
Kalpana White

Abstract Members of the ELAV family of proteins contain three RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), which are highly conserved. ELAV, a Drosophila melanogaster member of this family, provides a vital function and exhibits a predominantly nuclear localization. To investigate if the RNA-binding property of each of the ELAV RRMs is required for ELAV's in vivo function, amino acid residues critical in RNA binding for each RRM were individually mutated. A stringent genetic complementation test revealed that when the mutant protein was the sole source of ELAV, RNA-binding ability of each RRM was essential to ELAV function. To assess the degree to which each domain was specific for ELAV function and which domains perhaps performed a function common to related ELAV proteins, we substituted an ELAV RRM with the corresponding RRM from RBP9, the D. melanogaster protein most homologous to ELAV; HuD, a human ELAV family protein; and SXL, which, although evolutionarily related, is not an ELAV family member. This analysis revealed that RRM3 replacements were fully functional, but RRM1 and RRM2 replacements were largely nonfunctional. Under less stringent conditions RRM1 and RRM2 replacements from SXL and RRM1 replacement from RBP9 were able to provide supplemental function in the presence of a mutant hypomorphic ELAV protein.


1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (24) ◽  
pp. 4501-4512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.M. Yannoni ◽  
K. White

The neuron specific Drosophila ELAV protein belongs to the ELAV family of RNA binding proteins which are characterized by three highly conserved RNA recognition motifs, an N-terminal domain, and a hinge region between the second and third RNA recognition motifs. Despite their highly conserved RNA recognition motifs the ELAV family members are a group of proteins with diverse posttranscriptional functions including splicing regulation, mRNA stability and translatability and have a variety of subcellular localizations. The role of the ELAV hinge in localization and function was examined using transgenes encoding ELAV hinge deletions, in vivo. Subcellular localization of the hinge mutant proteins revealed that residues between amino acids 333–374 are necessary for nuclear localization. This delineated sequence has no significant homology to classical nuclear localization sequences, but it is similar to the recently characterized nucleocytoplasmic shuttling sequence, the HNS, from a human ELAV family member, HuR. This defined sequence, however, was insufficient for nuclear localization as tested using hinge-GFP fusion proteins. Functional assays revealed that mutant proteins that fail to localize to the nucleus are unable to provide ELAV vital function, but their function is significantly restored when translocated into the nucleus by a heterologous nuclear localization sequence tag.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 2649-2657 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Shi ◽  
B E Hoffman ◽  
J T Lis

B52, also known as SRp55, is a member of the Drosophila melanogaster SR protein family, a group of nuclear proteins that are both essential splicing factors and specific splicing regulators. Like most SR proteins, B52 contains two RNA recognition motifs in the N terminus and a C-terminal domain rich in serine-arginine dipeptide repeats. Since B52 is an essential protein and is expected to play a role in splicing a subset of Drosophila pre-mRNAs, its function is likely to be mediated by specific interactions with RNA. To investigate the RNA-binding specificity of B52, we isolated B52-binding RNAs by selection and amplification from a pool of random RNA sequences by using full-length B52 protein as the target. These RNAs contained a conserved consensus motif that constitutes the core of a secondary structural element predicted by energy minimization. Deletion and substitution mutations defined the B52-binding site on these RNAs as a hairpin loop structure covering about 20 nucleotides, which was confirmed by structure-specific enzymatic probing. Finally, we demonstrated that both RNA recognition motifs of B52 are required for RNA binding, while the RS domain is not involved in this interaction.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (52) ◽  
pp. 15868-15873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas F. Porter ◽  
Yvonne Y. Koh ◽  
Brett VanVeller ◽  
Ronald T. Raines ◽  
Marvin Wickens

Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) proteins bind RNA with sequence specificity and modularity, and have become exemplary scaffolds in the reengineering of new RNA specificities. Here, we report the in vivo RNA binding sites of wild-type (WT) and reengineered forms of the PUF protein Saccharomyces cerevisiae Puf2p across the transcriptome. Puf2p defines an ancient protein family present throughout fungi, with divergent and distinctive PUF RNA binding domains, RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), and prion regions. We identify sites in RNA bound to Puf2p in vivo by using two forms of UV cross-linking followed by immunopurification. The protein specifically binds more than 1,000 mRNAs, which contain multiple iterations of UAAU-binding elements. Regions outside the PUF domain, including the RRM, enhance discrimination among targets. Compensatory mutants reveal that one Puf2p molecule binds one UAAU sequence, and align the protein with the RNA site. Based on this architecture, we redesign Puf2p to bind UAAG and identify the targets of this reengineered PUF in vivo. The mutant protein finds its target site in 1,800 RNAs and yields a novel RNA network with a dramatic redistribution of binding elements. The mutant protein exhibits even greater RNA specificity than wild type. The redesigned protein decreases the abundance of RNAs in its redesigned network. These results suggest that reengineering using the PUF scaffold redirects and can even enhance specificity in vivo.


1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
K E McGrath ◽  
J F Smothers ◽  
C A Dadd ◽  
M T Madireddi ◽  
M A Gorovsky ◽  
...  

An abundant 52-kDa phosphoprotein was identified and characterized from macronuclei of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. Immunoblot analyses combined with light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry demonstrate that this polypeptide, termed Nopp52, is enriched in the nucleoli of transcriptionally active macronuclei and missing altogether from transcriptionally inert micronuclei. The cDNA sequence encoding Nopp52 predicts a polypeptide whose amino-terminal half consists of multiple acidic/serine-rich regions alternating with basic/proline-rich regions. Multiple serines located in these acidic stretches lie within casein kinase II consensus motifs, and Nopp52 is an excellent substrate for casein kinase II in vitro. The carboxyl-terminal half of Nopp52 contains two RNA recognition motifs and an extreme carboxyl-terminal domain rich in glycine, arginine, and phenylalanine, motifs common in many RNA processing proteins. A similar combination and order of motifs is found in vertebrate nucleolin and yeast NSR1, suggesting that Nopp52 is a member of a family of related nucleolar proteins. NSR1 and nucleolin have been implicated in transcriptional regulation of rDNA and rRNA processing. Consistent with a role in ribosomal gene metabolism, rDNA and Nopp52 colocalize in situ, as well as by cross-linking and immunoprecipitation experiments, demonstrating an association between Nopp52 and rDNA in vivo.


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1119-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bardees M. Foda ◽  
Kurtis M. Downey ◽  
John C. Fisk ◽  
Laurie K. Read

ABSTRACT Efficient editing of Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial RNAs involves the actions of multiple accessory factors. T. brucei RGG2 (TbRGG2) is an essential protein crucial for initiation and 3′-to-5′ progression of editing. TbRGG2 comprises an N-terminal G-rich region containing GWG and RG repeats and a C-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM)-containing domain. Here, we perform in vitro and in vivo separation-of-function studies to interrogate the mechanism of TbRGG2 action in RNA editing. TbRGG2 preferentially binds preedited mRNA in vitro with high affinity attributable to its G-rich region. RNA-annealing and -melting activities are separable, carried out primarily by the G-rich and RRM domains, respectively. In vivo , the G-rich domain partially complements TbRGG2 knockdown, but the RRM domain is also required. Notably, TbRGG2's RNA-melting activity is dispensable for RNA editing in vivo . Interactions between TbRGG2 and MRB1 complex proteins are mediated by both G-rich and RRM-containing domains, depending on the binding partner. Overall, our results are consistent with a model in which the high-affinity RNA binding and RNA-annealing activities of the G-rich domain are essential for RNA editing in vivo . The RRM domain may have key functions involving interactions with the MRB1 complex and/or regulation of the activities of the G-rich domain.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1205-1218
Author(s):  
Regina M Vidaver ◽  
David M Fortner ◽  
Liana S Loos-Austin ◽  
David A Brow

Abstract U6 spliceosomal RNA has a complex secondary structure that includes a highly conserved stemloop near the 3′ end. The 3′ stem is unwound when U6 RNA base-pairs with U4 RNA during spliceosome assembly, but likely reforms when U4 RNA leaves the spliceosome prior to the catalysis of splicing. A mutation in yeast U6 RNA that hyperstabilizes the 3′ stem confers cold sensitivity and inhibits U4/U6 assembly as well as a later step in splicing. Here we show that extragenic suppressors of the 3′ stem mutation map to the gene coding for splicing factor Prp24. The suppressor mutations are located in the second and third of three RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs) in Prp24 and are predicted to disrupt RNA binding. Mutations in U6 RNA predicted to destabilize a novel helix adjacent to the 3′ stem also suppress the 3′ stem mutation and enhance the growth defect of a suppressor mutation in RRM2 of Prp24. Both phenotypes are reverted by a compensatory mutation that restores pairing in the novel helix. These results are best explained by a model in which RRMs 2 and 3 of Prp24 stabilize an extended intramolecular structure in U6 RNA that competes with the U4/U6 RNA interaction, and thus influence both association and dissociation of U4 and U6 RNAs during the splicing cycle.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 259-275
Author(s):  
Ralf Stanewsky ◽  
Thomas A Fry ◽  
Ingolf Reim ◽  
Harald Saumwebert ◽  
Jeffrey C Hall

Abstract The no-on-transient-A (nonA) gene of Drosophila melanogaster influences vision, courtship song, and viability. The nod-encoded polypeptide is inferred to bind single-stranded nucleic acids. Although sequence-analysis of NONA implies that it belongs to a special interspecific family of this protein type, it does contain two classical RNA recognition motifs (RRM). Their behavioral significance was assayed by generating transgenic strains that were singly or multiply mutated within the relatively N-terminal motif (RRM1) or within RRM2. Neither class of mutation affected NONA binding to polytene chromcsomes. The former mutations led to extremely low viability, accompanied by diminished adult longevities that were much worse than for a nod-null mutant, implying that faulty interpolypeptide interactions might accompany the effects of the amino-acid substitutions within RRM1. All in vitro-mutated types caused optomotor blindness and an absence of transient spikes in the electroretinogram. Courtship analysis discriminated between the effects of the mutations: the RRM2-mutated type generated song pulses and trains that tended to be mildly mutant. These phenotypic abnormalities reinforce the notion that nonA' s ubiquitous expression has its most important consequences in the optic lobes, the thoracic ganglia, or both, depending in part on the nonA allele.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Nshogoza ◽  
Yaqian Liu ◽  
Jia Gao ◽  
Mingqing Liu ◽  
Sayed Ala Moududee ◽  
...  

The TDP-43 is originally a nuclear protein but translocates to the cytoplasm in the pathological condition. TDP-43, as an RNA-binding protein, consists of two RNA Recognition Motifs (RRM1 and RRM2). RRMs are known to involve both protein-nucleotide and protein-protein interactions and mediate the formation of stress granules. Thus, they assist the entire TDP-43 protein with participating in neurodegenerative and cancer diseases. Consequently, they are potential therapeutic targets. Protein-observed and ligand-observed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to uncover the small molecule inhibitors against the tandem RRM of TDP-43. We identified three hits weakly binding the tandem RRMs using the ligand-observed NMR fragment-based screening. The binding topology of these hits is then depicted by chemical shift perturbations (CSP) of the 15N-labeled tandem RRM and RRM2, respectively, and modeled by the CSP-guided High Ambiguity Driven biomolecular DOCKing (HADDOCK). These hits mainly bind to the RRM2 domain, which suggests the druggability of the RRM2 domain of TDP-43. These hits also facilitate further studies regarding the hit-to-lead evolution against the TDP-43 RRM domain.


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