scholarly journals TbDSS-1, an Essential Trypanosoma brucei Exoribonuclease Homolog That Has Pleiotropic Effects on Mitochondrial RNA Metabolism

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1206-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonelle L. Penschow ◽  
Daniel A. Sleve ◽  
Christopher M. Ryan ◽  
Laurie K. Read
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
Apocytochrome B ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial gene expression in trypanosomes is controlled primarily at the levels of RNA processing and RNA stability. This regulation undoubtedly involves numerous ribonucleases. Here we characterize the Trypanosoma brucei homolog of the yeast DSS-1 mitochondrial exoribonuclease, which we term TbDSS-1. Biochemical fractionation indicates that TbDSS-1 is mitochondrially localized, as predicted by its N-terminal sequence. In contrast to its yeast homolog, TbDSS-1 does not appear to be associated with mitochondrial ribosomes. Targeted downregulation of TbDSS-1 by RNA interference in procyclic-form T. brucei results in a severe growth defect. In addition, TbDSS-1 depletion leads to a decrease in the levels of never edited cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mRNA and both unedited and edited COIII mRNAs, indicating this enzyme functions in the control of mitochondrial RNA abundance. We also observe a considerable reduction in the level of edited apocytochrome b (CYb) mRNA and a corresponding increase in unedited CYb mRNA, suggesting that TbDSS-1 functions, either directly or indirectly, in the control of RNA editing. The abundance of both gCYb[560] and gA6[149] guide RNAs is reduced upon TbDSS-1 depletion, although the reduction in gCYb[560] is much more dramatic. The significant reduction in gCYb levels could potentially account for the observed decrease in CYb RNA editing. Western blot analyses of mitochondrial RNA editing and stability factors indicate that the perturbations of RNA levels observed in TbDSS-1 knock-downs do not result from secondary effects on other mitochondrial proteins. In all, these data demonstrate that TbDSS-1 is an essential protein that plays a role in mitochondrial RNA stability and RNA editing.

scholarly journals UTP-Dependent and -Independent Pathways of mRNA Turnover in Trypanosoma brucei Mitochondria

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2308-2316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T. Militello ◽  
Laurie K. Read
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
In Organello ◽  
Steady State Levels ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Mrna Polyadenylation

ABSTRACT Although primary transcripts are polycistronic in the mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei, steady-state levels of mature, monocistronic RNAs change throughout the parasitic life cycle. This indicates that steady-state RNA abundance is controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms involving differential RNA stability. In this study, in organello pulse-chase labeling experiments were used to analyze the stability of different T. brucei mitochondrial RNA populations. In this system, total RNA and rRNA are stable for many hours. In contrast, mRNAs can be degraded by two biochemically distinct turnover pathways. The first pathway results in the rapid degradation of mRNA (half-life [t 1/2] of 11 to 18 min) and is dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail. Remarkably, this pathway also requires the addition of UTP and therefore is termed UTP dependent. The second pathway results in slow turnover of mitochondrial mRNA (t 1/2 of ∼3 h) and is not dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail or the addition of exogenous UTP. In summary, these results demonstrate the presence of a novel, UTP-dependent degradation pathway for T. bruceimitochondrial mRNAs and reveal an unprecedented role for both UTP and mRNA polyadenylation in T. brucei mitochondrial gene expression.

scholarly journals An Arginine-Glycine-Rich RNA Binding Protein Impacts the Abundance of Specific mRNAs in the Mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie M. McAdams ◽  
Michelle L. Ammerman ◽  
Julee Nanduri ◽  
Kaylen Lott ◽  
John C. Fisk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Sequence Specificity ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT In kinetoplastid parasites, regulation of mitochondrial gene expression occurs posttranscriptionally via RNA stability and RNA editing. In addition to the 20S editosome that contains the enzymes required for RNA editing, a dynamic complex called the mitochondrial RNA binding 1 (MRB1) complex is also essential for editing. Trypanosoma brucei RGG3 (TbRGG3) was originally identified through its interaction with the guide RNA-associated proteins 1 and 2 (GAP1/2), components of the MRB1 complex. Both the arginine-glycine-rich character of TbRGG3, which suggests a function in RNA binding, and its interaction with MRB1 implicate TbRGG3 in mitochondrial gene regulation. Here, we report an in vitro and in vivo characterization of TbRGG3 function in T. brucei mitochondria. We show that in vitro TbRGG3 binds RNA with broad sequence specificity and has the capacity to modulate RNA-RNA interactions. In vivo , inducible RNA interference (RNAi) studies demonstrate that TbRGG3 is essential for proliferation of insect vector stage T. brucei . TbRGG3 ablation does not cause a defect in RNA editing but, rather, specifically affects the abundance of two preedited transcripts as well as their edited counterparts. Protein-protein interaction studies show that TbRGG3 associates with GAP1/2 apart from the remainder of the MRB1 complex, as well as with several non-MRB1 proteins that are required for mitochondrial RNA editing and/or stability. Together, these studies demonstrate that TbRGG3 is an essential mitochondrial gene regulatory factor that impacts the stabilities of specific RNAs.

scholarly journals A Novel Member of the RNase D Exoribonuclease Family Functions in Mitochondrial Guide RNA Metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (12) ◽  
pp. 10329-10340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Zimmer ◽  
Sarah M. McEvoy ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Jun Qu ◽  
Laurie K. Read
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Sequence Information ◽  
Rna Turnover ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Guide Rnas

RNA turnover and RNA editing are essential for regulation of mitochondrial gene expression in Trypanosoma brucei. RNA turnover is controlled in part by RNA 3′ adenylation and uridylation status, with trans-acting factors also impacting RNA homeostasis. However, little is known about the mitochondrial degradation machinery or its regulation in T. brucei. We have identified a mitochondrial exoribonuclease, TbRND, whose expression is highly up-regulated in the insect proliferative stage of the parasite. TbRND shares sequence similarity with RNase D family enzymes but differs from all reported members of this family in possessing a CCHC zinc finger domain. In vitro, TbRND exhibits 3′ to 5′ exoribonuclease activity, with specificity toward uridine homopolymers, including the 3′ oligo(U) tails of guide RNAs (gRNAs) that provide the sequence information for RNA editing. Several lines of evidence generated from RNAi-mediated knockdown and overexpression cell lines indicate that TbRND functions in gRNA metabolism in vivo. First, TbRND depletion results in gRNA tails extended by 2–3 nucleotides on average. Second, overexpression of wild type but not catalytically inactive TbRND results in a substantial decrease in the total gRNA population and a consequent inhibition of RNA editing. The observed effects on the gRNA population are specific as rRNAs, which are also 3′-uridylated, are unaffected by TbRND depletion or overexpression. Finally, we show that gRNA binding proteins co-purify with TbRND. In summary, TbRND is a novel 3′ to 5′ exoribonuclease that appears to have evolved a function highly specific to the mitochondrion of trypanosomes.

scholarly journals A single-cell genome reveals diplonemid-like ancestry of kinetoplastid mitochondrial gene structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1786) ◽  
pp. 20190100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy G. Wideman ◽  
Gordon Lax ◽  
Guy Leonard ◽  
David S. Milner ◽  
Raquel Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Genome Fragmentation ◽  
Gene Architecture ◽  
Ancestral States ◽  
Cell Genome

Euglenozoa comprises euglenids, kinetoplastids, and diplonemids, with each group exhibiting different and highly unusual mitochondrial genome organizations. Although they are sister groups, kinetoplastids and diplonemids have very distinct mitochondrial genome architectures, requiring widespread insertion/deletion RNA editing and extensive trans -splicing, respectively, in order to generate functional transcripts. The evolutionary history by which these differing processes arose remains unclear. Using single-cell genomics, followed by small sub unit ribosomal DNA and multigene phylogenies, we identified an isolated marine cell that branches on phylogenetic trees as a sister to known kinetoplastids. Analysis of single-cell amplified genomic material identified multiple mitochondrial genome contigs. These revealed a gene architecture resembling that of diplonemid mitochondria, with small fragments of genes encoded out of order and or on different contigs, indicating that these genes require extensive trans -splicing. Conversely, no requirement for kinetoplastid-like insertion/deletion RNA-editing was detected. Additionally, while we identified some proteins so far only found in kinetoplastids, we could not unequivocally identify mitochondrial RNA editing proteins. These data invite the hypothesis that extensive genome fragmentation and trans -splicing were the ancestral states for the kinetoplastid-diplonemid clade but were lost during the kinetoplastid radiation. This study demonstrates that single-cell approaches can successfully retrieve lineages that represent important new branches on the tree of life, and thus can illuminate major evolutionary and functional transitions in eukaryotes. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Single cell ecology’.

PPR (pentatricopeptide repeat) proteins in mammals: important aids to mitochondrial gene expression

2008 ◽  
Vol 416 (1) ◽  
pp. e5-e6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert N. Lightowlers ◽  
Zofia M. A. Chrzanowska-Lightowlers
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Chain ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Complex Iii ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Pentatricopeptide Repeat ◽  
Respiratory Chain Complexes ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Apocytochrome B

Genes encoding PPR (pentatricopeptide repeat)-containing proteins constitute one of the largest gene families in plants. The majority of these proteins are predicted to target organelles and to bind to RNA. Strikingly, there is a dearth of these proteins in mammals, although genomic searches reveal six candidates, all of which are also predicted to target the mitochondrion. Two of these proteins, POLRMT (the mitochondrial RNA polymerase) and MRPS27, a mitoribosomal protein, are involved in transcription and translation respectively. PTCD1 (pentatricopeptide repeat domain protein 1) and PTCD3 are predicted to be involved in the assembly of respiratory chain complexes, whereas mutations in one other protein, LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat cassette), have been shown to cause defects in the levels of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal member of the respiratory chain. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Xu et al. turn their attention to the remaining candidate, PTCD2. Depletion in a mouse model led to deficiencies of the third complex of the respiratory chain that caused profound ultrastructural changes in the heart. The exact molecular function of PTCD2 remains unclear, but depletion leads to an apparent lack of processing of the mitochondrial transcript encoding apocytochrome b, a critical member of complex III. These data are consistent with PTCD2 playing an important role in the post-transcriptional expression of the mitochondrial genome.

scholarly journals Non-DNA-Templated Addition of Nucleotides to the 3′ End of RNAs by the Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase of Physarum polycephalum

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 5795-5802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara L. Miller ◽  
Dennis L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Physarum Polycephalum ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna Polymerase

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial gene expression is necessary for proper mitochondrial biogenesis. Genes on the mitochondrial DNA are transcribed by a dedicated mitochondrial RNA polymerase (mtRNAP) that is encoded in the nucleus and imported into mitochondria. In the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum, nucleotides that are not specified by the mitochondrial DNA templates are inserted into some RNAs, a process called RNA editing. This is an essential step in the expression of these RNAs, as the insertion of the nontemplated nucleotides creates open reading frames for the production of proteins from mRNAs or produces required secondary structure in rRNAs and tRNAs. The nontemplated nucleotide is added to the 3′ end of the RNA as the RNA is being synthesized during mitochondrial transcription. Because RNA editing is cotranscriptional, the mtRNAP is implicated in RNA editing as well as transcription. We have cloned the cDNA for the mtRNAP of Physarum and have expressed the mtRNAP in Escherichia coli. We have used in vitro transcription assays based on the Physarum mtRNAP to identify a novel activity associated with the mtRNAP in which non-DNA-templated nucleotides are added to the 3′ end of RNAs. Any of the four ribonucleoside triphosphates (rNTPs) can act as precursors for this process, and this novel activity is observed when only one rNTP is supplied, a condition under which transcription does not occur. The implications of this activity for the mechanism of RNA editing are discussed.

scholarly journals Guide RNA-mRNA chimeras, which are potential RNA editing intermediates, are formed by endonuclease and RNA ligase in a trypanosome mitochondrial extract.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 2933-2941 ◽  
Author(s):  
L N Rusché ◽  
K J Piller ◽  
B Sollner-Webb
Keyword(s):  
Rna Editing ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Rna Ligase ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
Editing Domain ◽  
Mitochondrial Transcripts ◽  
Mitochondrial Extract

RNA editing in kinetoplast mitochondrial transcripts involves the insertion and/or deletion of uridine residues and is directed by guide RNAs (gRNAs). It is thought to occur through a chimeric intermediate in which the 3' oligo(U) tail of the gRNA is covalently joined to the 3' portion of the mRNA at the site being edited. Chimeras have been proposed to be formed by a transesterification reaction but could also be formed by the known mitochondrial site-specific nuclease and RNA ligase. To distinguish between these models, we studied chimera formation in vitro directed by a trypanosome mitochondrial extract. This reaction was found to occur in two steps. First, the mRNA is cleaved in the 3' portion of the editing domain, and then the 3' fragment derived from this cleavage is ligated to the gRNA. The isolated mRNA 3' cleavage product is a more efficient substrate for chimera formation than is the intact mRNA, inconsistent with a transesterification mechanism but supporting a nuclease-ligase mechanism. Also, when normal mRNA cleavage is inhibited by the presence of a phosphorothioate, normal chimera formation no longer occurs. Rather, this phosphorothioate induces both cleavage and chimera formation at a novel site within the editing domain. Finally, levels of chimera-forming activity correlate with levels of mitochondrial RNA ligase activity when reactions are conducted under conditions which inhibit the ligase, including the lack of ATP containing a cleavable alpha-beta bond. These data show that chimera formation in the mitochondrial extract occurs by a nuclease-ligase mechanism rather than by transesterification.

scholarly journals Distinct Functions of Two RNA Ligases in Active Trypanosoma brucei RNA Editing Complexes

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 4652-4660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-Reyes ◽  
Alevtina G. Zhelonkina ◽  
Catherine E. Huang ◽  
Barbara Sollner-Webb
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Protein Complex ◽  
Base Pairing ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
Single Protein ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Catalytic Functions

ABSTRACT Trypanosome RNA editing is a unique U insertion and U deletion process that involves cycles of pre-mRNA cleavage, terminal U addition or U removal, and religation. This editing can occur at massive levels and is directed by base pairing of trans-acting guide RNAs. Both U insertion and U deletion cycles are catalyzed by a single protein complex that contains only seven major proteins, band I through band VII. However, little is known about their catalytic functions, except that band IV and band V are RNA ligases and genetic analysis indicates that the former is important in U deletion. Here we establish biochemical approaches to distinguish the individual roles of these ligases, based on their distinctive ATP and pyrophosphate utilization. These in vitro analyses revealed that both ligases serve in RNA editing. Band V is the RNA editing ligase that functions very selectively to seal in U insertion (IREL), while band IV is the RNA editing ligase needed to seal in U deletion (DREL). In combination with our earlier findings about the cleavage and the U-addition/U-removal steps of U deletion and U insertion, these results show that all three steps of these editing pathways exhibit major differences and suggest that the editing complex could have physically separate regions for U deletion and U insertion.

Modification of Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial rRNA by posttranscriptional 3' polyuridine tail formation

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5878-5884
Author(s):  
B K Adler ◽  
M E Harris ◽  
K I Bertrand ◽  
S L Hajduk
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Rna Editing ◽  
Total Cell ◽  
Metabolic Labeling ◽  
Mechanism Of Formation ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
Mitochondrial Rrna ◽  
Mitochondrial Transcripts ◽  
Reading Frames

Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial transcripts can be posttranscriptionally processed by uridine addition or deletion. With editing of mRNAs, uridine addition and deletion create precisely altered reading frames. The addition of nonencoded uridines to mitochondrial guide RNAs results in a less precise modification. Although uridines are specifically added to the 3' termini, their number varies, which results in heterogeneous oligo(U) tails on guide RNAs. In this paper, we show that the mitochondrial 9S and 12S rRNAs are also modified by uridine addition. These modifications appear to have aspects in common with both RNA editing and oligo(U) tail formation. Metabolic labeling studies with intact mitochondria and [alpha-32P]UTP, in the absence of transcription, demonstrated the posttranscriptional timing of the event. T1 RNase comparison analyses of cytidine 3',5'-[5'-32P]biphosphate 3'-end-labeled and [alpha-32P]UTP metabolically labeled rRNAs, along with direct RNA sequencing of the 3' termini, identified the site of uridine addition and revealed the creation of an oligo(U) tail for both rRNAs. 12S and 9S rRNAs hybrid selected from total cell RNA exhibited the same modification, demonstrating the presence of this processing in vivo. Moreover, only 3'-poly(U)-tailed 9S and 12S rRNAs were detected in total cellular and mitochondrial RNAs, which suggests that they are the most abundant and probable mature forms. The 12S and 9S rRNA oligo(U) tails differed significantly from each other, with the 12S having a heterogeneous tail of 2 to 17 uridines and the 9S having a tail of precisely 11 uridines. The mechanism of formation and the function of the rRNA poly(U) tails remain to be determined.

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