scholarly journals Virus-Encoded Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases: Structural and Functional Characterization of Mimivirus TyrRS and MetRS

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (22) ◽  
pp. 12406-12417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Abergel ◽  
Joëlle Rudinger-Thirion ◽  
Richard Giegé ◽  
Jean-Michel Claverie

ABSTRACT Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are pivotal in determining how the genetic code is translated in amino acids and in providing the substrate for protein synthesis. As such, they fulfill a key role in a process universally conserved in all cellular organisms from their most complex to their most reduced parasitic forms. In contrast, even complex viruses were not found to encode much translation machinery, with the exception of isolated components such as tRNAs. In this context, the discovery of four aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases encoded in the genome of mimivirus together with a full set of translation initiation, elongation, and termination factors appeared to blur what was once a clear frontier between the cellular and viral world. Functional studies of two mimivirus tRNA synthetases confirmed the MetRS specificity for methionine and the TyrRS specificity for tyrosine and conformity with the identity rules for tRNATyr for archea/eukarya. The atomic structure of the mimivirus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in complex with tyrosinol exhibits the typical fold and active-site organization of archaeal-type TyrRS. However, the viral enzyme presents a unique dimeric conformation and significant differences in its anticodon binding site. The present work suggests that mimivirus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases function as regular translation enzymes in infected amoebas. Their phylogenetic classification does not suggest that they have been acquired recently by horizontal gene transfer from a cellular host but rather militates in favor of an intricate evolutionary relationship between large DNA viruses and ancestral eukaryotes.

2010 ◽  
Vol 429 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Long Zhou ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Min Tan ◽  
Qian Huang ◽  
Gilbert Eriani ◽  
...  

LeuRS (leucyl-tRNA synthetase) catalyses the esterification of tRNAsLeu with leucine. This family of enzymes is divided into prokaryotic and eukaryal/archaeal groups according to the presence and position of specific insertions and extensions. In the present study, we investigated the function of LSD1 (leucine-specific domain 1), which is naturally present in eukaryal/archaeal LeuRSs, but absent from prokaryotic LeuRSs. When mutated in their common domain, the eukaryal and archaeal LeuRSs exhibited defects in the first reaction step of amino acid activation with variations of leucine or ATP-binding strength, whereas the tRNA aminoacylation was moderately affected. When the eukaryal extension was mutated, severe tRNA charging defects were observed, suggesting that eukaryotes evolved this LSD1 extension in order to improve the aminoacylation reaction step. The results also showed that the LSD1s from organisms of both groups are dispensable for post-transfer editing. Together, the data provide us with a further understanding of the organization and structure of LeuRS domains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingyi Chen ◽  
Siting Luo ◽  
Songxuan Zhang ◽  
Yingchen Ju ◽  
Qiong Gu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe polyketide natural product reveromycin A (RM-A) exhibits antifungal, anticancer, anti-bone metastasis, anti-periodontitis and anti-osteoporosis activities by selectively inhibiting eukaryotic cytoplasmic isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS). Herein, a co-crystal structure suggests that the RM-A molecule occupies the substrate tRNAIle binding site of Saccharomyces cerevisiae IleRS (ScIleRS), by partially mimicking the binding of tRNAIle. RM-A binding is facilitated by the copurified intermediate product isoleucyl-adenylate (Ile-AMP). The binding assays confirm that RM-A competes with tRNAIle while binding synergistically with l-isoleucine or intermediate analogue Ile-AMS to the aminoacylation pocket of ScIleRS. This study highlights that the vast tRNA binding site of the Rossmann-fold catalytic domain of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases could be targeted by a small molecule. This finding will inform future rational drug design.


1987 ◽  
Vol 248 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Charlier ◽  
R Sanchez

In contrast with most aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the lysyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli is coded for by two genes, the normal lysS gene and the inducible lysU gene. During its purification from E. coli K12, lysyl-tRNA synthetase was monitored by its aminoacylation and adenosine(5′)tetraphospho(5′)adenosine (Ap4A) synthesis activities. Ap4A synthesis was measured by a new assay using DEAE-cellulose filters. The heterogeneity of lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) was revealed on hydroxyapatite; we focused on the first peak, LysRS1, because of its higher Ap4A/lysyl-tRNA activity ratio at that stage. Additional differences between LysRS1 and LysRS2 (major peak on hydroxyapatite) were collected. LysRS1 was eluted from phosphocellulose in the presence of the substrates, whereas LysRS2 was not. Phosphocellulose chromatography was used to show the increase of LysRS1 in cells submitted to heat shock. Also, the Mg2+ optimum in the Ap4A-synthesis reaction is much higher for LysRS1. LysRS1 showed a higher thermostability, which was specifically enhanced by Zn2+. These results in vivo and in vitro strongly suggest that LysRS1 is the heat-inducible lysU-gene product.


2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Tan ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Ru-Juan Liu ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Xin Chen ◽  
...  

aaRSs (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) establish the rules of the genetic code by catalysing the formation of aminoacyl-tRNA. The quality control for aminoacylation is achieved by editing activity, which is usually carried out by a discrete editing domain. For LeuRS (leucyl-tRNA synthetase), the CP1 (connective peptide 1) domain is the editing domain responsible for hydrolysing mischarged tRNA. The CP1 domain is universally present in LeuRSs, except MmLeuRS (Mycoplasma mobile LeuRS). The substitute of CP1 in MmLeuRS is a nonapeptide (MmLinker). In the present study, we show that the MmLinker, which is critical for the aminoacylation activity of MmLeuRS, could confer remarkable tRNA-charging activity on the inactive CP1-deleted LeuRS from Escherichia coli (EcLeuRS) and Aquifex aeolicus (AaLeuRS). Furthermore, CP1 from EcLeuRS could functionally compensate for the MmLinker and endow MmLeuRS with post-transfer editing capability. These investigations provide a mechanistic framework for the modular construction of aaRSs and their co-ordination to achieve catalytic efficiency and fidelity. These results also show that the pre-transfer editing function of LeuRS originates from its conserved synthetic domain and shed light on future study of the mechanism.


Biochemistry ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Fersht ◽  
Jeremy S. Ashford ◽  
Christopher J. Bruton ◽  
Ross Jakes ◽  
Gordon L. E. Koch ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (2) ◽  
pp. C123-C138 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Giacomello ◽  
M. Quarta ◽  
C. Paolini ◽  
R. Squecco ◽  
P. Fusco ◽  
...  

Muscle-specific ankyrins 1 (sAnk1) are a group of small ankyrin 1 isoforms, of which sAnk1.5 is the most abundant. sAnk1 are localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane from where they interact with obscurin, a myofibrillar protein. This interaction appears to contribute to stabilize the SR close to the myofibrils. Here we report the structural and functional characterization of skeletal muscles from sAnk1 knockout mice (KO). Deletion of sAnk1 did not change the expression and localization of SR proteins in 4- to 6-mo-old sAnk1 KO mice. Structurally, the main modification observed in skeletal muscles of adult sAnk1 KO mice (4–6 mo of age) was the reduction of SR volume at the sarcomere A band level. With increasing age (at 12–15 mo of age) extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscles of sAnk1 KO mice develop prematurely large tubular aggregates, whereas diaphragm undergoes significant structural damage. Parallel functional studies revealed specific changes in the contractile performance of muscles from sAnk1 KO mice and a reduced exercise tolerance in an endurance test on treadmill compared with control mice. Moreover, reduced Qγcharge and L-type Ca2+current, which are indexes of affected excitation-contraction coupling, were observed in diaphragm fibers from 12- to 15-mo-old mice, but not in other skeletal muscles from sAnk1 KO mice. Altogether, these findings show that the ablation of sAnk1, by altering the organization of the SR, renders skeletal muscles susceptible to undergo structural and functional alterations more evident with age, and point to an important contribution of sAnk1 to the maintenance of the longitudinal SR architecture.


mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanya Chadha ◽  
N. Arjunreddy Mallampudi ◽  
Debendra K. Mohapatra ◽  
Rentala Madhubala

ABSTRACT Leishmania donovani is a protozoan parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis. Increasing resistance and severe side effects of existing drugs have led to the need to identify new chemotherapeutic targets. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are ubiquitous and are required for protein synthesis. aaRSs are known drug targets for bacterial and fungal pathogens. Here, we have characterized and evaluated the essentiality of L. donovani lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LdLysRS). Two different coding sequences for lysyl-tRNA synthetases are annotated in the Leishmania genome database. LdLysRS-1 (LdBPK_150270.1), located on chromosome 15, is closer to apicomplexans and eukaryotes, whereas LdLysRS-2 (LdBPK_300130.1), present on chromosome 30, is closer to bacteria. In the present study, we have characterized LdLysRS-1. Recombinant LdLysRS-1 displayed aminoacylation activity, and the protein localized to the cytosol. The LdLysRS-1 heterozygous mutants had a restrictive growth phenotype and attenuated infectivity. LdLysRS-1 appears to be an essential gene, as a chromosomal knockout of LdLysRS-1 could be generated when the gene was provided on a rescuing plasmid. Cladosporin, a fungal secondary metabolite and a known inhibitor of LysRS, was more potent against promastigotes (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 4.19 µM) and intracellular amastigotes (IC50, 1.09 µM) than were isomers of cladosporin (3-epi-isocladosporin and isocladosporin). These compounds exhibited low toxicity to mammalian cells. The specificity of inhibition of parasite growth caused by these inhibitors was further assessed using LdLysRS-1 heterozygous mutant strains and rescue mutant promastigotes. These inhibitors inhibited the aminoacylation activity of recombinant LdLysRS. Our data provide a framework for the development of a new class of drugs against this parasite. IMPORTANCE Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are housekeeping enzymes essential for protein translation, providing charged tRNAs for the proper construction of peptide chains. These enzymes provide raw materials for protein translation and also ensure fidelity of translation. L. donovani is a protozoan parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis. It is a continuously proliferating parasite that depends heavily on efficient protein translation. Lysyl-tRNA synthetase is one of the aaRSs which charges lysine to its cognate tRNA. Two different coding sequences for lysyl-tRNA synthetases (LdLysRS) are present in this parasite. LdLysRS-1 is closer to apicomplexans and eukaryotes, whereas LdLysRS-2 is closer to bacteria. Here, we have characterized LdLysRS-1 of L. donovani. LdLysRS-1 appears to be an essential gene, as the chromosomal null mutants did not survive. The heterozygous mutants showed slower growth kinetics and exhibited attenuated virulence. This study also provides a platform to explore LdLysRS-1 as a potential drug target.


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