Kanako Kuwasako

Structural basis for the sequence-specific RNA-recognition mechanism of human CUG-BP1 RRM3

The CUG-binding protein 1 (CUG-BP1) is a member of the CUG-BP1 and ETR-like factors (CELF) family or the Bruno-like family and is involved in the control of splicing, translation and mRNA degradation. Several target RNA sequences of CUG-BP1 have been predicted, such as the CUG triplet repeat, the GU-rich sequences and the AU-rich element of nuclear pre-mRNAs and/or cytoplasmic mRNA. CUG-BP1 has three RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), among which the third RRM (RRM3) can bind to the target RNAs on its own. In this study, we solved the solution structure of the CUG-BP1 RRM3 by hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy. The CUG-BP1 RRM3 exhibited a noncanonical RRM fold, with the four-stranded β-sheet surface tightly associated with the N-terminal extension. Furthermore, we determined the solution structure of the CUG-BP1 RRM3 in the complex with (UG)3 RNA, and discovered that the UGU trinucleotide is specifically recognized through extensive stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds within the pocket formed by the β-sheet surface and the N-terminal extension. This study revealed the unique mechanism that enables the CUG-BP1 RRM3 to discriminate the short RNA segment from other sequences, thus providing the molecular basis for the comprehension of the role of the RRM3s in the CELF/Bruno-like family.

Structural basis for the dual RNA-recognition modes of human Tra2-β RRM

Human Transformer2-β (hTra2-β) is an important member of the serine/arginine-rich protein family, and contains one RNA recognition motif (RRM). It controls the alternative splicing of several pre-mRNAs, including those of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) protein and the tau protein. Accordingly, the RRM of hTra2-β specifically binds to two types of RNA sequences [the CAA and (GAA)2 sequences]. We determined the solution structure of the hTra2-β RRM (spanning residues Asn110–Thr201), which not only has a canonical RRM fold, but also an unusual alignment of the aromatic amino acids on the β-sheet surface. We then solved the complex structure of the hTra2-β RRM with the (GAA)2 sequence, and found that the AGAA tetra-nucleotide was specifically recognized through hydrogen-bond formation with several amino acids on the N- and C-terminal extensions, as well as stacking interactions mediated by the unusually aligned aromatic rings on the β-sheet surface. Further NMR experiments revealed that the hTra2-β RRM recognizes the CAA sequence when it is integrated in the stem-loop structure. This study indicates that the hTra2-β RRM recognizes two types of RNA sequences in different RNA binding modes.

Structural insight into the interaction of ADP-ribose with the PARP WWE domains

The WWE domain is often identified in proteins associated with ubiquitination or poly‐ADP‐ribosylation. Structural information about WWE domains has been obtained for the ubiquitination‐related proteins, such as Deltex and RNF146, but not yet for the poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerases (PARPs). Here we determined the solution structures of the WWE domains from PARP11 and PARP14, and compared them with that of the RNF146 WWE domain. NMR perturbation experiments revealed the specific differences in their ADP‐ribose recognition modes that correlated with their individual biological activities. The present structural information sheds light on the ADP‐ribose recognition modes by the PARP WWE domains.

Glycolytic flux controls d-serine synthesis through glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in astrocytes

Significance Neurons require enormous energy to maintain continuous neurotransmission. To meet this requirement, astrocytes support neurons by balancing glycolytic flux with the synaptic level of an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate. But to control NMDA-subtype glutamate receptors, regulation of a coagonist, d-serine, as well as of glutamate, is crucial. Here we report that a glycolytic enzyme regulates d-serine synthesis as an indicator of glycolytic activity in astrocytes. This study shows how glutamatergic neurotransmission accommodates to changing energy circumstances through the coagonist. d-Serine is an essential coagonist with glutamate for stimulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors. Although astrocytic metabolic processes are known to regulate synaptic glutamate levels, mechanisms that control d-serine levels are not well defined. Here we show that d-serine production in astrocytes is modulated by the interaction between the d-serine synthetic enzyme serine racemase (SRR) and a glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). In primary cultured astrocytes, glycolysis activity was negatively correlated with d-serine level. We show that SRR interacts directly with GAPDH, and that activation of glycolysis augments this interaction. Biochemical assays using mutant forms of GAPDH with either reduced activity or reduced affinity to SRR revealed that GAPDH suppresses SRR activity by direct binding to GAPDH and through NADH, a product of GAPDH. NADH allosterically inhibits the activity of SRR by promoting the disassociation of ATP from SRR. Thus, astrocytic production of d-serine is modulated by glycolytic activity via interactions between GAPDH and SRR. We found that SRR is expressed in astrocytes in the subiculum of the human hippocampus, where neurons are known to be particularly vulnerable to loss of energy. Collectively, our findings suggest that astrocytic energy metabolism controls d-serine production, thereby influencing glutamatergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus.

Controlling the Fluorescence of Benzofuran‐Modified Uracil Residues in Oligonucleotides by Triple‐Helix Formation

We developed fluorescent turn‐on probes containing a fluorescent nucleoside, 5‐(benzofuran‐2‐yl)deoxyuridine (dUBF) or 5‐(3‐methylbenzofuran‐2‐yl)deoxyuridine (dUMBF), for the detection of single‐stranded DNA or RNA by utilizing DNA triplex formation. Fluorescence measurements revealed that the probe containing dUMBF achieved superior fluorescence enhancement than that containing dUBF. NMR and fluorescence analyses indicated that the fluorescence intensity increased upon triplex formation partly as a consequence of a conformational change at the bond between the 3‐methylbenzofuran and uracil rings. In addition, it is suggested that the microenvironment around the 3‐methylbenzofuran ring contributed to the fluorescence enhancement. Further, we developed a method for detecting RNA by rolling circular amplification in combination with triplex‐induced fluorescence enhancement of the oligonucleotide probe containing dUMBF.

RBFOX and SUP-12 sandwich a G base to cooperatively regulate tissue-specific splicing

Tissue-specific alternative pre-mRNA splicing is often cooperatively regulated by multiple splicing factors, but the structural basis of cooperative RNA recognition is poorly understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, ligand binding specificity of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) is determined by mutually exclusive alternative splicing of the sole FGFR gene, egl-15. Here we determined the solution structure of a ternary complex of the RNA-recognition motif (RRM) domains from the RBFOX protein ASD-1, SUP-12 and their target RNA from egl-15. The two RRM domains cooperatively interact with the RNA by sandwiching a G base to form the stable complex. Multichromatic fluorescence splicing reporters confirmed the requirement of the G and the juxtaposition of the respective cis elements for effective splicing regulation in vivo. Moreover, we identified a new target for the heterologous complex through an element search, confirming the functional significance of the intermolecular coordination.

Complex assembly mechanism and an RNA-binding mode of the human p14-SF3b155 spliceosomal protein complex identified by NMR solution structure and functional analyses

The spliceosomal protein p14, a component of the SF3b complex in the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP), is essential for the U2 snRNP to recognize the branch site adenosine. The elucidation of the dynamic process of the splicing machinery rearrangement awaited the solution structural information. We identified a suitable complex of human p14 and the SF3b155 fragment for the determination of its solution structure by NMR. In addition to the overall structure of the complex, which was recently reported in a crystallographic study (typical RNA recognition motif fold β1‐α1‐β2‐β3‐α2‐β4 of p14, and αA‐βA fold of the SF3b155 fragment), we identified three important features revealed by the NMR solution structure. First, the C‐terminal extension and the nuclear localization signal of p14 (α3 and α4 in the crystal structure, respectively) were dispensable for the complex formation. Second, the proline‐rich segment of SF3b155, following βA, closely approaches p14. Third, interestingly, the β1‐α1 loop and the α2‐β4 β‐hairpin form a positively charged groove. Extensive mutagenesis analyses revealed the functional relevance of the residues involved in the protein–protein interactions: two aromatic residues of SF3b155 (Phe408 and Tyr412) play crucial roles in the complex formation, and two hydrophobic residues (Val414 and Leu415) in SF3b 155 serve as an anchor for the complex formation, by cooperating with the aromatic residues. These findings clearly led to the conclusion that SFb155 binds to p14 with three contact points, involving Phe408, Tyr412, and Val414/Leu415. Furthermore, to dissect the interactions between p14 and the branch site RNA, we performed chemical‐shift‐perturbation experiments, not only for the main‐chain but also for the side‐chain resonances, for several p14‐SF3b155 complex constructs upon binding to RNA. These analyses identified a positively charged groove and the C‐terminal extension of p14 as RNA‐binding sites. Strikingly, an aromatic residue in the β1‐α1 loop, Tyr28, and a positively charged residue in the α2‐β4 β‐hairpin, Agr85, are critical for the RNA‐binding activity of the positively charged groove. The Tyr28Ala and Arg85Ala point mutants and a deletion mutant of the C‐terminal extension clearly revealed that their RNA binding activities were independent of each other. Collectively, this study provides details for the protein‐recognition mode of p14 and insight into the branch site recognition. Proteins 2008.

AU-rich RNA-binding induces changes in the quaternary structure of AUH

The human AU RNA binding protein/enoyl‐Coenzyme A hydratase (AUH) is a 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaconyl‐CoA dehydratase in the leucine degradation pathway. It also possesses an RNA‐binding activity to AUUU repeats, which involves no known conserved RNA‐binding domains and is seemingly unrelated to the enzymatic activity. In this study, we performed mass spectrometric analyses to elucidate the oligomeric states of AUH in the presence and absence of RNA. With a short RNA (AUUU) or without RNA, AUH mainly exists as a trimer in solution. On the other hand, the AUH trimer dimerizes upon binding to one molecule of a long RNA containing 24 repeats of the AUUU motif, (AUUU)24A. AUH was crystallized with the long RNA. Although the RNA was disordered in the crystalline lattice, the AUH structure was determined as an asymmetric dimer of trimers with a kink in the alignment of the trimer axes, resulting in the formation of two clefts with significantly different sizes. Proteins 2009.

Solution structure of the splicing factor motif of the human Prp18 protein

Solution structure of the splicing factor motif of the human Prp18 protein Fahu He, Makoto Inoue, Takanori Kigawa, Mari Takahashi, Kanako Kuwasako, Kengo Tsuda, Naohiro Kobayashi, Takaho Terada, Mikako Shirouzu, Peter Güntert, Shigeyuki Yokoyama,* and Yutaka Muto* 1 RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan 2 Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuda-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8502, Japan 3 Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 4Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Solution structure of the first RNA recognition motif domain of human spliceosomal protein SF3b49 and its mode of interaction with a SF3b145 fragment

The spliceosomal protein SF3b49, a component of the splicing factor 3b (SF3b) protein complex in the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein, contains two RNA recognition motif (RRM) domains. In yeast, the first RRM domain (RRM1) of Hsh49 protein (yeast orthologue of human SF3b49) reportedly interacts with another component, Cus1 protein (orthologue of human SF3b145). Here, we solved the solution structure of the RRM1 of human SF3b49 and examined its mode of interaction with a fragment of human SF3b145 using NMR methods. Chemical shift mapping showed that the SF3b145 fragment spanning residues 598–631 interacts with SF3b49 RRM1, which adopts a canonical RRM fold with a topology of β1‐α1‐β2‐β3‐α2‐β4. Furthermore, a docking model based on NOESY measurements suggests that residues 607–616 of the SF3b145 fragment adopt a helical structure that binds to RRM1 predominantly via α1, consequently exhibiting a helix–helix interaction in almost antiparallel. This mode of interaction was confirmed by a mutational analysis using GST pull‐down assays. Comparison with structures of all RRM domains when complexed with a peptide found that this helix–helix interaction is unique to SF3b49 RRM1. Additionally, all amino acid residues involved in the interaction are well conserved among eukaryotes, suggesting evolutionary conservation of this interaction mode between SF3b49 RRM1 and SF3b145.