Mark Del Campo

DEAD-box proteins can completely separate an RNA duplex using a single ATP

DEAD-box proteins are ubiquitous in RNA metabolism and use ATP to mediate RNA conformational changes. These proteins have been suggested to use a fundamentally different mechanism from the related DNA and RNA helicases, generating local strand separation while remaining tethered through additional interactions with structured RNAs and RNA-protein (RNP) complexes. Here, we provide a critical test of this model by measuring the number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed by DEAD-box proteins as they separate short RNA helices characteristic of structured RNAs (6–11 bp). We show that the DEAD-box protein CYT-19 can achieve complete strand separation using a single ATP, and that 2 related proteins, Mss116p and Ded1p, display similar behavior. Under some conditions, considerably <1 ATP is hydrolyzed per separation event, even though strand separation is strongly dependent on ATP and is not supported by the nucleotide analog AMP-PNP. Thus, ATP strongly enhances strand separation activity even without being hydrolyzed, most likely by eliciting or stabilizing a protein conformation that promotes strand separation, and AMP-PNP does not mimic ATP in this regard. Together, our results show that DEAD-box proteins can disrupt short duplexes by using a single cycle of ATP-dependent conformational changes, strongly supporting and extending models in which DEAD-box proteins perform local rearrangements while remaining tethered to their target RNAs or RNP complexes. This mechanism may underlie the functions of DEAD-box proteins by allowing them to generate local rearrangements without disrupting the global structures of their targets.

Unwinding by local strand separation is critical for the function of DEAD-box proteins as RNA chaperones.

The DEAD-box proteins CYT-19 in Neurospora crassa and Mss116p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are broadly acting RNA chaperones that function in mitochondria to stimulate group I and group II intron splicing and to activate mRNA translation. Previous studies showed that the S. cerevisiae cytosolic/nuclear DEAD-box protein Ded1p could stimulate group II intron splicing in vitro. Here, we show that Ded1p complements mitochondrial translation and group I and group II intron splicing defects in mss116Delta strains, stimulates the in vitro splicing of group I and group II introns, and functions indistinguishably from CYT-19 to resolve different nonnative secondary and/or tertiary structures in the Tetrahymena thermophila large subunit rRNA-DeltaP5abc group I intron. The Escherichia coli DEAD-box protein SrmB also stimulates group I and group II intron splicing in vitro, while the E. coli DEAD-box protein DbpA and the vaccinia virus DExH-box protein NPH-II gave little, if any, group I or group II intron splicing stimulation in vitro or in vivo. The four DEAD-box proteins that stimulate group I and group II intron splicing unwind RNA duplexes by local strand separation and have little or no specificity, as judged by RNA-binding assays and stimulation of their ATPase activity by diverse RNAs. In contrast, DbpA binds group I and group II intron RNAs nonspecifically, but its ATPase activity is activated specifically by a helical segment of E. coli 23S rRNA, and NPH-II unwinds RNAs by directional translocation. The ability of DEAD-box proteins to stimulate group I and group II intron splicing correlates primarily with their RNA-unwinding activity, which, for the protein preparations used here, was greatest for Mss116p, followed by Ded1p, CYT-19, and SrmB. Furthermore, this correlation holds for all group I and group II intron RNAs tested, implying a fundamentally similar mechanism for both types of introns. Our results support the hypothesis that DEAD-box proteins have an inherent ability to function as RNA chaperones by virtue of their distinctive RNA-unwinding mechanism, which enables refolding of localized RNA regions or structures without globally disrupting RNA structure.

Structural basis for RNA-duplex recognition and unwinding by the DEAD-box helicase Mss116p

DEAD-box proteins are the largest family of nucleic acid helicases, and are crucial to RNA metabolism throughout all domains of life. They contain a conserved ‘helicase core’ of two RecA-like domains (domains (D)1 and D2), which uses ATP to catalyse the unwinding of short RNA duplexes by non-processive, local strand separation. This mode of action differs from that of translocating helicases and allows DEAD-box proteins to remodel large RNAs and RNA–protein complexes without globally disrupting RNA structure. However, the structural basis for this distinctive mode of RNA unwinding remains unclear. Here, structural, biochemical and genetic analyses of the yeast DEAD-box protein Mss116p indicate that the helicase core domains have modular functions that enable a novel mechanism for RNA-duplex recognition and unwinding. By investigating D1 and D2 individually and together, we find that D1 acts as an ATP-binding domain and D2 functions as an RNA-duplex recognition domain. D2 contains a nucleic-acid-binding pocket that is formed by conserved DEAD-box protein sequence motifs and accommodates A-form but not B-form duplexes, providing a basis for RNA substrate specificity. Upon a conformational change in which the two core domains join to form a ‘closed state’ with an ATPase active site, conserved motifs in D1 promote the unwinding of duplex substrates bound to D2 by excluding one RNA strand and bending the other. Our results provide a comprehensive structural model for how DEAD-box proteins recognize and unwind RNA duplexes. This model explains key features of DEAD-box protein function and affords a new perspective on how the evolutionarily related cores of other RNA and DNA helicases diverged to use different mechanisms.

Solution structures of DEAD-box RNA chaperones reveal conformational changes and nucleic acid tethering by a basic tail

The mitochondrial DEAD-box proteins Mss116p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and CYT-19 of Neurospora crassa are ATP-dependent helicases that function as general RNA chaperones. The helicase core of each protein precedes a C-terminal extension and a basic tail, whose structural role is unclear. Here we used small-angle X-ray scattering to obtain solution structures of the full-length proteins and a series of deletion mutants. We find that the two core domains have a preferred relative orientation in the open state without substrates, and we visualize the transition to a compact closed state upon binding RNA and adenosine nucleotide. An analysis of complexes with large chimeric oligonucleotides shows that the basic tails of both proteins are attached flexibly, enabling them to bind rigid duplex DNA segments extending from the core in different directions. Our results indicate that the basic tails of DEAD-box proteins contribute to RNA-chaperone activity by binding nonspecifically to large RNA substrates and flexibly tethering the core for the unwinding of neighboring duplexes.

Molecular basis of antibiotic multiresistance transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections pose a significant threat to human health. Antibiotic resistance is most commonly propagated by conjugative plasmids like pLW1043, the first vancomycin-resistant S. aureus vector identified in humans. We present the molecular basis for resistance transmission by the nicking enzyme in S. aureus (NES), which is essential for conjugative transfer. NES initiates and terminates the transfer of plasmids that variously confer resistance to a range of drugs, including vancomycin, gentamicin, and mupirocin. The NES N-terminal relaxase–DNA complex crystal structure reveals unique protein–DNA contacts essential in vitro and for conjugation in S. aureus. Using this structural information, we designed a DNA minor groove-targeted polyamide that inhibits NES with low micromolar efficacy. The crystal structure of the 341-residue C-terminal region outlines a unique architecture; in vitro and cell-based studies further establish that it is essential for conjugation and regulates the activity of the N-terminal relaxase. This conclusion is supported by a small-angle X-ray scattering structure of a full-length, 665-residue NES–DNA complex. Together, these data reveal the structural basis for antibiotic multiresistance acquisition by S. aureus and suggest novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.

Identification of proteins associated with the yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase by tandem affinity purification

The abundance of mitochondrial (mt) transcripts varies under different conditions, and is thought to depend upon rates of transcription initiation, transcription termination/attenuation and RNA processing/degradation. The requirement to maintain the balance between RNA synthesis and processing may involve coordination between these processes; however, little is known about factors that regulate the activity of mtRNA polymerase (mtRNAP). Recent attempts to identify mtRNAP–protein interactions in yeast by means of a generalized tandem affinity purification (TAP) protocol were not successful, most likely because they involved a C‐terminal mtRNAP–TAP fusion (which is incompatible with mtRNAP function) and because of the use of whole‐cell solubilization protocols that did not preserve the integrity of mt protein complexes. Based upon the structure of T7 RNAP (to which mtRNAPs show high sequence similarity), we identified positions in yeast mtRNAP that allow insertion of a small affinity tag, confirmed the mature N‐terminus, constructed a functional N‐terminal TAP–mtRNAP fusion, pulled down associated proteins, and identified them by LC–MS–MS. Among the proteins found in the pull‐down were a DEAD‐box protein (Mss116p) and an RNA‐binding protein (Pet127p). Previous genetic experiments suggested a role for these proteins in linking transcription and RNA degradation, in that a defect in the mt degradadosome could be suppressed by overexpression of either of these proteins or, independently, by mutations in either mtRNAP or its initiation factor Mtf1p. Further, we found that Mss116p inhibits transcription by mtRNAP in vitro in a steady‐state reaction. Our results support the hypothesis that Mss116p and Pet127p are involved in modulation of mtRNAP activity. Copyright

ATP-dependent roles of the DEAD-box protein Mss116p in group II intron splicing in vitro and in vivo

The yeast DEAD-box protein Mss116p functions as a general RNA chaperone in splicing mitochondrial group I and group II introns. For most of its functions, Mss116p is thought to use ATP-dependent RNA unwinding to facilitate RNA structural transitions, but it has been suggested to assist in the folding of one group II intron (aI5γ) primarily by stabilizing a folding intermediate. Here we compare three aI5γ constructs: one with long exons, one with short exons, and a ribozyme construct lacking exons. The long exons result in slower splicing, suggesting that they misfold and/or stabilize nonnative intronic structures. Nevertheless, Mss116p acceleration of all three constructs depends on ATP and is inhibited by mutations that compromise RNA unwinding, suggesting similar mechanisms. Results of splicing assays and a new two-stage assay that separates ribozyme folding and catalysis indicate that maximal folding of all three constructs by Mss116p requires ATP-dependent RNA unwinding. ATP-independent activation is appreciable for only a subpopulation of the minimal ribozyme construct and not for constructs containing exons. As expected for a general RNA chaperone, Mss116p can also disrupt the native ribozyme, which can refold after Mss116p removal. Finally, using yeast strains with mitochondrial DNA containing only the single intron aI5γ, we show that Mss116p mutants promote splicing in vivo to degrees that correlate with their residual ATP-dependent RNA-unwinding activities. Together, our results indicate that, although DEAD-box proteins play multiple roles in RNA folding, the physiological function of Mss116p in aI5γ splicing includes a requirement for ATP-dependent local unfolding, allowing the conversion of nonfunctional RNA structure into functional RNA structure.

High-Throughput Genetic Identification of Functionally Important Regions of the Yeast DEAD-Box Protein Mss116p.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DEAD-box protein Mss116p is a general RNA chaperone that functions in splicing mitochondrial group I and group II introns. Recent X-ray crystal structures of Mss116p in complex with ATP analogs and single-stranded RNA show that the helicase core induces a bend in the bound RNA, as in other DEAD-box proteins, while a C-terminal extension (CTE) induces a second bend, resulting in RNA crimping. Here, we illuminate these structures by using high-throughput genetic selections, unigenic evolution, and analyses of in vivo splicing activity to comprehensively identify functionally important regions and permissible amino acid substitutions throughout Mss116p. The functionally important regions include those containing conserved sequence motifs involved in ATP and RNA binding or interdomain interactions, as well as previously unidentified regions, including surface loops that may function in protein-protein interactions. The genetic selections recapitulate major features of the conserved helicase motifs seen in other DEAD-box proteins but also show surprising variations, including multiple novel variants of motif III (SAT). Patterns of amino acid substitutions indicate that the RNA bend induced by the helicase core depends on ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions with the bound RNA; identify a subset of critically interacting residues; and indicate that the bend induced by the CTE results primarily from a steric block. Finally, we identified two conserved regions-one the previously noted post II region in the helicase core and the other in the CTE-that may help displace or sequester the opposite RNA strand during RNA unwinding.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction of the DEAD-box protein Mss116p complexed with an RNA oligonucleotide and AMP-PNP

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DEAD-box protein Mss116p is a general RNA chaperone which functions in mitochondrial group I and group II intron splicing, translation and RNA-end processing. For crystallization trials, full-length Mss116p and a C-terminally truncated protein (Mss116p/Delta598-664) were overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Mss116p exhibited low solubility in standard solutions (< or =1 mg ml(-1)), but its solubility could be increased by adding 50 mM L-arginine plus 50 mM L-glutamate and 50% glycerol to achieve concentrations of approximately 10 mg ml(-1). Initial crystals were obtained by the microbatch method in the presence of a U(10) RNA oligonucleotide and the ATP analog AMP-PNP and were then improved by using seeding and sitting-drop vapor diffusion. A cryocooled crystal of Mss116p/Delta598-664 in complex with AMP-PNP and U(10) belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 88.54, b = 126.52, c = 55.52 A, and diffracted X-rays to beyond 1.9 A resolution using synchrotron radiation from sector 21 at the Advanced Photon Source.