Sakurako Goto-Ito

Tertiary structure checkpoint at anticodon loop modification in tRNA functional maturation

tRNA precursors undergo a maturation process, involving nucleotide modifications and folding into the L-shaped tertiary structure. The N1-methylguanosine at position 37 (m1G37), 3′ adjacent to the anticodon, is essential for translational fidelity and efficiency. In archaea and eukaryotes, Trm5 introduces the m1G37 modification into all tRNAs bearing G37. Here we report the crystal structures of archaeal Trm5 (aTrm5) in complex with tRNALeu or tRNACys. The D2-D3 domains of aTrm5 discover and modify G37, independently of the tRNA sequences. D1 is connected to D2-D3 through a flexible linker and is designed to recognize the shape of the tRNA outer corner, as a hallmark of the completed L shape formation. This interaction by D1 lowers the Km value for tRNA, enabling the D2-D3 catalysis. Thus, we propose that aTrm5 provides the tertiary structure checkpoint in tRNA maturation.

Structures of CYLD USP with Met1- or Lys63-linked diubiquitin reveal mechanisms for dual specificity

The tumor suppressor CYLD belongs to a ubiquitin (Ub)-specific protease (USP) family and specifically cleaves Met1- and Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains to suppress inflammatory signaling pathways. Here, we report crystal structures representing the catalytic states of zebrafish CYLD for Met1- and Lys63-linked Ub chains and two distinct precatalytic states for Met1-linked chains. In both catalytic states, the distal Ub is bound to CYLD in a similar manner, and the scissile bond is located close to the catalytic residue, whereas the proximal Ub is bound in a manner specific to Met1- or Lys63-linked chains. Further structure-based mutagenesis experiments support the mechanism by which CYLD specifically cleaves both Met1- and Lys63-linked chains and provide insight into tumor-associated mutations of CYLD. This study provides new structural insight into the mechanisms by which USP family deubiquitinating enzymes recognize and cleave Ub chains with specific linkage types.

Crystal structure of archaeal tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase aTrm5

Methylation of the N1 atom of guanosine at position 37 in tRNA, the position 3′‐adjacent to the anticodon, generates the modified nucleoside m1G37. In archaea and eukaryotes, m1G37 synthesis is catalyzed by tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase (archaeal or eukaryotic Trm5, a/eTrm5). Here we report the crystal structure of archaeal Trm5 (aTrm5) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (formerly known as Methanococcus jannaschii) in complex with the methyl donor analogue at 2.2 Å resolution. The crystal structure revealed that the entire protein is composed of three structural domains, D1, D2, and D3. In the a/eTrm5 primary structures, D2 and D3 are highly conserved, while D1 is not conserved. The D3 structure is the Rossmann fold, which is the hallmark of the canonical class‐I methyltransferases. The a/eTrm5‐defining domain, D2, exhibits structural similarity to some class‐I methyltransferases. In contrast, a DALI search with the D1 structure yielded no structural homologues. In the crystal structure, D3 contacts both D1 and D2. The residues involved in the D1:D3 interactions are not conserved, while those participating in the D2:D3 interactions are well conserved. D1 and D2 do not contact each other, and the linker between them is disordered. aTrm5 fragments corresponding to the D1 and D2‐D3 regions were prepared in a soluble form. The NMR analysis of the D1 fragment revealed that D1 is well folded by itself, and it did not interact with either the D2‐D3 fragment or the tRNA. The NMR analysis of the D2‐D3 fragment revealed that it is well folded, independently of D1, and that it interacts with tRNA. Furthermore, the D2‐D3 fragment was as active as the full‐length enzyme for tRNA methylation. The positive charges on the surface of D2‐D3 may be involved in tRNA binding. Therefore, these findings suggest that the interaction between D1 and D3 is not persistent, and that the D2‐D3 region plays the major role in tRNA methylation.

Molecular basis of Lys-63-linked polyubiquitination inhibition by the interaction between human deubiquitinating enzyme OTUB1 and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC13.

Background: A deubiquitinating enzyme OTUB1 inhibits Lys-63-linked ubiquitination by binding to a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC13. Results: A mechanism of human OTUB1-UBC13 interaction was revealed by human OTUB1-UBC13-MMS2 complex structure and structure-based mutagenesis. Conclusion: The atomic-level interactions presented by the OTUB1-UBC13-MMS2 complex structure are critical for Lys-63-linked ubiquitination inhibition. Significance: Learning how ubiquitination is regulated by the OTUB1-UBC13 interaction is crucial for understanding DNA damage response in biology. UBC13 is the only known E2 ubiquitin (Ub)-conjugating enzyme that produces Lys-63-linked Ub chain with its cofactor E2 variant UEV1a or MMS2. Lys-63-linked ubiquitination is crucial for recruitment of DNA repair and damage response molecules to sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). A deubiquitinating enzyme OTUB1 suppresses Lys-63-linked ubiquitination of chromatin surrounding DSBs by binding UBC13 to inhibit its E2 activity independently of the isopeptidase activity. OTUB1 strongly suppresses UBC13-dependent Lys-63-linked tri-Ub production, whereas it allows di-Ub production in vitro. The mechanism of this non-canonical OTUB1-mediated inhibition of ubiquitination remains to be elucidated. Furthermore, the atomic level information of the interaction between human OTUB1 and UBC13 has not been reported. Here, we determined the crystal structure of human OTUB1 in complex with human UBC13 and MMS2 at 3.15 Å resolution. The presented atomic-level interactions were confirmed by surface-plasmon resonance spectroscopy with structure-based mutagenesis. The designed OTUB1 mutants cannot inhibit Lys-63-linked Ub chain formation in vitro and histone ubiquitination and 53BP1 assembly around DSB sites in vivo. Finally, we propose a model for how capping of di-Ub by the OTUB1-UBC13-MMS2/UEV1a complex efficiently inhibits Lys-63-linked tri-Ub formation.

Structural basis for methyl-donor-dependent and sequence-specific binding to tRNA substrates by knotted methyltransferase TrmD.

Significance In bacterial tRNAs with the 36GG37 sequence, where positions 36 and 37 are, respectively, the third letter of the anticodon and 3′ adjacent to the anticodon, the modification of N1-methylguanosine (m1G) at position 37 prevents +1 frameshifts on the ribosome. The m1G37 modification is introduced by the enzyme TrmD, which harbors a deep trefoil knot within the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-binding site. We determined the crystal structure of the TrmD homodimer in complex with a substrate tRNA and an AdoMet analog. The structure revealed how TrmD, upon AdoMet binding in the trefoil knot, obtains the ability to bind the substrate tRNA, and interacts with G37 and G36 sequentially to transfer the methyl moiety of AdoMet to the N1 position of G37. The deep trefoil knot architecture is unique to the SpoU and tRNA methyltransferase D (TrmD) (SPOUT) family of methyltransferases (MTases) in all three domains of life. In bacteria, TrmD catalyzes the N1-methylguanosine (m1G) modification at position 37 in transfer RNAs (tRNAs) with the 36GG37 sequence, using S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) as the methyl donor. The m1G37-modified tRNA functions properly to prevent +1 frameshift errors on the ribosome. Here we report the crystal structure of the TrmD homodimer in complex with a substrate tRNA and an AdoMet analog. Our structural analysis revealed the mechanism by which TrmD binds the substrate tRNA in an AdoMet-dependent manner. The trefoil-knot center, which is structurally conserved among SPOUT MTases, accommodates the adenosine moiety of AdoMet by loosening/retightening of the knot. The TrmD-specific regions surrounding the trefoil knot recognize the methionine moiety of AdoMet, and thereby establish the entire TrmD structure for global interactions with tRNA and sequential and specific accommodations of G37 and G36, resulting in the synthesis of m1G37-tRNA.

Differentiating analogous tRNA methyltransferases by fragments of the methyl donor.

Bacterial TrmD and eukaryotic-archaeal Trm5 form a pair of analogous tRNA methyltransferase that catalyze methyl transfer from S-adenosyl methionine (AdoMet) to N(1) of G37, using catalytic motifs that share no sequence or structural homology. Here we show that natural and synthetic analogs of AdoMet are unable to distinguish TrmD from Trm5. Instead, fragments of AdoMet, adenosine and methionine, are selectively inhibitory of TrmD rather than Trm5. Detailed structural information of the two enzymes in complex with adenosine reveals how Trm5 escapes targeting by adopting an altered structure, whereas TrmD is trapped by targeting due to its rigid structure that stably accommodates the fragment. Free energy analysis exposes energetic disparities between the two enzymes in how they approach the binding of AdoMet versus fragments and provides insights into the design of inhibitors selective for TrmD.

Structure of Slitrk2–PTPδ complex reveals mechanisms for splicing-dependent trans -synaptic adhesion

Selective binding between pre- and postsynaptic adhesion molecules can induce synaptic differentiation. Here we report the crystal structure of a synaptogenic trans-synaptic adhesion complex between Slit and Trk-like family member 2 (Slitrk2) and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) δ. The structure and site-directed mutational analysis revealed the structural basis of splicing-dependent adhesion between Slitrks and type IIa RPTPs for inducing synaptic differentiation.

Crystallographic and mutational studies on the tRNA thiouridine synthetase TtuA.

In thermophilic bacteria, specific 2‐thiolation occurs on the conserved ribothymidine at position 54 (T54) in tRNAs, which is necessary for survival at high temperatures. T54 2‐thiolation is achieved by the tRNA thiouridine synthetase TtuA and sulfur‐carrier proteins. TtuA has five conserved CXXC/H motifs and the signature PP motif, and belongs to the TtcA family of tRNA 2‐thiolation enzymes, for which there is currently no structural information. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of a TtuA homolog from the hyperthermophilic archeon Pyrococcus horikoshii at 2.1 Å resolution. The P. horikoshii TtuA forms a homodimer, and each subunit contains a catalytic domain and unique N‐ and C‐terminal zinc fingers. The catalytic domain has much higher structural similarity to that of another tRNA modification enzyme, TilS (tRNAIle2 lysidine synthetase), than to the other type of tRNA 2‐thiolation enzyme, MnmA. Three conserved cysteine residues are clustered in the putative catalytic site, which is not present in TilS. An in vivo mutational analysis in the bacterium Thermus thermophilus demonstrated that the three conserved cysteine residues and the putative ATP‐binding residues in the catalytic domain are important for the TtuA activity. A positively charged surface that includes the catalytic site and the two zinc fingers is likely to provide the tRNA‐binding site. Proteins 2013; 81:1232–1244.

Get1 Stabilizes an Open Dimer Conformation of Get3 ATPase by Binding Two Distinct Interfaces

Tail-anchored (TA) proteins are integral membrane proteins that possess a single transmembrane domain near their carboxy terminus. TA proteins play critical roles in many important cellular processes such as membrane trafficking, protein translocation, and apoptosis. The GET complex mediates posttranslational insertion of newly synthesized TA proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. The GET complex is composed of the homodimeric Get3 ATPase and its heterooligomeric receptor, Get1/2. During insertion, the Get3 dimer shuttles between open and closed conformational states, coupled with ATP hydrolysis and the binding/release of TA proteins. We report crystal structures of ADP-bound Get3 in complex with the cytoplasmic domain of Get1 (Get1CD) in open and semi-open conformations at 3.0- and 4.5-Å resolutions, respectively. Our structures and biochemical data suggest that Get1 uses two interfaces to stabilize the open dimer conformation of Get3. We propose that one interface is sufficient for binding of Get1 by Get3, while the second interface stabilizes the open dimer conformation of Get3.

Crystal structure of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii Trm4 complexed with sinefungin.

tRNA:m(5)C methyltransferase Trm4 generates the modified nucleotide 5-methylcytidine in archaeal and eukaryotic tRNA molecules, using S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) as methyl donor. Most archaea and eukaryotes possess several Trm4 homologs, including those related to diseases, while the archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii has only one gene encoding a Trm4 homolog, MJ0026. The recombinant MJ0026 protein catalyzed AdoMet-dependent methyltransferase activity on tRNA in vitro and was shown to be the M. jannaschii Trm4. We determined the crystal structures of the substrate-free M. jannaschii Trm4 and its complex with sinefungin at 1.27 A and 2.3 A resolutions, respectively. This AdoMet analog is bound in a negatively charged pocket near helix alpha8. This helix can adopt two different conformations, thereby controlling the entry of AdoMet into the active site. Adjacent to the sinefungin-bound pocket, highly conserved residues form a large, positively charged surface, which seems to be suitable for tRNA binding. The structure explains the roles of several conserved residues that were reportedly involved in the enzymatic activity or stability of Trm4p from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also discuss previous genetic and biochemical data on human NSUN2/hTrm4/Misu and archaeal PAB1947 methyltransferase, based on the structure of M. jannaschii Trm4.