Structural basis for messenger RNA movement on the ribosome

Translation initiation is a major determinant of the overall expression level of a gene. The translation of functionally active protein requires the messenger RNA to be positioned on the ribosome such that the start/initiation codon will be read first and in the correct frame. Little is known about the molecular basis for the interaction of mRNA with the ribosome at different states of translation. Recent crystal structures of the ribosomal subunits, the empty 70S ribosome and the 70S ribosome containing functional ligands have provided information about the general organization of the ribosome and its functional centres. Here we compare the X-ray structures of eight ribosome complexes modelling the translation initiation, post-initiation and elongation states. In the initiation and post-initiation complexes, the presence of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) duplex causes strong anchoring of the 5'-end of mRNA onto the platform of the 30S subunit, with numerous interactions between mRNA and the ribosome. Conversely, the 5' end of the 'elongator' mRNA lacking SD interactions is flexible, suggesting a different exit path for mRNA during elongation. After the initiation of translation, but while an SD interaction is still present, mRNA moves in the 3'-->5' direction with simultaneous clockwise rotation and lengthening of the SD duplex, bringing it into contact with ribosomal protein S2.     

Mechanism of ribosome frameshifting during translation of the genetic code

Some frameshift mutations are strongly suppressed by limitation for particular aminoacyl-tRNA species. Here, we show that ribosome frameshifting at a specific tryptophan codon during Trp-tRNA limitation accounts for suppression of a group of downstream frameshift alleles in the rIIB gene of bacteriophage T4. Genetic and physiological observations strongly suggest that ribosome frameshifting at this position depends on the binding of a noncognate (leucine) tRNA.     

The involvement of RNA in ribosome function

The ribosome is a particle made of RNA and protein that is found in abundance in all cells that are actively making protein. It catalyses the messenger RNA-directed synthesis of proteins. Recent structural work has demonstrated a profound involvement of the ribosome's RNA component in all aspects of its function, supporting the hypothesis that proteins were added to the ribosome late in its evolution.     

The Xenopus localized messenger RNA An3 may encode an ATP-dependent RNA helicase

The maternal messenger RNA An3 was originally identified localized to the animal hemisphere of Xenopus laevis oocytes, eggs and early embryos. Xenopus embryos depend on mRNA and protein present in the egg before fertilization (maternal molecules) to provide the information needed for early development. Localization of maternal mRNA gives cells derived from different regions of the egg distinctive capacities for protein synthesis. We show here that An3 mRNA encodes a protein with 74% identity to a protein encoded by the testes-specific mRNA PL10 found in mouse, which is proposed to have RNA helicase activity. Because the gene encoding An3 mRNA is reactivated after gastrulation and remains active throughout embryogenesis, we have examined its distribution in embryonic and adult tissues. Unlike PL10 mRNA, which is primarily restricted to the testes, An3 mRNA is broadly distributed in later development.     

Hormonal regulation of K+-channel messenger RNA in rat myometrium during oestrus cycle and in pregnancy

The dramatic enhancement of smooth-muscle excitability in the uterus which occurs at oestrus and at term in pregnant rats is closely related to increased blood oestrogen concentrations. How oestrogen alters the electrical properties of myometrial cells is unclear, although electrical coupling between cells has been shown to increase. Many examples are known of changes in cellular excitability involving modification of existing ion channels by second-messenger pathways. Steroid hormones, in contrast, are generally thought to influence cellular processes mainly through effects on gene expression, inducing the synthesis of new proteins. Previous work, using an oocyte translation system, has shown that a very slowly activating, voltage-dependent K+ current can be expressed from the poly(A)+ RNA of oestrogen-treated rat uteri. We report here that the messenger RNA species producing this channel is rapidly and reversibly induced in the presence of oestrogen, as shown by the appearance and disappearance of this mRNA during the oestrous cycle, its emergence at the end of pregnancy, and its presence or absence following hormonal treatments. These results suggest that oestrogen controls the expression of a voltage-dependent ion channel in uterine smooth muscle cells.     

Compensatory mutations suggest that base-pairing with a small nuclear RNA is required to form the 3' end of H3 messenger RNA

Processing of the 3' end of sea urchin H3 histone pre-mRNA requires conserved sequence elements and the presence of U7 snRNA. A mutation in the conserved CAAGAAGA sequence of the H3 pre-mRNA that renders 3' processing of this precursor defective is shown to be suppressed by a compensatory change in the U7 snRNA, restoring the base-pairing potential of the two RNAs. RNA-RNA contacts between these two molecules appear to be an essential feature of the 3' processing reaction.     

元曲英译

一 [越调]小桃红 情 无名氏 断肠人寄断肠词,词写心间事。事到头来不由自。自 寻思,思量往日真诚志。志诚是有,有情谁似。似俺那人 儿。 Love Seed -To the Tune of Light Pink Anonymous The heart-broken figure chants heart-breaking words, Words like this are really my heart verse, The verse is now only the sad rememberance of my passion     

The human RNA kinase hClp1 is active on 3' transfer RNA exons and short interfering RNAs

RNA interference allows the analysis of gene function by introducing synthetic, short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into cells. In contrast to siRNA and microRNA duplexes generated endogenously by the RNaseIII endonuclease Dicer, synthetic siRNAs display a 5' OH group. However, to become incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and mediate target RNA cleavage, the guide strand of an siRNA needs to display a phosphate group at the 5' end. The identity of the responsible kinase has so far remained elusive. Monitoring siRNA phosphorylation, we applied a chromatographic approach that resulted in the identification of the protein hClp1 (human Clp1), a known component of both transfer RNA splicing and messenger RNA 3'-end formation machineries. Here we report that the kinase hClp1 phosphorylates and licenses synthetic siRNAs to become assembled into RISC for subsequent target RNA cleavage. More importantly, we reveal the physiological role of hClp1 as the RNA kinase that phosphorylates the 5' end of the 3' exon during human tRNA splicing, allowing the subsequent ligation of both exon halves by an unknown tRNA ligase. The investigation of this novel enzymatic activity of hClp1 in the context of mRNA 3'-end formation, where no RNA phosphorylation event has hitherto been predicted, remains a challenge for the future.     

The second messenger linking receptor activation to internal Ca release in liver

The increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by Ca-mobilizing hormones in liver is mainly due to release of Ca from intracellular stores. For Ca to be released from internal sites a messenger must be formed at the plasma membrane which diffuses into the cytosol to signal Ca release from the intracellular organelles. One of the first actions of these hormones is to cause breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides to form soluble inositol phosphates. Some evidence for the idea that these substances could be the second messenger has been obtained in pancreatic acinar cells. Here we have found that hormone activation of hepatocytes causes rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [ PtdIns (4,5)P2] to form inositol trisphosphate ( InsP3 ). When applied to permeabilized hepatocytes, InsP3 releases Ca from non-mitochondrial ATP-dependent pools. This suggests that InsP3 could be the messenger linking Ca-mobilizing receptor activation to intracellular Ca release in liver.     

两种麻疯树核糖体失活蛋白基因Curcin和Curcin C在种子萌发过程中的表达模式研究

为了研究和开发丰富的麻疯树资源,本研究以四川省西昌市金沙江干热河谷地区的麻疯树种子为材料,将种子浸水萌发后收集各组织用于实验。qRT-PCR结果显示胚乳中Curcin、Curcin C基因表达先增加后减少,在子叶中Curcin C基因的表达也是如此。Western Blot结果显示Curcin蛋白在根、下胚轴、真叶、子叶中不表达,Curcin C蛋白在根和下胚轴中也不表达,而在真叶、子叶中表达。生物信息学软件预测及亚细胞定位结果都显示Curcin:GFP和Curcin C:GFP融合蛋白定位在细胞壁上。本研究初步阐明了两种麻疯树核糖体失活蛋白Curcin、Curcin C的表达模式并对其进行了亚细胞定位。     

The depolymerizing kinesin MCAK uses lattice diffusion to rapidly target microtubule ends

The microtubule cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure in which the lengths of the microtubules are tightly regulated. One regulatory mechanism is the depolymerization of microtubules by motor proteins in the kinesin-13 family. These proteins are crucial for the control of microtubule length in cell division, neuronal development and interphase microtubule dynamics. The mechanism by which kinesin-13 proteins depolymerize microtubules is poorly understood. A central question is how these proteins target to microtubule ends at rates exceeding those of standard enzyme-substrate kinetics. To address this question we developed a single-molecule microscopy assay for MCAK, the founding member of the kinesin-13 family. Here we show that MCAK moves along the microtubule lattice in a one-dimensional (1D) random walk. MCAK-microtubule interactions were transient: the average MCAK molecule diffused for 0.83 s with a diffusion coefficient of 0.38 microm2 s(-1). Although the catalytic depolymerization by MCAK requires the hydrolysis of ATP, we found that the diffusion did not. The transient transition from three-dimensional diffusion to 1D diffusion corresponds to a "reduction in dimensionality" that has been proposed as the search strategy by which DNA enzymes find specific binding sites. We show that MCAK uses this strategy to target to both microtubule ends more rapidly than direct binding from solution.