Science (New York, N.Y.), 340(6140), 1235490-1235490 (2013-07-03)
A key step of translation by the ribosome is translocation, which involves the movement of messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) with respect to the ribosome. This allows a new round of protein chain elongation by placing the next
Acanthocephalans are a small group of obligate endoparasites. They and rotifers are recently placed in a group called Syndermata. However, phylogenetic relationships within classes of acanthocephalans, and between them and rotifers, have not been well resolved, possibly due to the
Quantitative measurement of mRNA levels in single cells is necessary to understand phenotypic variability within an otherwise isogenic population of cells. Single-molecule mRNA Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) has been established as the standard method for this purpose, but current
RNA ligases have essential roles in many cellular processes in eukaryotes, archaea and bacteria, including in RNA repair and stress-induced splicing of messenger RNA. In archaea and eukaryotes, RNA ligases also have a role in transfer RNA splicing to generate
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(52), 21042-21047 (2013-12-04)
In eukaryotes, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are transcribed in the nucleus yet function in the cytoplasm; thus, tRNA movement within the cell was believed to be unidirectional--from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. It is now known that mature tRNAs also move
The budding yeast multi-K homology domain RNA-binding protein Scp160p binds to >1000 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and polyribosomes, and its mammalian homolog vigilin binds transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and translation elongation factor EF1alpha. Despite its implication in translation, studies on Scp160p's molecular
Cuora trifasciata has become one of the most critically endangered species in the world. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. trifasciata (Chinese three-striped box turtle) was determined in this study. Its mitochondrial genome is a 16,575-bp-long circular molecule that consists
tRNAs, nexus molecules between mRNAs and proteins, have a central role in translation. Recent discoveries have revealed unprecedented complexity of tRNA biosynthesis, modification patterns, regulation and function. In this Review, we present emerging concepts regarding how tRNA abundance is dynamically
Journal of biomolecular screening, 20(9), 1132-1141 (2015-07-16)
Long non-protein coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important class of molecules that help orchestrate key cellular events. Although their functional roles in cells are not well understood, thousands of lncRNAs and a number of possible mechanisms by which they act
The presence of 5-methylcytidine (m(5)C) in tRNA and rRNA molecules of a wide variety of organisms was first observed more than 40 years ago. However, detection of this modification was limited to specific, abundant, RNA species, due to the usage
Nature chemical biology, 10(7), 555-557 (2014-06-09)
The Watson-Crick base pairs between the 3'-terminal end of tRNAs and ribosomal RNA in the peptidyl transferase center are universally conserved. Here, we report that the introduction of compensatory mutations to Escherichia coli RNAs in this site leads to an
American journal of human genetics, 95(6), 708-720 (2014-12-01)
Respiratory chain deficiencies exhibit a wide variety of clinical phenotypes resulting from defective mitochondrial energy production through oxidative phosphorylation. These defects can be caused by either mutations in the mtDNA or mutations in nuclear genes coding for mitochondrial proteins. The
RNA (New York, N.Y.), 20(8), 1257-1271 (2014-06-22)
The 2'-O-methylation of the nucleoside at position 32 of tRNA is found in organisms belonging to the three domains of life. Unrelated enzymes catalyzing this modification in Bacteria (TrmJ) and Eukarya (Trm7) have already been identified, but until now, no
Journal of bacteriology, 196(14), 2607-2615 (2014-05-13)
Multiple copies of a gene require enhanced investment on the part of the cell and, as such, call for an explanation. The observation that Escherichia coli has four copies of initiator tRNA (tRNAi) genes, encoding a special tRNA (tRNA(fMet)) required
The mayfly species Siphluriscus chinensis (Siphluriscidae) has valuable structures useful for phylogeny reconstruction, given its putative basal position within the Ephemeroptera. Here its nearly complete mitochondrial genome is sequenced. We built phylogenetic trees through multiple analytical strategies with some other
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(24), 9716-9721 (2013-05-01)
After four decades of research aimed at understanding tRNA selection on the ribosome, the mechanism by which ribosomal ambiguity (ram) mutations promote miscoding remains unclear. Here, we present two X-ray crystal structures of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome containing 16S
The Biochemical journal, 453(3), 455-465 (2013-05-02)
Point mutations in hmtRNAs (human mitochondrial tRNAs) can cause various disorders, such as CPEO (chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia) and MM (mitochondrial myopathy). Mitochondrial tRNALeu, especially the UUR codon isoacceptor, is recognized as a hot spot for pathogenic mtDNA point mutations.
The discovery of diverse codon reassignment events has demonstrated that the canonical genetic code is not universal. Studying coding reassignment at the molecular level is critical for understanding genetic code evolution, and provides clues to genetic code manipulation in synthetic
Archease is a 16-kDa protein that is conserved in all three domains of life. In diverse bacteria and archaea, the genes encoding Archease and the tRNA ligase RtcB are localized into an operon. Here we provide a rationale for this
Sequence variation in tRNA genes influences the structure, modification, and stability of tRNA; affects translation fidelity; impacts the activity of numerous isodecoders in metazoans; and leads to human diseases. To comprehensively define the effects of sequence variation on tRNA function
Living cells and tissues experience various complex modes of forces that are important in physiology and disease. However, how different force modes impact gene expression is elusive. Here we apply local forces of different modes via a magnetic bead bound
Trypanosoma brucei, a pathogen of human and domestic animals, is an early evolved parasitic protozoan with a complex life cycle. Most genes of this parasite are post-transcriptionally regulated. However, the mechanisms and the molecules involved remain largely unknown. We have
Thermoplasma acidophilum is a thermo-acidophilic archaeon. We purified tRNA(Leu) (UAG) from T. acidophilum using a solid-phase DNA probe method and determined the RNA sequence after determining via nucleoside analysis and m(7)G-specific aniline cleavage because it has been reported that T.
Canonical RNA polymerase III (pol III) type 2 promoters contain a single A and B box and are well documented for their role in tRNA and SINE transcription in eukaryotic cells. The genome of Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) contains eight
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 786, 181-200 (2011-09-23)
We provide here a protocol for the preparation of cap-analysis gene expression (CAGE) libraries, which allows for measuring the expression of eukaryotic capped RNAs and simultaneously map the promoter regions. The presented protocol simplifies the previously published ones and moreover
MnmE is a homodimeric multi-domain GTPase involved in tRNA modification. This protein differs from Ras-like GTPases in its low affinity for guanine nucleotides and mechanism of activation, which occurs by a cis, nucleotide- and potassium-dependent dimerization of its G-domains. Moreover
RNA (New York, N.Y.), 20(7), 1023-1034 (2014-05-13)
Selenocysteine (Sec) is encoded by an UGA codon with the help of a SECIS element present in selenoprotein mRNAs. SECIS-binding protein (SBP2/SCBP-2) mediates Sec insertion, but the roles of its domains and the impact of its deficiency on Sec insertion
Angiogenin-cleaved tRNA halves interact with cytochrome c, protecting cells from apoptosis during osmotic stress.
Saikia M, Jobava R, Parisien M, et al.
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 34(13), 2450-2463 (2014)
We investigated the role of full-length Drosophila Bicaudal D (BicD) binding partners in dynein-dynactin activation for mRNA transport on microtubules. Full-length BicD robustly activated dynein-dynactin motility only when both the mRNA binding protein Egalitarian (Egl) and K10 mRNA cargo were