ABSTRACT: While the centrality of post-transcriptional modifications to RNA biology has long been acknowledged, the function of the vast majority of modified sites remains to be discovered. Illustrative of this, there is not yet a discrete biological role assigned for one the most highly conserved modifications, 5-methyluridine at position 54 in tRNAs (m5U54). Here, we uncover contributions of m5U54 to both tRNA maturation and protein synthesis. Our mass spectrometry analyses demonstrate that cells lacking the enzyme that installs m5U in the T-loop (TrmA inE. coli, Trm2 inS. cerevisiae) exhibit altered tRNA modifications patterns. Furthermore, m5U54 deficient tRNAs are desensitized to small molecules that prevent translocationin vitro.This finding is consistent with our observations that, relative to wild-type cells,trm2Δ cell growth and transcriptome-wide gene expression are less perturbed by translocation inhibitors. Together our data suggest a model in which m5U54 acts as an important modulator of tRNA maturation and translocation of the ribosome during protein synthesis.
Project description:Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules contain a variety of post-transcriptional modifications which are crucial for tRNA stability, translation efficiency, and fidelity. Besides their canonical roles in translation, tRNAs also originate tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions ranging from translation regulation, to gene expression control and cellular stress response. Recent evidence show that tsRNAs are also modified, however the impact of tRNA epitranscriptome deregulation on tsRNAs generation is only now beginning to be uncovered. The 5-methyluridine (m5U) modification at position 54 of cytosolic tRNAs is one of the most common and conserved tRNA modifications among species. This modification is catalyzed by the tRNA methyltransferase TRMT2A, but its biological role remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that TRMT2A knockdown in human cells induces m5U54 tRNA hypomodification, resulting in angiogenin (ANG) dependent tsRNA formation. More specifically, m5U54 hypomodification is followed by ANG overexpression and tRNA cleavage near the anticodon, resulting in accumulation of 5’tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (5’tiRNAs), in particular 5’tiRNA-GlyGCC and 5’tiRNA-GluCTC. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis confirms that down-regulation of TRMT2A and consequently m5U54 hypomodification impacts the cellular stress response and RNA stability, which is often correlated with tsRNA generation. Accordingly, exposure to oxidative stress conditions induces TRMT2A down-regulation and tsRNA formation in mammalian cells. These results establish a link between tRNA demethylation and tsRNAs formation and unravel m5U54 as a tRNA cleavage protective mark.
Project description:Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules contain a variety of post-transcriptional modifications which are crucial for tRNA stability, translation efficiency, and fidelity. Besides their canonical roles in translation, tRNAs also originate tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions ranging from translation regulation, to gene expression control and cellular stress response. Recent evidence show that tsRNAs are also modified, however the impact of tRNA epitranscriptome deregulation on tsRNAs generation is only now beginning to be uncovered. The 5-methyluridine (m5U) modification at position 54 of cytosolic tRNAs is one of the most common and conserved tRNA modifications among species. This modification is catalyzed by the tRNA methyltransferase TRMT2A, but its biological role remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that TRMT2A knockdown in human cells induces m5U54 tRNA hypomodification, resulting in angiogenin (ANG) dependent tsRNA formation. More specifically, m5U54 hypomodification is followed by ANG overexpression and tRNA cleavage near the anticodon, resulting in accumulation of 5’tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (5’tiRNAs), in particular 5’tiRNA-GlyGCC and 5’tiRNA-GluCTC. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis confirms that down-regulation of TRMT2A and consequently m5U54 hypomodification impacts the cellular stress response and RNA stability, which is often correlated with tsRNA generation. Accordingly, exposure to oxidative stress conditions induces TRMT2A down-regulation and tsRNA formation in mammalian cells. These results establish a link between tRNA demethylation and tsRNAs formation and unravel m5U54 as a tRNA cleavage protective mark.
Project description:Abstract: tRNAs are highly modified in the elbow region and harbor 5-methyluridine at position 54 and pseudouridine at position 55 in the T arm, which are generated by the enzymes TrmA and TruB, respectively. Although all elongator tRNAs contain these modifications across all domains of life, the cellular relevance of these modifications and their corresponding modifying enzymes remains elusive. In addition to modifying every tRNA, Escherichia coli TrmA and TruB have both been shown to fold tRNA independently of its modification activity acting as tRNA chaperones, and strains lacking trmA or truB are outcompeted by wildtype. To identify how TrmA and TruB contribute to cellular fitness, we have systematically assessed the effects of deleting trmA and/or trmB in E. coli. Since tRNA folding is a pre-requisite for tRNA aminoacylation, we determined cellular aminoacylation levels revealing a global decrease in aminoacylation for all tRNAs in ΔtrmA and ΔtruB. Moreover, the absence of 5-methyluridine 54 or pseudouridine 55 alters tRNA modification at other positions: whereas acp3U47 is decreased, thiouridine levels are increased. Understanding the importance of TrmA and TruB for tRNA aminoacylation and modification, we then analyzed how these global tRNA changes in ΔtrmA and ΔtruB strains affect translation. Whereas global protein synthesis is not significantly changed in ΔtrmA and ΔtruB, the abundances of many specific proteins are altered, and transcriptomics experiments suggest that the dysregulation of many proteins is controlled at the translational level. In conclusion, we demonstrate that universally conserved modifications of the tRNA elbow are critical for global tRNA function by enhancing other tRNA modifications, tRNA folding, tRNA aminoacylation and translation of specific genes thereby contributing to cellular fitness.
Project description:The discovery of dynamic and reversible modifications in messenger RNA (mRNA) is opening new directions in RNA modification-mediated regulation of biological processes. Methylation is the most prevalent modification occurring in mRNA and the methylation group is mainly decorated in the adenine, cytosine, and guanine base, or in the 2’-hydroxyl group of ribose. However, methylation of the uracil base (5-methyluridine, m5U) hasn’t been discovered in mRNA of eukaryotes. In the current study, we established a method by N-cyclohexyl-N’-β-(4-methylmorpholinium) ethylcarbodiimide p-toluenesulfonate (CMCT) labelling coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS) for the sensitive determination of uridine modifications in RNA. Our results demonstrated that the detection sensitivities of uridine modifications in RNA increased up to 1543 folds upon CMCT labelling. Using the developed method, we identified the distinct existence of m5U in mRNA of various mammalian cells and tissues. In addition, the stable isotope tracing monitored by mass spectrometry revealed that the methylation group of m5U originated from S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). Our study expanded the list of modifications occurring in mRNA of mammals. Future work on transcriptome-wide mapping of m5U will further uncover the functional roles of m5U in mRNA of mammals.
Project description:Methyl-5-uridine (m5U) is one of the most abundant RNA modifications found in cytosolic tRNA. tRNA methyltransferase 2 homolog A (hTRMT2A) is the dedicated mammalian enzyme of m5U conversion at tRNA position 54. However, its RNA binding specificity and functional role in the cell are not well understood. Here we dissected structural and sequence requirements for binding and methylation of its RNA targets. Specificity of tRNA modification by TRMT2A is achieved by a combination of modest binding preference and presence of a uridine in position 54 of tRNAs. Mutational analysis together with crosslinking experiments identified a large hTRMT2A-tRNA binding surface. Furthermore, complementing hTRMT2A interactome studies revealed that TRMT2A interacts with proteins involved in both tRNA and rRNA biogenesis. Consistent with this finding, we observed that TRMT2A not only methylates tRNA, but also rRNA. Finally, we addressed the question of the importance of TRMT2A function by showing that its knockdown reduces translational fidelity. These findings extend the role of hTRMT2A beyond tRNA modification towards rRNA biogenesis and translational fidelity.
Project description:All elongator tRNAs harbor 5-methyluridine at position 54 and pseudouridine at position 55 in the T arm, which are generated by the enzymes TrmA and TruB, respectively. Escherichia coli TrmA and TruB have both been shown to act as tRNA chaperones, and strains lacking trmA or truB are outcompeted by wildtype. Here, we investigate how TrmA and TruB contribute to cellular fitness. Deletion of trmA and truB in E. coli causes a global decrease in aminoacylation and alters other tRNA modification such as acp3U47 and 4-thiouridine. Whereas global protein synthesis is not significantly changed in ΔtrmA and ΔtruB, the expression of many specific proteins is altered at the translational level. In conclusion, we demonstrate that universal modifications of the tRNA T arm are critical for global tRNA function by enhancing other tRNA modifications, tRNA folding, tRNA aminoacylation, and translation of specific genes thereby improving cellular fitness and explaining their conservation.
Project description:In the ribosome complex, tRNA is a critical element of mRNA translation. We reported a new technology for profiling ribosome-embedded tRNAs and their modifications. With the method, we generated a comprehensive survey of the quanity and quality of intra-ribosomal tRNAs (Ribo-tRNA-seq). Ribo-tRNA-seq can provide new insights on translation control mechanism in diverse biological contexts.
Project description:Mitochondria are organelles that generate most of the energy in eukaryotic cells in the form of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryote. Twenty-two species of mitochondrial (mt-)tRNAs encoded in mtDNA are required to translate essential subunits of the respiratory chain complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. mt-tRNAs contain post-transcriptional modifications introduced by nuclear-encoded tRNA-modifying enzymes. These modifications are required for deciphering genetic code accurately, as well as stabilizing tRNA. Loss of tRNA modifications frequently results in severe pathological consequences. We performed a comprehensive analysis of post-transcriptional modifications of all human mt-tRNAs, including 14 previously-uncharacterized species, and revised the modification status of some of the previously studied species. In total, we found 17 kinds of RNA modifications at 137 positions (8.7% in 1,575 nucleobases) in 22 species of human mt-tRNAs. An up-to-date list of 34 genes responsible for human mt-tRNA modifications are provided. We here demonstrated that both QTRT1 and QTRT2 are required for biogenesis of queuosine (Q) at position 34 of four mt-tRNAs. Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the mitochondrial decoding system, and could help to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of human mitochondrial diseases caused by aberrant tRNA modifications.
Project description:A microarray tiling approach was utilized to assay tRNA modifications by comparing hybridization affinity of tRNA-modification mutants to wild-type across all annotated yeast tRNAs. Keywords: Assaying noncoding RNA modifications