Ribozyme Catalysis Research Articles

Synthetic bPNAs as allosteric triggers of hammerhead ribozyme catalysis.

The biochemistry and structural biology of the hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) have been well elucidated. The secondary and tertiary structural elements that enable sugar-phosphate bond scission to be catalyzed by this RNA are clearly understood. We have taken advantage of this knowledge base to test the extent to which synthetic molecules, may be used to trigger structure in secondary structure and tertiary interactions and thereby control HHR catalysis. These molecules belong to a family of molecules we generally call "bPNAs" based on our work on bifacial peptide nucleic acid (bPNA). This family of molecules displays the "bifacial" heterocycle melamine, which acts as a base-triple upon capturing two equivalents of thymine or uracil. Loosely structured internal oligouridylate bulges of 4-20 nucleotides can be restructured as triplex hybrid stems upon binding bPNAs. As such, a duplex stem element can be replaced with a bPNA triplex hybrid stem; similarly, a tertiary loop-stem interaction can be replaced with a loop-bPNA-stem complex. The ability to control RNA structure-function facilitates elucidation of these critical aspects of RNA recognition. In this chapter, we discuss how bPNAs are prepared and applied to study structure-function turn on in the hammerhead ribozyme system.

NMR spectroscopic characterization of a model RNA duplex reflecting the core sequence of hammerhead ribozymes

ABSTRACTHammerhead ribozymes are a model system for studying molecular mechanism of RNA catalysis. Physicochemical data-driven mechanistic studies are an indispensable step towards understanding the catalysis of hammerhead ribozymes. Here we characterized a model RNA duplex with catalytically important sheared-type G12-A9 base pair and A9-G10.1 metal ion-binding motif in hammerhead ribozymes. By using high magnetic field NMR, all base proton signals, including catalytic residues, were unambiguously assigned. We further characterized structural features of this RNA molecule and found that it reflects the structural features of the A9-G10.1 motif of hammerhead ribozymes. Therefore, this RNA molecule is suitable for extracting an intrinsic physicochemical properties of catalytically important residues.

Studying sparsely populated conformational states in RNA combining chemical synthesis and solution NMR spectroscopy.

Using chemical synthesis and solution NMR spectroscopy, RNA structural ensembles including a major ground state and minor populated excited states can be studied at atomic resolution. In this work, atom-specific 13C labeled RNA building blocks - a 5-13C-uridine and a 2,8-13C2-adenosine building block - are used to introduce isolated 13C-1H-spin topologies into a target RNA to probe such structural ensembles via NMR spectroscopy. First, the 5-13C-uridine 2'-O-TBDMS-phosphoramidite building block was introduced into a 21 nucleotide (nt) tP5c stem construct of the tP5abc subdomain of the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme. Then, the 2,8-13C2-adenosine 2'-O-TBDMS-phosphoramidite building block was incorporated into a 9 kDa and a 15 kD construct derived from the epsilon (ε) RNA element of the duck Hepatitis B virus. The 2,8-13C2-adenosine resonances of the 9 kDa 28 nt sequence could be mapped to the full-length 53 nt construct. The isolated NMR active nuclei pairs were used to probe for low populated excited states (<10%) via 13C-Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG)-relaxation dispersion NMR spectroscopy. The 13C-CPMG relaxation dispersion experiment recapitulated a secondary structure switching event in the P5c hairpin of the group I intron construct previously revealed by 15N relaxation dispersion experiments. In the ε-HBV RNA an unfolding event occurring on the millisecond time scale was found in the upper stem in-line with earlier observations. This unpaired conformational state is presumed to be important for the binding of the epsilon reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. Thus, a full description of an RNA's folding landscape helps to obtain a deeper understanding of its function, as these high energy conformational states often represent functionally important intermediates involved in (un)folding or ribozyme catalysis.

Evidence That Nucleophile Deprotonation Exceeds Bond Formation in the HDV Ribozyme Transition State.

Steric constraints imposed by the active sites of protein and RNA enzymes pose major challenges to the investigation of structure-function relationships within these systems. As a strategy to circumvent such constraints in the HDV ribozyme, we have synthesized phosphoramidites from propanediol derivatives and incorporated them at the 5'-termini of RNA and DNA oligonucleotides to generate a series of novel substrates with nucleophiles perturbed electronically through geminal fluorination. In nonenzymatic, hydroxide-catalyzed intramolecular transphosphorylation of the DNA substrates, pH-rate profiles revealed that fluorine substitution reduces the maximal rate and the kinetic p Ka, consistent with the expected electron-withdrawing effect. In HDV ribozyme reactions, we observed that the RNA substrates undergo transphosphorylation relatively efficiently, suggesting that the conformational constraints imposed by a ribofuranose ring are not strictly required for ribozyme catalysis. In contrast to the nonenzymatic reactions, however, substrate fluorination modestly increases the ribozyme reaction rate, consistent with a mechanism in which (1) the 2'-hydroxyl nucleophile exists predominantly in its neutral, protonated form in the ground state and (2) the 2'-hydroxyl bears some negative charge in the rate-determining step, consistent with a transition state in which the extent of 2'-OH deprotonation exceeds the extent of P-O bond formation.

Corroboration of Zn(ii)-Mg(ii)-tertiary structure interplays essential for the optimal catalysis of a phosphorothiolate thiolesterase ribozyme.

The TW17 ribozyme, a catalytic RNA selected from a pool of artificial RNA, is specific for the Zn2+-dependent hydrolysis of a phosphorothiolate thiolester bond. Here, we describe the organic synthesis of both guanosine α-thio-monophosphate and the substrates required for selecting and characterizing the TW17 ribozyme, and for deciphering the catalytic mechanism of the ribozyme. By successively substituting the substrate originally conjugated to the RNA pool with structurally modified substrates, we demonstrated that the TW17 ribozyme specifically catalyzes phosphorothiolate thiolester hydrolysis. Metal titration studies of TW17 ribozyme catalysis in the presence of Zn2+ alone, Zn2+ and Mg2+, and Zn2+ and [Co(NH3)6]3+ supported our findings that Zn2+ is absolutely required for ribozyme catalysis, and indicated that optimal ribozyme catalysis involves the presence of outer-sphere and one inner-sphere Mg2+. A survey of the TW17 ribozyme activity at various pHs revealed that the activity of the ribozyme critically depends on the alkaline conditions. Moreover, a GNRA tetraloop-containing ribozyme constructed with active catalysis in trans provided catalysis and multiple substrate turnover efficiencies significantly higher than ribozymes lacking a GNRA tetraloop. This research supports the essential roles of Zn2+, Mg2+, and a GNRA tetraloop in modulating the TW17 ribozyme structure for optimal ribozyme catalysis, leading also to the formulation of a proposed reaction mechanism for TW17 ribozyme catalysis.

Mapping the Chemical Space of the RNA Cleavage and Its Implications for Ribozyme Catalysis.

Ribozymes utilize diverse catalytic strategies. We report systematic quantum chemical calculations mapping the catalytic space of RNA cleavage by comparing all chemically feasible reaction mechanisms of RNA self-cleavage, using appropriate model systems including those chemical groups that may directly participate in ribozyme catalysis. We calculated the kinetics of uncatalyzed cleavage reactions proceeding via both monoanionic and dianionic pathways, and explicitly probed effects of various groups acting as general bases (GBs) and/or general acids (GAs), or electrostatic transition state stabilizers. In total, we explored 115 different mechanisms. The dianionic scenarios are generally preferred to monoanionic scenarios, although they may compete with one-another under some conditions. Direct GA catalysis seems to exert the dominant catalytic effect, while GB catalysis and electrostatic stabilization are less efficient. Our results indirectly suggest that the dominant part of the catalytic effect might be explained by the shift of the reaction mechanism from the mechanism of uncatalyzed cleavage to the mechanism occurring in ribozymes. This would contrast typical protein enzymes, primarily achieving catalysis by overall electrostatic effects in their catalytic center.

RNase H As Gene Modifier, Driver of Evolution and Antiviral Defense.

Retroviral infections are ‘mini-symbiotic’ events supplying recipient cells with sequences for viral replication, including the reverse transcriptase (RT) and ribonuclease H (RNase H). These proteins and other viral or cellular sequences can provide novel cellular functions including immune defense mechanisms. Their high error rate renders RT-RNases H drivers of evolutionary innovation. Integrated retroviruses and the related transposable elements (TEs) have existed for at least 150 million years, constitute up to 80% of eukaryotic genomes and are also present in prokaryotes. Endogenous retroviruses regulate host genes, have provided novel genes including the syncytins that mediate maternal-fetal immune tolerance and can be experimentally rendered infectious again. The RT and the RNase H are among the most ancient and abundant protein folds. RNases H may have evolved from ribozymes, related to viroids, early in the RNA world, forming ribosomes, RNA replicases and polymerases. Basic RNA-binding peptides enhance ribozyme catalysis. RT and ribozymes or RNases H are present today in bacterial group II introns, the precedents of TEs. Thousands of unique RTs and RNases H are present in eukaryotes, bacteria, and viruses. These enzymes mediate viral and cellular replication and antiviral defense in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, splicing, R-loop resolvation, DNA repair. RNase H-like activities are also required for the activity of small regulatory RNAs. The retroviral replication components share striking similarities with the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas machinery, eukaryotic V(D)J recombination and interferon systems. Viruses supply antiviral defense tools to cellular organisms. TEs are the evolutionary origin of siRNA and miRNA genes that, through RISC, counteract detrimental activities of TEs and chromosomal instability. Moreover, piRNAs, implicated in transgenerational inheritance, suppress TEs in germ cells. Thus, virtually all known immune defense mechanisms against viruses, phages, TEs, and extracellular pathogens require RNase H-like enzymes. Analogous to the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas anti-phage defense possibly originating from TEs termed casposons, endogenized retroviruses ERVs and amplified TEs can be regarded as related forms of inheritable immunity in eukaryotes. This survey suggests that RNase H-like activities of retroviruses, TEs, and phages, have built up innate and adaptive immune systems throughout all domains of life.

Small Molecule Recognition Triggers Secondary and Tertiary Interactions in DNA Folding and Hammerhead Ribozyme Catalysis.

We have identified tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren)-derived scaffolds with two (t2M) or four (t4M) melamine rings that can target oligo T/U domains in DNA/RNA. Unstructured T-rich DNAs cooperatively fold with the tren derivatives to form hairpin-like structures. Both t2M and t4M act as functional switches in a family of hammerhead ribozymes deactivated by stem or loop replacement with a U-rich sequence. Catalysis of bond scission in these hammerhead ribozymes could be restored by putative t2M/t4M refolding of stem secondary structure or tertiary bridging interactions between loop and stem. The simplicity of the t2M/t4M binding site enables programming of allostery in RNAs, recoding oligo-U domains as potential sites for secondary structure or tertiary contact. In combination with a facile and general method for installation of the t2M motif on primary amines, the method described herein streamlines design of synthetic allosteric riboswitches and small molecule-nucleic acid complexes.

Facile synthesis of a 3-deazaadenosine phosphoramidite for RNA solid-phase synthesis

Access to 3-deazaadenosine (c3A) building blocks for RNA solid-phase synthesis represents a severe bottleneck in modern RNA research, in particular for atomic mutagenesis experiments to explore mechanistic aspects of ribozyme catalysis. Here, we report the 5-step synthesis of a c3A phosphoramidite from cost-affordable starting materials. The key reaction is a silyl-Hilbert–Johnson nucleosidation using unprotected 6-amino-3-deazapurine and benzoyl-protected 1-O-acetylribose. The novel path is superior to previously described syntheses in terms of efficacy and ease of laboratory handling.

Who Activates the Nucleophile in Ribozyme Catalysis? An Answer from the Splicing Mechanism of Group II Introns.

Group II introns are Mg(2+)-dependent ribozymes that are considered to be the evolutionary ancestors of the eukaryotic spliceosome, thus representing an ideal model system to understand the mechanism of conversion of premature messenger RNA (mRNA) into mature mRNA. Neither in splicing nor for self-cleaving ribozymes has the role of the two Mg(2+) ions been established, and even the way the nucleophile is activated is still controversial. Here we employed hybrid quantum-classical QM(Car-Parrinello)/MM molecular dynamics simulations in combination with thermodynamic integration to characterize the molecular mechanism of the first and rate-determining step of the splicing process (i.e., the cleavage of the 5'-exon) catalyzed by group II intron ribozymes. Remarkably, our results show a new RNA-specific dissociative mechanism in which the bulk water accepts the nucleophile's proton during its attack on the scissile phosphate. The process occurs in a single step with no Mg(2+) ion activating the nucleophile, at odds with nucleases enzymes. We suggest that the novel reaction path elucidated here might be an evolutionary ancestor of the more efficient two-metal-ion mechanism found in enzymes.

A new twist for ribozyme catalysis

RNAs called ribozymes can catalyze chemical reactions and often play a role in regulating gene expression. Twister ribozymes, which get their name because their overall structure resembles an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph representing twisted flax, are widespread in bacteria and eukaryotes and cut their own phosphodiester backbone. They may accomplish that cleavage through a novel acid catalysis mechanism, according to computational simulations presented at the meeting by Darrin M. York of Rutgers University. Twister ribozymes crystallize in an inactive conformation, which has made it difficult to determine how they self-cleave between adjacent uracil and adenine residues. York and graduate student Colin S. Gaines simulated both the crystalline and solution forms of a twister ribozyme (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b12061). The chemists found that in solution the uracil can adopt an active conformation in which it stacks with a nearby guanine. The guanine N1 may then hydrogen-bond to the uracil

Ribozyme Catalysis with a Twist: Active State of the Twister Ribozyme in Solution Predicted from Molecular Simulation

We present results from molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations of the twister ribozyme at different stages along the reaction path to gain insight into its mechanism. The results, together with recent biochemical experiments, provide support for a mechanism involving general-acid catalysis by a conserved adenine residue in the active site. Although adenine has been previously implicated as a general acid acting through the N1 position in other ribozymes such as the hairpin and VS ribozymes, in the twister ribozyme there may be a twist. Biochemical experiments suggest that general acid catalysis may occur through the N3 position, which has never before been implicated in this role; however, currently, there is a lack of a detailed structural model for the active state of the twister ribozyme in solution that is consistent with these and other experiments. Simulations in a crystalline environment reported here are consistent with X-ray crystallographic data, and suggest that crystal packing contacts trap the RNA in an inactive conformation with U-1 in an extruded state that is incompatible with an in-line attack to the scissile phosphate. Simulations in solution, on the other hand, reveal this region to be dynamic and able to adopt a conformation where U-1 is stacked with G33. In this state, the nucleophile is in line with the scissile phosphate, and the N1 position of G33 and N3 position of A1 are poised to act as a general base and acid, respectively, as supported by mutational experiments. Free energy calculations further predict the electrostatic environment causes a shift of the microscopic pKa at the N3 position of A1 toward neutrality by approximately 5 pKa units. These results offer a unified interpretation of a broad range of currently available experimental data that points to a novel mode of general acid catalysis through the N3 position of an adenine nucleobase, thus expanding the repertoire of known mechanistic strategies employed by small nucleolytic ribozymes.

An origin story: ribozyme catalysis by the ribosome.

An origin story: ribozyme catalysis by the ribosome.

Twenty years of RNA crystallography.

Twenty years of RNA crystallography.

On the shoulders of giants.

On the shoulders of giants.

Role of tautomerism in RNA biochemistry.

Heterocyclic nucleic acid bases and their analogs can adopt multiple tautomeric forms due to the presence of multiple solvent-exchangeable protons. In DNA, spontaneous formation of minor tautomers has been speculated to contribute to mutagenic mispairings during DNA replication, whereas in RNA, minor tautomeric forms have been proposed to enhance the structural and functional diversity of RNA enzymes and aptamers. This review summarizes the role of tautomerism in RNA biochemistry, specifically focusing on the role of tautomerism in catalysis of small self-cleaving ribozymes and recognition of ligand analogs by riboswitches. Considering that the presence of multiple tautomers of nucleic acid bases is a rare occurrence, and that tautomers typically interconvert on a fast time scale, methods for studying rapid tautomerism in the context of nucleic acids under biologically relevant aqueous conditions are also discussed.

Hammerhead ribozyme activity and oligonucleotide duplex stability in mixed solutions of water and organic compounds

Nucleic acids are useful for biomedical targeting and sensing applications in which the molecular environment is different from that of a dilute aqueous solution. In this study, the influence of various types of mixed solutions of water and water-soluble organic compounds on RNA was investigated by measuring the catalytic activity of the hammerhead ribozyme and the thermodynamic stability of an oligonucleotide duplex. The compounds with a net neutral charge, such as poly(ethylene glycol), small primary alcohols, amide compounds, and aprotic solvent molecules, added at high concentrations changed the ribozyme-catalyzed RNA cleavage rate, with the magnitude of the effect dependent on the NaCl concentration. These compounds also changed the thermodynamic stability of RNA base pairs of an oligonucleotide duplex and its dependence on the NaCl concentration. Specific interactions with RNA molecules and reduced water activity could account for the inhibiting effects on the ribozyme catalysis and destabilizing effects on the duplex stability. The salt concentration dependence data correlated with the dielectric constant, but not with water activity, viscosity, and the size of organic compounds. This observation suggests the significance of the dielectric constant effects on the RNA reactions under molecular crowding conditions created by organic compounds.

Microscale thermophoresis provides insights into mechanism and thermodynamics of ribozyme catalysis

The analysis of binding interactions between small molecules and biopolymers is important for understanding biological processes. While fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) requires fluorescence labeling on the small molecule, which often interferes with binding, in microscale thermophoresis (MST) the label can be placed on the biopolymer. Ribozymes have not been analyzed by MST so far. The Diels-Alderase ribozyme (DAse) is a true catalyst, facilitating the Diels-Alder reaction between two free small substrates, anthracene dienes, and maleimide dienophiles. Despite high efforts, the determination of the dissociation constant (KD) of maleimide dienophiles to the DAse by FCS has been unsuccessful. Here, we determined the binding interactions of the DAse to its substrates and the Diels-Alder product using MST. The results supported a positive cooperativity for substrate binding to the DAse. By varying the temperature, we furthermore studied the thermodynamics of dienophile dissociation. The entropic contribution was found to be the energetic driving force for the binding of the dienophile to the DAse.

High affinity of copper(II) towards amoxicillin, apramycin and ristomycin. Effect of these complexes on the catalytic activity of HDV ribozyme

Three representatives of the distinct antibiotics groups: amoxicillin, apramycin and ristomycin A were studied regarding their impact on hepatitis D virus (HDV) ribozyme both in the metal-free form and complexed with copper(II) ions. Hence the Cu(II)-ristomycin A complex has been characterized by means of NMR, EPR, CD and UV–visible spectroscopic techniques and its binding pattern has been compared with the coordination modes estimated previously for Cu(II)-amoxicillin and Cu(II)-apramycin complexes. It has thus been found that all three antibiotics bind the Cu(II) ion in a very similar manner, engaging two nitrogen and two oxygen donors into coordination with the square planar symmetry in physiological conditions. All three tested antibiotics were able to inhibit the HDV ribozyme catalysis. However, in the presence of the complexes, the catalytic reactions were almost completely inhibited. It was important therefore to check whether the complexes used in lower concentrations could inhibit the HDV ribozyme catalytic activity, thus creating opportunities for their practical application. It turned out that the complexes used in the concentrations of 50μM influenced the catalysis much less effectively comparing to the 200 micromolar concentration. The kobs values were lower than those observed in the control reaction, in the absence of potential inhibitors: 2-fold for amoxicillin, ristomycin A and 3.3-fold for apramycin, respectively.

A Transition-State Interaction Shifts Nucleobase Ionization toward Neutrality To Facilitate Small Ribozyme Catalysis

One mechanism by which ribozymes can accelerate biological reactions is by adopting folds that favorably perturb nucleobase ionization. Herein we used Raman crystallography to directly measure pK(a) values for the Ade38 N1 imino group of a hairpin ribozyme in distinct conformational states. A transition-state analogue gave a pK(a) value of 6.27 ± 0.05, which agrees strikingly well with values measured by pH-rate analyses. To identify the chemical attributes that contribute to the shifted pK(a), we determined crystal structures of hairpin ribozyme variants containing single-atom substitutions at the active site and measured their respective Ade38 N1 pK(a) values. This approach led to the identification of a single interaction in the transition-state conformation that elevates the base pK(a) > 0.8 log unit relative to the precatalytic state. The agreement of the microscopic and macroscopic pK(a) values and the accompanying structural analysis supports a mechanism in which Ade38 N1(H)+ functions as a general acid in phosphodiester bond cleavage. Overall the results quantify the contribution of a single electrostatic interaction to base ionization, which has broad relevance for understanding how RNA structure can control chemical reactivity.