An extended dsRBD is required for post-transcriptional modification in human tRNAs.

In tRNA, dihydrouridine is a conserved modified base generated by the post-transcriptional reduction of uridine. Formation of dihydrouridine 20, located in the D-loop, is catalyzed by dihydrouridine synthase 2 (Dus2). Human Dus2 (HsDus2) expression is upregulated in lung cancers, offering a growth advantage throughout its ability to interact with components of the translation apparatus and inhibit apoptosis. Here, we report the crystal structure of the individual domains of HsDus2 and their functional characterization. HsDus2 is organized into three major modules. The N-terminal catalytic domain contains the flavin cofactor involved in the reduction of uridine. The second module is the conserved α-helical domain known as the tRNA binding domain in HsDus2 homologues. It is connected via a flexible linker to an unusual extended version of a dsRNA binding domain (dsRBD). Enzymatic assays and yeast complementation showed that the catalytic domain binds selectively NADPH but cannot reduce uridine in the absence of the dsRBD. While in Dus enzymes from bacteria, plants and fungi, tRNA binding is essentially achieved by the α-helical domain, we showed that in HsDus2 this function is carried out by the dsRBD. This is the first reported case of a tRNA-modifying enzyme carrying a dsRBD used to bind tRNAs.

Immunophilin FKBP52 induces Tau-P301L filamentous assembly in vitro and modulates its activity in a model of tauopathy.

The Tau protein is the major component of intracellular filaments observed in a number of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. The pathological mutant of Tau containing a proline-to-leucine mutation at position 301 (P301L) leads to severe human tauopathy. Here, we assess the impact of FK506-binding protein with a molecular mass of ∼52 kDa (FKBP52), an immunophilin protein that interacts with physiological Tau, on Tau-P301L activity. We identify a direct interaction of FKBP52 with Tau-P301L and its phosphorylated forms and demonstrate FKBP52's ability to induce the formation of Tau-P301L oligomers. EM analysis shows that Tau-P301L oligomers, induced by FKBP52, can assemble into filaments. In the transgenic zebrafish expressing the human Tau-P301L mutant, FKBP52 knockdown is sufficient to redrive defective axonal outgrowth and branching related to Tau-P301L expression in spinal primary motoneurons. This result correlates with a significant reduction of pT181 pathological phosphorylated Tau and with recovery of the stereotypic escape response behavior. Collectively, FKBP52 appears to be an endogenous candidate that directly interacts with the pathogenic Tau-P301L and modulates its function in vitro and in vivo.

A ß-Turn Motif in the Steroid Hormone Receptor's Ligand-Binding Domains Interacts with the Peptidyl-prolyl Isomerase (PPIase) Catalytic Site of the Immunophilin FKBP52.

The immunophilin FKBP52 interacts with nuclear steroid hormone receptors. Studying the crystal structure of human estrogen receptor α (hERα) and using nuclear magnetic resonance, we show here that the short V(364)PGF(367) sequence, which is located within its ligand-binding domain and adopts a type II ß-turn conformation in the protein, binds the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase or rotamase) FK1 domain of FKBP52. Interestingly, this turn motif displays strong similarities with the FKBP52 FK1 domain-binding moiety of macrolide immunomodulators such as rapamycin and GPI-1046, an immunophilin ligand with neuroprotective characteristics. An increase in the hydrophobicity of the residue preceding the proline and cyclization of the VPGF peptide strengthen its recognition by the FK1 domain of FKBP52. Replacement of the Pro residue with a dimethylproline also enhances this interaction. Our study not only contributes to a better understanding of how the interaction between the FK1 domain of FKBP52 and steroid hormone receptors most likely works but also opens new avenues for the synthesis of FKBP52 FK1 peptide ligands appropriate for the control of hormone-dependent physiological mechanisms or of the functioning of the Tau protein. Indeed, it has been shown that FKBP52 is involved in the intraneuronal dynamics of the Tau protein.

Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the acetylation pattern of the neuronal Tau protein.

Lysine acetylation of the neuronal Tau protein was described as a novel mechanism of posttranslational regulation of Tau functions with important outcomes in microtubule binding and aggregation processes related to Alzheimer's disease. Here, we unravel at a per-residue resolution the acetylation pattern of full-length Tau by the Creb-binding protein (CBP) acetyltransferase using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our study gives a quantitative overview of CBP-mediated acetylation and examines the catalytic proficiency because the nonenzymatic reaction with acetyl-coenzyme A occurs in vitro. Furthermore, we have investigated with this characterized acetylated Tau the effect of acetylation on Tau fibrillization in a heparin-induced aggregation assay and on heparin binding.

A functional fragment of Tau forms fibers without the need for an intermolecular cysteine bridge.

We study the aggregation of a fragment of the neuronal protein Tau that contains part of the proline rich domain and of the microtubule binding repeats. When incubated at 37 °C with heparin, the fragment readily forms fibers as witnessed by Thioflavin T fluorescence. Electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy show bundled ribbon like structures with most residues rigidly incorporated in the fibril. Without its cysteines, this fragment still forms fibers of a similar morphology, but with lesser Thioflavin T binding sites and more mobility for the C-terminal residues.

Direct Crosstalk Between O-GlcNAcylation and Phosphorylation of Tau Protein Investigated by NMR Spectroscopy.

The formation of intraneuronal fibrillar inclusions of tau protein is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases referred to as tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD). A common feature of these pathologies is hyperphosphorylation of tau, the main component of fibrillar assemblies such as Paired Helical Filaments (PHFs). O-ß-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) is another important posttranslational modification involved in regulation of tau pathophysiology. Among the benefits of O-GlcNAcylation, modulation of tau phosphorylation levels and inhibition of tau aggregation properties have been described while decreased O-GlcNAcylation could be involved in the raise of tau phosphorylation associated with AD. However, the molecular mechanisms at the basis of these observations remain to be defined. In this study, we identify by NMR spectroscopy O-GlcNAc sites in the longest isoform of tau and investigate the direct role of O-GlcNAcylation on tau phosphorylation and conversely, the role of phosphorylation on tau O-GlcNAcylation. We show here by a systematic examination of the quantitative modification patterns by NMR spectroscopy that O-GlcNAcylation does not modify phosphorylation of tau by the kinase activity of ERK2 or a rat brain extract while phosphorylation slightly increases tau O-GlcNAcylation by OGT. Our data suggest that indirect mechanisms act in the reciprocal regulation of tau phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation in vivo involving regulation of the enzymes responsible of phosphate and O-GlcNAc dynamics.