Crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of DENR.

The density regulated protein (DENR) forms a stable heterodimer with malignant T-cell-amplified sequence 1 (MCT-1). DENR-MCT-1 heterodimer then participates in regulation of non-canonical translation initiation and ribosomal recycling. The N-terminal domain of DENR interacts with MCT-1 and carries a classical tetrahedral zinc ion-binding site, which is crucial for the dimerization. DENR-MCT-1 binds the small (40S) ribosomal subunit through interactions between MCT-1 and helix h24 of the 18S rRNA, and through interactions between the C-terminal domain of DENR and helix h44 of the 18S rRNA. This later interaction occurs in the vicinity of the P site that is also the binding site for canonical translation initiation factor eIF1, which plays the key role in initiation codon selection and scanning. Sequence homology modeling and a low-resolution crystal structure of the DENR-MCT-1 complex with the human 40S subunit suggests that the C-terminal domain of DENR and eIF1 adopt a similar fold. Here we present the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of DENR determined at 1.74 Å resolution, which confirms its resemblance to eIF1 and advances our understanding of the mechanism by which DENR-MCT-1 regulates non-canonical translation initiation and ribosomal recycling.

Identification of Dihydrofuro[3,4- d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Novel HIV-1 Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors with Promising Antiviral Activities and Desirable Physicochemical Properties.

To address drug resistance to HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), a series of novel diarylpyrimidine (DAPY) derivatives targeting "tolerant region I" and "tolerant region II" of the NNRTIs binding pocket (NNIBP) were designed utilizing a structure-guided scaffold-hopping strategy. The dihydrofuro[3,4- d]pyrimidine derivatives 13c2 and 13c4 proved to be exceptionally potent against a wide range of HIV-1 strains carrying single NNRTI-resistant mutations (EC50 = 0.9-8.4 nM), which were remarkably superior to that of etravirine (ETV). Meanwhile, both compounds exhibited comparable activities with ETV toward the virus with double mutations F227L+V106A and K103N+Y181C. Furthermore, the most active compound 13c2 showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties with an oral bioavailability of 30.96% and a half-life of 11.1 h, which suggested that 13c2 is worth further investigation as a novel NNRTI to circumvent drug resistance.

Crystal structure of the DENR-MCT-1 complex revealed zinc-binding site essential for heterodimer formation.

The density-regulated protein (DENR) and the malignant T cell-amplified sequence 1 (MCT-1/MCTS1) oncoprotein support noncanonical translation initiation, promote translation reinitiation on a specific set of mRNAs with short upstream reading frames, and regulate ribosome recycling. DENR and MCT-1 form a heterodimer, which binds to the ribosome. We determined the crystal structure of the heterodimer formed by human MCT-1 and the N-terminal domain of DENR at 2.0-Å resolution. The structure of the heterodimer reveals atomic details of the mechanism of DENR and MCT-1 interaction. Four conserved cysteine residues of DENR (C34, C37, C44, C53) form a classical tetrahedral zinc ion-binding site, which preserves the structure of the DENR's MCT-1-binding interface that is essential for the dimerization. Substitution of all four cysteines by alanine abolished a heterodimer formation. Our findings elucidate further the mechanism of regulation of DENR-MCT-1 activities in unconventional translation initiation, reinitiation, and recycling.

Structural basis of bacterial transcription activation.

In bacteria, the activation of gene transcription at many promoters is simple and only involves a single activator. The cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate receptor protein (CAP), a classic activator, is able to activate transcription independently through two different mechanisms. Understanding the class I mechanism requires an intact transcription activation complex (TAC) structure at a high resolution. Here we report a high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of an intact Escherichia coli class I TAC containing a CAP dimer, a σ70-RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme, a complete class I CAP-dependent promoter DNA, and a de novo synthesized RNA oligonucleotide. The structure shows how CAP wraps the upstream DNA and how the interactions recruit RNAP. Our study provides a structural basis for understanding how activators activate transcription through the class I recruitment mechanism.

Crystal Structure of the Human Ribosome in Complex with DENR-MCT-1.

The repertoire of the density-regulated protein (DENR) and the malignant T cell-amplified sequence 1 (MCT-1/MCTS1) oncoprotein was recently expanded to include translational control of a specific set of cancer-related mRNAs. DENR and MCT-1 form the heterodimer, which binds to the ribosome and operates at both translation initiation and reinitiation steps, though by a mechanism that is yet unclear. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the human small ribosomal subunit in complex with DENR-MCT-1. The structure reveals the location of the DENR-MCT-1 dimer bound to the small ribosomal subunit. The binding site of the C-terminal domain of DENR on the ribosome has a striking similarity with those of canonical initiation factor 1 (eIF1), which controls the fidelity of translation initiation and scanning. Our findings elucidate how the DENR-MCT-1 dimer interacts with the ribosome and have functional implications for the mechanism of unconventional translation initiation and reinitiation.

Insights into RNA binding by the anticancer drug cisplatin from the crystal structure of cisplatin-modified ribosome.

Cisplatin is a widely prescribed anticancer drug, which triggers cell death by covalent binding to a broad range of biological molecules. Among cisplatin targets, cellular RNAs remain the most poorly characterized molecules. Although cisplatin was shown to inactivate essential RNAs, including ribosomal, spliceosomal and telomeric RNAs, cisplatin binding sites in most RNA molecules are unknown, and therefore it remains challenging to study how modifications of RNA by cisplatin contributes to its toxicity. Here we report a 2.6Å-resolution X-ray structure of cisplatin-modified 70S ribosome, which describes cisplatin binding to the ribosome and provides the first nearly atomic model of cisplatin-RNA complex. We observe nine cisplatin molecules bound to the ribosome and reveal consensus structural features of the cisplatin-binding sites. Two of the cisplatin molecules modify conserved functional centers of the ribosome-the mRNA-channel and the GTPase center. In the mRNA-channel, cisplatin intercalates between the ribosome and the messenger RNA, suggesting that the observed inhibition of protein synthesis by cisplatin is caused by impaired mRNA-translocation. Our structure provides an insight into RNA targeting and inhibition by cisplatin, which can help predict cisplatin-binding sites in other cellular RNAs and design studies to elucidate a link between RNA modifications by cisplatin and cisplatin toxicity.

Crystal Structure of Human Profilaggrin S100 Domain and Identification of Target Proteins Annexin II, Stratifin, and HSP27.

The fused-type S100 protein profilaggrin and its proteolytic products including filaggrin are important in the formation of a normal epidermal barrier; however, the specific function of the S100 calcium-binding domain in profilaggrin biology is poorly understood. To explore its molecular function, we determined a 2.2 Å-resolution crystal structure of the N-terminal fused-type S100 domain of human profilaggrin with bound calcium ions. The profilaggrin S100 domain formed a stable dimer, which contained two hydrophobic pockets that provide a molecular interface for protein interactions. Biochemical and molecular approaches demonstrated that three proteins, annexin II/p36, stratifin/14-3-3 sigma, and heat shock protein 27, bind to the N-terminal domain of human profilaggrin; one protein (stratifin) co-localized with profilaggrin in the differentiating granular cell layer of human skin. Together, these findings suggest a model where the profilaggrin N-terminus uses calcium-dependent and calcium-independent protein-protein interactions to regulate its involvement in keratinocyte terminal differentiation and incorporation into the cornified cell envelope.

A proton wire to couple aminoacyl-tRNA accommodation and peptide-bond formation on the ribosome.

During peptide-bond formation on the ribosome, the α-amine of an aminoacyl-tRNA attacks the ester carbonyl carbon of a peptidyl-tRNA to yield a peptide lengthened by one amino acid. Although the ribosome's contribution to catalysis is predominantly entropic, the lack of high-resolution structural data for the complete active site in complex with full-length ligands has made it difficult to assess how the ribosome might influence the pathway of the reaction. Here, we present crystal structures of preattack and postcatalysis complexes of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome at ~2.6-Å resolution. These structures reveal a network of hydrogen bonds along which proton transfer could take place to ensure the concerted, rate-limiting formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. We propose that, unlike earlier models, the ribosome and the A-site tRNA facilitate the deprotonation of the nucleophile through the activation of a water molecule.

Structural basis for the fast self-cleavage reaction catalyzed by the twister ribozyme.

Twister is a recently discovered RNA motif that is estimated to have one of the fastest known catalytic rates of any naturally occurring small self-cleaving ribozyme. We determined the 4.1-Å resolution crystal structure of a twister sequence from an organism that has not been cultured in isolation, and it shows an ordered scissile phosphate and nucleotide 5' to the cleavage site. A second crystal structure of twister from Orzyza sativa determined at 3.1-Å resolution exhibits a disordered scissile phosphate and nucleotide 5' to the cleavage site. The core of twister is stabilized by base pairing, a large network of stacking interactions, and two pseudoknots. We observe three nucleotides that appear to mediate catalysis: a guanosine that we propose deprotonates the 2'-hydroxyl of the nucleotide 5' to the cleavage site and a conserved adenosine. We suggest the adenosine neutralizes the negative charge on a nonbridging phosphate oxygen atom at the cleavage site. The active site also positions the labile linkage for in-line nucleophilic attack, and thus twister appears to simultaneously use three strategies proposed for small self-cleaving ribozymes. The twister crystal structures (i) show its global structure, (ii) demonstrate the significance of the double pseudoknot fold, (iii) provide a possible hypothesis for enhanced catalysis, and (iv) illuminate the roles of all 10 highly conserved nucleotides of twister that participate in the formation of its small and stable catalytic pocket.

Structural insights into the stabilization of MALAT1 noncoding RNA by a bipartite triple helix.

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a highly abundant nuclear long noncoding RNA that promotes malignancy. A 3'-stem-loop structure is predicted to confer stability by engaging a downstream A-rich tract in a triple helix, similar to the expression and nuclear retention element (ENE) from the KSHV polyadenylated nuclear RNA. The 3.1-Å-resolution crystal structure of the human MALAT1 ENE and A-rich tract reveals a bipartite triple helix containing stacks of five and four U•A-U triples separated by a C+•G-C triplet and C-G doublet, extended by two A-minor interactions. In vivo decay assays indicate that this blunt-ended triple helix, with the 3' nucleotide in a U•A-U triple, inhibits rapid nuclear RNA decay. Interruption of the triple helix by the C-G doublet induces a 'helical reset' that explains why triple-helical stacks longer than six do not occur in nature.

The antibiotics dityromycin and GE82832 bind protein S12 and block EF-G-catalyzed translocation.

The translocation of mRNA and tRNA through the ribosome is catalyzed by elongation factor G (EF-G), a universally conserved guanosine triphosphate hydrolase (GTPase). The mechanism by which the closely related decapeptide antibiotics dityromycin and GE82832 inhibit EF-G-catalyzed translocation is elucidated in this study. Using crystallographic and biochemical experiments, we demonstrate that these antibiotics bind to ribosomal protein S12 in solution alone as well as within the small ribosomal subunit, inducing long-range effects on the ribosomal head. The crystal structure of the antibiotic in complex with the 70S ribosome reveals that the binding involves conserved amino acid residues of S12 whose mutations result in in vitro and in vivo antibiotic resistance and loss of antibiotic binding. The data also suggest that GE82832/dityromycin inhibits EF-G-catalyzed translocation by disrupting a critical contact between EF-G and S12 that is required to stabilize the posttranslocational conformation of EF-G, thereby preventing the ribosome-EF-G complex from entering a conformation productive for translocation.

Structure of a helicase-helicase loader complex reveals insights into the mechanism of bacterial primosome assembly.

During the assembly of the bacterial loader-dependent primosome, helicase loader proteins bind to the hexameric helicase ring, deliver it onto the oriC DNA and then dissociate from the complex. Here, to provide a better understanding of this key process, we report the crystal structure of the ~570-kDa prepriming complex between the Bacillus subtilis loader protein and the Bacillus stearothermophilus helicase, as well as the helicase-binding domain of primase with a molar ratio of 6:6:3 at 7.5 Å resolution. The overall architecture of the complex exhibits a three-layered ring conformation. Moreover, the structure combined with the proposed model suggests that the shift from the 'open-ring' to the 'open-spiral' and then the 'closed-spiral' state of the helicase ring due to the binding of single-stranded DNA may be the cause of the loader release.

How the CCA-adding enzyme selects adenine over cytosine at position 76 of tRNA.

CCA-adding enzymes [ATP(CTP):tRNA nucleotidyltransferases] add CCA onto the 3' end of transfer RNA (tRNA) precursors without using a nucleic acid template. Although the mechanism by which cytosine (C) is selected at position 75 of tRNA has been established, the mechanism by which adenine (A) is selected at position 76 remains elusive. Here, we report five cocrystal structures of the enzyme complexed with both a tRNA mimic and nucleoside triphosphates under catalytically active conditions. These structures suggest that adenosine 5'-monophosphate is incorporated onto the A76 position of the tRNA via a carboxylate-assisted, one-metal-ion mechanism with aspartate 110 functioning as a general base. The discrimination against incorporation of cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) at position 76 arises from improper placement of the α phosphate of the incoming CTP, which results from the interaction of C with arginine 224 and prevents the nucleophilic attack by the 3' hydroxyl group of cytidine75.

Poly(A) tail recognition by a viral RNA element through assembly of a triple helix.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus produces a highly abundant, nuclear noncoding RNA, polyadenylated nuclear (PAN) RNA, which contains an element that prevents its decay. The 79-nucleotide expression and nuclear retention element (ENE) was proposed to adopt a secondary structure like that of a box H/ACA small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), with a U-rich internal loop that hybridizes to and protects the PAN RNA poly(A) tail. The crystal structure of a complex between the 40-nucleotide ENE core and oligo(A)(9) RNA at 2.5 angstrom resolution reveals that unlike snoRNAs, the U-rich loop of the ENE engages its target through formation of a major-groove triple helix. A-minor interactions extend the binding interface. Deadenylation assays confirm the functional importance of the triple helix. Thus, the ENE acts as an intramolecular RNA clamp, sequestering the PAN poly(A) tail and preventing the initiation of RNA decay.

Structural insight into nascent polypeptide chain-mediated translational stalling.

Expression of the Escherichia coli tryptophanase operon depends on ribosome stalling during translation of the upstream TnaC leader peptide, a process for which interactions between the TnaC nascent chain and the ribosomal exit tunnel are critical. We determined a 5.8 angstrom-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction of a ribosome stalled during translation of the tnaC leader gene. The nascent chain was extended within the exit tunnel, making contacts with ribosomal components at distinct sites. Upon stalling, two conserved residues within the peptidyltransferase center adopted conformations that preclude binding of release factors. We propose a model whereby interactions within the tunnel are relayed to the peptidyltransferase center to inhibit translation. Moreover, we show that nascent chains adopt distinct conformations within the ribosomal exit tunnel.

Structure of apo-CAP reveals that large conformational changes are necessary for DNA binding.

The binding of cAMP to the Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) produces a conformational change that enables it to bind specific DNA sequences and regulate transcription, which it cannot do in the absence of the nucleotide. The crystal structures of the unliganded CAP containing a D138L mutation and the unliganded WT CAP were determined at 2.3 and 3.6 A resolution, respectively, and reveal that the two DNA binding domains have dimerized into one rigid body and their two DNA recognition helices become buried. The WT structure shows multiple orientations of this rigid body relative to the nucleotide binding domain supporting earlier biochemical data suggesting that the inactive form exists in an equilibrium among different conformations. Comparison of the structures of the liganded and unliganded CAP suggests that cAMP stabilizes the active DNA binding conformation of CAP through the interactions that the N(6) of the adenosine makes with the C-helices. These interactions are associated with the reorientation and elongation of the C-helices that precludes the formation of the inactive structure.

A structural view on the mechanism of the ribosome-catalyzed peptide bond formation.

The ribosome is a large ribonucleoprotein particle that translates genetic information encoded in mRNA into specific proteins. Its highly conserved active site, the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC), is located on the large (50S) ribosomal subunit and is comprised solely of rRNA, which makes the ribosome the only natural ribozyme with polymerase activity. The last decade witnessed a rapid accumulation of atomic-resolution structural data on both ribosomal subunits as well as on the entire ribosome. This has allowed studies on the mechanism of peptide bond formation at a level of detail that surpasses that for the classical protein enzymes. A current understanding of the mechanism of the ribosome-catalyzed peptide bond formation is the focus of this review. Implications on the mechanism of peptide release are discussed as well.

Peptidyl-CCA deacylation on the ribosome promoted by induced fit and the O3'-hydroxyl group of A76 of the unacylated A-site tRNA.

The last step in ribosome-catalyzed protein synthesis is the hydrolytic release of the newly formed polypeptide from the P-site bound tRNA. Hydrolysis of the ester link of the peptidyl-tRNA is stimulated normally by the binding of release factors (RFs). However, an unacylated tRNA or just CCA binding to the ribosomal A site can also stimulate deacylation under some nonphysiological conditions. Although the sequence of events is well described by biochemical studies, the structural basis of the mechanism underlying this process is not well understood. Two new structures of the large ribosomal subunit of Haloarcula marismortui complexed with a peptidyl-tRNA analog in the P site and two oligonucleotide mimics of unacylated tRNA, CCA and CA, in the A site show that the binding of either CA or CCA induces a very similar conformational change in the peptidyl-transferase center as induced by aminoacyl-CCA. However, only CCA positions a water molecule appropriately to attack the carbonyl carbon of the peptidyl-tRNA and stabilizes the proper orientation of the ester link for hydrolysis. We, thus, conclude that both the ability of the O3'-hydroxyl group of the A-site A76 to position the water and the A-site CCA induced conformational change of the PTC are critical for the catalysis of the deacylation of the peptidyl-tRNA by CCA, and perhaps, an analogous mechanism is used by RFs.

A structural understanding of the dynamic ribosome machine.

Ribosomes, which are central to protein synthesis and convert transcribed mRNAs into polypeptide chains, have been the focus of structural and biochemical studies for more than 50 years. The structure of its larger subunit revealed that the ribosome is a ribozyme with RNA at the heart of its enzymatic activity that catalyses peptide bond formation. Numerous initiation, elongation and release factors ensure that protein synthesis occurs progressively and with high specificity. In the past few years, high-resolution structures have provided molecular snapshots of different intermediates in ribosome-mediated translation in atomic detail. Together, these studies have revolutionized our understanding of the mechanism of protein synthesis.

Cross-crystal averaging reveals that the structure of the peptidyl-transferase center is the same in the 70S ribosome and the 50S subunit.

Recently, two crystal structures of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome in the same functional state were determined at 2.8 and 3.7 A resolution but were different throughout. The most functionally significant structural differences are in the conformation of the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC) and the interface between the PTC and the CCA end of the P-site tRNA. Likewise, the 3.7 A PTC differed from the functionally equivalent structure of the Haloarcula marismortui 50S subunit. To ascertain whether the 3.7 A model does indeed differ from the other two, we performed cross-crystal averaging of the two 70S data sets. The unbiased maps suggest that the conformation of the PTC-CCA in the two 70S crystal forms is identical to that of the 2.8 A 70S model as well as that of the H. marismortui 50S subunit. We conclude that the structure of the PTC is the same in the functionally equivalent 70S ribosome and the 50S subunit.