A connection between the ribosome and two S. pombe tRNA modification mutants subject to rapid tRNA decay.

tRNA modifications are crucial in all organisms to ensure tRNA folding and stability, and accurate translation. In both the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the evolutionarily distant yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, mutants lacking certain tRNA body modifications (outside the anticodon loop) are temperature sensitive due to rapid tRNA decay (RTD) of a subset of hypomodified tRNAs. Here we show that for each of two S. pombe mutants subject to RTD, mutations in ribosomal protein genes suppress the temperature sensitivity without altering tRNA levels. Prior work showed that S. pombe trm8Δ mutants, lacking 7-methylguanosine, were temperature sensitive due to RTD, and that one class of suppressors had mutations in the general amino acid control (GAAC) pathway, which was activated concomitant with RTD, resulting in further tRNA loss. We now find that another class of S. pombe trm8Δ suppressors have mutations in rpl genes, encoding 60S subunit proteins, and that suppression occurs with minimal restoration of tRNA levels and reduced GAAC activation. Furthermore, trm8Δ suppression extends to other mutations in the large or small ribosomal subunit. We also find that S. pombe tan1Δ mutants, lacking 4-acetylcytidine, are temperature sensitive due to RTD, that one class of suppressors have rpl mutations, associated with minimal restoration of tRNA levels, and that suppression extends to other rpl and rps mutations. However, although S. pombe tan1Δ temperature sensitivity is associated with some GAAC activation, suppression by an rpl mutation only modestly inhibits GAAC activation. We propose a model in which ribosomal protein mutations result in reduced ribosome concentrations, leading to both reduced ribosome collisions and a reduced requirement for tRNA, with these effects having different relative importance in trm8Δ and tan1Δ mutants. This model is consistent with our results in S. cerevisiae trm8Δ trm4Δ mutants, known to undergo RTD, fueling speculation that this model applies across eukaryotes.

Comparing FRET Pairs that Report on Intersubunit Rotation in Bacterial Ribosomes.

Mediated by elongation factor G (EF-G), ribosome translocation along mRNA is accompanied by rotational movement between ribosomal subunits. Here, we reassess whether the intersubunit rotation requires GTP hydrolysis by EF-G or can occur spontaneously. To that end, we employ two independent FRET assays, which are based on labeling either ribosomal proteins (bS6 and bL9) or rRNAs (h44 of 16S and H101 of 23S rRNA). Both FRET pairs reveal three FRET states, corresponding to the non-rotated, rotated and semi-rotated conformations of the ribosome. Both FRET assays show that in the absence of EF-G, pre-translocation ribosomes containing deacylated P-site tRNA undergo spontaneous intersubunit rotations between non-rotated and rotated conformations. While the two FRET pairs exhibit largely similar behavior, they substantially differ in the fraction of ribosomes showing spontaneous fluctuations. Nevertheless, instead of being an invariable intrinsic property of each FRET pair, the fraction of spontaneously fluctuating molecules changes in both FRET assays depending on experimental conditions. Our results underscore importance of using multiple FRET pairs in studies of ribosome dynamics and highlight the role of thermally-driven large-scale ribosome rearrangements in translation.

Comparing FRET pairs that report on intersubunit rotation in bacterial ribosomes.

Mediated by elongation factor G (EF-G), ribosome translocation along mRNA is accompanied by rotational movement between ribosomal subunits. Here, we reassess whether the intersubunit rotation requires GTP hydrolysis by EF-G or can occur spontaneously. To that end, we employ two independent FRET assays, which are based on labeling either ribosomal proteins (bS6 and bL9) or rRNAs (h44 of 16S and H101 of 23S rRNA). Both FRET pairs reveal three FRET states, corresponding to the non-rotated, rotated and semi-rotated conformations of the ribosome. Both FRET assays show that in the absence of EF-G, pre-translocation ribosomes containing deacylated P-site tRNA undergo spontaneous intersubunit rotations between non-rotated and rotated conformations. While the two FRET pairs exhibit largely similar behavior, they substantially differ in the fraction of ribosomes showing spontaneous fluctuations. Nevertheless, instead of being an invariable intrinsic property of each FRET pair, the fraction of spontaneously fluctuating molecules changes in both FRET assays depending on experimental conditions. Our results underscore importance of using multiple FRET pairs in studies of ribosome dynamics and highlight the role of thermally-driven large-scale ribosome rearrangements in translation.

Interplay between Inter-Subunit Rotation of the Ribosome and Binding of Translational GTPases.

Translational G proteins, whose release from the ribosome is triggered by GTP hydrolysis, regulate protein synthesis. Concomitantly with binding and dissociation of protein factors, translation is accompanied by forward and reverse rotation between ribosomal subunits. Using single-molecule measurements, we explore the ways in which the binding of translational GTPases affects inter-subunit rotation of the ribosome. We demonstrate that the highly conserved translation factor LepA, whose function remains debated, shifts the equilibrium toward the non-rotated conformation of the ribosome. By contrast, the catalyst of ribosome translocation, elongation factor G (EF-G), favors the rotated conformation of the ribosome. Nevertheless, the presence of P-site peptidyl-tRNA and antibiotics, which stabilize the non-rotated conformation of the ribosome, only moderately reduces EF-G binding. These results support the model suggesting that EF-G interacts with both the non-rotated and rotated conformations of the ribosome during mRNA translocation. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of LepA and EF-G action and underscore the role of ribosome structural dynamics in translation.

Intrinsically Unstructured Sequences in the mRNA 3' UTR Reduce the Ability of Poly(A) Tail to Enhance Translation.

The 5' cap and 3' poly(A) tail of mRNA are known to synergistically stimulate translation initiation via the formation of the cap•eIF4E•eIF4G•PABP•poly(A) complex. Most mRNA sequences have an intrinsic propensity to fold into extensive intramolecular secondary structures that result in short end-to-end distances. The inherent compactness of mRNAs might stabilize the cap•eIF4E•eIF4G•PABP•poly(A) complex and enhance cap-poly(A) translational synergy. Here, we test this hypothesis by introducing intrinsically unstructured sequences into the 5' or 3' UTRs of model mRNAs. We found that the introduction of unstructured sequences into the 3' UTR, but not the 5' UTR, decreases mRNA translation in cell-free wheat germ and yeast extracts without affecting mRNA stability. The observed reduction in protein synthesis results from the diminished ability of the poly(A) tail to stimulate translation. These results suggest that base pair formation by the 3' UTR enhances the cap-poly(A) synergy in translation initiation.

Specific length and structure rather than high thermodynamic stability enable regulatory mRNA stem-loops to pause translation.

Translating ribosomes unwind mRNA secondary structures by three basepairs each elongation cycle. Despite the ribosome helicase, certain mRNA stem-loops stimulate programmed ribosomal frameshift by inhibiting translation elongation. Here, using mutagenesis, biochemical and single-molecule experiments, we examine whether high stability of three basepairs, which are unwound by the translating ribosome, is critical for inducing ribosome pauses. We find that encountering frameshift-inducing mRNA stem-loops from the E. coli dnaX mRNA and the gag-pol transcript of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) hinders A-site tRNA binding and slows down ribosome translocation by 15-20 folds. By contrast, unwinding of first three basepairs adjacent to the mRNA entry channel slows down the translating ribosome by only 2-3 folds. Rather than high thermodynamic stability, specific length and structure enable regulatory mRNA stem-loops to stall translation by forming inhibitory interactions with the ribosome. Our data provide the basis for rationalizing transcriptome-wide studies of translation and searching for novel regulatory mRNA stem-loops.

Ribosome as a Translocase and Helicase.

During protein synthesis, ribosome moves along mRNA to decode one codon after the other. Ribosome translocation is induced by a universally conserved protein, elongation factor G (EF-G) in bacteria and elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in eukaryotes. EF-G-induced translocation results in unwinding of the intramolecular secondary structures of mRNA by three base pairs at a time that renders the translating ribosome a processive helicase. Professor Alexander Sergeevich Spirin has made numerous seminal contributions to understanding the molecular mechanism of translocation. Here, we review Spirin's insights into the ribosomal translocation and recent advances in the field that stemmed from Spirin's pioneering work. We also discuss key remaining challenges in studies of translocase and helicase activities of the ribosome.

Making ends meet: New functions of mRNA secondary structure.

The 5' cap and 3' poly(A) tail of mRNA are known to synergistically regulate mRNA translation and stability. Recent computational and experimental studies revealed that both protein-coding and non-coding RNAs will fold with extensive intramolecular secondary structure, which will result in close distances between the sequence ends. This proximity of the ends is a sequence-independent, universal property of most RNAs. Only low-complexity sequences without guanosines are without secondary structure and exhibit end-to-end distances expected for RNA random coils. The innate proximity of RNA ends might have important biological implications that remain unexplored. In particular, the inherent compactness of mRNA might regulate translation initiation by facilitating the formation of protein complexes that bridge mRNA 5' and 3' ends. Additionally, the proximity of mRNA ends might mediate coupling of 3' deadenylation to 5' end mRNA decay. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics, and Chemistry RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems Translation > Translation Regulation.

Extending the Spacing between the Shine-Dalgarno Sequence and P-Site Codon Reduces the Rate of mRNA Translocation.

By forming base-pairing interactions with the 3' end of 16S rRNA, mRNA Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequences positioned upstream of open reading frames facilitate translation initiation. During the elongation phase of protein synthesis, intragenic SD-like sequences stimulate ribosome frameshifting and may also slow down ribosome movement along mRNA. Here, we show that the length of the spacer between the SD sequence and P-site codon strongly affects the rate of ribosome translocation. Increasing the spacer length beyond 6 nt destabilizes mRNA-tRNA-ribosome interactions and results in a 5- to 10-fold reduction of the translocation rate. These observations suggest that during translation, the spacer between the SD sequence and P-site codon undergoes structural rearrangements, which slow down mRNA translocation and promote mRNA frameshifting.

mRNA stem-loops can pause the ribosome by hindering A-site tRNA binding.

Although the elongating ribosome is an efficient helicase, certain mRNA stem-loop structures are known to impede ribosome movement along mRNA and stimulate programmed ribosome frameshifting via mechanisms that are not well understood. Using biochemical and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments, we studied how frameshift-inducing stem-loops from E. coli dnaX mRNA and the gag-pol transcript of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) perturb translation elongation. We find that upon encountering the ribosome, the stem-loops strongly inhibit A-site tRNA binding and ribosome intersubunit rotation that accompanies translation elongation. Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) reveals that the HIV stem-loop docks into the A site of the ribosome. Our results suggest that mRNA stem-loops can transiently escape the ribosome helicase by binding to the A site. Thus, the stem-loops can modulate gene expression by sterically hindering tRNA binding and inhibiting translation elongation.

A splice site-sensing conformational switch in U2AF2 is modulated by U2AF1 and its recurrent myelodysplasia-associated mutation.

An essential heterodimer of the U2AF1 and U2AF2 pre-mRNA splicing factors nucleates spliceosome assembly at polypyrimidine (Py) signals preceding the major class of 3' splice sites. U2AF1 frequently acquires an S34F-encoding mutation among patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The influence of the U2AF1 subunit and its S34F mutation on the U2AF2 conformations remains unknown. Here, we employ single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to determine the influence of wild-type or S34F-substituted U2AF1 on the conformational dynamics of U2AF2 and its splice site RNA complexes. In the absence of RNA, the U2AF1 subunit stabilizes a high FRET value, which by structure-guided mutagenesis corresponds to a closed conformation of the tandem U2AF2 RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). When the U2AF heterodimer is bound to a strong, uridine-rich splice site, U2AF2 switches to a lower FRET value characteristic of an open, side-by-side arrangement of the RRMs. Remarkably, the U2AF heterodimer binds weak, uridine-poor Py tracts as a mixture of closed and open U2AF2 conformations, which are modulated by the S34F mutation. Shifts between open and closed U2AF2 may underlie U2AF1-dependent splicing of degenerate Py tracts and contribute to a subset of S34F-dysregulated splicing events in MDS patients.

Observation of preQ1-II riboswitch dynamics using single-molecule FRET.

PreQ1 riboswitches regulate the synthesis of the hypermodified tRNA base queuosine by sensing the pyrrolopyrimidine metabolite preQ1. Here, we use single-molecule FRET to interrogate the structural dynamics of apo and preQ1-bound states of the preQ1-II riboswitch from Lactobacillus rhamnosus. We find that the apo-form of the riboswitch spontaneously samples multiple conformations. Magnesium ions and preQ1 stabilize conformations that sequester the ribosome-binding site of the mRNA within the pseudoknotted structure, thus inhibiting translation initiation. Our results reveal that folding of the preQ1-II riboswitch is complex and provide evidence favoring a conformational selection model of effector binding by riboswitches of this class.

mRNAs and lncRNAs intrinsically form secondary structures with short end-to-end distances.

The 5' and 3' termini of RNA play important roles in many cellular processes. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we show that mRNAs and lncRNAs have an intrinsic propensity to fold in the absence of proteins into structures in which the 5' end and 3' end are ≤7 nm apart irrespective of mRNA length. Computational estimates suggest that the inherent proximity of the ends is a universal property of most mRNA and lncRNA sequences. Only guanosine-depleted RNA sequences with low sequence complexity are unstructured and exhibit end-to-end distances expected for the random coil conformation of RNA. While the biological implications remain to be explored, short end-to-end distances could facilitate the binding of protein factors that regulate translation initiation by bridging mRNA 5' and 3' ends. Furthermore, our studies provide the basis for measuring, computing and manipulating end-to-end distances and secondary structure in RNA in research and biotechnology.

Ensemble and single-molecule FRET studies of protein synthesis.

Protein synthesis is a complex, multi-step process that involves large conformational changes of the ribosome and protein factors of translation. Over the last decade, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has become instrumental for studying structural rearrangements of the translational apparatus. Here, we discuss the design of ensemble and single-molecule (sm) FRET assays of translation. We describe a number of experimental strategies that can be used to introduce fluorophores into the ribosome, tRNA, mRNA and protein factors of translation. Alternative approaches to tethering of translation components to the microscope slide in smFRET experiments are also reviewed. Finally, we discuss possible challenges in the interpretation of FRET data and ways to address these challenges.

Caught on Camera: Intermediates of Ribosome Recycling.

Following termination of protein synthesis, bacterial ribosomes are split into subunits by the joint action of elongation factor G and ribosome recycling factor in the process called ribosome recycling. In this issue of Structure, Fu et al. (2016) describe visualization of transient intermediates of ribosome recycling using time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy.

EF-G Activation by Phosphate Analogs.

Elongation factor G (EF-G) is a universally conserved translational GTPase that promotes the translocation of tRNA and mRNA through the ribosome. EF-G binds to the ribosome in a GTP-bound form and subsequently catalyzes GTP hydrolysis. The contribution of the ribosome-stimulated GTP hydrolysis by EF-G to tRNA/mRNA translocation remains debated. Here, we show that while EF-G•GDP does not stably bind to the ribosome and induce translocation, EF-G•GDP in complex with phosphate group analogs BeF3(-) and AlF4(-) promotes the translocation of tRNA and mRNA. Furthermore, the rates of mRNA translocation induced by EF-G in the presence of GTP and a non-hydrolyzable analog of GTP, GDP•BeF3(-) are similar. Our results are consistent with the model suggesting that GTP hydrolysis is not directly coupled to mRNA/tRNA translocation. Hence, GTP binding is required to induce the activated, translocation-competent conformation of EF-G while GTP hydrolysis triggers EF-G release from the ribosome.

Structural insights into ribosome translocation.

During protein synthesis, tRNA and mRNA are translocated from the A to P to E sites of the ribosome thus enabling the ribosome to translate one codon of mRNA after the other. Ribosome translocation along mRNA is induced by the universally conserved ribosome GTPase, elongation factor G (EF-G) in bacteria and elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in eukaryotes. Recent structural and single-molecule studies revealed that tRNA and mRNA translocation within the ribosome is accompanied by cyclic forward and reverse rotations between the large and small ribosomal subunits parallel to the plane of the intersubunit interface. In addition, during ribosome translocation, the 'head' domain of small ribosomal subunit undergoes forward- and back-swiveling motions relative to the rest of the small ribosomal subunit around the axis that is orthogonal to the axis of intersubunit rotation. tRNA/mRNA translocation is also coupled to the docking of domain IV of EF-G into the A site of the small ribosomal subunit that converts the thermally driven motions of the ribosome and tRNA into the forward translocation of tRNA/mRNA inside the ribosome. Despite recent and enormous progress made in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of ribosome translocation, the sequence of structural rearrangements of the ribosome, EF-G and tRNA during translocation is still not fully established and awaits further investigation. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:620-636. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1354 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

An extended U2AF(65)-RNA-binding domain recognizes the 3' splice site signal.

How the essential pre-mRNA splicing factor U2AF(65) recognizes the polypyrimidine (Py) signals of the major class of 3' splice sites in human gene transcripts remains incompletely understood. We determined four structures of an extended U2AF(65)-RNA-binding domain bound to Py-tract oligonucleotides at resolutions between 2.0 and 1.5 Å. These structures together with RNA binding and splicing assays reveal unforeseen roles for U2AF(65) inter-domain residues in recognizing a contiguous, nine-nucleotide Py tract. The U2AF(65) linker residues between the dual RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) recognize the central nucleotide, whereas the N- and C-terminal RRM extensions recognize the 3' terminus and third nucleotide. Single-molecule FRET experiments suggest that conformational selection and induced fit of the U2AF(65) RRMs are complementary mechanisms for Py-tract association. Altogether, these results advance the mechanistic understanding of molecular recognition for a major class of splice site signals.

Initiation factor 2 stabilizes the ribosome in a semirotated conformation.

Intersubunit rotation and movement of the L1 stalk, a mobile domain of the large ribosomal subunit, have been shown to accompany the elongation cycle of translation. The initiation phase of protein synthesis is crucial for translational control of gene expression; however, in contrast to elongation, little is known about the conformational rearrangements of the ribosome during initiation. Bacterial initiation factors (IFs) 1, 2, and 3 mediate the binding of initiator tRNA and mRNA to the small ribosomal subunit to form the initiation complex, which subsequently associates with the large subunit by a poorly understood mechanism. Here, we use single-molecule FRET to monitor intersubunit rotation and the inward/outward movement of the L1 stalk of the large ribosomal subunit during the subunit-joining step of translation initiation. We show that, on subunit association, the ribosome adopts a distinct conformation in which the ribosomal subunits are in a semirotated orientation and the L1 stalk is positioned in a half-closed state. The formation of the semirotated intermediate requires the presence of an aminoacylated initiator, fMet-tRNA(fMet), and IF2 in the GTP-bound state. GTP hydrolysis by IF2 induces opening of the L1 stalk and the transition to the nonrotated conformation of the ribosome. Our results suggest that positioning subunits in a semirotated orientation facilitates subunit association and support a model in which L1 stalk movement is coupled to intersubunit rotation and/or IF2 binding.