ChemRAP uncovers specific mRNA translation regulation via RNA 5' phospho-methylation.

5'-end modifications play key roles in determining RNA fates. Phospho-methylation is a noncanonical cap occurring on either 5'-PPP or 5'-P ends. We used ChemRAP, in which affinity purification of cellular proteins with chemically synthesized modified RNAs is coupled to quantitative proteomics, to identify 5'-Pme "readers". We show that 5'-Pme is directly recognized by EPRS, the central subunit of the multisynthetase complex (MSC), through its linker domain, which has previously been involved in key noncanonical EPRS and MSC functions. We further determine that the 5'-Pme writer BCDIN3D regulates the binding of EPRS to specific mRNAs, either at coding regions rich in MSC codons, or around start codons. In the case of LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat containing), a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein associated with the French Canadian Leigh syndrome, BCDIN3D deficiency abolishes binding of EPRS around its mRNA start codon, increases its translation but ultimately results in LRPPRC mislocalization. Overall, our results suggest that BCDIN3D may regulate the translation of specific mRNA via RNA-5'-Pme.

BCDIN3D regulates tRNAHis 3' fragment processing.

5' ends are important for determining the fate of RNA molecules. BCDIN3D is an RNA phospho-methyltransferase that methylates the 5' monophosphate of specific RNAs. In order to gain new insights into the molecular function of BCDIN3D, we performed an unbiased analysis of its interacting RNAs by Thermostable Group II Intron Reverse Transcriptase coupled to next generation sequencing (TGIRT-seq). Our analyses showed that BCDIN3D interacts with full-length phospho-methylated tRNAHis and miR-4454. Interestingly, we found that miR-4454 is not synthesized from its annotated genomic locus, which is a primer-binding site for an endogenous retrovirus, but rather by Dicer cleavage of mature tRNAHis. Sequence analysis revealed that miR-4454 is identical to the 3' end of tRNAHis. Moreover, we were able to generate this 'miRNA' in vitro through incubation of mature tRNAHis with Dicer. As found previously for several pre-miRNAs, a 5'P-tRNAHis appears to be a better substrate for Dicer cleavage than a phospho-methylated tRNAHis. Moreover, tRNAHis 3'-fragment/'miR-4454' levels increase in cells depleted for BCDIN3D. Altogether, our results show that in addition to microRNAs, BCDIN3D regulates tRNAHis 3'-fragment processing without negatively affecting tRNAHis's canonical function of aminoacylation.

Who Watches the Watchmen: Roles of RNA Modifications in the RNA Interference Pathway.

RNA levels are widely thought to be predictive of RNA function. However, the existence of more than a hundred chemically distinct modifications of RNA alone is a major indication that these moieties may impart distinct functions to subgroups of RNA molecules that share a primary sequence but display distinct RNA "epigenetic" marks. RNAs can be modified on many sites, including 5' and 3' ends, the sugar phosphate backbone, or internal bases, which collectively provide many opportunities for posttranscriptional regulation through a variety of mechanisms. Here, we will focus on how modifications on messenger and microRNAs may affect the process of RNA interference in mammalian cells. We believe that taking RNA modifications into account will not only advance our understanding of this crucial pathway in disease and cancer but will also open the path to exploiting the enzymes that "write" and "erase" them as targets for therapeutic drug development.

BCDIN3D RNA methyltransferase stimulates Aldolase C expression and glycolysis through let-7 microRNA in breast cancer cells.

Type II diabetes (T2D) and specific cancers share many risk factors, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these connections are often not well-understood. BCDIN3D is an RNA modifying enzyme that methylates specific precursor microRNAs and tRNAHis. In addition to breast cancer, BCDIN3D may also be linked to metabolism, as its gene locus is associated with obesity and T2D. In order to uncover metabolic pathways regulated by BCDIN3D in cancer, we performed an unbiased analysis of the metabolome, transcriptome, and proteome of breast cancer cells depleted for BCDIN3D. Intersection of these analyses showed that BCDIN3D-depleted cells have increased levels of Fructose 1,6 Bisphosphate (F1,6-BP), the last six-carbon glycolytic intermediate accompanied by reduced glycolytic capacity. We further show that elevated F1,6-BP is due to downregulation of Aldolase C (ALDOC), an enzyme that cleaves F1,6-BP mainly in the brain, but whose high expression/amplification is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. BCDIN3D regulates ALDOC through a non-canonical mechanism involving the crucial let-7 microRNA family and its target site on the 3'UTR of ALDOC. Overall, our results reveal an important connection between BCDIN3D, let-7 and glycolysis that may be relevant to breast cancer, obesity, and T2D.

An epigenetic trap involved in olfactory receptor gene choice.

Reporting recently in Cell, Lyons et al. (2013) reveal key roles for transient LSD1 histone demethylase activity in activation of a single olfactory receptor allele and suppression of the rest of the olfactory receptor gene family, thereby locking in the expression of a single olfactory receptor per sensory neuron.