Characterization of tRNA splicing enzymes RNA ligase and tRNA 2'-phosphotransferase from the pathogenic fungi Mucorales.

TitleCharacterization of tRNA splicing enzymes RNA ligase and tRNA 2'-phosphotransferase from the pathogenic fungi Mucorales.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsGhosh S, Dantuluri S, Jacewicz A, Sanchez AM, Abdullahu L, Damha MJ, Schwer B, Shuman S
JournalRNA
Volume30
Issue4
Pagination367-380
Date Published2024 Mar 18
ISSN1469-9001
KeywordsAnimals, Humans, Ligases, Mammals, Mucorales, NAD, Polynucleotide 5'-Hydroxyl-Kinase, RNA, RNA Ligase (ATP), RNA Splicing, RNA, Transfer, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Abstract

Fungal Trl1 is an essential trifunctional tRNA splicing enzyme that heals and seals tRNA exons with 2',3'-cyclic-PO4 and 5'-OH ends. Trl1 is composed of C-terminal cyclic phosphodiesterase and central polynucleotide kinase end-healing domains that generate the 3'-OH,2'-PO4 and 5'-PO4 termini required for sealing by an N-terminal ATP-dependent ligase domain. Trl1 enzymes are present in many human fungal pathogens and are promising targets for antifungal drug discovery because their domain structures and biochemical mechanisms are unique compared to the mammalian RtcB-type tRNA splicing enzyme. Here we report that Mucorales species (deemed high-priority human pathogens by WHO) elaborate a noncanonical tRNA splicing apparatus in which a monofunctional RNA ligase enzyme is encoded separately from any end-healing enzymes. We show that Mucor circinelloides RNA ligase (MciRNL) is active in tRNA splicing in vivo in budding yeast in lieu of the Trl1 ligase domain. Biochemical and kinetic characterization of recombinant MciRNL underscores its requirement for a 2'-PO4 terminus in the end-joining reaction, whereby the 2'-PO4 enhances the rates of RNA 5'-adenylylation (step 2) and phosphodiester synthesis (step 3) by ∼125-fold and ∼6200-fold, respectively. In the canonical fungal tRNA splicing pathway, the splice junction 2'-PO4 installed by RNA ligase is removed by a dedicated NAD+-dependent RNA 2'-phosphotransferase Tpt1. Here we identify and affirm by genetic complementation in yeast the biological activity of Tpt1 orthologs from three Mucorales species. Recombinant M. circinelloides Tpt1 has vigorous NAD+-dependent RNA 2'-phosphotransferase activity in vitro.

DOI10.1261/rna.079911.123
Alternate JournalRNA
PubMed ID38238085
PubMed Central IDPMC10946426
Grant ListP30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM134021 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R35 GM126945 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States

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