This project aims to illuminate the mechanisms and structures of viral enzymes that cap the 5'end of messenger RNA. The m7GpppN cap is a distinctive feature of eukaryal cellular and viral mRNA that is required for mRNA stability and translation. Capping entails three enzymatic reactions: (i) the 5'triphosphate of the pre-mRNA is hydrolyzed to a diphosphate by RNA triphosphatase (TPase);(ii) the diphosphate RNA end is capped with GMP by RNA guanylyltransferase (GTase);and (iii) the GpppN cap is methylated by RNA (guanine-N7) methyltransferase (MTase). Whereas the three capping reactions are universal in eukarya and DNA viruses, there is a remarkable diversity in the genetic organization of the cap- forming enzymes in different taxa and in different viruses, as well as a complete divergence in the structure and catalytic mechanism of the TPase enzymes found in fungi, protozoa, and several large DNA viruses versus the human TPase. These differences can be exploited to develop novel anti-infective agents directed against capping of the pathogen's mRNAs. They also provide instructive clues to eukaryal phylogeny and evolution of large DNA viruses. This proposal focuses on the poxvirus mRNA capping enzyme, a heterodimer composed of TPase, GTase and MTase domains fused within a single large polypeptide subunit, plus a smaller subunit that binds and stimulates the MTase domain. We plan to functionally map the active sites and domain interfaces of the poxvirus capping enzyme, guided by a new crystal structure of the complete capping enzyme heterodimer. As an outgrowth of our studies of RNA end-modification by viral enzymes, we've developed a new line of research into end-healing and end-sealing enzymes that repair programmed RNA breaks. Programmed RNA damage is an ancient mechanism of responding to cellular stress and distinguishing self from non-self. RNA damage also figures prominently in host responses to virus infection. tRNA damage inflicted by a latent anticodon nuclease PrrC (which breaks tRNALys) underlies a potent host innate immune response to bacteriophage T4 infection, which is thwarted by a virus-encoded tRNA repair system consisting of T4 Pnkp (polynucleotide kinase/phosphatase) and T4 Rnl1 (RNA ligase 1). We have dissected the mechanism, structure, and specificity of Pnkp and Rnl1, and we have extended our analysis to discover or characterize new RNA repair enzymes from viruses, bacteria and human cells. RNA damage and repair now comprise a significant component of the research effort supported by this grant. The current plan focuses on two aspects of the host-pathogen RNA damage/repair dynamic: (i) genetic and structural analysis of PrrC anticodon nucleases and (ii) characterization of a newly discovered two-component RNA repair system (Hen1-Pnkp) that is distributed widely among bacteria.

Public Health Relevance

Public Health Relevance

Viruses must solve (or circumvent) the mRNA capping problem in order to produce viral proteins and attain a successful virus-host dynamic in the face of cellular surveillance systems that sense uncapped RNA ends. Poxviruses are cytoplasmic DNA viruses that encode their own mRNA capping machinery. Structural and mechanistic differences between the poxvirus and mammalian capping systems recommend capping as a target for antipoxviral drug discovery. Antipoxviral strategies are a national public health priority in light of concern that undeclared stocks of smallpox could be used as a bioterror weapon.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM042498-22A1
Application #
8236142
Study Section
Molecular Genetics C Study Section (MGC)
Program Officer
Bender, Michael T
Project Start
1989-07-01
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$538,975
Indirect Cost
$244,292
Name
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Bacusmo, Jo Marie; Orsini, Silvia S; Hu, Jennifer et al. (2018) The t6A modification acts as a positive determinant for the anticodon nuclease PrrC, and is distinctively nonessential in Streptococcus mutans. RNA Biol 15:508-517
Schmier, Brad J; Shuman, Stewart (2018) Deinococcus radiodurans HD-Pnk, a Nucleic Acid End-Healing Enzyme, Abets Resistance to Killing by Ionizing Radiation and Mitomycin C. J Bacteriol 200:
Remus, Barbara S; Goldgur, Yehuda; Shuman, Stewart (2017) Structural basis for the GTP specificity of the RNA kinase domain of fungal tRNA ligase. Nucleic Acids Res 45:12945-12953
Remus, Barbara S; Schwer, Beate; Shuman, Stewart (2016) Characterization of the tRNA ligases of pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Coccidioides immitis. RNA 22:1500-9
Unciuleac, Mihaela-Carmen; Goldgur, Yehuda; Shuman, Stewart (2015) Structure and two-metal mechanism of a eukaryal nick-sealing RNA ligase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:13868-73
Unciuleac, Mihaela-Carmen; Shuman, Stewart (2015) Characterization of a novel eukaryal nick-sealing RNA ligase from Naegleria gruberi. RNA 21:824-32
Das, Ushati; Wang, Li Kai; Smith, Paul et al. (2014) Structures of bacterial polynucleotide kinase in a Michaelis complex with GTP•Mg2+ and 5'-OH oligonucleotide and a product complex with GDP•Mg2+ and 5'-PO4 oligonucleotide reveal a mechanism of general acid-base catalysis and the determinants of phosphoac Nucleic Acids Res 42:1152-61
Das, Ushati; Wang, Li Kai; Smith, Paul et al. (2014) Structures of bacterial polynucleotide kinase in a michaelis complex with nucleoside triphosphate (NTP)-Mg2+ and 5'-OH RNA and a mixed substrate-product complex with NTP-Mg2+ and a 5'-phosphorylated oligonucleotide. J Bacteriol 196:4285-92
Remus, Barbara S; Jacewicz, Agata; Shuman, Stewart (2014) Structure and mechanism of E. coli RNA 2',3'-cyclic phosphodiesterase. RNA 20:1697-705
Chakravarty, Anupam K; Smith, Paul; Jalan, Radhika et al. (2014) Structure, mechanism, and specificity of a eukaryal tRNA restriction enzyme involved in self-nonself discrimination. Cell Rep 7:339-347

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