User:David Ryskamp/Sandbox1

From Proteopedia

Discussion of Human Poly(A) Binding Protein

Background

PolyAdenosine Binding Protein is a mRNA binding protein that binds to the 3’ Poly(A) tail on mRNA. The human PABP was discovered in 1973 by the use of a sedimentation profile detailing the RNase digestion differentiated the PABP protein. ^[1] Attempts to purify the 75 kDa protein then followed, where shortly after, in 1983, then considered “poly(A)-organizing protein,” was determined and purified by molecular weight, ligand-binding affinity, and amounts found in cytoplasmic portions of cell with ability to bind to free poly(A). ^[2]

PABP is comprised of four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), which are highly conserved RNA-binding domains.^[3] The RRM in PABP is found in over two hundred families of proteins across species, indicating that it is ancient.^[3] Through extensive Adenosine recognition by the RRMs of PABP, the protein is involved in three main functions: recognition of the 3’ Poly(A) tail, mRNA stabilization, and eukaryotic translation initiation. However, the contributions of controlling gene expression throughout different families of PABPs is not yet fully understood. PABP families are divided into nuclear and cytoplasmic. ^[4] PABP1, which is predominantly cytoplasmic, is often referred to as PABP because it is the only form of PABP that has been extensively studied in its role with mRNA translation and stability. ^[4]

Structure

PABP Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image The crystal structure PABP (1CVJ) (PABP) was derived from X-ray Diffraction at 2.6Å (R-value: 23%). The subunits of PABP, RRM1 and RRM2, are examined in this article as the in vivo form seen in biological assembly 1 (via PDB). The protein has a homopolymeric structure, containing four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), which are conserved. [5] and are N-terminal domains that are connected by a .[3] Opposed to their counterparts, RRM3 and RRM4 bind Poly (A) RNA less tightly than RRM1 and RRM2.[3] RNA Recognition Motifs (RRMs) The are categorized into two RRMs: the n-terminus RRM1 (red) and c-terminus RRM2 (blue) are shown accordingly. The two RRMs are linked via an alpha-helix linker (green) that maintains the RRM1/2 complex that is the biological assembly and active form of PABP. Each RRM has a four-stranded antiparallel beta sheet backed by two corresponding alpha helices. [3] mRNA poly-adenosine recognition is due to the presence of the conserved residues within the beta-sheet surface [6] , which forms a -like pocket for the mRNA to bind. The beta-sheet flooring present in PABP interacts with the 3’ mRNA tail via a combination of van der Waals, aromatic stacking, and Hydrogen bonding. Through these interactions, PABP binds to 3’ Poly (A) tail with a Kd of 2-7 nM. [4] Figure 1: Surface hydrophobicity shown in presence of mRNA Further, the RRM1/2 complex interacts with the mRNA's sugar-phosphate backbone, where 4 of the 8 mRNA adenosines interact electrostatically (Figure 1).[3] Upon closer examination of the PABP structure, the protein contains loop-like domains that form the walls of the beta-sheet trough. Although these are present, no interaction occurs between the mRNA and these regions. We propose that these loops only keep unwanted cellular elements out of the binding pocket via hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, maintaining the protein's selectivity for mRNA. The structural elements highlighted consist of the RRM1/2 subunits, the linker domain, and the Poly(A) mRNA binding trough. Interactions Adenosine Recognition Interactions (table left) and mRNA Stabilization via Aromatic Stacking (table right) Adenosine Number PABP residue A3 A6 A8 Nucleotide PABP residue Atom on PABP residue Atom on RNA A2 side chain carbonyl N6 A3 backbone carbonyl N3 A4 side chain amine N7 A4 side chain hydroxyl N1 A5 pyrimidine ∆-amine N6 A6 backbone amine N1 A6 backbone carbonyl N6 A6 phenol OH phosphate OH A7 phenol OH ribose 2 OH A7 side chain carboxyl N6 A7 backbone amine N1 A8 phenol OH phosphate OH A8 phenol OH phosphate OH A9 side chain τ-amine N1 Function In eukaryotic mRNA translation, PABP recognizes the 3' Poly(A) tail via interactions with the trough as determined above. While associated with the Poly(A) region, the complex then works together to stabilize the mRNA by preventing exoribonucleolytic degradation,[3] thereby guiding the mRNA molecule into the translation pathway via interactions with translation initiation factor gG. Recognition of the Poly(A) Tail Polyadenylation of an mRNA involves the recognition of the 5’-AAUAAA-3’ consensus site, the cleavage downstream of the consensus site, and then the addition of adenines by Poly(A) Polymerase to the 3’ end. The newly added poly(A) tail is associated with the PABP. PABP requires 11-12 adenosines in order to bind. PABP and the bound Poly(A) tail work together to stabilize mRNA by preventing exo-ribonucleolytic degradation,[3] thereby guiding the mRNA molecule into the translation pathway. Upon mRNA poly(A) recognition, PABP and the bound mRNA stimulate the initiation of translation by interacting with initiation factor eIF4G. mRNA Stabilization Serving yet again as another source of mRNA stabilization, PABP prevents the deadenylation and decapping of the target mRNA. Typically, Poly(A) ribonuclease (PARN) works to deadenylate mRNA, but the presence of PABP hinders its function. The PABP protein is able to protect mRNA degradation through the complex that it forms with the elongation initiation factors, whose presence prevent deadenylation and decapping.[3] This has been verified by the presence of deadenylation products and the comparative size of PABP footprints. There is some evidence indicating that PABP is involved in the prevention of endonucleolytic cleavage; however, only a small amount of mRNA is degraded from endonucleolytic cleavage, so it has not been widely researched.[3] Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Figure 2: Dorsal side with green conserved residues that interact with eIF4. Upon mRNA Poly(A) recognition, PABP and the bound mRNA stimulate the initiation of translation by interacting with initiation factor eIF4G. Protein eIF4G interacts with PABP's dorsal side, under the trough, where hydrophobic and acidic residues stimulate the interaction between the two proteins (Figure 2). These specific residues are phylogenetically conserved among all PABPs, and are significant in the protein's function and interaction with eIF4G. PABP and mRNA complex aids in translation initiation under two proposed mechanisms. Studies have highlighted the presence of a “Closed Loop” Model in line with either mechanism. The “Closed Loop” Model entails the recognition of the 5’ 7-methyl-Guanosine cap by eIF4F, which is a ternary complex made up of a cap-binding protein (eIF4E) and RNA helicase (eIF4A) connected by the bridging protein (eIF4G) (Figure 3). Translation initiation is stimulated by the PABP bound to the poly(A) tail and its association with eIF4G.[3] The 5’ UTR is unwound by the elF4F complex, and ribosomes are recruited to create the initiation complex. The eIF4G protein then guides the 40S subunit to the start codon (AUG), which is followed by the binding 60S ribosomal subunit, creating the 80S initiation complex.[3] Figure 3: Closed loop model of the eIF4F complex and PABP creating a loop out of the mRNA The association of the PABP and eIF4G gave rise to the name “closed loop.”[3] Mutations of Arg→Ala and Lys→Ala in human eIF4G and in yeast extracts decrease the rate of translation initiation and destabilize the interactions with PABP, indicating that basic residues are essential to the interaction with PABP.[3] In more complex eukaryotic organisms, PABP indirectly stimulates translation via PAIP-1 (PABP interacting protein). A higher presence of PAIP-1 increases the rate of translation initiation, indicating another way to “close the loop.”¹

Disease and Medical Relevance

Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, or OPMD, is an autosomal dominant late-onset disease. ^[7] The disease is characterized by the myopathy of the eyelids and the throat with symptoms consisting of eye-drooping and difficulty swallowing. There are two types of OPMD: autosomal dominant and recessive, both originating from the mutation of the PABP nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene located on the long arm of chromosome 14. ^[7] This mutation results in an abnormally long polyalanine tract, 11-18 alanines, opposed to the normal 10. ^[7] Patients with longer PABPN1 expansion (more alanines) are on average diagnosed at an earlier in life than patients with a shorter expansion; therefore, expansion size plays a role in OPMD severity and progression. ^[8] This mutation results in PABPN1 forming clumps in muscle cells that can’t be degraded. ^[7] It’s suspected that this is a source of cell death for effected cells, however, it has not been concluded why this mutation only affects certain muscle cells.

Studies on Mutations

Studies conducted on Drosophila are common due to 75% conservation between human and Drosophila genomes. Drosophila only encode one cytoplasmic PABP, and its deletion results in embryonic lethality. ^[4] Similarly, in Caenorhabditis elegans, which have two cytoplasmic PABPs, display 50-80% embryonic lethality with the introduction of an RNAi to one of these PABPs. ^[4]

References

1. ↑ Blobel, Gunter. “A Protein of Molecular Weight 78,000 Bound to the Polyadenylate Region of Eukaryotic Messenger Rnas.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 70, no. 3, 1973, pp. 924–8.
2. ↑ Baer, Bradford W. and Kornberg, Roger D. "The Protein Responsible for the Repeating Structure of Cytoplasmic Poly(A)-Ribonucleoprotein." The Journal of Cell Biology, vol. 96, no. 3, Mar. 1983, pp. 717-721. EBSCOhost.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13} Deo, Rahul C, et al. “Recognition of Polyadenylate RNA by the Poly(A)-Binding Protein.” Cell 98:6. (1999) 835-845. Print.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Gorgoni, Barbra, and Gray, Nicola. “The Roles of Cytoplasmic Poly(A)-Binding Proteins in Regulating Gene Expression: A Developmental Perspective.” Briefings in Functional Genomics and Proteomics, vol. 3, no. 2, 1 Aug. 2004, pp. 125–141., doi:10.1093/bfgp/3.2.125.
5. ↑ Kühn, Uwe and Elmar, Wahle. “Structure and Function of Poly(a) Binding Proteins.” Bba - Gene Structure & Expression, vol. 1678, no. 2/3, 2004.
6. ↑ Wang, Zuoren and Kiledjian, Megerditch. “The Poly(A)-Binding Protein and an mRNA Stability Protein Jointly Regulate an Endoribonuclease Activity.” Molecular and Cellular Biology 20.17 (2000): 6334–6341. Print.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} “Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy.” NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders), rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/oculopharyngeal-muscular-dystrophy/.
8. ↑ Richard, Pascale, et al. “Correlation between PABPN1 Genotype and Disease Severity in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy.” Neurology, vol. 88, no. 4, 2016, pp. 359–365., doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000003554.