mRNA association by aminoacyl tRNA synthetase occurs at a putative anticodon mimic and autoregulates translation in response to tRNA levels

PLoS Biol. 2019 May 17;17(5):e3000274. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000274. eCollection 2019 May.

Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are well studied for their role in binding and charging tRNAs with cognate amino acids. Recent RNA interactome studies had suggested that these enzymes can also bind polyadenylated RNAs. Here, we explored the mRNA repertoire bound by several yeast aaRSs. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) followed by deep sequencing revealed unique sets of mRNAs bound by each aaRS. Interestingly, for every tested aaRSs, a preferential association with its own mRNA was observed, suggesting an autoregulatory process. Self-association of histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) was found to be mediated primarily through binding to a region predicted to fold into a tRNAHis anticodon-like structure. Introducing point mutations that are expected to disassemble this putative anticodon mimic alleviated self-association, concomitant with increased synthesis of the protein. Finally, we found that increased cellular levels of uncharged tRNAHis lead to reduced self-association and increased HisRS translation, in a manner that depends on the anticodon-like element. Together, these results reveal a novel post-transcriptional autoregulatory mechanism that exploits binding mimicry to control mRNA translation according to tRNA demands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / chemistry
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / metabolism*
  • Anticodon / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Protein Domains
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*

Substances

  • Anticodon
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Transfer
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases

Grants and funding

This work was funded by Israel Science Foundation grants 1096/13 and 258/18, Binational Science Foundation grant 2011013, and the RBNI capital usage grant. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.