https://phys.org/news/2023-04-hidden-rna-mechanism-humans.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 1.3K * 28 * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Chemistry 3. Biochemistry * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- April 24, 2023 Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans by University of Konstanz Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans RNA ligase mechanism and identification of C12orf29 by chemical proteomics using modified Ap[3]A probe. a Schematic display of the three-step mechanism of RNA ligation by a 5'-3' RNA ligase. In step 1, the ligase is auto-AMPylated on the catalytic lysine using ATP as the co-substrate. In step 2, the AMP is transferred from the catalytic lysine to the 5'-PO[4] end of RNA (pRNA), giving the RNA-adenylate intermediate (AppRNA). In step 3, the ligated RNA is obtained upon the attack of 3'-OH to the AppRNA in the presence of the ligase along with the liberation of AMP. PPi, pyrophosphate. b Structures of Ap[3]A analogues employed in this study. c Schematic display of the workflow for the identification of C12orf29. Cell lysates are incubated with C 2-eAp[3]A or controls. AMPylated proteins are expected to bear ethynyl functionalities that enable selective modification with an affinity tag desthiobiotin (DB) via CuAAC. Labeled proteins are enriched and identified by ABPP, and further verified by immunoblotting. d Structure of the azide-bearing desthiobiotin as affinity tag. e Affinity enrichment of C12orf29 from two cell lysates verified by immunoblotting (representative images of n = 3). Source data are provided as a Source Data file. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36451-x Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are single-stranded molecules that play an essential role in the cells of all living organisms. As "transcripts" of our genes, mRNAs, for example, are involved in the translation of genetic information by carrying in their own sequence the instructions for the creation of a protein. "In order to fulfill their diverse functions in the cell, RNAs often need to be chemically modified after their creation or repaired after damage," explains Andreas Marx, professor of organic and cellular chemistry at the University of Konstanz. One chemical reaction that plays a role here is the three-step linking (ligation) of two RNA strands at their respective opposite ends. This reaction is triggered by specialized enzymes called RNA ligases and is present in all forms of life, from viruses to fungi and plants. In vertebrates, including humans, such RNA ligases had yet to be identified. An interdisciplinary research team from Konstanz has now discovered the first human RNA ligase of this type, the protein C12orf29. At the cellular level, the study results, published in Nature Communications , suggest a protective function of the enzyme against cellular stress. Antioxidant defense system of our cells "We noticed C12orf29 during extensive studies of human lung carcinoma and kidney cells that we performed in search of proteins with a specific chemical signature and for which we used new chemical tools. It caught our attention because until then it was not understood what the protein's functions were," Marx says. The researchers therefore developed and used various protocols to purify and predict the structure of the unexplored protein and performed experiments to track down its chemical function. They were thus able to prove what was initially only a reasonable suspicion: C12orf29 links RNA strands using adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The researchers were able to show in detail that this process follows a characteristic, three-step reaction pattern known from other RNA ligases of other life forms. To learn more about the function of C12orf29 at the cellular level, the researchers went one step further after elucidating the chemical mechanism. "We used the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors to generate a line of human kidney cells in which the gene encoding C12orf29 was knocked out. We were then able to compare these knockout (KO) cells with 'normal' kidney cells under varying experimental conditions," Marx explains. In particular, when treating the cells with menadione, a K vitamin, clear differences were observed between KO cells and the wild-type cells with functional RNA ligase: Comparatively low concentrations of menadione were sufficient to damage KO cells. In contrast, the wild-type cells were only damaged at significantly higher concentrations. Since menadione is known to cause oxidative stress, the researchers concluded from this result that C12orf29 protects against oxidative cellular stress. "We assume that a previously hidden human RNA repair mechanism underlies this biological function of C12orf29. We now need to examine this mechanism in further studies," Marx says. More information: Yizhi Yuan et al, Chemoproteomic discovery of a human RNA ligase, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-023-36451-x Journal information: Nature Communications Provided by University of Konstanz Citation: Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans (2023, April 24) retrieved 13 May 2023 from https://phys.org/news/ 2023-04-hidden-rna-mechanism-humans.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. 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