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- Kang, Wenjing, 1988-, et al.
(author)
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MapToCleave : High-throughput profiling of microRNA biogenesis in living cells
- 2021
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In: Cell Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-1247. ; 37:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Previous large-scale studies have uncovered many features that determine the processing of microRNA (miRNA) precursors; however, they have been conducted in vitro. Here, we introduce MapToCleave, a method to simultaneously profile processing of thousands of distinct RNA structures in living cells. We find that miRNA precursors with a stable lower basal stem are more efficiently processed and also have higher expression in vivo in tissues from 20 animal species. We systematically compare the importance of known and novel sequence and structural features and test biogenesis of miRNA precursors from 10 animal and plant species in human cells. Lastly, we provide evidence that the GHG motif better predicts processing when defined as a structure rather than sequence motif, consistent with recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies. In summary, we apply a screening assay in living cells to reveal the importance of lower basal stem stability for miRNA processing and in vivo expression.
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2. |
- Shen, Ruidan, et al.
(author)
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Single Residue on the WPD-Loop Affects the pH Dependency of Catalysis in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
- 2021
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In: JACS Au. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2691-3704. ; 1:5, s. 646-659
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Catalysis by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) relies on the motion of a flexible protein loop (the WPD-loop) that carries a residue acting as a general acid/base catalyst during the PTP-catalyzed reaction. The orthogonal substitutions of a noncatalytic residue in the WPD-loops of YopH and PTP1B result in shifted pH-rate profiles from an altered kinetic pKa of the nucleophilic cysteine. Compared to wild type, the G352T YopH variant has a broadened pH-rate profile, similar activity at optimal pH, but significantly higher activity at low pH. Changes in the corresponding PTP1B T177G variant are more modest and in the opposite direction, with a narrowed pH profile and less activity in the most acidic range. Crystal structures of the variants show no structural perturbations but suggest an increased preference for the WPD-loop-closed conformation. Computational analysis confirms a shift in loop conformational equilibrium in favor of the closed conformation, arising from a combination of increased stability of the closed state and destabilization of the loop-open state. Simulations identify the origins of this population shift, revealing differences in the flexibility of the WPD-loop and neighboring regions. Our results demonstrate that changes to the pH dependency of catalysis by PTPs can result from small changes in amino acid composition in their WPD-loops affecting only loop dynamics and conformational equilibrium. The perturbation of kinetic pKa values of catalytic residues by nonchemical processes affords a means for nature to alter an enzyme’s pH dependency by a less disruptive path than altering electrostatic networks around catalytic residues themselves.
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