Solvent structure and hammerhead ribozyme catalysis

Although the hammerhead ribozyme is regarded as a prototype for understanding RNA catalysis, the mechanistic roles of associated metal ions and water molecules in the cleavage reaction remain controversial. We have investigated the catalytic potential of observed divalent metal ions and water molecules bound to a 2 A structure of the full-length hammerhead ribozyme by using X-ray crystallography in combination with molecular dynamics simulations. A single Mn(2+) is observed to bind directly to the A9 phosphate in the active site, accompanying a hydrogen-bond network involving a well-ordered water molecule spanning N1 of G12 (the general base) and 2'-O of G8 (previously implicated in general acid catalysis) that we propose, based on molecular dynamics calculations, facilitates proton transfer in the cleavage reaction. Phosphate-bridging metal interactions and other mechanistic hypotheses are also tested with this approach.     

Active site labeling of G8 in the hairpin ribozyme: implications for structure and mechanism

There is mounting evidence that suggests that general acid/base catalysis is operative in the hairpin ribozyme, with analogy to the protein enzyme RNaseA. Nevertheless, the extent of general base catalysis as well as the identity of the specific chemical groups responsible remains the subject of some controversy. An affinity label has previously been used to alkylate histidine 12 (His12), the active general base in RNaseA. To date, no such experiment has been applied to a ribozyme. We have synthesized the analogous affinity label for the hairpin ribozyme with an electrophilic 2'-bromoacetamide group in lieu of the 2'-hydroxyl (2'OH) at the substrate cleavage site and show that guanosine 8 (G8) of the hairpin ribozyme is specifically alkylated, most likely at the N1 position. This evidence strongly implicates N1 of G8 in active site chemistry. By direct analogy to RNase A, these findings could be consistent with the hypothesis that deprotonated G8 residue functions as a general base in the hairpin ribozyme. Other mechanistic possibilities for N1 of G8 such as indirect general base catalysis mediated by a water molecule or transition state stabilization could also be consistent with our findings.     

Role of Mg2+ in hammerhead ribozyme catalysis from molecular simulation

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the role of Mg2+ in the full-length hammerhead ribozyme cleavage reaction. In particular, the aim of this work is to characterize the binding mode and conformational events that give rise to catalytically active conformations and stabilization of the transition state. Toward this end, a series of eight 12 ns molecular dynamics simulations have been performed with different divalent metal binding occupations for the reactant, early and late transition state using recently developed force field parameters for metal ions and reactive intermediates in RNA catalysis. In addition, hybrid QM/MM calculations of the early and late transition state were performed to study the proton-transfer step in general acid catalysis that is facilitated by the catalytic Mg2+ ion. The simulations suggest that Mg2+ is profoundly involved in the hammerhead ribozyme mechanism both at structural and catalytic levels. Binding of Mg2+ in the active site plays a key structural role in the stabilization of stem I and II and to facilitate formation of near attack conformations and interactions between the nucleophile and G12, the implicated general base catalyst. In the transition state, Mg2+ binds in a bridging position where it stabilizes the accumulated charge of the leaving group while interacting with the 2'OH of G8, the implicated general acid catalyst. The QM/MM simulations provide support that, in the late transition state, the 2'OH of G8 can transfer a proton to the leaving group while directly coordinating the bridging Mg2+ ion. The present study provides evidence for the role of Mg2+ in hammerhead ribozyme catalysis. The proposed simulation model reconciles the interpretation of available experimental structural and biochemical data, and provides a starting point for more detailed investigation of the chemical reaction path with combined QM/MM methods.     

Atom‐Specific Mutagenesis Reveals Structural and Catalytic Roles for an Active‐Site Adenosine and Hydrated Mg2+ in Pistol Ribozymes

The pistol RNA motif represents a new class of self‐cleaving ribozymes of yet unknown biological function. Our recent crystal structure of a pre‐catalytic state of this RNA shows guanosine G40 and adenosine A32 close to the G53–U54 cleavage site. While the N1 of G40 is within 3.4 Å of the modeled G53 2′‐OH group that attacks the scissile phosphate, thus suggesting a direct role in general acid–base catalysis, the function of A32 is less clear. We present evidence from atom‐specific mutagenesis that neither the N1 nor N3 base positions of A32 are involved in catalysis. By contrast, the ribose 2′‐OH of A32 seems crucial for the proper positioning of G40 through a H‐bond network that involves G42 as a bridging unit between A32 and G40. We also found that disruption of the inner‐sphere coordination of the active‐site Mg²⁺ cation to N7 of G33 makes the ribozyme drastically slower. A mechanistic proposal is suggested, with A32 playing a structural role and hydrated Mg²⁺ playing a catalytic role in cleavage.     

Coordination environment of a site-bound metal ion in the hammerhead ribozyme determined by 15N and 2H ESEEM spectroscopy

Although site-bound Mg2+ ions have been proposed to influence RNA structure and function, establishing the molecular properties of such sites has been challenging due largely to the unique electrostatic properties of the RNA biopolymer. We have previously determined that, in solution, the hammerhead ribozyme (a self-cleaving RNA) has a high-affinity metal ion binding site characterized by a K(d,app) < 10 microM for Mn2+ in 1 M NaCl and speculated that this site has functional importance in the ribozyme cleavage reaction. Here we determine both the precise location and the hydration level of Mn2+ in this site using ESEEM (electron spin-echo envelope modulation) spectroscopy. Definitive assignment of the high-affinity site to the activity-sensitive A9/G10.1 region is achieved by site-specific labeling of G10.1 with 15N guanine. The coordinated metal ion retains four water ligands as measured by 2H ESEEM spectroscopy. The results presented here show that a functionally important, specific metal binding site is uniquely populated in the hammerhead ribozyme even in a background of high ionic strength. Although it has a relatively high thermodynamic affinity, this ion remains partially hydrated and is chelated to the RNA by just two ligands.     

An active-site guanine participates in glmS ribozyme catalysis in its protonated state

Active-site guanines that occupy similar positions have been proposed to serve as general base catalysts in hammerhead, hairpin, and glmS ribozymes, but no specific roles for these guanines have been demonstrated conclusively. Structural studies place G33(N1) of the glmS ribozyme of Bacillus anthracis within hydrogen-bonding distance of the 2'-OH nucleophile. Apparent pK(a) values determined from the pH dependence of cleavage kinetics for wild-type and mutant glmS ribozymes do not support a role for G33, or any other active-site guanine, in general base catalysis. Furthermore, discrepancies between apparent pK(a) values obtained from functional assays and microscopic pK(a) values obtained from pH-fluorescence profiles with ribozymes containing a fluorescent guanosine analogue, 8-azaguanosine, at position 33 suggest that the pH-dependent step in catalysis does not involve G33 deprotonation. These results point to an alternative model in which G33(N1) in its neutral, protonated form donates a hydrogen bond to stabilize the transition state.     

Steric interference modification of the hammerhead ribozyme

Although the structure of the hammerhead ribozyme is well characterized, many questions remain about its catalytic mechanism. Extensive evidence suggests the necessity of a conformational change en route to the transition state. We report a steric interference modification approach for investigating this change. By placing large 2' modifications at residues insensitive to structurally conservative 2'-deoxy modifications, we hoped to discover structural effects distal to the site of modification. Of twenty residues tested, six were identified where the addition of 2' bulk inhibits cleavage, even though these bulky modifications could be accommodated in the crystal structure without steric clash. It is proposed that these 2'-modifications inhibit cleavage by preventing formation of the alternate, active conformation. Since these 2' effects are present in both domain I and domain II of the hammerhead, the entire catalytic core must undergo conformational changes during catalysis.     

Synthesis and Enzymic Hydrolysis of Oligoribonucleotides Incorporating 3‐Deazaguanosine: The Importance of the Nitrogen‐3 Atom of Single Conserved Guanosine Residues on the Catalytic Activity of the Hammerhead Ribozyme

Four base‐modified hammerhead ribozyme/substrate complexes were constructed in which single guanosine ( 1 ) residues were replaced by 3‐deazaguanosine ( 2 ) in the positions G₅, G₈, G_L2.1, and G₁₂. The base‐modified ribozyme complexes were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides employing the novel phosphoramidite 3 derived from 2 . Phosphoramidite 3 carried a phenoxyacetyl group at the amino function and a diphenylcarbamoyl residue at the oxo group of the nucleobase. The 2′‐hydroxy group was blocked with a triisopropylsilyl residue. Kinetic analysis of the phosphodiester hydrolysis showed a moderate decrease of the ribozyme catalytic activity when the residues G₅ or G₈ were replaced by 3‐deazaguanosine and a 200‐fold decrease when G₁₂ was substituted. A 6‐fold catalytic increase occurred when 3‐deazaguanosine was replacing G_L2.1 in the loop region. The data indicate that the N(3) atom of compound 2 , in particular at position G₁₂ is critical for the ribozyme activity.     

Fast cleavage kinetics of a natural hammerhead ribozyme

The hammerhead ribozyme is a small RNA motif that catalyzes the cleavage and ligation of RNA. The well-studied minimal hammerhead motif is inactive under physiological conditions and requires high Mg(2+) concentrations for efficient cleavage. In contrast, natural hammerheads are active under physiological conditions and contain motifs outside the catalytic core that lower the requirement for Mg(2+). Single-turnover kinetics were used here to characterize the Mg(2+) and pH dependence for cleavage of a trans-cleaving construct of the Schistosoma mansoni natural hammerhead ribozyme. Compared to the minimal hammerhead motif, the natural Schistosoma ribozyme requires 100-fold less Mg(2+) to achieve a cleavage rate of 1 min(-1). The improved catalysis results from tertiary interactions between loops in stems I and II and likely arises from increasing the population of the active conformation. Under optimum pH and Mg(2+) conditions this ribozyme cleaves at over 870 min(-1) at 25 degrees C, further demonstrating the impressive catalytic power of this ribozyme.     

Probing the binding of Tb(III) and Eu(III) to the hammerhead ribozyme using luminescence spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: Divalent metal ions serve as structural as well as catalytic cofactors in the hammerhead ribozyme reaction. The natural cofactor in these reactions is Mg(II), but its spectroscopic silence makes it difficult to study. We previously showed that a single Tb(III) ion inhibits the hammerhead ribozyme by site-specific competition for a Mg(II) ion and therefore can be used as a spectroscopic probe for the Mg(II) it replaces. RESULTS: Lanthanide luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the coordination environment around Tb(III) and Eu(III) ions bound to the structurally well-characterized site on the hammerhead ribozyme. Sensitized emission and direct excitation experiments show that a single lanthanide ion binds to the ribozyme under these conditions and that three waters of hydration are displaced from the Tb(III) upon binding the RNA. Furthermore, we show that these techniques allow the comparison of binding affinities for a series of ions to this site. The binding affinities for ions at the G5 site correlates linearly with the function Z(2)/r of the aqua ion (where Z is the charge and r is the radius of the ion). CONCLUSIONS: This study compares the crystallographic nature of the G5 metal-binding site with solution measurements and gives a clearer picture of the coordination environment of this ion. These results provide one of the best characterized metal-binding sites from a ribozyme, so we use this information to compare the RNA site with that of typical metalloproteins.     

Structural and kinetic characterization of an acyl transferase ribozyme

We have previously isolated, by in vitro selection, an acyl-transferase ribozyme that is capable of transferring a biotinylated methionyl group from the 3' end of a hexanucleotide substrate to its own 5'-hydroxyl. Comparison of the sequences of a family of evolved derivatives of this ribozyme allowed us to generate a model of the secondary structure of the ribozyme. The predicted secondary structure was extensively tested and confirmed by single-mutant and compensatory double-mutant analyses. The role of the template domain in aligning the acyl-donor oligonucleotide and acyl-acceptor region of the ribozyme was confirmed in a similar manner. The significance of different domains of the ribozyme structure and the importance of two tandem G:U wobble base pairs in the template domain were studied by kinetic characterization of mutant ribozymes. The wobble base pairs contribute to the catalytic rate enhancement, but only in the context of the complete ribozyme; the ribozyme in turn alters the metal binding properties of this site. Competitive inhibition experiments with unacylated substrate oligonucleotide are consistent with the ribozyme acting to stabilize substrate binding to the template, while negative interactions with the aminoacyl portion of the substrate destabilize binding.     

Density functional theory investigation on the mechanism of the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme

Density functional theory methods have been used to investigate the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme and its catalyzed phosphodiester cleavage. In particular, the effects of the environment's polarity and/or specific hydrogen-bond interactions on the proton affinity of the active site cytosine's N3 ring center have been considered. In addition, the basicities of possible hydrated Mg2+ ion species were also examined. The mechanism previously proposed for the HDV ribozyme in which the active site cytosine (C75) is protonated and thus acts as an acid while the Mg2+ species acts as the complementary base was then investigated. The possible role of tautomerization of C75 is also discussed.     

An unusual pH-independent and metal-ion-independent mechanism for hairpin ribozyme catalysis

Background: Hairpin ribozymes (RNA enzymes) catalyze the same chemical reaction as ribonuclease A and yet RNAs do not usually have functional groups analogous to the catalytically essential histidine and lysine sidechains of protein ribonucleases. Some RNA enzymes appear to recruit metal ions to act as Lewis acids in charge stabilization and metal-bound hydroxide for general base catalysis, but it has been reported that the hairpin ribozyme functions in the presence of metal ion chelators. This led us to investigate whether the hairpin ribozyme exploits a metal-ion-independent catalytic strategy.Results: Substitution of sulfur for nonbridging oxygens of the reactive phosphate of the hairpin ribozyme has small, stereospecific and metal-ionindependent effects on cleavage and ligation mediated by this ribozyme. Cobalt hexammine, an exchange-inert metal complex, supports full hairpin ribozyme activity, and the ribozyme's catalytic rate constants display only a shallow dependence on pH.Conclusions: Direct metal ion coordination to phosphate oxygens is not essential for hairpin ribozyme catalysis and metal-bound hydroxide does not serve as the general base in this catalysis. Several models might account for the unusual pH and metal ion independence: hairpin cleavage and ligation might be limited by a slow conformational change; a pH-independent or metalcation-independent chemical step, such as breaking the 5′ oxygen-phosphorus bond, might be rate determining; or finally, functional groups within the ribozyme might participate directly in catalytic chemistry. Whichever the case, the hairpin ribozyme appears to employ a unique strategy for RNA catalysis.     

Nature of the chemical bond formed with the structural metal ion at the A9/G10.1 motif derived from hammerhead ribozymes

We have studied the interaction between metal ions and the metal ion-binding motif in hammerhead ribozymes, as well as the functions of the metal ion at the motif, with heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. In this study, we employed model RNA systems which mimic the metal ion-binding motif and the altered motif. In Co(NH3)6(III) titrations, we observed large 1H and 31P chemical shift perturbations for the motif and found that outer-sphere complexation of Co(NH3)6(III) is possible for this motif. From the reinvestigation of our previous 15N chemical shift data for Cd(II) binding, in comparison with those of organometallic compounds, we conclude that Cd(II) can form an inner-sphere complex with the nucleobase in the motif. Therefore, the A9/G10.1 site was found to accept both inner-sphere and outer-sphere complexations. The Mg(II) titration for a slightly different motif from the A9/G10.1 site (G10.1-C11.1 to A10.1-U11.1) revealed that its affinity to Mg(II) was drastically reduced, although the ribozyme with this altered motif is known to retain enzymatic activities. This observation suggests that the metal ion at these motifs is not a catalytic center of hammerhead ribozymes.     

Differential binding of Mg2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ at two sites in a hammerhead ribozyme motif, determined by 15N NMR

A decamer duplex model of Domain II of the hammerhead ribozyme was synthesized with [8-13C-1,7,NH2-15N3]-guanosine at the known metal binding site, G10.1 and, for comparison, [2-13C-1,7,NH2-15N3]-guanosine at G16.2. The 15N NMR chemical shifts of the labeled N7s monitored during addition of Mg2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ showed the same preference for binding at G10.1 over G16.2 for each metal. These results demonstrate that 15N labeling can be used to evaluate the binding of different metals, including Mg2+, to a given nitrogen, as well as to compare the binding potential of different sites.     

Model for the Functional Active State of the TS Ribozyme from Molecular Simulation

Recently, a crystal structure has been reported of a new catalytic RNA, the TS ribozyme, that has been identified through comparative genomics and is believed to be a metalloribozyme having novel mechanistic features. Although this data provides invaluable structural information, analysis suggests a conformational change is required to arrive at a catalytically relevant state. We report results of molecular simulations that predict a spontaneous local rearrangement of the active site, leading to solution structures consistent with available functional data and providing competing mechanistic hypotheses that can be experimentally tested. The two competing hypotheses differ in the proposed identity of the catalytic general acid: either a water molecule coordinating a Mg²⁺ ion bound at the Watson–Crick edge of residue C7, or the N3 position of residue C7 itself.     

Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulation study of the mechanism of hairpin ribozyme catalysis

The molecular mechanism of hairpin ribozyme catalysis is studied with molecular dynamics simulations using a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) potential with a recently developed semiempirical AM1/d-PhoT model for phosphoryl transfer reactions. Simulations are used to derive one- and two-dimensional potentials of mean force to examine specific reaction paths and assess the feasibility of proposed general acid and base mechanisms. Density-functional calculations of truncated active site models provide complementary insight to the simulation results. Key factors utilized by the hairpin ribozyme to enhance the rate of transphosphorylation are presented, and the roles of A38 and G8 as general acid and base catalysts are discussed. The computational results are consistent with available experimental data, provide support for a general acid/base mechanism played by functional groups on the nucleobases, and offer important insight into the ability of RNA to act as a catalyst without explicit participation by divalent metal ions.     

The glmS ribozyme tunes the catalytically critical pK(a) of its coenzyme glucosamine-6-phosphate

The glmS ribozyme riboswitch is the first known natural catalytic RNA that employs a small-molecule cofactor. Binding of glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) uncovers the latent self-cleavage activity of the RNA, which adopts a catalytically competent conformation that is nonetheless inactive in the absence of GlcN6P. Structural and analogue studies suggest that the amine of GlcN6P functions as a general acid-base catalyst, while its phosphate is important for binding affinity. However, the solution pK(a) of the amine is 8.06 ± 0.05, which is not optimal for proton transfer. Here we used Raman crystallography directly to determine the pK(a)'s of GlcN6P bound to the glmS ribozyme. Binding to the RNA lowers the pK(a) of the amine of GlcN6P to 7.26 ± 0.09 and raises the pK(a) of its phosphate to 6.35 ± 0.09. Remarkably, the pK(a)'s of these two functional groups are unchanged from their values for free GlcN6P (8.06 ± 0.05 and 5.98 ± 0.05, respectively) when GlcN6P binds to the catalytically inactive but structurally unperturbed G40A mutant of the ribozyme, thus implicating the ribozyme active site guanine in pK(a) tuning. This is the first demonstration that a ribozyme can tune the pK(a) of a small-molecule ligand. Moreover, the anionic glmS ribozyme in effect stabilizes the neutral amine of GlcN6P by lowering its pK(a). This is unprecedented and illustrates the chemical sophistication of ribozyme active sites.     

Theoretical examination of Mg(2+)-mediated hydrolysis of a phosphodiester linkage as proposed for the hammerhead ribozyme

The hammerhead ribozyme is an RNA molecule capable of self-cleavage at a unique site within its sequence. Hydrolysis of this phosphodiester linkage has been proposed to occur via an in-line attack geometry for nucleophilic displacement by the 2'-hydroxyl on the adjoining phosphorus to generate a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate ester with elimination of the 5'-hydroxyl group, requiring a divalent metal ion under physiological conditions. The proposed S(N)2(P) reaction mechanism was investigated using density functional theory calculations incorporating the hybrid functional B3LYP to study this metal ion-dependent reaction with a tetraaquo magnesium (II)-bound hydroxide ion. For the Mg(2+)-catalyzed reaction, the gas-phase geometry optimized calculations predict two transition states with a kinetically insignificant, yet clearly defined, pentacoordinate intermediate. The first transition state located for the reaction is characterized by internal nucleophilic attack coupled to proton transfer. The second transition state, the rate-determining step, involves breaking of the exocyclic P-O bond where a metal-ligated water molecule assists in the departure of the leaving group. These calculations demonstrate that the reaction mechanism incorporating a single metal ion, serving as a Lewis acid, functions as a general base and can afford the necessary stabilization to the leaving group by orienting a water molecule for catalysis.     

Relationship between catalytic activity and secondary structure of a hammerhead ribozyme: A study using thermodynamic parameters for RNA structure prediction

Abstract

The stabilization energy for the secondary structures of wild-type hammerhead and mutant ribozymes has been calculated at different salt conditions and temperatures by using the thermodynamic parameters for RNA structure prediction. The most stable structure at each condition has been searched and the obtained secondary structure is compared with the structure suggested phylogenetically or experimentally. The results indicate that the hammerhead-type secondary structure of the ribozyme and its reactivity correlate with each other. The multibranched loop containing the self-cleavage site of the ribozyme particularly should be a key structure in the hammerhead ribozyme reaction. The predicted secondary structures also suggest that the reactivity of the hammerhead ribozyme should be very much lower at 10°C than that at 37°C.