ABSTRACT
Loquacious-PD (Loqs-PD) is required for biogenesis of many endogenous siRNAs in Drosophila In vitro, Loqs-PD enhances the rate of dsRNA cleavage by Dicer-2 and also enables processing of substrates normally refractory to cleavage. Using purified components, and Loqs-PD truncations, we provide a mechanistic basis for Loqs-PD functions. Our studies indicate that the 22 amino acids at the C terminus of Loqs-PD, including an FDF-like motif, directly interact with the Hel2 subdomain of Dicer-2's helicase domain. This interaction is RNA-independent, but we find that modulation of Dicer-2 cleavage also requires dsRNA binding by Loqs-PD. Furthermore, while the first dsRNA-binding motif of Loqs-PD is dispensable for enhancing cleavage of optimal substrates, it is essential for enhancing cleavage of suboptimal substrates. Finally, our studies define a previously unrecognized Dicer interaction interface and suggest that Loqs-PD is well positioned to recruit substrates into the helicase domain of Dicer-2.
Subject(s)
Drosophila Proteins/chemistry , RNA Helicases/chemistry , RNA, Double-Stranded/chemistry , RNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry , Ribonuclease III/chemistry , Amino Acid Motifs , Animals , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , Drosophila melanogaster , Protein Domains , RNA Helicases/genetics , RNA Helicases/metabolism , RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics , RNA, Double-Stranded/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Ribonuclease III/genetics , Ribonuclease III/metabolismABSTRACT
In previous studies we observed that the helicase domain of Drosophila Dicer-2 (dmDcr-2) governs substrate recognition and cleavage efficiency, and that dsRNA termini are key to this discrimination. We now provide a mechanistic basis for these observations. We show that discrimination of termini occurs during initial binding. Without ATP, dmDcr-2 binds 3' overhanging, but not blunt, termini. By contrast, with ATP, dmDcr-2 binds both types of termini, with highest-affinity binding observed with blunt dsRNA. In the presence of ATP, binding, cleavage, and ATP hydrolysis are optimal with BLT termini compared to 3'ovr termini. Limited proteolysis experiments suggest the optimal reactivity of BLT dsRNA is mediated by a conformational change that is dependent on ATP and the helicase domain. We find that dmDcr-2's partner protein, Loquacious-PD, alters termini dependence, enabling dmDcr-2 to cleave substrates normally refractory to cleavage, such as dsRNA with blocked, structured, or frayed ends.
Subject(s)
Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , RNA Helicases/metabolism , RNA, Double-Stranded/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Ribonuclease III/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Cell Line , Drosophila Proteins/chemistry , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Drosophila melanogaster/chemistry , Drosophila melanogaster/cytology , Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay , Hydrolysis , Models, Genetic , Models, Molecular , Molecular Sequence Data , Nucleic Acid Conformation , Protein Binding , Protein Structure, Tertiary , RNA Helicases/chemistry , RNA Helicases/genetics , RNA, Double-Stranded/chemistry , RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Ribonuclease III/chemistry , Ribonuclease III/genetics , Sequence Homology, Amino AcidABSTRACT
Kes1, and other oxysterol-binding protein superfamily members, are involved in membrane and lipid trafficking through trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomal systems. We demonstrate that Kes1 represents a sterol-regulated antagonist of TGN/endosomal phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate signaling. This regulation modulates TOR activation by amino acids and dampens gene expression driven by Gcn4, the primary transcriptional activator of the general amino acid control regulon. Kes1-mediated repression of Gcn4 transcription factor activity is characterized by nonproductive Gcn4 binding to its target sequences, involves TGN/endosome-derived sphingolipid signaling, and requires activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) module of the enigmatic "large Mediator" complex. These data describe a pathway by which Kes1 integrates lipid metabolism with TORC1 signaling and nitrogen sensing.
