Identification of functional tetramolecular RNA G-quadruplexes derived from transfer RNAs

Shawn M. Lyons, Dorota Gudanis, Steven M. Coyne, Zofia Gdaniec () and Pavel Ivanov ()
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Shawn M. Lyons: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dorota Gudanis: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences
Steven M. Coyne: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Zofia Gdaniec: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences
Pavel Ivanov: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) structures are involved in multiple biological processes. Recent genome-wide analyses of human mRNA transcriptome identified thousands of putative intramolecular RG4s that readily assemble in vitro but shown to be unfolded in vivo. Previously, we have shown that mature cytoplasmic tRNAs are cleaved during stress response to produce tRNA fragments that function to repress translation in vivo. Here we report that these bioactive tRNA fragments assemble into intermolecular RG4s. We provide evidence for the formation of uniquely stable tetramolecular RG4 structures consisting of five tetrad layers formed by 5ʹ-terminal oligoguanine motifs of an individual tRNA fragment. RG4 is required for functions of tRNA fragments in the regulation of mRNA translation, a critical component of cellular stress response. RG4 disruption abrogates tRNA fragments ability to trigger the formation of Stress Granules in vivo. Collectively, our data rationalize the existence of naturally occurring RG4-assembling tRNA fragments and emphasize their regulatory roles.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01278-w

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