Trypanosoma brucei spliced leader RNA maturation by the cap 1 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase and SLA1 H/ACA snoRNA pseudouridine synthase complex

Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Mar;29(5):1202-11. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01496-08. Epub 2008 Dec 22.

Abstract

Kinetoplastid flagellates attach a 39-nucleotide spliced leader (SL) upstream of protein-coding regions in polycistronic RNA precursors through trans splicing. SL modifications include cap 2'-O-ribose methylation of the first four nucleotides and pseudouridine (psi) formation at uracil 28. In Trypanosoma brucei, TbMTr1 performs 2'-O-ribose methylation of the first transcribed nucleotide, or cap 1. We report the characterization of an SL RNA processing complex with TbMTr1 and the SLA1 H/ACA small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) particle that guides SL psi(28) formation. TbMTr1 is in a high-molecular-weight complex containing the four conserved core proteins of H/ACA snoRNPs, a kinetoplastid-specific protein designated methyltransferase-associated protein (TbMTAP), and the SLA1 snoRNA. TbMTAP-null lines are viable but have decreased SL RNA processing efficiency in cap methylation, 3'-end maturation, and psi(28) formation. TbMTAP is required for association between TbMTr1 and the SLA1 snoRNP but does not affect U1 small nuclear RNA methylation. A complex methylation profile in the mRNA population of TbMTAP-null lines indicates an additional effect on cap 4 methylations. The TbMTr1 complex specializes the SLA1 H/ACA snoRNP for efficient processing of multiple modifications on the SL RNA substrate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Intramolecular Transferases / metabolism*
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Caps / metabolism*
  • RNA, Protozoan / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism*
  • RNA, Spliced Leader / metabolism*
  • Ribose / metabolism
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / genetics*

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • RNA Caps
  • RNA, Protozoan
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • RNA, Spliced Leader
  • Ribose
  • Methyltransferases
  • Intramolecular Transferases
  • pseudouridine synthases