Characterization of tRNA splicing enzymes RNA ligase and tRNA 2’-phosphotransferase from the pathogenic fungi Mucorales

Abstract

Fungal Trl1 is an essential trifunctional tRNA splicing enzyme that heals and seals tRNA exons with 2',3'-cyclic-PO₄ and 5'-OH ends. Trl1 is composed of C-terminal cyclic phosphodiesterase and central polynucleotide kinase end-healing domains that generate the 3'-OH,2'-PO₄ and 5'-PO₄ termini required for sealing by an N-terminal ATP-dependent ligase domain. Trl1 enzymes are present in many human fungal pathogens and are promising targets for anti-fungal drug discovery because their domain structures and biochemical mechanisms are unique compared to the mammalian RtcB-type tRNA splicing enzyme. Here we report that Mucorales species (deemed high priority human pathogens by WHO) elaborate a noncanonical tRNA splicing apparatus in which a monofunctional RNA ligase enzyme is encoded separately from any end-healing enzymes. We show that Mucor circinelloides RNA ligase (MciRNL) is active in tRNA splicing in vivo in budding yeast in lieu of the Trl1 ligase domain. Biochemical and kinetic characterization of recombinant MciRNL underscores its requirement for a 2'-PO₄ terminus in the end-joining reaction, whereby the 2'-PO₄ enhances the rates of RNA 5’-adenylylation (step 2) and phosphodiester synthesis (step 3) by ~125-fold and ~6200-fold, respectively. In the canonical fungal tRNA splicing pathway, the splice junction 2'-PO₄ installed by RNA ligase is removed by a dedicated NAD⁺-dependent RNA 2’-phosphotransferase Tpt1. Here we identify and affirm by genetic complementation in yeast the biological activity of Tpt1 orthologs from three Mucorales species. Recombinant Mucor circinelloides Tpt1 has vigorous NAD⁺-dependent RNA 2’-phosphotransferase activity in vitro.