Download MendeleyPseudouridine residues as substrates for serum ribonucleases.
Gutierrez, C.S., Silkenath, B., Kojasoy, V., Pich, J.A., Lim, D.C., Raines, R.T.(2025) RNA 31: 1542-1556
- PubMed: 40835455 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1261/rna.080404.125
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9NCS, 9O4V, 9O5B - PubMed Abstract:
In clinical uses, RNA must maintain its integrity in serum that contains ribonucleases (RNases), especially RNase 1, which is a human homolog of RNase A. These omnipresent enzymes catalyze the cleavage of the P-O 5″ bond on the 3' side of pyrimidine residues. Pseudouridine (Ψ) is the most abundant modified nucleoside in natural RNA. The substitution of uridine (U) with Ψ or N 1 -methylpseudouridine (m 1 Ψ) reduces the immunogenicity of mRNA and increases ribosomal translation, and these modified nucleosides are key components of RNA-based vaccines. Here, we assessed the ability of RNase A and RNase 1 to catalyze the cleavage of the P-O 5″ bond on the 3' side of Ψ and m 1 Ψ. We find that these enzymes catalyze the cleavage of UpA up to 10-fold more efficiently than the cleavage of ΨpA or m 1 ΨpA. X-ray crystallography of enzyme-bound nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic vanadate complexes and molecular dynamics simulations of enzyme·dinucleotide complexes show that U, Ψ, and m 1 Ψ bind to RNase A and RNase 1 in a similar manner. Quantum chemistry calculations suggested that the higher reactivity of UpA is intrinsic, arising from an inductive effect that decreases the p K a of the 2'-hydroxy group of U and enhances its nucleophilicity toward the P-O 5″ bond. Experimentally, we found that UpA does indeed undergo spontaneous hydrolysis faster than does m 1 ΨpA. Our findings reveal a new role for natural pseudouridine residues and inform the continuing development of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutic agents.
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Organizational Affiliation:
