Human protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) 9 symmetrically dimethylates arginine residues on splicing factor SF3B2 (SAP145) and has been functionally linked to the regulation of alternative ...splicing of pre-mRNA. Site-directed mutagenesis studies on this enzyme and its substrate had revealed essential unique residues in the double E loop and the importance of the C-terminal duplicated methyltransferase domain. In contrast to what had been observed with other PRMTs and their physiological substrates, a peptide containing the methylatable Arg-508 of SF3B2 was not recognized by PRMT9 in vitro. Although amino acid substitutions of residues surrounding Arg-508 had no great effect on PRMT9 recognition of SF3B2, moving the arginine residue within this sequence abolished methylation. PRMT9 and PRMT5 are the only known mammalian enzymes capable of forming symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) residues as type II PRMTs. We demonstrate here that the specificity of these enzymes for their substrates is distinct and not redundant. The loss of PRMT5 activity in mouse embryo fibroblasts results in almost complete loss of SDMA, suggesting that PRMT5 is the primary SDMA-forming enzyme in these cells. PRMT9, with its duplicated methyltransferase domain and conserved sequence in the double E loop, appears to have a unique structure and specificity among PRMTs for methylating SF3B2 and potentially other polypeptides.
Background: Newly discovered protein arginine methyltransferase 9 (PRMT9) modulates alternative splicing by methylation of SF3B2.
Results: Biochemical probes of PRMT9 and its substrate protein revealed domains and residues required for methylation.
Conclusion: PRMT9 is unique among PRMTs in its narrow range of methyl-accepting substrates.
Significance: Understanding PRMT9 catalysis will help elucidate how it may control the activity of SF3B2 and other potential endogenous substrates.
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), a major type I arginine methyltransferase in mammals, methylates histone and non-histone proteins to regulate various cellular functions such as ...transcription, DNA damage response, and signal transduction.
This review summarizes previous and recent studies on PRMT1 functions in major cell types of the central nervous system. We also discuss the potential involvement of PRMT1 in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Also, we raise key questions that must be addressed in the future to more precisely understand the roles of PRMT1.
Recent studies revealed that PRMT1 is essential for the development of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, although further investigation using cell type-specific PRMT1-deficient animals is required. In addition, the relevance of PRMT1 in neurodegenerative diseases will continue to be a hot topic.
PRMT1 is important for neural development and neurodegenerative diseases.
•PRMT1 catalyzes asymmetric dimethylation of arginine residues of proteins.•PRMT1 in neural stem cells is essential for early brain development.•Arginine methylation by PRMT1 and 5 are indispensable for myelination.•Methylation reduces phase separation of neurodegeneration-causative factors.•Methyl-arginine-specific antibodies and chemical tools accelerate PRMT study.
Post-translational arginine methylation is responsible for regulation of many biological processes. The protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5, also known as Hsl7, Jbp1, Skb1, Capsuleen, or ...Dart5) is the major enzyme responsible for mono- and symmetric dimethylation of arginine. An expanding literature demonstrates its critical biological function in a wide range of cellular processes. Histone and other protein methylation by PRMT5 regulate genome organization, transcription, stem cells, primordial germ cells, differentiation, the cell cycle, and spliceosome assembly. Metazoan PRMT5 is found in complex with the WD-repeat protein MEP50 (also known as Wdr77, androgen receptor coactivator p44, or Valois). PRMT5 also directly associates with a range of other protein factors, including pICln, Menin, CoPR5 and RioK1 that may alter its subcellular localization and protein substrate selection. Protein substrate and PRMT5–MEP50 post-translation modifications induce crosstalk to regulate PRMT5 activity. Crystal structures of C. elegans PRMT5 and human and frog PRMT5–MEP50 complexes provide substantial insight into the mechanisms of substrate recognition and procession to dimethylation. Enzymological studies of PRMT5 have uncovered compelling insights essential for future development of specific PRMT5 inhibitors. In addition, newly accumulating evidence implicates PRMT5 and MEP50 expression levels and their methyltransferase activity in cancer tumorigenesis, and, significantly, as markers of poor clinical outcome, marking them as potential oncogenes. Here, we review the substantial new literature on PRMT5 and its partners to highlight the significance of understanding this essential enzyme in health and disease.
Endothelial cell activation through nuclear factor-kappa-B (NFkB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases leads to increased biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators, cellular injury and vascular ...inflammation under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Recent studies report that LPS up-regulated global methyltransferase activity. In this study, we observed that a combination treatment with metformin (MET) and cholecalciferol (VD) blocked the LPS-induced S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase (SDM) activity in Eahy926 cells. We found that LPS challenge (i) increased arginine methylation through up-regulated protein arginine methyltransferase-1 (PRMT1) mRNA, intracellular concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homocysteine (HCY); (ii) up-regulated cell senescence through mitigated sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) mRNA, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) concentration, telomerase activity and total antioxidant capacity; and (iii) lead to endothelial dysfunction through compromised nitric oxide (NOx) production. However, these LPS-mediated cellular events in Eahy926 cells were restored by the synergistic effect of MET and VD. Taken together, this study identified that the dual compound effect inhibits LPS-induced protein arginine methylation, endothelial senescence and dysfunction through the components of epigenetic machinery, SIRT1 and PRMT1, which is a previously unidentified function of the test compounds. In silico results identified the presence of vitamin D response element (VDRE) sequence on PRMT1 suggesting that VDR could regulate PRMT1 gene expression. Further characterization of the cellular events associated with the dual compound challenge, using gene silencing approach or adenoviral constructs for SIRT1 and/or PRMT1 under inflammatory stress, could identify therapeutic strategies to address the endothelial consequences in vascular inflammation-mediated atherosclerosis.
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•MET+VD reduced the LPS-induced SDM activity and protein arginine methylation by restoring the normal PRMT1 mRNA, ADMA & HCY.•MET+VD improved several senescence indicators such as endothelial cell cycle arrest, SIRT1 mRNA, telomerase activity and NAD+.•Identification of in silico VDRE sequence on PRMT1 suggests that vitamin D receptor could regulate PRMT1 transcription.•SIRT1 and PRMT1 can be potential targets for the combined effect in reducing the LPS-induced endothelial stress responses.
Physicochemical properties of poly-L-arginine (P-Arg) molecules in NaCl solutions were determined by molecular dynamics (MD) modeling and various experimental techniques. Primarily, the molecule ...conformations, the monomer length and the chain diameter were theoretically calculated. These results were used to interpret experimental data, which comprised the molecule secondary structure, the diffusion coefficient, the hydrodynamic diameter and the electrophoretic mobility determined at various ionic strengths and pHs. Using these data, the electrokinetic charge and the effective ionization degree of P-Arg molecules were determined. In addition, the dynamic viscosity measurements for dilute P-Arg solutions enabledto determine the molecule intrinsic viscosity, which was equal to 500 and 90 for ionic strength of 10
and 0.15 M, respectively. This confirmed that P-Arg molecules assumed extended conformations and approached the slender body limit at the low range of ionic strength. The experimental data were also used to determine the molecule length and the chain diameter, which agreed with theoretical predictions. Exploiting these results, a robust method for determining the molar mass of P-Arg samples, the hydrodynamic diameter, the radius of gyration and the sedimentation coefficient was proposed.
The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major regulator of eukaryotic growth that coordinates anabolic and catabolic cellular processes with inputs such as growth factors and ...nutrients, including amino acids. In mammals arginine is particularly important, promoting diverse physiological effects such as immune cell activation, insulin secretion, and muscle growth, largely mediated through activation of mTORC1 (refs 4, 5, 6, 7). Arginine activates mTORC1 upstream of the Rag family of GTPases, through either the lysosomal amino acid transporter SLC38A9 or the GATOR2-interacting Cellular Arginine Sensor for mTORC1 (CASTOR1). However, the mechanism by which the mTORC1 pathway detects and transmits this arginine signal has been elusive. Here, we present the 1.8 Å crystal structure of arginine-bound CASTOR1. Homodimeric CASTOR1 binds arginine at the interface of two Aspartate kinase, Chorismate mutase, TyrA (ACT) domains, enabling allosteric control of the adjacent GATOR2-binding site to trigger dissociation from GATOR2 and downstream activation of mTORC1. Our data reveal that CASTOR1 shares substantial structural homology with the lysine-binding regulatory domain of prokaryotic aspartate kinases, suggesting that the mTORC1 pathway exploited an ancient, amino-acid-dependent allosteric mechanism to acquire arginine sensitivity. Together, these results establish a structural basis for arginine sensing by the mTORC1 pathway and provide insights into the evolution of a mammalian nutrient sensor.
Background: Peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is an enzyme that converts arginine into citrulline. PAD4 is expressed in neutrophils that, when activated, can drive the formation of neutrophil ...extracellular traps (NETs). Uncontrolled activation of PAD4 and subsequent citrullination of proteins is increasingly recognized as a driver of (auto)immune diseases. Currently, our understanding of PAD4 structure–function relationships and activity control in vivo is incomplete.
Aims: To provide the current state‐of‐the‐art on PAD4 structure‐activity relationships and involvement of PAD4 in autoimmune disorders as well as in thrombo‐inflammatory disease.
Materials & Methods: Literature review and molecular modelling
Results: In this review, we used molecular modelling to generate a three‐dimensional structure of the complete PAD4 molecule. Using our model, we discuss the catalytic conversion of the arginine substrate to citrulline. Besides mechanistic insight into PAD4 function, we give an overview of biological functions of PAD4 and mechanisms that influence its activation. In addition, we discuss the crucial role of PAD4‐mediated citrullination of histones during the formation of NETs. Subsequently, we focus on the role of PAD4‐mediated NET formation and its role in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis and (immune‐)thrombosis. Finally, we summarize current efforts to design different classes of PAD4 inhibitors that are being developed for improved treatment of autoimmune disorders as well as thrombo‐inflammatory disease.
Discussion: Advances in PAD4 structure‐function are still necessary to gain a complete insight in mechanisms that control PAD4 activity in vivo. The involvement of PAD4 in several diseases signifies the need for a PAD4 inhibitor. Although progress has been made to produce an isotype specific and potent PAD4 inhibitor, currently no PAD4 inhibitor is ready for clinical use.
Conclusion: More research into PAD4 structure and function and into the regulation of its activity is required for the development of PAD4 specific inhibitors that may prove vital to combat and prevent autoimmune disorders and (thrombo)inflammatory disease.
Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are emerging as attractive therapeutic targets. PRMTs regulate transcription, splicing, RNA biology, the DNA damage response and cell metabolism; these ...fundamental processes are altered in many diseases. Mechanistically understanding how these enzymes fuel and sustain cancer cells, especially in specific metabolic contexts or in the presence of certain mutations, has provided the rationale for targeting them in oncology. Ongoing inhibitor development, facilitated by structural biology, has generated tool compounds for the majority of PRMTs and enabled clinical programmes for the most advanced oncology targets, PRMT1 and PRMT5. In-depth mechanistic investigations using genetic and chemical tools continue to delineate the roles of PRMTs in regulating immune cells and cancer cells, and cardiovascular and neuronal function, and determine which pathways involving PRMTs could be synergistically targeted in combination therapies for cancer. This research is enhancing our knowledge of the complex functions of arginine methylation, will guide future clinical development and could identify new clinical indications.
Accurate control of innate immune responses is required to eliminate invading pathogens and simultaneously avoid autoinflammation and autoimmune diseases. Here, we demonstrate that arginine ...monomethylation precisely regulates the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS)-mediated antiviral response. Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) forms aggregates to catalyze MAVS monomethylation at arginine residue 52 (R52), attenuating its binding to TRIM31 and RIG-I, which leads to the suppression of MAVS aggregation and subsequent activation. Upon virus infection, aggregated PRMT7 is disabled in a timely manner due to automethylation at arginine residue 32 (R32), and SMURF1 is recruited to PRMT7 by MAVS to induce proteasomal degradation of PRMT7, resulting in the relief of PRMT7 suppression of MAVS activation. Therefore, we not only reveal that arginine monomethylation by PRMT7 negatively regulates MAVS-mediated antiviral signaling in vitro and in vivo but also uncover a mechanism by which PRMT7 is tightly controlled to ensure the timely activation of antiviral defense.
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•Arginine monomethylation at MAVS R52 inhibits its interaction with RIG-I•PRMT7 negatively regulates immune responses by catalyzing MAVS monomethylation•Virus-induced automethylation of PRMT7 at R32 inhibits its aggregation•MAVS recruits SMURF1 to degrade PRMT7 upon RNA virus infection
Zhu et al. demonstrate that PRMT7 forms aggregates to catalyze MAVS monomethylation at arginine residue 52, which tightly blocks RLR signaling. Upon virus infection, aggregated PRMT7 is disabled in a timely manner due to automethylation at arginine residue 32, and MAVS recruits SMURF1 to degrade PRMT7, which ensure the timely activation of antiviral defense.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly cancer in which cancer stem cells (CSCs) sustain tumor growth and contribute to therapeutic resistance. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) has recently ...emerged as a promising target in GBM. Using two orthogonal-acting inhibitors of PRMT5 (GSK591 or LLY-283), we show that pharmacological inhibition of PRMT5 suppresses the growth of a cohort of 46 patient-derived GBM stem cell cultures, with the proneural subtype showing greater sensitivity. We show that PRMT5 inhibition causes widespread disruption of splicing across the transcriptome, particularly affecting cell cycle gene products. We identify a GBM splicing signature that correlates with the degree of response to PRMT5 inhibition. Importantly, we demonstrate that LLY-283 is brain-penetrant and significantly prolongs the survival of mice with orthotopic patient-derived xenografts. Collectively, our findings provide a rationale for the clinical development of brain penetrant PRMT5 inhibitors as treatment for GBM.