Identification of a minimal Alu domain required for retrotransposition

Abstract

Alu elements are primate-specific retrotransposons that comprise ∼11% of human DNA. Alu sequences contain an internal RNA polymerase III promoter, and the resultant Alu RNA transcripts mobilize by a replicative process termed retrotransposition, which requires the long interspersed element-1 open reading frame 2-encoded protein (ORF2p). Here, we used HeLa cell-based retrotransposition assays to define a minimal Alu domain necessary for retrotransposition. We demonstrate that Alu transcripts expressed from a cytomegalovirus (CMV) RNA polymerase II promoter can efficiently undergo retrotransposition. The use of an external CMV promoter to express Alu RNA allowed us to construct separation-of-function mutations to examine the effects of large deletions within the Alu sequence on retrotransposition. Deletion mutagenesis demonstrated that a 46-nucleotide (nt) domain located at the 5' end of the Alu RNA transcript is necessary for retrotransposition. Consistent with current models, the 46-nt 5' Alu domain associates with SRP9/14 in HeLa-HA cell extracts and can promote retrotransposition in HeLa-HA cells. We propose that the 46-nt 5' Alu domain forms a discrete structure that allows for SRP9/14 binding and ribosomal association, thereby allowing the Alu poly(A) tract to compete with the L1 poly(A) tail for ORF2p RNA binding to mediate its retrotransposition.

Graphical Abstract

Figure 1.

Retrotransposition of an AluY element transcribed by an RNA pol II cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. (A) Schematic of a consensus humanAluYelement. AluY is ∼282 nt in length and consists of two 7SL RNA Alu domain monomers (left and right) connected by an A-rich linker and ends in a variable length 3′ encoded poly(A) tract. The approximate locations of the pol III A and B boxes are indicated. (B) Results of AluYretrotransposition assays. HeLa-HA cells were co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the indicated AluY plasmid. TMO2F3 expresses ORF2p with a carboxyl terminus 3XFLAG tag (green flag). ORF2p expression is augmented by a CMV promoter (white square), the native L1 5′ UTR (grey oval), and an SV40 polyadenylation signal (PAS) sequence (pink square). The Aluneo^Tet retrotransposition marker (orange oval) contains a backward copy of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene interrupted by a self-splicing group I intron (loop) that is in the same transcriptional orientation as the Alu sequence. A 44-bp encoded poly(A) tract follows the neo^Tet sequence. Aluneo^Tet expression is augmented by a 7SL gene enhancer (black square) and a sequence of four consecutive thymidine residues (black square) located downstream of the 44-bp poly(A) tract. The AlumneoI retrotransposition marker (orange oval) contains a backward copy of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene interrupted by a γ-globin intron (^) that is in the same transcriptional orientation as the Alu sequence. AlumneoI expression is augmented by a CMV promoter (white square) and an SV40 PAS (pink square) located after the mneoI indicator. Displayed next to each plasmid construct is a representative single well of a six-well tissue culture plate from retrotransposition assays. UTF = untransfected. (C) Quantification ofAluYretrotransposition assays. The X-axis indicates Alu expressing construct co-transfected with TMO2F3, and the Y-axis indicates average percent (%) retrotransposition normalized to Aluneo^Tet for each transfection condition. Error bars indicate standard deviation; (n) number of biological replicates indicated above the error bars. (D) ORF2p-Flag expression levels. Western blots of HeLa-HA lysates co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the Alu retrotransposition construct (top of lane). The antibody used for detection is indicated on right. Molecular weight (MW) markers are indicated on the left. SRP14 is a loading control. Western blot experiments were repeated twice with similar results.

Figure 2.

Embedded Alu sequences promote the retrotransposition of RNA pol II transcripts. (A) Results of retrotransposition assays. HeLa-HA cells were co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the indicated retrotransposition reporter construct. Displayed to the right of construct are representative single wells of a six-well tissue culture plate from retrotransposition assays. (B) Quantification of retrotransposition assays. The X-axis indicates the Alu construct co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the Y-axis indicates average percent (%) retrotransposition normalized to AlumneoI for each transfection condition; error bars indicate standard deviation; (n) number of biological replicates indicated above error bars. (C) ORF2p-Flag expression levels. Western blots of HeLa-HA lysates co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the Alu retrotransposition construct (top of lane). The antibodies used for detection are indicated on the right and MW markers are indicated on the left of the blot image. SRP14 is used as a loading control. Western blot experiments were repeated twice with similar results.

Figure 3.

5′ Alu domain RNA binds to SRP9/14 in HeLa-HA cells. (A) Diagram of Alu domain RNAs. The Alu domain of the 7SL RNA (top) binds SRP9/14. SA86 (7SLRNAAlu domain) is an 86-nt fragment derived from the 7SL RNA Alu domain where the red dotted line indicates the relative position of SA86 in relation to the 7SL RNA. The 3′ stem of SA86 is joined by a “CUAA” sequence. SA46 (5′ Alu domain) is composed of nt 1–46 of SA86. SA39 (3′ Alu domain) is composed of the last 39 nt of SA86. (B) Schematic of Alu domain RNA pull-down experiments.Alu domain RNAs containing a 5′ biotin moiety were pre-bound to streptavidin (SA) coated magnetic beads. Alu RNA-SA bead complexes were incubated in HeLa-HA cell lysates and western blotting was used to detect SRP9/14 eluted from Alu RNA-SA bead complexes. (C) SRP9/14 binds to minimal AluRNAs. Western blots from RNA pull-down experiments. Alu RNA domain is indicated top of each lane. Input = ∼2% of WCL; Beads = empty beads (no RNA). The antibody used for detection is indicated on the right and MW markers indicated on the left of blot image. Tubulin is a control. RNA pull-down experiments were repeated three times with similar results.

Figure 4.

SA46 is necessary to promote efficient retrotransposition. (A) Results of retrotransposition assays. HeLa-HA cells were co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the indicated retrotransposition reporter construct (a schematic diagram of the respective Alu domain RNA is indicated to the right of each construct). Displayed next to each reporter plasmid is a representative single well of a six-well tissue culture plate from retrotransposition assays. (B) Quantification of retrotransposition assays. The X-axis indicates the Alu RNA expressing construct co-transfected with TMO2F3. The Y-axis indicates average percent (%) retrotransposition normalized to AlumneoI for each transfection condition. Error bars indicate standard deviations; (n) number of biological replicates are indicated above the error bars. (C) Quantification of Alu domain RNA by RT-qPCR. The X-axis indicates the Alu RNA expressing construct co-transfected with TMO2F3. The Y-axis indicates the RNA fold change normalized to AlumneoI from three independent experiments for each transfection condition except for ΔCMVAlumneoI, which is based on two experiments. Error bars indicate the standard deviations. (D) ORF2p-Flag expression levels. Western blots of HeLa-HA lysates co-transfected with TMO2F3 and the Alu retrotransposition construct (indicated top of each lane). Western blot experiments were done twice with similar results. The antibody used for detection is indicated on right of the blot image and MW markers are indicated on the left of blot image. SRP14 is a loading control. (E) Model of SA46 retrotransposition.Alu RNAs that contain an intact 5′ Alu domain (i.e.AluY, SA86, SA46) bind SRP9/14 to form a stable Alu RNP that can localize to a ribosome where the Alu encoded poly(A) tract can compete with the L1 poly(A) tail to bind ORF2p. Polyadenylated RNA transcripts that do not contain a stable Alu domain (i.e. SA39, SA20, CMVmneoI) do not efficiently bind SRP9/14, may be less stable compared to 5′ Alu domain containing RNAs, and therefore may not localize as efficiently to ribosomes. Thus, SA39 and SA20 have a much lower propensity for retrotransposition when compared to AluY, SA86 and SA46.