RNA ligase and its involvement in guide RNA/mRNA chimera formation. Evidence for a cleavage-ligation mechanism of Trypanosoma brucei mRNA editing.

RNA editing in Trypanosoma brucei results in the addition and deletion of uridine residues within several mitochondrial mRNAs. Editing is thought to be directed by guide RNAs and may proceed via a chimeric guide RNA/mRNA intermediate. We have previously shown that chimera-forming activity sediments with 19 S and 35-40 S mitochondrial ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs). In this report we examine the involvement of RNA ligase in the production of chimeric molecules in vitro. Two adenylylated proteins of 50 and 57 kDa co-sediment on glycerol gradients with RNA ligase activity as components of the ribonucleoprotein particles. The two adenylylated proteins differ in sequence and contain AMP linked via a phosphoamide bond. Both proteins are deadenylylated by the addition of ligatable RNA substrate with the concomitant release of AMP and by the addition of pyrophosphate to yield ATP. Incubation with nonligatable RNA substrate results in an accumulation of the adenylylated RNA intermediate. These experiments identify the adenylylated proteins as RNA ligases. AMP release from the mitochondrial RNA ligase is also concomitant with chimera formation. Inhibition by nonhydrolyzable analogs indicates that both RNA ligase and chimera-forming activities require alpha-beta bond hydrolysis of ATP. Deadenylylation of the ligase inhibits chimera formation. These results strongly suggest the involvement of RNA ligase in in vitro chimera formation and support the cleavage-ligation mechanism for kinetoplastid RNA editing.