7r6n

Publication Abstract from PubMed

High-resolution structural studies are essential for understanding the folding and function of diverse RNAs. Herein, we present a nanoarchitectural engineering strategy for efficient structural determination of RNA-only structures using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This strategy-ROCK (RNA oligomerization-enabled cryo-EM via installing kissing loops)-involves installing kissing-loop sequences onto the functionally nonessential stems of RNAs for homomeric self-assembly into closed rings with multiplied molecular weights and mitigated structural flexibility. ROCK enables cryo-EM reconstruction of the Tetrahymena group I intron at 2.98-A resolution overall (2.85 A for the core), allowing de novo model building of the complete RNA, including the previously unknown peripheral domains. ROCK is further applied to two smaller RNAs-the Azoarcus group I intron and the FMN riboswitch, revealing the conformational change of the former and the bound ligand in the latter. ROCK holds promise to greatly facilitate the use of cryo-EM in RNA structural studies.

Sub-3-A cryo-EM structure of RNA enabled by engineered homomeric self-assembly.,Liu D, Thelot FA, Piccirilli JA, Liao M, Yin P Nat Methods. 2022 May 2. pii: 10.1038/s41592-022-01455-w. doi:, 10.1038/s41592-022-01455-w. PMID:35501384^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.