Structural highlights
Function
[RNPA_THEMA] RNaseP catalyzes the removal of the 5'-leader sequence from pre-tRNA to produce the mature 5'-terminus. It can also cleave other RNA substrates such as 4.5S RNA. The protein component plays an auxiliary but essential role in vivo by binding to the 5'-leader sequence and broadening the substrate specificity of the ribozyme (By similarity).
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Ribonuclease (RNase) P is the universal ribozyme responsible for 5'-end tRNA processing. We report the crystal structure of the Thermotoga maritima RNase P holoenzyme in complex with tRNA(Phe). The 154 kDa complex consists of a large catalytic RNA (P RNA), a small protein cofactor and a mature tRNA. The structure shows that RNA-RNA recognition occurs through shape complementarity, specific intermolecular contacts and base-pairing interactions. Soaks with a pre-tRNA 5' leader sequence with and without metal help to identify the 5' substrate path and potential catalytic metal ions. The protein binds on top of a universally conserved structural module in P RNA and interacts with the leader, but not with the mature tRNA. The active site is composed of phosphate backbone moieties, a universally conserved uridine nucleobase, and at least two catalytically important metal ions. The active site structure and conserved RNase P-tRNA contacts suggest a universal mechanism of catalysis by RNase P.
Structure of a bacterial ribonuclease P holoenzyme in complex with tRNA.,Reiter NJ, Osterman A, Torres-Larios A, Swinger KK, Pan T, Mondragon A Nature. 2010 Nov 14. PMID:21076397[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Reiter NJ, Osterman A, Torres-Larios A, Swinger KK, Pan T, Mondragon A. Structure of a bacterial ribonuclease P holoenzyme in complex with tRNA. Nature. 2010 Nov 14. PMID:21076397 doi:10.1038/nature09516
