Two helices plus a linker: a small model substrate for eukaryotic RNase P.

Carrara, G; Calandra, P; Fruscoloni, P; Tocchini-Valentini, G P · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1995

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Using precursor tRNA molecules to study RNA-protein interactions, we have identified an RNA motif recognized by eukaryotic RNase P (EC 3.1.26.5). Analysis of circularly permuted precursors indicates that interruptions in the sugar-phosphate backbone are not tolerated in the acceptor stem, in the T stem-loop, or between residues A-9 and G-10. Prokaryotic RNase P will function with a minihelix consisting of the acceptor stem connected directly to the T stem-loop. Eukaryotic RNase P cannot use such a minimal substrate unless a linker sequence is added in the gap where the D stem and anticodon stem-loop were deleted.

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