RNA catalysis by a group I ribozyme. Developing a model for transition state stabilization.
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A M Pyle
Publications and source records attributed to A M Pyle.
RNA substrate binding site in the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena ribozyme.
In catalysis by group I introns, the helix (P1) containing the RNA cleavage site must be positioned next to the guanosine binding site. We have identified a conserved adenine in the catalytic core that contributes to the stability of this arrangement and propose that it accepts a hydrogen bond from a specific 2'-OH in P1. Such base-backbone tertiary interactions may be generally important to the organization of RNA tertiary structure.
Adenine↗
Ribozyme recognition of RNA by tertiary interactions with specific ribose 2'-OH groups.
Shortened forms of the group I intron from Tetrahymena catalyse sequence-specific cleavage of exogenous oligonucleotide substrates. The association between RNA enzyme (ribozyme) and substrate is mediated by pairing between an internal guide sequence on the ribozyme and a complementary sequence on the substrate. RNA substrates and cleavage products associate with a binding energy greater than that of base-pairing by approximately 4 kcal-mol-1 (at 42 degrees C), whereas DNA associates with an energy around that expected for base-pairing. It has been proposed that the difference in binding affinity is due to specific 2'-OH groups on an RNA substrate forming stabilizing tertiary interactions with the core of the ribozyme, or that the RNA.RNA helix formed upon association of an RNA substrate and the ribozyme might be more stable than an RNA.DNA helix of the same sequence. To differentiate between these two models, chimaeric oligonucleotides containing deoxynucleotide residues at successive positions along the chain were synthesized, and their equilibrium binding constants for association with the ribozyme were measured directly by a new gel electrophoresis technique. We report here that most of the extra binding energy can be accounted for by discrete RNA-ribozyme interactions, the 2'-OH group on the sugar residue three nucleotides from the cleavage site contributing the most interaction energy. Thus, in addition to the well documented binding of RNA to RNA by base-pairing, 2'-OH groups within a duplex can also mediate association between RNA molecules.
Animals↗
Direct measurement of oligonucleotide substrate binding to wild-type and mutant ribozymes from Tetrahymena.
Like protein enzymes, RNA enzymes (ribozymes) provide specific binding sites for their substrates. We now show that equilibrium dissociation constants for complexes between the Tetrahymena ribozyme and its RNA substrates and products can be directly measured by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing divalent cations. Binding is 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold tighter (4-5 kcal/mol at 42 degrees C) than expected from base-pairing interactions alone, implying that tertiary interactions also contribute to energetic stabilization. Binding decreases with single base changes in the substrate, substitution of deoxyribose sugars, and lower Mg2+ concentration. Ca2+, which enables the ribozyme to fold but is unable to mediate efficient RNA cleavage, promotes weaker substrate binding than Mg2+. This indicates that Mg2+ has special roles in both substrate binding and catalysis. Mutagenesis of a region near the internal guide sequence disrupts substrate binding, whereas binding is not significantly affected by a mutation of the guanosine-binding site. This approach should be generally useful for analysis of ribozyme variants independent of their catalytic activities.
Animals↗
High resolution footprinting of EcoRI and distamycin with Rh(phi)2(bpy)3+, a new photofootprinting reagent.
The complex bis(phenanthrenequinone diimine)(bipyridyl)rhodium(III), Rh(phi)2(bpy)3+, cleaves DNA efficiently in a sequence-neutral fashion upon photoactivation so as to provide a novel, high resolution, chemical photofootpring reagent. Photofootprinting of two crystallographically characterized DNA-binding agents, distamycin, a small natural product which binds to DNA in the minor groove, and the endonuclease EcoRI, which binds in the major groove, gave respectively a 5-7 base pair footprint for the drug at its A6 binding site and a 10-12 base pair footprint for the enzyme centered at its recognition site (5'-GAATTC-3'). Both footprints agree closely with the crystallographic results. The photocleavage reaction can be performed using either a high intensity lamp or, conveniently, a simple transilluminator box, and the photoreaction is not inhibited by moderate concentrations of reagents which are sometimes required for examining interactions of molecules with DNA. When compared with other popular footprinting agents, the rhodium complex shows a number of distinct advantages: sequence-neutrality, high resolution, ability to footprint major as well as minor groove-binding ligands, applicability in the presence of additives such as Mg2+ or glycerol, ease of handling, and a sharply footprinted pattern. Light activated footprinting reactions furthermore offer the possibility of examining DNA-binding interactions with time resolution and within the cell.
2,2'-Dipyridyl↗