Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Stephen R Holbrook

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen R Holbrook.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Structures of two RNA octamers containing tandem G.A base pairs.

The crystal structures of two RNA octamers, 5'-GGC(GA)GCC-3' and 5'-GIC(GA)GCC-3', have been determined from X-ray diffraction data to 2.8 and 2.7 A resolution, respectively. The RNA octamers crystallize in isomorphous unit cells containing two mispairs arranged in a self-complementary manner and one single strand in the asymmetric unit. The single strand pairs with another single strand related by crystallographic symmetry to form a third unique double helix. Tandem non-Watson-Crick G.A/A.G base pairs of the sheared type comprise an internal loop in the middle of each duplex. The NMR structure of this octameric RNA sequence is also known, allowing comparison of the variation between the six crystallographic duplexes and the solution structure. In the symmetric duplex of the octamer containing inosine, the sheared G.A pairs incorporate a bound water molecule. This duplex also binds one water molecule per strand in the minor groove adjacent to the G.A pairs.

Base Pairing↗

SCOR: Structural Classification of RNA, version 2.0.

SCOR, the Structural Classification of RNA (http://scor.lbl.gov), is a database designed to provide a comprehensive perspective and understanding of RNA motif three-dimensional structure, function, tertiary interactions and their relationships. SCOR 2.0 represents a major expansion and introduces a new classification organization. The new version represents the classification as a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), which allows a classification node to have multiple parents, in contrast to the strictly hierarchical classification used in SCOR 1.2. SCOR 2.0 supports three types of query terms in the updated search engine: PDB or NDB identifier, nucleotide sequence and keyword. We also provide parseable XML files for all information. This new release contains 511 RNA entries from the PDB as of 15 May 2003. A total of 5880 secondary structural elements are classified: 2104 hairpin loops and 3776 internal loops. RNA motifs reported in the literature, such as 'Kink turn' and 'GNRA loops', are now incorporated into the structural classification along with definitions and descriptions.

Animals↗

High-resolution structure of RNase P protein from Thermotoga maritima.

The structure of RNase P protein from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima was determined at 1.2-A resolution by using x-ray crystallography. This protein structure is from an ancestral-type RNase P and bears remarkable similarity to the recently determined structures of RNase P proteins from bacteria that have the distinct, Bacillus type of RNase P. These two types of protein span the extent of bacterial RNase P diversity, so the results generalize the structure of the bacterial RNase P protein. The broad phylogenetic conservation of structure and distribution of potential RNA-binding elements in the RNase P proteins indicate that all of these homologous proteins bind to their cognate RNAs primarily by interaction with the phylogenetically conserved core of the RNA. The protein is found to dimerize through an extensive, well-ordered interface. This dimerization may reflect a mechanism of thermal stability of the protein before assembly with the RNA moiety of the holoenzyme.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of two nudix hydrolases from Deinococcus radiodurans.

Two nudix hydrolases from Deinococcus radiodurans have been purified and crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to 1.4 and 1.9 A resolution for DR1025 and DR0079, respectively. DR1025 belongs to space group P4(1)2(1)2/P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 53.2, c = 122.6 A (unit-cell Volume 346 883 A(3), V(M) = 2.5 A(3) Da(-1), solvent content 50.2%). DR0079 belongs to space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 34.1, b = 157.2, c = 126.5 A (unit-cell Volume 677 308 A(3), V(M) = 2.2 A(3) Da(-1), solvent content 44.0%). The calculated cell content of DR1025 indicates the presence of one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Dynamic light scattering and gel filtration suggest it to be a dimer in solution. The space group and unit-cell parameters of DR0079 indicate the presence of two molecules per asymmetric unit. Gel filtration and NMR spectroscopy suggest it to be a monomer in solution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence and structural conservation in RNA ribose zippers.

The "ribose zipper", an important element of RNA tertiary structure, is characterized by consecutive hydrogen-bonding interactions between ribose 2'-hydroxyls from different regions of an RNA chain or between RNA chains. These tertiary contacts have previously been observed to also involve base-backbone and base-base interactions (A-minor type). We searched for ribose zipper tertiary interactions in the crystal structures of the large ribosomal subunit RNAs of Haloarcula marismortui and Deinococcus radiodurans, and the small ribosomal subunit RNA of Thermus thermophilus and identified a total of 97 ribose zippers. Of these, 20 were found in T. thermophilus 16 S rRNA, 44 in H. marismortui 23 S rRNA (plus 2 bridging 5 S and 23 S rRNAs) and 30 in D. radiodurans 23 S rRNA (plus 1 bridging 5 S and 23 S rRNAs). These were analyzed in terms of sequence conservation, structural conservation and stability, location in secondary structure, and phylogenetic conservation. Eleven types of ribose zippers were defined based on ribose-base interactions. Of these 11, seven were observed in the ribosomal RNAs. The most common of these is the canonical ribose zipper, originally observed in the P4-P6 group I intron fragment. All ribose zippers were formed by antiparallel chain interactions and only a single example extended beyond two residues, forming an overlapping ribose zipper of three consecutive residues near the small subunit A-site. Almost all ribose zippers link stem (Watson-Crick duplex) or stem-like (base-paired), with loop (external, internal, or junction) chain segments. About two-thirds of the observed ribose zippers interact with ribosomal proteins. Most of these ribosomal proteins bridge the ribose zipper chain segments with basic amino acid residues hydrogen bonding to the RNA backbone. Proteins involved in crucial ribosome function and in early stages of ribosomal assembly also stabilize ribose zipper interactions. All ribose zippers show strong sequence conservation both within these three ribosomal RNA structures and in a large database of aligned prokaryotic sequences. The physical basis of the sequence conservation is stacked base triples formed between consecutive base-pairs on the stem or stem-like segment with bases (often adenines) from the loop-side segment. These triples have previously been characterized as Type I and Type II A-minor motifs and are stabilized by base-base and base-ribose hydrogen bonds. The sequence and structure conservation of ribose zippers can be directly used in tertiary structure prediction and may have applications in molecular modeling and design.

Bacteria↗

SCOR: a Structural Classification of RNA database.

The Structural Classification of RNA (SCOR) database provides a survey of the three-dimensional motifs contained in 259 NMR and X-ray RNA structures. In one classification, the structures are grouped according to function. The RNA motifs, including internal and external loops, are also organized in a hierarchical classification. The 259 database entries contain 223 internal and 203 external loops; 52 entries consist of fully complementary duplexes. A classification of the well-characterized tertiary interactions found in the larger RNA structures is also included along with examples. The SCOR database is accessible at http://scor.lbl.gov.

Animals↗