RNA Binding (rna + binding)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Terms modified by RNA Binding

  • rna binding motif
  • rna binding protein

  • Selected Abstracts


    A mutagenic analysis of the RNase mechanism of the bacterial Kid toxin by mass spectrometry

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 17 2009
    Elizabeth Diago-Navarro
    Kid, the toxin of the parD (kis, kid) maintenance system of plasmid R1, is an endoribonuclease that preferentially cleaves RNA at the 5, of A in the core sequence 5,-UA(A/C)-3,. A model of the Kid toxin interacting with the uncleavable mimetic 5,-AdUACA-3, is available. To evaluate this model, a significant collection of mutants in some of the key residues proposed to be involved in RNA binding (T46, A55, T69 and R85) or RNA cleavage (R73, D75 and H17) were analysed by mass spectrometry in RNA binding and cleavage assays. A pair of substrates, 5,-AUACA-3,, and its uncleavable mimetic 5,-AdUACA-3,, used to establish the model and structure of the Kid,RNA complex, were used in both the RNA cleavage and binding assays. A second RNA substrate, 5,-UUACU-3, efficiently cleaved by Kid both in vivo and in vitro, was also used in the cleavage assays. Compared with the wild-type protein, mutations in the residues of the catalytic site abolished RNA cleavage without substantially altering RNA binding. Mutations in residues proposed to be involved in RNA binding show reduced binding efficiency and a corresponding decrease in RNA cleavage efficiency. The cleavage profiles of the different mutants were similar with the two substrates used, but RNA cleavage required much lower protein concentrations when the 5,-UUACU-3, substrate was used. Protein synthesis and growth assays are consistent with there being a correlation between the RNase activity of Kid and its inhibitory potential. These results give important support to the available models of Kid RNase and the Kid,RNA complex. [source]


    Phosphorylation of the arginine/serine dipeptide-rich motif of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein modulates its multimerization, translation inhibitory activity and cellular localization

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 16 2008
    Tsui-Yi Peng
    Coronavirus nucleocapsid protein is abundant in infected cells and participates in viral RNA replication and transcription. The central domain of the nucleocapsid protein contains several arginine/serine (RS) dipeptides, the biological significance of which has not been well investigated. In the present study, we demonstrate that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein is phosphorylated primarily within the RS-rich region in cells and by SR protein kinase 1 in vitro. The nucleocapsid protein could suppress translation and its RS motif is essential for such an activity. Moreover, phosphorylation of the RS motif could modulate the translation inhibitory activity of the nucleocapsid protein. We further found that RS motif phosphorylation did not significantly affect RNA binding of the nucleocapsid protein but impaired its multimerization ability. We observed that the nucleocapsid protein could translocate to cytoplasmic stress granules in response to cellular stress. Deletion or mutations of the RS motif enhanced stress granule localization of the nucleocapsid protein, whereas overexpression of SR protein kinase 1 inhibited nucleocapsid protein localization to stress granules. The nucleocapsid protein lacking the RS motif formed high-order RNP complexes, which may also account for its enhanced stress granule localization. Taken together, phosphorylation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV nucleocapsid protein modulates its activity in translation control and also interferes with its oligomerization and aggregation in stress granules. [source]


    pyr RNA binding to the Bacillus caldolyticus PyrR attenuation protein , characterization and regulation by uridine and guanosine nucleotides

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
    Casper M. Jørgensen
    The PyrR protein regulates expression of pyrimidine biosynthetic (pyr) genes in many bacteria. PyrR binds to specific sites in the 5, leader RNA of target operons and favors attenuation of transcription. Filter binding and gel mobility assays were used to characterize the binding of PyrR from Bacillus caldolyticus to RNA sequences (binding loops) from the three attenuation regions of the B. caldolyticus pyr operon. Binding of PyrR to the three binding loops and modulation of RNA binding by nucleotides was similar for all three RNAs. The apparent dissociation constants at 0 °C were in the range 0.13,0.87 nm in the absence of effectors; dissociation constants were decreased by three- to 12-fold by uridine nucleotides and increased by 40- to 200-fold by guanosine nucleotides. The binding data suggest that pyr operon expression is regulated by the ratio of intracellular uridine nucleotides to guanosine nucleotides; the effects of nucleoside addition to the growth medium on aspartate transcarbamylase (pyrB) levels in B. subtilis cells in vivo supported this conclusion. Analytical ultracentrifugation established that RNA binds to dimeric PyrR, even though the tetrameric form of unbound PyrR predominates in solution at the concentrations studied. [source]


    Authentic interdomain communication in an RNA helicase reconstituted by expressed protein ligation of two helicase domains

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2007
    Anne R. Karow
    RNA helicases mediate structural rearrangements of RNA or RNA,protein complexes at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Members of the DEAD box helicase family consist of two flexibly connected helicase domains. They share nine conserved sequence motifs that are involved in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, RNA binding, and helicase activity. Most of these motifs line the cleft between the two helicase domains, and extensive communication between them is required for RNA unwinding. The two helicase domains of the Bacillus subtilis RNA helicase YxiN were produced separately as intein fusions, and a functional RNA helicase was generated by expressed protein ligation. The ligated helicase binds adenine nucleotides with very similar affinities to the wild-type protein. Importantly, its intrinsically low ATPase activity is stimulated by RNA, and the Michaelis,Menten parameters are similar to those of the wild-type. Finally, ligated YxiN unwinds a minimal RNA substrate to an extent comparable to that of the wild-type helicase, confirming authentic interdomain communication. [source]


    Contribution of Tyr712 and Phe716 to the activity of human RNase L

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 13 2004
    Masayuki Nakanishi
    Ribonuclease L (RNase L) is a key enzyme in the 2-5A host defense system, and its activity is strictly regulated by an unusual 2,,5,-linked oligoadenylate (2-5A). A bipartite model, in which the N-terminal half of RNase L is responsible for the 2-5A binding and the C-terminal half alone is able to hydrolyse the substrate RNA, has been proposed on the basis of the results of deletion mutant analyses [Dong, B. & Silverman, R.H. (1997) J. Biol. Chem.272, 22236,22242]. Above all, the region between Glu711 and His720 was revealed to be essential for RNA binding and/or hydrolysis. To dissect the function of the region, we performed scanning mutagenesis over the 10 residues of glutathione S -transferase (GST)-fusion RNase L. Among the single amino acid mutants examined, Y712A and F716A resulted in a significant decrease of RNase activity with a reduced RNA binding acitivity. The losses of the RNase activity were not restored by its conservative mutation, whereas the RNA binding activity was enhanced in the case of Y712F. These results indicate that both Tyr712 and Phe716 provide the enzyme with a RNA binding activity and catalytic environment. [source]


    Minimum sequence requirements for selective RNA-ligand binding: A molecular mechanics algorithm using molecular dynamics and free-energy techniques

    JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 14 2006
    Peter C. Anderson
    Abstract In vitro evolution techniques allow RNA molecules with unique functions to be developed. However, these techniques do not necessarily identify the simplest RNA structures for performing their functions. Determining the simplest RNA that binds to a particular ligand is currently limited to experimental protocols. Here, we introduce a molecular-mechanics based algorithm employing molecular dynamics simulations and free-energy methods to predict the minimum sequence requirements for selective ligand binding to RNA. The algorithm involves iteratively deleting nucleotides from an experimentally determined structure of an RNA-ligand complex, performing energy minimizations and molecular dynamics on each truncated structure, and assessing which truncations do not prohibit RNA binding to the ligand. The algorithm allows prediction of the effects of sequence modifications on RNA structural stability and ligand-binding energy. We have implemented the algorithm in the AMBER suite of programs, but it could be implemented in any molecular mechanics force field parameterized for nucleic acids. Test cases are presented to show the utility and accuracy of the methodology. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2006 [source]


    Commonalities in the neurobiology between autism and fragile X

    JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2008
    R. Hagerman
    There is a close association between autism and fragile X syndrome (FXS) with 30% of males with FXS having autism and 2 to 7% of children with autism having the fragile X mutation. The protein that is missing or deficient in FXS, FMRP, is an RNA binding and transport protein which regulates the translation of many messages important for synaptic plasticity. Typically FMRP inhibits the translation of these messages, such that protein production increases when FMRP is absent. Some of these proteins are known to also cause autism when they are mutated including neuroligin 3 and 4 and the SHANK protein. Therefore, when FMRP is missing there is dysregulation of other proteins that are known to cause autism. FMRP is an important inhibitor of protein production in the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 pathway (mGluR5) which leads to long term depression (LTD) or the weakening of synaptic connections. Therefore, when FMRP is missing there is enhanced mGluR5 activity leading to enhanced LTD and weak or immature synaptic connections. The use of mGluR5 antagonists to reverse the LTD in the animal models of FXS has led to reversal of the learning, behaviour and dendritic spine abnormalities in these animals. There are now initial studies taking place in humans regarding the use of mGluR5 antagonists to improve behaviour and cognition in FXS. It is likely that these mGluR5 antagonists will also be helpful in a subgroup of patients with non fragile X autism who have similar problems with hyperactivity, hyperarousal and anxiety to those seen in FXS. A second cause of autism is the fragile X premutation but this mechanism of involvement is related to RNA toxicity which perhaps stimulates neuroimmune problems and may mimic other causes of autism. Neurons with the premutation are more vulnerable to environmental toxicity and oxidative stress leading to early cell death. [source]


    Genetic characterization of new Dobrava hantavirus isolate from Greece

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2003
    Kirill Nemirov
    Abstract The first complete genome sequence of Dobrava hantavirus isolated from yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis trapped in the northeastern Greece is described. The S, M, and L segments of the Greek isolate of Dobrava virus are 1673, 3635, and 6532 nucleotides (nt) long, respectively, and encode the nucleocapsid (N) protein of 429 amino acids (aa), glycoprotein precursor of 1135 aa, and the L protein of 2151 aa. N protein contains three cysteine residues conserved in all known hantaviruses, as well as structural domains responsible for the RNA binding and presumable interaction with the apoptosis enhancer Daxx. All cysteine residues and glycosylation sites that are conserved among G1G2 sequences of all hantaviruses species were also found in the Greek isolate. The L protein contains all the polymerase motifs and structural domains found in other hantavirus polymerases. Comparison of the Greek isolate of Dobrava virus with other hantaviruses showed the highest level of sequence homology with Dobrava virus isolate from Slovenia. Other hantaviruses carried by Murinae rodents (Saaremaa, Hantaan, Seoul, and Thailand viruses) were more divergent and hantaviruses carried by Arvicolinae or Sigmodontinae rodents showed the highest genetic diversity with the Greek isolate of Dobrava. The results of phylogenetic analyses confirmed these observations and showed a monophily of all the Dobrava virus strains that, in turn, shared more ancient ancestors first with Saaremaa virus and then with other Murinae-borne hantaviruses. J. Med. Virol. 69:408,416, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Function in Escherichia coli of the non-catalytic part of RNase E: role in the degradation of ribosome-free mRNA

    MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2002
    Anne Leroy
    Summary RNase E contains a large non-catalytic region that binds RNA and the protein components of the Escherichia coli RNA degradosome. The rne gene was replaced with alleles encoding deletions in the non-catalytic part of RNase E. All the proteins are stable in vivo. RNase E activity was tested using a PT7,lacZ reporter gene, the message of which is particularly sensitive to degradation because translation is uncoupled from transcription. The non-catalytic region has positive and negative effectors of mRNA degradation. Disrupting RhlB and enolase binding resulted in hypoactivity, whereas disrupting PNPase binding resulted in hyperactivity. Expression of the mutant proteins in vivo anticorrelates with activity showing that autoregulation compensates for defective function. There is no simple correlation between RNA binding and activity in vivo. An allele (rne131), expressing the catalytic domain alone, was put under Plac control. In contrast to rne+, low expression of rne131 severely affects growth. Even with autoregulation, all the mutants are less fit when grown in competition with wild type. Although the catalytic domain of RNase E is sufficient for viability, our work demonstrates that elements in the non-catalytic part are necessary for normal activity in vivo. [source]


    Solution structure of HI1506, a novel two-domain protein from Haemophilus influenzae

    PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
    Nese Sari
    Abstract HI1506 is a 128-residue hypothetical protein of unknown function from Haemophilus influenzae. It was originally annotated as a shorter 85-residue protein, but a more detailed sequence analysis conducted in our laboratory revealed that the full-length protein has an additional 43 residues on the C terminus, corresponding with a region initially ascribed to HI1507. As part of a larger effort to understand the functions of hypothetical proteins from Gram-negative bacteria, and H. influenzae in particular, we report here the three-dimensional solution NMR structure for the corrected full-length HI1506 protein. The structure consists of two well-defined domains, an ,/, 50-residue N-domain and a 3-, 32-residue C-domain, separated by an unstructured 30-residue linker. Both domains have positively charged surface patches and weak structural homology with folds that are associated with RNA binding, suggesting a possible functional role in binding distal nucleic acid sites. [source]


    Precursor complex structure of pseudouridine synthase TruB suggests coupling of active site perturbations to an RNA-sequestering peripheral protein domain

    PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005
    Charmaine Hoang
    Abstract The pseudouridine synthase TruB is responsible for the universally conserved post-transcriptional modification of residue 55 of elongator tRNAs. In addition to the active site, the "thumb," a peripheral domain unique to the TruB family of enzymes, makes extensive interactions with the substrate. To coordinate RNA binding and release with catalysis, the thumb may be able to sense progress of the reaction in the active site. To establish whether there is a structural correlate of communication between the active site and the RNA-sequestering thumb, we have solved the structure of a catalytically inactive point mutant of TruB in complex with a substrate RNA, and compared it to the previously determined structure of an active TruB bound to a reaction product. Superposition of the two structures shows that they are extremely similar, except in the active site and, intriguingly, in the relative position of the thumb. Because the two structures were solved using isomorphous crystals, and because the thumb is very well ordered in both structures, the displacement of the thumb we observe likely reflects preferential propagation of active site perturbations to this RNA-binding domain. One of the interactions between the active site and the thumb involves an active site residue whose hydrogen-bonding status changes during the reaction. This may allow the peripheral RNA-binding domain to monitor progress of the pseudouridylation reaction. [source]


    Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of human RIG-I in complex with double-stranded RNA

    ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2009
    Hyunjin Moon
    Retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is an essential component of the innate immune system that is responsible for the detection and elimination of invading viruses. RIG-I recognizes viral RNAs inside the cell and then initiates downstream signalling to activate the IRF-3 and NF-,B genes, which results in the production of type I interferons. RIG-I is composed of an N-terminal CARD domain for signalling and C-terminal helicase and repressor domains for RNA recognition. A RIG-I,RNA binding assay was performed to investigate the in vitro RIG-I,RNA binding properties. Selenomethionine-incorporated RIG-I was expressed using Escherichia coli and purified for crystallization. X-ray data were collected from RIG-I,dsRNA complex crystals to 2.8,Å resolution using synchrotron radiation. [source]


    Minimum sequence requirements for the binding of paromomycin to the rRNA decoding site A

    BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 2 2007
    Peter C. Anderson
    Abstract We have recently introduced a computational methodology that combines molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, free-energy calculations, and in vitro binding assays to predict the minimum RNA structural requirements for selective, high-affinity RNA binding to small-molecule ligands. Here, we show that this methodology can be applied to the conformationally flexible aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin. A RNA consisting of an 11-mer:10-mer duplex that contains one 16S ribosome RNA decoding A-site bound to paromomycin was simulated for 4 ns. The methodology predicts that the 11-mer:10-mer duplex binds to paromomycin with high affinity, whereas smaller RNA duplexes lose complex stability and the ability to bind paromomycin. The predicted high-affinity binding to paromomycin of the 11-mer:10-mer duplex was confirmed experimentally (EC50 = 0.28 ,M), as well as the inability of smaller complexes to bind. Our simulations show good agreement with experiment for dynamic and structural properties of the isolated A-site, including hydrogen-bonding networks and RNA structural rearrangements upon ligand binding. The results suggest that MD simulations can supplement in vitro methods as a tool for predicting minimum RNA-binding motifs for both small, rigid ligands, and large, flexible ligands when structural information is available. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 86: 95,111, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source]


    Solution structures and characterization of human immunodeficiency virus Rev responsive element IIB RNA targeting zinc finger proteins,

    BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 4 2006
    Subrata H. Mishra
    Abstract The Rev responsive element (RRE), a part of unspliced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA, serves a crucial role in the production of infectious HIV virions. The viral protein Rev binds to RRE and facilitates transport of mRNA to the cytoplasm. Inhibition of the Rev,RRE interaction disrupts the viral life cycle. Using a phage display protocol, dual zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) were generated that bind specifically to RREIIB at the high affinity Rev binding site. These proteins were further shortened and simplified, and they still retained their RNA binding affinity. The solution structures of ZNF29 and a mutant, ZNF29G29R, have been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Both proteins form C2H2 -type zinc fingers with essentially identical structures. RNA protein interactions were evaluated quantitatively by isothermal titration calorimetry, which revealed dissociation constants (Kd's) in the nanomolar range. The interaction with the RNA is dependent upon the zinc finger structure; in the presence of EDTA, RNA binding is abolished. For both proteins, RNA binding is mediated by the ,-helical portion of the zinc fingers and target the bulge region of RREIIB-TR. However, ZNF29G29R exhibits significantly stronger binding to the RNA target than ZNF29; this illustrates that the binding of the zinc finger scaffold is amenable to further improvements. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopoly 83:352,364, 2006 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source]