Requirement for a conserved, tertiary interaction in the core of 23S ribosomal RNA.

AUTOR(ES)

Aagaard, C

RESUMO

A putative base-pairing interaction that determines the folding of the central region of 23S rRNA has been investigated by mutagenesis. Each of the possible base substitutions has been made at the phylogenetically covariant positions adenine-1262 (A1262) and U2017 in Escherichia coli 23S rRNA. Every substitution that disrupts the potential for Watson-Crick base pairing between these positions reduces or abolishes the participation of 23S rRNA in protein synthesis. All mutant 23S rRNAs are assembled into 50S subunits, but the mutant subunits are less able to stably interact with 30S subunits to form translationally active ribosomes. The function of 23S rRNA is largely reestablished by introduction of an alternative G1262.C2017 or U1262.A2017 pair, although neither of these supports polysome formation quite as effectively as the wild-type pair. A 23S rRNA with a C1262.G2017 pair is nonfunctional. In contrast to the considerable effect the mutations have on function, they impart only slight structural changes on the naked rRNA, and these are limited to the immediate vicinity of the mutations. The data show that positions 1262 and 2017 pair in a Watson-Crick manner, but the data also indicate that these nucleotides engage in additional interactions within the ribosome and that these interactions determine what base pairs are acceptable there.

Documentos Relacionados

• Secondary structure model for 23S ribosomal RNA.
• Interaction of the antibiotics clindamycin and lincomycin with Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA.
• Detection of a key tertiary interaction in the highly conserved GTPase center of large subunit ribosomal RNA.
• Cloning, in vitro transcription, and biological activity of Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA.
• Extensions of the known sequences at the 3' and 5' ends of 23S ribosomal RNA from Escherichia coli, possible base pairing between these 23S RNA regions and 16S ribosomal RNA.