Recently, we proposed the following model for mRNA degradation in procaryotes. There is no unique target mRNA for its inactivation and initiation of decay. Instead, there is an endoribonuclease that cleaves certain pyrimidine-adenosine (pyr-A) bonds. These targets are protected by associated ribosomes. An initial cleavage is usually near the 5'-end for statistical reasons and the same enzyme """"""""chops off"""""""" large oligonucleotide fragments (perhaps 30 to 200 nucleotides) from the newly-created 5'-end as the last ribosome progresses down the message. The fragments are degraded to mononucleotides by several other RNases. The initial goal of this proposal is to purify the pyr-A enzyme using various chromatographic separations. So far, we have observed its specific activity using 5S rRNA as a substrate. Substrates will be synthesized to define further its specificity as well as other characteristics of its enzymology. Mammalian pancreatic RNase at very low concentrations also has a specificity for pyr-A bonds and the two enzymes will be compared with a view that this activity may be encoded by a family of enzymes distributed throughout Nature. The complete amino acid sequence of the enzyme will be determined. A strain will be constructed in which the synthesis or activity of the RNase can be regulated. Deoxynucleotide probes (15-20 nucleotides) will be synthesized to code for amino acid sequences of the enzyme and used to purify its gene in a lambda library of total E. coli DNA. Alternative procedures will be used, if necessary. The major construction will include exchanging a regulated promoter, e.g., trp, and substituting the gene-containing DNA into the host by transformation and recombination. Strains with temperature-sensitive synthesis or activity of the enzyme will also be constructed. mRNA metabolism will be studied in the new strains and mutations in other RNAse would be added in order to identify all steps in degradation. The 5'- and 3'-ends of gal mRNA of yeast will be identified to see if the same basic mechanism of degradation occurs in a lower eucaryote.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM034127-16
Application #
2177299
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1985-03-01
Project End
1995-02-28
Budget Start
1992-03-01
Budget End
1995-02-28
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1994) The processive reaction mechanism of ribonuclease II. J Mol Biol 243:930-43
Lim, L W; Mathur, S; Cannistraro, V J et al. (1993) Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of ribonuclease I from Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol 234:499-501
Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1993) The 5' ends of RNA oligonucleotides in Escherichia coli and mRNA degradation. Eur J Biochem 213:285-93
Mathur, S; Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1993) Identification of an intracellular pyrimidine-specific endoribonuclease from Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 175:6717-20
Srivastava, S K; Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1992) Broad-specificity endoribonucleases and mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 174:56-62
Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1991) RNase I*, a form of RNase I, and mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 173:4653-9
Meador 3rd, J; Kennell, D (1990) Cloning and sequencing the gene encoding Escherichia coli ribonuclease I: exact physical mapping using the genome library. Gene 95:1-7
Meador 3rd, J; Cannon, B; Cannistraro, V J et al. (1990) Purification and characterization of Escherichia coli RNase I. Comparisons with RNase M. Eur J Biochem 187:549-53
Cannistraro, V J; Kennell, D (1989) Purification and characterization of ribonuclease M and mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. Eur J Biochem 181:363-70
Subbarao, M N; Kennell, D (1988) Evidence for endonucleolytic cleavages in decay of lacZ and lacI mRNAs. J Bacteriol 170:2860-5

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