Mature 5; termini of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are generated from precursor molecules by cleavage with a structure-specific endonuclease, RNase P. The enzyme contains both RNA and protein components, and the RNA component alone from either E. coli or B. subtilis can catalyze the correct cleavage. Further, the RNA and protein components from these two prokaryotes can e interchange to reconstitute RNase P holoenzymes even though the primary sequences of the two RNAs show little homology. Cleavage appears to precede through a mechanism distinct from those observed in RNA splicing reactions, as judged by cofactor requirements and the dependence on substrate structure, rather than sequence. Two forms of RNase P have been identified in the yeast S. cerevisiae; a nuclear form and a mitochondrial form from which only an RNA component is encoded in the mitochondrial DNA. We have isolated the nuclear form and sequenced the RNA component. This proposal details plans to: 1) characterize the RNase P RNA gene, 3) determine the solution structure of the RNase P holoenzyme and enzyme-substrate complex, 3) examine which features of the enzymic and substrate RNA structures are required for correct cleavage, 4) investigate the structure of the active site and mechanism of catalysis and 5) determine whether the mitochondrial and nuclear enzymic RNAs share the same protein component(s).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM034869-07
Application #
3286630
Study Section
Molecular Biology Study Section (MBY)
Project Start
1985-04-01
Project End
1994-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
791277940
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Marvin, Michael C; Clauder-Munster, Sandra; Walker, Scott C et al. (2011) Accumulation of noncoding RNA due to an RNase P defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. RNA 17:1441-50
Walker, Scott C; Good, Paul D; Gipson, Theresa A et al. (2011) The dual use of RNA aptamer sequences for affinity purification and localization studies of RNAs and RNA-protein complexes. Methods Mol Biol 714:423-44
Marvin, Michael C; Walker, Scott C; Fierke, Carol A et al. (2011) Binding and cleavage of unstructured RNA by nuclear RNase P. RNA 17:1429-40
Srisawat, Chatchawan; Engelke, David R (2010) Selection of RNA aptamers that bind HIV-1 LTR DNA duplexes: strand invaders. Nucleic Acids Res 38:8306-15
Hopper, Anita K; Pai, Dave A; Engelke, David R (2010) Cellular dynamics of tRNAs and their genes. FEBS Lett 584:310-7
Coughlin, Daniel J; Babak, Tomas; Nihranz, Chad et al. (2009) Prediction and verification of mouse tRNA gene families. RNA Biol 6:195-202
Marvin, Michael C; Engelke, David R (2009) RNase P: increased versatility through protein complexity? RNA Biol 6:40-2
Hsieh, John; Walker, Scott C; Fierke, Carol A et al. (2009) Pre-tRNA turnover catalyzed by the yeast nuclear RNase P holoenzyme is limited by product release. RNA 15:224-34
Marvin, Michael C; Engelke, David R (2009) Broadening the mission of an RNA enzyme. J Cell Biochem 108:1244-51
Walker, Scott C; Scott, Felicia H; Srisawat, Chatchawan et al. (2008) RNA affinity tags for the rapid purification and investigation of RNAs and RNA-protein complexes. Methods Mol Biol 488:23-40

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