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Polypeptide sequences essential for RNA recognition by an enzyme

Academic Article
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Overview

authors

  • Regan, L.
  • Bowie, J.
  • Schimmel, Paul

publication date

  • March 1987

journal

  • Science  Journal

abstract

  • Many RNAs are complex, globular molecules formed from elements of secondary and tertiary structure analogous to those found in proteins. Little is known about recognition of RNAs by proteins. In the case of transfer RNAs (tRNAs), considerable evidence suggests that elements dispersed in both the one- and three-dimensional structure are important for recognition by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. Fragments of alanine tRNA synthetase were created by in vitro manipulations of the cloned alaS gene and examined for their interaction with alanine-specific tRNA. Sequences essential for recognition were located near the middle of the polypeptide, juxtaposed to the carboxyl-terminal side of the domain for aminoacyl adenylate synthesis. The most essential part of the tRNA interaction strength and specificity was dependent on a sequence of fewer than 100 amino acids. Within this sequence, and in the context of the proper conformation, a segment of no more than 17 amino acids was responsible for 25% or more of the total synthetase-tRNA free energy of association. The results raise the possibility that an important part of specific RNA recognition by an aminoacyl tRNA synthetase involves a polypeptide segment that is short relative to the total size of the protein.

subject areas

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Alanine-tRNA Ligase
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli
  • RNA
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thermodynamics
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Identity

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0036-8075

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1126/science.2435005

PubMed ID

  • 2435005
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Additional Document Info

start page

  • 1651

end page

  • 1653

volume

  • 235

issue

  • 4796

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