Yeast RNase P: catalytic activity and substrate binding are separate functions.

M. Nichols, D. Söll, I. Willis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

During tRNA biosynthesis the 5'-leader sequences in precursor tRNAs are removed by the ribonucleoprotein RNase P, an enzyme whose RNA moiety is required for activity. To clarify some aspects of the enzyme mechanism, we examined substrate binding and product formation with mutant precursor tRNAs. Mutations G-1----A or U-2----C in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe sup3-e tRNASer, which cause mispairing at or near the top of the acceptor stem, prevent the removal of the 5'-leader sequences by Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase P. Equilibrium binding studies involving specific gel retardation of RNase P-precursor tRNA complexes showed that complexes with wild-type and A-1 and C-2 mutant precursor tRNAs had very similar dissociation constants (average Kd for sup3 = 1.5 +/- 0.2 nM). Thus, the 5'-terminal nucleotides of mature tRNA, on the 3' proximal side of the RNase P cleavage site, affect the enzyme's catalytic function but not substrate binding. The catalytic integrity of the RNA component of RNase P is not essential for binding of tRNA precursors, as demonstrated by gel retardation of micrococcal nuclease-inactivated enzyme. This suggests a possible role for the protein component of the enzyme in substrate binding. Upon restoration of base pairing to the acceptor stem in the A-1 or C-2 mutants, we found that, in addition to a requirement for pairing at these positions, conservation of the wild-type first and second nucleotides of the tRNA was necessary to obtain maximal cleavage by RNase P. This indicates a distinct sequence preference of this enzyme.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1379-1383
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume85
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Yeast RNase P: catalytic activity and substrate binding are separate functions.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this