Discovery of a minimal form of RNase P in Pyrobaculum.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 107(52): 22493-8, 2010 Dec 28.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21135215
ABSTRACT
RNase P RNA is an ancient, nearly universal feature of life. As part of the ribonucleoprotein RNase P complex, the RNA component catalyzes essential removal of 5' leaders in pre-tRNAs. In 2004, Li and Altman computationally identified the RNase P RNA gene in all but three sequenced microbes Nanoarchaeum equitans, Pyrobaculum aerophilum, and Aquifex aeolicus (all hyperthermophiles) [Li Y, Altman S (2004) RNA 101533-1540]. A recent study concluded that N. equitans does not have or require RNase P activity because it lacks 5' tRNA leaders. The "missing" RNase P RNAs in the other two species is perplexing given evidence or predictions that tRNAs are trimmed in both, prompting speculation that they may have developed novel alternatives to 5' pre-tRNA processing. Using comparative genomics and improved computational methods, we have now identified a radically minimized form of the RNase P RNA in five Pyrobaculum species and the related crenarchaea Caldivirga maquilingensis and Vulcanisaeta distributa, all retaining a conventional catalytic domain, but lacking a recognizable specificity domain. We confirmed 5' tRNA processing activity by high-throughput RNA sequencing and in vitro biochemical assays. The Pyrobaculum and Caldivirga RNase P RNAs are the smallest naturally occurring form yet discovered to function as trans-acting precursor tRNA-processing ribozymes. Loss of the specificity domain in these RNAs suggests altered substrate specificity and could be a useful model for finding other potential roles of RNase P. This study illustrates an effective combination of next-generation RNA sequencing, computational genomics, and biochemistry to identify a divergent, formerly undetectable variant of an essential noncoding RNA gene.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Proteínas Arqueais
/
RNA Arqueal
/
Pyrobaculum
/
Ribonuclease P
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos