Publication Date:
2016-01-09
Description:
Pho Pop5 and Pho Rpp30 in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii , homologues of human ribonuclease P (RNase P) proteins hPop5 and Rpp30, respectively, fold into a heterotetramer [ Pho Rpp30–( Pho Pop5) 2 – Pho Rpp30], which plays a crucial role in the activation of RNase P RNA ( Pho pRNA). Here, we examined the functional implication of Pho Pop5 and Pho Rpp30 in the tetramer. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis revealed that the tetramer strongly interacts with an oligonucleotide including the nucleotide sequence of a stem-loop SL3 in Pho pRNA. In contrast, Pho Pop5 had markedly reduced affinity to SL3, whereas Pho Rpp30 had little affinity to SL3. SPR studies of Pho Pop5 mutants further revealed that the C-terminal helix (α4) in Pho Pop5 functions as a molecular recognition element for SL3. Moreover, gel filtration indicated that Pho Rpp30 exists as a monomer, whereas Pho Pop5 is an oligomer in solution, suggesting that Pho Rpp30 assists Pho Pop5 in attaining a functionally active conformation by shielding hydrophobic surfaces of Pho Pop5. These results, together with available data, allow us to generate a structural and mechanistic model for the Pho pRNA activation by Pho Pop5 and Pho Rpp30, in which the two C-terminal helices (α4) of Pho Pop5 in the tetramer whose formation is assisted by Pho Rpp30 act as binding elements and bridge SL3 and SL16 in Pho pRNA.
Print ISSN:
0021-924X
Electronic ISSN:
1756-2651
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
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