RIBOSOMAL-RNA PRECURSOR PROCESSING BY A EUKARYOTIC U3 SMALL NUCLEOLARRNA-LIKE MOLECULE IN AN ARCHAEON

Citation
S. Potter et al., RIBOSOMAL-RNA PRECURSOR PROCESSING BY A EUKARYOTIC U3 SMALL NUCLEOLARRNA-LIKE MOLECULE IN AN ARCHAEON, Science, 268(5213), 1995, pp. 1056-1060
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
00368075
Volume
268
Issue
5213
Year of publication
1995
Pages
1056 - 1060
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-8075(1995)268:5213<1056:RPPBAE>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
An RNA-containing endonuclease that catalyzes the excision and maturat ion of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from the rRNA primary transcript ( pre-rRNA) in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius has been characterized. The ribonucleoprotein was inactivated by micro coccal nuclease treatment and inactivation was reversed by reconstitut ion with bulk RNA. A 159-nucleotide RNA with sequence and structural s imilarity to U3 small nucleolar RNAs of eukaryotes copurified with the endonuclease activity. Oligonucleotide-targeted ribonuclease H inacti vation of the US-like RNA component also abolished processing activity . A motif within the U3 homolog is complementary to the region around the three cleavage sites in the pre-RNA substrate. Thus, US-mediated p rocessing of pre-rRNA is not specific to eukaryotes; its origin predat es the divergence of archaea and eukaryotes.