J. Kufel et La. Kirsebom, THE P15-LOOP OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI RNASE-P RNA IS AN AUTONOMOUS DIVALENT METAL-ION BINDING DOMAIN, RNA, 4(7), 1998, pp. 777-788
We have studied the structure and divalent metal ion binding of a doma
in of the ribozyme RNase P RNA that is involved in base pairing with i
ts substrate. Our data suggest that the folding of this internal loop,
the P15-loop, is similar irrespective of whether it is part of the fu
ll-length ribozyme or part of a model RNA molecule. We also conclude t
hat this element constitutes an autonomous divalent metal ion binding
domain of RNase P RNA and our data suggest that certain specific chemi
cal groups within the P15-loop participate in coordination of divalent
metal ions, Substitutions of the Sp- and Rp-oxygens with sulfur at a
specific position in this loop result in a 2.5-5-fold less active ribo
zyme, suggesting that Mg2+ binding at this position contributes to fun
ction, Our findings strengthen the concept that small RNA building blo
cks remain basically unchanged when removed from their structural cont
ext and thus can be used as models for studies of their potential func
tion and structure within native RNA molecules.