Scholars@Duke publication: Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism.

Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism.

Publication , Journal Article

Schumacher, MA; Karamooz, E; Zíková, A; Trantírek, L; Lukes, J

Published in: Cell

August 25, 2006

The mitochondrial RNA binding proteins MRP1 and MRP2 form a heteromeric complex that functions in kinetoplastid RNA editing. In this process, MRP1/MRP2 serves as a matchmaker by binding to guide RNAs and facilitating their hybridization with cognate preedited mRNAs. To understand the mechanism by which this complex performs RNA matchmaking, we determined structures of Trypanosoma brucei apoMRP1/MRP2 and an MRP1/MRP2-gRNA complex. The structures show that MRP1/MRP2 is a heterotetramer and, despite little sequence homology, each MRP subunit exhibits the same "Whirly" transcription-factor fold. The gRNA molecule binds to the highly basic beta sheet surface of the MRP complex via nonspecific, electrostatic contacts. Strikingly, while the gRNA stem/loop II base is anchored to the basic surface, stem/loop I (the anchor sequence) is unfolded and its bases exposed to solvent. Thus, MRP1/MRP2 acts as an RNA matchmaker by stabilizing the RNA molecule in an unfolded conformation suitable for RNA-RNA hybridization.

Duke Scholars

Author Maria Anne Schumacher Biochemistry

Published In

Cell

DOI

10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.047

ISSN

0092-8674

Publication Date

August 25, 2006

Volume

126

Issue

Start / End Page

701 / 711

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Sequence Alignment
RNA-Binding Proteins
RNA, Guide, Kinetoplastida
Protozoan Proteins
Protein Structure, Secondary
Protein Structure, Quaternary
Protein Folding
Protein Binding
Nucleic Acid Conformation

Citation

APA

Chicago

ICMJE

MLA

NLM

Schumacher, M. A., Karamooz, E., Zíková, A., Trantírek, L., & Lukes, J. (2006). Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism. Cell, 126(4), 701–711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.047

Schumacher, Maria A., Elham Karamooz, Alena Zíková, Lukás Trantírek, and Julius Lukes. “Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism.” Cell 126, no. 4 (August 25, 2006): 701–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.047.

Schumacher MA, Karamooz E, Zíková A, Trantírek L, Lukes J. Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism. Cell. 2006 Aug 25;126(4):701–11.

Schumacher, Maria A., et al. “Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism.” Cell, vol. 126, no. 4, Aug. 2006, pp. 701–11. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.047.

Schumacher MA, Karamooz E, Zíková A, Trantírek L, Lukes J. Crystal structures of T. brucei MRP1/MRP2 guide-RNA binding complex reveal RNA matchmaking mechanism. Cell. 2006 Aug 25;126(4):701–711.