Eukaryotic ribonucleases P/MRP: the crystal structure of the P3 domain

EMBO J. 2010 Feb 17;29(4):761-9. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2009.396. Epub 2010 Jan 14.

Abstract

Ribonuclease (RNase) P is a site-specific endoribonuclease found in all kingdoms of life. Typical RNase P consists of a catalytic RNA component and a protein moiety. In the eukaryotes, the RNase P lineage has split into two, giving rise to a closely related enzyme, RNase MRP, which has similar components but has evolved to have different specificities. The eukaryotic RNases P/MRP have acquired an essential helix-loop-helix protein-binding RNA domain P3 that has an important function in eukaryotic enzymes and distinguishes them from bacterial and archaeal RNases P. Here, we present a crystal structure of the P3 RNA domain from Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase MRP in a complex with RNase P/MRP proteins Pop6 and Pop7 solved to 2.7 A. The structure suggests similar structural organization of the P3 RNA domains in RNases P/MRP and possible functions of the P3 domains and proteins bound to them in the stabilization of the holoenzymes' structures as well as in interactions with substrates. It provides the first insight into the structural organization of the eukaryotic enzymes of the RNase P/MRP family.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Endoribonucleases / chemistry*
  • Endoribonucleases / genetics
  • Holoenzymes / chemistry
  • Holoenzymes / genetics
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA, Fungal / chemistry*
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Ribonuclease P / chemistry*
  • Ribonuclease P / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / enzymology
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / chemistry
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Holoenzymes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • RNA, Fungal
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Endoribonucleases
  • mitochondrial RNA-processing endoribonuclease
  • Ribonuclease P

Associated data

  • PDB/3IAB