Complex formed by complementary RNA stem-loops and its stabilization by a protein: function of CoIE1 Rom protein.
A small plasmid-specified RNA (RNA I) inhibits formation of the RNA primer for CoIE1 DNA replication by binding to its precursor (RNA II). Binding is modulated by the plasmid-specified Rom protein. Both in the presence and absence of Rom, binding starts with interaction between loops of RNAs. To understand the mechanism of binding, we examined the interactions of pairs of single stem-loops that are complementary fragments of RNA I and RNA II. We found that these complementary single stem-loops bind to each other at their loops, forming an RNAase V1-sensitive structure. Rom protects the complex from cleavage and from alkylation of phosphate groups by ethyinitrosourea. A single dimer of Rom binds to the complex by recognizing the structure rather than its exact nucleotide sequence. Rom enhances complex formation by decreasing the rate of dissociation of the complex. Structures of RNA complexes formed in the presence and absence of Rom are proposed.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Y
Y
Eguchi
J
J
Tomizawa
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003087:Colicins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids; D011485:Protein Binding; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003087:Colicins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C042833:ROM protein, Bacteria; D012260:Ribonucleases; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea