Interactions of a small RNA with antibiotic and RNA ligands of the 30S subunit.
It is now generally accepted that 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA play important roles in the decoding and peptidyl transferase activities of ribosomes. Despite their complex structures and numerous associated proteins it is possible that small domains of these rRNAs can fold and function autonomously, particularly those that appear devoid of protein interactions. One candidate for such a domain is the decoding region, located near the 3' end of 16S rRNA (Fig. 1a, b). Consistent with this hypothesis, aminoglycoside antibiotics that interact with the decoding region in 30S subunits interact with other RNAs in the absence of proteins. In addition, certain activities of self-splicing introns, at least superficially, resemble translational decoding. We report here that an oligoribonucleotide analogue of the decoding region interacts with both antibiotic and RNA ligands of the 30S subunit in a manner that correlates with normal subunit function. The activities of the decoding region analogue suggest that the intimidating structural complexity of the ribosome can be, to some degree, circumvented.
Purohit
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Program in Molecular Medicine, UMASS Medical Center, Worcester 01605.
Stern
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D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000926:Anticodon; D001483:Base Sequence; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D008024:Ligands; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011072:Poly U / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; D014764:Viral Proteins
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000926:Anticodon; D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; D014764:Viral Proteins; D011072:Poly U; D012343:RNA, Transfer; C062210:bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C007482:dimethyl sulfate