Cleavage by RNase P of gene N mRNA reduces bacteriophage lambda burst size.
RNase P, an enzyme essential for tRNA biosynthesis, can be directed to cleave any RNA when the target RNA is in a complex with a short, complementary oligonucleotide called an external guide sequence (EGS). RNase P from Escherichia coli can cleave phage lambda N mRNA in vitro or in vivo when the mRNA is in a complex with an EGS. The EGS can either be separate from or covalently linked to M1 RNA, the catalytic RNA subunit of RNase P. The requirement for Mg2+ in the reaction in vitro is lower when the EGS is covalently linked to M1 RNA. Substrates made of DNA can also be cleaved by RNase P in vitro in complexes with RNA EGSs. When either kind of EGS construct is used in vivo, burst size of phage lambda is reduced by > or = 40%. Reduction in burst size depends on efficient expression of the EGS constructs. The product of phage lambda gene N appears to function in a stoichiometric fashion.
Li
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Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Altman
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S
D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043262:Ribonuclease P
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043262:Ribonuclease P; C470865:ribonuclease P, E coli