title: MS2 coat protein mutants which bind Qbeta RNA.
abstract: The coat proteins of the RNA phages MS2 and Qbetaare structurally homologous, yet they specifically bind different RNA structures. In an effort to identify the basis of RNA binding specificity we sought to isolate mutants that convert MS2 coat protein to the RNA binding specificity of Qbeta. A library of mutations was created which selectively substitutes amino acids within the RNA binding site. Genetic selection for the ability to repress translation from the Qbetatranslational operator led to the isolation of several MS2 mutants that acquired binding activity for QbetaRNA. Some of these also had reduced abilities to repress translation from the MS2 translational operator. These changes in RNA binding specificity were the results of substitutions of amino acid residues 87 and 89. Additional codon- directed mutagenesis experiments confirmed earlier results showing that the identity of Asn87 is important for specific binding of MS2 RNA. Glu89, on the other hand, is not required for recognition of MS2 RNA, but prevents binding of QbetaRNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spingola
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Peabody
mesh_terms: D017908:Allolevivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D003062:Codon; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D015723:Gene Library; D017909:Levivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009875:Operator Regions, Genetic; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D003062:Codon; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins