title: Effects of divalent metal ions on individual steps of the Tetrahymena ribozyme reaction.
abstract: The Tetrahymena thermophila L-21 ScaI ribozyme utilizes Mg2+ to catalyze a site-specific endonuclease reaction analogous to the first step of self-splicing. To better understand the contribution of Mg2+ to ribozyme activity, the Mg2+ concentration dependence of individual rate constants was examined at concentrations greater than those required for ribozyme folding (>2 mM; at 50 degrees C and pH 6.7). Analysis of metal ion inhibition of the chemical step of the reaction indicated that two Ca2+ ions compete with two Mg2+ ions involved in active site chemistry. These Mg2+ ions are bound tightly to the E.S complex (Kd < 2 mM). The rate constant for association of the oligoribonucleotide substrate (S) increased 12-fold from 2 to 100 mM Mg2+ and exhibited saturation behavior, consistent with a single Mg2+ ion involved in S association that binds to the free ribozyme with a Kd for Mg2+ of 15 mM. The preference for the divalent metal ion (Mg2+ congruent with Ca2+ > Ba2+ >> Sr2+) suggested that enhancing the rate constant of S association is not simply a function of ionic strength, but is due to a distinct metal ion binding site. Even though Ca2+ does not support reaction, the RNA substrate S was able to bind in the presence of Ca2+. Upon addition of Mg2+, S was cleaved without first dissociating. A model is proposed in which the inactive Ca2+ form of E.S is structurally equivalent to the open complex along the reaction pathway, which has the RNA substrate bound but not docked into the active site. Weaker binding of S in Ca2+ was shown to result from an increase in the rate constant of S dissociation, leading to the proposal that a tight Mg2+ binding site or sites in the E.S complex contribute to the strong binding of S. In summary, the data provide evidence for four functions for bound Mg2+ ions in the catalytic cycle: one increases the rate of RNA substrate binding, one or more decrease the rate of dissociation of S, and two are involved in the chemical step.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herschlag
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Cech
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013324:Strontium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D001464:Barium; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium; D013324:Strontium