title: The zalpha domain of the editing enzyme dsRNA adenosine deaminase binds left-handed Z-RNA as well as Z-DNA.
abstract: The Zalpha domain of human double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase 1 binds specifically to left-handed Z-DNA and stabilizes the Z-conformation. Here we report spectroscopic and analytical results that demonstrate that Zalpha can also stabilize the left-handed Z-conformation in double-stranded RNA. Zalpha induces a slow transition from the right-handed A-conformation to the Z-form in duplex r(CG)(6), with an activation energy of 38 kcal mol(-1). We conclude that Z-RNA as well as Z-DNA can be accommodated in the tailored binding site of Zalpha. The specific binding of Z-RNA by Zalpha may be involved in targeting double-stranded RNA adenosine deaminase 1 for a role in hypermutation of RNA viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lowenhaupt
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wilbert
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Hanlon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; C567955:ADARB1 protein, human; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase