title: Metal ion binding sites in a group II intron core.
abstract: Group II introns are catalytic RNA molecules that require divalent metal ions for folding, substrate binding, and chemical catalysis. Metal ion binding sites in the group II core have now been elucidated by monitoring the site-specific RNA hydrolysis patterns of bound ions such as Tb(3+) and Mg(2+). Major sites are localized near active site elements such as domain 5 and its surrounding tertiary interaction partners. Numerous sites are also observed at intron substructures that are involved in binding and potentially activating the splice sites. These results highlight the locations of specific metal ions that are likely to play a role in ribozyme catalysis.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th Street, Box 36, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Sigel
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vaidya
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Pyle
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002384:Catalysis; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism; D008187:Lutetium / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D022821:RNA Splice Sites / Q000235:genetics; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013725:Terbium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D008670:Metals; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D013725:Terbium; D007854:Lead; D008187:Lutetium; D008274:Magnesium