title: tRNA maturation in Aquifex aeolicus.
abstract: Several tRNAs in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus are encoded in clusters and as part of ribosomal RNA operons, implying the requirement for tRNA processing by ribonuclease P (RNase P). Intriguingly, neither a gene for the RNA nor the protein component of this ubiquitous ribonucleoprotein enzyme has been hitherto identified in the sequenced genome of A. aeolicus, despite extensive data mining. As a result of the present study, primer extension analysis revealed that tRNAs in A. aeolicus possess canonical mature 5' ends; yet we were unable to demonstrate RNase P holoenzyme or RNase P RNA alone activity in A. aeolicus extracts under a variety of reaction conditions utilizing mono- and dimeric ptRNA substrates. Processing of dimeric ptRNA transcripts in extracts of A. aeolicus disclosed at least one endoribonuclease which cleaves in the A/U-rich spacer of the tandem ptRNA, reminiscent of bacterial RNase E-like enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Dagmar K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Willkomm
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feltens
authors.forename: Roland K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D009876:Operon; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / Q000235:genetics; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu