RNA affinity for molecular L-histidine; genetic code origins.
Selection for affinity for free histidine yields a single RNA aptamer, which was isolated 54 times independently. This RNA is highly specific for the side chain and binds protonated L-histidine with 10(2)-10(3)-fold stereoselectivity and a dissociation constant (K(D)) of 8-54 microM in different isolates. These histidine-binding RNAs have a common internal loop-hairpin loop structure, based on a conserved RAAGUGGGKKN(0-36) AUGUN(0-2)AGKAACAG sequence. Notably, the repetitively isolated sequence contains two histidine anticodons, both implicated by conservation and chemical data in amino acid affinity. This site is probably the simplest structure that can meet our histidine affinity selection, which strengthens experimental support for a "stereochemical" origin of the genetic code.
Majerfeld
Irene
I
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0347, USA.
Puthenvedu
Deepa
D
Yarus
Michael
M
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000235:genetics; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005815:Genetic Code / Q000235:genetics*; D006639:Histidine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D000596:Amino Acids; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D006639:Histidine; D012313:RNA