title: Functional characterization of the conserved amino acids in Pop1p, the largest common protein subunit of yeast RNases P and MRP.
abstract: RNase P and RNase MRP are ribonucleoprotein enzymes required for 5'-end maturation of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs) and processing of precursor ribosomal RNAs, respectively. In yeast, RNase P and MRP holoenzymes have eight protein subunits in common, with Pop1p being the largest at >100 kDa. Little is known about the functions of Pop1p, beyond the fact that it binds specifically to the RNase P RNA subunit, RPR1 RNA. In this study, we refined the previous Pop1 phylogenetic sequence alignment and found four conserved regions. Highly conserved amino acids in yeast Pop1p were mutagenized by randomization and conditionally defective mutations were obtained. Effects of the Pop1p mutations on pre-tRNA processing, pre-rRNA processing, and stability of the RNA subunits of RNase P and MRP were examined. In most cases, functional defects in RNase P and RNase MRP in vivo were consistent with assembly defects of the holoenzymes, although moderate kinetic defects in RNase P were also observed. Most mutations affected both pre-tRNA and pre-rRNA processing, but a few mutations preferentially interfered with only RNase P or only RNase MRP. In addition, one temperature-sensitive mutation had no effect on either tRNA or rRNA processing, consistent with an additional role for RNase P, RNase MRP, or Pop1p in some other form. This study shows that the Pop1p subunit plays multiple roles in the assembly and function of of RNases P and MRP, and that the functions can be differentiated through the mutations in conserved residues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Shaohua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fierke
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Engelke
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C089992:POP1 protein, S cerevisiae; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012340:RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C058330:mitochondrial RNA-processing endoribonuclease; D043262:Ribonuclease P