title: G-ribo: a new structural motif in ribosomal RNA.
abstract: Analysis of the available crystal structures of the ribosome and of its subunits has revealed a new RNA motif that we call G-ribo. The motif consists of two double helices positioned side-by-side and connected by an unpaired region. The juxtaposition of the two helices is kept by a complex system of tertiary interactions spread over several layers of stacked nucleotides. In the center of this arrangement, the ribose of a nucleotide from one helix is specifically packed with the ribose and the minor-groove edge of a guanosine from the other helix. In total, we found eight G-ribo motifs in both ribosomal subunits. The location of these motifs suggests that at least some of them play an important role in the formation of the ribosome structure and/or in its function.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, PQ, Canada. serguei.chteinberg@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Yury I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Boutorine
mesh_terms: D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008961:Models, Structural; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012266:Ribose; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012266:Ribose