title: tRNase Z: the end is not in sight.
abstract: Although the enzyme tRNase Z has only recently been isolated, a plethora of data has already been acquired concerning the enzyme. tRNase Z is the endonuclease that catalyzes the removal of the tRNA 3' trailer, yielding the mature tRNA 3' end ready for CCA addition and aminoacylation. Another substrate cleaved by tRNase Z is the small chromogenic phosphodiester bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (bpNPP), which is the smallest tRNase Z substrate known so far. Hitherto the biological function as tRNA 3'-end processing enzyme has been shown only in one prokaryotic and one eukaryotic organism, respectively. This review summarizes the present information concerning the two tRNase Z substrates pre-tRNA and bpNPP, as well as the metal requirements of tRNase Z enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Molekulare Botanik, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Späth
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchfelder
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012343:RNA, Transfer; D004722:Endoribonucleases