title: Characterization of a novel association between two trypanosome-specific proteins and 5S rRNA.
abstract: P34 and P37 are two previously identified RNA binding proteins in the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. RNA interference studies have determined that the proteins are essential and are involved in ribosome biogenesis. Here, we show that these proteins interact in vitro with the 5S rRNA with nearly identical binding characteristics in the absence of other cellular factors. The T. brucei 5S rRNA has a complex secondary structure and presents four accessible loops (A to D) for interactions with RNA-binding proteins. In other eukaryotes, loop C is bound by the L5 ribosomal protein and loop A mainly by TFIIIA. The binding of P34 and P37 to T. brucei 5S rRNA involves the LoopA region of the RNA, but these proteins also protect the L5 binding site located on LoopC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology & Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciganda
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C476232:p34 protein, Trypanosoma brucei; C476233:p37 protein, Trypanosoma brucei; D016914:Ribonuclease H