Abstract
Secondary and tertiary structures of tRNAs are remarkably preserved from bacteria to humans, the notable exception being the mitochondrial (m) tRNAs of metazoans, which often deviate substantially from the canonical cloverleaf (secondary) or 'L'-shaped (tertiary) structure. Many metazoan mtRNAs lack either the TpsiC (T) or dihydrouridine (D) loops of the canonical cloverleaf, which are known to confer structural rigidity to the folded structure. Thus, the absence of canonical TpsiC-D interactions likely results in greater dispersion of anticodon-acceptor interstem angle than for canonical tRNAs. To test this hypothesis, we have assessed the dispersion of the anticodon-acceptor angle for bovine mtRNA(Ser)(AGY), which lacks the canonical D arm and is thus incapable of forming stabilizing interarm interactions. Using the method of transient electric birefringence (TEB), and by changing the helical torsion angle between a core mtRNA bend and a second bend of known angle/rigidity, we have demonstrated that the core of mtRNA(Ser)(AGY) has substantially greater flexibility than its well-characterized canonical counterpart, yeast cytoplasmic tRNA(Phe). These results suggest that increased flexibility, in addition to a more open interstem angle, would allow both noncanonical and canonical mtRNAs to utilize the same protein synthetic apparatus.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5472-5481 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Nucleic Acids Research |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
Cite this
Core flexibility of a truncated metazoan mitochondrial tRNA. / Frazer-Abel, Ashley A.; Hagerman, Paul J.
In: Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 36, No. 17, 10.2008, p. 5472-5481.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Core flexibility of a truncated metazoan mitochondrial tRNA.
AU - Frazer-Abel, Ashley A.
AU - Hagerman, Paul J
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - Secondary and tertiary structures of tRNAs are remarkably preserved from bacteria to humans, the notable exception being the mitochondrial (m) tRNAs of metazoans, which often deviate substantially from the canonical cloverleaf (secondary) or 'L'-shaped (tertiary) structure. Many metazoan mtRNAs lack either the TpsiC (T) or dihydrouridine (D) loops of the canonical cloverleaf, which are known to confer structural rigidity to the folded structure. Thus, the absence of canonical TpsiC-D interactions likely results in greater dispersion of anticodon-acceptor interstem angle than for canonical tRNAs. To test this hypothesis, we have assessed the dispersion of the anticodon-acceptor angle for bovine mtRNA(Ser)(AGY), which lacks the canonical D arm and is thus incapable of forming stabilizing interarm interactions. Using the method of transient electric birefringence (TEB), and by changing the helical torsion angle between a core mtRNA bend and a second bend of known angle/rigidity, we have demonstrated that the core of mtRNA(Ser)(AGY) has substantially greater flexibility than its well-characterized canonical counterpart, yeast cytoplasmic tRNA(Phe). These results suggest that increased flexibility, in addition to a more open interstem angle, would allow both noncanonical and canonical mtRNAs to utilize the same protein synthetic apparatus.
AB - Secondary and tertiary structures of tRNAs are remarkably preserved from bacteria to humans, the notable exception being the mitochondrial (m) tRNAs of metazoans, which often deviate substantially from the canonical cloverleaf (secondary) or 'L'-shaped (tertiary) structure. Many metazoan mtRNAs lack either the TpsiC (T) or dihydrouridine (D) loops of the canonical cloverleaf, which are known to confer structural rigidity to the folded structure. Thus, the absence of canonical TpsiC-D interactions likely results in greater dispersion of anticodon-acceptor interstem angle than for canonical tRNAs. To test this hypothesis, we have assessed the dispersion of the anticodon-acceptor angle for bovine mtRNA(Ser)(AGY), which lacks the canonical D arm and is thus incapable of forming stabilizing interarm interactions. Using the method of transient electric birefringence (TEB), and by changing the helical torsion angle between a core mtRNA bend and a second bend of known angle/rigidity, we have demonstrated that the core of mtRNA(Ser)(AGY) has substantially greater flexibility than its well-characterized canonical counterpart, yeast cytoplasmic tRNA(Phe). These results suggest that increased flexibility, in addition to a more open interstem angle, would allow both noncanonical and canonical mtRNAs to utilize the same protein synthetic apparatus.
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U2 - 10.1093/nar/gkn529
DO - 10.1093/nar/gkn529
M3 - Article
C2 - 18718926
AN - SCOPUS:55249094125
VL - 36
SP - 5472
EP - 5481
JO - Nucleic Acids Research
JF - Nucleic Acids Research
SN - 0305-1048
IS - 17
ER -