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. 1996 Feb 15;24(4):688–693. doi: 10.1093/nar/24.4.688

Structural characterization of U*-1915 in domain IV from Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA as 3-methylpseudouridine.

J A Kowalak 1, E Bruenger 1, T Hashizume 1, J M Peltier 1, J Ofengand 1, J A McCloskey 1
PMCID: PMC145692  PMID: 8604311

Abstract

Mass spectrometry-based methods have been used to study post-transcriptional modification in the 1900-1974 nt segment of domain IV in 23S rRNA of Escherichia coli, a region which interacts with domain V in forming the three- dimensional structure of the peptidyl transferase center within the ribosome. A nucleoside constituent of M r 258 (U*)which occurs at position 1915, within the highly modified oligonucleotide sequence 1911-psiAACU*Apsi-1917, was characterized as 3-methylpseudouridine (m3psi). The assignment was confirmed by chemical synthesis of m3psi and comparison with the natural nucleoside by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 3-Methylpseudouridine is previously unknown in nature and is the only known derivative of the common modified nucleoside pseudouridine thus far found in bacterial rRNA.

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Selected References

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