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. 1995 Mar 28;92(7):2627–2631. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.7.2627

Two helices plus a linker: a small model substrate for eukaryotic RNase P.

G Carrara 1, P Calandra 1, P Fruscoloni 1, G P Tocchini-Valentini 1
PMCID: PMC42271  PMID: 7708695

Abstract

Using precursor tRNA molecules to study RNA-protein interactions, we have identified an RNA motif recognized by eukaryotic RNase P (EC 3.1.26.5). Analysis of circularly permuted precursors indicates that interruptions in the sugar-phosphate backbone are not tolerated in the acceptor stem, in the T stem-loop, or between residues A-9 and G-10. Prokaryotic RNase P will function with a minihelix consisting of the acceptor stem connected directly to the T stem-loop. Eukaryotic RNase P cannot use such a minimal substrate unless a linker sequence is added in the gap where the D stem and anticodon stem-loop were deleted.

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Selected References

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