Abstract
AbstractWe have analyzed the linkers in group-I introns, a characteristic region that is crucial to the folding and splicing process of the folded RNA, in seventy sequences spreading across r-RNA, t-RNA and organelle genes from various organisms including algae, fungi and protozoa. The study revealed a high degree of consensus of specific adenine residues in J3/4, J6/7 and J8/7 stems of the linker regions that were required to stabilize the local orientation, either as single residue or by forming unusual base pairs along with divalent metal ions. Conservation of these residues in the Group-I intron linkers suggests their significant contribution to the folded structure whose bonding and geometry recruit metal ions to interact in stabilizing the folded nature of RNA.
Highlights
Group-I intron ribozymes belong to a class of unique RNA molecules that act as enzymes, store information and undergo autocatalytic processes (Cech 2002; Scott 2007)
Linkers are very crucial in stabilizing the core region of the RNA folds through the adenosine bases (J8/7) and Mg2+ ion and assist in the formation of unusual base pairs whose bonding and geometry would enable flexibility in the stem folding (Golden et al 1997; Rangan and Woodson 2003; Znosko et al 2004). All these observations led us to hypothesize that if adenyl residues in the linkers of the group-I intron structure are very important for autocatalytic process, we should expect a high degree of their conservation from diverse species
In linkers J8/9 we found only 90% conservation in the adenine residues and its position
Summary
Group-I intron ribozymes belong to a class of unique RNA molecules that act as enzymes, store information and undergo autocatalytic processes (Cech 2002; Scott 2007). We show the salient features of their evolutionarily conserved residues whose interactions with the metal binding domains might form putative sites for design of metal-based drugs. Catalytic RNAs of the group-I type share a common secondary and tertiary structure , and unlike other RNAs they require a divalent metal ion and an exogenous guanosine cofactor to splice out the introns (Michel and Westhof 1990).
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