The L7Ae proteins mediate a widespread and highly functional protein–RNA interaction

David M.J Lilley

doi:10.1042/bio04102040

Abstract

The k-turn is a ubiquitous structural motif in RNA forming a very tight kink in the axis of helical RNA that plays an important role in many aspects of RNA function. L7Ae is a member of a superfamily of proteins that bind k-turns in RNA, stabilizing the tightly kinked conformation. They are extremely widespread and are important in the assembly of RNA–protein complexes central to translation, splicing and site-specific RNA modification. The interaction is exploited in order to regulate the synthesis of L7Ae proteins and is itself subject to regulation in box C/D snoRNP assembly by N6 methylation of a key adenine in the k-turn. Lastly, we can exploit the L7Ae–k-turn interaction in the construction of nanoscale assemblies.

Highlights

RNA is a biopolymer that is essential for life, with various roles in genetic decoding and the regulation and expression of genes
The L7Ae family includes L7Ae and L30e, human 15.5k protein and yeast snu31p. These interactions are very important in the assembly of the ribosome, the snoRNP complexes that direct the site-specific modification of RNA, in the formation of the splicesome and in additional species such as telomerase and the RNaseP ribozyme required for the maturation of transfer RNA
A typical k-turn comprises a three-nucleotide bulge followed by tandem transGA and AG base pairs (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

RNA is a biopolymer that is essential for life, with various roles in genetic decoding and the regulation and expression of genes. The L7Ae proteins are a superfamily that bind to a widespread structural motif of RNA called the kink-turn (k-turn) in archaea and eukaryotes.

Results

Conclusion