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K Nurse

Publications and source records attributed to K Nurse.

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Crosslinking of the anticodon of P site bound tRNA to C-1400 of E.coli 16S RNA does not require the participation of the 50S subunit.

Crosslinking of the 5'-anticodon base of ribosomal P site bound AcVal-tRNA to residue C-1400 of 16S RNA or to its equivalent in 18S RNA has been shown to occur on 70S or 80S ribosomes of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes [Ciesiolka, J., Nurse, K., Klein, J. and Ofengand, J. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 3233-3239]. In the present work, we show that the crosslinking rate, crosslinking yield, and site of crosslinking are all unchanged when the 50S subunit is omitted. Therefore, all of the positional features of tRNA-ribosome complexes which allow crosslinking to occur are entirely contained in the 30S subunit. Blockage of reverse transcription by crosslink formation was used to determine the site of crosslinking. This analysis revealed that RNA modifications which do not directly block base-pairing ligands sometimes allow the modified base to be transcribed, leading to doublet band formation even when there is only a single crosslink site.

Anticodon↗

The role of 16S RNA in ribosome function: single base alterations and their effect on in vitro protein synthesis.

An in vitro system developed for the site-specific mutagenesis of 16S RNA of Escherichia coli ribosomes (Krzyzosiak et al., Biochemistry 26, 2353-2364, 1987) was used to make 10 single base changes around C1400, the residue known to be at the decoding site. C1400 was replaced by U, A, or G, 5 single base deletions at and to either side of C1400 were made, and C or U was inserted next to C1400. Another mutant possessed 7 additional nucleotides at the 3' end of the 16S RNA such that a stem and loop involving the anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence could form. Another series of 8 mutants tested hypothetical base-pairing between C1404, G1405 and C1496, G1497. The activity of these 19 mutants in A and P site binding, and in initiation-dependent and initiation-independent peptide synthesis was determined. None of the base substitutions of C1400 were strongly inhibitory. The insertions and deletions completely blocked initiation-dependent peptide synthesis but markedly stimulated the initiation-independent reaction. The effects of tRNA binding were variable. The only alteration to block all ribosomal function was the deletion of G1401. The extra stem and loop at the 3'-end blocked initiation-dependent peptide synthesis, but all other assays were normal. The mutants which break and reform the hypothetical base-pairs had a functional pattern that suggest the contiguous base-pairs do exist and are functionally important.

Bacterial Proteins↗

In vitro synthesis of 16S ribosomal RNA containing single base changes and assembly into a functional 30S ribosome.

Functional 30S ribosomes were reconstructed from total Escherichia coli 30S ribosomal proteins and 16S ribosomal RNA synthesized in vitro by T7 RNA polymerase. Up to 700 mol of RNA/mol of template could be obtained. The transcript lacked all ten normally modified bases and had three additional 5' G residues, an A----G change at position 2, and, in 22% of the molecules, one or two extra 3' residues. The synthetic 16S RNA could be assembled into a particle that cosedimented with authentic 30S and was indistinguishable from 30S by electron microscopy. When supplemented with the 50S subunit, the particles bound tRNA to the 70S P site in a codon- and Mg2+-dependent manner. The specific binding activity was 94% that of particles reconstituted with natural rRNA and 52% that of native 30S. Cross-linking to P site bound tRNA was also preserved. Changing C-1400, the residue known to be close to the anticodon of P site bound tRNA, to A had little effect on reconstitution, but the C----G substitution caused a marked inhibition of assembly. tRNA could bind to both reconstituted mutants, but cross-linking was greatly reduced. These results show that none of the modified bases of 16S RNA are essential for P site binding and that position 1400 may be more important for ribosome assembly than for tRNA binding. Base-specific in vitro mutagenesis can now be used to explore in detail the functional properties of individual residues in ribosomal RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Covalent cross-linking of AcVal-tRNA to Tetrahymena thermophila cytoplasmic ribosomes and two of its 17S rRNA mutants.

Tetrahymena thermophila 80S ribosomes have been cross-linked to non-enzymatically bound AcVal-tRNA, presumably at the ribosomal P-site. Like the ribosomes from Escherichia coli, yeast, and Artemia salina, cross-linking is exclusively to C-1609, the equivalent of the E. coli C-1400 residue. Mutation of the RNA from G-1707 to A or from U-1711 to C which results in resistance to paromomycin or hygromycin, respectively, failed to affect the rate, yield, or site of cross-linking. The presence of the antibiotics during cross-linking also was without effect. It is concluded that at these two positions the base changes made do not interfere with the tertiary structure of the decoding site.

Animals↗

Conservation of RNA sequence and cross-linking ability in ribosomes from a higher eukaryote: photochemical cross-linking of the anticodon of P site bound tRNA to the penultimate cytidine of the UACACACG sequence in Artemia salina 18S rRNA.

The complex of Artemia salina ribosomes and Escherichia coli acetylvalyl-tRNA could be cross-linked by irradiation with near-UV light. Cross-linking required the presence of the codon GUU, GUA being ineffective. The acetylvalyl group could be released from the cross-linked tRNA by treatment with puromycin, demonstrating that cross-linking had occurred at the P site. This was true both for pGUU- and also for poly(U2,G)-dependent cross-linking. All of the cross-linking was to the 18S rRNA of the small ribosomal subunit. Photolysis of the cross-link at 254 nm occurred with the same kinetics as that for the known cyclobutane dimer between this tRNA and Escherichia coli 16S rRNA. T1 RNase digestion of the cross-linked tRNA yielded an oligonucleotide larger in molecular weight than any from un-cross-linked rRNA or tRNA or from a prephotolyzed complex. Extended electrophoresis showed this material to consist of two oligomers of similar mobility, a faster one-third component and a slower two-thirds component. Each oligomer yielded two components on 254-nm photolysis. The slower band from each was the tRNA T1 oligomer CACCUCCCUVACAAGp, which includes the anticodon. The faster band was the rRNA 9-mer UACACACCGp and its derivative UACACACUG. Unexpectedly, the dephosphorylated and slower moving 9-mer was derived from the faster moving dimer. Deamination of the penultimate C to U is probably due to cyclobutane dimer formation and was evidence for that nucleotide being the site of cross-linking. Direct confirmation of the cross-linking site was obtained by "Z"-gel analysis [Ehresmann, C., & Ofengand, J. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 438-445].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticodon↗

High resolution localization of the tRNA anticodon interaction site on the Escherichia coli 30 S ribosomal subunit.

A body of previous work has shown that when Escherichia coli tRNAVal1 is placed in the P site of E. coli ribosomes and irradiated, the 5'-anticodon base of this tRNA, 5-carboxymethoxyuridine, is cross-linked to C-1400 of the 16 S rRNA. By tagging the carboxyl group of the cross-linked tRNA residue with a 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) group attached via a 9 A spacer, it has been possible to directly visualize this cross-linking site by immunoelectron microscopy. The DNP group was attached by addition of ethylenediamine to the carboxyl group, followed by condensation of the newly formed free amino group with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-2,4-dinitrophenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid. When reacted with anti-DNP antibody, this modification brings the surface of the antibody to within 9 A of the pyrimidine ring which was cross-linked. Neither codon-dependent binding nor cross-linking were materially affected by the tRNA modification. The tRNA-ribosome adduct formed a stable complex with anti-DNP antibody only when 50-30 S subunit association was prevented. Electron microscopic examination of the immune complexes showed that greater than 95% of those detected had the antibody localized deep in the cleft which separates the head and neck of the 30 S from the large protrusion. Since this is the site of cross-linking of the anticodon of tRNA, we conclude that this region on the 30 S subunit corresponds to the decoding site.

Antibodies↗

Cross-linking of the anticodon of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis acetylvalyl-tRNA to the ribosomal P site. Characterization of a unique site in both E. coli 16S and yeast 18S ribosomal RNA.

The nucleotide residues involved in the cross-link between P site bound acetylvalyl-tRNA (AcVal-tRNA) and 16-18S rRNA have been identified. This cross-link was formed by irradiation of Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis AcVal-tRNA bound to the P site of E. coli ribosomes or by irradiation of E. coli AcVal-tRNA bound to the P site of yeast ribosomes. The three cross-linked RNA heterodimers were obtained in 10-35% purity by disruption of the irradiated ribosome-tRNA complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. After total digestion with RNase T1, and labeling at either the 5'- or the 3'-end, the cross-linked oligomers could be identified and isolated before and after photolytic splitting of the cross-link. One of the oligomers was shown to be UACACACCG, a unique rRNA nonamer present in an evolutionarily conserved region. This oligomer was found in all three heterodimers. The other oligomer of the dimer had the sequence expected for the RNase T1 product encompassing the anticodon of the tRNA used. The precise site of cross-linking was determined by two novel methods. Bisulfite modification of the oligonucleotide dimer converted all C residues to U, except for any cross-linked C which would be resistant by being part of a cyclobutane dimer. Sequencing gel analysis of the UACACACCG oligomer showed that the C residue protected was the 3'-penultimate C residue, C1400 in E. coli rRNA or C1626 in yeast rRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticodon↗

Covalent crosslinking of Escherichia coli phenylalanyl-tRNA and valyl-tRNA to the ribosomal A site via photoaffinity probes attached to the 4-thiouridine residue.

tRNAPhe and tRNAVal of Escherichia coli were derivatized at the S4U8 position with p-azidophenacyl and p-azidophenacylacetate photoaffinity probes. The modified tRNAs could still function efficiently in all of the partial reactions of protein synthesis except for an approximately sevenfold decrease in the rate of translocation. Irradiation (310 to 340 nm) of probe-modified Phe-tRNA or Val-tRNA placed in the ribosomal A site led to crosslinking that was totally dependent on irradiation, the presence of the azido group on the probe, mRNA, and elongation factor Tu (EFTu). Prephotolysis of the modified tRNA abolished crosslinking, but prephotolysis of the ribosomes and factors had little effect. Crosslinking was efficiently quenched by mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol, demonstrating accessibility of the probe to solvent. Use of GDPCP in place of GTP also blocked crosslinking, probably because of the retention of EFTu on the ribosome. Crosslinking with the p-azidophenacyl acetate (12 A) probe was only half as efficient as with the p-azidophenacyl (9 A) probe, and this ratio was not changed by varying Mg2+ from 5 to 15 mM. The crosslink was from a functional A site, since AcPhePhe-tRNA at the A site could be crosslinked, and it was A site-specific, because neither translocation nor direct non-enzymatic P site binding yielded any significant covalent product. The crosslink was to ribosomal protein(s) of the 30 S subunit. No other ribosomal component was crosslinked. Identification of the protein crosslinked is described in the accompanying paper.

Affinity Labels↗

Functional conservation near the 3' end of eukaryotic small subunit RNA: photochemical crosslinking of P site-bound acetylvalyl-tRNA to 18S RNA of yeast ribosomes.

Escherichia coli acetylvalyl (AcVal)-tRNA1Val became crosslinked to both yeast and spinach chloroplast ribosomes upon irradiation (300 nm) in the presence of poly(U2,G). Yields were 25-30% and 33%, respectively, compared to 45% for E. coli. Crosslinking occurred to the P site, only to the 40S subunit, and 90% of that was to the 18S rRNA. The crosslink could be photolyzed at 254 nm with the same first-order kinetics as for the E. coli ribosome complex previously studied. The AcVal-tRNA that split off could be crosslinked again when irradiated at 300 nm, showing that the crosslink was photoreversible. There was a strong codon specificity for crosslinking. With pG-U-U, 85% crosslinking was obtained after 20 min of irradiation; with G-U-A, only 3% crosslinking occurred. All of these properties are the same as those previously reported for the E. coli ribosome crosslink that occurs via cyclobutane dimer formation between the 5' anticodon base 5'-carboxymethoxyuridine-34 and cytidine-1400 of the 16S RNA. Cytidine-1400 is in the center of a 17-mer that has been almost totally conserved among the small subunit rRNAs of all species so far examined, including yeast. Crosslinking of tRNA in the same way to both yeast and E. coli ribosomes shows that there has been a functional conservation as well in this region of the small subunit rRNA. This region may be involved in some essential aspect of the decoding process that is common to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein synthesis systems.

Base Sequence↗

The pseudouridine residues of ribosomal RNA.

Pseudouridine (psi), the most common single modified nucleoside in ribosomal RNA, has been positioned in the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) RNAs of a number of representative species. Most of the information has been obtained by application of a rapid primed reverse transcriptase sequencing technique. The locations of these psi residues have been compared. Many sites for psi are the same among species, but others are distinct. In general, the percentage psi in multicellular eukaryotes is greater than in prokaryotes. In LSU RNA, the psi residues are strongly clustered in three domains, all of which are near or connected to the peptidyl transferase center. There is no apparent clustering of psi in SSU RNA. The psi sites in LSU RNA overlap those for the methylated nucleosides, but this is not the case in SSU RNA. There are 265 psi sites known to nucleotide resolution, of which 246 are in defined secondary structures, and 112 of these are in nonidentical structural contexts. All 246 psi sites can be classified into five structural types. Two Escherichia coli psi synthases have been cloned and characterized, one for psi 516 in SSU RNA and one for psi 746 in LSU RNA. The psi 746 synthase recognizes free RNA, but the psi 516 enzyme requires an intermediate RNP particle. Possible functional roles for psi in the ribosome are discussed.

Base Sequence↗