[Nuclear ribonucleoproteins containing pro-mRNA. XIV. Structural study using ethidium and fluorescamine].

Abstract

Nuclear 30S RNP particles were studied by means of fluorescence techniques. It's shown that fluorescamin interacts with NH2-groups of protein molecule. As a result, covalent fluorescent label is formed. Quantum yield (rho), fluorescence spectra, lifetime of excited state (tau) and polarization of fluorescamin complexes with 30S particles were studied. Excitation spectra have their maximum at 395 nm, and fluorescence spectrum at 480 nm. These figures correspond to spectra of fluorescamin complexes with NH2-groups of lysine. Mean quantum yield (rho = 0.27) and lifetime of excited state of fluorescence (tau = 7.8 nsec) were measured. It's shown that fluorescamin forms two types of fluorescent complexes in 30S particles. These complexes differ only by their rho(rho1 = 0.11, rho2 = 0.30) and rho(rho1 = 3.6 nsec, rho2 = 10.0 nsec) by 2.7 times. Migration radius between fluorescamin bound to protein and ethydium bromide adsorbed on double-stranded regions of pre-mRNA in RNP-particles was measured. It's equal to 32 A. Adsorbtion isotherms of ethydium bromide were measured by fluorescence in 0.1 and 0.4 M NaCl. Data obtained showed that 6% of pre-mRNA in 30S particles bound the dye as a strong complex, i. e. this part of pre-mRNA is double-stranded. RNase treatment of RNP had no effect on this value. But the increase of NaCl concentration up to 0.4 M caused the dissociation of protein subunits to some extent followed by appearance of up to 40% free NH2-groups interacting with fluorescamin. Measuring of energy migration from fluorescamin to ethydium bromide showed that double-stranded pre-mRNA regions strictly bound to protein sticked out from RNP particle at a distance of about 27 A. The increase of NaCl concentration up to 0.4 M leads to disruption of this strict bond of double-stranded regions with protein. As a result, these regions of pre-mRNA become labile and move away from the RNP particle at more than 30 A. According to theoretical calculations, there is about 1--2 pre-mRNA hairpins (18--9 base pairs respectively) per one 30S particle.