Life without RNase P.

kavin submitted, created time 8 months 2 days (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The universality of ribonuclease P (RNase P), the ribonucleoprotein essential for transfer RNA (tRNA) 5' maturation, is challenged in the archaeon Nanoarchaeum equitans. In this study, the researchers's findings demonstrate how nature can cope with the loss of the universal and supposedly ancient RNase P through genomic rearrangement at tRNA genes under the pressure of genome condensation.

3 comments | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: transfer RNA tRNA splicing Nanoarchaeum equitans tRNA tRNA stability RNase P RNA

Amino acid residues of the Escherichia coli tRNA(m5U54)methyltransferase (TrmA) critical for stability, covalent binding of tRNA and enzymatic activity

addict submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (nar.oxfordjournals.org)

The Escherichia coli trmA gene encodes the tRNA(m5U54)methyltransferase, which catalyses the formation of m5U54 in tRNA. During the synthesis of m5U54, a covalent 62-kDa TrmA-tRNA intermediate is formed between the amino acid C324 of the enzyme and the 6-carbon of uracil. We have analysed the formation of this TrmA-tRNA intermediate and m5U54 in vivo, using mutants with altered TrmA

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: rRNA methyltransferase enzymatic activity tRNA stability