Scientific article
English

A pseudoknot-compatible universal site is located in the large ribosomal RNA in the peptidyltransferase center

Published inFEBS letters, vol. 446, no. 1, p. 60-64
Publication date1999
Abstract

The RNA secondary structure is not confined to a system of the hairpins and can contain pseudoknots as well as topologically equivalent slipped-loop structure (SLS) conformations. A specific primary structure that directs folding to the pseudoknot or SLS is called SL-palindrome (SLP). Using a computer program for searching the SLP in the genomic sequences, 419 primary structures of large ribosomal RNAs from different kingdoms (prokaryota, eukaryota, archaebacteria) as well as plastids and mitochondria were analyzed. A universal site was found in the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) capable of folding to a pseudoknot of 48 nucleotides in length. Phylogenetic conservation of its helices (concurrent replacements with no violation of base pairing, covariation) has been demonstrated. We suggest the reversible folding-unfolding of the pseudoknot for certain stages of the ribosome functioning.

Keywords
  • Base Sequence
  • Escherichia coli
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptidyl Transferases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics/metabolism
  • Ribosomes/chemistry/genetics/metabolism
  • Rickettsia
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Citation (ISO format)
IVANOV, V I et al. A pseudoknot-compatible universal site is located in the large ribosomal RNA in the peptidyltransferase center. In: FEBS letters, 1999, vol. 446, n° 1, p. 60–64. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00166-0
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Article (Published version)
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Identifiers
Journal ISSN0014-5793
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