Solution structure of an rRNA substrate bound to the pseudouridylation pocket of a box H/ACA snoRNA

Mol Cell. 2007 Apr 27;26(2):205-15. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2007.03.014.

Abstract

Base pairing between the RNA components of box H/ACA small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins (snoRNPs) and sequences in other eukaryotic RNAs target specific uridines for pseudouridylation. An RNA called HJ1 has been developed that interacts with the rRNA sequence targeted by the 5' pseudouridylation pocket of human U65 snoRNA the same way as intact U65 snoRNA. Sequences on both strands of the analog of the U65 snoRNP pseudouridylation pocket in HJ1 pair with its substrate sequence, and the resulting complex, called HJ3, is strongly stabilized by Mg(2+). The solution structure of HJ3 reveals an Omega-shaped RNA interaction motif that has not previously been described, which is likely to be common to all box H/ACA snoRNP-substrate complexes. The topology of the complex explains why the access of substrate sequences to snoRNPs is facile and how uridine selection may occur when these complexes form.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kinetics
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Magnesium / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Pseudouridine / chemistry
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism*
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • Solutions
  • Pseudouridine
  • Magnesium

Associated data

  • PDB/2PCV
  • PDB/2PCW