Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T23:15:43.576Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Bacillus subtilis RNase P holoenzyme contains two RNase P RNA and two RNase P protein subunits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2001

XING-WANG FANG
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
XIAO-JING YANG
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
KENNETH LITTRELL
Affiliation:
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
S. NIRANJANAKUMARI
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
P. THIYAGARAJAN
Affiliation:
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
CAROL A. FIERKE
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
TOBIN R. SOSNICK
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
TAO PAN
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
Get access

Abstract

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) catalyzes the 5′ maturation of precursor tRNA transcripts and, in bacteria, is composed of a catalytic RNA and a protein. We investigated the oligomerization state and the shape of the RNA alone and the holoenzyme of Bacillus subtilis RNase P in the absence of substrate by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and affinity retention. The B. subtilis RNase P RNA alone is a monomer; however, the scattering profile changes upon the addition of monovalent ions, possibly suggesting different interdomain angles. To our surprise, the X-ray scattering data combined with the affinity retention results indicate that the holoenzyme contains two RNase P RNA and two RNase P protein molecules. We propose a structural model of the holoenzyme with a symmetrical arrangement of the two RNA subunits, consistent with the X-ray scattering results. This (P RNA)2(P protein)2 complex likely binds substrate differently than the conventional (P RNA)1(P protein)1 complex; therefore, the function of the B. subtilis RNase P holoenzyme may be more diverse than previously thought. These revisions to our knowledge of the RNase P holoenzyme suggest a more versatile role for proteins in ribonucleoprotein complexes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 RNA Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)