Structure of the Rna15 RRM-RNA complex reveals the molecular basis of GU specificity in transcriptional 3'-end processing factors

DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq002
PMID: 20097654

Authors: Christina Pancevac (MRC National Institute for Medical Research) , David C. Goldstone (MRC National Institute for Medical Research) , Andres Ramos (MRC National Institute for Medical Research) , Ian A. Taylor (MRC National Institute for Medical Research)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2010
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 1228

Abstract: Rna15 is a core subunit of cleavage factor IA (CFIA), an essential transcriptional 3?-end processing factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CFIA is required for polyA site selection/cleavage targeting RNA sequences that surround polyadenylation sites in the 3?-UTR of RNA polymerase-II transcripts. RNA recognition by CFIA is mediated by an RNA recognition motif (RRM) contained in the Rna15 subunit of the complex. We show here that Rna15 has a strong and unexpected preference for GU containing RNAs and reveal the molecular basis for a base selectivity mechanism that accommodates G or U but discriminates against C and A bases. This mode of base selectivity is rather different to that observed in other RRM-RNA structures and is structurally conserved in CstF64, the mammalian counterpart of Rna15. Our observations provide evidence for a highly conserved mechanism of base recognition amongst the 3?-end processing complexes that interact with the U-rich or U/G-rich elements at 3?-end cleavage/polyadenylation sites.

Diamond Keywords: Fungi

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials


Instruments: I04-Macromolecular Crystallography

Added On: 15/04/2010 17:38

Discipline Tags:

Structural biology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)