Biomaterial Database

RNase Z in Escherichia coli plays a significant role in mRNA decay. 2006

Tariq Perwez, and Sidney R Kushner

Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Genetic and biochemical analysis of RNase Z in eukaryotes, such as Arabadopsis thaliana, and prokaryotes like Bacillus subtilis have demonstrated that this endoribonuclease is essential for the maturation of tRNA precursors that do not contain a chromosomally encoded CCA determinant. As all Escherichia coli tRNA transcripts have chromosomally encoded CCA determinants, the function of its putative RNase Z homologue, the product of the elaC gene, is not clear. Here we demonstrate that the E. coli ElaC protein (RNase Z) endonucleolytically processes B. subtilis tRNA precursors lacking a CCA determinant both in vivo and in vitro. More importantly, E. coli RNase Z plays a significant role in mRNA decay, a previously unidentified activity for the enzyme. The purified RNase Z protein cleaves the rpsT mRNA at locations distinct from those obtained with RNase E. As expected, under physiological conditions E. coli and B. subtilis tRNA precursors containing a CCA determinant are not substrates. These results suggest a potentially important new role for the RNase Z family of proteins in RNA metabolism, particularly in organisms lacking RNase E.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010727	Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases	A class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of one of the two ester bonds in a phosphodiester compound. EC 3.1.4.	Phosphodiesterase,Phosphodiesterases,Hydrolases, Phosphoric Diester
D010957	Plasmids	Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.	Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D004722	Endoribonucleases	A family of enzymes that catalyze the endonucleolytic cleavage of RNA. It includes EC 3.1.26.-, EC 3.1.27.-, EC 3.1.30.-, and EC 3.1.31.-.	Endoribonuclease
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D001412	Bacillus subtilis	A species of gram-positive bacteria that is a common soil and water saprophyte.	Natto Bacteria,Bacillus subtilis (natto),Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto,Bacillus subtilis var. natto
D012329	RNA, Bacterial	Ribonucleic acid in bacteria having regulatory and catalytic roles as well as involvement in protein synthesis.	Bacterial RNA
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012343	RNA, Transfer	The small RNA molecules, 73-80 nucleotides long, that function during translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) to align AMINO ACIDS at the RIBOSOMES in a sequence determined by the mRNA (RNA, MESSENGER). There are about 30 different transfer RNAs. Each recognizes a specific CODON set on the mRNA through its own ANTICODON and as aminoacyl tRNAs (RNA, TRANSFER, AMINO ACYL), each carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome to add to the elongating peptide chains.	Suppressor Transfer RNA,Transfer RNA,tRNA,RNA, Transfer, Suppressor,Transfer RNA, Suppressor,RNA, Suppressor Transfer
D017353	Gene Deletion	A genetic rearrangement through loss of segments of DNA or RNA, bringing sequences which are normally separated into close proximity. This deletion may be detected using cytogenetic techniques and can also be inferred from the phenotype, indicating a deletion at one specific locus.	Deletion, Gene,Deletions, Gene,Gene Deletions
D020871	RNA Stability	The extent to which an RNA molecule retains its structural integrity and resists degradation by RNASE, and base-catalyzed HYDROLYSIS, under changing in vivo or in vitro conditions.	RNA Decay,mRNA Decay,mRNA Transcript Degradation,RNA Degradation,RNA Instability,mRNA Degradation,mRNA Instability,mRNA Stability,Decay, RNA,Decay, mRNA,Degradation, RNA,Degradation, mRNA,Degradation, mRNA Transcript,Instability, RNA,Instability, mRNA,Stability, RNA,Stability, mRNA,Transcript Degradation, mRNA