Biomaterial Database

The structure of a methylated tetraloop in 16S ribosomal RNA. 1998

J P Rife, and P B Moore

Department of Chemistry, Yale University New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

BACKGROUND Ribosomal RNAs contain many modified nucleotides. The functions of these nucleotides are poorly understood and few of them are strongly conserved. The final stem loop in 16S-like rRNAs is an exception in both regards. In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the tetranucleotide loop that caps the 3'-terminal stem contains two N6, N6-dimethyladenosine residues. The sequence and pattern of methylation are conserved within the loop, and there is evidence that these methylated nucleotides play an important role in subunit association and the initiation of protein synthesis. Because of the integral role that helix 45 plays in ribosome function, it is important to know what consequences these methylated nucleotides have on its structure. RESULTS We have solved the solution structure of a 14-nucleotide analog of the terminal stem loop of bacterial 16S rRNA, which contains N2-methylguanosine as well as two N6,N6-dimethyladenosines. CONCLUSIONS The methylation of the 16S rRNA stem loop completely alters its conformation, which would otherwise be a GNRA tetraloop. It is likely that the conformation of this loop is crucial for its function, having implications for its interaction with ribosomal subunits and its role in the initiation of protein synthesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008745	Methylation	Addition of methyl groups. In histo-chemistry methylation is used to esterify carboxyl groups and remove sulfate groups by treating tissue sections with hot methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Methylations
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D006151	Guanosine	A purine nucleoside that has guanine linked by its N9 nitrogen to the C1 carbon of ribose. It is a component of ribonucleic acid and its nucleotides play important roles in metabolism. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
D000241	Adenosine	A nucleoside that is composed of ADENINE and D-RIBOSE. Adenosine or adenosine derivatives play many important biological roles in addition to being components of DNA and RNA. Adenosine itself is a neurotransmitter.	Adenocard,Adenoscan
D001411	Geobacillus stearothermophilus	A species of GRAM-POSITIVE ENDOSPORE-FORMING BACTERIA in the family BACILLACEAE, found in soil, hot springs, Arctic waters, ocean sediments, and spoiled food products.	Bacillus stearothermophilus,Bacillus thermoliquefaciens
D012329	RNA, Bacterial	Ribonucleic acid in bacteria having regulatory and catalytic roles as well as involvement in protein synthesis.	Bacterial RNA
D012336	RNA, Ribosomal, 16S	Constituent of 30S subunit prokaryotic ribosomes containing 1600 nucleotides and 21 proteins. 16S rRNA is involved in initiation of polypeptide synthesis.	16S Ribosomal RNA,16S rRNA,RNA, 16S Ribosomal,Ribosomal RNA, 16S,rRNA, 16S
D012996	Solutions	The homogeneous mixtures formed by the mixing of a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance (solute) with a liquid (the solvent), from which the dissolved substances can be recovered by physical processes. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Solution
D019906	Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular	NMR spectroscopy on small- to medium-size biological macromolecules. This is often used for structural investigation of proteins and nucleic acids, and often involves more than one isotope.	Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,Heteronuclear Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,NMR Spectroscopy, Protein,NMR, Biomolecular,NMR, Heteronuclear,NMR, Multinuclear,Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Heteronuclear,Protein NMR Spectroscopy,Biomolecular NMR,Heteronuclear NMR,Multinuclear NMR,NMR Spectroscopies, Protein,Protein NMR Spectroscopies,Spectroscopies, Protein NMR,Spectroscopy, Protein NMR