pH-dependent structural changes of helix 69 from Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA

RNA. 2008 Apr;14(4):782-92. doi: 10.1261/rna.779908. Epub 2008 Feb 11.

Abstract

Helix 69 in 23S rRNA is a region in the ribosome that participates in a considerable number of RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions. Conformational flexibility is essential for such a region to interact and accommodate protein factors at different stages of protein biosynthesis. In this study, pH-dependent structural and stability changes were observed for helix 69 through a variety of spectroscopic techniques, such as circular dichroism spectroscopy, UV melting, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In Escherichia coli 23S rRNA, helix 69 contains pseudouridine residues at positions 1911, 1915, and 1917. The presence of these pseudouridines was found to be essential for the pH-induced conformational changes. Some of the pH-dependent changes appear to be localized to the loop region of helix 69, emphasizing the importance of the highly conserved nature of residues in this region.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / chemistry*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / metabolism*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S