In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 100, No. 16 ( 2003-08-05), p. 9308-9313
Abstract:
The natural form of the hairpin ribozyme comprises two major structural
elements: a four-way RNA junction and two internal loops carried by adjacent arms of the junction. The ribozyme folds into its active conformation by an
intimate association between the loops, and the efficiency of this process is greatly enhanced by the presence of the junction. We have used single-molecule
spectroscopy to show that the natural form fluctuates among three distinct states: the folded state and two additional, rapidly interconverting states
(proximal and distal) that are inherited from the junction. The proximal state juxtaposes the two loop elements, thereby increasing the probability of their
interaction and thus accelerating folding by nearly three orders of magnitude
and allowing the ribozyme to fold rapidly in physiological conditions. Therefore, the hairpin ribozyme exploits the dynamics of the junction to
facilitate the formation of the active site from its other elements. Dynamic interplay between structural elements, as we demonstrate for the hairpin
ribozyme, may be a general theme for other functional RNA molecules.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.1233536100
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
2003
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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