The Tetrahymena ribozyme acts like an RNA restriction endonuclease

A shortened form of the Tetrahymena self-splicing ribosomal RNA intervening sequence acts as an endoribonuclease, catalysing the cleavage of large RNA molecules by a mechanism involving guanosine transfer. The sequence specificity approaches that of the DNA restriction endonucleases. Site-specific mutagenesis of the enzyme active site alters the substrate sequence specificity in a predictable manner, so that endoribonucleases can be synthesized to cut at a variety of tetranucleotide sequences.     

Ribozyme recognition of RNA by tertiary interactions with specific ribose 2'-OH groups.

Shortened forms of the group I intron from Tetrahymena catalyse sequence-specific cleavage of exogenous oligonucleotide substrates. The association between RNA enzyme (ribozyme) and substrate is mediated by pairing between an internal guide sequence on the ribozyme and a complementary sequence on the substrate. RNA substrates and cleavage products associate with a binding energy greater than that of base-pairing by approximately 4 kcal-mol-1 (at 42 degrees C), whereas DNA associates with an energy around that expected for base-pairing. It has been proposed that the difference in binding affinity is due to specific 2'-OH groups on an RNA substrate forming stabilizing tertiary interactions with the core of the ribozyme, or that the RNA.RNA helix formed upon association of an RNA substrate and the ribozyme might be more stable than an RNA.DNA helix of the same sequence. To differentiate between these two models, chimaeric oligonucleotides containing deoxynucleotide residues at successive positions along the chain were synthesized, and their equilibrium binding constants for association with the ribozyme were measured directly by a new gel electrophoresis technique. We report here that most of the extra binding energy can be accounted for by discrete RNA-ribozyme interactions, the 2'-OH group on the sugar residue three nucleotides from the cleavage site contributing the most interaction energy. Thus, in addition to the well documented binding of RNA to RNA by base-pairing, 2'-OH groups within a duplex can also mediate association between RNA molecules.     

Autocatalytic cyclization of an excised intervening sequence RNA is a cleavage-ligation reaction

The intervening sequence (IVS) of the Tetrahymena ribosomal RNA precursor is excised as a linear RNA molecule which subsequently cyclizes itself in a protein-independent reaction. Cyclization involves cleavage of the linear IVS RNA 15 nucleotides from its 5' end and formation of a phosphodiester bond between the new 5' phosphate and the original 3'-hydroxyl terminus of the IVS. This recombination mechanism is analogous to that by which splicing of the precursor RNA is achieved. The circular molecules appear to have no direct function in RNA splicing, and we propose the cyclization serves to prevent unwanted RNA from driving the splicing reactions backwards.     

Mouse Cmu heavy chain immunoglobulin gene segment contains three intervening sequences separating domains

The IgM molecule is composed of subunits made up of two light chain and two heavy chain (mu) polypeptides. The mu chain is encoded by several gene segments--variable (V), joining (J) and constant (Cmu). The Cmu gene segment is of particular interest for several reasons. First, the mu chain must exist in two very different environments--as an integral membrane protein in receptor IgM molecules (micrometer) and as soluble serum protein in IgM molecules into the blood (mus). Second, the Cmu region in mus is composed of four homology units or domains (Cmu1, Cmu2, Cmu3 and Cmu4) of approximately 110 amino acid residues plus a C-terminal tail of 19 residues. We asked two questions concerning the organisation of the Cmu gene segment. (1) Are the homology units separated by intervening DNA sequences as has been reported for alpha (ref. 5), gamma 1 (ref. 6) and gamma 2b (ref. 7) heavy chain genes? (2) Is the C-terminal tail separated from the Cmu4 domain by an intervening DNA sequence? If so, DNA rearrangements or RNA splicing could generate hydrophilic and hydrophobic C-terminal tails for the mus and micrometer polypeptides, respectively. We demonstrate here that intervening DNA sequences separate each of the four coding regions for Cmu domains, and that the coding regions for the Cmu4 domains and the C-terminal tail are directly contiguous.     

Uncoupling of initiation site cleavage from subsequent headful cleavages in bacteriophage T1 DNA packaging

The packaging of intracellular DNA into heads is a key feature in the morphogenesis of bacteriophage particles. In many phages a performed empty head precursor, the prohead, is filled with DNA from a concatemeric substrate consisting of tandemly repeated genome lengths. The addition of outer shell proteins completes head formation. The DNA molecules released from particles of the coliphage T1 exist as three major permutations of nucleotide sequence. Such limited permutation can be explained by the modification of Streisinger's 'headful' mechanism proposed for phage P22. DNA packaging is initiated at a specific site (the pac site) on the concatemeric precursor. While this site is cleaved, subsequent cleavages (headful cleavages) are dependent only on head-filling and are not defined in terms of nucleotide sequence. Headfuls of DNA, consisting of slightly more than a genome length, are packaged in three successive cycles of head-filling to produce the permuted and terminally redundant molecules characteristic of T1 DNA. To elucidate the regulation of this process, we have studied the DNA metabolism of T1 head mutants. We describe here the properties of a mutant in gene 13.3 which is defective for headful cleavage but remains proficient in pac site cleavage. The observation in this mutant that concatemers are degraded to unit-length molecules by repeated pac site cleavage suggests a model of headful packaging in which pac site initiation and processive head-filling compete for the DNA substrate.     

Ultrasensitive monitoring of ribozyme cleavage product using molecular-beacon-ligation system

This paper reports a new approach to detect ribozyme cleavage product based on the molecular-beacon-ligation system. The molecular beacon, designed in such a way that one-half of its loop is complementary to ribozyme cleavage product, is used to monitor ligation process of RNA/DNA com-plex in a homogeneous solution and to convert directly cleavage product information into fluorescence signal. The method need not label ribozyme and ribozyme substrate, which is fast, simple and ultra-sensitive for detection of cleavage product. Detection limit of the assay is 0.05 nmol/L. The cleavage product of hammerhead ribozyme against hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) was detected perfectly based on this assay. Owing to its ultrasensitivity, excellent specificity, convenience and fidelity, this method might hold out great promise in ribozyme reaction and ribozyme gene therapy.     

Site-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNAs at unique sites by a copper-dependent redox reaction

Metal ions play a crucial role not only in the formation and maintenance of nucleic acid structure, but also in important biochemical conversions of polynucleotides. Some aqueous metal ions, acting as general acid/base (or electrophilic/nucleophilic) catalysts, can induce site-specific cleavage of RNA. DNA is not cleaved efficiently by the non-redox metal-induced mechanism. However, DNA degradation by radicals formed in the metal-catalysed auto-oxidation of ascorbate (or other reducing agents) is well known. In the past, the observed cleavage reactions have not been very specific. Here, we report a non-enzymatic cleavage of single-stranded DNA occurring at unique sites due to redox reactions involving copper. This could be considered a 'self-cleavage' reaction, by analogy with the lead-induced non-redox RNA cleavage reaction. This site-specific cleavage of DNA, stimulated by ascorbate and hydrogen peroxide, is most efficient under physiological conditions, so this phenomenon may have biological significance.     

Structure and processing of yeast precursor tRNAs containing intervening sequences.

We have isolated a precursor of yeast tRNATyr and shown that it contains an intervening sequence identical to that found in the gene for tRNATyr. The conformation of pre-tRNATyr is similar to that of mature tRNATyr except for the anticodon loop. The loop is sensitive to endonucleolytic cleavage by S1 nuclease near to the ends of the intervening sequence. This pre-tRNA is functionally inactive as it cannot be aminoacylated and the anticodon is not accessible for hydrogen bonding. A crude nuclear extract from yeast contains an excision-ligase activity which will process pre-tRNATyr into mature tRNATyr.     

Novel guanosine requirement for catalysis by the hairpin ribozyme

THERE is much interest in the development of 'designer ribozymes' to target destruction of RNAs in vitro and in vivo. Engineering of ribozymes with novel specificities requires detailed knowledge of the ribozyme-substrate interaction, and a rigorous evaluation of sequence specificity. The hairpin ribozyme catalyses an efficient and reversible site-specific cleavage reaction. We have used mutagenesis and in vitro selection strategies to show that RNA cleavage and ligation has an absolute requirement for guanosine immediately 3' to the cleavage-ligation site. This G is not required for efficient substrate binding, rather, its 2-amino group is an essential component of the active site required for catalysis.     

桥序列在构建人工核酶M1GS中的作用

目的：为检验连接的Gs序列是否会影响M1RNA高级结构而导致M1RNA活性改变,对核酶的催化机制进行探讨。方法：通过软件模拟对M1GS进行结构分析,筛选了一段独立折叠的桥序列连接M1RNA与GS,并通过体外切割实验检验有桥和无桥序列的核酶的活性。结果：有桥序列的M1GS具备体外特异切割底物的核酶活性,而无桥序列的M1GS核酶未表现体外切割活性。结论：证实桥序列对维持M1RNA高级结构和保持人工核酶M1GS的体外切割活性具有重要作用。     

Simple RNA enzymes with new and highly specific endoribonuclease activities

In vitro mutagenesis of sequences required for the self-catalysed cleavage of a plant virus satellite RNA has allowed definition of an RNA segment with endoribonuclease activity. General rules have been deduced for the design of new RNA enzymes capable of highly specific RNA cleavage, and have been successfully tested against a new target sequence.     

逆转录聚合酶链式反应快速检测水稻条叶枯病毒

逆转录聚合酶链式反应（Ｒｅｖｅｒｓｅ Ｔｒａｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎ ａｎｄ Ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒａｓｅ Ｃｈａｉｎ Ｒｅａｃｔｉｏｎ,ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）具有灵敏度高,准确性好的特点,因而被广泛应用于植物病毒检测。在ＲＴ反应中,ＲＮＡ样品的快速制备尤为重要用异丙醇二步沉淀法获得ＲＮＡ,快速检测水地片中ＲＳｔＶ伯ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法,可使测定时间缩短至６ｈ,并可从０．０７８ｍｇ感病叶片中检测出ＲＳｔＶ。     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for the major protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

DNA extracted from hepatitis B virus Dane particles has been cloned in bacteria using a plasmid vector. A full-length clone has been examined by restriction endonuclease analysis, and the nucleotide sequence of an 892-base pair fragment from cloned hepatitis B viral DNA encoding the surface antigen gene is reported. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA indicates that the surface antigens is a protein consisting of 226 amino acids and with a molecular weight of 25,398. The portion of the gene coding for this protein apparently contains no intervening sequences.     

Identical V beta T-cell receptor genes used in alloreactive cytotoxic and antigen plus I-A specific helper T cells

T lymphocytes involved in the cellular immune response carry cell-surface receptors responsible for antigen and self recognition. This T-cell receptor molecule is a heterodimeric protein consisting of disulphide-linked alpha- and beta-chains with variable (V) and constant (C) regions. Several complementary DNA and genomic DNA clones have been isolated and characterized. These analyses showed that the genomic arrangement and rearrangement of T-cell receptor genes using VT, diversity (DT), joining (JT) and CT gene segments is very similar to the structure of the known immunoglobulin genes. We have isolated two cDNA clones from an allospecific cytotoxic T cell, one of which shows a productive V beta-J beta-C beta 1 rearrangement without an intervening D beta segment. This V beta gene segment is identical to the V beta gene expressed in a helper T-cell clone specific for chicken red blood cells and H-21. The other clone carries the C beta 2 gene of the T-cell receptor, but the C beta 2 sequence is preceded by a DNA sequence that does not show any similarity to V beta or J beta sequences.