Biology
The adenines at 1492-1493 provide a mechanism for detecting properly paired codon-anticodon complexes (Yoshizawa, Fourmy, and Puglisi, 1999). The principle of the interaction is that the structure of the 16S rRNA responds to the structure of the first two bases pairs in the minor groove of the duplex formed by the codon-anticodon interaction. Modification of the N1 position of either base 1492 or 1493 in rRNA prevents tRNA from binding in the A site. However, mutations at 1492 or 1493 can be suppressed by the introduction of fluorine at the 2![]()
position of the corresponding bases in mRNA (which restores the interaction). Figure 6.47 shows that codon-anticodon pairing allows the N1 of each adenine to interact with the 2![]()
?OH in the mRNA backbone. When an incorrect tRNA enters the A site, the structure of the codon-anticodon complex is distorted, and this interaction cannot occur. The interaction stabilizes the association of tRNA with the A site.
- The Ribosome Influences The Accuracy Of Translation
KEY CONCEPTS:The structure of the 16S rRNA at the P and A sites of the ribosome influences the accuracy of translation. The lack of detectable variation when the sequence of a protein is analyzed demonstrates that protein synthesis must be extremely...
- Ribosomes Have Several Active Centers
KEY CONCEPTS:Interactions involving rRNA are a key part of ribosome function. The environment of the tRNA-binding sites is largely determined by rRNA. The basic message to remember about the ribosome is that it is a cooperative structure that depends...
- Ribosomal Rna Pervades Both Ribosomal Subunits
KEY TERMS:5S RNA is a 120 base RNA that is a component of the large subunit of the ribosome. 5.8S RNA is an independent small RNA present on the large subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes. It is homologous to the 5 end of bacterial 23S rRNA. KEY CONCEPTS:...
- Initiation Involves Base Pairing Between Mrna And Rrna
KEY TERMS:The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is the polypurine sequence AGGAGG centered about 10 bp before the AUG initiation codon on bacterial mRNA. It is complementary to the sequence at the 3 end of 16S rRNA. KEY CONCEPTS: An initiation site on bacterial...
- Protein Synthesis
An mRNA contains a series of codons that interact with the anticodons of aminoacyl-tRNAs so that a corresponding series of amino acids is incorporated into a polypeptide chain. The ribosome provides the environment for controlling the interaction between...
Biology
16S rRNA plays an active role in protein synthesis
KEY CONCEPTS:
- 16S rRNA plays an active role in the functions of the 30S subunit. It interacts directly with mRNA, with the 50S subunit, and with the anticodons of tRNAs in the P and A sites.
The ribosome was originally viewed as a collection of proteins with various catalytic activities, held together by protein-protein interactions and by binding to rRNA. But the discovery of RNA molecules with catalytic activities (see 24 RNA splicing and processing) immediately suggests that rRNA might play a more active role in ribosome function. There is now evidence that rRNA interacts with mRNA or tRNA at each stage of translation, and that the proteins are necessary to maintain the rRNA in a structure in which it can perform the catalytic functions. Several interactions involve specific regions of rRNA:
- The 3
terminus of the rRNA interacts directly with mRNA at initiation.
- Specific regions of 16S rRNA interact directly with the anticodon regions of tRNAs in both the A site and the P site. Similarly, 23S rRNA interacts with the CCA terminus of peptidyl-tRNA in both the P site and A site.
- Subunit interaction involves interactions between 16S and 23S rRNAs (see 6.16 Ribosomal RNA pervades both ribosomal subunits).
Much information about the individual steps of bacterial protein synthesis has been obtained by using antibiotics that inhibit the process at particular stages. The target for the antibiotic can be identified by the component in which resistant mutations occur. Some antibiotics act on individual ribosomal proteins, but several act on rRNA, which suggests that the rRNA is involved with many or even all of the functions of the ribosome.
The functions of rRNA have been investigated by two types of approach. Structural studies show that particular regions of rRNA are located in important sites of the ribosome, and that chemical modifications of these bases impede particular ribosomal functions. And mutations identify bases in rRNA that are required for particular ribosomal functions. Figure 6.45 summarizes the sites in 16S rRNA that have been identified by these means (for review see Noller, 1991).
An indication of the importance of the 3![]()
end of 16S rRNA is given by its susceptibility to the lethal agent colicin E3. Produced by some bacteria, the colicin cleaves ~50 nucleotides from the 3![]()
end of the 16S rRNA of E. coli. The cleavage entirely abolishes initiation of protein synthesis. Several important functions require the region that is cleaved: binding the factor IF-3; recognition of mRNA; and binding of tRNA.
The 3![]()
end of the 16S rRNA is directly involved in the initiation reaction by pairing with the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in the ribosome-binding site of mRNA (see Figure 6.16 and Great Experiments: rRNA-mRNA base pairing selects translational initiator regions in bacteria). Another direct role for the 3![]()
end of 16S rRNA in protein synthesis is shown by the properties of kasugamycin-resistant mutants, which lack certain modifications in 16S rRNA. Kasugamycin blocks initiation of protein synthesis. Resistant mutants of the type ksgA lack a methylase enzyme that introduces four methyl groups into two adjacent adenines at a site near the 3![]()
terminus of the 16S rRNA. The methylation generates the highly conserved sequence G?m26A?m26A, found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic small rRNA. The methylated sequence is involved in the joining of the 30S and 50S subunits, which in turn is connected also with the retention of initiator tRNA in the complete ribosome. Kasugamycin causes fMet-tRNAf to be released from the sensitive (methylated) ribosomes, but the resistant ribosomes are able to retain the initiator.
Changes in the structure of 16S rRNA occur when ribosomes are engaged in protein synthesis, as seen by protection of particular bases against chemical attack. The individual sites fall into a few groups, concentrated in the 3![]()
minor and central domains. Although the locations are dispersed in the linear sequence of 16S rRNA, it seems likely that base positions involved in the same function are actually close together in the tertiary structure.
Some of the changes in 16S rRNA are triggered by joining with 50S subunits, binding of mRNA, or binding of tRNA. They indicate that these events are associated with changes in ribosome conformation that affect the exposure of rRNA. They do not necessarily indicate direct participation of rRNA in these functions. One change that occurs during protein synthesis is shown in Figure 6.46; it involves a local movement to change the nature of a short duplex sequence.
The 16S rRNA is involved in both A site and P site function, and significant changes in its structure occur when these sites are occupied (Moazed and Noller, 1986). Certain distinct regions are protected by tRNA bound in the A site (see Figure 6.45). One is the 530 loop (which is also is the site of a mutation that prevents termination at the UAA, UAG, and UGA codons). The other is the 1400-1500 region (so-called because bases 1399-1492 and the adenines at 1492-1493 are two single-stranded stretches that are connected by a long hairpin). All of the effects that tRNA binding has on 16S rRNA can be produced by the isolated oligonucleotide of the anticodon stem-loop, so that tRNA-30S subunit binding must involve this region (Lodmell and Dahlberg, 1997).
The adenines at 1492-1493 provide a mechanism for detecting properly paired codon-anticodon complexes (Yoshizawa, Fourmy, and Puglisi, 1999). The principle of the interaction is that the structure of the 16S rRNA responds to the structure of the first two bases pairs in the minor groove of the duplex formed by the codon-anticodon interaction. Modification of the N1 position of either base 1492 or 1493 in rRNA prevents tRNA from binding in the A site. However, mutations at 1492 or 1493 can be suppressed by the introduction of fluorine at the 2A variety of bases in different positions of 16S rRNA are protected by tRNA in the P site; probably the bases lie near one another in the tertiary structure. In fact, there are more contacts with tRNA when it is in the P site than when it is in the A site. This may be responsible for the increased stability of peptidyl-tRNA compared with aminoacyl-tRNA. This makes sense, because once the tRNA has reached the P site, the ribosome has decided that it is correctly bound, whereas in the A site, the assessment of binding is being made. The 1400 region can be directly cross-linked to peptidyl-tRNA, which suggests that this region is a structural component of the P site.
The basic conclusion to be drawn from these results is that rRNA has many interactions with both tRNA and mRNA, and that these interactions recur in each cycle of peptide bond formation.
- The Ribosome Influences The Accuracy Of Translation
KEY CONCEPTS:The structure of the 16S rRNA at the P and A sites of the ribosome influences the accuracy of translation. The lack of detectable variation when the sequence of a protein is analyzed demonstrates that protein synthesis must be extremely...
- Ribosomes Have Several Active Centers
KEY CONCEPTS:Interactions involving rRNA are a key part of ribosome function. The environment of the tRNA-binding sites is largely determined by rRNA. The basic message to remember about the ribosome is that it is a cooperative structure that depends...
- Ribosomal Rna Pervades Both Ribosomal Subunits
KEY TERMS:5S RNA is a 120 base RNA that is a component of the large subunit of the ribosome. 5.8S RNA is an independent small RNA present on the large subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes. It is homologous to the 5 end of bacterial 23S rRNA. KEY CONCEPTS:...
- Initiation Involves Base Pairing Between Mrna And Rrna
KEY TERMS:The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is the polypurine sequence AGGAGG centered about 10 bp before the AUG initiation codon on bacterial mRNA. It is complementary to the sequence at the 3 end of 16S rRNA. KEY CONCEPTS: An initiation site on bacterial...
- Protein Synthesis
An mRNA contains a series of codons that interact with the anticodons of aminoacyl-tRNAs so that a corresponding series of amino acids is incorporated into a polypeptide chain. The ribosome provides the environment for controlling the interaction between...