NMR structure of the Aquifex aeolicus tmRNA pseudoknot PK1: new insights into the recoding event of the ribosomal trans-translation

Nucleic Acids Res. 2006 Apr 4;34(6):1847-53. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkl111. Print 2006.

Abstract

The transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) pseudoknot PK1 is essential for bacterial trans-translation, a ribosomal rescue mechanism. We report the solution structure of PK1 from Aquifex aeolicus, which despite an unprecedented small number of nucleotides and thus an unprecented compact size, displays a very high thermal stability. Several unusual structural features account for these properties and indicate that PK1 belongs to the class of ribosomal frameshift pseudoknots. This suggests a similarity between the mechanism of programmed ribosomal frameshifting and trans-translation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Frameshifting, Ribosomal
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry*
  • RNA, Transfer / chemistry*

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Messenger
  • tmRNA
  • RNA, Transfer

Associated data

  • PDB/2G1W