Biochemical purification of box H/ACA RNPs involved in pseudouridylation

Methods Enzymol. 2007:425:241-62. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(07)25011-6.

Abstract

Box H/ACA RNPs, each consisting of four common core proteins and a single unique RNA, are the most complex pseudouridylases yet discovered. The RNA component serves as a guide that directs a target uridine for modification. To study the functions and mechanisms of RNA pseudouridylation, it is desirable to isolate the intact box H/ACA RNP complexes. Purified RNPs will allow further identification and characterization of the RNA component in each RNP complex and permit a systematic analysis of the mechanism by which the enzymes convert uridines to pseudouridines in a site-specific manner. Over the years, a number of purification techniques have been developed, providing important tools for RNA pseudouridylation research. Here, we describe three of these techniques, including biotin-streptavidin affinity purification by use of biotinylated 5-fluorouridine (5FU)-containing RNA, tandem affinity purification (TAP) by TAP-tagging one of the four core proteins in the complex, and immunoprecipitation by use of antibodies against one of the four core proteins.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biotin
  • Chromatography, Affinity / methods*
  • Humans
  • Pseudouridine / metabolism*
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar / isolation & purification*
  • Streptavidin

Substances

  • GAR1 protein, human
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar
  • Pseudouridine
  • Biotin
  • Streptavidin