Initiation of tRNA maturation by RNase E is essential for cell viability in E. coli

AUTOR(ES)

Ow, Maria C.

FONTE

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

RESUMO

RNase E, an essential endoribonuclease in Escherichia coli, is involved in 9S rRNA processing, the degradation of many mRNAs, and the processing of the M1 RNA subunit of RNase P. However, the reason that RNase E is required for cell viability is still not fully understood. In fact, recent experiments have suggested that defects in 9S rRNA processing and mRNA decay are not responsible for the lack of cell growth in RNase E mutants. By using several new rne alleles, we have confirmed these observations and have also ruled out that M1 processing by RNase E is required for cell viability. Rather, our data suggest that the critical in vivo role of RNase E is the initiation of tRNA maturation. Specifically, RNase E catalytic activity starts the processing of both polycistronic operons, such as glyW cysT leuZ, argX hisR leuT proM, and lysT valT lysW valZ lysY lysZ lysQ, as well as monocistronic transcripts like pheU, pheV, asnT, asnU, asnV, and asnW. Cleavage by RNase E within a few nucleotides of the mature 3′ CCA terminus is required before RNase P and the various 3′ → 5′ exonucleases can complete tRNA maturation. All 59 tRNAs tested involved RNase E processing, although some were cleaved more efficiently than others.

Documentos Relacionados

• The tRNA processing enzyme RNase T is essential for maturation of 5S RNA.
• tRNA nucleotidyltransferase is not essential for Escherichia coli viability.
• RNase T is responsible for the end-turnover of tRNA in Escherichia coli.
• The gene for a tRNA modifying enzyme, m5U54-methyltransferase, is essential for viability in Escherichia coli.
• In vitro transcription of E. coli tRNA genes.