Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.48 (transcriptase)
9,479 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The structural and enzymatic components of retroviral cores are formed by proteolytic cleavage of precursor polypeptides, mediated by the viral protease (PR). We constructed an active-site mutation, D37I, in the PR of avian leukosis virus. The D37I mutation was introduced into an infectious DNA clone, and quail cell lines expressing the mutant virus were established. These cell lines produce normal amounts of virus particles, the major internal protein components of which are the uncleaved gag and gag-pol precursors. As in other retroviral systems, the protease-defective virions are noninfectious and retain the "immature" type A morphology as determined by thin-section transmission electron microscopy. The virion cores are stable at nonionic detergent concentrations that completely disrupt wild-type cores. Digestion of mutant virions with exogenous PR in the presence of detergent leads to complete and correct cleavage of the gag precursor but incomplete cleavage of the gag-pol precursor. The protease-defective virions encapsidate normal amounts of genomic RNA and tRNA(Trp) that is properly annealed to the primer-binding site, but some of the genomic RNA remains monomeric. Results from UV cross-linking experiments show that the gag polyprotein of mutant virions interacts with viral RNA and that this interaction occurs through the nucleocapsid (NC) domain. However, within mutant virions the interaction of the NC domain with RNA differs from that of mature NC with RNA in wild-type virions. Reverse transcriptase (RT) activity associated with mutant virions is diminished but still detectable. Digestion of the virions with PR leads to a fivefold increase in activity, but this PR-mediated activation of RT is incomplete. Since in vitro cleavage of the gag-pol precursor is also incomplete, we hypothesize that amino acid sequences N terminal to the reverse transcriptase domain inhibit RT activity.
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PMID:Properties of avian retrovirus particles defective in viral protease. 169 12

The refined crystal structure of Escherichia coli glutaminyl transfer RNA synthetase complexed with transfer RNA(Gln) and ATP reveals that the structure of the anticodon loop of the enzyme-bound tRNA(Gln) differs extensively from that of the known crystal structures of uncomplexed tRNA molecules. The anticodon stem is extended by two non-Watson-Crick base pairs, leaving the three anti-codon bases unpaired and splayed out to bind snugly into three separate complementary pockets in the protein. These interactions suggest that the entire anticodon loop provides essential sites for glutaminyl tRNA synthetase discrimination among tRNA molecules.
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PMID:Structural basis of anticodon loop recognition by glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. 185 17

This study has investigated the characteristics of a leucine aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase enzyme from Tritrichomonas augusta. Differential centrifugation and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography were used for partial enzyme purification. The column purification increased the synthetase activity 125-fold over the unfractionated cell extract. The conditions for maximum [3H] leucine charging were 37 degrees C for 20 min, with protein at 180 micrograms ml-1 using yeast leucine tRNA as an acceptor. The optimal reaction conditions were 14 mM-Mg acetate, 3 mM-ATP, 3 mM-spermidine and 5.5 mM-putrescine. Acceptor activity with T. augusta transfer RNA was 8-fold higher than with yeast transfer RNA and 25-fold higher than with Escherichia coli transfer RNA. The partially purified enzyme fraction had comparable changing activities for both leucine and valine.
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PMID:Characteristics of a leucine aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase from Tritrichomonas augusta. 186 66

The sequence of 6746 nucleotides representing the 3'-proximal half of the beet yellows closterovirus (BYV) genome was determined. In the direction 5' to 3', the sequence was composed of eight open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding proteins of 6.4K (ORF2), 65K (ORF3), 64K (ORF4), 24K (ORF5), 22K (ORF6), 20K (ORF7) and 21K (ORF8). An incomplete ORF, ORF1, encoded the C-terminal part of a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, most closely related to polymerases of tricornaviruses; the putative product of ORF3, 65K, was found to be a homologue of the hsp70 family of cell heat-shock proteins. ORF2 potentially encoded a small hydrophobic 6.4K protein, apparently homologous to small hydrophobic proteins of potex- and carlaviruses. ORF6 encoded the viral coat protein, as indicated by its deduced Mr and amino acid composition. The products of ORFs 4, 5, 7 and 8 showed no significant similarities with protein sequences in the database and there are therefore no justifiable speculations concerning their possible functions. BYV RNA contains a 3'-terminal non-coding region of 181 nucleotides, with two stem-loop structures potentially folded within the 86 nucleotide sequence at the extreme 3' end. Analysis of the primary and secondary structure of this region together with the absence of aminoacylation and adenylylation in vitro showed that the BYV genome is devoid of a tRNA-like structure at its 3' end.
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PMID:Nucleotide sequence of the 3'-terminal half of beet yellows closterovirus RNA genome: unique arrangement of eight virus genes. 199 61

Expression of the RNA replicase domain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and certain protein-coding regions in other plant viruses, is mediated by translational readthrough of a leaky UAG stop codon. It has been proposed that normal tobacco tyrosine tRNAs are able to read the UAG codon of TMV by non-conventional base-pairing but recent findings that stop codons can also be bypassed as a result of extended translocational shifts (tRNA hopping) have encouraged a re-examination. In light of the alternatives, we investigated the sequences flanking the leaky UAG codon using an in vivo assay in which bypass of the stop codon is coupled to the transient expression of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter genes in tobacco protoplasts. Analysis of GUS constructions in which codons flanking the stop were altered allowed definition of the minimal sequence required for read through as UAG-CAA-UUA. The effects of all possible single-base mutations in the codons flanking the stop indicated that 3' contexts of the form CAR-YYA confer leakiness and that the 3' context permits read through of UAA and UGA stop codons as well as UAG. Our studies demonstrate a major role for the 3' context in the read through process and do not support a model in which teh UAG is bypassed exclusively as a result of anticodon-codon interactions. No evidence for tRNA hopping was obtained. The 3' context apparently represents a unique sequence element that affects translation termination.
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PMID:The signal for a leaky UAG stop codon in several plant viruses includes the two downstream codons. 201 Sep 14

The rules of the genetic code are determined by the specific aminoacylation of transfer RNAs by aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase. A straightforward analysis shows that a system of synthetase-tRNA interactions that relies on anticodons for specificity could, in principle, enable most synthetases to distinguish their cognate tRNA isoacceptors from all others. Although the anticodons of some tRNAs are recognition sites for the cognate aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, for other synthetases the anticodon is dispensable for specific aminoacylation. In particular, alanine and histidine tRNA synthetases aminoacylate small RNA minihelices that reconstruct the part of their cognate tRNAs that is proximate to the amino acid attachment site. Helices with as few as six base pairs can be efficiently aminoacylated. The specificity of aminoacylation is determined by a few nucleotides and can be converted from one amino acid to another by the change of only a few nucleotides. These findings suggest that, for a subgroup of the synthetases, there is a distinct code in the acceptor helix of transfer RNAs that determines aminoacylation specificity.
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PMID:RNA minihelices and the decoding of genetic information. 202 14

A variety of small RNAs ranging from tens to hundreds of nucleotides in length grow autocatalytically in a Q beta replicase (Q beta phage RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) reaction in the absence of added template, and similar RNAs are found in Q beta phage-infected Escherichia coli cells. Three such RNAs have been sequenced. One of them that is 221 nucleotides (nt) long ('MDV-1' RNA) has been found to be partially homologous to Q beta phage RNA 8, which might be considered as an indication of its origination from by-products of the Q beta RNA replication. To gain further insight into the origin and function of these RNAs, we have sequenced a new RNA, 120 nt long, isolated from the products of spontaneous synthesis by the nominally RNA-free Q beta replicase preparation. The minus strand of this RNA appeared to be a recombinant RNA, composed of the internal fragment of Q beta RNA (approximately 80 nt long) and the 33-nt-long 3'-terminal fragment of E. coli tRNA(1Asp). This seems to be the first strong indication of RNA recombination in bacterial cells. The various implications of this finding are discussed.
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PMID:An in vivo recombinant RNA capable of autocatalytic synthesis by Q beta replicase. 245 5

To facilitate further studies of flavivirus transcription, cell extraction methods and in vitro reaction conditions which increased West Nile virus (WNV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity were determined. Subcellular fractions from WNV-infected BHK-21/W12 cells were characterized with regard to their protein and RNA content and in vitro polymerase activity. In both a cytoplasmic fraction, designated S1, and a fraction enriched for outer nuclear membranes, designated S2, seven virus-specific proteins, NS5 (96 kilodaltons [kDa]), NS3 (67 kDa), E (48 kDa), NS1 (47 kDa), ns4a (26 kDa), ns2a (17 kDa), and ns2b (14.5 kDa), were detected. The fractions also contained virus-specific RNA and cellular rRNA and mRNA. Polymerase activity in S1 and S2 fractions from WNV-infected cells was concentrated by pelleting and consisted of two types of enzyme activities: the WNV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and terminal transferases of cellular origin. Enhanced levels of WNV polymerase activity were obtained from these cell fractions by altering several of the in vitro reaction conditions. Although Mg2+ was the divalent cation preferred by WNV polymerase, virus-specific in vitro transcription was detected at reduced levels when Mn2+ (0.05 or 0.5 mM) was present as the sole divalent cation. Product analysis revealed that the viral polymerase incorporated radiolabeled ribonucleotides into three distinct RNA species. Free single-stranded genome-sized RNA which was LiCl insoluble and RNase sensitive was found by fingerprint analysis to have an oligonucleotide pattern similar to that of WNV genomic RNA. RNA molecules which comigrated as a broad band near the top of the gel were separable into LiCl-insoluble, partially RNase-sensitive replicative-intermediate RNA and LiCl-soluble, RNase-resistant replicative-form RNA. The cellular transferases added UMP or AMP residues to the 3'-termini of cellular mRNA, tRNA, and 18S and 28S rRNA. Although a cellular terminal transferase has been reported to function in initiation of poliovirus transcription, no labeling of the WNV RNA by either of these cellular enzymes was detected. Therefore, they appear to play no specific role in flavivirus RNA synthesis.
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PMID:Characterization of West Nile virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and cellular terminal adenylyl and uridylyl transferases in cell-free extracts. 302 63

An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (replicase) activity that specifically copies brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNAs in vitro can be prepared from BMV-infected barley leaves. The signals directing complementary (minus) strand synthesis reside within the 3' 134-nucleotide-long tRNA-like structure that is common to each of the virion RNAs. By studying the influence of minus strand synthesis of numerous mutations introduced throughout this region of the RNA, we have mapped in detail the sequence and structural elements necessary for minus strand promoter activity. Sequence alterations (either substitutions or small, structurally discrete deletions) in most parts of the tRNA-like structure resulted in decreased minus strand synthesis. This suggests that BMV replicase is a large enzyme, possibly composed of several subunits. The lowest activities, 5 to 8% of wild type, were observed for mutants with substitutions at three separate loci, identifying one structural and two sequence-specific elements essential for optimal promoter activity. (1) Destabilization of the pseudoknot structure in the aminoacyl acceptor stem resulted in low promoter activity, demonstrating the importance of a tRNA-like conformation. (2) Substitution of the C residue adjacent to the 3' terminus resulted in low promoter activity, probably by interfering with strand initiation. (3) The low activities resulting from substitutions and a small deletion in arm C suggest this region of the RNA to be a major feature involved in replicase binding. In particular, nucleotides within the loop of arm C appear to be involved in a sequence-specific interaction with the replicase.
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PMID:Mutational analysis of the sequence and structural requirements in brome mosaic virus RNA for minus strand promoter activity. 341 98

An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (replicase) extract from brome mosaic virus-infected barley leaves has been shown to initiate synthesis of (-) sense RNA from (+) sense virion RNA. Initiation occurred de novo, as demonstrated by the incorporation of [gamma-32P]GTP into the product. Sequencing using cordycepin triphosphate to terminate (-) strands during their synthesis by the replicase generated sequence ladders that confirmed that copying was accurate, and that initiation occurred very close to the 3' end. The precise site of initiation was further defined by testing the replicase template activity after stepwise removal of 3'-terminal nucleotides. Whereas removal of the terminal A did not decrease template activity, removal of the next nucleotide (C-2) did. Thus, initiation almost certainly occurs opposite the penultimate 3'-nucleotide (C-2) in vitro. The structure of the double-stranded replicative form of RNA isolated from brome mosaic virus-infected leaves was consistent with such a mechanism occurring in vivo, in that it lacked the 3'-terminal A found on virion RNAs. The specific site of (-) strand initiation and normal template activity were retained for RNAs with as many as 15 to 30 A residues added to the 3' end. However, only limited oligonucleotide 3' extensions can be present on active templates. In order to assess the 5' extent of sequences required for an active template, a 134-nucleotide-long fragment of brome mosaic virus RNA, corresponding to the tRNA-like structure, was generated. This RNA had high template activity, but a shorter 3' (85-nucleotide) fragment was inactive. RNAs with various heterologous sequences 5' to position 134 also showed high template activity. Thus, the 3'-terminal tRNA-like structure common to all four brome mosaic virus virion RNAs contains all of the signals required for initiation of replication, and sequences 5' to it do not play a role in template selection.
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PMID:Minus-strand initiation by brome mosaic virus replicase within the 3' tRNA-like structure of native and modified RNA templates. 375 4


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