Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.26.5 (RNase P)
 1,348 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

RNAs that function in mitochondria are typically encoded by the mitochondrial DNA. However, the mitochondrial tRNAs of Trypanosoma brucei are encoded by the nuclear DNA and therefore must be imported into the mitochondrion. It is becoming evident that RNA import into mitochondria is phylogenetically widespread and is essential for cellular processes, but virtually nothing is known about the mechanism of RNA import. We have identified and characterized mitochondrial precursor tRNAs in T. brucei. The identification of mitochondrially located precursor tRNAs clearly indicates that mitochondrial tRNAs are imported as precursors. The mitochondrial precursor tRNAs hybridize to cloned nuclear tRNA genes, label with [alpha-32P]CTP using yeast tRNA nucleotidyltransferase and in isolated mitochondria via an endogenous nucleotidyltransferase-like activity, and are processed to mature tRNAs by Escherichia coli and yeast mitochondrial RNase P. We show that T. brucei mitochondrial extract contains an RNase P activity capable of processing a prokaryotic tRNA precursor as well as the T. brucei tRNA precursors. Precursors for tRNA(Asn) and tRNA(Leu) were detected on Northern blots of mitochondrial RNA, and the 5' ends of these RNAs were characterized by primer extension analysis. The structure of the precursor tRNAs and the significance of nuclear encoded precursor tRNAs within the mitochondrion are discussed.
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PMID:Identification of nuclear encoded precursor tRNAs within the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei. 138 29

For the first time mosaic nucleic acids composed of 50% RNA and 50% DNA can be obtained as transcripts with T7 RNA polymerase. Two NTPs could be replaced simultaneously in a transcription reaction. This means more than 40 deoxynucleotides were inserted in one transcript. Previously, a maximum of two deoxynucleotides could be incorporated and 2'-O-methyl-NTPs were not substrates at all. We obtained reasonable transcript yields with a maximal level of 99% 2'-O-methyl-NTPs, and the products contained up to 58% 2'-O-methylnucleotides at more than 20 positions. Sequence-specific nucleotide incorporation was monitored by sequence ladders (partial alkali or iodine cleavage). No base misincorporations were detected with 100% dGTP, dCTP and dTTP, and with partial incorporation of dATP alpha S, 2'-O-methyl-GTP alpha S and 2'-O-methyl-CTP alpha S, whereas they were found with dATP, 2'-O-methyl-ATP alpha S and 2'-O-methyl-UTP alpha S. Quantitative data allow predetermined modification levels of partially modified transcripts. Highly modified transcripts can be used for structural and functional studies, in modification interference approaches and for in vitro evolution procedures. Modification interference studies revealed a small number of important phosphate and ribose moieties in RNase P substrates. The conversion of T7 RNA polymerase to a DNA polymerase extends the observation that there is no absolute distinction between RNA and DNA polymerases. Accordingly, an adapted concept of a primordial RNA world is presented.
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PMID:Enzymatic synthesis of 2'-modified nucleic acids: identification of important phosphate and ribose moieties in RNase P substrates. 754 Nov 30

tRNA processing is a central event in mammalian mitochondrial gene expression. We have identified key enzymatic activities (ribonuclease P, precursor tRNA 3'-endonuclease, and ATP(CTP)-tRNA-specific nucleotidyltransferase) that are involved in HeLa cell mitochondrial tRNA maturation. Different mitochondrial tRNA precursors are cleaved precisely at the tRNA 5'- and 3'-ends in a homologous mitochondrial in vitro processing system. The cleavage at the 5'-end precedes that at the 3'-end, and the tRNAs are substrates for the specific CCA addition in the same in vitro system. Using a comparative enzymatic approach as well as biochemical and immunological techniques, we furthermore demonstrate that human cells contain two distinct enzymes that remove 5'-extensions from tRNA precursors, the previously characterized nuclear and the newly identified mitochondrial ribonuclease P. These two cellular isoenzymes have different substrate specificities that seem to be well adapted to their structurally disparate mitochondrial and nuclear tRNA substrates. This kind of approach may also help to understand the structural diversities and commonalities of tRNAs.
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PMID:Human mitochondrial tRNA processing. 775 47