A novel mechanism for protein-assisted group I intron splicing

Previously it was shown that the Aspergillus nidulans (A.n.) mitochondrial COB intron maturase, I-AniI, facilitates splicing of the COB intron in vitro. In this study, we apply kinetic analysis of binding and splicing along with RNA deletion analysis to gain insight into the mechanism of I-AniI facilitated splicing. Our results are consistent with I-AniI and A.n. COB pre-RNA forming a specific but labile encounter complex that is resolved into the native, splicing-competent complex. Significantly, kinetic analysis of splicing shows that the resolution step is rate limiting for splicing. RNA deletion studies show that I-AniI requires most of the A.n. COB intron for binding suggesting that the integrity of the I-AniI-binding site depends on overall RNA tertiary structure. These results, taken together with the observation that A.n. COB intron lacks significant stable tertiary structure in the absence of protein, support a model in which I-AniI preassociates with an unfolded COB intron via a "labile" interaction that facilitates correct folding of the intron catalytic core, perhaps by resolving misfolded RNAs or narrowing the number of conformations sampled by the intron during its search for native structure. The active intron conformation is then "locked in" by specific binding of I-Anil to its intron interaction site.