Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Nucleic acids02:43

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
RNA Structure01:23

RNA Structure

Overview
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
Nucleic Acids02:43

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes, the...
RNA Structure01:23

RNA Structure

Overview
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
RNA Structure01:19

RNA Structure

The basic structure of RNA consists of a string of ribonucleotides attached by phosphodiester bonds. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mechanistic insights into Lin28-dependent oligo-uridylylation of pre-let-7 by TUT4.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Structures and mechanisms of U6 snRNA m<sup>6</sup>A modification by METTL16.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Insights into G-protein coupling preference from cryo-EM structures of G<sub>q</sub>-bound PTH1R.

Nature chemical biology·2025
Same author

Cryo-EM structure of a blue-shifted channelrhodopsin from Klebsormidium nitens.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Molecular fingerprints of a convergent mechanism orchestrating diverse ligand recognition and species-specific pharmacology at the complement anaphylatoxin receptors.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Structure of a lasso peptide bound ET<sub>B</sub> receptor provides insights into the mechanism of GPCR inverse agonism.

Nature communications·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE
13:42

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

Published on: May 31, 2013

Structural basis for template-independent RNA polymerization.

Kozo Tomita1, Shuya Fukai, Ryuichiro Ishitani

  • 1Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1, Higashi, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaragi 305-8666, Japan.

Nature
|August 6, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The CCA-adding enzyme synthesizes the essential 3' terminal transfer RNA sequence using a novel

More Related Videos

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
09:12

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 27, 2026

Visualization and Quantification of Intermolecular RNA Base Pairing in in vitro RNA Clusters Using Split Broccoli RNA Reporters
10:52

Visualization and Quantification of Intermolecular RNA Base Pairing in in vitro RNA Clusters Using Split Broccoli RNA Reporters

Published on: May 29, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE
13:42

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

Published on: May 31, 2013

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
09:12

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 27, 2026

Visualization and Quantification of Intermolecular RNA Base Pairing in in vitro RNA Clusters Using Split Broccoli RNA Reporters
10:52

Visualization and Quantification of Intermolecular RNA Base Pairing in in vitro RNA Clusters Using Split Broccoli RNA Reporters

Published on: May 29, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The 3'-terminal CCA sequence of transfer RNA (tRNA) is critical for protein synthesis.
  • CCA-adding enzyme, a template-independent RNA polymerase, synthesizes this sequence using CTP and ATP.
  • The mechanism of template-independent CCA synthesis remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of template-independent RNA polymerization by the CCA-adding enzyme.
  • To provide structural insights into nucleotide selection and addition.
  • To understand how the enzyme achieves sequence specificity without a nucleic acid template.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography of Aquifex aeolicus CCA-adding enzyme.
  • Co-crystallization with a primer tRNA and an ATP analogue.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis.

Main Results:

  • Crystal structure of the CCA-adding enzyme bound to tRNA and ATP analogue at 2.8 Å resolution.
  • The enzyme's catalytic pocket forms a 'protein template' that recognizes the tRNA's C74-C75.
  • The structure reveals a 'pre-insertion' stage of nucleotide selection.
  • Mutagenesis studies support the proposed mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • The CCA-adding enzyme utilizes a protein template to guide the synthesis of the 3'-terminal CCA sequence.
  • This structural study provides a mechanistic basis for template-independent RNA polymerization.
  • The findings offer insights into tRNA maturation and protein synthesis.