Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
07:02
An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria
Published on: June 12, 2019
Structural basis for the coevolution of a viral RNA-protein complex
Jeffrey A Chao1, Yury Patskovsky, Steven C Almo
1Department of Anatomy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|December 11, 2007
Summary
The PP7 bacteriophage coat protein recognizes RNA differently than MS2, revealing a flexible structure for diverse RNA binding. This finding advances our understanding of sequence-specific RNA recognition mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Molecular biology
- Virology
Background:
- Bacteriophage coat proteins are key to viral assembly and RNA packaging.
- The MS2 bacteriophage coat protein-RNA interaction is a well-studied model for sequence-specific RNA recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the cocrystal structure of the PP7 bacteriophage coat protein with its translational operator.
- To elucidate the molecular basis of PP7 coat protein's RNA binding specificity.
- To compare the RNA recognition mode of PP7 with that of MS2.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography to obtain the cocrystal structure.
- Structural analysis to identify key molecular interactions.
- Comparative analysis with existing MS2 coat protein-RNA structures.
Main Results:
- The PP7 coat protein-RNA complex exhibits a distinct mode of sequence-specific RNA recognition compared to MS2.
- The structure reveals the molecular details underlying PP7's selective binding to its cognate RNA.
- The conserved beta-sheet surface of the PP7 coat protein is shown to be a flexible architecture.
Conclusions:
- The PP7 coat protein utilizes a unique mechanism for RNA recognition.
- The flexibility of the PP7 coat protein's beta-sheet surface allows for adaptation to recognize diverse RNA hairpins.
- This study provides insights into the evolution of RNA-binding proteins.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
00:56Viral Structure
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
00:43Bacterial RNA Polymerase
Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...