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

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...
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 Structure01:23

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 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...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A unified catalytic mechanism in bifunctional DNA glycosylases with an evolutionarily conserved aspartate-lysine dyad.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

PARG Governs a PARylation-Ubiquitination Toggle that Stabilizes RAD51AP1 to Drive Homologous Recombination-Mediated Chemoresistance.

Cancer research·2026
Same author

Orchestrated metal ion repositioning defines the dynamic catalytic strategy of the essential DNA repair nuclease APE1.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of BRCA Germline Mutation Carriers with Advanced Breast Cancer Treated with PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) Inhibitors: A Single-Institution Experience.

Cancers·2026
Same author

RNA Folding Nearest Neighbor Parameters Including the Modification 1-Methyl-Pseudouridine.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

DPY30 Is an Epigenetic Decoupler Linking Replication Stress to Immunoediting in Pancreatic Cancer.

Cancer research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
09:04

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

Solution structure of RNase P RNA.

Alexei V Kazantsev1, Robert P Rambo, Sina Karimpour

  • 1Department of MCD Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.

RNA (New York, N.Y.)
|May 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals the solution structures of bacterial ribonuclease P (RNase P) RNAs, crucial ribozymes for tRNA maturation. Understanding these structures provides insights into their catalytic mechanisms and diverse substrate processing capabilities.

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

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
09:04

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

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

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme essential for tRNA processing.
  • RNase P functions as a ribozyme, with its RNA component catalyzing precursor-tRNA cleavage.
  • Bacterial RNase P exhibits remarkable in vivo activity, including multiple turnovers and broad substrate specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the solution structures of three distinct bacterial RNase P RNAs.
  • To investigate the structural differences between free RNase P RNA and its substrate-bound complex.
  • To elucidate the structural basis for RNase P's catalytic activity and substrate diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was employed to obtain low-resolution structural information.
  • Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) provided nucleotide-resolution data.
  • Homology modeling, normal mode analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations refined structural models.

Main Results:

  • Solution structures of RNase P RNAs from E. coli, A. tumefaciens, and B. stearothermophilus were determined.
  • Structural models were refined against SAXS and SHAPE data under high ionic strength conditions.
  • The determined structures provide insights into the conformational flexibility and catalytic states of RNase P.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides the first solution structures of bacterial RNase P RNAs, complementing existing crystal structures.
  • These findings enhance our understanding of RNase P's mechanism of action and its role in tRNA biogenesis.
  • The structural insights are crucial for comprehending the catalytic versatility of this essential ribozyme.