Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Evolutionary variation in bacterial RNase P RNAs

E S Haas¹, J W Brown

¹Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.

Nucleic Acids Research

|September 2, 1998

Summary

This study surveys bacterial RNase P RNA sequences and structures, revealing conserved core elements despite significant sequence variation. It highlights how these RNAs evolve distinct secondary structures, with some cases of convergent evolution observed.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Increases in pediatric antiretroviral treatment, South Africa 2005-2010.

PloS one·2012

Same author

Supporting the massive scale-up of antiretroviral therapy: the evolution of PEPFAR-supported treatment facilities in South Africa, 2005-2009.

BMC public health·2012

Same author

Equitable distribution of PEPFAR-supported HIV/AIDS services in South Africa.

American journal of public health·2011

Same author

Effects of a mass media intervention on HIV-related stigma: 'Radio Diaries' program in Malawi.

Health education research·2011

Same author

Scale-up and continuation of antiretroviral therapy in South African treatment programs, 2005-2009.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)·2011

Same author

Congenital Heart Disease.

Postgraduate medical journal·2011

Area of Science:

* Molecular Biology
* Evolutionary Biology
* Bioinformatics

Background:

* Ribonucleic acid (RNA) processing is crucial for cellular function.
* RNase P RNA is a key component in RNA processing across all domains of life.
* Previous studies have characterized RNase P RNA from various bacterial groups, but a comprehensive phylogenetic survey was incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

* To complete a general phylogenetic survey of RNase P RNA sequence and structure in Bacteria.
* To refine the understanding of secondary structure and evolutionary variation in RNase P RNAs.
* To investigate patterns of sequence and structural conservation and divergence.

Main Methods:

* Determination of RNase P RNA encoding sequences from diverse bacterial phyla.
* Comparative sequence analysis to identify conserved and variable regions.
* Secondary structure prediction and comparison.

Main Results:

* A broad phylogenetic sampling of bacterial RNase P RNAs was achieved.
* Despite sequence variability (100 to <25% identity), a conserved core structure was identified.
* RNase P RNAs exhibit significant secondary structure variability outside the conserved core, with distinct evolutionary mechanisms in conserved vs. variable regions.
* Convergent evolution of structural elements was observed in unrelated bacterial groups.

Conclusions:

* Bacterial RNase P RNA sequences and structures are highly conserved in their core but variable in peripheral regions.
* Evolutionary mechanisms differ between conserved and variable regions, involving structural substitutions versus insertions/deletions.
* The study provides insights into the evolution of RNA structure and function, with implications for understanding RNA-based molecular systems.

Related Experiment Videos