Publication details

Structural and evolutionary classification of G/U wobble basepairs in the ribosome

Authors

MOKDAD Ali KRASOVSKA Maryna ŠPONER Jiří LEONTIS Neocles B.

Year of publication 2006
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Nucleic Acids Research
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web http://www.oxfordjournals.org
Field Physical chemistry and theoretical chemistry
Keywords molecular dynamics; G/U wobble basepairs; RNA
Description We present a comprehensive structural, evolutionary and molecular dynamics (MD) study of the G/U wobble basepairs in the ribosome based on highresolution crystal structures, including the recent Escherichia coli structure. These basepairs are classified according to their tertiary interactions, and sequence conservation at their positions is determined. G/U basepairs participating in tertiary interactions are more conserved than those lacking any interactions. Specific interactions occurring in the G/Ushallowgroove pocketlike packinginteractions (P-interactions) and some phosphate backbone interactions (phosphate-in-pocket interactions) lead to higher G/U conservation than others. Two salient cases of unique phylogenetic compensation are discovered. First, a P-interaction is conserved through a series of compensatory mutations involving all four participating nucleotides to preserve or restore the G/U in the optimal orientation. Second, a G/U basepair forming a P-interaction and another one forming a phosphate-in-pocket interaction are replaced by GNRA loops that maintain similar tertiary contacts. MD simulations were carried out on eight P-interactions. The specific GU/CG signature of this interaction observed in structure and sequence analysis was rationalized, and can now be used for improving sequence alignments.
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