Mechanism for the definition of elongation and termination by the class II CCA-adding enzyme

EMBO J. 2009 Nov 4;28(21):3353-65. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2009.260. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

Abstract

The CCA-adding enzyme synthesizes the CCA sequence at the 3' end of tRNA without a nucleic acid template. The crystal structures of class II Thermotoga maritima CCA-adding enzyme and its complexes with CTP or ATP were determined. The structure-based replacement of both the catalytic heads and nucleobase-interacting neck domains of the phylogenetically closely related Aquifex aeolicus A-adding enzyme by the corresponding domains of the T. maritima CCA-adding enzyme allowed the A-adding enzyme to add CCA in vivo and in vitro. However, the replacement of only the catalytic head domain did not allow the A-adding enzyme to add CCA, and the enzyme exhibited (A, C)-adding activity. We identified the region in the neck domain that prevents (A, C)-adding activity and defines the number of nucleotide incorporations and the specificity for correct CCA addition. We also identified the region in the head domain that defines the terminal A addition after CC addition. The results collectively suggest that, in the class II CCA-adding enzyme, the head and neck domains collaboratively and dynamically define the number of nucleotide additions and the specificity of nucleotide selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacteria / enzymology
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cytidine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Cytidine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / chemistry*
  • RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / genetics
  • RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Thermotoga maritima / enzymology*

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Cytidine Triphosphate
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • A adding enzyme
  • RNA Nucleotidyltransferases
  • tRNA nucleotidyltransferase

Associated data

  • PDB/3H37
  • PDB/3H38
  • PDB/3H39
  • PDB/3H3A