Structure and sequence elements of the CR4/5 domain of medaka telomerase RNA important for telomerase function

Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Mar;42(5):3395-408. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt1276. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

Telomerase is a unique reverse transcriptase that maintains the 3' ends of eukaryotic chromosomes by adding tandem telomeric repeats. The RNA subunit (TR) of vertebrate telomerase provides a template for reverse transcription, contained within the conserved template/pseudoknot domain, and a conserved regions 4 and 5 (CR4/5) domain, all essential for catalytic activity. We report the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution structure of the full-length CR4/5 domain from the teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes). Three helices emanate from a structured internal loop, forming a Y-shaped structure, where helix P6 stacks on P5 and helix P6.1 points away from P6. The relative orientations of the three helices are Mg2+ dependent and dynamic. Although the three-way junction is structured and has unexpected base pairs, telomerase activity assays with nucleotide substitutions and deletions in CR4/5 indicate that none of these are essential for activity. The results suggest that the junction is likely to change conformation in complex with telomerase reverse transcriptase and that it provides a flexible scaffold that allows P6 and P6.1 to correctly fold and interact with telomerase reverse transcriptase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Oryzias / genetics*
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • Telomerase / chemistry
  • Telomerase / metabolism*

Substances

  • telomerase RNA
  • RNA
  • Telomerase
  • Magnesium

Associated data

  • PDB/2MHI