PMID: 17671357 , Related PDB id: 2E7Y

Authors:

Ishii R, Minagawa A, Takaku H, Takagi M, Nashimoto M, Yokoyama S

Title:

The structure of the flexible arm of Thermotoga maritima tRNase Z differs from those of homologous enzymes.

Journal:

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2007 Aug 1;63(Pt, 8):637-41. Epub 2007 Jul 21.

Abstract:

tRNA 3'-processing endoribonuclease (tRNase Z) is one of the enzymes involved in the 3'-end processing of precursor tRNAs and is a member of the metallo-beta-lactamase superfamily. tRNase Z crystal structures have revealed that the enzyme forms a dimer and has a characteristic domain, named a flexible arm or an exosite, which protrudes from the metallo-beta-lactamase core and is involved in tRNA binding. The refined structure of Thermotoga maritima tRNase Z has been determined at 1.97 A resolution, revealing the structure of the flexible arm and the zinc-bound active site. The structure of the flexible arm of T. maritima tRNase Z is distinct from those of the Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli tRNase Zs. A comparison of the three tRNase Z structures revealed differences in the dimer orientation, which may be related to the unique cleavage-site specificity of T. maritima tRNase Z.