| Literature DB >> 9228948 |
J H Cate1, R L Hanna, J A Doudna.
Abstract
Large ribozymes require divalent metal ions to fold. We show here that the tertiary structure of the Tetrahymena group I intron P4-P6 domain nucleates around a magnesium ion core. In the domain crystal structure, five magnesium ions bind in a three-helix junction at the centre of the molecule. Single atom changes in any one of four magnesium sites in this three-helix junction destroy folding of the entire 160-nucleotide P4-P6 domain. The magnesium ion core may be the RNA counterpart to the protein hydrophobic core, burying parts of the RNA molecule in the native structure.Entities:
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Year: 1997 PMID： 9228948 DOI： 10.1038/nsb0797-553
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nat Struct Biol ISSN： 1072-8368