Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
4x4u; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
RNA binding protein
Method
X-ray (2.7 Å)
Summary
Crystal structure of the a.fulgidus cca-adding enzyme in complex with a human menbeta minihelix ending in ccacc
Reference
Kuhn CD, Wilusz JE, Zheng Y, Beal PA, Joshua-Tor L (2015): "On-Enzyme Refolding Permits Small RNA and tRNA Surveillance by the CCA-Adding Enzyme." Cell, 160, 644-658. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.01.005.
Abstract
Transcription in eukaryotes produces a number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Two of these, MALAT1 and MenĪ², generate a tRNA-like small RNA in addition to the mature lncRNA. The stability of these tRNA-like small RNAs and bona fide tRNAs is monitored by the CCA-adding enzyme. Whereas CCA is added to stable tRNAs and tRNA-like transcripts, a second CCA repeat is added to certain unstable transcripts to initiate their degradation. Here, we characterize how these two scenarios are distinguished. Following the first CCA addition cycle, nucleotide binding to the active site triggers a clockwise screw motion, producing torque on the RNA. This ejects stable RNAs, whereas unstable RNAs are refolded while bound to the enzyme and subjected to a second CCA catalytic cycle. Intriguingly, with the CCA-adding enzyme acting as a molecular vise, the RNAs proofread themselves through differential responses to its interrogation between stable and unstable substrates.

Cartoon-block schematics in six views (download the tarball)

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