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Understanding the Role of Metal Ions in RNA Folding and Function: Lessons from RNase P, a Ribonucleoprotein Enzyme

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Non-Protein Coding RNAs

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Biophysics ((BIOPHYSICS,volume 13))

There is a large and rapidly growing literature relating RNA function to metal ion identity and concentration; however, due to the complexity and large number of interactions it remains a significant experimental challenge to tie the interactions of individual ions to specific aspects of RNA function. Investigation of the ribonculeopro-tein enzyme RNase P function has assisted in defining characteristics of RNA—metal ion interactions and provided a useful model system for understanding RNA catalysis and ribonucleoprotein assembly. The goal of this chapter is to review progress in understanding the physical basis of functional metal ion interactions with P RNA and relate this progress to the development of our understanding of RNA metal ion interactions in general. The research results reviewed here encompass: (1) Determination of the contribution of divalent metal ion binding to specific aspects of enzyme function, (2) Identification of individual metal ion binding sites in P RNA and their contribution to function, and (3) The effect of protein binding on RNA—metal ion affinity.

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  1. Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, CWRU - School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

    Michael E. Harris & Eric L. Christian

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  1. Michael E. Harris
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  2. Eric L. Christian
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Correspondence to Michael E. Harris .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1055, USA

    Nils G. Walter (Associate Professor of Chemistry) (Associate Professor of Chemistry)

  2. Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA

    Sarah A. Woodson (Professor of Biophysics) (Professor of Biophysics)

  3. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, Box 215, Boulder, CO, 80309-0215, USA

    Robert T. Batey (Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry) (Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry)

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Harris, M.E., Christian, E.L. (2009). Understanding the Role of Metal Ions in RNA Folding and Function: Lessons from RNase P, a Ribonucleoprotein Enzyme. In: Walter, N.G., Woodson, S.A., Batey, R.T. (eds) Non-Protein Coding RNAs. Springer Series in Biophysics, vol 13. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70840-7_9

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