Reconstitution of peptide bond formation with Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA domains

Science. 1998 Jul 31;281(5377):666-9. doi: 10.1126/science.281.5377.666.

Abstract

It was recently demonstrated that peptide bond formation can occur using an Escherichia coli naked 23S ribosomal RNA without any of the ribosomal proteins. Here, the six domains of the 23S ribosomal RNA were individually synthesized and shown to be capable, when complexed together, of stimulating the reaction. Omission and addition experiments indicated that the activity could be reconstituted solely by domain V at a concentration 10 times higher than that of the intact 23S ribosomal RNA, whereas domain VI could enhance the activity in trans. These findings suggest that fragments of an RNA molecule have the ability to associate into a functional whole.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Neomycin / pharmacology
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptide Biosynthesis*
  • Peptidyl Transferases / metabolism*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / chemistry
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / metabolism*
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl / metabolism*
  • Sparsomycin / pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl
  • tRNA, N-acetylphenylalanine-
  • Sparsomycin
  • Peptidyl Transferases
  • Neomycin