Mechanism of polynucleotide phosphorylase

The de novo polymerization of RNA initiated by polynucleotide phosphorylase from nucleoside diphosphates was examined. End group analysis performed under conditions designed to specifically end label the polymer revealed no evidence for a 5'-pyrophosphate-terminated polymer. However, we observed preferential incorporation of the ADP alpha S(RP) diastereomer into the 5' end (Marlier & Benkovic, 1982) in chain initiation, suggesting that the enzyme incorporates a nucleoside diphosphate specifically into the 5' end of the product, with subsequent enzymatic removal of the polyphosphate linkage. No evidence could be obtained for a covalent adduct between the enzyme and the 5' end of the polymer chain, despite the high processivity of the polymerization reaction. Gel electrophoretic analysis showed the polymer to be highly disperse, varying from 1 to 30 kb. Scanning transmission electron microscopy supported this product analysis and further suggested that (i) each subunit can produce an RNA polymer and (ii) both 5' and 3' ends of the RNA can be bound simultaneously to the same or differing enzyme molecules.     

Animal tissue polynucleotide phosphorylase]

Localization, physico-chemical and catalytic properties and possible biological functions of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) from animal tissues are discussed. In animal tissue cells PNPase has multiple localization; the major amount of the enzyme is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum ribosomes. In the nuclei PNPase, similar to other endo- and exo-RNAses participates in the processing of precursor molecules of mature forms of RNA, whereas in the cytoplasm it is involved in the destruction of polyribosomes in the polyribosomes of rapidly growing tissues the activity of PNPase is extremely decreased. The mechanisms regulating the PNPase activity in rapidly growing tissues are discussed.     

Study on the structure-function relationship of polynucleotide phosphorylase: model of a proteolytic degraded polynucleotide phosphorylase.

It is already known that modification of E. coli polynucleotide phosphorylase by endogenous proteolysis induces drastic changes in both phosphorolysis and polymerisation reactions. The structural parameters of the proteolysed polynucleotide phosphorylase are described. The phosphorolysis of polynucleotide, which is quite progressive for the native enzyme, is shown to be only partially progressive for the degraded enzyme, owing to the loss of polymer attachment sites.     

Immobilization of polynucleotide phosphorylase on inorganic support

Polynucleotide phosphorylase was immobilized on aminopropyl porous glass by various covalent binding methods. The enzyme immobilized with glutaraldehyde exhibited the highest activity and had the same optimal pH as the free enzyme. The specific activity of the immobilized enzyme was increased by treatment with SH-reducing agent.     

The origin of polynucleotide phosphorylase domains

In this report, we document the presence of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) in the animal eukaryotes. These proteins contain several domains, including 2 RNase PH domains (PNPase 1 and PNPase 2) which are closely related functionally and in sequence similarity to ribonuclease PH (RPH) protein. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene genealogy of these three domains suggests that PNPase was formed via a duplication event that also produced the RNase PH protein. Given the current distribution of these domains in the tree of life, these duplication events most likely occurred in the common ancestor of the three organismal superkingdoms, Archaea, Eukarya, and Bacteria. In particular, PNPase 2 and RPH are more closely related to each other than either one is to PNPase 1, suggesting a deeper differentiation of PNPase 1 in the common organismal ancestor. In addition, while PNPase 1 and PNPase 2 appear to have the same evolutionary signal as determined by the incongruence length difference (ILD) test, RPH appears to have an incongruent signal with both of the PNPase domains. This result suggests that RPH experienced different evolutionary divergence patterns than the PNPase domains, consistent with the linked nature of the two PNPase domains.