Sequence and secondary structure of mouse 28S rRNA 5''terminal domain. Organisation of the 5.8S-28S rRNA complex.

We present the sequence of the 5' terminal 585 nucleotides of mouse 28S rRNA as inferred from the DNA sequence of a cloned gene fragment. The comparison of mouse 28S rRNA sequence with its yeast homolog, the only known complete sequence of eukaryotic nucleus-encoded large rRNA (see ref. 1, 2) reveals the strong conservation of two large stretches which are interspersed with completely divergent sequences. These two blocks of homology span the two segments which have been recently proposed to participate directly in the 5.8S-large rRNA complex in yeast (see ref. 1) through base-pairing with both termini of 5.8S rRNA. The validity of the proposed structural model for 5.8S-28S rRNA complex in eukaryotes is strongly supported by comparative analysis of mouse and yeast sequences: despite a number of mutations in 28S and 5.8S rRNA sequences in interacting regions, the secondary structure that can be proposed for mouse complex is perfectly identical with yeast's, with all the 41 base-pairings between the two molecules maintained through 11 pairs of compensatory base changes. The other regions of the mouse 28S rRNA 5'terminal domain, which have extensively diverged in primary sequence, can nevertheless be folded in a secondary structure pattern highly reminiscent of their yeast' homolog. A minor revision is proposed for mouse 5.8S rRNA sequence.     

A comparison of the crystal structures of eukaryotic and bacterial SSU ribosomal RNAs reveals common structural features in the hypervariable regions

While the majority of the ribosomal RNA structure is conserved in the three major domains of life--archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes, specific regions of the rRNA structure are unique to at least one of these three primary forms of life. In particular, the comparative secondary structure for the eukaryotic SSU rRNA contains several regions that are different from the analogous regions in the bacteria. Our detailed analysis of two recently determined eukaryotic 40S ribosomal crystal structures, Tetrahymena thermophila and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the comparison of these results with the bacterial Thermus thermophilus 30S ribosomal crystal structure: (1) revealed that the vast majority of the comparative structure model for the eukaryotic SSU rRNA is substantiated, including the secondary structure that is similar to both bacteria and archaea as well as specific for the eukaryotes, (2) resolved the secondary structure for regions of the eukaryotic SSU rRNA that were not determined with comparative methods, (3) identified eukaryotic helices that are equivalent to the bacterial helices in several of the hypervariable regions, (4) revealed that, while the coaxially stacked compound helix in the 540 region in the central domain maintains the constant length of 10 base pairs, its two constituent helices contain 5+5 bp rather than the 6+4 bp predicted with comparative analysis of archaeal and eukaryotic SSU rRNAs.     

Proposed secondary structure of eukaryote specific expansion segment 15 in 28S rRNA from mice, rats, and rabbits

The expansion segments in eukaryotic ribosomal RNAs are additional RNA sequences not found in the RNA core common to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. These regions show large species-dependent variations in sequence and size. This makes it difficult to create secondary structure models for the expansion segments exclusively based on phylogenetic sequence comparison. Here we have used a combination of experimental data and computational methods to generate secondary structure models for expansion segment 15 in 28S rRNA in mice, rats, and rabbits. The experimental data were collected using the structure sensitive reagents DMS, CMCT, kethoxal, micrococcal nuclease, RNase T(1), RNase CL3, RNase V(1), and lead(II) acetate. ES15 was folded with the computer program RNAStructure 3.5 using modification data and phylogenetic similarities between different ES15 sequences. This program uses energy minimization to find the most stable secondary structure of an RNA sequence. The presented secondary structure models include several common structural motifs, but they also have characteristics unique to each organism. Overall, the secondary structure models showed indications of an energetically stable but dynamic structure, easily accessible from the solution by the modification reagents, suggesting that the expansion segment is located on the ribosomal surface.     

The 23S ribosomal RNA higher-order structure of Pseudomonas cepacia and other prokaryotes

A 23S ribosomal RNA gene of Pseudomonas cepacia has been cloned and sequenced. A general higher-order structure model based on earlier published models has been derived from comparative analysis of 23S-like rRNAs of eubacteria, archaebacteria, organelles and eukaryotes. Differences between the previous models were carefully analyzed and controversial regions evaluated. Moderately large insertions and deletions have been found at new points in the secondary structure. The analysis of 50 published as well as unpublished 23S rRNA sequences provide additional proof for six of the seven previously suggested tertiary interactions within the 23S rRNA. P. cepacia is the first representative of the beta subgroup of the Proteobacteria phylum whose 23S rRNA has been sequenced. A tree reflecting evolutionary relationships of prokaryotes was constructed. The topology of this tree is in good agreement with the 16S rRNA tree.     

Fine structure and evolution of the rDNA intergenic spacer in rice and other cereals

Summary The intergenic spacer of a rice ribosomal RNA gene repeating unit has been completely sequenced. The spacer contains three imperfect, direct repeated regions of 264–253 bp, followed by a related but more highly divergent region. Detailed analysis of the sequence allows the presentation of an evolutionary scenario in which the 264–253-bp repeats are derived from an ancestral 150-bp sequence by deletion and amplification. Comparison of the rice sequence with those of maize, wheat, and rye shows that, despite considerable divergence from the ancestral sequence, several regions have been highly conserved, suggesting that they may play an important role in the structure and/or expression of the ribosomal genes.Abbreviations IGS ribosomal gene intergenic spacer - rDNA ribosomal DNA - rRNA ribosomal RNA Offprint requests to: M. Delseny     

Probing the conformation of 26S rRNA in yeast 60S ribosomal subunits with kethoxal

The conformation and accessibility of 26S rRNA in yeast 60S ribosomal subunits were probed with kethoxal. Oligonucleotides originating from reactive sites were isolated by diagonal electrophoresis and sequenced. From over 70 oligonucleotide sequences, 26 kethoxal-reactive sites could be placed in the 26S rRNA sequence. These are in close agreement with a proposed secondary structure model for the RNA that is based on comparative sequence analysis. At least seven kethoxal-reactive sites in yeast 26S rRNA are in positions that are exactly homologous to reactive positions in E. coli 23S rRNA; each of these sites has previously been implicated in some aspect of ribosomal function.     

Assembly of the central domain of the 30S ribosomal subunit: roles for the primary binding ribosomal proteins S15 and S8

Assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit occurs in a highly ordered and sequential manner. The ordered addition of ribosomal proteins to the growing ribonucleoprotein particle is initiated by the association of primary binding proteins. These proteins bind specifically and independently to 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Two primary binding proteins, S8 and S15, interact exclusively with the central domain of 16S rRNA. Binding of S15 to the central domain results in a conformational change in the RNA and is followed by the ordered assembly of the S6/S18 dimer, S11 and finally S21 to form the platform of the 30S subunit. In contrast, S8 is not part of this major platform assembly branch. Of the remaining central domain binding proteins, only S21 association is slightly dependent on S8. Thus, although S8 is a primary binding protein that extensively contacts the central domain, its role in assembly of this domain remains unclear. Here, we used directed hydroxyl radical probing from four unique positions on S15 to assess organization of the central domain of 16S rRNA as a consequence of S8 association. Hydroxyl radical probing of Fe(II)-S15/16S rRNA and Fe(II)-S15/S8/16S rRNA ribonucleoprotein particles reveal changes in the 16S rRNA environment of S15 upon addition of S8. These changes occur predominantly in helices 24 and 26 near previously identified S8 binding sites. These S8-dependent conformational changes are consistent with 16S rRNA folding in complete 30S subunits. Thus, while S8 binding is not absolutely required for assembly of the platform, it appears to affect significantly the 16S rRNA environment of S15 by influencing central domain organization.     

Nucleotide sequence and presumed secondary structure of the 28S rRNA of pea aphid implication for diversification of insect rRNA

Determination of the entire nucleotide sequence of the aphid 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) revealed that it is 4,147 by in length with a G + C content of 60.3%. Based on the nucleotide sequence, we constructed a presumed secondary-structure model of the aphid 28S rRNA which indicated that the aphid 28S rRNA is characterized by the length and high G + C content of its variable regions. The G + C content of the aphid's variable regions was much higher than that of the entire sequence of the 28S rRNA, which formed a striking contrast to those ofDrosophila with the G + C content much lower than the entire 28S molecule. In this respect, the aphid 28S rRNA somewhat resembled those of vertebrates. This is the third report of a complete large-subunit rRNA sequence from an arthropod, and the first 28S rRNA sequence for a nondipterous insect. Correspondence to: H. Ishikawa     

Structure of 5S rRNA in actinomycetes and relatives and evolution of eubacteria

Summary The primary structure of 5S ribosomal RNA has been determined in five species belonging to the genusMycobacterium and inMicrococcus luteus. The sequences of 5S RNAs from Actinomycetes and relatives point to the existence in this taxon of a bulge on the helix that joins the termini of the molecule. An attempt was made to reconstruct bacterial evolution from a sequence dissimilarity matrix based on 142 eubacterial 5S RNA sequences and corrected for multiple mutation. The algorithm is based on weighted pairwise clustering, and incorporates a correction for divergent mutation rates, as derived by comparison of sequence dissimilarities with an external reference group of eukaryotic 5S RNAs. The resulting tree is compared with the eubacterial phylogeny built on 16S rRNA catalog comparison. The bacteria for which the 5S RNA sequence is known form a number of clusters also discernible in the 16S rRNA phylogeny. However, the branching pattern leading to these clusters shows some notable discrepancies with the aforementioned phylogeny.     

Stabilization against hyperthermal denaturation through increased CG content can explain the discrepancy between whole genome and 16S rRNA analyses

Based largely upon analysis of ribosomal RNA, a third domain of life, called archaea, had been proposed in addition to bacteria and eukaryotes. However, quantitative analysis of 73 whole genomes shows only a two-domain division of life: into eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Thousands of orthologous genes in archaea and bacteria show an essentially unimodal distribution of sequence identities. Thus, whole genome analyses indicate that archaea are a phylum of bacteria rather than a separate domain of life. In contrast, archaeal rRNA and that of hyperthermophilic bacteria differ from the rRNA of mesophilic bacteria. Thus, there is a bimodal distribution of rRNA sequence identities which differ by 12%. This discrepancy in rRNA and gene content based analyses of whole genomes is likely due to a 15% elevated C:G content of the rRNA of archaea and hyperthermophilic bacteria. The elevated C:G content is consistent with stabilization against thermal denaturation caused by additional hydrogen bonding (3 bonds) in C:G pairs compared to A:U pairs (2 bonds). Based upon this premise, there is no reliable way to correct rRNA for such differences in base composition and it is not possible to quantitatively compare hyperthermophiles with mesophiles by the rRNA method. Furthermore, quantitative study of whole genomes shows that the extent of change in both bacterial and archaeal genes, including rRNA, has reached a limit. Thus, direct sequence comparisons work with closely related genomes, but it is not possible to differentiate the most divergent prokaryotic species, which are currently designated as separate phyla. We believe that the differences in characteristics of archaeal species is based primarily upon selection of genes and pathways compatible with the extreme environmental lifestyle, i.e., hyperthermophily.     

A hidden break in the 28.0S rRNA from Diphyllobothrium dendriticum.

Nondenatured and denatured total RNA from the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda) was analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. It was found that the large subunit ribosomal RNA (lrRNA) is 28.0S and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (srRNA) is 19.5S. Following denaturation the 28.0S rRNA was disrupted into a 19.5S subfragment and a 20.7S subfragment due to the presence of a centrally located hidden break. By hybridization of Northern blot membranes with oligonucleotide probes specific for the 5'- and 3'-ends of the lrRNA respectively, we have shown that the 19.5S subfragment is from the 5'-end (the alpha-subfragment) and the 20.7S subfragment from the 3'-end (the beta-subfragment) of the 28.0S rRNA of D. dendriticum.     

DNA sequence and secondary structures of the large subunit rRNA coding regions and its two class I introns of mitochondrial DNA fromPodospora anserina

Summary DNA sequence analysis has shown that the gene coding for the mitochondrial (mt) large subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) fromPodospora anserina is interrupted by two class I introns. The coding region for the large subunit rRNA itself is 3715 bp and the two introns are 1544 (r1) and 2404 (r2) bp in length. Secondary structure models for the large subunit rRNA were constructed and compared with the equivalent structure fromEscherichia coli 23S rRNA. The two structures were remarkably similar despite an 800-base difference in length. The additional bases in theP. anserina rRNA appear to be mostly in unstructured regions in the 3 part of the RNA. Secondary structure models for the two introns show striking similarities with each other as well as with the intron models from the equivalent introns inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, andAspergillus nidulans. The long open reading frames in each intron are different from each other, however, and the nucleotide sequence similarity diverges as it proceeds away from the core structure. Each intron is located within regions of the large subunit rRNA gene that are highly conserved in both sequence and structure. Computer analysis showed that the open reading frame for intron r1 contained a common maturase-like polypeptide. The open reading frames of intron r2 apeared to be chimeric, displaying high sequence similarity with the open reading frames in the r1 and ATPase 6 introns ofN. crassa.     

A cluster of methylations in the domain IV of 25S rRNA is required for ribosome stability

In all three domains of life ribosomal RNAs are extensively modified at functionally important sites of the ribosome. These modifications are believed to fine-tune the ribosome structure for optimal translation. However, the precise mechanistic effect of modifications on ribosome function remains largely unknown. Here we show that a cluster of methylated nucleotides in domain IV of 25S rRNA is critical for integrity of the large ribosomal subunit. We identified the elusive cytosine-5 methyltransferase for C2278 in yeast as Rcm1 and found that a combined loss of cytosine-5 methylation at C2278 and ribose methylation at G2288 caused dramatic ribosome instability, resulting in loss of 60S ribosomal subunits. Structural and biochemical analyses revealed that this instability was caused by changes in the structure of 25S rRNA and a consequent loss of multiple ribosomal proteins from the large ribosomal subunit. Our data demonstrate that individual RNA modifications can strongly affect structure of large ribonucleoprotein complexes.     

Evolved RNA Secondary Structure and the Rooting of the Universal Tree of Life

The origin and diversification of RNA secondary structure were traced using cladistic methods. Structural components were coded as polarized and ordered multi-state characters, following a model of character state transformation outlined by considerations in statistical mechanics. Several classes of functional RNA were analyzed, including ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Considerable phylogenetic signal was present in their secondary structure. The intrinsically rooted phylogenies reconstructed from evolved RNA structure depicted those derived from nucleic acid sequence at all taxonomical levels, and grouped organisms in concordance with traditional classification, especially in the archaeal and eukaryal domains. Natural selection appears therefore to operate early in the information flow that originates in sequence and ends in an adapted phenotype. When examining the hierarchical classification of the living world, phylogenetic analysis of secondary structure of the small and large rRNA subunits reconstructed a universal tree of life that branched in three monophyletic groups corresponding to Eucarya, Archaea, and Bacteria, and was rooted in the eukaryotic branch. Ribosomal characters involved in the translational cycle could be easily traced and showed that transfer RNA (tRNA) binding domains in the large rRNA subunit evolved concurrently with the rest of the rRNA molecule. Results suggest it is equally parsimonious to consider that ancestral unicellular eukaryotes or prokaryotes gave rise to all extant life forms and provide a rare insight into the early evolution of nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis. Received: 13 September 2000 / Accepted: 27 August 2001