Minimum secondary structure requirements for catalytic activity of a self-splicing group I intron |
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Authors: | A A Beaudry G F Joyce |
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Institution: | Department of Chemistry, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037. |
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Abstract: | We have completed a comprehensive deletion analysis of the Tetrahymena ribozyme in order to define the minimum secondary structure requirements for phosphoester transfer activity of a self-splicing group I intron. A total of 299 nucleotides were removed in a piecewise fashion, leaving a catalytic core of 114 nucleotides that form 7 base-paired structural elements. Among the various deletion mutants are a 300-nucleotide single-deletion mutant and a 281-nucleotide double-deletion mutant whose activity exceeds that of the wild type when tested under physiologic conditions. Consideration of those structural elements that are essential for catalytic activity leads to a simplified secondary structure model of the catalytic core of a group I intron. |
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