STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF RIBONUCLEASE P IN ARCHAEA

该计划旨在研究RNA的结构和功能， 核糖核酸酶P的组分（a.k.a.古细菌）。独特的 古细菌RNase P酶的特征是它们的RNA亚基是 尽管它们相似，但它们本身不能在体外催化 与它们的催化活性细菌同源物序列相同。的 该计划的主旨是了解 古细菌和细菌RNase P酶之间的结构差异， 这些相似性和差异如何促成功能（或缺乏 ”（《易经》）。该方案的具体内容是： L.古细菌RNase P的RNA结构分析（什么是二级结构 和古细菌RNase P RNA的三级结构，以及它与 它是催化活性细菌同系物？）。 2.古细菌RNase P RNA的结构基础分析 缺陷（细菌和古细菌RNase P RNA之间有什么区别 是生物化学缺陷的原因吗？） 3.古细菌核糖核酸酶P的生化性质分析 缺陷（催化循环的哪些步骤可以和不可以由 古细菌RNase P RNA？）。 4.本发明还提供了对所述组合物的其它组分的鉴定和表征。 古细菌核糖核酸酶P全酶（什么是其他成分的 催化活性全酶以及它们如何有助于 结构和/或催化？）。 5.核糖体RNA中新型催化RNA的初步寻找 加工路径 拟议的计划是与健康有关的，因为它将提供洞察力， RNA催化作用的基本方面， RNA的结构和功能，以及RNA与 其他大分子。这些知识对于理解 RNA介导的病理学，如RNA病毒感染和癌基因 表情基于RNA的试剂，特别是催化RNA如RNase P， 显然将是基因治疗的一个重要方面， 各种疾病。由于对核糖核酸酶P的依赖， 它们的RNA对其他额外的功能因子的作用，提供了重要的 用于检查RNase P RNA结构的基本元件的系统 和功能

The proposed program is a study of the structure and function of the RNA component of ribonuclease P in Archaea (a.k.a. archaebacteria). The unique characteristic of archaeal RNase P enzymes are that their RNA subunits are not by themselves capable of catalysis in vitro despite their resemblance in sequence to their catalytically-proficient bacterial homologs. The thrust of the proposed program is to develop an understanding of the structural differences between archaeal and bacterial RNase P enzymes and how these similarities and differences contribute to the function (or lack thereof) of the ribozyme. The specific elements of this program are: l. The analysis of archaeal RNase P RNA structure (What is the secondary and tertiary structure of archaeal RNase P RNA and how does it compare to it's catalytically-proficient bacterial homolog?). 2. The analysis of the structural basis of the archaeal RNase P RNA's defect (What difference(s) between the bacterial and archaeal RNase P RNAs are responsible for the biochemical defect?). 3. The analysis of the biochemical nature of the archaeal RNase P RNA's defect (What step(s) of the catalytic cycle can and cannot be performed by archaeal RNase P RNA?). 4. The identification and characterization of additional components of the archaeal RNase P holoenzyme (What are the other components of the catalytically-proficient holoenzyme and how do they contribute to structure and/or catalysis?). 5. A preliminary search for novel catalytic RNAs in the ribosomal RNA processing pathway. The proposed program is health-related because it will provide insight into basic aspects of catalysis by RNA, the relationships between structure and function in RNA, and the nature of interactions of RNA with other macromolecules. This knowledge is essential for the understanding of pathologies mediated by RNAs, such as RNA virus infection and oncogene expression. RNA-based agents, especially catalytic RNAs such as RNase P, will clearly be an important facet of gene-therapy treatments for a variety of diseases. Archaeal RNase P's, because of the dependence of their RNAs on other additional factors for function, provide an important system for the examination of essential elements of RNase P RNA structure and function.