Structural highlights
Publication Abstract from PubMed
RNases H participate in the replication and maintenance of genomic DNA. RNase H1 cleaves the RNA strand of RNA/DNA hybrids, and RNase H2 in addition hydrolyzes the RNA residue of RNA-DNA junctions. RNase H3 is structurally closely related to RNases H2, but its biochemical properties are similar to type 1 enzymes. Its unique N-terminal substrate-binding domain (N-domain) is related to TATA-binding protein. Here, we report the first crystal structure of RNase H3 in complex with its RNA/DNA substrate. Just like RNases H1, type 3 enzyme recognizes the 2'-OH groups of the RNA strand and detects the DNA strand by binding a phosphate group and inducing B-form conformation. Moreover, the N-domain recognizes RNA and DNA in a manner that is highly similar to the hybrid-binding domain of RNases H1. Our structure demonstrates a remarkable example of parallel evolution of the elements used in the specific recognition of RNA and DNA.
Crystal structure of RNase H3-substrate complex reveals parallel evolution of RNA/DNA hybrid recognition.,Figiel M, Nowotny M Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jul 12. pii: gku615. PMID:25016521[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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