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Co-conservation of rRNA tetraloop sequences and helix length suggests involvement of the tetraloops in higher-order interactionsTerminal loops containing four nucleotides (tetraloops) are common in structural RNAs, and they frequently conform to one of three sequence motifs, GNRA, UNCG, or CUUG. Here we compare available sequences and secondary structures for rRNAs from bacteria, and we show that helices capped by phylogenetically conserved GNRA loops display a strong tendency to be of conserved length. The simplest interpretation of this correlation is that the conserved GNRA loops are involved in higher-order interactions, intramolecular or intermolecular, resulting in a selective pressure for maintaining the lengths of these helices. A small number of conserved UNCG loops were also found to be associated with conserved length helices, consistent with the possibility that this type of tetraloop also takes part in higher-order interactions.
Document ID
20040141511
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hedenstierna, K. O.
(The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Houston 77030-4095, United States)
Siefert, J. L.
Fox, G. E.
Murgola, E. J.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Biochimie
Volume: 82
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0300-9084
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 2T15LM07093
CONTRACT_GRANT: GM21499
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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