The toxin Kid and antitoxin Kis are encoded by the parD operon of Escherichia coli plasmid R1. Kid and its chromosomal homologues MazF and ChpBK have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis in cell extracts and to act as ribosome-independent endoribonucleases in vitro. Kid cleaves RNA preferentially at the 50 side of the A residue in the nucleotide sequence 50-UA(A/C)-30 of single-stranded regions. Here, we show that RNA cleavage by Kid yields two fragments with a 20:30-cyclic phosphate group and a free 50-OH group, respectively. The cleavage mechanism is similar to that of RNases A and T1, involving the uracil 20-OH group. Via NMR titration studies with an uncleavable RNA mimic, we demonstrate that residues of both monomers of the Kid dimer together form a concatenated RNA-binding surface. Docking calculations based on the NMR chemical shifts, the cleavage mechanism and previously reported mutagenesis data provide a detailed picture of the position of the AUACA fragment within the binding pocket. We propose that residues D75, R73 and H17 form the active site of the Kid toxin, where D75 and R73 are the catalytic base and acid, respectively. The RNA sequence specificity is defined by residues T46, S47, A55, F57, T69, V71 and R73. Our data show the importance of these residues for Kid function, and the implications of our results for related toxins, such as MazF, CcdB and RelE, are discussed.

Model for RNA Binding and the Catalytic Site of the RNase Kid of the Bacterial parD Toxin–Antitoxin System

MONTI, Maria Chiara;
2006-01-01

Abstract

The toxin Kid and antitoxin Kis are encoded by the parD operon of Escherichia coli plasmid R1. Kid and its chromosomal homologues MazF and ChpBK have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis in cell extracts and to act as ribosome-independent endoribonucleases in vitro. Kid cleaves RNA preferentially at the 50 side of the A residue in the nucleotide sequence 50-UA(A/C)-30 of single-stranded regions. Here, we show that RNA cleavage by Kid yields two fragments with a 20:30-cyclic phosphate group and a free 50-OH group, respectively. The cleavage mechanism is similar to that of RNases A and T1, involving the uracil 20-OH group. Via NMR titration studies with an uncleavable RNA mimic, we demonstrate that residues of both monomers of the Kid dimer together form a concatenated RNA-binding surface. Docking calculations based on the NMR chemical shifts, the cleavage mechanism and previously reported mutagenesis data provide a detailed picture of the position of the AUACA fragment within the binding pocket. We propose that residues D75, R73 and H17 form the active site of the Kid toxin, where D75 and R73 are the catalytic base and acid, respectively. The RNA sequence specificity is defined by residues T46, S47, A55, F57, T69, V71 and R73. Our data show the importance of these residues for Kid function, and the implications of our results for related toxins, such as MazF, CcdB and RelE, are discussed.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/1518520
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