Decoupling Global and Local Structural Changes in Self-aminoacylating Ribozymes Reveals the Critical Role of Local Structural Dynamics in Ribozyme Activity.

ABSTRACT: Self-aminoacylating ribozymes catalyze the attachment of amino acids to RNA, serving as pivotal models to investigate the catalytic roles of RNA in prebiotic evolution. In this study, we investigated how divalent metal ions (Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) modulate local and global structures in two such ribozymes, S-1A.1-a and S-2.1-a, using 4-cyanotryptophan (4CNW) fluorescence and native gel electrophoresis. By tracking 4CNW fluorescence changes at varying concentrations of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ and temperatures, we determined how these ions influence the catalytic sites and overall conformations of the ribozymes. Our findings reveal that Mg²⁺ specifically binds to S-1A.1-a at low concentrations, stabilizing the local structure around the aminoacylation sit

SUBMITTER: Cheng YK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12117395 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature