Intermolecular base stacking mediates RNA-RNA interaction in a crystal structure of the RNA chaperone Hfq.

ABSTRACT: The RNA-chaperone Hfq catalyses the annealing of bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) with target mRNAs to regulate gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. Hfq acts on a diverse set of sRNA-mRNA pairs using a variety of different molecular mechanisms. Here, we present an unusual crystal structure showing two Hfq-RNA complexes interacting via their bound RNA molecules. The structure contains two Hfq₆:A₁₈ RNA assemblies positioned face-to-face, with the RNA molecules turned towards each other and connected via interdigitating base stacking interactions at the center. Biochemical data further confirm the observed interaction, and indicate that RNA-mediated contacts occur between Hfq-RNA complexes with various (ARN)_X motif containing RNA sequences in vitr

SUBMITTER: Schulz EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5575007 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature