Identification of functional tetramolecular RNA G-quadruplexes derived from transfer RNAs.

ABSTRACT: RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) structures are involved in multiple biological processes. Recent genome-wide analyses of human mRNA transcriptome identified thousands of putative intramolecular RG4s that readily assemble in vitro but shown to be unfolded in vivo. Previously, we have shown that mature cytoplasmic tRNAs are cleaved during stress response to produce tRNA fragments that function to repress translation in vivo. Here we report that these bioactive tRNA fragments assemble into intermolecular RG4s. We provide evidence for the formation of uniquely stable tetramolecular RG4 structures consisting of five tetrad layers formed by 5'-terminal oligoguanine motifs of an individual tRNA fragment. RG4 is required for functions of tRNA fragments in the regulation of mRNA translation, a critical comp

SUBMITTER: Lyons SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5655342 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature