Chapter 10: RNA Processing Flashcards
RNAs are synthesized from DNA templates that are not functional -> need to be modified to make mature, functional RNA
precursor RNAs (pre-RNAs)
alterations of pre-RNAs are known as ()
RNA processing
benefits of RNA processing: RNA processing provides:
- regulation of gene activity
- diversity
- quality control
tRNA and rRNA transcripts are made as () that must be processed
long precursors
an () precursor encodes 3 rRNAs and several tRNAs
E. coli
the () precursor encodes 3 rRNAs
S. cerevisiae
encoding several RNAs in one precursor ensures that ()
similar amounts of each RNA are made
() cleave RNAs into smaller parts
ribonucleases
successively remove nucleotides from the end of a transcript; most often in 3’ to 5’, but sometimes in 5’ to 3’
exonucleases
exonucleases are not usually (1), and generally act on (2)
- sequence-specific
- single-stranded ends
cleave the DNA within the strand; some are specific for double-stranded RNA, some for single-stranded
endonucleases
examples of endonucleases
RNase III and RNase P
excision of bacterial rRNAs from longer precursors is performed by (); as well as trimming if some RNAs and tRNAs
RNase III
RNase III binds () in the pre-RNAs and cleaves the dsRNAs
stem structures (dsRNA)
endonucleases similar to RNase III are involved in many processes, e.g. in eukaryotes, they generate (1) and (2) that inhibit the expression of detrimental genes
- microRNA (miRNA)
- small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)
5’ trimming of tRNAs is done by the endonuclease ()
ribonuclease P, RNase P
unlike RNase III, RNase P enzymes have (1) component and (2) components
- bacterial RNA
- protein
in RNase P, the bacterial RNA component alone can cut RNA, thus acting as a ()
ribozyme
the () RNase P RNA component cannot cut RNA alone, but is essential for function
eukaryotic, archaeal, and mitochondrial
() are present in some tRNAs and rRNAs
introns
tRNA splicing is catalyzed by ()
protein factors
some rRNAs introns can catalyze their own removal -> they are ()
self-splicing
the 3’ ends of mature tRNAs have a conserved () -> attachment site for the amino acid
CCA sequence
CCA sequence is mostly added by ()
polymerization without template
CCA-adding enzyme takes () in a nucleotide-binding pocket that sequentially changes in size and shape depending on the 3’ end sequence of the bound tRNA
CTP or ATP
the presence of CTP or ATP in the nucleotide-binding pocket of the CCA-adding enzyme determines where () is added
C or A
additional role of CCA-adding enzyme
targeting unstable tRNAs for degradation
CCA-adding enzymes target unstable tRNAs for degradation through the addition of longer ()
CCACCA or CCACC tails
tRNA and rRNA nucleotides are often () modified after transcription
chemically
t/rRNA modification can be on the (1) or (2)
- nucleotide base
- ribose sugar ring
examples of relatively small t/rRNA modifications
- addition of H atom
- methylation of nitrogen or oxygen
- addition of selenium
examples of relatively large t/rRNA modifications
- incorporation of threonine
- multiple independent modifications
modifications in tRNAs:
- contribute overall to (1)
- give tRNAs the ability to (2)
- increase the () of tRNA molecules
- structural stability
- interact with other molecules
- repertoire of shapes, structures, and stability
the most common rRNA modifications
- ribose 2’-O-methylation
- pseudouridylation
in eukaryotes and archaea, () guide methylation and pseudouridylation of rRNAs and tRNAs; these molecules guide enzymes to the correct site
small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs)
snoRNAs associate with a complex of proteins to make ()
snoRNP
most vertebrate snoRNAs are made from the introns of ()
precursor mRNAs
snoRNAs that direct ribose methylation
boc C/D snoRNAs
snoRNAs that direct pseudouridylation
H/ACA snoRNAs
5’ ends of eukaryotic mRNAs are capped with (1) via a (2)
- 7-methylguanine nucleotide
- 5’-5’ triphosphate linkage
in the mRNA 5’ cap, the guanine is methylated at ()
N7
in more complex eukaryotes, in addition to the 5’ cap, the () of the second and sometimes third base are methylated
2’ oxygen
there are () steps in 5’ capping
3
proteins in action during 5’ capping in yeast
done by different enzymes
proteins in action during 5’ capping in C. elegans and mammals
first 2 reactions are done by a single enzyme
the 3’ end of most eukaryotic mRNAs has about 200 adenosines added
polyadenosine or polyA tail
mRNAs have () where pre-mRNAs are cleaved and the poly(A) tail is added
polyadenylation sites
mRNAs encoding () are exceptions and do not have poly(A) tails
metazoan histones
functions of poly(A) tail
- protects mRNA from degradation by exonucleases
- involved in initiation of protein synthesis
multiple polyadenylation sites are found in some mRNAs, and these can participate in regulation
alternative polyadenylation sites (APA)
polyadenylation at the distal site of cyclin D mRNA () regulatory sequences
retains multiple
polyadenylation at the proximal site of cyclin D mRNA () regulatory sequences
eliminates
functions of alternative polyadenylation sites
- regulate protein synthesis
- expand range of proteins products from a single mRNA
mRNA stability and translation are often regulated by ()
3’ untranslated regions (3’ UTR)
the variable 3’ UTR lengths specified by () can determine what regulatory sequences will be included
different polyadenylation site selections
polyadenylation at the 3’ end of eukaryotic mRNAs starts with an ()
intial cleavage
the initial cleavage in polyadenylation usually occurs after a (1) that lies between a (2) and a (3)
- CA
- conserved AAUAAA hexamer
- U or GU-rich region
after the initial cleavage in polyadenylation, ~200 adenosines are added by ()
poly(A) polymerase
a (smaller/larger) protein complex is required for polyadenylation that for 5’ capping
larger -> more complex to recognize different polyadenylation sites in different mRNAs
metazoan histones carry highly conserved () that recruit proteins of similar functions to those that bind poly(A) tails
stem-loop structures
5’ capping and 3’ polyadenylation are linked with each other and with other RNA polymerization processes via ()
RNA pol II
() is needed to allow RNA pol II to continue elongation
5’ capping
() is needed for efficient transcription termination
polyadenylation
the () is the largest subunit of RNA pol II
C-terminal domain (CTD)
at the CTD of RNA Pol II, () is responsible for mediating mRNA processing
RPB1
CTD becomes () on transcription initiation and recruits capping enzyme
partially phosphorylated
elongation leads to more phosphorylation of CTD, which recruits ()
splicing machinery
recruitment of splicing machinery leads to recruitment of ()
cleavage and polyadenylation complex
transcription and processing of eukaryotic mRNA occurs in the ()
nucleus
protein factors needed for mRNA transport to cytoplasm are loaded onto the mRNA during transcription, but () is needed before the RNA-protein complex can be released from the transcription complex
polyadenylation
Some mRNAs are located in specific regions of the cytoplasm –> this requires “()”, usually found at the 3′ end. They also regulate translation.
localization elements
most introns do not themselves contain genes and are excised and degraded; but there are exceptions:
snoRNAs and miRNAs