Nucleic Acids Research, Vol 25, Issue 14 2808-2815, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
M Spingola and DS Peabody
The coat proteins of the RNA phages MS2 and Qbetaare structurally
homologous, yet they specifically bind different RNA structures. In an
effort to identify the basis of RNA binding specificity we sought to
isolate mutants that convert MS2 coat protein to the RNA binding
specificity of Qbeta. A library of mutations was created which selectively
substitutes amino acids within the RNA binding site. Genetic selection for
the ability to repress translation from the Qbetatranslational operator led
to the isolation of several MS2 mutants that acquired binding activity for
QbetaRNA. Some of these also had reduced abilities to repress translation
from the MS2 translational operator. These changes in RNA binding
specificity were the results of substitutions of amino acid residues 87 and
89. Additional codon- directed mutagenesis experiments confirmed earlier
results showing that the identity of Asn87 is important for specific
binding of MS2 RNA. Glu89, on the other hand, is not required for
recognition of MS2 RNA, but prevents binding of QbetaRNA.
ARTICLES
MS2 coat protein mutants which bind Qbeta RNA
Department of Cell Biology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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