Abstract of the PDB Structure's related Publication:
Archaeal ribosomal protein L7Ae is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that recognizes the K-turn motif in ribosomal, box H/ACA, and box C/D sRNAs. The crystal structure of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii L7Ae has been determined to 1.45 A, and L7Ae's amino acid composition, evolutionary conservation, functional characteristics, and structural details have been analyzed. Comparison of the L7Ae structure to those of a number of related proteins with diverse functions has revealed significant structural homology which suggests that this protein fold is an ancient RNA-binding motif. Notably, the free M. jannaschii L7Ae structure is essentially identical to that with RNA bound, suggesting that RNA binding occurs through an induced-fit interaction. Circular dichroism experiments show that box C/D and C'/D' RNA motifs undergo conformational changes when magnesium or the L7Ae protein is added, corroborating the induced-fit model for L7Ae-box C/D RNA interactions.
L7Ae protein, together with fused Nop56/58 (also designated Nop5) and Fibrillarin methyltranferase (FlpA), makes the core of C/D RNP complex in Archaea. It is a homologue of S. cerevisiae Snu13 and mammalian 15.5kD protein. Archaeal L7Ae is also a subunit of H/ACA RNP complex, a subunit of RNase P and one of the ribosomal protein of the 50S subunit. In all cases L7Ae binds to a common kink-turn motif of RNA.
The crystal structure of the Methanocaldococcus jannaschii multifunctional L7Ae RNA-binding protein reveals an induced-fit interaction with the box C/D RNAs.