Premium
Role of Escherichia coli YbeY, a highly conserved protein, in rRNA processing
Author(s) -
Davies Bryan W.,
Köhrer Caroline,
Jacob Asha I.,
Simmons Lyle A.,
Zhu Jianyu,
Aleman Lourdes M.,
RajBhandary Uttam L.,
Walker Graham C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07351.x
Subject(s) - biology , ribosome , 23s ribosomal rna , rnase p , ribosomal rna , genetics , ribosomal protein , escherichia coli , gene , ribosome biogenesis , rna
Summary The UPF0054 protein family is highly conserved with homologues present in nearly every sequenced bacterium. In some bacteria, the respective gene is essential, while in others its loss results in a highly pleiotropic phenotype. Despite detailed structural studies, a cellular role for this protein family has remained unknown. We report here that deletion of the Escherichia coli homologue, YbeY, causes striking defects that affect ribosome activity, translational fidelity and ribosome assembly. Mapping of 16S, 23S and 5S rRNA termini reveals that YbeY influences the maturation of all three rRNAs, with a particularly strong effect on maturation at both the 5′‐ and 3′‐ends of 16S rRNA as well as maturation of the 5′‐termini of 23S and 5S rRNAs. Furthermore, we demonstrate strong genetic interactions between ybeY and rnc (encoding RNase III), ybeY and rnr (encoding RNase R), and ybeY and pnp (encoding PNPase), further suggesting a role for YbeY in rRNA maturation. Mutation of highly conserved amino acids in YbeY, allowed the identification of two residues (H114, R59) that were found to have a significant effect in vivo . We discuss the implications of these findings for rRNA maturation and ribosome assembly in bacteria.