Structure, function, and evolution of the tRNA endonucleases of Archaea: An example of subfunctionalization

  1. Giuseppe D. Tocchini-Valentini*,†,
  2. Paolo Fruscoloni*, and
  3. Glauco P. Tocchini-Valentini*,‡
  1. *Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Via Ramarini 32, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy; and †Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy

  1. Edited by Robert Haselkorn, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, and approved April 21, 2005 (received for review March 22, 2005)

Abstract

We have detected two paralogs of the tRNA endonuclease gene of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii in the genome of the crenarchaeote Sulfolobus solfataricus. This finding has led to the discovery of a previously unrecognized oligomeric form of the enzyme. The two genes code for two different subunits, both of which are required for cleavage of the pre-tRNA substrate. Thus, there are now three forms of tRNA endonuclease in the Archaea: a homotetramer in some Euryarchaea, a homodimer in other Euryarchaea, and a heterotetramer in the Crenarchaea and the Nanoarchaea. The last-named enzyme, arising most likely by gene duplication and subsequent “subfunctionalization,” requires the products of both genes to be active.

Footnotes

  • ↵ ‡ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: g.tocchini{at}ibc.cnr.it.

  • This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the PNAS office.

  • Abbreviations: METJA, Methanocaldococcus jannaschii; SULSO, Sulfolobus solfataricus; ARCFU, Archaeoglobus fulgidus; SULTO, Sulfolobus tokodaii; AERPE, Aeropyrum pernix; PYRAE, Pyrobaculum aerophilum; HALVO, Haloarcula marismortui; HALN1, Halobacterium sp.; METTH, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus; METKA, Methanopyrus kandleri; METAC, Methanosarcina acetivorans; METBA, Methanosarcina barkeri; METMA, Methanosarcina mazei; PYRAB, Pyrococcus abyssi; PYRFU, Pyrococcus furiosus; PYRHO, Pyrococcus horikoshii; FERAC, Ferroplasma acidarmanus; THEAC, Thermoplasma acidophilum; THEVO, Thermoplasma volcanium; NANEQ, Nanonarcheum equitans; CR, C-terminal repeat; NR, N-terminal repeat.

  • See Commentary on page 8791.

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  1. Published online before print June 3, 2005, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0502350102 PNAS June 21, 2005 vol. 102 no. 25 8933-8938
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