The 23S

rRNA Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA which is the primary component of ribosomes, essential to all cells. rRNA is a ribozyme which carries out protein synthesis in ribosomes. Ribosomal RNA is transcribed from ribosoma ...

is a 2,904

nucleotide Nucleotides are organic molecules consisting of a nucleoside and a phosphate. They serve as monomeric units of the nucleic acid polymers – deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), both of which are essential biomolecules wi ...

long (in '' E. coli'') component of the large subunit ( 50S) of the bacterial/archean ribosome and makes up the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). The 23S rRNA is divided into six secondary structural domains titled I-VI, with the corresponding 5S rRNA being considered domain VII. The ribosomal

peptidyl transferase The peptidyl transferase is an aminoacyltransferase () as well as the primary enzymatic function of the ribosome, which forms peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids using tRNAs during the translation process of protein biosynthesis. The subst ...

activity resides in domain V of this rRNA, which is also the most common binding site for antibiotics that inhibit translation, making it a target for ribosomal engineering. A well-known member of this antibiotic class,

chloramphenicol Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes use as an eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis. By mouth or by injection into a vein, it is used to treat meningitis, plague, cholera, a ...

, acts by inhibiting peptide bond formation, with recent 3D-structural studies showing two different binding sites depending on the species of ribosome. Numerous mutations in domains of the 23S rRNA with Peptidyl transferase activity have resulted in antibiotic resistance. 23S rRNA genes typically have higher sequence variations, including insertions and/or deletions, compared to other rRNAs. The eukaryotic homolog of the 23S

LSU rRNA Large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (LSU rRNA) is the largest of the two major RNA components of the ribosome. Associated with a number of ribosomal proteins, the LSU rRNA forms the large subunit of the ribosome. The LSU rRNA acts as a rib ...

is the 28S ribosomal RNA, with a region filled by the 5.8S ribosomal RNA.

23S rRNA Functions

In general, rRNA has an essential function of peptidyl transferase. The stimulating core of the ribosome plays role in the peptide bond configuration. Both peptidyl-tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA are important for protein synthesis and transpeptidation response.

Essential Bases

However, 23S rRNA positions (G2252, A2451, U2506, and U2585) have a significant function for tRNA binding in the P site of the large ribosomal subunit. These modification nucleotides in site P can inhibit peptidyl-tRNA from binding. U2555 modification can also intervene with transferring peptidyl-tRNA to puromycin. Furthermore, the chemical modification of half of these positions G2251, G2253, A2439, and U2584 can not prevent the tRNA binding. Peptidyl-tRNA of 50S subunits which binds to the P site preserve eight positions of 23S rRNA from chemical modification. On the other hand, mutation in 23S rRNA can also have impacts on cell growth. Mutations A1912G, A1919G and Ψ1917C have a powerful growth phenotypes and they prevent translation while mutation A1916G has a simple growth phenotype and it leads to defect in the 50S subunits.

23S rRNA Helix 26a

The 23S ribosomal RNA is composed of six domains forming a complex network of molecular interactions. A central single-stranded region connects all of the domains through base-pairing of the two halves, forming Helix 26a. Some consider Helix 26a to be Domain 0 due to its action as a central core and compact folding unit. Comparison of 23S and 28S ribosomal RNA sequences across species demonstrate conservation of Helix 26a. Helices continue to provide the support as the backbone of domain architecture.

Plastid

Chloroplast ribosomes from "higher" plants have an additional 4.5S rRNA created by fragmentation of 23S. It is located to the 3' side of 23S in the

rRNA operon Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is a DNA sequence that codes for ribosomal RNA. These sequences regulate transcription initiation and amplification, and contain both transcribed and non-transcribed spacer segments. In the human genome there are 5 chromos ...

and corresponds to the 3' end of non-fragmented 23S rRNA.

References

External links