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An RNA pocket for an aliphatic hydrophobe

Nature Structural Biology volume 1, pages 287–292 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

We have isolated an RNA with specific affinity for the L-valine side chain, using selection-amplification. The active RNA secondary structure, identified by repeated selection, is a highly conserved asymmetric (4:10) internal loop adjacent to required G-U pairs. The binding free-energy per methylene is up to 1.5 kcal mol−1 and very dependent on group position. Amino acid binding is L-stereoselective and distinguishes aliphatic sidechains by size and, given the same total size, by configuration. Though aliphatic-RNA interactions have frequently been neglected, their avidity and specificity seem sufficient for a biological role.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0347, USA

    Irene Majerfeld & Michael Yarus

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  1. Irene Majerfeld
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  2. Michael Yarus
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Majerfeld, I., Yarus, M. An RNA pocket for an aliphatic hydrophobe. Nat Struct Mol Biol 1, 287–292 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb0594-287

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