Crystal Structure of the Spliceosomal 15.5Kd Protein Bound to a U4 Snrna Fragment
Vidovic, I., Nottrott, S., Hartmuth, K., Luhrmann, R., Ficner, R.(2000) Mol Cell 6: 1331
- PubMed: 11163207 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1097-2765(00)00131-3
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1E7K - PubMed Abstract: 
We have determined the crystal structure of a spliceosomal RNP complex comprising the 15.5kD protein of the human U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP and the 5' stem-loop of U4 snRNA. The protein interacts almost exclusively with a purine-rich (5+2) internal loop within the 5' stem-loop, giving an unusual RNA fold characterized by two tandem sheared G-A base pairs, a high degree of purine stacking, and the accommodation of a single RNA base, rotated out of the RNA chain, in a pocket of the protein. Apart from yielding the structure of an important entity in the pre-mRNA splicing apparatus, this work also implies a model for the complex of the 15.5kD protein with box C/D snoRNAs. It additionally suggests a general recognition principle in a novel family of RNA binding proteins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institut für Molekularbiologie und Tumorforschung, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Emil-Mannkopff-Strasse 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany.