RNA pseudoknots and the regulation of protein synthesis

RNA pseudoknots are structural elements found in almost all classes of RNA. Pseudoknots form when a single-stranded region in the loop of a hairpin base-pairs with a stretch of complementary nucleotides elsewhere in the RNA chain. This simple folding strategy is capable of generating a large number...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBiochemical Society transactions Vol. 36; no. Pt 4; p. 684
Main Authors Brierley, Ian, Gilbert, Robert J C, Pennell, Simon
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.08.2008
Subjects
Animals
Humans
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Protein Biosynthesis
RNA - chemistry
RNA - genetics
RNA, Messenger - genetics
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Summary:RNA pseudoknots are structural elements found in almost all classes of RNA. Pseudoknots form when a single-stranded region in the loop of a hairpin base-pairs with a stretch of complementary nucleotides elsewhere in the RNA chain. This simple folding strategy is capable of generating a large number of stable three-dimensional folds that display a diverse range of highly specific functions in a variety of biological processes. The present review focuses on pseudoknots that act in the regulation of protein synthesis using cellular and viral examples to illustrate their versatility. Emphasis is placed on structurally well-defined pseudoknots that play a role in internal ribosome entry, autoregulation of initiation, ribosomal frameshifting during elongation and trans-translation.
ISSN:0300-5127
DOI:10.1042/bst0360684