3-D Graphics Modelling of the tRNA-Like 3′-End of Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus RNA: Structural and Functional Implications

Abstract

The tRNA-like structure of the aminoacylatable 3′-end of turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) RNA was submitted to 3-D graphics modelling. A. model of this structure has been inferred previously from both biochemical results and sequence comparisons which presents a new RNA folding feature, the “pseudoknot”. It has been verified that this structure can be constructed without compromising accepted RNA stereochemical rules, namely base stacking and preferential 3′-endo sugar pucker. The model has aided interpretation of previous structural mapping experiments using chemical and enzymatic probes, and new accessibilities of residues could be predicted and tested. Pseudoknots have been considered as potential splice sites because they form antiparallel helical segments in a single RNA molecule. We have examined this possibility with the constructed 3-D model and could verify the hypothesis on a structural basis. The model presents a striking similarity with canonical tRNA and allows a valuable comparison between the protection patterns of yeast tRNA^Val and tRNA-like viral RNA by cognate yeast valyl-tRNA synthetase against structural probes.