The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 

Two-metal ion mechanism of RNA cleavage by HIV RNase H and mechanism-based design of selective HIV RNase H inhibitors.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNase H activity is essential for the synthesis of viral DNA by HIV reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). RNA cleavage by RNase H requires the presence of divalent metal ions, but the role of metal ions in the mechanism of RNA cleavage has not been resolved. We measured HIV RNase H activity associated with HIV-RT protein in the presence of different concentrations of either Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+ or a combination of these divalent metal ions. Polymerase-independent HIV RNase H was similar to or more active with Mn2+ and Co2+ compared with Mg2+. Activation of RNase H by these metal ions followed sigmoidal dose-response curves suggesting cooperative metal ion binding. Titration of Mg2+-bound HIV RNase H with Mn2+ or Co2+ ions generated bell-shaped activity dose-response curves. Higher activity could be achieved through simultaneous binding of more than one divalent metal ion at intermediate Mn2+ and Co2+ concentrations, and complete replacement of Mg2+ occurred at higher Mn2+ or Co2+ concentrations. These results are consistent with a two-metal ion mechanism of RNA cleavage as previously suggested for a number of polymerase-associated nucleases. In contrast, the structurally highly homologous RNase HI from Escherichia coli is most strongly activated by Mg2+, is significantly inhibited by submillimolar concentrations of Mn2+ and most probably cleaves RNA via a one-metal ion mechanism. Based on this difference in active site structure, a series of small molecule N-hydroxyimides was identified with significant enzyme inhibitory potency and selectivity for HIV RNase H.[1]

References

  1. Two-metal ion mechanism of RNA cleavage by HIV RNase H and mechanism-based design of selective HIV RNase H inhibitors. Klumpp, K., Hang, J.Q., Rajendran, S., Yang, Y., Derosier, A., Wong Kai In, P., Overton, H., Parkes, K.E., Cammack, N., Martin, J.A. Nucleic Acids Res. (2003) [Pubmed]
 
WikiGenes - Universities