From conformational chaos to robust regulation: the structure and function of a multi-enzyme machine from RNA metabolism

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• Prof. Ben Luisi Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
• Wednesday 13 October 2010, 10:30-11:30
• Unilever Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Alfonso De Simone.

The RNA degradosome is a massive multi-enzyme assembly found in Escherichia coli and many other bacteria, and it occupies a nexus in RNA metabolism and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Functioning as a macromolecular machine that powers the turnover and quality control of RNA , the degradosome serves also to process structured RNA precursors during their maturation. The capacity to switch between modes of cooperative degradation on the one hand and processing through restrained cleavages on the other bears on the mechanism of RNA surveillance in all organisms. The organisation of degradosome components and cellular comparmentalisation are mediated through small recognition domains that punctuate a natively unstructured segment within a scaffolding core. Dynamic in conformation, variable in composition, and non-essential under certain laboratory conditions, the degradosome has nonetheless been maintained throughout the evolution of many bacterial species, most likely due to its contributions to global cellular regulation. The presentation will describe the modular architecture and molecular evolution of the degradosome, its roles in RNA degradation, quality control surveillance, processing, non-coding RNA regulation, and potential communication with central metabolism. Parallels with analogous machinery in other organisms will be described.

This talk is part of the Biophysical Colloquia series.

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