Structure of human RNase L reveals the basis for regulated RNA decay in the IFN response

Yuchen Han, Jesse Donovan, Sneha Rath, Gena Whitney, Alisha Chitrakar, Alexei Korennykh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the hallmark mechanisms activated by type I interferons (IFNs) in human tissues involves cleavage of intracellular RNA by the kinase homology endoribonuclease RNase L. We report 2.8 and 2.1 angstrom crystal structures of human RNase L in complexes with synthetic and natural ligands and a fragment of an RNA substrate. RNase L forms a crossed homodimer stabilized by ankyrin (ANK) and kinase homology (KH) domains, which positions two kinase extension nuclease (KEN) domains for asymmetric RNA recognition. One KEN protomer recognizes an identity nucleotide (U), whereas the other protomer cleaves RNA between nucleotides +1 and +2. The coordinated action of the ANK, KH, and KEN domains thereby provides regulated, sequence-specific cleavage of viral and host RNA targets by RNase L.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1244-1248
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume343
Issue number6176
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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