In vivo and in vitro investigation of bacterial type B RNase P interaction with tRNA 3′-CCA

For catalysis by bacterial type B RNase P, the importance of a specific interaction with p(recursor)tRNA 3′-CCA termini is yet unclear. We show that mutation of one of the two G residues assumed to interact with 3′-CCA in type B RNase P RNAs inhibits cell growth, but cell viability is at least partially restored at increased RNase P levels due to RNase P protein overexpression. The in vivo defects of the mutant enzymes correlated with an enzyme defect at low Mg(2+) in vitro. For Bacillus subtilis RNase P, an isosteric C259-G(74) bp fully and a C258-G(75) bp slightly rescued catalytic proficiency, demonstrating Watson–Crick base pairing to tRNA 3′-CCA but also emphasizing the importance of the base identity of the 5′-proximal G residue (G258). We infer the defect of the mutant enzymes to primarily lie in the recruitment of catalytically relevant Mg(2+), with a possible contribution from altered RNA folding. Although with reduced efficiency, B. subtilis RNase P is able to cleave CCA-less ptRNAs in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that the observed in vivo defects upon disruption of the CCA interaction are either due to a global deceleration in ptRNA maturation or severe inhibition of 5′-maturation for a ptRNA subset.