Ionic interactions between PRNA and P protein in Bacillus subtilis RNase P characterized using a magnetocapture-based assay

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein complex that catalyzes the cleavage of the 5' end of precursor tRNA. To characterize the interface between the Bacillus subtilis RNA (PRNA) and protein (P protein) components, the intraholoenzyme K-D is determined as a function of ionic strength using a magnetocapture-based assay. Three distinct phases are evident. At low ionic strength, the affinity of PRNA for P protein is enhanced as the ionic strength increases mainly due to stabilization of the PRNA structure by cations. Lithium substitution in lieu of potassium enhances the affinity at low ionic strength, whereas the addition of ATP, known to stabilize the structure of P protein, does not affect the affinity. At high ionic strength, the observed affinity decreases as the ionic strength increases, consistent with disruption of ionic interactions. These data indicate that three to four ions are released on formation of holoenzyme, reflecting the number of ion pairs that occur between the P protein and PRNA. At moderate ionic strength, the two effects balance so that the apparent K-D, is not dependent on the ionic strength. The K-D between the catalytic domain (C domain) and P protein has a similar triphasic dependence on ionic strength. Furthermore, the intraholoenzyme K-D is identical to or tighter than that of full-length PRNA, demonstrating that the P protein binds solely to the C domain. Finally, pre-tRNA(asp) (but not tRNA(asp)) stabilizes the PRNA-P protein complex, as predicted by the direct interaction between the P protein and pre-tRNA leader.