Bacterial RNase P proteins and their use in identifying antibacterial compounds
First Claim
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1. An isolated polypeptide comprising an RNase P consensus sequence, said polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 55, wherein said polypeptide has RNase P protein activity.
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Abstract
The invention features novel RNase P molecules and nucleic acids encoding the same. Methods for discovery of antimicrobial compounds are also featured.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An isolated polypeptide comprising an RNase P consensus sequence, said polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 55, wherein said polypeptide has RNase P protein activity.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of identifying an antibiotic agent, said method comprising:
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i) contacting an RNase P holoenzyme comprising an RNase P polypeptide and having RNase P protein activity with an RNase P substrate in the presence and in the absence of a compound, wherein said RNase P polypeptide comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;
55; and
iii) measuring the enzymatic activity of said holoenzyme, said measuring comprising determining the fluorescence polarization level of a fluorescently tagged oligonucleotide that hybridizes to either the cleaved or intact form of said substrate;
wherein said compound is identified as an antibiotic agent if said compound produces a detectable decrease in said RNase P enzymatic activity as compared to activity in the absence of said compound. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of identifying a polypeptide with an RNase P polypeptide consensus sequence, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying a polypeptide that has sequence identity to a known RNase P polypeptide; and
(b) determining if said identified polypeptide of step (a) conserves at least nine of the following twenty amino acids in the E. coli RNase P protein sequence;
R11, L12, F18, R46, G48, V51, K53, K54, A59, V60, R62, N63, K66, R67, R70, L80, D84, V86, L101, and L105, wherein the numbering of said twenty amino acids refers to that of E. coli RNase P, and wherein a polypeptide that does conserve at least nine of said twenty amino acids in the E. coli RNase P protein sequence is a polypeptide with an RNase P consensus sequence. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification