Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41986363›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Structural basis for protein-free catalysis by ribonuclease P ribozyme.

Yun-Tzai Lee, Maximilia F S Degenhardt, Ilias Skeparnias, Szu-Yun Chen, Bapurao A Bhoge, Sergey G Tarasov, Marzena A Dyba, Jinwei Zhang, Jason R Stagno, Yun-Xing Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yun-Tzai LeeProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8123-6207
Maximilia F S DegenhardtProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4522-377X
Ilias SkeparniasLaboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Szu-Yun ChenProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
Bapurao A BhogeProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
Sergey G TarasovBiophysics Resource, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
Marzena A DybaBiophysics Resource, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
Jinwei ZhangLaboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA. jinwei.zhang@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2114-173X
Jason R StagnoProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA. jason.stagno@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6464-7829
Yun-Xing WangProtein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA. wangyunx@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2175-0148

Funding

Noncoding RNA structures and interactions in cellular stress responses and immunityZIADK075136 · NIDDK · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES · PI ZHANG, JINWEI · 2016 to 2025
$23.2M
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) ZIA BC 010379, ZIC BC 011535, and ZIA BC 011669U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases) ZIA DK 075136
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an essential metallonuclease found in all three domains of life. However, the structural basis for the ancient RNase P RNA component acting alone as a ribozyme and catalytic metal-ion chemistry remains unknown. We report a series of cryo-EM structures, at resolutions of 2.8-3.5 Å, of the Geobacillus stearothermophilus RNase P aporibozyme (apoE) in various states of the catalytic cycle. The formation of both the tetraloop/tetraloop-receptor interaction and the interdigitated double T-loop motif in the substrate-specificity domain facilitates substrate binding. The apoE uses two metal ions for catalysis, suggesting a catalytic mechanism and evolutionary importance of the RNase P ribozyme to function without its protein component. Together, our data portray the regulatory RNA-RNA interfaces, dynamic structures, and cation traffic that confer function to a trans-acting ribozyme.

Indexed as

Geobacillus stearothermophilusRibonuclease PRNA, CatalyticBiocatalysisCatalysisCryoelectron MicroscopyModels, MolecularNucleic Acid ConformationSubstrate SpecificityRibonuclease PRNA, Catalytic

Identifiers

PMID41986363
PMCPMC13254310

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.