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A membrane transporter for tryptophan composed of RNA

Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347, USA

Reprint requests to: Michael Yarus, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347, USA; e-mail: yarus{at}buffmail.colorado.edu; fax: (303) 492-7744

We have incorporated an RNA binding site for the biological amino acid tryptophan within an RNA complex with affinity for phospholipid bilayer membranes. The resulting RNA (9:10_Trp) creates a selective route through the bilayer for the amino acid. Binding and enhanced tryptophan permeability are nonlinear in RNA concentration, suggesting that RNA aggregation is required for both. Tryptophan permeability saturates with increased concentration, though at ~1000-fold greater level than when binding a free aptamer. The RNA (9:10_Trp) complex, bound at a mean of two per liposome, halves the activation energy for tryptophan transport (to 46 kJ/mole), specifically increasing tryptophan entry to a maximal velocity of 0.5 sec^-1 per liposome with little or no accompanying increase in general permeability. Individual RNAs turn over tens of thousands of times at high tryptophan concentration. Thus, a specific passive membrane transporter whose properties overlap those of single-molecule transporter proteins, can be made of RNA alone. Permeability changes probably rely on disturbances in lipid conformation as well as on an advantageous low free energy position for tryptophan at the membrane. Other RNA activities may yield other RNA-membrane nanosystems via this route.

Keywords: carrier; selection; amino acid; nucleic acid; phospholipids; ribocyte

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