Abstact

The RNA lariat debranching enzyme, Dbr1, is a metallophosphoesterase that cleaves 2'-5' phosphodiester bonds within intronic lariats. Previous reports have indicated that Dbr1 enzymatic activity is supported by diverse metal ions including Ni2+ , Mn2+ , Mg2+ , Fe2+ , and Zn2+ . While in initial structures of the Entamoeba histolytica Dbr1 only one of the two catalytic metal-binding sites were observed to be occupied (with a Mn2+ ion), recent structures determined a Zn2+ /Fe2+ heterobinucleation. We solved a high-resolution X-ray crystal structure (1.8 Å) of the E. histolytica Dbr1 and determined a Zn2+ /Mn2+ occupancy. ICP-AES corroborate this finding, and in vitro debranching assays with fluorescently labeled branched substrates confirm activity.