RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Anticodon-like loop-mediated dimerization in the crystal structures of HdV-like CPEB3 ribozymes JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2022.09.22.508989 DO 10.1101/2022.09.22.508989 A1 Anna Ilaria Przytula-Mally A1 Sylvain Engilberge A1 Silke Johannsen A1 Vincent Olieric A1 BenoƮt Masquida A1 Roland K.O. Sigel YR 2022 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/09/22/2022.09.22.508989.abstract AB Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding (CPEB) proteins are involved in many different cellular processes including cell division, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. A highly conserved, short mammalian ribozyme has been found within the second intron of the CPEB3 gene. Based on its cleavage mechanism and structural features, this ribozyme belongs to the hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-like ribozyme family. Here, we present the first crystallographic structures of human and chimpanzee CPEB3 ribozymes both confirming the general topology of the HDV ribozyme with two parallel co-axial helical stacks. However, the residues involved in the formation of the characteristic double-nested pseudoknot P1.1 instead participate in a seven nucleotides loop with a conformation identical to the one found in the anticodon (AC) loop of tRNAs. The conformation of the loop supports the formation of a 4 base pair helix by interacting with an AC-like loop from a symmetry-related ribozyme leading to ribozyme dimer formation. Comparing the present crystal structures to the one from the genomic HDV ribozyme shows how nucleotides with different identities adopt distinct behaviours. These new snapshots suggest unforeseen relationships between the genomic, the antigenomic versions of the HDV ribozyme and the CPEB3 ribozyme.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.