RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Molecular Mechanism Underlying Inhibition of Intrinsic ATPase Activity in a Ski2-like RNA Helicase JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 758169 DO 10.1101/758169 A1 Eva Absmeier A1 Karine F. Santos A1 Markus C. Wahl YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/09/05/758169.abstract AB RNA-dependent NTPases can act as RNA/RNA-protein remodeling enzymes and typically exhibit low NTPase activity in the absence of RNA/RNA-protein substrates. How futile intrinsic NTP hydrolysis is prevented is frequently not known. The ATPase/RNA helicase Brr2 belongs to the Ski2-like family of nucleic acid-dependent NTPases and is an integral component of the spliceosome. Comprehensive nucleotide binding and hydrolysis studies are not available for a member of the Ski2-like family. We present crystal structures of Chaetomium thermophilum Brr2 in the apo, ADP-bound and ATPyS-bound states, revealing nucleotide-induced conformational changes and a hitherto unknown ATPyS binding mode. Our results in conjunction with Brr2 structures in other molecular contexts reveal multiple molecular mechanisms that contribute to the inhibition of intrinsic ATPase activity, including an N-terminal region that restrains the RecA-like domains in an open conformation and exclusion of an attacking water molecule, and suggest how RNA substrate binding can lead to ATPase stimulation.HIGHLIGHTSCrystal structures of Brr2 in complex with different adenine nucleotides.The Brr2 N-terminal region counteracts conformational changes induced by ATP binding.Brr2 excludes an attacking water molecule in the absence of substrate RNA.Different helicase families resort to different NTPase mechanisms.