Tobacco acid pyrophosphatase
Tobacco Acid Pyrophosphatase (TAP) is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of a phosphoric ester bond in a broad spectrum of molecules,[1] including the 5'-end of mRNA.
During mRNA maturation the 5' triphosphate of the new mRNA molecule is rapidly removed. The diphosphate 5' end then attacks the α-phosphorus atom of a methylated GTP to form a very unusual 5'-5' triphosphate linkage, called cap.[2] In molecular biology, TAP is used to hydrolyse a phosphodiester bond of this particular structure and release a mRNA molecule with only one phosphate group in the 5'-end,[3] for instance in protocols for RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends).
References[edit]
- ^ Shinshi H, Miwa M, Kato K, Noguchi M, Matsushima T, Sugimura T (1976). "A novel phosphodiesterase from cultured tobacco cells". Biochemistry. 15 (10): 2185–90. doi:10.1021/bi00655a024. PMID 6041.
- ^ JEREMY M. BERG; JOHN L. TYMOCZKOL; LUBERT STRYER (2002). Biochemistry (28.3.1 ed.).Online version
- ^ Lockard, RE; Rieser, L; Vournakis JN. (1981). "Labeling of eukaryotic messenger RNA 5' terminus with phosphorus -32: use of tobacco acid pyrophosphatase for removal of cap structures". Gene Amplif Anal. 2: 229–51. PMID 6152889.