Structural insight into precursor tRNA processing by yeast ribonuclease P

Structures of eukaryotic ribonuclease P Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribozyme that processes transfer RNA (tRNA) precursors and is found in all three kingdoms of life. Now, Lan et al. report the structures of yeast RNase P (see the Perspective by Scott and Nagai). The aporibozyme structure reveals how the protein components stabilize the RNA and explains how the structural roles of bacterial RNA elements have been delegated to the protein components in RNase P of higher organisms during evolution. The structure of yeast RNase P in complex with its natural substrate, a tRNA precursor, demonstrates the structural basis for substrate recognition and provides insights into its catalytic mechanism. Science , this issue p. eaat6678 ; see also p. 644