TRNase Z (, ''3 tRNase'', ''tRNA 3 endonuclease'', ''RNase Z'', ''3' tRNase'') is an

enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

that, among other things, catalyses the reactions involved in the maturation of

tRNA Transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), formerly referred to as soluble ribonucleic acid (sRNA), is an adaptor molecule composed of RNA, typically 76 to 90 nucleotides in length (in eukaryotes). In a cell, it provides the physical link between the gene ...

s. Here, it endonucleolytically cleaves the

RNA Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyrib ...

and removes extra 3'

nucleotide Nucleotides are Organic compound, organic molecules composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar and a phosphate. They serve as monomeric units of the nucleic acid polymers – deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), both o ...

s from the tRNA precursor, generating the 3' termini of

s. A 3'-

hydroxy group In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydroxy ...

is left at the tRNA terminus and a 5'- phosphoryl group is left at the trailer molecule. Similarly, it processes tRNA-like molecules such as mascRNA.

References

External links

* {{Portal bar, Biology, border=no EC 3.1.26