EuRBPDB

Pfam

The PUA domain named after Pseudouridine synthase and Archaeosine transglycosylase, was detected in archaeal and eukaryotic pseudouridine synthases, archaeal archaeosine synthases, a family of predicted ATPases that may be involved in RNA modification, a family of predicted archaeal and bacterial rRNA methylases. Additionally, the PUA domain was detected in a family of eukaryotic proteins that also contain a domain homologous to the translation initiation factor eIF1/SUI1; these proteins may comprise a novel type of translation factors. Unexpectedly, the PUA domain was detected also in bacterial and yeast glutamate kinases; this is compatible with the demonstrated role of these enzymes in the regulation of the expression of other genes [1]. It is predicted that the PUA domain is an RNA binding domain.

InterPro

The PUA (PseudoUridine synthase and Archaeosine transglycosylase) domain was named after the proteins in which it was first found [PUBMED:10093218]. PUA is a highly conserved RNA-binding motif found in a wide range of archaeal, bacterial and eukaryotic proteins, including enzymes that catalyse tRNA and rRNA post-transcriptional modifications, proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis and translation, as well as in enzymes involved in proline biosynthesis [PUBMED:16793063, PUBMED:16407303]. The structures of several PUA-RNA complexes reveal a common RNA recognition surface, but also some versatility in the way in which the motif binds to RNA [PUBMED:17803682]. PUA motifs are involved in dyskeratosis congenita and cancer, pointing to links between RNA metabolism and human diseases [PUBMED:16943774].

1. Aravind L, Koonin EV; , J Mol Evol 1999;48:291-302.: Novel predicted RNA-binding domains associated with the translation machinery. PUBMED:10093218 EPMC:10093218.