{
  "abstract": "RNA cleavage and processing are highly conserved regulatory mechanisms across bacteria. We recently discovered a novel family of RNases called YicC, conserved across all bacteria but unrelated to known RNase families. The cryo-EM structure of RNA bound to Escherichia coli YicC endonuclease suggested a clamshell-like ribonuclease mechanism for cleavage, although its exact mechanism and function remain elusive. Here, we report new cryo-EM structures that provide snapshots of the closing of the complex and also capture a surprising dimeric-RNA:protein complex. We further characterize the RNA cleavage targets in solution using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and use all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study Mg2+ binding. Our findings suggest that the YicC family can bind RNA hairpin structures and dimeric conformations with appropriate sequence and structural constraints, with cleavage driven strongly by Mg2+ ion localization. This study therefore provides overall insight into the novel cleavage mechanism of the highly conserved family of YicC-like endoribonucleases.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "R. Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Venkatesh"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Lansiquot"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. A. Barnes"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Golestanian"
    },
    {
      "name": "O. Rechkoblit"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. N. Jones"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. H. Bechhofer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. B. Lazarus"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/130ezjwbwbr3j.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.15.751841",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751841v1.full",
  "id": "130ezjwbwbr3j",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751841v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "biochemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213499893",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751841v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/130ezjwbwbr3j.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.15.751841",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.15.751841v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Structural and biophysical insights into the unique RNase YicC",
  "title_text": "Structural and biophysical insights into the unique RNase YicC",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:55Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/130ezjwbwbr3j",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}