YbeY metalloendoribonuclease (YBEY)

YbeY metalloendoribonuclease (YBEY) is a highly conserved single strand-specific metallo-endoribonuclease found in bacteria and eukaryotes, including humans[3][2]. It is essential for the maturation and quality control of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), specifically involved in the final steps of 16S rRNA processing and late-stage 70S ribosome quality control[1][2][8]. YbeY is a zinc-dependent enzyme, with its nuclease activity strictly reliant on Zn²⁺ at the active site, coordinated by three histidine residues and additional ligands from RNA substrates[1][4]. Loss or depletion of YbeY impairs ribosome assembly, disrupts rRNA maturation, increases vulnerability to environmental stresses, and reduces bacterial virulence[1]. In humans, the YBEY gene (formerly C21orf57) encodes a protein thought to carry out similar roles in mitochondrial rRNA processing, though its clinical implications are still being researched[3][5]. YbeY belongs to the endoribonuclease and metalloprotein enzyme classes[2], and, while not a routine therapeutic target, is of interest in antibacterial drug development due to its essential rRNA metabolic roles in pathogens[1].

Other names

Endoribonuclease YbeYC21orf57rRNA maturation factor homologYbey metallopeptidase (putative)putative ribonucleaseputative metalloprotease C21orf57