YRA1, an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, encodes a novel nuclear protein with RNA annealing activity.
Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: The complexity of eukaryotic mRNA processing suggests a need for certain factors, called RNA chaperones, that can modulate RNA secondary structure as well as the interactions between pre-mRNA and trans-acting components. To identify factors that may fulfill this role in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we fractionated whole-cell extracts and assayed for activity that could facilitate a specific RNA-RNA annealing reaction. We detected one strong RNA annealing activity and purified it to homogeneity. This previously undescribed factor, Yra1p, is localized to the nucleus; its sequence contains one RNP-motif RNA-binding domain. The YRA1 gene contains a 766-nt intron, the second-largest identified in this organism, and Yra1p serves an essential, nonredundant function. Taken together, our findings indicate that Yra1p is likely to have an important role in S. cerevisiae nuclear pre-mRNA metabolism.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: D S Portman, J P O'Connor, G Dreyfuss
Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Topic: RNA Research and Splicing
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1923529605