Substrate selectivity by the exonuclease Rrp6p Journal Article


Authors: Axhemi, A.; Wasmuth, E. V.; Lima, C. D.; Jankowsky, E.
Article Title: Substrate selectivity by the exonuclease Rrp6p
Abstract: The exoribonuclease Rrp6p is critical for RNA decay in the nucleus. While Rrp6p acts on a large range of diverse substrates, it does not indiscriminately degrade all RNAs. How Rrp6p accomplishes this task is not understood. Here, we measure Rrp6p-RNA binding and degradation kinetics in vitro at single-nucleotide resolution and find an intrinsic substrate selectivity that enables Rrp6p to discriminate against specific RNAs. RNA length and the four 3'-terminal nucleotides contribute most to substrate selectivity and collectively enable Rrp6p to discriminate between different RNAs by several orders of magnitude. The most pronounced discrimination is seen against RNAs ending with CCA-3'. These RNAs correspond to 3' termini of uncharged tRNAs, which are not targeted by Rrp6p in cells. The data show that in contrast to many other proteins that use substrate selectivity to preferentially interact with specific RNAs, Rrp6p utilizes its selectivity to discriminate against specific RNAs. This ability allows Rrp6p to target diverse substrates while avoiding a subset of RNAs. © 2020 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Keywords: rna; kinetics; specificity
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume: 117
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0027-8424
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences  
Date Published: 2020-01-14
Start Page: 982
End Page: 992
Language: English
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913236117
PUBMED: 31879344
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6969501
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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  1. Christopher D Lima
    103 Lima
  2. Elizabeth Wasmuth
    12 Wasmuth