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At adskille signaler fra støj: Hvordan cellekemer håndterer RNA-kaos

Når vores gener transkriberes til RNA, sker der ofte fejl tidligt i processen. I en særudgave af tidsskriftet Molecular Cell med fokus på RNA-biologi diskuterer William Garland og Torben Heick Jensen fra MBG de tidlige mekanismer for kvalitetskontrol, som sikrer den rette sammensætning af RNA-molekyler i vores celler.

Figure legend: RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is prone to premature termination during the early stages of transcription releasing a flood of short RNAs. Quality control mechanisms, including the central ARS2 protein and its RNA effectors, sort these short RNAs into their productive or non-productive pathways.

In mammalian cells, RNA production often encounters obstacles during the early stages of transcription. This results in the release of an overwhelming abundance of cryptic short RNAs, that are hazardous to proper RNA function (Figure, top panel). To navigate this, cells have evolved intricate mechanisms to quickly identify and eliminate such transcripts. These sorting systems are essential for maintaining the balance between functional and non-functional RNAs, establishing rigorous quality control so that only selected molecules survive.

 In a special issue of Molecular Cell focussed on RNA biology, William Garland and Torben Heick Jensen have reviewed these early quality control mechanisms that shape the short RNA landscape in our cells. In line with recent breakthroughs in the field, the review highlights the ARS2 protein as being central for negotiating the fate of short RNAs. Through a specific effector domain, ARS2 may interact with various productive and destructive effector proteins (Figure, bottom panel) that all harbour a corresponding ARS2 recruitment motif (ARM).

The review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and interaction modes for RNA fate decisions – a valuable resource for future research into these complex molecular mechanisms and RNA biology as a whole.

 

Den videnskabelige artikel:

Nuclear sorting of short RNA polymerase II transcripts.

William Garland and Torben Heick Jensen.

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark.

Molecular Cell 84, October 3 (2024)https://doi.org/10/1016/j.molcel.2024.08.024

 

SUPPLERENDE OPLYSNINGER

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Studietype:

Review

Ekstern finansiering:

Arbejdet i Torben Heick Jensens forskningsgruppe er støtte af Danmarks Frie Forskningsråd, Lundbeck-fonden og Novo Nordisk-fonden

Interessekonflikt:

Ingen

 


Mere information

Torben Heick Jensen
Institut for Molekylærbiologi og Genetik
Aarhus Universitet
thj@mbg.au.dk