Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
10799305 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms 2008 11 Pages PDF
Abstract
Terminal RNA uridylyltransferases (TUTases) are functionally and structurally diverse nucleotidyl transferases that catalyze template-independent 3′ uridylylation of RNAs. Within the DNA polymerase β-type superfamily, TUTases are closely related to non-canonical poly(A) polymerases. Studies of U-insertion/deletion RNA editing in mitochondria of trypanosomatids identified the first TUTase proteins and their cellular functions: post-transcriptional uridylylation of guide RNAs by RNA editing TUTase 1 (RET1) and U-insertion mRNA editing by RNA editing TUTase 2 (RET2). The editing TUTases possess conserved catalytic and nucleotide base recognition domains, yet differ in quaternary structure, substrate specificity and processivity. The cytosolic TUTases TUT3 and TUT4 have also been identified in trypanosomes but their biological roles remain to be established. Structural analyses have revealed a mechanism of cognate nucleoside triphosphate selection by TUTases, which includes protein-UTP contacts as well as contribution of the RNA substrate. This review focuses on biological functions and structures of trypanosomal TUTases.
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Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Biochemistry
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