Spliceosomal fidelity - RNA update

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Spliceosomal fidelity

15 Aug 2005

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=29128

Pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is an integral step in gene

expression, removing introns that would otherwise disrupt the coding

potential of gene transcripts. As published in the August 15th issue

of G & D, Drs. Tommaso Villa and Guthrie at UCSF have

identified a novel splicing fidelity factor, as well as provide

additional evidence for a two-step model of pre-mRNA splicing.

The researchers found that deletion of the yeast gene ISY1 reduces

the efficiency of the first step of the splicing reaction and

decreases 3'-splice site accuracy. Dr. Villa and Guthrie believe that

Isy1p interacts with the ATPase Prp16p to regulate spliceosomal

conformation, and thereby the fidelity of pre-mRNA splicing.

Dr. Guthrie explains that " 15 years ago we hypothesized that the

ATPase Prp16 acted as a proofreading clock to limit errors in

splicing; the isolation of a Prp16 antagonist (Isy1) provides

critical validation for this model and identifies an unexpected

fidelity factor. "

Cosel

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

cshl.org