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Exploring the Arginine Methylome by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Exploring the Arginine Methylome by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

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Regulation of the nuclear poly(A)-binding protein by arginine methylation in fission yeast

Audrey Perreault1, Caroline Lemieux, François Bachand

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|January 11, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Fission yeast Pab2 protein binds poly(A) tails and is essential for mRNA regulation. Arginine methylation by RMT1 controls Pab2

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • RNA Metabolism
  • Post-translational Modifications

Background:

  • Mammalian cells utilize distinct cytoplasmic and nuclear poly(A)-binding proteins (PABP).
  • A functional homolog of the nuclear PABP2 in yeast remained unidentified.
  • Arginine methylation is a key post-translational modification with regulatory roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize a yeast homolog of mammalian PABP2.
  • To investigate the role of this protein in mRNA poly(A) tail metabolism.
  • To explore the impact of arginine methylation on Pab2 function.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of a PABP2 homolog in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) named Pab2.
  • In vitro poly(A) binding assays to confirm Pab2's RNA-binding capability.
  • Analysis of mRNA 3'-end lengths in pab2-null cells.
  • Investigation of RMT1-dependent arginine methylation of Pab2.
  • Assessment of Pab2 oligomerization and growth phenotypes in wild-type and mutant cells.

Main Results:

  • Fission yeast Pab2 is a nonessential nuclear protein that specifically binds poly(A) RNA.
  • pab2-null cells exhibit hyperadenylated mRNA 3'-ends, indicating a role in poly(A) tail length control.
  • Pab2's C-terminal arginine residues are methylated by RMT1, influencing Pab2 oligomerization.
  • Non-methylated Pab2 shows increased oligomerization, and Pab2 overexpression inhibits growth, exacerbated in rmt1-null cells.

Conclusions:

  • Fission yeast Pab2 functions in poly(A) tail length control.
  • Arginine methylation by RMT1 regulates Pab2 oligomerization.
  • This study reveals a biological role for arginine methylation in modulating Pab2 activity.

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