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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Rapid In Vivo Fixation and Isolation of Translational Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells
Published on: December 25, 2021
Rapid and reversible nuclear accumulation of cytoplasmic tRNA in response to nutrient availability
Michael L Whitney1, Rebecca L Hurto, Hussam H Shaheen
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Abstract:
Cytoplasmic tRNAs have recently been found to accumulate in the nucleus during amino acid starvation in yeast. The mechanism and regulation by which tRNAs return to the nucleus are unclear. Here, we show accumulation of cytoplasmic tRNA in the nucleus also occurs during glucose starvation. Nuclear accumulation of tRNA in response to acute glucose or amino acid starvation is rapid, reversible, requires no new transcription, and is independent of the aminoacylation status of tRNA. Gradual depletion of nutrients also results in the accrual of tRNA in the nucleus. Distinct signal transduction pathways seem to be involved in the accumulation of cytoplasmic tRNA in the nucleus in response to amino acid versus glucose starvation. These findings suggest tRNA nucleocytoplasmic distribution may play a role in gene expression in response to nutritional stress.
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