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Archaeal/eukaryal RNase P: subunits, functions and RNA diversification
Nayef Jarrous1, Venkat Gopalan
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. jarrous@md.huji.ac.il
Nucleic Acids Research
|August 19, 2010
Summary
Ribonuclease P (RNase P) RNA has evolved beyond tRNA processing. Its functional diversification generates new catalytic ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) involved in gene expression, cell cycle, and stem cell biology.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- RNA Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) enzyme critical for precursor transfer RNA (tRNA) processing.
- Recent findings indicate eukaryal RNase P's involvement in the transcription and processing of specific non-coding RNAs.
- This expands its known functions within the complex machinery of gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the functional diversification of RNase P RNA.
- To highlight RNase P RNA as a model for evolutionary plasticity in RNA-driven RNPs.
- To present new evidence and perspectives on the expanded roles of RNase P.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent discoveries and evidence.
- Analysis of evolutionary pathways of RNase P RNA.
- Comparative analysis of RNase P and related RNPs (RNase MRP, MRP-TERT).
Main Results:
- Eukaryal RNase P participates in broader gene expression pathways beyond tRNA processing.
- RNase P RNA has undergone gene duplication and divergence.
- This evolution has led to new catalytic RNPs, RNase MRP and MRP-TERT, with roles in cell cycle and stem cell biology.
Conclusions:
- The RNase P RNA exemplifies evolutionary plasticity, leading to diverse catalytic and regulatory functions.
- RNA-driven RNPs play unexpected and broad roles in cellular processes.
- Understanding RNase P's evolution provides insights into the versatility of RNA in biological regulation.
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