RNAi interference of XPO1 and Sm genes and their effect on the spliced leader RNA in Trypanosoma brucei

Moshe Biton, Michal Mandelboim, Gil Arvatz, Shulamit Michaeli*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

In trypanosomes, trans-splicing is a major essential RNA-processing mechanism that involves the addition of a spliced leader sequence to all mRNAs from a small RNA species, known as the spliced leader RNA (SL RNA). SL RNA maturation is poorly understood and it is not clear where assembly with Sm proteins takes place. In this study, we followed the localization of the SL RNA during knockdown of Sm proteins and XPO1, which in metazoa functions in transport of mRNA and U snRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. We found that XPO1 has no role in SL RNA biogenesis in wild-type cells, or when the cells are depleted of Sm proteins. During Sm depletion, 'defective' SL RNA lacking cap modification at position +4 first accumulates in the nucleus, suggesting that Sm assembly on SL RNA most probably takes place in this compartment. Only after massive nuclear accumulation is the 'defective' SL RNA exported to the cytoplasm to form SL RNP-C, which may be a route to dispose of SL RNA when its normal biogenesis is blocked.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)132-143
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Volume150
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Howard Hughes Foundation
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • 7SL RNA
    • SL RNA
    • Sm proteins
    • T. brucei
    • XPO1
    • trans-Splicing

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