Transcription termination and nuclear degradation of cryptic unstable transcripts: a role for the nrd1-nab3 pathway in genome surveillance

Mol Cell. 2006 Sep 15;23(6):853-64. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2006.07.029.

Abstract

Cryptic unstable transcripts (CUTs) are widely distributed in the genome of S. cerevisiae. These RNAs generally derive from nonannotated regions of the genome and are degraded rapidly and efficiently by the nuclear exosome via a pathway that involves degradative polyadenylation by a new poly(A) polymerase borne by the TRAMP complex. What is the share of significant information that is encrypted in CUTs and what distinguishes a CUT from other Pol II transcripts are unclear to date. Here we report the dissection of the molecular mechanism that leads to degradation of a model CUT, NEL025c. We show that the Nrd1p-Nab3p-dependent pathway, involved in transcription termination of sno/snRNAs, is required, albeit not sufficient, for efficient degradation of NEL025c RNAs and at least a subset of other CUTs. Our results suggest an important role for the Nrd1p-Nab3p pathway in the control of gene expression throughout the genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Exonucleases / metabolism
  • Exonucleases / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / analysis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Polyadenylation
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Antisense / metabolism
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / analysis
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics
  • Ribonucleoproteins / physiology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / analysis
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*

Substances

  • NAB3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • NRD1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Antisense
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Exonucleases