Polynucleotide phosphorylase: Not merely an RNase but a pivotal post-transcriptional regulator

Almost 60 years ago, Severo Ochoa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the enzymatic synthesis of RNA by polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Although this discovery provided an important tool for deciphering the genetic code, subsequent work revealed that the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS genetics 2018-10, Vol.14 (10), p.e1007654-e1007654
Main Authors: Cameron, Todd A, Matz, Lisa M, De Lay, Nicholas R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Authorship
Bacteria
Bacteria - genetics
Biology and life sciences
Endoribonucleases - genetics
Endoribonucleases - metabolism
Enzymatic synthesis
Enzymes
Exoribonucleases - genetics
Exoribonucleases - metabolism
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation - genetics
Genetic Code
Genetics
Humans
Mammals
Melanoma
MicroRNAs
Phosphorylase
Polynucleotide phosphorylase
Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase - genetics
Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase - physiology
Post-transcription
Research and analysis methods
Review
Ribonucleases - genetics
Ribonucleic acid
Ribonucleotides
RNA
RNA - metabolism
RNA Stability - genetics
RNA Stability - physiology
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
RNA, Ribosomal - metabolism
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Summary:Almost 60 years ago, Severo Ochoa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the enzymatic synthesis of RNA by polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Although this discovery provided an important tool for deciphering the genetic code, subsequent work revealed that the predominant function of PNPase in bacteria and eukaryotes is catalyzing the reverse reaction, i.e., the release of ribonucleotides from RNA. PNPase has a crucial role in RNA metabolism in bacteria and eukaryotes mainly through its roles in processing and degrading RNAs, but additional functions in RNA metabolism have recently been reported for this enzyme. Here, we discuss these established and noncanonical functions for PNPase and the possibility that the major impact of PNPase on cell physiology is through its unorthodox roles.
ISSN:1553-7404
1553-7390
1553-7404
DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1007654