The lifetime and abundance of RNA is regulated by maintaining a balance between RNA transcription and RNA degradation. While several RNA degradation pathways have been discovered, their components, precise catalytic activities, and cellular function remain a continued focus of study. One of two principle RNA decay pathways in eukaryotes involves the RNA exosome, a multi-subunit protein complex that catalyzes 3'to 5'RNA decay. The RNA exosome is conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution and is thought to exist in at least two forms, a cytoplasmic exosome composed of nine or ten distinct protein subunits with an apparent mass of 300-400 kDa, and a nuclear exosome composed of ten or eleven distinct protein subunits with an apparent mass of 400-500 kDa. In budding yeast, ten of the eleven genes are essential for growth, suggesting critical roles for each in cellular function. The identification of individual exosome subunits led to the hypothesis that the exosome was composed of up to eleven distinct 3'to 5'exoribonucleases. However, recent studies utilizing reconstituted and affinity-purified cellular exosome complexes indicate that only a few of the subunits encode polypeptides with exoribonuclease activity, suggesting that most exosome subunits are conserved for their non-catalytic functions. Consistent with this, exosome subunits are known to associate with a variety of protein partners that facilitate or direct RNA degradation. While recent efforts have revealed many interesting aspects of eukaryotic exosome structure and function, many questions remain with respect to individual and collective functions for exosome subunits in RNA decay. In this proposal, we will utilize in vitro reconstituted human and yeast exosome complexes in combination with genetic and biochemical assays to analyze its assembly, catalytic activity, and structural integrity by conducting research with these aims: 1) characterize and reconstitute subunits and complexes from human and yeast exosomes;2) determine the biochemical basis for activities ascribed to individual, sub-complexes, and intact exosome complexes from yeast and human and determine the physiological importance of the observed activities and structures through in vivo complementation and analysis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae;3) determine the structural and biophysical basis for exosome subunits and complexes from yeast and human. RNA exosomes contribute to cellular RNA homeostasis through 3'to 5'decay, thus balancing RNA transcription with RNA degradation. Exosomes are also involved in maintaining RNA integrity via several quality control pathways which serve to target aberrant RNA for destruction. Together, these pathways regulate the lifetime of a particular RNA and protect the cell from deleterious RNA that could lead to cellular pathology. Defects in these processes are associated with several human diseases including cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM079196-02
Application #
7556362
Study Section
Molecular Genetics A Study Section (MGA)
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2008-02-01
Project End
2011-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$327,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Puno, M Rhyan; Lima, Christopher D (2018) Structural basis for MTR4-ZCCHC8 interactions that stimulate the MTR4 helicase in the nuclear exosome-targeting complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:E5506-E5515
Weick, Eva-Maria; Puno, M Rhyan; Januszyk, Kurt et al. (2018) Helicase-Dependent RNA Decay Illuminated by a Cryo-EM Structure of a Human Nuclear RNA Exosome-MTR4 Complex. Cell 173:1663-1677.e21
Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Zinder, John C; Zattas, Dimitrios et al. (2017) Structure and reconstitution of yeast Mpp6-nuclear exosome complexes reveals that Mpp6 stimulates RNA decay and recruits the Mtr4 helicase. Elife 6:
Zinder, John C; Lima, Christopher D (2017) Targeting RNA for processing or destruction by the eukaryotic RNA exosome and its cofactors. Genes Dev 31:88-100
Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Lima, Christopher D (2017) The Rrp6 C-terminal domain binds RNA and activates the nuclear RNA exosome. Nucleic Acids Res 45:846-860
Zinder, John C; Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Lima, Christopher D (2016) Nuclear RNA Exosome at 3.1 Å Reveals Substrate Specificities, RNA Paths, and Allosteric Inhibition of Rrp44/Dis3. Mol Cell 64:734-745
Januszyk, Kurt; Lima, Christopher D (2014) The eukaryotic RNA exosome. Curr Opin Struct Biol 24:132-40
Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Januszyk, Kurt; Lima, Christopher D (2014) Structure of an Rrp6-RNA exosome complex bound to poly(A) RNA. Nature 511:435-9
Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Lima, Christopher D (2012) Structure and Activities of the Eukaryotic RNA Exosome. Enzymes 31:53-75
Wasmuth, Elizabeth V; Lima, Christopher D (2012) Exo- and endoribonucleolytic activities of yeast cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA exosomes are dependent on the noncatalytic core and central channel. Mol Cell 48:133-44

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