title: Ara-ATP impairs 3'-end processing of pre-mRNAs by inhibiting both cleavage and polyadenylation.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that Ara-ATP can inhibit poly(A) polymerase activity by competing with ATP. To elucidate the mechanism of action of this compound, its effect on the cleavage and polyadenylation of two specific substrates, SV40L and adenovirus L3 pre-mRNAs, was studied in HeLa nuclear extracts. Unlike cordycepin 5' triphosphate, Ara-ATP inhibited both cleavage and poly(A) addition. Addition of poly(A) polymerase fraction devoid of any other factors required for the processing reactions overcame the inhibitory effect on cleavage as well as polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs. These data suggest that Ara-ATP inhibits both cleavage and polyadenylation reactions by interacting with the ATP-binding site on poly(A) polymerase, the activity of which is essential for the cleavage reaction. Ara-ATP also blocked formation of the post-cleavage and polyadenylation-specific complexes, which further confirmed the inhibitory effect of the ATP analog on the two tightly coupled 3'-end processing reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology, Chicago Medical School, IL 60064.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghoshal
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000187:drug effects*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012322:RNA Precursors; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate; D011061:Poly A; C000101:ara-ATP; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase