title: The human U1A snRNP protein regulates polyadenylation via a direct interaction with poly(A) polymerase.
abstract: The human U1 snRNP-specific U1A protein autoregulates its production by binding its own pre-mRNA and inhibiting polyadenylation. The mechanism of this regulation has been elucidated by in vitro studies. U1A protein is shown not to prevent either binding of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) to its recognition sequence (AUUAAA) or to prevent cleavage of U1A pre-mRNA. Instead, U1A protein bound to U1A pre-mRNA inhibits both specific and nonspecific polyadenylation by mammalian, but not by yeast, poly(A) polymerase (PAP). Domains are identified in both proteins whose removal uncouples the polyadenylation activity of mammalian PAP from its inhibition via RNA-bound U1A protein. Finally, U1A protein is shown to specifically interact with mammalian PAP in vitro. The possibility that this interaction may reflect a broader role of the U1A protein in polyadenylation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Gene Expression Programme, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gunderson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Boelens
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Mattaj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002417:Cattle; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D011061:Poly A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D012322:RNA Precursors; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear; D011061:Poly A; D011062:Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase