A new twist on RNA helicases: DExH/D box proteins as RNPases.
DExH/D box proteins are required for the major transactions of RNA, including mRNA synthesis, pre-mRNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, translation and RNA decay. In the popular imagination, DExH/D box proteins have become synonymous with 'RNA helicases', which are enzymes that unwind duplex RNAs in concert with the hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs). But all DExH/D box proteins may not be RNA helicases and the energy of NTP hydrolysis by DExH/D box proteins may be harnessed for other purposes. Cellular RNAs are associated with proteins, often in large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. This review focuses on recent progress suggesting a role for DExH/D box proteins as 'RNPases' that use chemical energy to remodel the interactions of RNA and proteins.
Schwer
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Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. bschwer@mail.med.cornell.edu
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017381:Spliceosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012313:RNA; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D020365:RNA Helicases