Biogenesis of yeast telomerase depends on the importin mtr10.
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) involved in chromosome end replication, but its biogenesis is poorly understood. The RNA component of yeast telomerase (Tlc1) is synthesized as a polyadenylated precursor and then processed to a mature poly(A)- form. We report here that the karyopherin Mtr10p is required for the normal accumulation of mature Tlc1 and its proper localization to the nucleus. Neither TLC1 transcription nor the stability of poly(A)- Tlc1 is significantly affected in mtr10delta cells. Tlc1 was mostly nuclear in a wild-type background, and this localization was not affected by mutations in other telomerase components. Strikingly, in the absence of Mtr10p, Tlc1 was found dispersed throughout the entire cell. Our results are compatible with two alternative models. First, Mtr10p may import a cytoplasmic complex containing Tlc1 and perhaps other components of telomerase, and shuttling of Tlc1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and back may be necessary for the biogenesis of telomerase (the "shuttling" model). Second, Mtr10p may be necessary for the nuclear import of some enzyme needed for the nuclear processing and maturation of Tlc1, and in the absence of this maturation, poly(A)+ Tlc1 is aberrantly exported to the cytoplasm (the "processing enzyme" model).
Ferrezuelo
Francisco
F
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5222, USA.
Steiner
Barbara
B
Aldea
Martí
M
Futcher
Bruce
B
D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029543:Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism
C110033:MTR10 protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029543:Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C422952:telomerase RNA; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase