title: Eukaryotic Lsm proteins: lessons from bacteria.
abstract: Over the last five years Sm-like (Lsm) proteins have emerged as important players in many aspects of RNA metabolism, including splicing, nuclear RNA processing and messenger RNA decay. However, their precise function in these pathways remains somewhat obscure. In contrast, the role of the bacterial Lsm protein Hfq, which bears striking similarities in both structure and function to Lsm proteins, is much better characterized. In this perspective, we have highlighted several functions that Hfq shares with Lsm proteins and put forward hypotheses based on parallels between the two that might further the understanding of Lsm function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA. cwilusz@colostate.edu
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wilusz
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilusz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear