Human RNase P: a tRNA-processing enzyme and transcription factor.
Ribonuclease P (RNase P) has been hitherto well known as a catalytic ribonucleoprotein that processes the 5' leader sequence of precursor tRNA. Recent studies, however, reveal a new role for nuclear forms of RNase P in the transcription of tRNA genes by RNA polymerase (pol) III, thus linking transcription with processing in the regulation of tRNA gene expression. However, RNase P is also essential for the transcription of other small noncoding RNA genes, whose precursor transcripts are not recognized as substrates for this holoenzyme. Accordingly, RNase P can act solely as a transcription factor for pol III, a role that seems to be conserved in eukarya.
Jarrous
Nayef
N
Department of Molecular Biology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. jarrous@md.huji.ac.il
Reiner
Robert
R
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D021122:Protein Subunits; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D012320:RNA Polymerase III; D043262:Ribonuclease P