title: Structural insights into the exon junction complex.
abstract: In higher eukaryotes, the exon junction complex is loaded onto spliced mRNAs at a precise position upstream of exon junctions, where it remains during nuclear export and cytoplasmic localisation until it is removed during the first translation round. The exon junction core complex consists of four proteins that form a dynamic binding platform for a variety of peripheral factors involved in mRNA metabolism. In the complex, mRNA binding is mediated by the DEAD-box protein eIF4AIII, and inhibition of its ATPase activity forms the mechanistic basis for the long-term stability of the complex. Recent crystal structures of the exon junction complex and eIF4AIII have provided the structural framework for investigating the function of the eIF4AIII ATPase and for localisation of surface patches involved in binding peripheral factors. Additionally, by comparison with the structure of a second DEAD-box protein also bound to RNA and ATP, general principles for the ATPase and unwinding/mRNP remodelling activities for this important group of enzymes can be proposed on the basis of atomic structures.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Labélisée La Ligue, Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, associé aux Universités Paris 6 et Paris 11, CNRS UPR2167, Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Le Hir
authors.forename: Gregers Rom
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C491494:MAGOH protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012313:RNA; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A