Archaeal/eukaryal RNase P: subunits, functions and RNA diversification.
RNase P, a catalytic ribonucleoprotein (RNP), is best known for its role in precursor tRNA processing. Recent discoveries have revealed that eukaryal RNase P is also required for transcription and processing of select non-coding RNAs, thus enmeshing RNase P in an intricate network of machineries required for gene expression. Moreover, the RNase P RNA seems to have been subject to gene duplication, selection and divergence to generate two new catalytic RNPs, RNase MRP and MRP-TERT, which perform novel functions encompassing cell cycle control and stem cell biology. We present new evidence and perspectives on the functional diversification of the RNase P RNA to highlight it as a paradigm for the evolutionary plasticity that underlies the extant broad repertoire of catalytic and unexpected regulatory roles played by RNA-driven RNPs.
Jarrous
Nayef
N
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, IMRIC, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. jarrous@md.huji.ac.il
Gopalan
Venkat
V
D001105:Archaea / Q000201:enzymology*; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000502:physiology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000201:enzymology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000502:physiology; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C058330:mitochondrial RNA-processing endoribonuclease; D043262:Ribonuclease P