title: Delineating the structural blueprint of the pre-mRNA 3'-end processing machinery.
abstract: Processing of mRNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) by polyadenylation is an essential step in gene expression. Polyadenylation consists of two steps, cleavage and poly(A) synthesis, and requires multiple cis elements in the pre-mRNA and a megadalton protein complex bearing the two essential enzymatic activities. While genetic and biochemical studies remain the major approaches in characterizing these factors, structural biology has emerged during the past decade to help understand the molecular assembly and mechanistic details of the process. With structural information about more proteins and higher-order complexes becoming available, we are coming closer to obtaining a structural blueprint of the polyadenylation machinery that explains both how this complex functions and how it is regulated and connected to other cellular processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Kehui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Manley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D039223:Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specificity Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D039241:Cleavage Stimulation Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026723:Polyadenylation / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D026721:RNA 3' End Processing / Q000235:genetics*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D039223:Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specificity Factor; D039241:Cleavage Stimulation Factor; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A