The subcellular distribution of an RNA quality control protein, the ro autoantigen, is regulated by noncoding y RNA binding

Soyeong Sim, David E. Weinberg, Gabriele Fuchs, Keum Choi, Jina Chung, Sandra L. Wolin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Ro autoantigen is a ring-shaped RNA-binding protein that binds misfolded RNAs in nuclei and is proposed to function in quality control. In the cytoplasm, Ro binds noncoding RNAs, called Y RNAs, that inhibit access of Ro to other RNAs. Ro also assists survival of mammalian cells and at least one bacterium after UV irradiation. In mammals, Ro undergoes dramatic localization changes after UV irradiation, changing from mostly cytoplasmic to predominantly nuclear. Here, we report that a second role of Y RNAs is to regulate the subcellular distribution of Ro. A mutant Ro protein that does not bind Y RNAs accumulates in nuclei. Ro also localizes to nuclei when Y RNAs are depleted. By assaying chimeric proteins in which portions of mouse Ro were replaced with bacterial Ro sequences, we show that nuclear accumulation of Ro after irradiation requires sequences that overlap the Y RNA binding site. Ro also accumulates in nuclei after oxidative stress, and similar sequences are required. Together, these data reveal that Ro contains a signal for nuclear accumulation that is masked by a bound Y RNA and suggest that Y RNA binding may be modulated during cell stress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1555-1564
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular biology of the cell
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The subcellular distribution of an RNA quality control protein, the ro autoantigen, is regulated by noncoding y RNA binding'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this