Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

The ends of the affair: Capping and polyadenylation

Nature Structural Biology volume 7, pages 838–842 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Nearly all mRNAs are post-transcriptionally modified at their 5′ and 3′ ends, by capping and polyadenylation, respectively. These essential modifications are of course chemically quite distinct, as are the enzymatic complexes responsible for their synthesis. But recent studies have uncovered some similarities as well. For example, both involve entirely protein machinery, which is now the exception rather than the rule in RNA processing and modification reactions, and the two reactions share one important factor, namely RNA polymerase II. In this brief review, we describe progress in understanding the enzymes and factors that participate in these two processes, highlighting the evolutionary conservation, from yeast to humans, that has become apparent.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Modulating capping.
Figure 2: Comparison of yeast and mammalian polyadenylation machineries.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shibagaki, Y., Itoh, N., Yamada, H., Hagata, S. & Mizumoto, K. J. Biol. Chem. 267, 9521–9528 (1992).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Furuichi, Y. & Shatkin, A.J. Adv. Vir. Res. 55, 135–184 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Shuman, S. Prog. Nucleic Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 66, 1–40 in the press.

  4. Shatkin, A.J. Cell 9, 645–653 (1976).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hirose, Y. & Manley, J.L. Genes Dev. 14, 1415–1429 (2000).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sachs, A.B., Sarnow, P. & Hentze, M.W. Cell 89, 831–838 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Tharun, S. & Parker, R. Genetics 151, 1273–1285 (1999).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Gingras, A-C., Raught, B. & Sonenberg, N. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 68, 913–963 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tharun, S. & Parker, R. In mRNA metabolism and post transcriptional gene regulation (eds, Harford, J.B. & Morris, D.R.) 181–199 (John Wiley Publishers, New York; 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Yue, Z. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 12898–12903 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Yamada-Okabe, T., Doi, R., Shimmi, O., Arisawa, M. & Yamada-Okabe, H. Nucleic Acids Res. 26, 1700–1706 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Wen, Y., Yue, Z. & Shatkin, A.J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 12226–12231 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Lima, C.D., Wang, L.K. & Shuman S. Cell 99, 533–543 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Håkansson, K., Doherty, A.J., Shuman, S. & Wigley, D.B. Cell 89, 545–553 (1997).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. McCracken, S. et al. Genes Dev. 11, 3306–3318 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Cho, E-J., Tagaki, T., Moore, C.R. & Buratowski, S. Genes Dev. 11, 3319–3326 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Ho, C.K. & Shuman, S. Mol. Cell 3, 405–411 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wen, Y. & Shatkin, A.J. Genes & Dev. 13, 1774–1779 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wada, T., et al. Genes Dev. 12, 343–356 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Cho, E-J., Rodriguez, C.R., Takagi, T. & Buratowski, S. Genes Dev. 12, 3482–3487 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Ho, C.K., Lehman, K. & Shuman, S. Nucleic Acids Res. 27, 4671–4678 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Pillutla, R.C., Yue, Z., Maldonado, E. & Shatkin, A.J. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 21443–21446 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Saha, N., Schwer, B. & Shuman, S. J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16553–16562 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Nakielny, S. & Dreyfuss, G. Cell 99, 677–690 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Izaurralde, E. et al. Cell 78, 657–668 (1994).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Dostie, J., Ferraiuolo, M., Pause, A., Adam, S.A. & Sonenberg, N. EMBO J. 19, 3142–3156 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Colot, H.V., Stutz, F. & Rosbash, M. Genes Dev. 10, 1699–1708 (1996).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Flaherty, S.M., Fortes, P., Izaurralde, E., Mattaj, I.W. & Gilmartin, G.M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 11893–11898 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Daneholt, B. Cell 88, 585–588 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Izaurralde, E. & Adam, S. RNA 4, 351–364 (1998).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Colgan, D.F. & Manley, J.L. Genes Dev. 11, 2755–2766 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Barabino, S.M. & Keller, W. Cell 99, 9–11 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Zhao, J., Hyman, L. & Moore, C. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 63, 405–445 (1999).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Minvielle-Sebastia, L. & Keller, W. Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 11, 352–357 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bentley, D. Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 11, 347–351 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Proudfoot, N. Trends Biochem. Sci. 25, 290–293 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hirose, Y. & Manley, J.L. Nature 395, 93–96 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hirose, Y., Tacke, R. & Manley, J.L. Genes Dev. 13, 1234–1239 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. McCracken, S., et al. Nature 385, 357–361 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Manley, J.L. & Takagaki, Y. Science 274, 1481–1482 (1996).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Keller, W., Minvielle-Sebastia, L. Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 9, 329–336 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Bond, G.L., Prives, C. & Manley, J.L. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 5310–5320 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Zhao, W. & Manley, J.L. Mol. Cell. Biol. 16, 2378–2386 (1996).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Takagaki, Y. & Manley, J.L. Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 3907–3914 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Takagaki, Y. & Manley, J.L. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 1515–1525 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Kleiman, F.E. & Manley, J.L. Science 285, 1576–1579 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Amrani, N. et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 1102–1109 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Ohnacker, M., Barabino, S.M., Preker, P.J. & Keller, W. EMBO J. 19, 37–47 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Murthy, K.G. & Manley, J.L. Genes Dev. 9, 2672–2683 (1995).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Barabino, S.M., Hubner, W., Jenny, A., Minvielle-Sebastia, L. & Keller, W. Genes Dev. 11, 1703–1716 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Zhao, J., Kessler, M.M. & Moore, C.L. J. Biol. Chem. 272, 10831–10838 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Preker, P.J., Ohnacker, M., Minvielle-Sebastia, L. & Keller, W.A. EMBO J. 16, 4727–4737 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Barabino, S.M., Ohnacker, M. & Keller, W. EMBO J. 19, 3778–3787 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Zhao, J., Kessler, M., Helmling, S., O'Connor, J.P. & Moore, C. Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 7733–7740 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Preker, P.J., Lingner, J., Minvielle-Sebastia, L. & Keller, W. Cell 81, 379–389 (1995).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Kessler, M.M., et al. Genes Dev. 11, 2545–2556 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Minvielle-Sebastia, L. et al. EMBO J. 17, 7454–7468 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Ruegsegger, U., Blank, D. & Keller, W. Mol. Cell 1, 243–253 (1998).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Manley, J.L. & Tacke, R. Genes Dev. 10, 1569–1579 (1996).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Y. Takagaki and Y. Wen for help with the figures, and to I. Boluk and D. Hebenstreit for help preparing the manuscript. We regret not being able to cite a number of significant papers due to space limitations. Work in the authors' labs was supported by grants from the NIH.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey, USA

    Aaron J. Shatkin

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, 10027, New York, USA

    James L. Manley

Authors
  1. Aaron J. Shatkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James L. Manley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Aaron J. Shatkin or James L. Manley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shatkin, A., Manley, J. The ends of the affair: Capping and polyadenylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 838–842 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/79583

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/79583

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing