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RNA processing

Captured: the elusive eukaryotic tRNA splicing enzyme

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 30, pages 711–713 (2023)Cite this article

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The maturation of transfer RNAs requires the splicing of precursor tRNAs by specific endonucleases. New cryo-electron microscopy studies of the human splicing endonuclease bound to tRNAs shed light on how it cleaves and splices its substrates, explaining the function of eukaryote-specific enzyme subunits and rationalizing disease-associated mutations.

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Fig. 1: Overall structures of the human TSEN–pre-tRNA complex and comparison with its archaeal counterpart.
Fig. 2: Comparison of local structures and interactions at the 3′ splice site.

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Acknowledgements

A.K.H.’s research is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM122884). J.Z.’s laboratory is supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (grant ZIADK075136).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Anita K. Hopper

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jinwei Zhang

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  1. Anita K. Hopper
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  2. Jinwei Zhang
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Correspondence to Anita K. Hopper or Jinwei Zhang.

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Hopper, A.K., Zhang, J. Captured: the elusive eukaryotic tRNA splicing enzyme. Nat Struct Mol Biol 30, 711–713 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-023-00995-9

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