RNA transport articles from across Nature Portfolio

mRNAs associated with differentiated cells are already detected in adult neural stem cells. Here the authors show how intron detention prevents their translation, solving conflicts in fate decisions while priming stem cells for timely differentiation.

SNURPORTIN-1, encoded by the SNUPN gene, plays a key role in the nuclear import of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, however its physiological function remains unclear. Here the authors report that recessive SNUPN mutations cause a distinct subtype of childhood muscular dystrophy and reveal SNURPORTIN-1’s role in muscle homeostasis, offering insights for new therapeutic strategies.

Circular RNAs are exported from the nucleus by Ran-GTP, exportin-2 and IGF2BP1 in a mechanism analogous to protein export rather than mRNA export.

UAP56 is an important factor in the TREX complex, which is responsible for mRNA export. Here the authors show that the closely related RNA helicases, UAP56 and URH49, exhibit different three-dimensional structures due to one amino acid change. Accordingly, they form distinct apo-complexes and function in the nuclear export of specific target mRNAs.

PGC-1α is a master regulator activating the transcription of key genes controlling the cell’s energy production. Here the authors show that PGC-1α has a function in the NXF1-dependent nuclear export of mRNAs.

Quantitative phosphoproteomics shows that HDAC1 is hyperphosphorylated on S391 upon nutritional stress and analysis reveals phosphorylation of S391 plays a role in regulating deacetylase activity of HDAC1 towards α-tubulin and microtubule dynamics.

Transport of the developmental mRNA oskar to its destination at the posterior pole of the Drosophila embryo relies on the two dsRNA-binding proteins Egalitarian and Staufen that promote switching between the motor proteins dynein and kinesin.

The solid phase of oskar mRNA granules is required for proper Oskar protein synthesis and fruit fly development.

Efficient mRNA trafficking is supported by tethering of RNA granules to motile lysosomes through ANXA11.

Paraspeckles are nuclear bodies built on the long noncoding RNA, NEAT1, that regulate cellular homeostasis, but how they sense and help under stress is unclear. A study now shows mitochondrial stress modulates paraspeckles by altering NEAT1 expression with a feedback loop that influences mitochondrial homeostasis.

Sirtuin 1 deacetylates polyadenylate-binding protein 1 (PABP1), thereby suppressing nuclear export of polyadenylated mRNAs and translation to preserve energy under stress.