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Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase is an Sm small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle

Author

Listed:
  • Anita G. Seto

    (University of Colorado)

  • Arthur J. Zaug

    (University of Colorado)

  • Suzanne G. Sobel

    (Yale University School of Medicine)

  • Sandra L. Wolin

    (Yale University School of Medicine)

  • Thomas R. Cech

    (University of Colorado)

Abstract

Activation of the chromosome end-replicating enzyme telomerase can greatly extend the lifespan of normal human cells1 and is associated with most human cancers2. In all eukaryotes examined, telomerase has an RNA subunit3, a conserved reverse transcriptase subunit4 and additional proteins5,6, but little is known about the assembly of these components. Here we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase RNA7 has a 5′-2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap and a binding site for the Sm proteins, both hallmarks of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) that are involved in nuclear messenger RNA splicing8,9. Immunoprecipitation of telomerase from yeast extracts shows that Sm proteins are assembled on the RNA and that most or all of the telomerase activity is associated with the Sm-containing complex. These data support a model in which telomerase RNA is transcribed by RNA polymerase II (ref. 10) and 7-methylguanosine-capped, binds the seven Sm proteins, becomes TMG-capped and picks up the other protein subunits. We conclude that the functions of snRNPs assembled by this pathway are not restricted to RNA processing, but also include chromosome telomere replication.

Suggested Citation

  • Anita G. Seto & Arthur J. Zaug & Suzanne G. Sobel & Sandra L. Wolin & Thomas R. Cech, 1999. "Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase is an Sm small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle," Nature, Nature, vol. 401(6749), pages 177-180, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:401:y:1999:i:6749:d:10.1038_43694
    DOI: 10.1038/43694
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    Cited by:

    1. Diego J. Páez-Moscoso & David V. Ho & Lili Pan & Katie Hildebrand & Kristi L. Jensen & Michaella J. Levy & Laurence Florens & Peter Baumann, 2022. "A putative cap binding protein and the methyl phosphate capping enzyme Bin3/MePCE function in telomerase biogenesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.

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