A conditional yeast mutant deficient in mRNA transport from nucleus to cytoplasm

Tatsuhiko Kadowaki, Yanming Zhao, Alan M. Tartakoff*

*Corresponding author for this work

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103 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Transport of mRNA from nucleus to cytoplasm is critical for eukaryotic gene expression; however, the mechanism of export is unknown. Selection and screening procedures have therefore been used to obtain a family of temperature-sensitive conditional mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that accumulate poly(A)+ RNA in the nucleus when incubated at 37°C, as judged by in situ hybridization. In one such mRNA transport mutant, mtr1-1, RNA synthesis continues, the export of poly(A)+ RNA is inhibited, intranuclear poly(A)+ is remarkably stable, and protein synthesis gradually stops. Thus, there is no tight coupling between RNA synthesis and export. The export lesion is reversible. Although mRNA export is clearly not a default option, neither inhibition of protein synthesis, inhibition of mRNA splicing, nor inhibition of poly(A)-binding protein function blocks export of the average poly(A)+, as judged by in situ hybridization. Further analysis of the family of mtr mutants should help map the path of RNA transport.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2312-2316
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume89
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • In situ hybridization
  • mRNA stability

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