The FASTK family proteins fine-tune mitochondrial RNA processing
Creators
- 1. Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2. Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 3. Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth, Australia
- 4. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Description
Transcription of the human mitochondrial genome and correct processing of the two long polycistronic transcripts are crucial for oxidative phosphorylation. According to the tRNA punctuation model, nucleolytic processing of these large precursor transcripts occurs mainly through the excision of the tRNAs that flank most rRNAs and mRNAs. However, some mRNAs are not punctuated by tRNAs, and it remains largely unknown how these non-canonical junctions are resolved. The FASTK family proteins are emerging as key players in non-canonical RNA processing. Here, we have generated human cell lines carrying single or combined knockouts of several FASTK family members to investigate their roles in non-canonical RNA processing. The most striking phenotypes were obtained with loss of FASTKD4 and FASTKD5 and with their combined double knockout. Comprehensive mitochondrial transcriptome analyses of these cell lines revealed a defect in processing at several canonical and non-canonical RNA junctions, accompanied by an increase in specific antisense transcripts. Loss of FASTKD5 led to the most severe phenotype with marked defects in mitochondrial translation of key components of the electron transport chain complexes and in oxidative phosphorylation. We reveal that the FASTK protein family members are crucial regulators of non-canonical junction and non-coding mitochondrial RNA processing.
Notes
Files
journal.pgen.1009873.pdf
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Additional details
Funding
- Regulation of centromeric chromatin 31003A_175606
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Mitochondrial gene expression: role of mitochondrial RNA granules and of FASTK family members 31003A_179421
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP170103000 DP170103000
- Australian Research Council