A new twist on RNA helicases: DExH/D box proteins as RNPases. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • DExH/D box proteins are required for the major transactions of RNA, including mRNA synthesis, pre-mRNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, translation and RNA decay. In the popular imagination, DExH/D box proteins have become synonymous with 'RNA helicases', which are enzymes that unwind duplex RNAs in concert with the hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs). But all DExH/D box proteins may not be RNA helicases and the energy of NTP hydrolysis by DExH/D box proteins may be harnessed for other purposes. Cellular RNAs are associated with proteins, often in large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. This review focuses on recent progress suggesting a role for DExH/D box proteins as 'RNPases' that use chemical energy to remodel the interactions of RNA and proteins.

publication date

  • February 1, 2001

Research

keywords

  • RNA Helicases
  • Ribonucleoproteins

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0035147544

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/84091

PubMed ID

  • 11175897

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 8

issue

  • 2