Analysis of cellular function of tRNase Z in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22780076
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Applied microbiology
Research Institution	Nigata University of Phermacy and Applied Life Sciences
Principal Investigator	TAKAKU Hiroaki 新潟薬科大学, 応用生命科学部, 准教授 (70350717)
Research Collaborator	NASHIMOTO Masayuki 新潟薬科大学, 応用生命科学部, 教授 (30228069) TAKAGI Masamichi 新潟薬科大学, 学長 (50018339)
Project Period (FY)	2010 – 2011
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000) Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000) Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
Keywords	微生物酵素 / tRNaseZL / 前駆体tRNA / 酵母 / tRNAの3'端プロセシング / endoribonuclease
Research Abstract	Endoribonuclease tRNase Z catalyzes the generation of the mature 3' end of tRNA precursors through specific endonucleolytic cleavage at discriminator site in eukaryotic organisms. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a single long form of tRNase Z. The recombinant yeast tRNase Z protein possesses precursor tRNA 3'-processing activity in vitro. The yeast tRNase Z protein localizes to the nucleus and is essential for growth. Temperature-sensitive(Ts) mutants of yeast tRNase Z exhibit the accumulation of 3′-unprocessed pre-tRNAs. Thus, our findings suggest that the sctRNase ZL may be required for the 3′end processing of pre-tRNAs.