Function of an mRNA-binding protein in RNA polymerase III transcription

基因表达是一个基本的细胞过程，通过这个过程，基因组中编码的信息被赋予生命。在真核生物中，三种主要的依赖于DNA的RNA聚合酶对储存在DNA中的信息进行解码。RNA聚合酶III(RNAPIII)合成了大多数小RNA，如tRNAs和核糖体5S rRNA。这些RNA完成许多重要的细胞功能，是生长和细胞动态平衡所必需的。虽然RNAPIII转录的基本机制是已知的，但最近的证据表明，更多的蛋白质在这一过程中发挥作用。有趣的是，我们在酿酒酵母中发现了一种mRNA结合蛋白，它占据了整个基因组的RNAPIII转录基因。此外，我们提供了第一个数据，该蛋白是有效的RNAPIII转录所必需的。在本文提出的项目中，我们的目标是：1.证实该mRNA结合蛋白在RNAPIII转录中的功能；2.揭示其分子功能；评估其在RNAPIII转录中的功能是否进化保守。因此，该项目将增加RNAPIII转录的新参与者，这一过程对细胞稳态非常重要，在癌症等疾病中调节不当。

Gene expression is a fundamental cellular process, through which the information encoded in the genome is brought to life. In eukaryotes, three main DNA-dependent RNA polymerases decode the information stored in the DNA. RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) synthesizes the majority of small RNAs such as tRNAs and the ribosomal 5S rRNA. These RNAs fulfill many important cellular functions and are necessary for growth and cellular homoeostasis. Whereas the basic mechanism of RNAPIII transcription is known, recent evidence suggests that many more proteins play a role in this process. Interestingly, we identified an mRNA binding protein to occupy RNAPIII transcribed genes genome-wide in S. cerevisiae. In addition, we provide first data that this protein is necessary for efficient RNAPIII transcription. In the project proposed here, we aim to:1. corroborate the function of this mRNA binding protein in RNAPIII transcription,2. unravel its molecular function and3. assess whether its function in RNAPIII transcription is evolutionarily conserved.Thus, this project will add a new player of RNAPIII transcription, a process that is of immense importance for cellular homoeostasis and misregulated in diseases such as cancer.