Characterisation and mitochondrial localisation of AUH, an AU-specific RNA-binding enoyl-CoA hydratase.

L E Brennan, J Nakagawa, D Egger, K Bienz, C Moroni

Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Basel, Petersplatz 10, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.

Gene 1999 Mar 4

filter terms:

AU-rich elements function as instability elements which direct rapid mRNA degradation. AUH protein exhibits an AU-specific RNA-binding property and an intrinsic enoyl-CoA hydratase activity and may therefore function to link mRNA decay to metabolic processes (. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 2051-2055). The sequence encoding the murine protein, muAUH, was established by cloning, and the corresponding polypeptide predicted to have a molecular mass of 37kDa. As shown for the human protein, muAUH is expressed in a 32kDa form and there is 94% homology between the two species. Recombinant muAUH was shown to be an RNA-binding enoyl-CoA hydratase. All murine cells studied contained a single AUH transcript of approx. 1.7kb and an investigation of tissue-specific expression revealed highest levels in kidney, skeletal muscle, heart, liver and spleen. It was further determined, using immunoelectron microscopy, that AUH is located in the mitochondria of mouse cells.

Citation

L E Brennan, J Nakagawa, D Egger, K Bienz, C Moroni. Characterisation and mitochondrial localisation of AUH, an AU-specific RNA-binding enoyl-CoA hydratase. Gene. 1999 Mar 4;228(1-2):85-91