PMID: 29358758

Authors:

Clerici M, Faini M, Muckenfuss LM, Aebersold R, Jinek M

Title:

Structural basis of AAUAAA polyadenylation signal recognition by the human CPSF complex.

Journal:

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2018 Jan 22. pii: 10.1038/s41594-017-0020-6. doi:, 10.1038/s41594-017-0020-6.

Abstract:

Mammalian mRNA biogenesis requires specific recognition of a hexanucleotide AAUAAA motif in the polyadenylation signals (PAS) of precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts by the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) complex. Here we present a 3.1-A-resolution cryo-EM structure of a core CPSF module bound to the PAS hexamer motif. The structure reveals the molecular interactions responsible for base-specific recognition, providing a rationale for mechanistic differences between mammalian and yeast 3' polyadenylation.