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mRNA recognition and packaging by the human transcription–export complex

  • Belén Pacheco-Fiallos
  • , Matthias K. Vorländer
  • , Daria Riabov-Bassat
  • , Laura Fin
  • , Francis J. O’Reilly
  • , Farja I. Ayala
  • , Ulla Schellhaas
  • , Juri Rappsilber
  • , Clemens Plaschka*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Newly made mRNAs are processed and packaged into mature ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs) and are recognized by the essential transcription–export complex (TREX) for nuclear export1,2. However, the mechanisms of mRNP recognition and three-dimensional mRNP organization are poorly understood3. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy and tomography structures of reconstituted and endogenous human mRNPs bound to the 2-MDa TREX complex. We show that mRNPs are recognized through multivalent interactions between the TREX subunit ALYREF and mRNP-bound exon junction complexes. Exon junction complexes can multimerize through ALYREF, which suggests a mechanism for mRNP organization. Endogenous mRNPs form compact globules that are coated by multiple TREX complexes. These results reveal how TREX may simultaneously recognize, compact and protect mRNAs to promote their packaging for nuclear export. The organization of mRNP globules provides a framework to understand how mRNP architecture facilitates mRNA biogenesis and export.

Original languageEnglish
Article number616
Pages (from-to)828-835
Number of pages8
JournalNature
Volume616
Issue number7958
Early online date5 Apr 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Apr 2023

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