Molecular insights into the mRNA poly(A) tail machinery

Abstract: Eukaryotic mRNAs must be processed before they can be exported from the nucleus as mature transcripts. 3ʹ-end processing is carried out by the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF; CPF in yeast). This involves endonucleolytic cleavage of the nascent pre-mRNA and addition of a poly(A) tail. Cleavage and polyadenylation define the 3ʹ end of the transcript which is important for mRNA localization, translation and stability. I will speak about our efforts to use structural biology and biochemical reconstitution to gain molecular insight into this process.