The RNA helicase RHAU (DHX36) unwinds a G4-quadruplex in human telomerase RNA and promotes the formation of the P1 helix template boundary.

ABSTRACT: Human telomerase RNA (hTR) contains several guanine tracts at its 5'-end that can form a G4-quadruplex structure. Previous evidence suggests that a G4-quadruplex within this region disrupts the formation of an important structure within hTR known as the P1 helix, a critical element in defining the template boundary for reverse transcription. RNA associated with AU-rich element (RHAU) is an RNA helicase that has specificity for DNA and RNA G4-quadruplexes. Two recent studies identify a specific interaction between hTR and RHAU. Herein, we confirm this interaction and identify the minimally interacting RNA fragments. We demonstrate the existence of multiple quadruplex structures within the 5' region of hTR and find that these regions parallel the minimal sequences capable of RHAU interaction

SUBMITTER: Booy EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3351167 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature