S. Madison-antenucci et Sl. Hajduk, RNA editing-associated protein 1 is an RNA binding protein with specificity for preedited mRNA, MOL CELL, 7(4), 2001, pp. 879-886
RNA editing in the mitochondria of kinetoplastids involves the addition and
deletion of uridines at specific sites as directed by guide RNAs (SRNAs).
Ample evidence shows that ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes carry out this
posttranscriptional processing. One component of RNA editing complexes is R
EAP-1, a protein of previously unknown function found primarily in mRNA con
taining editing complexes. We now show that REAP-1 is an RNA binding protei
n and map the binding activity to the amino-terminal third of the protein.
REAP-1 binds to poly(G) and single-stranded guanosine rich RNAs. Data prese
nted here demonstrates that preedited RNAs are the preferred substrate for
REAP-1. The results suggest a model in which the role of REAP-1 is to bring
preedited mRNAs into the editing complex.