Human mitochondrial tRNAMet is exported to the cytoplasm and associates with the Argonaute 2 protein (original) (raw)

1. ELISAVET MANIATAKI and
2. ZISSIMOS MOURELATOS
3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA

Abstract

Argonaute (Ago) proteins are the effector proteins of RNA interference (RNAi) and related silencing mechanisms that are mediated by small RNAs. Ago proteins bind directly to microRNAs (miRNAs) and to short interfering RNAs and are the core protein components of RNA induced silencing complexes (RISCs) and microRNPs (miRNPs). Here we report that an ~70-nt RNA associates specifically with immunopurified Ago2 expressed in human 293 cells. By directional cloning we identified this RNA as the mitochondrial tRNAMet (mt tRNAMet). Various exported (mt) tRNAs were detected in the cytosol of 293 cells, but Ago2 was found selectively bound to (mt) tRNAMet. The association in the cytosol of exported (mt) tRNAMet with Ago2 complements genetic and microscopic data that link mitochondria with RNAi-related components and events.

• Argonaute
• mitochondria
• tRNA
• microRNA
• miRNP
• RISC

Footnotes

• Article published online ahead of print. Article and publication date are at http://www.rnajournal.org/cgi/doi/10.1261/rna.2210805.

• • Accepted March 11, 2005.
  • Received February 1, 2005.

• Copyright 2005 by RNA Society

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