RNA processing in human mitochondria.

Mammalian mitochondrial DNA is transcribed as precursor polycistronic transcripts containing 13 mRNAs, 2 rRNAs, punctuated by 22 tRNAs. The mechanisms involved in the excision of mitochondrial tRNAs from these polycistronic transcripts have remained largely unknown. We have investigated the roles of ELAC2, mitochondrial RNase P proteins 1 and 3, and pentatricopeptide repeat domain protein 1 in the processing of mitochondrial polycistronic transcripts.

A universal code for RNA recognition by PUF proteins.

The design of proteins that can bind any RNA sequence of interest has many potential biological and medical applications. Here we have expanded the recognition of Pumilio and FBF homology protein (PUF) repeats beyond adenine, guanine and uracil and evolved them to specifically bind cytosine. These repeat sequences can be used to create PUF domains capable of selectively binding RNA targets of diverse sequence and structure.