Rissland OS et al. (2008) Biochim Biophys Acta "The Cid1 poly(U) polymerase."

Norbury CJ, Rissland OS

[Biochim Biophys Acta, 2008]

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cytoplasmic protein Cid1 acts as a poly(U) polymerase (PUP). Polyadenylated actin mRNA, a target of this activity, is uridylated upon arrest in S phase and is likely to be one of many such Cid1 targets. This RNA uridylation pathway appears to be conserved, as Cid1 orthologs in Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans and humans display PUP activity either in vitro or in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Here, we review the literature on Cid1, other PUPs and uridylation, a conserved and previously under-appreciated mechanism of RNA regulation.

Hofmann ER et al. (2000) Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol "DNA-damage-induced checkpoint pathways in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans."

Milstein S, Hengartner MO, Hofmann ER

[Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, 2000]

Genomic instability is believed to be an enabling characteristic of cancer (Hanahan and Weinberg 2000). Therefore, it is not surprising that sophisticated mechanisms exist to maintain the integrity of the genome. Damage to DNA triggers checkpoint controls that result in cell cycle arrest and repair of the lesion (Nurse, 1997, 2000; Weinert 1998). In multicellular organisms, when DNA damage is extensive, these potentially harmful cells are eliminated by apoptosis (Enoch and Norbury 1995; Evan and Littlewood 1998)...