PUF4 — Neurospora crassa

Summary

NCU16560, also known as PUF4 or NcPUF4 on Neurospora crassa chromosome 2, encodes a PUM-HD domain-containing protein with exoribonuclease activator activity, CCR4-NOT complex binding, and mRNA 3'-UTR AU-rich region binding. It is associated with positive regulation of nuclear-transcribed mRNA poly(A) tail shortening, deadenylation-dependent mRNA decay, posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, and SG assembly. The gene is linked to the electron transport chain, TCA cycle, and meiotic cell cycle, and its product localizes to P bodies, stress granules, the mitochondrial outer membrane, cytoplasm, and cytosol. Studies of related Pumilio domain-containing proteins in other species connect the family to RNA-binding and posttranscriptional regulation, though these associations are not yet established in N. crassa.