MTR4 — Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c

Summary

YJL050W (MTR4) on chromosome X of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase with RNA helicase activity, ATP binding, and nucleic acid binding. The protein belongs to the Ski2-like helicase family and contains a DEAD/DEAH box helicase domain. MTR4 is associated with diverse RNA processing events, including rRNA transcription, sno(s)RNA processing, mRNA transport and breakdown, polyadenylation-dependent noncoding RNA catabolism, and nuclear RNA surveillance. It is linked to the exosome-mediated RNA degradation pathway and heterochromatin island assembly. The gene product localizes to the nucleolus, nucleus, cytoplasm, and the Ski and NURS complexes. Phenotypic associations include abnormal RNA accumulation, altered nucleolar morphology, increased innate thermotolerance and toxin resistance, decreased starvation resistance and vegetative growth, and haploinsufficiency. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to TRAMP complex function.