RAT1 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPAC26A3.12C (RAT1, dhp1) on chromosome 1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a protein belonging to the Xrn2/3/4 family, with domains including Xrn1_helical, 5_3_exoribonuclease, and Xrn1_N, and annotated molecular functions of 5'-3' RNA exonuclease activity, recombinase activity, rRNA binding, microtubule binding, RNA binding, and zinc binding. The gene is associated with negative regulation of transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II, NAD-cap decapping, nuclear RNA surveillance, tRNA decay, cleavage in ITS2 between 5.8S rRNA and LSU-rRNA, termination of RNA polymerase II transcription, and processing of sno(s)RNA and rRNA. It is linked to cell cycle progression through G1/S and anaphase, chromosome segregation and condensation, mitotic spindle elongation, and P body assembly. Phenotypic associations include abnormal cell cycle, delayed chromosome segregation, decreased mitotic recombination, absent nuclear fusion during mating, and abnormal telomere length. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and rapid tRNA decay.