MACROMOLECULE

The RNA exosome is a macromolecular complex comprising (e.g. in humans) endo- and exoribonucleases. It is an essential component of the RNA-metabolism machinery in eukaryotes, functioning in the accurate processing of precursors to mature RNAs and in RNA turnover. The exosome is active in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and depending on the subcellular compartment where the exosome is active, the constituents of the complex and associated adapters vary - yielding a collection of distinctive subpopulations in vivo. We focus on the discovery, purification, and characterization of endogenous human RNA exosomes, their adapter complexes, and related macromolecules participating in post-transcriptional gene regulation.