REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.

The Escherichia coli oligoribonuclease, ORN, has a 3' to 5' exonuclease activity specific for small oligomers that is essential for cell viability. The human homologue, REXO2, has hitherto been incompletely characterized, with only its in vitro ability to degrade small single-stranded RNA...

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Main Authors: Francesco Bruni, Pasqua Gramegna, Jorge M A Oliveira, Robert N Lightowlers, Zofia M A Chrzanowska-Lightowlers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0064670&type=printable
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author Francesco Bruni
Pasqua Gramegna
Jorge M A Oliveira
Robert N Lightowlers
Zofia M A Chrzanowska-Lightowlers
author_facet Francesco Bruni
Pasqua Gramegna
Jorge M A Oliveira
Robert N Lightowlers
Zofia M A Chrzanowska-Lightowlers
author_sort Francesco Bruni
collection DOAJ
description The Escherichia coli oligoribonuclease, ORN, has a 3' to 5' exonuclease activity specific for small oligomers that is essential for cell viability. The human homologue, REXO2, has hitherto been incompletely characterized, with only its in vitro ability to degrade small single-stranded RNA and DNA fragments documented. Here we show that the human enzyme has clear dual cellular localization being present both in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions. Interestingly, the mitochondrial form localizes to both the intermembrane space and the matrix. Depletion of REXO2 by RNA interference causes a strong morphological phenotype in human cells, which show a disorganized network of punctate and granular mitochondria. Lack of REXO2 protein also causes a substantial decrease of mitochondrial nucleic acid content and impaired de novo mitochondrial protein synthesis. Our data constitute the first in vivo evidence for an oligoribonuclease activity in human mitochondria.
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publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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spelling doaj-art-1ffc337d212c4db39ffc5b5b1a3dd7ca2025-08-20T02:30:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0185e6467010.1371/journal.pone.0064670REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.Francesco BruniPasqua GramegnaJorge M A OliveiraRobert N LightowlersZofia M A Chrzanowska-LightowlersThe Escherichia coli oligoribonuclease, ORN, has a 3' to 5' exonuclease activity specific for small oligomers that is essential for cell viability. The human homologue, REXO2, has hitherto been incompletely characterized, with only its in vitro ability to degrade small single-stranded RNA and DNA fragments documented. Here we show that the human enzyme has clear dual cellular localization being present both in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions. Interestingly, the mitochondrial form localizes to both the intermembrane space and the matrix. Depletion of REXO2 by RNA interference causes a strong morphological phenotype in human cells, which show a disorganized network of punctate and granular mitochondria. Lack of REXO2 protein also causes a substantial decrease of mitochondrial nucleic acid content and impaired de novo mitochondrial protein synthesis. Our data constitute the first in vivo evidence for an oligoribonuclease activity in human mitochondria.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0064670&type=printable
spellingShingle Francesco Bruni
Pasqua Gramegna
Jorge M A Oliveira
Robert N Lightowlers
Zofia M A Chrzanowska-Lightowlers
REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
PLoS ONE
title REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
title_full REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
title_fullStr REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
title_full_unstemmed REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
title_short REXO2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria.
title_sort rexo2 is an oligoribonuclease active in human mitochondria
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0064670&type=printable
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AT robertnlightowlers rexo2isanoligoribonucleaseactiveinhumanmitochondria
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