5′ Processing of tRNA Precursors Can Be Modulated by the Human La Antigen Phosphoprotein

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic precursor (pre)-tRNAs are processed at both ends prior to maturation. Pre-tRNAs and other nascent transcripts synthesized by RNA polymerase III are bound at their 3′ ends at the sequence motif UUUOH [3′ oligo(U)] by the La antigen, a conserved phosphoprotein whose role in RNA processing has been associated previously with 3′-end maturation only. We show that in addition to its role in tRNA 3′-end maturation, human La protein can also modulate 5′ processing of pre-tRNAs. Both the La antigen’s N-terminal RNA-binding domain and its C-terminal basic region are required for attenuation of pre-tRNA 5′ processing. RNA binding and nuclease protection assays with a variety of pre-tRNA substrates and mutant La proteins indicate that 5′ protection is a highly selective activity of La. This activity is dependent on 3′ oligo(U) in the pre-tRNA for interaction with the N-terminal RNA binding domain of La and interaction of the C-terminal basic region of La with the 5′ triphosphate end of nascent pre-tRNA. Phosphorylation of La is known to occur on serine 366, adjacent to the C-terminal basic region. We show that this modification interferes with the La antigen’s ability to protect pre-tRNAi Met from 5′ processing either by HeLa extract or purified RNase P but that it does not affect interaction with the 3′ end of pre-tRNA. These findings provide the first evidence to indicate that tRNA 5′-end maturation may be regulated in eukaryotes. Implications of triphosphate recognition is discussed as is a role for La phosphoprotein in controlling transcriptional and posttranscriptional events in the biogenesis of polymerase III transcripts.