The exosome is a large complex with cellular functions including exoribonucleolytic mRNA degradation and processing of a number of RNAs including small nuclear RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs and ribosomal RNAs. The yeast exosome is now shown to possess an unexpected endoribonucleolytic activity, and the essential Csl4 subunit is shown to contain a domain involved in mRNA decay. This suggests that particular domains in the complex have specialized roles.
- Daneen Schaeffer
- Borislava Tsanova
- Ambro van Hoof