template-free RNA nucleotidyltransferase

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Catalysis of the reaction: nucleoside triphosphate + RNA(n) = diphosphate + RNA(n+1); the addition of a terminal nucleotide to an RNA molecule in the absence of a nucleic acid template. [GOC:BHF, GOC:BHF_telomere, GOC:dos, GOC:nc, PMID:15994230]

Template-free RNA nucleotidyltransferase is an enzyme that adds nucleotides to the 3' end of RNA molecules without the need for a DNA template. This process is known as non-templated nucleotide addition or terminal uridylation. These enzymes play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including:

* **RNA stability:** By adding nucleotides to the 3' end, they can protect RNA molecules from degradation by exonucleases, increasing their stability.
* **RNA processing:** They can modify RNA molecules by adding specific nucleotides, which can influence their interactions with other molecules or their localization within the cell.
* **Regulation of translation:** Some template-free RNA nucleotidyltransferases can add poly(A) tails to RNA molecules, which is essential for their translation into proteins.
* **Viral replication:** Several viruses use template-free RNA nucleotidyltransferases to modify their RNA genomes during replication.

These enzymes can be categorized into different families based on their structure and mechanism. One example is the CCA-adding enzyme, which adds a CCA sequence to the 3' end of tRNA molecules.

Overall, template-free RNA nucleotidyltransferases are versatile enzymes that play a vital role in diverse biological processes. They exhibit remarkable substrate specificity, allowing them to interact with specific RNA molecules and modify them in precise ways.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (28)