Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
The Escherichia coli rne gene affects a variety of bacterial functions, including the activity of RNase E. We report the existence of a human gene (ard-1, for activator of RNA decay) that complements temperature-sensitive and deletion mutations of rne in E. coli, allowing growth of rne-defective cells, correcting abnormal cell shape, activating chemical decay of bulk mRNA, and producing site-specific cleavages characteristic of RNase E in vivo and in vitro. ard-1 encodes a highly basic 13.3-kDa proline-rich peptide that has features in common with Rne and also with eukaryotic proteins implicated in RNA binding and macromolecular transport.