A Complex Gene Regulatory Mechanism that Operates at the Nexus of Multiple RNA Processing Decisions

Expression of crs1 pre-mRNA, encoding a meiotic cyclin, is blocked in actively growing fission yeast cells by a multifaceted mechanism. The most striking feature is that crs1 transcripts are continuously synthesized in vegetative cells, but are targeted for degradation rather than splicing and polyadenylation. Turnover of crs1 RNA requires the exosome, similar to previously described nuclear surveillance and silencing mechanisms, but does not involve a non-canonical poly(A) polymerase. Instead, crs1 transcripts are targeted for destruction by a factor previously implicated in turnover of meiotic RNAs in growing cells. Like exosome mutants, mmi1 mutants splice and polyadenylate vegetative crs1 transcripts. Two regulatory elements are located at the 3′ end of the crs1 gene, consistent with the increased accumulation of spliced RNA in polyadenylation factor mutants. This highly integrated regulatory strategy may ensure a rapid response to adverse conditions, thereby guaranteeing survival.