Endonuclease G governs an antiviral RNA surveillance system in budding yeast

Nuc1, the Endonuclease G homolog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, limits replication of the L-A mycovirus, and this antiviral effect depends on Nuc1 localizing to the mitochondrial intermembrane space.

• Why it matters: Endonuclease G family roles in RNA regulation are unclear, and it is unknown whether yeast uses this nuclease to surveil RNA and restrict viral replication.
• What they did: The study mapped Nuc1’s antiviral pathway against L-A and tested genetic interactions with nuclear RNA exonucleases REX1 and REX2, showing that nuc1↑ defects are massively amplified by rex1↑ rex2↑.
• The result: In rex1↑ rex2↑ mutants, L-A RNA levels surpass mature rRNAs and overwhelm cells, while Nuc1 also controls mis-processed tRNA and rRNA species that are significantly reduced in L-A infected cells.

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