Analysis of the yeast NSR1 gene and protein domain comparison between Nsr1 and human hnRNP type A1

The yeast nucleolar protein-encoding gene NSR1 was isolated by low-stringency screening of a yeast genomic library with the human heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein type A1 (hnRNP A1) cDNA probe, and was mapped to chromosome VII. RNA abundance was determined and the transcription start point and polyadenylation site were mapped. A comparison between the Nsr1 and hnRNP A1 proteins, based on homopolymer RNA binding to their structural domains in vitro, revealed a striking biochemical similarity. When the N-terminal, lysine- and arginine-rich domain of Nsr1 was removed, the truncated protein behaved similarly to hnRNP A1; furthermore, the two RRM (RNA recognition motif) domains of Nsr1 behaved in the same manner as the two RRM domains of hnRNP A1. The biochemical data, therefore, would support the hypothesis that the two RRM domains in hnRNP A1 and Nsr1 interact with RNA in a similar manner in both mammalian and yeast cells, respectively.