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Belén Pacheco-Fiallos (Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1)
This drawing shows a mature mRNA being gently cradled by the transcription export complex (TREX). During scientific discussions, this hand gesture would mimic the three-dimensional organisation of TREX-bound mature mRNAs observed in cryo-electron microscopy and tomography images: multiple TREX complexes coat the surface of a globular mRNA, shown as a grey strand. In the cell, TREX distinguishes mature mRNAs from their precursors prior to nuclear export. However, little was known about the architecture of mature mRNAs and how TREX recognises its substrates. As illustrated here, TREX consists of the THO complex (hands), UAP56 (pink) and ALYREF (purple). Mature mRNA is recognised by multivalent interactions between ALYREF and the mRNA-bound exon junction complex (EJC, earth tones), one of the major protein maturation marks associated with mature mRNAs. This work reshapes our understanding of mRNA architecture from a loose strand to a compact globule and reveals how TREX can simultaneously recognise and protect mRNAs during their biogenesis.