Structural basis of NEAT1 lncRNA maturation and menRNA instability.
Skeparnias, I., Zhang, J.(2024) Nat Struct Mol Biol 
- PubMed: 39026030 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-024-01361-z
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8VT5 - PubMed Abstract: 
NEAT1 long noncoding RNA orchestrates paraspeckle assembly and impacts tumorigenesis, fertility and immunity. Its maturation requires RNase P cleavage yielding an unstable transfer RNA-like multiple endocrine neoplasia-β tRNA-like transcript (menRNA) due to CCACCA addition. Here we report the crystal structure of human menRNA, which partially mimics tRNAs to drive RNase P and ELAC2 processing. Biophysical analyses uncover an RNA-centric, riboswitch-like mechanism whereby the nascent CCA reshapes the RNA folding landscape and propels a spontaneous conformational isomerization that directs repeat CCA addition, marking the menRNA and defective tRNAs for degradation.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.