Characterisation of the yeast RNA helicase Prp43

RNA helicases have many important roles in cell metabolism and are involved in numerous pathways, e.g. translation, pre-mRNA splicing and biogenesis. Interestingly, an increasing number of RNA helicases have been shown to be required for more than one cellular pathway. Therefore, protein cofactors have been suggested to recruit multifunctional RNA helicases to their substrates and regulate their activity. The best characterised family of helicase cofactors are G-patch proteins, which all contain a glycine-riche domain. This work focuses on the characterisation of the yeast RNA helicase Prp43 and its G-patch protein cofactors. Additionally, a new G-patch protein cofactor of Prp43 was identified and characterised. Together, the data suggest that protein cofactors can regulate the distribution and activity of RNA helicases in different pathways.