tRNA Splicing Endonuclease 54 (TSEN54)

TSEN54 consists of SEN2, SEN34, SEN15, and SEN54, homologs of the yeast tRNA endonuclease subunits. Additionally, an alternatively spliced variant of SEN2 is part of a complex with unique RNA endonuclease activity.both human endonuclease complexes are associated with CLP1, a pre-mRNA 3-prime end processing factor. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of SEN2 led to defects in maturation of both pre-tRNA and pre-mRNA. These findings demonstrated a link between pre-tRNA splicing and pre-mRNA 3-prime end formation, suggesting that the endonuclease subunits function in multiple RNA processing events.TSEN54 is highly expressed in neurons of the pons, cerebellar dentate, and olivary nuclei during the second trimester of pregnancy, a determining period for the morphologic development of these structures.