Protein Associated With Topoisomerase II Homolog 2 (PATL2)

PATL2 Belongs to the PAT1 family.The Pat1 protein is of particular interest because it functions in the opposing processes of mRNA translation and mRNA degradation, thus suggesting an important regulatory role. In contrast to other components of this mRNA decay pathway, the human homolog of the yeast Pat1 protein was unknown. As expected for a protein with a fundamental role in translation control, PATL1 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in all human tissues as were the mRNAs of LSM1 and RCK, the human homologs of yeast LSM1 and DHH1, respectively. Furthermore, fluorescence-tagged PatL1 protein accumulated in distinct foci that correspond to P bodies, as they co-localized with the P body components Lsm1, Rck/p54 and the decapping enzyme Dcp1. In addition, as for its yeast counterpart, PatL1 expression was required for P body formation.