PROTECTION AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICITY THROUGH MANIPULATION OF THE PROCESSING OF MESSENGER RNA PRECURSORS

摘要

This invention describes the identification of pre-messenger RNA processing as a novel target of environmental stress caused for example by lithium and sodium toxicity. Overexpression of different types of proteins (or protein fragments) from different organisms but all involved in pre-mRNA processing, protects yeast from salt stress, which indicates that any stimulation of thi s process, independently of its mechanism, may counteract the toxic effects of mineral salts. A similar phenotype of tolerance to NaCl and to LiCl has been observed by overexpression of these types of proteins in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, demonstrating the generality of this protective effect i n eukaryotic cells and organisms.