{
  "abstract": "RNA degradation shapes cellular and organellar gene expression. In human mitochondria, this process is mediated by a dedicated degradosome comprising the helicase SUV3 and the exoribonuclease PNPase, but how these enzymes assemble and cooperate to degrade structured RNA has remained unknown. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of the complete human mitochondrial RNA degradosome bound to RNA. The structure reveals an asymmetric heteropentamer composed of a SUV3 dimer and the trimeric PNPase. Degradosome assembly is accompanied by conformational rearrangements in PNPase that reshape the RNA-entry channel and generate an asymmetric S1-domain platform for SUV3 binding. This creates a continuous electropositive path from SUV3 to PNPase, suggesting how RNA may be guided during degradation. Together, these findings reveal a mode of helicase-nuclease coupling distinct from other RNA degradation machineries and provide a structural framework for understanding human mitochondrial RNA degradation, its regulation, and association with disease.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University Medical Center Goettingen"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "P. F. V. do Prado"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Sharma"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Bhatta"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Vuckovic"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. P. Marani"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. P. L. David"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Kuhle"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "H. S. Hillen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/789swfzqf64kj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.06.749684",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.749684v1.full",
  "id": "789swfzqf64kj",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.749684v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "biochemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA Research and Splicing"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212227111",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.749684v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-06",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/789swfzqf64kj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.06.749684",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.749684v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|RNA Research and Splicing",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Structure of the human mitochondrial RNA degradosomereveals a distinct mode of helicase-nuclease coupling",
  "title_text": "Structure of the human mitochondrial RNA degradosomereveals a distinct mode of helicase-nuclease coupling",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:55Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/789swfzqf64kj",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}