REXO2
Developmental stage
Expressed in fetal liver, lung and kidney.
Function
3'-to-5'exoribonuclease that preferentially degrades DNA and RNA oligonucleotides composed of only two nucleotides (PubMed:23741365, PubMed:30926754, PubMed:31588022, PubMed:32365187). Binds and degrades longer oligonucleotides with a lower affinity (PubMed:30926754, PubMed:31588022, PubMed:32365187). Plays dual roles in mitochondria, scavenging nanoRNAs (small RNA oligonucleotides of <5 nucleotides) that are produced by the degradosome and clearing short RNAs that are generated by RNA processing (PubMed:30926754, PubMed:31588022, PubMed:32365187). Essential for correct initiation of mitochondrial transcription, degrading mitochondrial RNA dinucleotides to prevent RNA-primed transcription at non-canonical sites in the mitochondrial genome (PubMed:31588022). Essential for embryonic development (By similarity).
Isoform 3
3'-to-5'exoribonuclease that preferentially degrades DNA and RNA oligonucleotides composed of only two nucleotides.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the oligoribonuclease family.
Tissue Specificity
Highly expressed in the heart and at lower levels in the lymph nodes, brain, lung, liver, spleen and thymus.
Cellular localization
- Mitochondrion intermembrane space
- Mitochondrion matrix
- Mitochondrion
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Isoform 3
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
Alternative names
SFN, SMFN, CGI-114, REXO2, RNA exonuclease 2 homolog, Small fragment nuclease