Intracellular trafficking of RNASET2, a novel component of P-bodies

Here, we have studied the intracellular trafficking of RNASET2 in mammalian cells. RNASET2 co-localizes with markers for the trans-Golgi network (TGN), which is the central sorting and processing station of the secretory pathway. Moreover, using the temperature-sensitive vesicular stomatitis glycoprotein, we demonstrate that RNASET2 undergoes delivery to the plasma membrane. In contrast to other RNA-interacting proteins, RNASET2 does not accumulate in stress granules upon metabolic stress in mammalian cells. Surprisingly, RNASET2 shows co-localization with processing bodies (P-bodies), which increases upon metabolic stress. Finally, cells lacking RNASET2 show a reduced numbers of P-bodies.