PNPT1 is a phosphate-dependent 3’-to-5’ exoribonuclease that catalyzes the phosphorolysis of single-stranded polyribonucleotides in a processive manner . The enzyme is predominantly localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, where it is involved in the import of RNA into mitochondria . The human recombinant form of PNPT1 is produced in E. coli and consists of a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 761 amino acids, with a molecular mass of approximately 83.3 kDa .
PNPT1 is a component of the mitochondrial degradosome (mtEXO) complex, which degrades 3’ overhang double-stranded RNA in an ATP-dependent manner . This enzyme is involved in the degradation of non-coding mitochondrial transcripts (MT-ncRNA) and tRNA-like molecules . Additionally, PNPT1 has been implicated in numerous RNA metabolic processes, including RNA processing and degradation .