Elisa Izaurralde 1959–2018 | Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

When Elisa returned to the University of Geneva to start her own independent research group, she remained fascinated by the question of how mRNAs are exported from the nucleus to the

cytoplasm, at the time a largely unexplored area. Her detailed knowledge of the literature, an analytical mind and her intuition led her to use a sequence motif involved in the export of

viral mRNAs as a probe to investigate the mechanisms underlying the export process. This triggered the discovery of TAP, a human protein that mediates mRNA export. TAP interacts with other

RNA-binding proteins as well as with nucleoporins, thus offering a paradigm for how an export factor negotiates interactions between mRNP complexes and the nuclear pore. This was a defining

moment in Elisa’s career, which swiftly made her a leader in the field of RNA trafficking. The work already carried her signature of a multidisciplinary approach, strong biochemistry,

rigorous functional dissection of mechanisms and attention to detail, which remained a constant of her scientific endeavors. When Elisa joined the Gene Expression Programme at EMBL as a

group leader in 1999, she naturally expanded her interests into other aspects of mRNA metabolism and their interconnections. An early highlight of this work was the discovery and

characterization of the exon junction complex in collaboration with Hervé Le Hir, Melissa Moore and Lynne Maquat. This seminal discovery led to a long-term collaboration with the structural

biologist Elena Conti, who had also established her group at EMBL. Their collaboration unearthed major insights into the molecular basis of mRNA transport, the function of the exon junction

complex and mechanisms of mRNA degradation, especially by nonsense-mediated decay. Elisa and Elena jointly received the Leibniz Prize, Germany’s highest research award, in 2008 for the

“exceptional value, originality and elegance of the mechanisms identified.” Elisa also developed an interest in microRNA-mediated regulation and quickly became a point of reference in this

particularly complex field. Following her genuine thirst for mechanistic understanding and her uncompromising attention to detail, her group made landmark discoveries on the role of the

CCR4–NOT deadenylase complex and the DCP1–DCP2 decapping complex in microRNA-induced mRNA turnover. ENJOYING OUR LATEST CONTENT? LOGIN OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT TO CONTINUE * Get immediate access

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ORCiD AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany Matthias W. Hentze * President of the RNA Society,

Center for Genomic Regulation, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain Juan Valcárcel Authors * Matthias W. Hentze View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * Juan Valcárcel View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Matthias W. Hentze. RIGHTS AND

PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Hentze, M.W., Valcárcel, J. Elisa Izaurralde 1959–2018. _Nat Struct Mol Biol_ 25, 547 (2018).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-018-0081-1 Download citation * Published: 18 June 2018 * Issue Date: July 2018 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-018-0081-1 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you

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