PAN complex

GO:0031251 · Other · Multiprotein complex · Proposed

A complex that possesses poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity; catalyzes the message-specific shortening of mRNA poly(A) tails. Contains at least two subunits, known as Pan2p and Pan3p in Saccharomyces. [GO:0031251]

Synonyms: poly(A) nuclease complex

Part of: GO:0005737 — cytoplasm (no local record)

UniProt location names: UniProt Consortium, CC BY 4.0. Reference label and route sources.

Functions

poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity GO:0004535 — The PAN complex catalyzes exonucleolytic cleavage of poly(A), shortening mRNA poly(A) tails.
- GO:0004535 GO:0004535 is the Gene Ontology molecular-function term for poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity.
- GO:0031251 GO:0031251 defines the PAN complex by message-specific shortening of mRNA poly(A) tails.

Mechanism graphs

PAN complex shortens mRNA poly(A) tails (FUNCTION)

GO defines the PAN complex as a cytoplasmic exoribonuclease complex that possesses poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity and shortens mRNA poly(A) tails.

Subject	Predicate	Object	Evidence
PAN complex	localizes to	cytoplasm	`GO:0031251` GO:0031251 places the PAN complex part_of the cytoplasm. `GO:0005737` — cytoplasm GO:0005737 is the Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the cytoplasm.
PAN complex	enables	poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity	`GO:0031251` GO:0031251 defines the complex by poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity. `GO:0004535` GO:0004535 is the molecular-function term for poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity.
mRNA poly(A) tail	is shortened by	poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity	`GO:0031251` GO:0031251 describes the PAN complex as catalyzing message-specific shortening of mRNA poly(A) tails. `GO:0004535` GO:0004535 defines catalysis of exonucleolytic cleavage of poly(A) to 5'-AMP.

Discussions

CURATION_TODO (OPEN): Resolve exact source-neutral component boundaries for PAN complexes. The first GO:0031251 record captures the GO-defined PAN complex identity, cytoplasmic location and poly(A)-specific activity. Exact source-neutral families for Pan2/Pan3 subunits should be curated from primary component evidence before assigning constituents.

Evidence

GO:0031251 Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the PAN complex and its exact poly(A) nuclease complex synonym.
GO:1905354 Gene Ontology cellular-component term for exoribonuclease complexes.
GO:0005737 — cytoplasm Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the cytoplasm, where the GO:0031251 PAN complex is located.
GO:0004535 Gene Ontology molecular-function term for poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity.
PMID:9774670 Primary PAN-complex publication cited in the GO:0031251 definition xrefs.

Curation history

2026-09-25T15:41:50Z codex · CREATED_RECORD — Scaffolded by scripts/new_record.py
2026-09-25T15:42:27Z codex · EXPANDED_RECORD — Added GO exact synonymy, exoribonuclease parentage, cytoplasmic parthood, a GO-backed poly(A)-specific ribonuclease function, GO/PubMed evidence, a nonmechanistic function graph and a component-boundary TODO.

Source: data/structures/other/pan_complex.yaml