scholarly journals Cytoplasmic RNA-Binding Proteins and the Control of Complex Brain Function

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. a012344-a012344 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Darnell ◽  
J. D. Richter
Acta Naturae ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Alemasova ◽  
O. I. Lavrik

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate RNA metabolism, from synthesis to decay. When bound to RNA, RBPs act as guardians of the genome integrity at different levels, from DNA damage prevention to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Recently, RBPs have been shown to participate in DNA repair. This fact is of special interest as DNA repair pathways do not generally involve RNA. DNA damage in higher organisms triggers the formation of the RNA-like polymer - poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR). Nucleic acid-like properties allow PAR to recruit DNA- and RNA-binding proteins to the site of DNA damage. It is suggested that poly(ADP-ribose) and RBPs not only modulate the activities of DNA repair factors, but that they also play an important role in the formation of transient repairosome complexes in the nucleus. Cytoplasmic biomolecules are subjected to similar sorting during the formation of RNA assemblages by functionally related mRNAs and promiscuous RBPs. The Y-box-binding protein 1 (YB-1) is the major component of cytoplasmic RNA granules. Although YB-1 is a classic RNA-binding protein, it is now regarded as a non-canonical factor of DNA repair.


2004 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy L. Kress ◽  
Young J. Yoon ◽  
Kimberly L. Mowry

Cytoplasmic localization of mRNAs is a widespread mechanism for generating cell polarity and can provide the basis for patterning during embryonic development. A prominent example of this is localization of maternal mRNAs in Xenopus oocytes, a process requiring recognition of essential RNA sequences by protein components of the localization machinery. However, it is not yet clear how and when such protein factors associate with localized RNAs to carry out RNA transport. To trace the RNA–protein interactions that mediate RNA localization, we analyzed RNP complexes from the nucleus and cytoplasm. We find that an early step in the localization pathway is recognition of localized RNAs by specific RNA-binding proteins in the nucleus. After transport into the cytoplasm, the RNP complex is remodeled and additional transport factors are recruited. These results suggest that cytoplasmic RNA localization initiates in the nucleus and that binding of specific RNA-binding proteins in the nucleus may act to target RNAs to their appropriate destinations in the cytoplasm.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. e22463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Mani ◽  
Andreas Güttinger ◽  
Bernd Schimanski ◽  
Manfred Heller ◽  
Alvaro Acosta-Serrano ◽  
...  

Reproduction ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Nguyen-Chi ◽  
Dominique Morello

Changes in mRNA translation and degradation represent post-transcriptional processes operating during gametogenesis and early embryogenesis to ensure regulated protein synthesis. Numerous mRNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been described in multiple animal models that contribute to the control of mRNA translation and decay during oogenesis and spermatogenesis. An emerging view from studies performed in germ cells and somatic cells is that RBPs associate with their target mRNAs in RNA–protein (or ribonucleoprotein) complexes (mRNPs) that assemble in various cytoplasmic RNA granules that communicate with the translation machinery and control mRNA storage, triage, and degradation. In comparison withXenopus, Caenorhabditis elegans, orDrosophila, the composition and role of cytoplasmic RNA-containing granules in mammalian germ cells are still poorly understood. However, regained interest for these structures has emerged with the recent discovery of their role in small RNA synthesis and transposon silencing through DNA methylation. In this review, we will briefly summarize our current knowledge on cytoplasmic RNA granules in murine germ cells and describe the role of some of the RBPs they contain in regulating mRNA metabolism and small RNA processing during gametogenesis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Das ◽  
Yeonji Chang ◽  
Reuben Saunders ◽  
Nan Zhang ◽  
Colson Tomberlin ◽  
...  

Nucleotide repeat-expansions cause several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. The expanded repeat-containing RNA transcribed from the affected loci agglomerate in the nucleus as pathogenic foci. Here we demonstrate that depending on their surrounding sequence context, RNAs with expanded CAG repeats can also undergo nuclear export and aggregate in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic aggregation of repeat-containing RNA coincides with several disease hallmarks, including repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation, mislocalization of RNA binding proteins, and cell toxicity. Interestingly, the repeat-containing RNA co-aggregate with RAN translation products. Inhibition of RAN translation prevents cytoplasmic RNA aggregation and also alleviates cell toxicity. Our findings provide a cogent explanation for aberrant cytoplasmic localization of RNA binding proteins and implicate cis-acting flanking sequences in mediating RAN translation and disease.


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