scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms in Pentanucleotide Repeat Diseases

Cells ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Joana R. Loureiro ◽  
Ana F. Castro ◽  
Ana S. Figueiredo ◽  
Isabel Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxias ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Dna Strands ◽  
Repeat Expansions ◽  
Toxic Rna ◽  
Pentanucleotide Repeat

The number of neurodegenerative diseases resulting from repeat expansion has increased extraordinarily in recent years. In several of these pathologies, the repeat can be transcribed in RNA from both DNA strands producing, at least, one toxic RNA repeat that causes neurodegeneration by a complex mechanism. Recently, seven diseases have been found caused by a novel intronic pentanucleotide repeat in distinct genes encoding proteins highly expressed in the cerebellum. These disorders are clinically heterogeneous being characterized by impaired motor function, resulting from ataxia or epilepsy. The role that apparently normal proteins from these mutant genes play in these pathologies is not known. However, recent advances in previously known spinocerebellar ataxias originated by abnormal non-coding pentanucleotide repeats point to a gain of a toxic function by the pathogenic repeat-containing RNA that abnormally forms nuclear foci with RNA-binding proteins. In cells, RNA foci have been shown to be formed by phase separation. Moreover, the field of repeat expansions has lately achieved an extraordinary progress with the discovery that RNA repeats, polyglutamine, and polyalanine proteins are crucial for the formation of nuclear membraneless organelles by phase separation, which is perturbed when they are expanded. This review will cover the amazing advances on repeat diseases.

scholarly journals Gestörter Kerntransport und Phasentrennung von RNA-Bindeproteinen

BIOspektrum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-367
Author(s):  
Saskia Hutten ◽  
Dorothee Dormann
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disordes, whose underlying molecular mechanisms are only beginning to emerge. A common molecular hallmark of both diseases is the relocalization of nuclear RNA-binding proteins (RBP) into cytoplasmic aggregates. Defects in nuclear import and aberrant phase separation appear to underlie RBP mislocalization and aggregation and could potentially be targeted in future therapies.

scholarly journals Comprehensive landscape and future perspectives of circular RNAs in colorectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Long ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Min Ma ◽  
Zhixing Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
New Class ◽  
Functional Peptides ◽  
Mirna Sponges

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a common hereditary tumor that is often fatal. Its pathogenesis involves multiple genes, including circular RNAs (circRNAs). Notably, circRNAs constitute a new class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a covalently closed loop structure and have been characterized as stable, conserved molecules that are abundantly expressed in tissue/development-specific patterns in eukaryotes. Based on accumulating evidence, circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in CRC tissues, cells, exosomes, and blood from patients with CRC. Moreover, numerous circRNAs have been identified as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors that mediate tumorigenesis, metastasis and chemoradiation resistance in CRC. Although the regulatory mechanisms of circRNA biogenesis and functions remain fairly elusive, interesting results have been obtained in studies investigating CRC. In particular, the expression of circRNAs in CRC is comprehensively modulated by multiple factors, such as splicing factors, transcription factors, specific enzymes and cis-acting elements. More importantly, circRNAs exert pivotal effects on CRC through various mechanisms, including acting as miRNA sponges or decoys, interacting with RNA binding proteins, and even translating functional peptides. Finally, circRNAs may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the clinical practice of CRC. In this review, we discuss the dysregulation, functions and clinical significance of circRNAs in CRC and further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which circRNAs exert their functions and how their expression is regulated. Based on this review, we hope to reveal the functions of circRNAs in the initiation and progression of cancer and highlight the future perspectives on strategies targeting circRNAs in cancer research.

scholarly journals The RNA-binding protein ELAVL1/HuR is essential for mouse spermatogenesis, acting both at meiotic and postmeiotic stages

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 2875-2885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Nguyen Chi ◽  
Jacques Auriol ◽  
Bernard Jégou ◽  
Dimitris L. Kontoyiannis ◽  
James M.A. Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Female Sterility ◽  
Targeted Deletion

Posttranscriptional mechanisms are crucial to regulate spermatogenesis. Accurate protein synthesis during germ cell development relies on RNA binding proteins that control the storage, stability, and translation of mRNAs in a tightly and temporally regulated manner. Here, we focused on the RNA binding protein Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision (ELAV) L1/Human antigen R (HuR) known to be a key regulator of posttranscriptional regulation in somatic cells but the function of which during gametogenesis has never been investigated. In this study, we have used conditional loss- and gain-of-function approaches to address this issue in mice. We show that targeted deletion of HuR specifically in germ cells leads to male but not female sterility. Mutant males are azoospermic because of the extensive death of spermatocytes at meiotic divisions and failure of spermatid elongation. The latter defect is also observed upon HuR overexpression. To elucidate further the molecular mechanisms underlying spermatogenesis defects in HuR-deleted and -overexpressing testes, we undertook a target gene approach and discovered that heat shock protein (HSP)A2/HSP70-2, a crucial regulator of spermatogenesis, was down-regulated in both situations. HuR specifically binds hspa2 mRNA and controls its expression at the translational level in germ cells. Our study provides the first genetic evidence of HuR involvement during spermatogenesis and reveals Hspa2 as a target for HuR.

scholarly journals The effective function of circular RNA in colorectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandana Ameli-Mojarad ◽  
Melika Ameli-Mojarad ◽  
Mahrooyeh Hadizadeh ◽  
Chris Young ◽  
Hosna Babini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Circular Rna ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Colorectal Tumorigenesis ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Mirna Sponges ◽  
Mechanisms Of Development

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common type of cancer worldwide. Late detection plays role in one-third of annual mortality due to CRC. Therefore, it is essential to find a precise and optimal diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the identification and treatment of colorectal tumorigenesis. Covalently closed, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, which can have the same function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, as regulators of splicing and transcription, and as interactors with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Therefore, circRNAs have been investigated as specific targets for diagnostic and prognostic detection of CRC. These non-coding RNAs are also linked to metastasis, proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and drug resistance, illustrating the importance of understanding their involvement in the molecular mechanisms of development and progression of CRC. In this review, we present a detailed summary of recent findings relating to the dysregulation of circRNAs and their potential role in CRC.

scholarly journals RNA Is a Double-Edged Sword in ALS Pathogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin L. Zaepfel ◽  
Jeffrey D. Rothstein
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Metabolism ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Toxic Rna ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons. Familial ALS accounts for a small subset of cases (<10–15%) and is caused by dominant mutations in one of more than 10 known genes. Multiple genes have been causally or pathologically linked to both ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Many of these genes encode RNA-binding proteins, so the role of dysregulated RNA metabolism in neurodegeneration is being actively investigated. In addition to defects in RNA metabolism, recent studies provide emerging evidence into how RNA itself can contribute to the degeneration of both motor and cortical neurons. In this review, we discuss the roles of altered RNA metabolism and RNA-mediated toxicity in the context of TARDBP, FUS, and C9ORF72 mutations. Specifically, we focus on recent studies that describe toxic RNA as the potential initiator of disease, disease-associated defects in specific RNA metabolism pathways, as well as how RNA-based approaches can be used as potential therapies. Altogether, we highlight the importance of RNA-based investigations into the molecular progression of ALS, as well as the need for RNA-dependent structural studies of disease-linked RNA-binding proteins to identify clear therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals High-resolution mapping of cis-regulatory variation in budding yeast

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (50) ◽  
pp. E10736-E10744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryosuke Kita ◽  
Sandeep Venkataram ◽  
Yiqi Zhou ◽  
Hunter B. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Eqtl Mapping ◽  
Regulatory Variation ◽  
Conserved Genes ◽  
Causal Variants ◽  
Resolution Mapping

Genetic variants affecting gene-expression levels are a major source of phenotypic variation. The approximate locations of these variants can be mapped as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs); however, a major limitation of eQTLs is their low resolution, which precludes investigation of the causal variants and their molecular mechanisms. Here we report RNA-seq and full genome sequences for 85 diverse isolates of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae—including wild, domesticated, and human clinical strains—which allowed us to perform eQTL mapping with 50-fold higher resolution than previously possible. In addition to variants in promoters, we uncovered an important role for variants in 3′UTRs, especially those affecting binding of the PUF family of RNA-binding proteins. The eQTLs are predominantly under negative selection, particularly those affecting essential genes and conserved genes. However, applying the sign test for lineage-specific selection revealed the polygenic up-regulation of dozens of biofilm suppressor genes in strains isolated from human patients, consistent with the key role of biofilms in fungal pathogenicity. In addition, a single variant in the promoter of a biofilm suppressor, NIT3, showed the strongest genome-wide association with clinical origin. Altogether, our results demonstrate the power of high-resolution eQTL mapping in understanding the molecular mechanisms of regulatory variation, as well as the natural selection acting on this variation that drives adaptation to environments, ranging from laboratories to vineyards to the human body.

The expanding world of metabolic enzymes moonlighting as RNA binding proteins

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole J. Curtis ◽  
Constance J. Jeffery
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Intermediary Metabolism ◽  
The Many ◽  
And Function

RNA binding proteins play key roles in many aspects of RNA metabolism and function, including splicing, transport, translation, localization, stability and degradation. Within the past few years, proteomics studies have identified dozens of enzymes in intermediary metabolism that bind to RNA. The wide occurrence and conservation of RNA binding ability across distant branches of the evolutionary tree suggest that these moonlighting enzymes are involved in connections between intermediary metabolism and gene expression that comprise far more extensive regulatory networks than previously thought. There are many outstanding questions about the molecular structures and mechanisms involved, the effects of these interactions on enzyme and RNA functions, and the factors that regulate the interactions. The effects on RNA function are likely to be wider than regulation of translation, and some enzyme–RNA interactions have been found to regulate the enzyme's catalytic activity. Several enzyme–RNA interactions have been shown to be affected by cellular factors that change under different intracellular and environmental conditions, including concentrations of substrates and cofactors. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the interactions between the enzymes and RNA, the factors involved in regulation, and the effects of the enzyme–RNA interactions on both the enzyme and RNA functions will lead to a better understanding of the role of the many newly identified enzyme–RNA interactions in connecting intermediary metabolism and gene expression.

scholarly journals Neurogenesis: Regulation by Alternative Splicing and Related Posttranscriptional Processes

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 466-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Lara-Pezzi ◽  
Manuel Desco ◽  
Alberto Gatto ◽  
María Victoria Gómez-Gaviro
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Posttranscriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Degradation ◽  
Protein Isoforms ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Nonsense Mediated Decay

The complexity of the mammalian brain requires highly specialized protein function and diversity. As neurons differentiate and the neuronal circuitry is established, several mRNAs undergo alternative splicing and other posttranscriptional changes that expand the variety of protein isoforms produced. Recent advances are beginning to shed light on the molecular mechanisms that regulate isoform switching during neurogenesis and the role played by specific RNA binding proteins in this process. Neurogenesis and neuronal wiring were recently shown to also be regulated by RNA degradation through nonsense-mediated decay. An additional layer of regulatory complexity in these biological processes is the interplay between alternative splicing and long noncoding RNAs. Dysregulation of posttranscriptional regulation results in defective neuronal differentiation and/or synaptic connections that lead to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document