scholarly journals RNA-binding proteins, neural development and the addictions

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Bryant ◽  
N. Yazdani
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeetayu Biswas ◽  
Vivek L. Patel ◽  
Varun Bhaskar ◽  
Jeffrey A. Chao ◽  
Robert H. Singer ◽  
...  

Abstract The IGF2 mRNA-binding proteins (ZBP1/IMP1, IMP2, IMP3) are highly conserved post-transcriptional regulators of RNA stability, localization and translation. They play important roles in cell migration, neural development, metabolism and cancer cell survival. The knockout phenotypes of individual IMP proteins suggest that each family member regulates a unique pool of RNAs, yet evidence and an underlying mechanism for this is lacking. Here, we combine systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that the major RNA-binding domains of the two most distantly related IMPs (ZBP1 and IMP2) bind to different consensus sequences and regulate targets consistent with their knockout phenotypes and roles in disease. We find that the targeting specificity of each IMP is determined by few amino acids in their variable loops. As variable loops often differ amongst KH domain paralogs, we hypothesize that this is a general mechanism for evolving specificity and regulation of the transcriptome.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeetayu Biswas ◽  
Vivek L. Patel ◽  
Varun Bhaskar ◽  
Jeffrey A. Chao ◽  
Robert H. Singer ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Igf2 mRNA binding proteins (ZBP1/IMP1, IMP2, IMP3) are highly conserved post-transcriptional regulators of RNA stability, localization and translation. They play important roles in cell migration, neural development, metabolism and cancer cell survival. The knockout phenotypes of individual IMP proteins suggest that each family member regulates a unique pool of RNAs, yet evidence and an underlying mechanism for this is lacking. Here, we combine SELEX and NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that the major RNA binding domains of the two most distantly related IMPs (ZBP1 and IMP2) bind to different consensus sequences and regulate targets consistent with their knockout phenotypes and roles in disease. We find that the targeting specificity of each IMP is determined by few amino acids in their variable loops. As variable loops often differ amongst KH domain paralogs, we hypothesize that this is a general mechanism for evolving specificity and regulation of the transcriptome.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Yang ◽  
Lan Lan ◽  
Xiaoqing Wu ◽  
Liang Xu ◽  
Matthew Buechner

AbstractThe evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins HuR and MSI are essential for multiple developmental processes and are upregulated in many cancer tissues. The C. elegans homologues EXC-7 (HuR) and MSI-1 (MSI1 and MSI2) have been implicated in tubulogenesis, neural development, and specific behaviors that include male tail-curling to maintain contact with the hermaphrodite during mating. This behavior is mediated by serotonin signaling. Here, drug studies plus biochemical and genetic results indicate that MSI-1 affects serotonergic signaling through stabilization of mRNA of the Gα protein GOA-1/GNAO1 in neurons, which in turn affects activity of the serotonin synthase TPH-1/tryptophan hydroxylase via the response element CRH-1/CREB. EXC-7 (HuR) is also involved in this regulatory pathway. These results indicate a novel pathway and role for these RNA-binding proteins in regulating neurotransmitter levels that could be conserved in other tissues where these RNA-binding proteins are present.Impact StatementRNA-binding proteins Musashi and HuR upregulate serotonin levels for male-specific movement during mating via a novel pathway involving a neural Gα protein, response element, and serotonin synthase.


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