RNA-protein interactions of the 3' untranslated regions of myosin heavy chain transcripts

The RNA-protein interactions of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) were investigated using gel mobility shift assays. Marine skeletal myosin heavy chain mRNAs were amplified using reverse transcription coupled with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Four cloned MyHC sequences were identified as slow type 1, fast 2a, fast 2b and fast 2x. The 3'UTRs of the four MyHC mRNAs were shown to interact with muscle protein in a tissue-specific manner as illustrated by gel retardation assays with protein extracts from various tissues. Competition assays indicate that this interaction is specific to the MyHC 3'UTR sequence. UV cross-linking suggests that several small proteins bind to the 3'UTR's. Peptide sequencing identified aldolase A and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as MyHC 3'UTR RNA-binding proteins. The implications of these interactions and post-transcriptional regulation of the MyHC genes are discussed.