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Operons in eukaryotes.

Thomas Blumenthal1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Fitzsimons, Mail Stop 8101, PO Box 6511, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. tom.blumenthal@uchsc.edu

Briefings in Functional Genomics & Proteomics
|January 12, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Eukaryotic genes are not always monocistronic. Polycistronic transcription, previously thought unique to bacteria, occurs in eukaryotes via dicistronic mRNAs or trans-splicing, enabling co-expression of related genes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Traditionally, eukaryotic gene transcription was considered monocistronic, with each gene having its own promoter and terminator.
  • Bacterial and archaeal genes are often organized into polycistronic operons, allowing coordinated expression of multiple genes.
  • Recent findings challenge the strict monocistronic model in eukaryotes, revealing instances of polycistronic transcription across diverse eukaryotic lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence and mechanisms of polycistronic transcription in eukaryotes.
  • To understand how eukaryotic cells achieve the co-expression of functionally related genes, similar to bacterial operons.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of reported cases of eukaryotic polycistronic transcription.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification of two main types of eukaryotic polycistronic units: dicistronic mRNAs and processed monocistronic mRNAs via trans-splicing.

    • Main Results:

    • Eukaryotic polycistronic transcription units have been identified in various organisms, from protists to chordates.
    • Dicistronic transcription units produce a single messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding two genes, with translation of the downstream gene facilitated by mechanisms like internal ribosome entry sites (IRES).
    • Alternative polycistronic transcripts undergo 3' end cleavage and trans-splicing to yield individual monocistronic mRNAs.

    Conclusions:

    • Polycistronic transcription is not exclusive to prokaryotes and plays a role in eukaryotic gene expression.
    • Eukaryotic polycistronic transcription mechanisms, including dicistronic mRNAs and trans-splicing, enable the co-expression of functionally related proteins, mirroring the role of bacterial operons.