Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Studying RNA Interactors of Protein Kinase RNA-Activated during the Mammalian Cell Cycle
Published on: March 5, 2019
Destabilization of interleukin-6 mRNA requires a putative RNA stem-loop structure, an AU-rich element, and the
Serge Paschoud1, Afzal M Dogar, Catherine Kuntz
1Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Genetics Unit, Chemin des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. lukas.kuehn@isrec.ch.
Abstract:
Interleukin-6 mRNA is unstable and degraded with a half-life of 30 min. Instability determinants can entirely be attributed to the 3' untranslated region. By grafting segments of this region to stable green fluorescent protein mRNA and subsequent scanning mutagenesis, we have identified two conserved elements, which together account for most of the instability. The first corresponds to a short noncanonical AU-rich element. The other, 80 nucleotides further 5', comprises a sequence predicted to form a stem-loop structure. Neither element alone was sufficient to confer full instability, suggesting that they might cooperate. Overexpression of myc-tagged AUF1 p37 and p42 isoforms as well as suppression of endogenous AUF1 by RNA interference stabilized interleukin-6 mRNA. Both effects required the AU-rich instability element. Similarly, the proteasome inhibitor MG132 stabilized interleukin-6 mRNA probably through an increase of AUF1 levels. The mRNA coimmunoprecipitated specifically with myc-tagged AUF1 p37 and p42 in cell extracts but only when the AU-rich instability element was present. These results indicate that AUF1 binds to the AU-rich element in vivo and promotes IL-6 mRNA degradation.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Stability
RNA Stability
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

