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Assessment of Selective mRNA Translation in Mammalian Cells by Polysome Profiling
Published on: October 28, 2014
Cytoplasmic polyadenylation and translational control.
Ana Villalba1, Olga Coll, Fátima Gebauer
1Gene Regulation Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and UPF, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003-Barcelona, Spain.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|May 4, 2011
Summary
Cytoplasmic polyadenylation activates dormant mRNAs by elongating their poly(A) tails, primarily regulated by the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein family. New findings reveal the molecular code for timing, translational activation, and diverse CPEB-independent mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cytoplasmic polyadenylation is a key post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism.
- It controls mRNA translation by elongating poly(A) tails in the cytoplasm.
- This process is crucial for activating translationally repressed mRNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing the timing and extent of cytoplasmic polyadenylation.
- To explore the role of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein family.
- To investigate emerging evidence of CPEB-independent cytoplasmic polyadenylation pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent molecular and genetic studies.
- Analysis of experimental data on CPEB function.
- Integration of findings on alternative polyadenylation mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Detailed understanding of the molecular code dictating CPEB-mediated poly(A) tail elongation.
- Insights into the extent of translational activation controlled by CPEB.
- Accumulating evidence for cytoplasmic polyadenylation mechanisms independent of CPEB.
Conclusions:
- CPEB proteins are versatile regulators of mRNA translation.
- Cytoplasmic polyadenylation involves diverse mechanisms beyond CPEB.
- The scope of biological processes regulated by cytoplasmic polyadenylation is expanding.
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