Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
07:39
Visualizing and Tracking Endogenous mRNAs in Live Drosophila melanogaster Egg Chambers
Published on: June 4, 2019
Taking a cellular road-trip: mRNA transport and anchoring
Catherine A Pratt1, Kimberly L Mowry
1Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Messenger RNA (mRNA) localization ensures proteins are made in the right place. Recent advances reveal how RNA structure and other pathways regulate this crucial gene expression process.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- mRNA localization is vital for asymmetric protein distribution and cellular function.
- It's a fundamental regulatory mechanism across diverse organisms.
- Recent progress has illuminated key steps in the mRNA localization pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding mRNA localization mechanisms.
- To highlight the role of RNA structure in localization element recognition.
- To discuss the involvement of mRNP granules and the endocytic pathway.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on mRNA localization.
- Analysis of research on RNA structure and its role in recognition.
- Examination of findings related to mRNP granules and endocytic pathways.
Main Results:
- Significant progress in understanding localization element recognition, emphasizing RNA structure.
- Insights into the function of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) granules in mRNA transport.
- Emerging evidence implicating the endocytic pathway in mRNA localization.
Conclusions:
- mRNA localization is a complex process regulated by multiple factors.
- RNA structure plays a critical role in specific mRNA targeting.
- The endocytic pathway represents a novel regulatory aspect of mRNA localization.
Related Concept Videos
02:22Regulated mRNA Transport
In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing specific...
02:22Regulated mRNA Transport
In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing specific...
01:42Directionality of Nuclear Transport
Ras-related nuclear protein or Ran is a small G protein that cycles between its GTP and GDP bound states. Ran specific regulators, a Ran GTPase Activating Protein or RanGAP present in the cytosol and a Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor or RanGEF present inside the nucleus regulate GTP/GDP exchange. A high concentration of GTP inside the cells, in addition to this asymmetric distribution of Ran-specific regulators, leads to a higher RanGTP concentration inside the nucleus. This...
01:45Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
Tail-anchored, or TA, proteins are estimated to make up to 3-5% of membrane proteins found in the eukaryotic cell. Such proteins have a single transmembrane domain located approximately 30 amino acid residues upstream from the C-terminal end. As a result, the signal recognition particle (SRP) cannot guide a TA protein to the ER membrane for cotranslational insertion. Hence, they are integrated into the ER membrane post-translationally using their C-terminal end as the anchor. TA proteins...
01:34Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
The organelle-specific signaling sequences direct proteins synthesized in the cytosol to their final destination like ER, mitochondria, peroxisomes, etc. Some of the proteins directed to ER are then trafficked via vesicles to other organelles within the cell or the extracellular environment through the Golgi complex. For example, the rough ER synthesizes soluble proteins for transportation to the lysosomes or secretion out of the cell. It can also synthesize transmembrane proteins that can...
01:25Nucleic Acid Structure
The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...