Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Protein Extract Preparation and Co-immunoprecipitation from Caenorhabditis elegans
07:22

Protein Extract Preparation and Co-immunoprecipitation from Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: May 23, 2020

10.1K

Poly(A)-binding proteins are required for microRNA-mediated silencing and to promote target deadenylation in C.

Mathieu N Flamand1, Edlyn Wu2, Ajay Vashisht3

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada.

Nucleic Acids Research
|April 21, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) are crucial for microRNA (miRNA)-mediated gene silencing in C. elegans. These proteins accelerate mRNA deadenylation and enable silencing through poly(A)-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) are known to interact with mRNA 3' termini and translation initiation factors.
  • PABPs have been implicated in microRNA (miRNA)-mediated silencing in various model organisms, but through distinct mechanisms.
  • The specific roles and mechanisms of PABPs in miRNA-mediated silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans remain to be fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of C. elegans PABPs (PAB-1 and PAB-2) in miRNA-mediated gene silencing.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which PABPs contribute to miRNA silencing in C. elegans.
  • To refine the understanding of PABP functions in the context of translational control and mRNA decay pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a combination of genetic analyses in C. elegans.
  • Performed protein interaction studies to identify interacting partners.
  • Employed cell-free assays to dissect the biochemical mechanisms of PABP action.

Main Results:

  • C. elegans PABPs (PAB-1 and PAB-2) are essential for miRNA-mediated silencing during embryonic and larval development.
  • Depletion of PABPs leads to the loss of both poly(A)-dependent and -independent translational silencing.
  • PABPs accelerate miRNA-mediated deadenylation, with this process being influenced by 3'UTR sequences and the distance to the poly(A) tail.

Conclusions:

  • C. elegans PABPs play a multifaceted role in miRNA-mediated silencing.
  • PABPs facilitate miRNA-mediated silencing by promoting deadenylation and enabling miRNA-binding sites.
  • A model is proposed where PABPs loop the 3'UTR poly(A) tail to the miRISC and deadenylase complex.

More Related Videos

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs11:00

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs

Published on: June 12, 2018

14.7K
Enhanced Northern Blot Detection of Small RNA Species in Drosophila Melanogaster09:39

Enhanced Northern Blot Detection of Small RNA Species in Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: August 21, 2014

24.8K

Related Concept Videos

RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
28.5K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.6K
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
7.8K
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
8.2K
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
6.8K