Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

8.3K
In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
8.3K
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

6.9K
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
6.9K
Regulated mRNA Transport02:22

Regulated mRNA Transport

7.0K
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...
7.0K
Nuclear Export of mRNA02:31

Nuclear Export of mRNA

8.8K
Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
8.8K
pre-mRNA Processing02:01

pre-mRNA Processing

57.6K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
57.6K
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

6.7K
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
6.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

RNA G-quadruplexes function as a tunable switch of FUS phase separation.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Robust mammalian RNA localization elements are complex and multipartite.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

A multi-responsive and self-healing konjac glucomannan hydrogel crosslinked by dual dynamic bonds for smart banana preservation.

Food chemistry·2026
Same author

Sequence and structure of protein binding sites in RNA impact biomolecular condensates.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Sequence and structure of protein binding sites in RNA impact biomolecular condensates.

Molecular biology of the cell·2026
Same author

Cytoplasmic localization of pseudouridine synthase 7 facilitates a pseudouridine-dependent enhancement of cellular stress tolerance.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Separation of Rat Epidermis and Dermis with Thermolysin to Detect Site-Specific Inflammatory mRNA and Protein
08:45

Separation of Rat Epidermis and Dermis with Thermolysin to Detect Site-Specific Inflammatory mRNA and Protein

Published on: September 29, 2021

5.9K

mRNA structure determines specificity of a polyQ-driven phase separation.

Erin M Langdon1, Yupeng Qiu2, Amirhossein Ghanbari Niaki2

  • 1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 14, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) use their structure to self-associate, forming distinct cellular compartments. Protein interactions then maintain these RNA-driven liquid compartments, creating cellular diversity.

More Related Videos

Optimization of In vitro Transcription Reaction for mRNA Production Using Chromatographic At-Line Monitoring
07:04

Optimization of In vitro Transcription Reaction for mRNA Production Using Chromatographic At-Line Monitoring

Published on: April 4, 2025

2.1K
Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
22:00

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: November 21, 2010

30.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Separation of Rat Epidermis and Dermis with Thermolysin to Detect Site-Specific Inflammatory mRNA and Protein
08:45

Separation of Rat Epidermis and Dermis with Thermolysin to Detect Site-Specific Inflammatory mRNA and Protein

Published on: September 29, 2021

5.9K
Optimization of In vitro Transcription Reaction for mRNA Production Using Chromatographic At-Line Monitoring
07:04

Optimization of In vitro Transcription Reaction for mRNA Production Using Chromatographic At-Line Monitoring

Published on: April 4, 2025

2.1K
Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
22:00

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: November 21, 2010

30.6K

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cellular membraneless compartments form via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).
  • The mechanisms establishing distinct molecular compositions within these RNA-rich compartments remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate how messenger RNAs (mRNAs) contribute to the formation and maintenance of distinct liquid compartments.
  • Determine the role of RNA secondary structure in molecular recruitment and exclusion from these compartments.

Main Methods:

  • Studied mRNA self-association driven by RNA secondary structure.
  • Investigated the influence of the polyQ-protein Whi3 on RNA structure and dynamics.
  • Analyzed RNA sequence-dependent molecular fluctuations within compartments.

Main Results:

  • RNA secondary structure enables mRNA self-association, dictating compartment membership.
  • The protein Whi3 induces RNA conformational changes, modulating molecular fluctuations.
  • Structure-based RNA-RNA interactions drive distinct droplet assembly and identity maintenance.

Conclusions:

  • RNA shape and structure are critical for forming diverse, coexisting RNA-rich liquid compartments.
  • Protein-mediated conformational dynamics of RNA stabilize compartment identity.
  • This provides a framework for understanding cellular membraneless compartment heterogeneity.