Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
09:36
RNA Pull-down Procedure to Identify RNA Targets of a Long Non-coding RNA
Published on: April 10, 2018
26.3K
Long non-coding RNA-dependent mechanism to regulate heme biosynthesis and erythrocyte development
Jinhua Liu1,2, Yapu Li1,2, Jingyuan Tong1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300020, China.
Nature Communications
|October 24, 2018
Summary
This study reveals a novel mechanism where the long noncoding RNA UCA1 regulates heme metabolism in human erythroid cells. UCA1 stabilizes ALAS2 mRNA, crucial for heme biosynthesis and erythrocyte development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Heme is essential for erythroid cell function and development.
- Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate cellular processes, but their role in heme metabolism is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate a lncRNA-mediated mechanism regulating heme metabolism in human erythroid cells.
- To investigate the role of UCA1 in erythroid differentiation and heme biosynthesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of UCA1 expression during erythroid maturation.
- Depletion of UCA1 to assess its impact on heme biosynthesis and differentiation.
- RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and mRNA stabilization assays to determine molecular interactions.
Main Results:
- UCA1 expression peaks in proerythroblasts during human erythroid maturation.
- UCA1 depletion impairs heme biosynthesis and arrests erythroid differentiation.
- UCA1 acts as a scaffold, recruiting PTBP1 to ALAS2 mRNA to enhance its stability.
Conclusions:
- A novel lncRNA-mediated posttranscriptional mechanism regulates heme biosynthesis.
- UCA1 is a key regulator of erythrocyte development by controlling heme metabolism.
- This finding offers new insights into the regulation of erythropoiesis.
Related Concept Videos
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
9.9K
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
9.9K
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
33.8K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
33.8K
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
666
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
666
01:26Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
640
Polysaccharides such as glycogen and starch are synthesized from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, primarily uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These activated glucose donors act as key intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG primarily involves glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria, while ADPG plays a fundamental role in starch synthesis in plants and certain bacteria.UDPG is formed when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with...
640
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
584
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
584
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
26.4K
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
26.4K