Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

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...

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...

RNA Editing

RNA Editing

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

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...

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

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

RNA Stability

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Maternal trans-vaccenic acid shapes neonatal T cell development and early-life immune imprinting.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

Spatially resolved m<sup>6</sup>A profiling using m<sup>6</sup>A-ARTR-DBiT.

Nature methods·2026

Same author

CDS-localized m<sup>6</sup>A drives co-translational RNA decay to relieve biotic and abiotic endoplasmic reticulum stresses.

Nature plants·2026

Same author

Regulatory elements on chromatin-associated RNA 15 years beyond RNA epigenetics.

Nature chemical biology·2026

Same author

mRNA m<sup>6</sup>A modifications and the RNA-binding protein YTHDF1 affect translational control in both normal and pathological learning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Active Site Structure and Mechanism of a Molybdenum Catechol Dehydroxylase.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Published on: July 9, 2019

ALKBH7-mediated demethylation regulates mitochondrial polycistronic RNA processing.

Li-Sheng Zhang^1,2, Qing-Ping Xiong³, Sonia Peña Perez^4,5

¹Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Nature Cell Biology

|July 13, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human ALKBH7 is identified as a mitochondrial RNA demethylase. It regulates mitochondrial RNA processing and activity by removing methylations from specific transfer RNAs.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Techniques and Discoveries in Protein Synthesis and Assembly Through Innovative Mitochondrial Research

Author Spotlight: Advancing Techniques and Discoveries in Protein Synthesis and Assembly Through Innovative Mitochondrial Research

Published on: June 7, 2024

Desthiobiotin-Streptavidin-Affinity Mediated Purification of RNA-Interacting Proteins in Mesothelioma Cells

Desthiobiotin-Streptavidin-Affinity Mediated Purification of RNA-Interacting Proteins in Mesothelioma Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Published on: July 9, 2019

Author Spotlight: Advancing Techniques and Discoveries in Protein Synthesis and Assembly Through Innovative Mitochondrial Research

Author Spotlight: Advancing Techniques and Discoveries in Protein Synthesis and Assembly Through Innovative Mitochondrial Research

Published on: June 7, 2024

Desthiobiotin-Streptavidin-Affinity Mediated Purification of RNA-Interacting Proteins in Mesothelioma Cells

Desthiobiotin-Streptavidin-Affinity Mediated Purification of RNA-Interacting Proteins in Mesothelioma Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

Area of Science:

Mitochondrial biology
RNA modification
Gene expression

Background:

The AlkB family mediates nucleic acid demethylation.
ALKBH7, a mitochondrial protein, affects metabolism but its function is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the function and mechanism of human ALKBH7.
To identify RNA modifications and demethylases in mitochondria.

Main Methods:

Developed a method for simultaneous detection of multiple RNA methylation sites.
Investigated ALKBH7's role in mitochondrial RNA processing and activity.

Main Results:

Human ALKBH7 demethylates N2,N2-dimethylguanosine (m22G) and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) in mitochondrial pre-tRNAs.
ALKBH7 regulates polycistronic mitochondrial RNA processing and tRNA levels.
ALKBH7 depletion reduces mitochondrial activity and protein translation.

Conclusions:

ALKBH7 is a mitochondrial RNA demethylase.
ALKBH7 controls nascent mitochondrial RNA processing, tRNA stability, and mitochondrial function.