Novel Molecular Basis for Synapse Formation: Small Non-coding Vault RNA Functions as a Riboregulator of MEK1 to
Shuji Wakatsuki1, Toshiyuki Araki1
1Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Small non-coding vault RNAs (vtRNAs) have been described as a component of the vault complex, a hollow-and-barrel-shaped ribonucleoprotein complex found in most eukaryotes. It has been suggested that the function of vtRNAs might not be limited to simply maintaining the structure of the vault complex. Despite the increasing research on vtRNAs, little is known about their physiological functions. Recently, we have shown that murine vtRNA (mvtRNA) up-regulates synaptogenesis by activating the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. mvtRNA binds to and activates mitogen activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1), and thereby enhances MEK1-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. Here, we introduce the regulatory mechanism of MAPK signaling in synaptogenesis by vtRNAs and discuss the possibility as a novel molecular basis for synapse formation.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
Riboswitches
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
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...
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...


