Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2025

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
06:48

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

2.0K

mRNA alternative polyadenylation (APA) in regulation of gene expression and diseases

Siyao Guo1,2, Shuibin Lin1,2

  • 1Center for Translational Medicine, Precision Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.

Genes & Diseases
|April 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Messenger RNA (mRNA) polyadenylation is crucial for gene expression. This review details alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulation, mechanisms, and its role in diseases like cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • mRNA polyadenylation is vital for mRNA metabolism and gene expression.
  • Dysregulation of mRNA polyadenylation is associated with diseases, including cancers.
  • Polyadenylation involves synthesizing a poly(A) tail after specific signals on mRNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the classical process of mRNA 3'-terminal formation and poly(A) tail length control.
  • To discuss research progress on alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulation and APA site selection.
  • To summarize the functional roles of APA in gene expression and disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mRNA polyadenylation and APA.
  • Analysis of poly(A) tail synthesis and length control mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of current research on APA regulation, site selection, and functional impacts.

Main Results:

  • Detailed summary of mRNA 3'-end formation and poly(A) length regulation in nucleus and cytoplasm.
  • Overview of regulatory mechanisms governing APA and the process of APA site selection.
  • Compilation of evidence linking APA to gene expression modulation and disease development.

Conclusions:

  • APA is a key mechanism for regulating gene expression diversity.
  • Understanding APA is critical for deciphering disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies.
  • APA's role in cancers highlights its significance in disease progression and potential as a biomarker.
Keywords:
Alternative polyadenylation (APA)CancerGene expressionPoly(A)mRNA polyadenylation

More Related Videos

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry08:45

Characterizing RNA Modifications in Single Neurons Using Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 21, 2022

2.4K
CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis10:40

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis

Published on: April 25, 2022

2.4K

Related Concept Videos

RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
56.6K
Alternative RNA Splicing02:18

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
21.5K
RNA Stability01:53

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...
33.7K
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

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...
961
RNA Editing02:23

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...
9.1K
Nuclear Export of mRNA02:31

Nuclear Export of mRNA

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...
7.7K