Membrane-associated mRNAs: A Post-transcriptional Pathway for Fine-turning Gene Expression

Gene expression is a fundamental and highly regulated process involving a series of tightly coordinated steps, including transcription, post-transcriptional processing, translation, and post-translational modifications. A growing number of studies have revealed an additional layer of complexity in gene expression through the phenomenon of mRNA subcellular localization. mRNAs can be organized into membraneless subcellular structures within both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, but they can also targeted to membranes. In this review, we will summarize in particular our knowledge on localization of mRNAs to organelles, focusing on important regulators and available techniques for studying organellar localization, and significance of this localization in the broader context of gene expression regulation.