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Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 20, 2014
Mechanistic insights into the basis of widespread RNA localization
1Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany. marina.chekulaeva@mdc-berlin.de.
Abstract:
The importance of subcellular mRNA localization is well established, but the underlying mechanisms mostly remain an enigma. Early studies suggested that specific mRNA sequences recruit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to regulate mRNA localization. However, despite the observation of thousands of localized mRNAs, only a handful of these sequences and RBPs have been identified. This suggests the existence of alternative, and possibly predominant, mechanisms for mRNA localization. Here I re-examine currently described mRNA localization mechanisms and explore alternative models that could account for its widespread occurrence.
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