Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
Published on: August 9, 2019
The human U1 snRNP-specific U1A protein inhibits polyadenylation of its own pre-mRNA
W C Boelens1, E J Jansen, W J van Venrooij
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Human, mouse, and Xenopus mRNAs encoding the U1 snRNP-specific U1A protein contain a conserved 47 nt region in their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). In vitro studies show that human U1A protein binds to two sites within the conserved region that resemble, in part, the previously characterized U1A-binding site on U1 snRNA. Overexpression of human U1A protein in mouse cells results in down-regulation of endogenous mouse U1A mRNA accumulation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that excess U1A protein specifically inhibits polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs that contain the conserved 3' UTR from human U1A mRNA. Thus, U1A protein regulates the production of its own mRNA via a mechanism that involves pre-mRNA binding and inhibition of polyadenylation.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Stability
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
RNA Editing
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability

