Open AccessProgressive lengthening of 3′ untranslated regions of mRNAs by alternative polyadenylation during mouse embryonic development
Author(s) -
Zhe Ji,
Ju Youn Lee,
Zhengxia Pan,
Bingjun Jiang,
Bin Tian
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0900028106
Subject(s) - polyadenylation , myogenesis , three prime untranslated region , biology , untranslated region , embryonic stem cell , c2c12 , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , gene , genetics
The 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) of mRNAs containcis -acting elements for posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Here, we report that mouse genes tend to express mRNAs with longer 3′ UTRs as embryonic development progresses. This global regulation is controlled by alternative polyadenylation and coordinates with initiation of organogenesis and aspects of embryonic development, including morphogenesis, differentiation, and proliferation. Using myogenesis of C2C12 myoblast cells as a model, we recapitulated this process in vitro and found that 3′ UTR lengthening is likely caused by weakening of mRNA polyadenylation activity. Because alternative 3′ UTR sequences are typically longer and have higher AU content than constitutive ones, our results suggest that lengthening of 3′ UTR can significantly augment posttranscriptional control of gene expression during embryonic development, such as microRNA-mediated regulation.