Premium
A birth‐to‐death view of mRNA from the RNA recognition motif perspective
Author(s) -
Kinzy Terri Goss,
De Stefano Lauren A.,
Esposito Anthony M.,
Hurley Jennifer M.,
Roy Rohini,
ValentinAcevedo Anibal J.,
Chang KaiHsiung,
Davila Jonathan,
Defren Jennifer M.,
Donovan Jesse,
IrizarryBarreto Patricia,
Soto Anibal,
Ysla Riza M.,
Copeland H. Liesel,
Copeland Paul R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20149
Subject(s) - rna recognition motif , biology , rna binding protein , rna , polyadenylation , rna splicing , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , alternative splicing , computational biology , transcription (linguistics) , genetics , directionality , gene , linguistics , philosophy
RNA binding proteins are a large and varied group of factors that are the driving force behind post‐transcriptional gene regulation. By analogy with transcription factors, RNA binding proteins bind to various regions of the mRNAs that they regulate, usually upstream or downstream from the coding region, and modulate one of the five major processes in mRNA metabolism: splicing, polyadenylation, export, translation and decay. The most abundant RNA binding protein domain is called the RNA Recognition Motif (RRM)1. It is probably safe to say that an RRM‐containing protein is making some contact with an mRNA throughout its existence. The transcriptional counterpart would likely be the histones, yet the multitude of specific functions that are results of RRM based interactions belies the universality of the motif. This complex and diverse application of a single protein motif was used as the basis to develop an advanced graduate level seminar course in RNA:protein interactions. The course, utilizing a learner‐centered empowerment model, was developed to dissect each step in RNA metabolism from the perspective of an RRM containing protein. This provided a framework to discuss the development of specificity for the RRM for each required process.