Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “mRNA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources

Dual role of the sequence-specific bacteriophage T4 endoribonuclease RegB. mRNA inactivation and mRNA destabilization.

Gene regB of bacteriophage T4 encodes a sequence-specific endoribonuclease that introduces cuts in early phage messenger RNAs. Cutting takes place specifically in the middle of the tetranucleotide GGAG, as soon as the first minute of infection. Out of the 20 processing sites so far identified, seven are in Shine-Dalgarno sequences. The others are localized in intercistronic regions or within coding sequences. In the latter case, cutting efficiency is much lower. regB-dependent cleavages can occur within AU-rich sequences downstream of processed GGAG motifs that are not in effective translation initiation sites. We looked for possible consequences of regB-dependent cuts on gene expression in two early regions of the T4 chromosome. In the comC alpha region, none of the three major RegB cleavage sites is in a Shine-Dalgarno sequence, and in the motA region the unique regB-dependent processing site is found within the Shine-Dalgarno sequence of the gene. We find that in the region of gene comC alpha, RegB decreases two- to threefold the chemical half-life of early transcripts, but does not change the functional half-life of mRNAs coding for protein ComC alpha. The amount of MotA protein synthesized by the wild-type is half that obtained in a regB mutant infection. We show that this is a direct consequence of mRNA processing by RegB at the Shine-Dalgarno sequence of motA. This regB-mediated translation inhibition is not accompanied by an important modification in motA mRNA chemical half-life. We show that rapid shut-off of MotA protein synthesis that occurs soon after infection results both from RegB processing within the translation initiation region of motA and from early transcription inhibition followed by regB-independent breakdown of the motA mRNA.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Characterization of mRNA for hepatitis delta antigen: exclusion of the full-length antigenomic RNA as an mRNA.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) encodes a single protein, the hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg), which is thought to be translated from a 0. 8-kb RNA of antigenomic sense. This subgenomic RNA species is present in very small amounts in HDV-infected liver tissues and in cultured cells infected or transfected with HDV, and in some cases it cannot be detected at all. In contrast, HDAg protein is present in large amounts in all natural and experimental models of HDV infection. This study addresses whether other HDV RNA species, such as the antigenomic-sense, genome-size HDV RNA can also serve as the mRNA for HDAg synthesis. Taking advantage of the ability of herpes simplex virus (HSV) to degrade only polyadenylated mRNAs, we examined the effect of HSV coinfection on HDAg synthesis. It was shown that HSV infection did degrade the subgenomic 0.8-kb HDV mRNA but not HDV genome-length RNA. Under such conditions, HDAg synthesis was completely inhibited. Furthermore, the genome-length HDV RNA was found not to be associated with polysomes. Finally, in vitro translation studies demonstrated that HDAg could not be translated directly from the genome-length antigenomic-sense HDV RNA. These results suggest that only the subgenomic RNA species of HDV possesses properties characteristic of the mRNA for HDAg and that the genome-length RNA cannot be used for translating HDAg. In addition, we found that HDV RNA replication did not depend on de novo HDAg synthesis.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Modulation of mRNA expression of the neurotrophins of the nerve growth factor family and their receptors in the septum and hippocampus of rats after transient postnatal thyroxine treatment. I. Expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin 4 mRNA.

Early postnatal application of thyroid hormones to rats results in morphological changes in septum and hippocampus. Modulation in the expression of either neurotrophins and/or their receptors is postulated to be responsible for these effects. In the present study we tested whether thyroxine administration leads to changes in the expression of neurotrophins of the nerve growth factor (NGF) family. Newborn rats were treated daily with subcutaneous injections of thyroxine until postnatal day (P) 12 at maximum. The pups were killed at defined intervals from P2 to 21. The septal area and the hippocampi were analyzed using the reverse transcriptase-PCR method for quantitation of NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT-3, and NT-4 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. In hippocampus of hyperthyroid rats, as compared to controls, we found higher levels of BDNF and NT-3 mRNA over the total investigation period, whereas in the septum a thyroxine-dependent increase in NT-3 mRNA expression was observed. In addition, significant thyroxine-induced effects were found for all variables (except for NGF in the septum) at particular postnatal days. From these data we conclude that modulation of neurotrophin expression is a possible mechanism for the morphological modifications within the hippocampal mossy fiber system and the septohippocampal cholinergic system.

Animals↗

The structural organization of nuclear pre-mRNA. II. Very long double-stranded structures in nuclear pre-mRNA.

High molecular weight nuclear pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA or hnRNA) isolated from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells contains besides moderately long (100--200 base pairs) snap-back double-stranded structures, also longer double-stranded structure containing at least 300--800 base pairs. Their double-stranded nature was proved by Cs2SO4 gradient centrifugation. Very long double-stranded sequences are not able to snap-back after RNA melting. While the moderately long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is renatured at C0t1/2 approximately equal to 5-10(-4), the very long dsRNA shows a higher complexity (C0t1/2 approximately equal to 2-10(-2). They also hybridize to less reiterated class of DNA than moderately long dsRNA. Two classes of dsRNA are represented by different sequences as followed from cross-renaturation experiments. Very long dsRNA forms stable hybrids with 20% of total poly(A)+mRNA of cytoplasm. The properties of different classes of ds structures present in nuclear pre-mRNA are compared and their possible nature is discussed. The presence of very long dsRNA may reflect either the symmetric transcription of structural genes, or the transcription from those DNA sequences which are complementary to each other but located in different parts of the genome.

Animals↗

Translational modulation in vitro of a eukaryotic viral mRNA encoding overlapping genes: ribosome scanning and potential roles of conformational changes in the P/C mRNA of Sendai virus.

Expression of proteins from three overlapping genes in a single mRNA species of Sendai virus was modulated in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte translation system. Hybrid-arrested translation by oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to specific regions of the mRNA that specifies the viral P, C, and C' proteins demonstrated that ribosomes scan the RNA from its 5' end to find initiation codons, and suggested that the secondary structure of the mRNA influences the selection of alternative initiation codons. Translational modulation of P, C, and C' proteins by Mg++ and spermidine indicated that RNA folding is involved in this selection process.

Animals↗

Deletion of 3' untranslated region of human BSF-2 mRNA causes stabilization of the mRNA and high-level expression in mouse NIH3T3 cells.

Most lymphokine genes have an mRNA-destabilizing signal in their 3' untranslated sequences. In this study we demonstrated the usefulness of deletion of this sequence for lymphokine production. By expression of B cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2) cDNAs with and without this region in mouse NIH3T3 cells, it was shown that mRNA of BSF-2 with the 3' destabilizing sequence was very unstable, and that by deletion of this region, the mRNA was stabilized. More than 10-fold BSF-2 productivity was observed in cells harboring the plasmid without the 3' region than in those with it.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Exclusive expression of the Gs-linked prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype 4 mRNA in mononuclear Jurkat and KM-3 cells and coexpression of subtype 4 and 2 mRNA in U-937 cells.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is regarded as a potent regulator of the immune system. It can regulate apoptosis in mononuclear cells and modulate the cytokine secretion pattern from T-helper cell subpopulations via an increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP). Of the 4 PGE2 receptor subtypes (EP1-EP4) that are defined pharmacologically by their affinity to subtype-specific ligands and their coupling to G proteins, EP2 and EP4 receptors couple to Gs. It is as yet unknown which of these two receptor subtypes mediates the immunomodulatory effects. By quantitative RT-PCR, the mRNA for EP4 receptors was demonstrated and quantified in the human mononuclear cell lines Jurkat, KM-3 and U-937. However, EP2 receptor mRNA was only present in U-937 cells and was 100-fold less abundant than EP4 receptor mRNA. PGE2 increased cAMP formation with an ED50 of 50-100 nM in all cell lines. cAMP formation was inhibited by the EP4R-specific antagonist AH23848. Since AH23848 inhibited PGE2-induced cAMP formation in U-937 cells to a similar extent as in Jurkat and KM-3, EP2 receptors seem to play, if any, only a secondary role for the PGE2-mediated cAMP formation in U-937 cells.

Biphenyl Compounds↗

A conserved AU sequence from the 3' untranslated region of GM-CSF mRNA mediates selective mRNA degradation.

The mRNAs of transiently expressed genes frequently contain an AU-rich sequence in the 3' untranslated region. We introduced a 51 nucleotide AT sequence from a human lymphokine gene, GM-CSF, into the 3' untranslated region of the rabbit beta-globin gene. Our experiments demonstrate that this caused the otherwise stable beta-globin mRNA to become highly unstable in vivo. The instability conferred by the AU sequence in the mRNA was partially alleviated by treatment of the cells with cycloheximide. We propose that the AU sequences are the recognition signal for an mRNA processing pathway which specifically degrades the mRNAs for certain lymphokines, cytokines, and proto-oncogenes.

Base Sequence↗

Sequences that confer beta-tubulin autoregulation through modulated mRNA stability reside within exon 1 of a beta-tubulin mRNA.

Synthesis of alpha- and beta-tubulin is controlled in animal cells by a novel autoregulatory mechanism: the concentration of unpolymerized subunits specifies the level of tubulin mRNAs. Using transient DNA transfection, we have localized the sequences that identify a beta-tubulin RNA as a substrate for autoregulation. Insertion of as few as 106 nucleotides (57 bases of 5' untranslated region and 49 coding nucleotides) from a beta-tubulin gene into a thymidine kinase gene is sufficient to make expression of the resultant chimeric RNA regulated as if it were an authentic beta-tubulin mRNA. Furthermore, all 5' untranslated region sequences can be deleted without disrupting regulation. We conclude that this novel autoregulatory pathway is specified by cytoplasmic events that modulate mRNA stability through sequences lying within the first 16 translated codons of a beta-tubulin mRNA.

Animals↗

The control of mRNA stability in Escherichia coli: manipulation of the degradation pathway of the polycistronic atp mRNA.

The physical and functional stabilities of genes in the atp operon fall into two classes. The first two genes, atpI and atpB, are rapidly inactivated and degraded at the mRNA level. The remaining seven genes are more stable. In order to investigate how these stabilities are determined, DNA sequences encoding mRNA structures that influence degradative events in other systems, including RNAse III sites and REP sequences, were subcloned or synthesized and inserted into non-coding regions of the operon. The effects of insertion of an RNAse III site depended on whether cleavage left an unstable 3' end or a stabilizing stem-loop upstream of the cutting point. Generation of an unstable 3' end destabilized the neighbouring upstream atp gene, thus modifying the course and rate control of degradation. Removal of the atp transcriptional terminator attenuated expression of the last gene of the operon, atpC. This effect was reversed by substitution of an alternative stem-loop for the terminator. REP sequences inserted into intercistronic regions apparently could not influence rate-controlling steps. The reported data shed light on the factors controlling the inactivation and degradation of genes in the polycistronic atp mRNA, and are discussed in relation to the general role of degradation processes in the control of gene expression.

Base Composition↗

Reduction of vitamin D hormone receptor mRNA levels in Alzheimer as compared to Huntington hippocampus: correlation with calbindin-28k mRNA levels.

Receptors for vitamin D hormone (VDR) and the calcium binding protein, calbindin-28k, have been localized in many tissues, including brain. In brain, VDR and calbindin-28k were reported to colocalize in hippocampal CA1 cells. We have shown that mRNA pool size for calbindin-28k was reduced, on average, by 35% in Alzheimer hippocampal CA1 cells, as compared to Huntington control (manuscript in preparation). In the present study, in situ hybridization with tritiated antisense RNA probes was used to examine VDR expression in paired Alzheimer and Huntington brain tissue. Message levels for VDR were reduced, on average, by 34% and 31%, respectively, in Alzheimer hippocampal CA1 and CA2 pyramidal cells, as compared to Huntington control. However, VDR message levels were not significantly different from control in Alzheimer temporal cortex or cerebellum. There was no correlation between VDR message levels and brain weight, autopsy interval, patient age or the extent of neurofibrillary degeneration. Instead, VDR mRNA pool size in hippocampal CA1 cells correlated significantly with calbindin-28k message levels (r = 0.52, P less than 0.001). Decreased message levels for VDR and calbindin-28k in these cells were due to an increased percentage of cells expressing lower message levels for these proteins. These results show that in Alzheimer hippocampal CA1 cells, VDR mRNA pool size is downregulated and that this downregulation may play a role in the reduction of calbindin-28k expression.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Comparison of alpha-tubulin mRNA and heat shock protein-70 mRNA in gerbil brain following 10 min of ischemia.

In situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis were used to characterize the mRNA expression of alpha-tubulin, a neuroprotein crucial for neuronal structural and functional restoration, in comparison to that of the stress inducible heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), in the same gerbil brain following 10 min of forebrain ischemia. The HSP-70 expression was noted in the dentate granule layer 1 h postischemia (PI) and became prominent in all pyramidal cell fields of the hippocampus in addition to the dentate layer at 6 h PI. The induction of HSP-70 persisted in CA1 and CA2 regions and partly in dentate gyrus for up to the 1 day PI period examined. There was no significant HSP-70 expression in any of the regions of the nonischemic or 15 min PI brain. alpha-Tubulin, on the other hand, was expressed in all pyramidal fields of the hippocampus as well as dentate gyrus in nonischemic controls. A decline was noted in the CA1 region 1 h PI onward and was maximal at 6 h PI. Its expression, however, increased at 24 h PI (significant only in comparison to 15 min and 6 h PI but not to control) when it became rather strong in the dentate gyrus. Thus, the temporal pattern of expression of alpha-tubulin sharply contrasted with that of HSP-70 in the PI brain as it declined in the vulnerable CA1 region during the 1st 24 h PI, i.e., the period when HSP-70 was induced and its expression was lowest in the 6 h group when HSP-70 peaked. It was maximum in the dentate gyrus at 24 h PI when HSP-70 was marginally detectable in that region. These studies indicate that in early recirculation period following prolonged ischemia, HSP-70 mRNA is expressed in both vulnerable regions as well as in regions of the brain that are destined to survive while alpha-tubulin is diminished in vulnerable regions. These data suggest a positive correlation between the loss of alpha-tubulin mRNA and delayed neuronal necrosis that follows in the vulnerable CA1 region.

Animals↗

Repeated administration of MDMA down-regulates preprocholecystokinin mRNA expression but not tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression in neurones of the rat substantia nigra.

The effect of repeated administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and preprocholecystokinin (CCK) messenger RNAs in substantia nigra was examined by in situ hybridisation histochemistry. Sections hybridised with 35S-labelled oligonucleotides were subjected to computerised image analysis to determine the density of silver grains above positively labelled cells as an index of steady state mRNA levels. In the substantia nigra pars compacta, CCK mRNA levels were significantly reduced in drug-treated animals 24 h and at 2 weeks after the last dose of MDMA (10 mg/kg i.p., twice daily for 4 days). In the same animals, MDMA caused no change in the level of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in this brain region. The results show that MDMA can produce changes in dopamine neurones. Furthermore, since tyrosine hydroxylase and cholecystokinin are co-expressed in substantia nigra pars compacta, these results suggest that the expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase and CCK genes are regulated independently.

Animals↗

The lacZ mRNA can be stabilised by the T7 late mRNA leader in E coli.

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that T7 RNA polymerase outpaces ribosomes in vivo, generating naked mRNA stretches which may be nuclease-sensitive. In particular, lacZ transcripts synthesised this way are highly unstable and yield little beta-galactosidase. We have argued that most of these transcripts are prematurely inactivated via an RNase E cleavage that occurs ahead of the leading ribosome, whereas a few escape this initial cleavage and are translated normally. Presumably, these rescued transcripts are later inactivated non-nucleolytically and subsequently scavenged by a process partially controlled by RNase E, as for the natural lacZ mRNA. In contrast, despite being synthesised by T7 RNA polymerase, T7 late transcripts are stable. The 5' regions of several of these transcripts, exemplified by the gene 10 mRNA, harbour hairpin structures which may act as barriers against RNase E action. To test whether these structures are indeed 5' stabilisers, we replaced the lacZ leader sequence by the corresponding region from T7 gene10. This replacement yielded a ca 2.9-fold increase in beta-galactosidase yield per transcript. This increase vanished in the presence of the rne-50 mutation which inactivates RNase E, and therefore it reflects a protection of the transcript against RNase E-dependent inactivation. Yet, the leader replacement did not stabilise the transcript chemically. We propose that this replacement inhibits the initial cleavage step but somehow facilitates the subsequent scavenging process.

Bacteriophage T7↗

Complementation of xeroderma pigmentosum cells by microinjection of mRNA fractionated under denaturing conditions: an estimation of sizes of XP-E and XP-G mRNA.

Excision repair deficiencies in groups A and G xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells are transiently complemented after microinjection of HeLa poly(A)+RNA, but those in groups D and F are not complemented (Legerski et al., 1984). We tested XP cells belonging to the seven complementation groups, A-G, and Cockayne's syndrome (CS) cells belonging to the two complementation groups, A and B, for transient correction by microinjection of total poly(A)+RNA from HeLa cells. Among the XP cells, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) was increased only in XP-A cells by microinjection of total poly(A)+RNA. However, UDS was increased in XP-E and XP-G cells as well as in XP-A cells by microinjection of concentrated poly(A)+RNA fractionated on a 5-25% sucrose density gradient containing methylmercuric hydroxide. The sizes of XP-E and XP-G mRNA were estimated to be 1.5-2.7 kb and 2.0-3.8 kb, respectively, by comparison to internal marker RNAs including 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, HPRT mRNA and XPAC mRNA. RNA synthesis recovery after UV exposure in CS cells was not increased by microinjection of either total poly(A)+RNA or fractionated RNA. These results provide estimates of the sizes of XP-E and XP-G proteins and will facilitate molecular cloning of DNA repair genes, especially of XP-E and XP-G genes.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

AU-rich elements in the mRNA 3'-untranslated region of the rat receptor for advanced glycation end products and their relevance to mRNA stability.

Several putative polyadenylation sequences and an adenylate plus timidylate rich element (ARE) are present at the 3' end of the rat advanced glycation end products receptor (RAGE) gene. Two transcripts are generated by the use of alternative polyadenylation sequences, one containing the ARE sequence in its 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Transfections of CHO-k1 or NRK cells with constructs expressing the 3'-UTRs of the transcripts fused to a green fluorescence protein mRNA show that the ARE sequence has a negative effect on protein expression correlating with a decrease in the amount of mRNA, as shown in CHO-k1 transfected cells. When transfected cells were incubated in the presence of Actinomycin D the amount of fluorescence decreased in cells transfected with the ARE sequence, indicating that this sequence induces lower mRNA stability. Thus, alternative polyadenylation signals and an ARE sequence provide a novel mechanism for the regulation of the rat RAGE gene expression.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation by 6-ethoxyzolamide: repressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma mRNA and enhanced CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta mRNA levels.

The effects of 6-ethoxyzolamide (ETZ), a carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, on differentiation of the mouse preadipocyte cell line 3T3-L1 were examined by quantitative image analysis of intracellular fat storage. For adipocyte differentiation, postconfluent cells were treated with a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), troglitazone (TRG), and dexamethasone for 2 days. Differentiated cells showed weak fat staining at day 4 which increased thereafter, correlating with CAIII expression. ETZ treatment for 10 days at a 200microM concentration reduced both the percentage of differentiated adipocytes storing fat and the amount of fat stored in individual cells. These findings were also supported by the results of fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis. Despite their light fat staining, however, CAIII was not expressed in ETZ-treated cells. Furthermore, ETZ delayed the clonal expansion of cells, an early event preceding differentiation. Northern blot analysis revealed a high CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) beta mRNA level and low PPARgamma mRNA in ETZ-treated cells. Thus, increased C/EBPbeta mRNA did not lead to enhanced PPARgamma expression in this case. Another CA inhibitor acetazolamide did not inhibit adipocyte differentiation, although the drug exhibited a similar inhibition pattern for CA activity as ETZ. These results suggested that inhibitory effects of ETZ on adipocyte differentiation were not due to inhibition of CA activity but rather due to altered levels of the transcription factors.

3T3 Cells↗

Ribozyme cleavage reveals connections between mRNA release from the site of transcription and pre-mRNA processing.

We report a functional connection between splicing and transcript release from the DNA. A Pol II CTD mutant inhibited not only splicing but also RNA release from the site of transcription. A ribozyme situated downstream of the gene restored accurate splicing inhibited by the CTD mutant or a mutant poly(A) site, suggesting that cleavage liberates RNA from a niche that is inaccessible to splicing factors. Although ribozyme cleavage enhanced splicing, 3' end processing was impaired, indicating that an intact RNA chain linking the poly(A) site to Pol II is required for optimal processing. Surprisingly, poly(A)(-) beta-globin mRNA with a ribozyme-generated 3' end was exported to the cytoplasm. Ribozyme cleavage can therefore substitute for normal 3' end processing in stimulating splicing and mRNA export. We propose that mRNA biogenesis is coordinated by preventing splicing near the 3' end until the transcript is released by poly(A) site cleavage.

Cell Line↗