Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs
Eukaryotes are divided into two major compartments: the nucleus where RNA is synthesized and processed, and the cytoplasm, where mRNA is translated into proteins. Although many different RNAs are made, only a subset is allowed access to the cytoplasm, primarily RNAs involved in protein synthesis (mR...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00440/full |
| _version_ | 1817995406606336000 |
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| author | Alexander F. Palazzo Eliza S. Lee |
| author_facet | Alexander F. Palazzo Eliza S. Lee |
| author_sort | Alexander F. Palazzo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eukaryotes are divided into two major compartments: the nucleus where RNA is synthesized and processed, and the cytoplasm, where mRNA is translated into proteins. Although many different RNAs are made, only a subset is allowed access to the cytoplasm, primarily RNAs involved in protein synthesis (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA). In contrast, nuclear retained transcripts are mostly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose role in cell physiology has been a source of much investigation in the past few years. In addition, it is likely that many non-functional RNAs, which arise by spurious transcription and misprocessing of functional RNAs, are also retained in the nucleus and degraded. In this review, the main sequence features that dictate whether any particular mRNA or lncRNA is a substrate for retention in the nucleus, or export to the cytoplasm, are discussed. Although nuclear export is promoted by RNA-splicing due to the fact that the spliceosome can help recruit export factors to the mature RNA, nuclear export does not require splicing. Indeed, most stable unspliced transcripts are well exported and associate with these same export factors in a splicing-independent manner. In contrast, nuclear retention is promoted by specialized cis-elements found in certain RNAs. This new understanding of the determinants of nuclear retention and cytoplasmic export provides a deeper understanding of how information flow is regulated in eukaryotic cells. Ultimately these processes promote the evolution of complexity in eukaryotes by shaping the genomic content through constructive neutral evolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2337bf89c01d42f9b92bce68c1eb8114 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2337bf89c01d42f9b92bce68c1eb81142022-12-22T02:18:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212018-10-01910.3389/fgene.2018.00440417907Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAsAlexander F. PalazzoEliza S. LeeEukaryotes are divided into two major compartments: the nucleus where RNA is synthesized and processed, and the cytoplasm, where mRNA is translated into proteins. Although many different RNAs are made, only a subset is allowed access to the cytoplasm, primarily RNAs involved in protein synthesis (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA). In contrast, nuclear retained transcripts are mostly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose role in cell physiology has been a source of much investigation in the past few years. In addition, it is likely that many non-functional RNAs, which arise by spurious transcription and misprocessing of functional RNAs, are also retained in the nucleus and degraded. In this review, the main sequence features that dictate whether any particular mRNA or lncRNA is a substrate for retention in the nucleus, or export to the cytoplasm, are discussed. Although nuclear export is promoted by RNA-splicing due to the fact that the spliceosome can help recruit export factors to the mature RNA, nuclear export does not require splicing. Indeed, most stable unspliced transcripts are well exported and associate with these same export factors in a splicing-independent manner. In contrast, nuclear retention is promoted by specialized cis-elements found in certain RNAs. This new understanding of the determinants of nuclear retention and cytoplasmic export provides a deeper understanding of how information flow is regulated in eukaryotic cells. Ultimately these processes promote the evolution of complexity in eukaryotes by shaping the genomic content through constructive neutral evolution.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00440/fullTREXlncRNAstransposable elementsRNA modificationsplicingpolyadenylation |
| spellingShingle | Alexander F. Palazzo Eliza S. Lee Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs Frontiers in Genetics TREX lncRNAs transposable elements RNA modification splicing polyadenylation |
| title | Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs |
| title_full | Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs |
| title_fullStr | Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs |
| title_short | Sequence Determinants for Nuclear Retention and Cytoplasmic Export of mRNAs and lncRNAs |
| title_sort | sequence determinants for nuclear retention and cytoplasmic export of mrnas and lncrnas |
| topic | TREX lncRNAs transposable elements RNA modification splicing polyadenylation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2018.00440/full |
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