RNA-protein interactions and control of mRNA stability in neurons

In addition to transcription, posttranscriptional mechanisms play a vital role in the control of gene expression. There are multiple levels of posttranscriptional regulation, including mRNA processing, splicing, editing, transport, stability, and translation. Among these, mRNA stability is estimated to control about 5-10% of all human genes. The rate of mRNA decay is regulated by the interaction of cis-acting elements in the transcripts and sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins. One of the most studied cis-acting elements is the AU-rich element (ARE) present in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of several unstable mRNAs. These sequences are targets of many ARE-binding proteins; some of which induce degradation whereas others promote stabilization of the mRNA. Recently, these mechanisms were uncovered in neurons, where they have been associated with different physiological phenomena, from early development and nerve regeneration to learning and memory processes. In this Mini-Review, we briefly discuss the general mechanisms of control of mRNA turnover and present evidence supporting the importance of these mechanisms in the expression of an increasing number of neuronal genes. (C) 2007 Wiley-Liss,inc.