Description
Multimeric AUUUA elements in an AU-rich 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) have been shown to confer message instability to numerous ephemeral transcripts through the formation of RNA-protein complexes. We show here that the 3'-UTR of VIP mRNA, which contains 3 AUUUA motifs in an AU-rich context, forms specific complexes with cytoplasmic proteins in a concentration-dependent, tissue-specific manner. We also demonstrate that an AU-rich segment of c-fos mRNA can successfully compete with VIP mRNA for binding with cytoplasmic proteins. These studies provide the first evidence for a mechanism by which VIP is post-transcriptionally regulated through specific sequences in its 3'-UTR.
Subject
Animals; Anterior/*metabolism; Base Sequence; Binding; Competitive; Cytoplasm/chemistry; Gene Expression Regulation; Genomic Library; Male; Messenger/*metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Pituitary Gland; Post-Transcriptional; Protein Binding; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics; Rats; RNA; RNA Processing; RNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism; RNA/metabolism; Sprague-Dawley; Subcellular Fractions; Tissue Distribution; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/*genetics