AU-rich element
Encyclopedia
AU-rich elements are one of the most common types of regulatory elements found in mRNAs. They are involved in the control of gene expression
. They are the most common determinant of RNA stability in mammalian cells.
An AU-rich element or "ARE" is defined as a region with frequent adenine
and uridine
bases in a mRNA. They usually target the mRNA for degradation.
It is estimated that 5-8% of human mRNAs contain ARE's, particularly cytokine
, proto-oncogenes and transcription factor
mRNAs.
AREs are usually located in the 3' UTR. AREs have been divided into three classes with different sequences. The best characterised Adenylate
Uridylate (AU)-rich Elements have a core sequence of AUUUA within U rich sequences (for example WWWU(AUUUA)UUUW where W is A or U). This lies within a 50-150 base sequence, repeats of the core AUUUA element are often required for function.
A number of different protein
s (e.g HuR
, AUF) bind to these elements and destabilise or stabilise the mRNA, miRNA
s may also bind to some of them. HuD
(also calledELAVL4
) binds to AREs and increases the half-life of ARE-bearing mRNAs in neurons during brain development and plasticity .
AREsite
- a database for ARE containing genes - has recently been developed with the aim to provide detailed bioinformatic characterization of AU-rich elements .
Gene expression
Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein coding genes such as ribosomal RNA , transfer RNA or small nuclear RNA genes, the product is a functional RNA...
. They are the most common determinant of RNA stability in mammalian cells.
An AU-rich element or "ARE" is defined as a region with frequent adenine
Adenine
Adenine is a nucleobase with a variety of roles in biochemistry including cellular respiration, in the form of both the energy-rich adenosine triphosphate and the cofactors nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide , and protein synthesis, as a chemical component of DNA...
and uridine
Uridine
Uridine is a molecule that is formed when uracil is attached to a ribose ring via a β-N1-glycosidic bond.If uracil is attached to a deoxyribose ring, it is known as a deoxyuridine....
bases in a mRNA. They usually target the mRNA for degradation.
It is estimated that 5-8% of human mRNAs contain ARE's, particularly cytokine
Cytokine
Cytokines are small cell-signaling protein molecules that are secreted by the glial cells of the nervous system and by numerous cells of the immune system and are a category of signaling molecules used extensively in intercellular communication...
, proto-oncogenes and transcription factor
Transcription factor
In molecular biology and genetics, a transcription factor is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow of genetic information from DNA to mRNA...
mRNAs.
AREs are usually located in the 3' UTR. AREs have been divided into three classes with different sequences. The best characterised Adenylate
Adenine
Adenine is a nucleobase with a variety of roles in biochemistry including cellular respiration, in the form of both the energy-rich adenosine triphosphate and the cofactors nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide , and protein synthesis, as a chemical component of DNA...
Uridylate (AU)-rich Elements have a core sequence of AUUUA within U rich sequences (for example WWWU(AUUUA)UUUW where W is A or U). This lies within a 50-150 base sequence, repeats of the core AUUUA element are often required for function.
A number of different protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s (e.g HuR
Hur
Hur may refer to:* Hur, a Korean family name, also spelled Heo.*HuR, the ubiquitous RNA binding protein also known as Drosophilla ELAVL1*HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence branch*Hurs , are a Muslim Sufi order in Sindh, Pakistan...
, AUF) bind to these elements and destabilise or stabilise the mRNA, miRNA
Mirna
Mirna may refer to:geographical entities* Mirna , a river in Istria, Croatia* Mirna , a river in Slovenia, tributary of the river Sava* Mirna , a settlement in the municipality of Mirna in Southeastern Sloveniapeople...
s may also bind to some of them. HuD
HUD
HUD may refer to:* Head-up display, a visual display technology for airplanes, cars and others** HUD , a method of visually representing information in video games...
(also calledELAVL4
ELAVL4
HuD otherwise known as ELAV-like protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ELAVL4 gene.The HuD/ELAVL4 protein is an RNA-binding protein....
) binds to AREs and increases the half-life of ARE-bearing mRNAs in neurons during brain development and plasticity .
AREsite
AREsite
AREsite is a database of AU-rich elements in vertebrate mRNA 3'-untranslated regions . AU-rich elements are involved in the control of gene expression. They are the most common determinant of RNA stability in mammalian cells....
- a database for ARE containing genes - has recently been developed with the aim to provide detailed bioinformatic characterization of AU-rich elements .