title: The Elav-like proteins bind to AU-rich elements and to the poly(A) tail of mRNA.
abstract: The Elav-like proteins are specific mRNA binding proteins which are required for cellular differentiation. They contain three characteristic RNP2/RNP1-type RNA binding motifs. Previously we have shown that the first and second RNA binding domains bind to AU-rich elements in the 3'-UTR of mRNA. In this paper we show that the Elav-like proteins exhibit poly(A) binding activity. This activity is distinct from poly(A) binding activities that have been previously described. The Elav-like proteins specifically bind to long chain poly(A) tails. We have shown that the third RNA binding domain encompasses this poly(A) binding activity. Using poly(A)-Sepharose beads in a 'sandwich' assay we have shown that the Elav-like proteins can bind simultaneously to the AU-rich element and to the poly(A) tail.
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021 USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furneaux
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017421:Sequence Analysis
chemical_list: D051959:ELAV Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins