title: Rodent StAR mRNA is substantially regulated by control of mRNA stability through sites in the 3'-untranslated region and through coupling to ongoing transcription.
abstract: The steroidogenic acute regulator (StAR) gene is transcribed to 1.6 kb and 3.5 kb mRNAs that differ only through the length of the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). These forms result from alternative polyadenylation sites in exon 7. These sites are utilized similarly in unstimulated adrenal cells whereas Br-cAMP selectively stimulates 3.5 kb mRNA. After removal of Br-cAMP, 3.5 kb mRNA declines rapidly (t(1/2) = 2 h) while 1.6 kb mRNA responds more slowly. This selective degradation is more evident in testis MA10 cells and is seen even in the presence of Br-cAMP. Transfection of Y-1 cells with CMV promoted StAR vectors confirmed that the 3.5 kb form is less stable and that Br-cAMP slowly increases this instability. Basal instability resides solely in the extended 3'-UTR which contains AU-rich elements. Br-cAMP enhances this degradation of 3.5 kb mRNA but additionally requires translated and 5'-UTR sequences. Degradation of both forms is arrested by inhibitors of transcription or translation, indicating that mRNA stability is coupled to these processes independent of the extended 3'-UTR. Br-cAMP stimulates substantial selective synthesis of 3.5 kb StAR mRNA despite this instability. The preferential generation of the unstable form may facilitate rapid increases and decreases of StAR activity in response to external changes.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Haichuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Young-Cheul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jefcoate
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D017931:DNA Primers; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D008156:Luciferases