Function and regulation of the mammalian Musashi mRNA translational regulator.
The evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein, Musashi, regulates neural stem cell self-renewal. Musashi expression is also indicative of stem cell populations in breast and intestinal tissues and is linked to cell overproliferation in cancers of these tissues. Musashi has been primarily implicated as a repressor of target mRNAs in stem cell populations. However, little is known about the mechanism by which Musashi exerts mRNA translational control or how Musashi function is regulated. Recent findings in oocytes of the frog, Xenopus, indicate an unexpected role for Musashi as an activator of a number of maternal mRNAs during meiotic cell cycle progression. Given the importance of Musashi function in stem cell biology and the implications of aberrant Musashi expression in cancer, it is critical that we understand the molecular processes that regulate Musashi function.
MacNicol
Angus M
AM
Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Angus@UAMS.edu
Wilczynska
Anna
A
MacNicol
Melanie C
MC
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D021381:Protein Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger