Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by alternative 5'-untranslated regions in carcinogenesis.
Post-transcriptional regulation, via 5'-UTRs (5'-untranslated regions), plays an important role in the control of eukaryotic gene expression. Recent analyses of the mammalian transcriptome suggest that most of the genes express multiple alternative 5'-UTRs and inappropriate expression of these regions has been shown to contribute to the development of carcinogenesis. The present review will focus on the complex post-transcriptional regulation of ERbeta (oestrogen receptor beta) expression. In particular, results from our laboratory suggest that the expression of alternative 5'-UTRs plays a key role in determining the level of ERbeta protein expression. We have also shown that these alternative ERbeta 5'-UTRs have a tissue-specific distribution and are differentially expressed between various normal and tumour tissues. Our results also suggest that alternative 5'-UTRs can influence downstream splicing events, thereby perhaps affecting ERbeta function. These results suggest that alternative 5'-UTRs may have an overall influence on ER activity and this may have important implications for our understanding of cancer biology and treatment.
Smith
Laura
L
Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK. medlsmi@leeds.ac.uk
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics*
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha