title: RNA granules: post-transcriptional and epigenetic modulators of gene expression.
abstract: The composition of cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) is determined by their nuclear and cytoplasmic histories and reflects past functions and future fates. The protein components of selected mRNP complexes promote their assembly into microscopically visible cytoplasmic RNA granules, including stress granules, processing bodies and germ cell (or polar) granules. We propose that RNA granules can be both a cause and a consequence of altered mRNA translation, decay or editing. In this capacity, RNA granules serve as key modulators of post-transcriptional and epigenetic gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. panderson@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kedersha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012313:RNA