title: Exploring mRNA 3'-UTR G-quadruplexes: evidence of roles in both alternative polyadenylation and mRNA shortening.
abstract: Guanine-rich RNA sequences can fold into non-canonical, four stranded helical structures called G-quadruplexes that have been shown to be widely distributed within the mammalian transcriptome, as well as being key regulatory elements in various biological mechanisms. That said, their role within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA remains to be elucidated and appreciated. A bioinformatic analysis of the 3'-UTRs of mRNAs revealed enrichment in G-quadruplexes. To shed light on the role(s) of these structures, those found in the LRP5 and FXR1 genes were characterized both in vitro and in cellulo. The 3'-UTR G-quadruplexes were found to increase the efficiencies of alternative polyadenylation sites, leading to the expression of shorter transcripts and to possess the ability to interfere with the miRNA regulatory network of a specific mRNA. Clearly, G-quadruplexes located in the 3'-UTRs of mRNAs are cis-regulatory elements that have a significant impact on gene expression.
authors.affiliation: RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de santé, Pavillon de recherche appliquée au cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Denis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Beaudoin
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perreault
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5 / Q000235:genetics; D026723:Polyadenylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C096916:FXR1 protein, human; C555482:LRP5 protein, human; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid