title: RNA G-quadruplexes and their potential regulatory roles in translation.
abstract: DNA guanine (G)-rich 4-stranded helical nucleic acid structures called G-quadruplexes (G4), have been extensively studied during the last decades. However, emerging evidence reveals that 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions (5'- and 3'-UTRs) as well as open reading frames (ORFs) contain putative RNA G-quadruplexes. These stable secondary structures play key roles in telomere homeostasis and RNA metabolism including pre-mRNA splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA targeting and translation. Interestingly, multiple RNA binding proteins such as nucleolin, FMRP, DHX36, and Aven were identified to bind RNA G-quadruplexes. Moreover, accumulating reports suggest that RNA G-quadruplexes regulate translation in cap-dependent and -independent manner. Herein, we discuss potential roles of RNA G-quadruplexes and associatedtrans-acting factors in the regulation of mRNA translation.
authors.affiliation: Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group and Segal Cancer Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Bloomfield Center for Research on Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jingwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perreault
authors.affiliation: Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group and Segal Cancer Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Topisirovic
authors.affiliation: Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group and Segal Cancer Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Bloomfield Center for Research on Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richard
keywords: Aven; DHX36; FMRP; G-quadruplexes; RNA binding proteins; translation