AU-rich element

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An AU-rich element or "ARE" is a region with frequent A and U bases in a mRNA that targets it for degradation.

AREs are usually located in the 3' UTR. It is etimated that 5-8% of human mRNAs contain ARE's, particularly cytokine and transcription factor mRNAs where they target the mRNAs for rapid destruction.

The best characterised Adenylate Uridylate (AU)-rich Elements have a core sequence of AUUUA within U rich sequences (for example WWWU(AUUUA)UUUW where W is A or U). This lies within a 50-150 base sequence, repeats of the core AUUUA element are often required for function.

A number of different proteins bind to these elements and destabilise (or stabilise) the mRNA, miRNAs may also bind to some of them, therefore they have been divided into classes with different sequences and binding protein or RNAs.


[edit] References

  • C Barreau, L Paillard and H B Osborne (2006). "AU-rich elements and associated factors: are there unifying principles?". Nucleic Acids Res 33: 7138-7150. PMID 16391004. 


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