The 3′-UTR mediates the cellular localization of an mRNA encoding a short plasma membrane protein

Adi Loya, Lilach Pnueli, Yahav Yosefzon, Ydo Wexler, Michal Ziv-Ukelson, Yoav Arava

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cotranslational synthesis of proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum is preceded by targeting of the translating mRNA once a signal peptide emerges from the ribosome exit tunnel. Many mRNAs, however, are unlikely to be targeted by this process because they encode proteins that do not contain a signal peptide or because they are too short to be recognized by the signal recognition particle. Herein we tested the possible involvement of the 3′-UTR in the localization of an mRNA that encodes a very short Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein (Pmp1). We found by ribosome density mapping, sedimentation analysis, differential centrifugation, and fluorescent in situ hybridization that the 3′-UTR is essential for the association of the transcript with membrane compartments. Fusion of the 39-UTR to heterologous open reading frames conferred on them a sedimentation and cellular localization pattern resembling that of PMP1. Mutation analysis revealed that a repeating UG-rich sequence within the 39-UTR is important for membrane association. Taken together, our results reveal an essential role for elements within the 39-UTR in the localization of an mRNA that is likely to be ignored by the standard signal-dependant mechanism. Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1352-1365
Number of pages14
JournalRNA
Volume14
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2008

Keywords

  • 3′-UTR
  • Localization
  • Plasma membrane
  • Velocity sedimentation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology

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