TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL OF CYTOKINE EXPRESSION BY 3' UA-RICH SEQUENCES

Several messenger RNAs which are transiently expressed contain a conse rved uridine-adenosine-rich sequence in their 3' untranslated region. Many of these mRNAs encode cytokines, growth factors or oncoproteins. This UA-rich sequence is composed of several interspersed repeats of t he octanucleotide UUAUUUAU and plays a key role in the post-transcript ional regulation of these mRNAs. Known as instability determinants, th ese UA-rich elements can also strongly affect mRNA translational regul ation and give insight into the underlying mechanism.