RNA-protein interactions in the control of stability and localization of messenger RNA (review)

Growing evidence demonstrates the importance of regulating mRNA localizatio n, stability and translation, in the control of gene expression, both in de velopment and in differentiated cells. The signals responsible for specific regulation of mRNA metabolism reside in the RNA message itself: both 5' an d 3' to the coding region, all transcripts contain variable lenghts of untr anslated sequences (5'-UTR and 3'-UTR) which contain the binding sites for a number of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Most RBPs assemble on the message at the moment of transcription, thus determining the future fate of the tra nscript from the very beginning. We discuss possible mechanisms through whi ch mRNA, leaving from the nucleus as an RNA-protein complex, might reach it s final intracellular destinations and how its access to the translational apparatus might be regulated in time and space. We also focus on a few know n examples of aberrant RNA-protein interactions associated with human disea ses, including cancer.