In molecular genetics, the three prime untranslated region (3' UTR) is a particular section of messenger RNA (mRNA). It starts with the nucleotide immediately following the stop codon of the coding region.
An mRNA molecule codes for a protein through translation. The mRNA also contains regions that are not translated. In eukaryotes these regions are the cap, 5' untranslated region, 3' untranslated region, and polyA tail (see diagram).
In prokaryotes mRNA structures have some differences (see mRNA) as do histone mRNAs. However, both have 3' UTRs.
Several regulatory sequences are found in the 3' UTR:
- A polyadenylation signal, usually AAUAAA, or a slight variant. This marks the site of cleavage of the transcript approximately 30 base pairs past the signal, followed by the addition of several hundred adenine residues (poly-A tail).[1][2]
- Binding sites for proteins, that may affect the mRNA's stability or location in the cell, like SECIS elements (which direct the ribosome to translate the codon UGA as selenocysteines rather than as a stop codon), or AU-rich elements (AREs), stretches consisting of mainly adenine and uracil nucleotides (which can either stabilize or destabilize the mRNA depending on the protein bound to it).[3]
- Binding sites for miRNAs, a type of RNAi.[4][5]
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See also
References
- ^ Neilson JR, Sandberg R. (May 2010). "Heterogeneity in mammalian RNA 3' end formation.". Exp Cell Res. 316 (8): 1357–64. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.02.040. PMC 2866830. PMID 20211174. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2866830.
- ^ Ryan K, Bauer DL. (2008). "Finishing touches: post-translational modification of protein factors involved in mammalian pre-mRNA 3' end formation.". Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 40 (11): 2384–96. doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2008.03.016. PMC 2548416. PMID 18468939. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2548416.
- ^ von Roretz C, Gallouzi IE. (Apr 2008). "Decoding ARE-mediated decay: is microRNA part of the equation?". J Cell Biol. 181 (2): 189–94. doi:10.1083/jcb.200712054. PMC 2315667. PMID 18411313. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2315667.
- ^ Chen K, Song F, Calin GA, Wei Q, Hao X, Zhang W. (Jul 2008). "Polymorphisms in microRNA targets: a gold mine for molecular epidemiology.". Carcinogenesis. 29 (7): 1306–11. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgn116. PMID 18477647.
- ^ Ha M, Pang M, Agarwal V, Chen ZJ. (Nov 2008). "Interspecies regulation of microRNAs and their targets.". Biochim Biophys Acta. 1779 (11): 735–42. doi:10.1016/j.bbagrm.2008.03.004. PMC 2586835. PMID 18407843. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2586835.
Further reading
- Mazumder B, Seshadri V, Fox PL (2003). "Translational control by the 3'-UTR: the ends specify the means". Trends Biochem. Sci. 28 (2): 91–8. doi:10.1016/S0968-0004(03)00002-1. PMID 12575997.
External links
- Brief introduction to mRNA regulatory elements
- UTResource 3' UTR analysis
- UTRome.org 3' UTRs in nematodes
- Medical Subject Heading: 3' Untranslated Regions
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