Work

Function and regulation of the mammalian Musashi mRNA translational regulator

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein, Musashi, regulates neural stem cell self-renewal. Musashi expression is also indicative of stem cell populations in breast and intestinal tissues and is linked to cell overproliferation in cancers of these tissues. Musashi has been primarily implicated as a repressor of target mRNAs in stem cell populations. However, little is known about the mechanism by which Musashi exerts mRNA translational control or how Musashi function is regulated. Recent findings in oocytes of the frog, Xenopus, indicate an unexpected role for Musashi as an activator of a number of maternal mRNAs during meiotic cell cycle progression. Given the importance of Musashi function in stem cell biology and the implications of aberrant Musashi expression in cancer, it is critical that we understand the molecular processes that regulate Musashi function.

Source: Biochemical Society Transactions

DOI: 10.1042/bst0360528

Authors: Angus M. MacNicol, Anna Wilczynska, Melanie C. MacNicol

Institution: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: RNA Research and Splicing

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Center for Research Resources, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development