Abstract
Regulation of mRNA is likely an ancient form of genetic control, with the current rapid expansion of knowledge driven by advances in biotechnology. The regulation of ferritin mRNA by iron in animals, an older example of mRNA regulation, has been extended to other mRNAs of iron and oxidative metabolism. The regulatory element (IRE) is conserved in animal mRNAs encoding the transferrin receptor (TfR), m-aconitase, erythroid aminolevulinate synthase (eALAS) and Nramp2 (an ion transport protein), as well as ferritin. [1–4]. [The sequence identity of an IRE is >95% in the mRNAs of different animals, but is only 36–60% among different IRE containing mRNAs in the same animal]. An IRE can regulate either mRNA ribosome binding (translation) or degradation (stability/turnover). Control of ribosome binding is the mechanism of IRE-dependent regulation for ferritin, eALAS synthesis and m-aconitase, while control of nuclease binding/activity appears to be the mechanism of IRE-dependent regulation for TfR and Nramp2 synthesis. A common secondary structure is shared among the isoIREs which includes a hairpin loop (CAGUGX) and a base paired stem with an interruption or “hinge” in mid-stem. Stem base pair sequence is mRNA-specific as is the structure of the “hinge”. Among iso-IREs, the greatest variation occurs in the lower stem [1].
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Theil, E.C., Ke, Y., Gdaniec, Z., Sierzputowska-Gracz, H. (1999). The IRE Model for Families of RNA Structures. In: Barciszewski, J., Clark, B.F.C. (eds) RNA Biochemistry and Biotechnology. NATO Science Series, vol 70. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4485-8_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4485-8_18
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