Hi, everyone
As we all know, a protein can shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Whereas many proteins are selectively transported from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, most RNAs are exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In contrast to mRNAs, which function in the cytoplasm, the snRNAs function within the nucleus as components of the RNA processing machinery. And snRNAs can shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
I am curious as to whether lncRNA, miRNA and other ncRNAs can shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Do you have any related literature?
I would be really appreciated if anyone who are working on this could advise me.
Hi Hua,
Actually many noncoding RNAs are re-imported to the nucleus. For example, tRNAs go through nuclear import before fully maturated. Some miRNAs are localized to the nucleus (Hwang et al. Science 2017), although their nuclear functions are still elusive.
Hi,
MicroRNAs shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm as argonaute-miRNA complexes [Image]. Exportin 1 is involved in nuclear import and export [1]; while Importin 8 is involved in nuclear import [2]. All miRNAs can shuttle between the cytoplasm and nucleus; only few miRNAs have preferential accumulation in the nucleus [3]. For example, nuclear-localization signal has been identified for a miRNA (miR-29a) [4]. Presence of binding partners for miRNA are one of the reasons for higher miRNA accumulation in the nucleus [5,6].
As Dooyoung Lee mentioned, there is still more to be understood about nuclear functions of miRNA [7].
References:
[1] Nishi, K. et al. (2013) RNA 19, 17–35. Article Human TNRC6A is an Argonaute-navigator protein for microRNA-...
[2] Weinmann, L. et al. (2009) Cell 136, 496–507.Article Importin 8 Is a Gene Silencing Factor that Targets Argonaute...
[3] Makarova, J.A. et al. (2016) Prog. Histochem. Cytochem. 51, 33–49Article Intracellular and extracellular microRNA: An update on local...
[4] Hwang HW et al. (2007) Science 5;315(5808):97-100. Article A Hexanucleotide Element Directs MicroRNA Nuclear Import
[5] Pitchiaya, S. et al. (2017) Cell Rep. 2017 April 18; 19(3): 630–642. Article Resolving Subcellular miRNA Trafficking and Turnover at Sing...
[6] Toscano-Garibay, JD et al (2014) Biochim.Biophy.Acta 1839, 1079–1083 Article Transcriptional regulation mechanism mediated by miRNA-DNA•D...
[7] Liu, H et al (2018) Mol Cancer. 17: 64. Article Nuclear functions of mammalian MicroRNAs in gene regulation,...
Image Source:
http://www.cell.com/trends/cancer/fulltext/S2405-8033(17)30241-8
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Molecular Biology
- Biomolecules
- Nucleic Acids
- RNA