Hi Soudabeh

Interesting question. In fact 3D structure of mRNA transcripts can affect gene expression by many mechanisms. The most obvious is the sterical effect that it can have in ribossome translation and dynamics, but also you have to take into account the specific 3D structures in non-coding regions, namely 5' and 3' ends that could enhance or prevent the binding of regulatory proteins or non-coding RNAs.

In the particular case of non-coding RNAs, and specifically miRNAs, there are very elegant demonstrations of the role of mRNA structure in the regulatory activity of these non-coding RNAs even in the 5'. See for illustration the following papers:

Article Molecular architecture of a miRNA-regulated 3′ UTR

Article The role of RNA structure at 5ΓǦ untranslated region in mic...

Hope it helps. Best

Paco

Hi Soudabeh

Interesting question. In fact 3D structure of mRNA transcripts can affect gene expression by many mechanisms. The most obvious is the sterical effect that it can have in ribossome translation and dynamics, but also you have to take into account the specific 3D structures in non-coding regions, namely 5' and 3' ends that could enhance or prevent the binding of regulatory proteins or non-coding RNAs.

In the particular case of non-coding RNAs, and specifically miRNAs, there are very elegant demonstrations of the role of mRNA structure in the regulatory activity of these non-coding RNAs even in the 5'. See for illustration the following papers:

Article Molecular architecture of a miRNA-regulated 3′ UTR

Article The role of RNA structure at 5ΓǦ untranslated region in mic...

Hope it helps. Best

Paco

Hi soudabeh,

mRNA structure plays critical role in gene expression. Particularly, the structured mRNA has role in activation of Protein kinase R (PKR) pathway. It affects mostly translation efficiency. Although auto regulation of several genes are associated with this pathway where accumulation of structured mRNA leads to PKR activation that inhibit translation and further reduction of protein level auto-regulate the transcript level.

In case of regulation at RNA level, I completely agree with Francisco.

In case of regulation at RNA level, I completely agree with Francisco.