From cis-regulatory elements to complex RNPs and back

Abstract

Messenger RNAs (mRNAs), the templates for translation, have evolved to harbor abundant cis-acting sequences that affect their posttranscriptional fates. These elements are frequently located in the untranslated regions and serve as binding sites for trans-acting factors, RNAbinding proteins, and/or small non-coding RNAs. This article provides a systematic synopsis of cis-acting elements, trans-acting factors, and the mechanisms by which they affect translation. It also highlights recent technical advances that have ushered in the era of transcriptome- wide studies of the ribonucleoprotein complexes formed by mRNAs and their transacting factors. © 2012 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved.