Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1951697 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research 2006 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

mRNA localization is a conserved post-transcriptional process crucial for a variety of systems. We have analyzed the subcellular distribution of mRNAs encoding human cytosolic and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins. Biochemical fractionation experiments showed that the transcripts for cytosolic ribosomal proteins associate preferentially with the cytoskeleton via actin microfilaments. Transfection in HeLa cells of a GFP reporter construct containing the cytosolic ribosomal protein L4 3′-UTR showed that the 3′-UTR is necessary for the association of the transcript to the cytoskeleton. Using confocal analysis we demonstrate that the chimeric transcript is specifically associated with the perinuclear cytoskeleton. We also show that mRNA for mitochondrial ribosomal protein S12 is asymmetrically distributed in the cytoplasm. In fact, this transcript was localized mainly in the proximity of mitochondria, and the localization was 3′-UTR-dependent. In summary, ribosomal protein mRNAs constitute a new class of localized transcripts that share a common localization mechanism.

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