A conserved three-nucleotide core motif defines Musashi RNA binding specificity.

Musashi (MSI) family proteins control cell proliferation and differentiation in many biological systems. They are overexpressed in tumors of several origins, and their expression level correlates with poor prognosis. MSI proteins control gene expression by binding RNA and regulating its translation.

hnRNP A1 and secondary structure coordinate alternative splicing of Mag.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a major component of myelin in the vertebrate central nervous system. MAG is present in the periaxonal region of the myelin structure, where it interacts with neuronal proteins to inhibit axon outgrowth and protect neurons from degeneration. Two alternatively spliced isoforms of Mag mRNA have been identified.

End-labeling oligonucleotides with chemical tags after synthesis.

Many experimental strategies for determining nucleic acid function require labeling the nucleic acid with radioisotopes or a chemical tag. Labels enable nucleic acid detection, yield information about its state, and can serve as a handle by which the nucleic acid and associated factors can be purified from a mixture. Radioactive phosphate is commonly added to the 5' or 3' end of an oligonucleotide post synthesis using enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

Quaking regulates Hnrnpa1 expression through its 3' UTR in oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

In mice, Quaking (Qk) is required for myelin formation; in humans, it has been associated with psychiatric disease. QK regulates the stability, subcellular localization, and alternative splicing of several myelin-related transcripts, yet little is known about how QK governs these activities. Here, we show that QK enhances Hnrnpa1 mRNA stability by binding a conserved 3' UTR sequence with high affinity and specificity.

A molecular circuit composed of CPEB-1 and c-Jun controls growth hormone-mediated synaptic plasticity in the mouse hippocampus.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB-1) resides at postsynaptic sites in hippocampal neurons in which it controls polyadenylation-induced translation. CPEB-1 knock-out (KO) mice display defects in some forms of synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent memories. To identify CPEB-1-regulated mRNAs, we used proteomics to compare polypeptides in wild-type (WT) and CPEB-1 KO hippocampus.