New Proteins Found to Control RNA Processing

Researchers at University of California San Diego have developed a large-scale screening approach that identifies proteins controlling a fundamental step in gene expression known as alternative polyadenylation (APA). APA determines where an RNA molecule is cut and finished before it is translated into protein, influencing the stability, localization and function of thousands of genes. Although APA occurs in more than 70% of human genes, and abnormalities in APA have been implicated in cancer, neurological disorders and other diseases, many of the proteins that regulate the process have remained unknown. Understanding this hidden machinery could offer new possibilities for treating diseases related to APA dysregulation.