Eukaryotic mRNAs are headed by a stretch of noncoding sequence, the 5' untranslated region (UTR). It has been proposed that the length of 5' UTRs is selectively neutral and evolves under a process of stochastic destruction and recruitment of core promoter elements, combined with selection against the premature initiation of translation. We test this null model by investigating whether 5' UTR le...

The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of turnip crinkle virus (TCV) RNA is 253 nt long (nt 3798-4050) with a 27 nt hairpin structure near its 3' terminus. In this study, the roles of the 3' UTR in virus accumulation were investigated in protoplasts of Hibiscus cannabinus L. and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Our results showed that, in Hibiscus protoplasts, the minimal 3' UTR essential for TCV acc...

HOX11 encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor which directs the development of the spleen during embryogenesis. While HOX11 expression is normally silenced through an unknown mechanism in all tissues by adulthood, the deregulation of HOX11 expression is associated with leukemia, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The elucidation of regulatory elements contributing to the...

Modified nucleotide chemistries that increase the half-life (T1/2) of transfected recombinant mRNA and the use of non-native 5'- and 3'-untranslated region (UTR) sequences that enhance protein translation are advancing the prospects of transcript therapy. To this end, a set of UTR sequences that are present in mRNAs with long cellular T1/2 were synthesized and cloned as five different recombina...

3'-Untranslated region (3'UTR) engineering was investigated to improve solubility of heterologous proteins (e.g., Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs)) in Escherichia coli. Insertion of gene fragments containing putative RNase E recognition sites into the 3'UTR of the BVMO genes led to the reduction of mRNA levels in E. coli. Importantly, the amounts of soluble BVMOs were remarkably enhanced ...

Better understanding of the transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from chronic phase (CP) to the invariably fatal blast phase (BP) is of critical importance for the clinical management of patients with CML. However, the mechanisms responsible for triggering disease progression have eluded investigators’ efforts. Recently, our group verified reported data showing increased levels of M...

The presence of cellular factors that bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of picornaviruses was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). A cellular factor(s) that binds specifically the 3' UTR of polio-, coxsackie- and rhinoviruses was detected. Furthermore, this factor(s) is distinct from those which bind to the 5' terminal 88 nt (the 'cloverleaf') of poliovirus. Mut...

Background and Amis: Serological assay is considered as one of the best choices for conducting large number of infection tests. Recombinant DNA technology has been used for expression of virus coat protein (CP) gene in prokaryotic bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli and the recombinant CP (rCP) is used as immunogen in antibody production. Heterologous CP protein expression and purification...