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Role of GW182 proteins and PABPC1 in the miRNA pathway: a sense of déjà vu

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 11, pages 379–384 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

GW182 proteins have emerged as key components of microRNA (miRNA) silencing complexes in animals. Although the precise molecular function of GW182 proteins is not fully understood, new findings indicate that they act as poly(A)-binding protein (PABP)-interacting proteins (PAIPs) that promote gene silencing, at least in part, by interfering with cytoplasmic PABP1 (PABPC1) function during translation and mRNA stabilization. This recent discovery paves the way for future studies of miRNA silencing mechanisms.

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Figure 1: A mechanistic model of miRNA-mediated gene silencing in animals.
Figure 2: GW182 protein family.
Figure 3: GW182–PABPC1 interaction.

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Acknowledgements

The research from this laboratory is supported by the Max Planck Society, grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, FOR855 and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Program awarded to E.I.) and the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission through the SIROCCO integrated project LSHG-CT-2006-037,900.

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  1. Eric Huntzinger and Elisa Izaurralde are at the Department of Biochemistry, Felix Tritschler, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 35, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.,

    Felix Tritschler, Eric Huntzinger & Elisa Izaurralde

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Correspondence to Elisa Izaurralde.

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Tritschler, F., Huntzinger, E. & Izaurralde, E. Role of GW182 proteins and PABPC1 in the miRNA pathway: a sense of déjà vu. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 11, 379–384 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2885

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