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Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) can directly influence histone-DNA and histone-histone interactions, or they can be targeted by protein effectors, or histone readers. This Review outlines known readers of histone PTMs, details their mechanism of action and the functional significance of histone PTM recognition and discusses cross-talk between protein effectors and consequences of the combinatorial readout of PTMs.
The number and types of known functional noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) has increased considerably over the past few years, and both cis- and trans-acting ncRNAs have been reported. This Review focuses on long- and short-sized ncRNAs that act in cis; that is, where both the regulatory RNA and the target gene are transcribed from the same locus.
Understanding how microRNAs (miRNAs) silence targeted mRNAs has been the focus of intensive research. This Review describes recent advances, with an emphasis on how the miRNA-mediated silencing complex (miRISC) controls gene expression by inhibiting translation and/or mRNA decay, and how trans-acting factors control miRNA action.
Translation initiation requires the formation of a pre-initiation complex that recruits the 5′ end of the mRNA and scans along it to locate the start codon. Genetic, biochemical and structural studies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the individual steps of this complex process. This Review describes our current understanding of eukaryotic translation initiation and outlines some important outstanding questions in the field.
Recent studies have revealed how poly(A) tail length and the selection of alternative polyadenylation sites contribute to translational control. This Review discusses how mechanisms of alternative polyadenylation, deadenylation and cytoplasmic polyadenylation are coordinated to modulate gene expression in inflammation, learning and memory acquisition, and early development.
The recent X-ray structures of the complete ribosome and large and small subunits from eukaryotes allow these structures to be compared to the previously determined structures of bacterial ribosomes. This Review describes bacterial and eukaryotic ribosomes as a conserved core and two specific shells and focuses on selected bacteria- and eukaryote-specific structural features and their functional implications.
PrPSc, the infective agent for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, is the misfolded form of the prion protein that can template the conversion of the native fold of the protein (PrPC). The high-resolution structure of PrPSc remains elusive. This review presents recent progress in the area and existing structural models, in addition to discussing the challenges ahead.
