From the Guidelines
Adenine-Uridine rich elements (AREs) are sequences that are rich in adenine (A) and uridine (U) bases.
Characteristics of AREs
- AREs are often found in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of messenger RNA (mRNA) [no direct evidence in provided text, general knowledge]
- They play a crucial role in regulating mRNA stability, translation, and localization
Importance of AREs in siRNA
- The presence of A/U at the 5' AS end of siRNA is required for target recognition and RISC formation 1
- siRNA unwinding is preferably initiated from the AU-rich AS end, while GC-rich regions may suppress siRNA unwinding 1
- The terminal base compositional asymmetry of siRNAs, with A/U at the 5' AS end and G/C at the 5' SS end, is important for determining the direction of siRNA unwinding 1
Role of AREs in Gene Silencing
- AREs can influence the efficacy of RNA interference (RNAi) by affecting the binding of proteins involved in RISC formation and siRNA unwinding 1
- The presence of AREs in siRNA sequences can enhance gene silencing activity by facilitating RISC formation and target mRNA recognition 1
From the Research
Definition and Function of Adenine-Uridine Rich Elements (AREs)
- AREs are cis-acting elements that modulate the stability of many labile mRNAs by collaborating with trans-acting factors such as tristetraprolin (TTP) 2
- They reside in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs and regulate translation, with the underlying mechanism not fully understood 2
- AREs are recognized by several ARE-specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and can increase plasticity and efficacy of mRNA regulation 3
Characteristics of AREs
- Consensus ARE motifs have been determined, but little is known about how differences in 3' UTR sequences that conform to these motifs affect their function 4
- The length of an ARE and its registration (the first and last nucleotides of the repeating ARE motif) have significant effects on gene expression and stability 4
- AREs can be recognized in multiple ways, allowing control over mRNA regulation by adapting distinct conformational states 3
Regulation of AREs
- AREs can be regulated by various proteins, including TTP, RCK/P54, FXR1, and Argonaute 2, which can either repress or activate translation 2, 5
- The regulation of AREs is important for controlling gene expression, particularly in response to cellular stress or changes in cell growth 6, 5
- Dysregulation of AREs has been implicated in various diseases, including chronic inflammation and autoimmunity 6