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The Role of GW182 Proteins in miRNA-Mediated Gene Silencing

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Ten Years of Progress in GW/P Body Research

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 768))

Abstract

GW182 family proteins are essential for microRNA-mediated gene silencing in animal cells. They are recruited to miRNA targets through direct interactions with Argonaute proteins and promote target silencing. They do so by repressing translation and enhancing mRNA turnover. Although the precise mechanism of action of GW182 proteins is not fully understood, these proteins have been shown to interact with the cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) and with the PAN2–PAN3 and CCR4–NOT deadenylase complexes. These findings suggest that GW182 proteins function as scaffold proteins for the assembly of the multiprotein complex that silences miRNA targets.

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Acknowledgments

The research in this laboratory is supported by the Max Planck Society and by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, FOR855 and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Program awarded to E.I.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 35, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Joerg E. Braun, Eric Huntzinger & Elisa Izaurralde

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  1. Joerg E. Braun
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  2. Eric Huntzinger
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  3. Elisa Izaurralde
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Correspondence to Elisa Izaurralde .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Southwest Archer Road 1600, Gainesville, 32610, Florida, USA

    Edward K. L. Chan

  2. Dept. Medicine & Medical Biochemistry, University of Calgary, Hospital Drive NW., 3330, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada

    Marvin J. Fritzler

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Braun, J.E., Huntzinger, E., Izaurralde, E. (2013). The Role of GW182 Proteins in miRNA-Mediated Gene Silencing. In: Chan, E., Fritzler, M. (eds) Ten Years of Progress in GW/P Body Research. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 768. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5107-5_9

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