Co-regulated expression of alpha and beta mRNAs encoding HLA-DR surface heterodimers is mediated by the MHCII RNA operon.

ABSTRACT: Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules are heterodimeric surface proteins involved in the presentation of exogenous antigens during the adaptive immune response. We demonstrate the existence of a fine level of regulation, coupling the transcription and processing of mRNAs encoding α and β chains of MHCII molecules, mediated through binding of their Untraslated Regions (UTRs) to the same ribonucleoproteic complex (RNP). We propose a dynamic model, in the context of the 'MHCII RNA operon' in which the increasing levels of DRA and DRB mRNAs are docked by the RNP acting as a bridge between 5'- and 3'-UTR of the same messenger, building a loop structure and, at the same time, joining the two chains, thanks to shared common predicted secondary structure motifs. According to

SUBMITTER: Pisapia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3616700 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature