Fig. 2 |. Neuronal cis-acting RNA regulatory element structure, function and dysfunction.
a, Compared to non-neuronal cells, the 3′ UTR regions of neuronal mRNAs, which often encode information for transcript localization, are substantially longer and contain more secondary structure. Within neurons, mRNAs that localize to neuritis are longer, richer in secondary structure and have a longer half-life than their counterparts in the soma. The extended length of neuritic transcripts results from repeated, as well as unique, sequence motifs and secondary structures. b, Secondary structures and sequence motifs in different parts of the mRNA transcript encode localization to different parts of a neurite. In this example, information in the coding sequence drives localization to the primary branch of the neurite, whereas the 5′ and 3′ UTRs are necessary for specification to secondary and tertiary branches, respectively. c, Dysfunction in RNA regulatory regions contributes to neuronal dysfunction through direct aggregation, seeding RNA/protein aggregates and preventing the accurate routing (UTR disruption) of transcripts to the regions that require them.