Signal Manager :: View

::General Information
ID	U0006
Creation Date	30 September 1997
Updating Date	30 September 1997
Standard Name	Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE)
UTRSite Pattern	uuuuuwau 1...200 aauaaa 1...100 $
Random Expectation	0.0 hits/kb
::Taxonomy
UTR Region	3'
Taxon Range	Metazoa
::Description
Description	Cytoplasmic polyadenylation is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism regulating translational activation of a set of quiescent maternal messenger RNAs (mRNAs) during early development. Cytoplasmic poly(A) elongation occurs in a wide range of species, ranging from clam to mouse. The relevance of this process during late oogenesis and early embryogenesis has been shown by studies in the mouse, Xenopus, and Drosophila. In mouse and Xenopus, the only vertebrates so far examined, the critical regulatory sequences, referred to as Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Elements (CPEs), are AU-rich and located in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) near the canonical nuclear polyadenylation element (AAUAAA), which also is required for proper poly(A) addition. The CPE has the general structure of UUUUUUAU. However, the CPE is not identical in all mRNAs and its position varies relative to AAUAAA (generally within 100 nucleotides). The minimal CPE capable to stimulate elongation of a poly(A) tail appears to be UUUUAU, and recent experiments show also the existence of substantial context and position effects on CPE function.
::Features
Feature Key	CPE
::References
ID	[1]
Authors	Vassalli J-D & Stutz A
Title	Translational control: awakening dormant mRNAs
Citation	Curr Biol 5: 476-479
Year	1996
ID	[2]
Authors	Wickens M, Kimble J & Strickland S
Title	Translational control of developmental decisions
Citation	Cold Spring Harbor, Laboratory Press, pp. 411-450
Year	1996
ID	[3]
Authors	Verrotti AC, Thompson SR, Wreden C, Strickland S & Wickens M
Title	Evolutionary coservation of sequence elements controlling cytoplasmic polyadenylation
Citation	Proc Natl Acad Sci 93: 9027-9032
Year	1996