Editing Messenger RNA (section)

===AU-rich element decay===
The presence of [[AU-rich element]]s in some mammalian mRNAs tends to destabilize those transcripts through the action of cellular proteins that bind these sequences and stimulate [[poly(A)]] tail removal. Loss of the poly(A) tail is thought to promote mRNA degradation by facilitating attack by both the [[exosome complex]]<ref name=Chen2001>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen CY, Gherzi R, Ong SE, Chan EL, Raijmakers R, Pruijn GJ, Stoecklin G, Moroni C, Mann M, Karin M | title = AU binding proteins recruit the exosome to degrade ARE-containing mRNAs | journal = Cell | volume = 107 | issue = 4 | pages = 451–464 | date = November 2001 | pmid = 11719186 | doi = 10.1016/S0092-8674(01)00578-5 | s2cid = 14817671 | doi-access = free }}</ref> and the [[decapping complex]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fenger-Grøn M, Fillman C, Norrild B, Lykke-Andersen J | title = Multiple processing body factors and the ARE binding protein TTP activate mRNA decapping | journal = Molecular Cell | volume = 20 | issue = 6 | pages = 905–915 | date = December 2005 | pmid = 16364915 | doi = 10.1016/j.molcel.2005.10.031 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Rapid mRNA degradation via [[AU-rich element]]s is a critical mechanism for preventing the overproduction of potent cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).<ref name="Shaw1986">{{cite journal | vauthors = Shaw G, Kamen R | title = A conserved AU sequence from the 3' untranslated region of GM-CSF mRNA mediates selective mRNA degradation | journal = Cell | volume = 46 | issue = 5 | pages = 659–667 | date = August 1986 | pmid = 3488815 | doi = 10.1016/0092-8674(86)90341-7 | s2cid = 40332253 }}</ref> AU-rich elements also regulate the biosynthesis of proto-oncogenic transcription factors like [[c-Jun]] and [[c-Fos]].<ref name=Chen1995>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen CY, Shyu AB | title = AU-rich elements: characterization and importance in mRNA degradation | journal = Trends in Biochemical Sciences | volume = 20 | issue = 11 | pages = 465–470 | date = November 1995 | pmid = 8578590 | doi = 10.1016/S0968-0004(00)89102-1 }}</ref>