Abstract
The exon junction complex (EJC) consists of four core proteins: Magoh, RNA-binding motif 8A (Rbm8a, also known as Y14), eukaryotic initiation factor 4A3 (eIF4A3, also known as DDX48), and metastatic lymph node 51 (MLN51, also known as Casc3 or Barentsz), which are involved in the regulation of many processes occurring between gene transcription and protein translation. Its main role is to assemble into spliceosomes at the exon-exon junction of mRNA during splicing. It is, therefore, a range of functions concerning post-splicing events such as mRNA translocation, translation, and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Apart from this, proteins of the EJC control the splicing of specific pre-mRNAs, for example, splicing of the mapk transcript. Recent studies support essential functions of EJC proteins in oocytes and, after fertilization, in all stages of zygote development, as well as the growth of the embryo, including the development of the nervous system. During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), the EJC controls mitosis, regulating both symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions. Reduced levels of EJC components cause microcephaly. In the adult brain, Y14 and eIF4A3 appear to be involved in synaptic plasticity and in learning and memory. In this review, we focus on the involvement of EJC components in brain development and its functioning under normal conditions.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Science Centre Poland, Funder Id: 10.13039/501100004281, grant number 2015/17/B/NZ4/02410, and by statutory funds from Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. R. Djavadian received funds.
References
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©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Roles of the exon junction complex components in the central nervous system: a mini review
- Metabolic regulation of synaptic activity
- CD200-, CX3CL1-, and TREM2-mediated neuron-microglia interactions and their involvements in Alzheimer’s disease
- Rab23 and developmental disorders
- When your face describes your memories: facial expressions during retrieval of autobiographical memories
- Balo’s concentric sclerosis: an update and comprehensive literature review
- How different priming stimulations affect the corticospinal excitability induced by noninvasive brain stimulation techniques: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: The functional role of all postsynaptic potentials examined from a first-person frame of reference
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Roles of the exon junction complex components in the central nervous system: a mini review
- Metabolic regulation of synaptic activity
- CD200-, CX3CL1-, and TREM2-mediated neuron-microglia interactions and their involvements in Alzheimer’s disease
- Rab23 and developmental disorders
- When your face describes your memories: facial expressions during retrieval of autobiographical memories
- Balo’s concentric sclerosis: an update and comprehensive literature review
- How different priming stimulations affect the corticospinal excitability induced by noninvasive brain stimulation techniques: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: The functional role of all postsynaptic potentials examined from a first-person frame of reference