BACKGROUND Y14 is an RNA binding protein which is part of a multiprotein complex, the exon-exon junction complex (EJC), that assembles on the exon-exon junctions of mRNAs produced by splicing. The position-specific binding of Y14 persists on mRNAs after their export to the cytoplasm. Thus, Y14, together with its interacting proteins, has the capacity to communicate to the cytoplasm the processi...

The exon-exon junction complex (EJC) forms via association of proteins during splicing of mRNA in a defined manner. Its organization provides a link between biogenesis, nuclear export, and translation of the transcripts. The EJC proteins accumulate in nuclear speckles alongside most other splicing-related factors. We followed the establishment of the EJC on mRNA by investigating the mobility an...

In mammals, Up-frameshift proteins (UPFs) form a surveillance complex that interacts with the exon junction complex (EJC) to elicit nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). UPF3b is the component of the surveillance complex that bridges the interaction with the EJC. Here, we report the 3.4 A resolution crystal structure of a minimal UPF3b-EJC assembly, consisting of the interacting domains of five p...

Introduction: Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mu opioid receptor gene and drug addiction has been shown in various studies. Here, we have evaluated the existence of polymorphisms in exon 3 of this gene in Iranian population and investigated the possible association between these mutations and opioid addiction.  Methods: 79 opioid-dependent subjects (55 males, 24...

The bovine leptin (LEP) gene was widely used as a candidate gene for molecular selection to improve productivity traits of cattle. This study was carried out to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LEP gene of Sumba Ongole (SO, Bos indicus) cows using sequencing method. A total of 31 animals were used in this study for analyses. Research showed that total of 16 SNPs w...

Utilization of fecundity genes such as GDF9 and BMP15 can help improve reproductive traits in sheep breeding programme. To evaluate effects of missense mutations on protein function, the polymorphisms of GDF9 and BMP15 genes were screened in twelve mehraban sheep using DNA sequencing, followed by protein structure modeling. Six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) known as FecG mutations (G1-G...

The majority of mammalian pre-mRNAs contains multiple introns that are excised prior to export and translation. After intron excision, ligated exon intermediates participate in subsequent intron excisions. However, exon ligation generates an exon of increased size, a feature of pre-mRNA splicing that can interfere with downstream splicing events. These considerations raise the question of wheth...

introduction: association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) in mu opioid receptor gene and drug addiction has been shown in various studies. here, we have evaluated the existence of polymorphisms in exon 3 of this gene in iranian population and investigated the possible association between these mutations and opioid addiction.  methods: 79 opioid-dependent subjects (55 males, 24 fe...

the drb3 gene is a highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (mhc) class ii gene and plays an important role in variability of immune responsiveness and disease resistance. in the present study, the mhc class ii drb3 gene in water buffalo (bubalus bubalis) populations from northwest regions of iran was investigated through pcr-sscp. genomic dna was extracted from whole blood samples c...