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Informosomes Travel in Time: An Early mRNA Concept in the Current mRNP Landscape

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Abstract

Messenger RNA is complexed with proteins throughout its life cycle. The first mRNA-containing particles of non-ribosomal nature, named informosomes, were discovered in cytoplasmic extracts of fish embryos by the laboratory of Alexander Spirin, and later described in live cells. Over time, various other nuclear and cytoplasmic mRNA-containing ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) have been found and characterized. Although these mRNPs are very diverse in their subcellular localization, structure and functions, they share many common characteristics with informosomes. In this mini-review, I will discuss the discovery of informosomes, their characteristics and proposed functions, and their potential relationship to other mRNPs.

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Abbreviations

mRNPs:

messenger RNA nucleoprotein particles

PBs:

Processing Bodies

RBPs:

RNA-binding proteins

SGs:

Stress Granules

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Acknowledgments

Pavel Ivanov thanks members of his lab and Dr. Claire Riggs for help in editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Pavel Ivanov

  2. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Pavel Ivanov

  3. Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard University, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Pavel Ivanov

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Correspondence to Pavel Ivanov.

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Ivanov, P. Informosomes Travel in Time: An Early mRNA Concept in the Current mRNP Landscape. Biochemistry Moscow 86, 1044–1052 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297921090029

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