States of decay: The systems biology of mRNA stability

An appropriate equilibrium between transcription and mRNA decay is vital for the function of the cell. The RNA-binding complexes regulating mRNA degradation, such as carbon catabolite repression 4-negative on TATA-less, may also control several other stages of the mRNA life cycle, from transcription to translation. This pleiotropic control complicates the analysis of mRNA stability. Computational models have analysed the mechanisms underlying mRNA turnover and have been used to extract mRNA decay rates from high-throughput data sets. Multiomics studies have clarified the actions of RNA-binding complexes, and such studies allow the evolution of more accurate and complex computational models. This review discusses two complementary aspects of systems biology in the study of mRNA decay—computational modelling of mRNA turnover and recent ‘-omics’ studies of the function of RNA-binding proteins controlling mRNA stability

Rhythmic Diurnal Synthesis and Signaling of Retinoic Acid in the Rat Pineal Gland and Its Action to Rapidly Downregulate ERK Phosphorylation

Open access via Springer Compact Agreement Funding was provided by a Biological Sciences Research Council East of Scotland BioScience Doctoral Training Partnership PhD Studentship awarded to Anna Ashton. qPCR was performed in the Institute of Medical Sciences qPCR Core Facility, University of Aberdeen. Microscopy was performed in the Institute of Medical Sciences Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Expression in the human brain of retinoic acid induced 1, a protein associated with neurobehavioural disorders

Acknowledgements Funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust and Tenovus Scotland. Prof Fragoso is the recipient of a Post Doctoral Science without Borders grant from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, 37450/2012- 7). We also thank Aberdeen Proteomics for assistance with the western blots as well as the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility at the University of Aberdeen for confocal microscopy.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The rhythm of retinoids in the brain

Funded by Biological Sciences Research Council. Grant Numbers: BB/G014272/1, BB/K001043/1Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Fenretinide Treatment Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity in Association With Major Alterations in Retinoid Homeostatic Gene Expression in Adipose, Liver and Hypothalamus

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Patients with multiple sclerosis do not necessarily consume more alcohol or tobacco than the general population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Expression of the retinoic acid catabolic enzyme CYP26B1 in the human brain to maintain signaling homeostasis

Date of Acceptance: 27/08/2015 Funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust grant WT081633MA-NCE and Biological Sciences Research Council Grant BB/K001043/1. Prof Fragoso is the recipient of a Post Doctoral Science without Borders grant from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, 237450/2012-7).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Vitamin on the Mind : New Discoveries on Control of the Brain by Vitamin A

© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.Peer reviewedPostprin