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ISABEL LÓPEZ DE SILANES Y MANEL ESTELLER AN. R. ACAD. NAC. FARM.

in vivo, enabling precise control of gene expression through highly
specific RNA-RNA interactions (39). Moreover, the administration of
riboregulators (3’UTR framents) such as the one from the prohibitin
RNA, effectively controlled tumor cellular proliferation in vivo and
induced systemic antitumor immunity in rat models (40).

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The examples given above represent compelling evidences for
the involvement of alterations in 3’UTR mediated functions in the
pathogenesis of different diseases and emphasize the notion that
control exerted via the 3’UTR mRNA is crucial for the correct
regulation of gene expression. A systematic search for «3’UTR-
mediated diseases» is needed since, in the past, virtually all efforts
were focused on the coding region. For instance, the involvement of
the 3’UTR in controlling mRNA translation during both male and
female gametogenesis and in early embryonic development, and as
such post-transcriptional controls are essential to these processes, it
is a reasonable assumption that certain reproductive disorders will
be found to belong to this class of diseases. Additionally, the
identification of putative additional «3’UTR-mediated diseases» will
require the improvement and development of new methods in vitro
and in vivo to assess the interaction between cis-elements and trans-
acting factors as well as their kinetics. A more detailed understanding
of 3’UTR regulatory events through increased efforts directed
towards the study of this region and the development of adequate
analytical methods will aid in the design of novel chemotherapeutic
venues.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ILdS is supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria grant
(PI061653) from Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (Spain).

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