Introns in UTRs: Why we should stop ignoring them

@article{Bicknell2012IntronsIU,
  title={Introns in UTRs: Why we should stop ignoring them},
  author={Alicia A. Bicknell and Can Cenik and Hon Nian Chua and Frederick P. Roth and Melissa J. Moore},
  journal={BioEssays},
  year={2012},
  volume={34}
}
Although introns in 5′‐ and 3′‐untranslated regions (UTRs) are found in many protein coding genes, rarely are they considered distinctive entities with specific functions. Indeed, mammalian transcripts with 3′‐UTR introns are often assumed nonfunctional because they are subject to elimination by nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD). Nonetheless, recent findings indicate that 5′‐ and 3′‐UTR intron status is of significant functional consequence for the regulation of mammalian genes. Therefore these… 
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106 Citations
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106 Citations

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A position-specific 3′UTR sequence that accelerates mRNA decay
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A new tool, called TAPAS, is proposed, which can deal with more than more than two APA sites in a gene as well as APA Sites that occur before the last exon and outperforms the existing tools for APA site detection or shortening/lengthening analysis significantly.
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TLDR
Several features of 5′UTRs, such as GC content variation, hairpin structure conservation or5′UTR segmentation, are shown, which are interesting from a phylogenetic point of view and can stimulate further evolutionary oriented research.
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TLDR
It is demonstrated conclusively that NMD, EJC, and CBC factors have essential roles in controlling mRNA stability and that, based on differential requirements for these factors, there are branched mechanisms for NMD.
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TLDR
The results indicated that gene expression dependent on a 5′UTR intron is an efficient regulatory mechanism in BTL E3 ligases that has been preserved throughout plant evolution.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of UTR-Introns of Citrus sinensis
TLDR
This is the first report about the UIS in sweet orange from genome-wide level, which could provide evidence for further understanding of the role of UIs in gene expression regulation.
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TLDR
The coexistence and function of different isoforms of up-frameshift protein 1 with an emphasis of their role at the endoplasmic reticulum and during stress are highlighted, underscoring that gene regulation by mammalian NMD is tightly controlled and context-dependent being conditional on developmental stage, tissue and cell types.
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