“The mRNA binding protein AUF1 controls skeletal muscle stem cell fate, linking AUF1 mutation to the development of limb girdle muscular dystrophy”. Robert J. Schneider

AU-rich elements (AREs) are known to regulate the mRNA stability and about the 16% of human mRNAs contain this element. The sequence is recognized by specific ARE binding proteins (AUBPs) as AUF1 that, when downregulated in mice, induce different developmental alterations as the reduction of skeletal muscle mass and muscle weakness. Schneider’lab results suggest that this phenotype is due to the prolonged and massive activation of satellite stem cells that could not differentiate into skeletal muscle cells.