The Scientist - USA (2019-12)

PARASPECKLE FUNCTION

When a cell is stressed, various triggers can cause it to increase the production of the lncRNA NEAT1, leading to the
formation of more paraspeckles. These bodies can grow to up to 2 micrometers in length, changing from a spherical
shape to oblong and sometimes branched structures. They trap various proteins and mRNAs, hindering their function
and thereby affecting the cell’s continued response to stress.

NEAT1

Messenger RNAs are
exported to cytoplasm
for translation.

As they accumulate proteins and

RNAs, paraspeckles can become

linked together, growing bigger,

oblong, and sometimes branched.

Greater abundance of

NEAT1 leads to more

paraspeckles.

Specific messenger RNAs

become trapped in para-

speckles and cannot

reach the cytoplasm for

translation.

Paraspeckles act as

a sponge, soaking up

the proteins from the

Nucleolus nucleoplasm.

Paraspeckles trap gene-regulating

proteins, depleting them from

target sites on the genome

and thereby altering

transcription.

Nuclear proteins

regulate gene

expression.

HEALTHY NUCLEUS STRESSED NUCLEUS