ELAV Like Protein 4 (ELAVL4)

HuD is expressed only in neurons and it binds to AU-rich element-containing mRNAs. As a result of this interaction the half-life of the transcript is increased. HuD is important in neurons during brain development and plasticity.

ELAVL4 has specificity for 3-prime uridylate-rich untranslated regions of growth factor mRNAs. HUD binding to this region stabilized MYCN mRNA in cells. Ectopic overexpression of HUD in mouse fibroblasts dramatically inhibited decay of a reporter RNA fused to either full-length MYCN 3-prime UTR or to cis-acting destabilizing elements harboring HUD-binding sites.HUD may contribute to the malignant phenotype of neuroblastoma cells by stabilizing MYCN mRNA, thereby enhancing steady-state levels of expression of this oncogene.