RNA recognition motif 2 (RRM2) found in CUGBP Elav-like family member CELF-3, CELF-4, CELF-5, CELF-6 and similar proteins
This subgroup corresponds to the RRM2 of CELF-3, CELF-4, CELF-5, and CELF-6, all of which belong to the CUGBP1 and ETR-3-like factors (CELF) or BRUNOL (Bruno-like) family of RNA-binding proteins that display dual nuclear and cytoplasmic localizations and have been implicated in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing and in the control of mRNA translation and deadenylation. CELF-3, expressed in brain and testis only, is also known as bruno-like protein 1 (BRUNOL-1), or CAG repeat protein 4, or CUG-BP- and ETR-3-like factor 3, or embryonic lethal abnormal vision (ELAV)-type RNA-binding protein 1 (ETR-1), or expanded repeat domain protein CAG/CTG 4, or trinucleotide repeat-containing gene 4 protein (TNRC4). It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tauopathies. CELF-3 contains three highly conserved RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), also known as RBDs (RNA binding domains) or RNPs (ribonucleoprotein domains): two consecutive RRMs (RRM1 and RRM2) situated in the N-terminal region followed by a linker region and the third RRM (RRM3) close to the C-terminus of the protein. The effect of CELF-3 on tau splicing is mediated mainly by the RNA-binding activity of RRM2. The divergent linker region might mediate the interaction of CELF-3 with other proteins regulating its activity or involved in target recognition. CELF-4, being highly expressed throughout the brain and in glandular tissues, moderately expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, and liver, is also known as bruno-like protein 4 (BRUNOL-4), or CUG-BP- and ETR-3-like factor 4. Like CELF-3, CELF-4 also contain three highly conserved RRMs. The splicing activation or repression activity of CELF-4 on some specific substrates is mediated by its RRM1/RRM2. On the other hand, both RRM1 and RRM2 of CELF-4 can activate cardiac troponin T (cTNT) exon 5 inclusion. CELF-5, expressed in brain, is also known as bruno-like protein 5 (BRUNOL-5), or CUG-BP- and ETR-3-like factor 5. Although its biological role remains unclear, CELF-5 shares same domain architecture with CELF-3. CELF-6, being strongly expressed in kidney, brain, and testis, is also known as bruno-like protein 6 (BRUNOL-6), or CUG-BP- and ETR-3-like factor 6. It activates exon inclusion of a cardiac troponin T minigene in transient transfection assays in a muscle-specific splicing enhancer (MSE)-dependent manner and can activate inclusion via multiple copies of a single element, MSE2. CELF-6 also promotes skipping of exon 11 of insulin receptor, a known target of CELF activity that is expressed in kidney. In addition to three highly conserved RRMs, CELF-6 also possesses numerous potential phosphorylation sites, a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) at the C terminus, and an alanine-rich region within the divergent linker region.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",