Collagen type III alpha 1 chain mRNA 3'-untranslated region (COL3A1 mRNA 3'-UTR) (COL3A1 mRNA 3'-UTR)

The Collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1) mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) is a critical regulatory segment of the messenger RNA that encodes the alpha 1 chain of type III collagen, a fibrillar collagen essential for the structural integrity of extensible tissues like the skin, lungs, and vascular system (UniProt P02461). This 3'-UTR contains conserved binding sites for the miR-29 family of microRNAs, which act as potent repressors of collagen synthesis by promoting mRNA degradation and inhibiting translation (PMID: 18156152). In various fibrotic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis, the downregulation of miR-29 leads to the pathological over-stabilization of COL3A1 mRNA and subsequent excessive collagen deposition (PMID: 21464369). Consequently, the COL3A1 mRNA 3'-UTR is a primary target for RNA-based therapeutics, including microRNA mimics like Remlarsen (MRG-201) and antisense oligonucleotides designed to reduce collagen production in fibrotic tissues (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03601052). While targeting this region offers a promising anti-fibrotic strategy, it carries significant safety risks, as excessive suppression of COL3A1 can lead to vascular fragility and increased risk of organ rupture, mimicking the phenotype of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (PMID: 24607332). This target represents a sophisticated approach to managing extracellular matrix remodeling by intervening at the post-transcriptional level.

Other names

COL3A1 3'-UTRCollagen alpha-1(III) chain mRNA 3'-UTRAlpha-1 type III collagen mRNA 3'-UTR

MicroRNA-mediated translational repression and mRNA decay