Polyadenylate-binding protein cytoplasmic 1-like (PABPC1L)

Polyadenylate-binding protein cytoplasmic 1-like (PABPC1L) is a cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein in the polyadenylate-binding protein type-1 family that binds to the poly(A) tail of mRNA. It plays a fundamental role in translational activation of maternal mRNAs during oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis, especially in vertebrates like humans, mice, and Xenopus. PABPC1L interacts with polyadenylated mRNAs, stabilizing them and enabling efficient translation by displacing translational repressors and promoting assembly of the translational initiation complex (e.g., eIF4G–eIF4E interaction). Loss-of-function or pathogenic mutations in PABPC1L cause oocyte maturation arrest and female infertility, with evidence from both human and animal models. While it is not a direct therapeutic target such as a classical receptor or enzyme, its key role in reproductive biology makes it a potential biomarker or target for infertility-related diagnostics and research. No drugs are currently known to specifically target PABPC1L, and its molecular disruption primarily manifests as impaired oocyte development leading to infertility.

Other names

Poly(A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1-likePABPC1LC20orf119EPABEmbryonic poly(A)-binding proteinPABPC1L1ePABdJ1069P2.3OZEMA22