Alu Mobile Elements: From Junk DNA to Genomic Gems

Figure 2

Model for the fate of Alu RNAs in the RPE from GA eye. Alus can form long duplex RNA structures and pose as targets for ADAR A-to-I RNA editing activity. The edited Alu RNAs may be bound by the paraspeckle that contains the nuclear proteins P54nrb, PSF and martin 3 and are expected to be retained on the nuclear matrix in normal eye. In diseased eye, DICER1 is dysregulated and Alu RNAs are exported and accumulated in the cytoplasm leading to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and MyD88, which in turn may activate ERK1/2 and induce RPE cell degeneration.