mRNA specific subcellular localization represents a crucial step for fine-tuning of gene expression in mammalian cells.

mRNA subcellular distribution and translational control are key player mechanisms for post-transcriptional gene expression regulation. In the last decade it has become increasingly clear that these processes are associated with various human diseases. Understanding the interconnected multistep process of mRNA localization and its involvement in organelle biogenesis and in the overall spatial structure of eukaryotic cells will be an important step towards the long-term goal of curing individual molecular defects. In a recent issue, Russo et al. [The 3'-untranslated region directs ribosomal protein-encoding mRNAs to specific cytoplasmic regions, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Mol. Cell Res. 1763 (8) (2006) 833-843] reported interesting findings on the mechanisms that direct mRNAs encoding different ribosomal proteins to specific cytoplasmic regions in human cells.