Double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 1

STAU1 (Staufen homolog 1) is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein that plays roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation and viral biology. It binds dsRNA and tubulin, functioning in mRNA localization and translation at specific cellular sites through interactions between cytoskeletal and RNA components (UniProt: O95793). The protein is also involved in viral particle production for multiple viruses including HIV-1, HERV-K, ebola virus, and influenza virus.

STAU1 is broadly expressed and its functions relate to cytoplasmic organization and translational control relevant to neuronal function. No baseline disease associations are documented in UniProt.

STAU1 shows reduced abundance in Alzheimer's Disease brain tissue. Quantitative proteomics analysis of post-mortem AD brain compared to age-matched controls revealed downregulation with a mean log2 fold-change of −0.40 (Chaparral AD proteomics). This finding is consistent across measured subcellular fractions in the human post-mortem tissue sample, suggesting altered RNA-binding protein availability may contribute to dysregulated mRNA metabolism in AD pathology.