The protein AUF1/hnRNP D was one of the first factors identified that binds to the AUrich region of certain mRNAs and mediates their fast degradation. Here we describe experiments to address the structural determinants for the binding of AUF1 to the RNA by combining comparative molecular modeling with gel shift assays. From our model of the RNA binding region of AUF1 we predicted that it interacts with RNA predominantly through stacking interactions that do not provide basespecific recognition. Only two RNA positions bound by AUF1 show base preferences: one for pyrimidine bases and the second for a conserved adenine residue. Gel shift assays with a panel of RNA oligonucleotides largely confirmed these modelbased binding determinants. An alignment with proteins of the hnRNP family demonstrated that the amino acids involved in the stacking interactions are conserved whereas those that confer a basespecific recognition in AUF1 are variable.o TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE AGOSTO DE 2015.3835831837