RAN Translation at \u3cem\u3eC9orf72\u3c/em\u3e-Associated Repeat Expansions is Selectively Enhanced by the Integrated Stress Response

Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation allows for unconventional initiation at disease-causing repeat expansions. As RAN translation contributes to pathogenesis in multiple neurodegenerative disorders, determining its mechanistic underpinnings may inform therapeutic development. Here we analyze RAN translation at G4C2 repeat expansions that cause C9orf72-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9RAN) and at CGG repeats that cause fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. We find that C9RAN translation initiates through a cap- and eIF4A-dependent mechanism that utilizes a CUG start codon. C9RAN and CGG RAN are both selectively enhanced by integrated stress response (ISR) activation. ISR-enhanced RAN translation requires an eIF2α phosphorylation-dependent alteration in start codon fidelity. In parallel, both CGG and G4C2 repeats trigger phosphorylated-eIF2α-dependent stress granule formation and global translational suppression. These findings support a model whereby repeat expansions elicit cellular stress conditions that favor RAN translation of toxic proteins, creating a potential feed-forward loop that contributes to neurodegeneration

Human Transcription Elongation Factor CA150 Localizes to Splicing Factor-Rich Nuclear Speckles and Assembles Transcription and Splicing Components into Complexes through Its Amino and Carboxyl Regions

The human transcription elongation factor CA150 contains three N-terminal WW domains and six consecutive FF domains. WW and FF domains, versatile modules that mediate protein-protein interactions, are found in nuclear proteins involved in transcription and splicing. CA150 interacts with the splicing factor SF1 and with the phosphorylated C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) through its WW and FF domains, respectively. WW and FF domains may, therefore, serve to link transcription and splicing components and play a role in coupling transcription and splicing in vivo. In the study presented here, we investigated the subcellular localization and association of CA150 with factors involved in pre-mRNA transcriptional elongation and splicing. Endogenous CA150 colocalized with nuclear speckles, and this was not affected either by inhibition of cellular transcription or by RNAPII CTD phosphorylation. FF domains are essential for the colocalization to speckles, while WW domains are not required for colocalization. We also performed biochemical assays to understand the role of WW and FF domains in mediating the assembly of transcription and splicing components into higher-order complexes. Transcription and splicing components bound to a region in the amino-terminal part of CA150 that contains the three WW domains; however, we identified a region of the C-terminal FF domains that was also critical. Our results suggest that sequences located at both the amino and carboxyl regions of CA150 are required to assemble transcription/splicing complexes, which may be involved in the coupling of those processes

An In Vitro Transcription System that Recapitulates Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Tat-Mediated Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat Activity Demonstrates a Role for Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b and Associated Proteins in the Mechanism of Tat Activation

AbstractEquine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) activates transcription via a Tat protein, a TAR element, and the equine elongation factor positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). In human cells, EIAV Tat (eTat) can inhibit the ability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat (hTat) to activate transcription from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat, demonstrating that EIAV Tat can interact nonproductively with human P-TEFb. To study the mechanism of EIAV Tat and HIV-1 Tat activation, we developed an in vitro elongation assay that recapitulates EIAV Tat-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 Tat trans-activation. We found that eTat specifically inhibits activation of elongation by HIV-1 Tat while having no effect on basal transcription elongation. The competitive inhibition of hTat activation was reversed by an activity present in HeLa cell nuclear extracts, most likely a form of P-TEFb. Recombinant P-TEFb (cyclin T1 and CDK9) overcame the inhibition of transcription by eTat but in a nonspecific manner. EIAV Tat affinity chromatography was used to purify the activity present in nuclear extract that was capable of reversing eTat inhibition. We characterized the protein components of this activity, which include cyclin T1, CDK9, Tat-SF1, and at least three unidentified proteins. These data suggest that additional factors are involved in the mechanism of Tat activation