The ins and outs of translation

A report on the 2nd EMBO Conference on Protein Synthesis and Translational Control, Heidelberg, Germany, 12-16 September 2007

Widespread occurrence of 5-methylcytosine in human coding and non-coding RNA

The modified base 5-methylcytosine (m5C) is well studied in DNA, but investigations of its prevalence in cellular RNA have been largely confined to tRNA and rRNA. In animals, the two m5C methyltransferases NSUN2 and TRDMT1 are known to modify specific tRNAs and have roles in the control of cell growth and differentiation. To map modified cytosine sites across a human transcriptome, we coupled bisulfite conversion of cellular RNA with next-generation sequencing. We confirmed 21 of the 28 previously known m5C sites in human tRNAs and identified 234 novel tRNA candidate sites, mostly in anticipated structural positions. Surprisingly, we discovered 10 275 sites in mRNAs and other non-coding RNAs. We observed that distribution of modified cytosines between RNA types was not random; within mRNAs they were enriched in the untranslated regions and near Argonaute binding regions. We also identified five new sites modified by NSUN2, broadening its known substrate range to another tRNA, the RPPH1 subunit of RNase P and two mRNAs. Our data demonstrates the widespread presence of modified cytosines throughout coding and non-coding sequences in a transcriptome, suggesting a broader role of this modification in the post-transcriptional control of cellular RNA function

The estrogen and c-Myc target gene HSPC111 is over-expressed in breast cancer and associated with poor patient outcome

Introduction: Estrogens play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of breast cancer. The genes that mediate these processes are not fully defined, but potentially include the known mammary oncogene MYC. Characterization of estrogen-target genes may help to elucidate further the mechanisms of estrogen-induced mitogenesis and endocrine resistance.Methods: We used a transcript profiling approach to identify targets of estrogen and c-Myc in breast cancer cells. One previously uncharacterized gene, namely HBV pre-S2 trans-regulated protein 3 (HSPC111), was acutely upregulated after estrogen treatment or inducible expression of c-Myc, and was selected for further functional analysis using over-expression and knock-down strategies. HSPC111 expression was also analyzed in relation to MYC expression and outcome in primary breast carcinomas and published gene expression datasets.Results: Pretreatment of cells with c-Myc small interfering RNA abrogated estrogen induction of HSPC111, identifying HSPC111 as a potential c-Myc target gene. This was confirmed by the demonstration of two functional E-box motifs upstream of the transcription start site. HSPC111 mRNA and protein were over-expressed in breast cancer cell lines and primary breast carcinomas, and this was positively correlated with MYC mRNA levels. HSPC111 is present in a large, RNA-dependent nucleolar complex, suggesting a possible role in ribosomal biosynthesis. Neither over-expression or small interfering RNA knock-down of HSPC111 affected cell proliferation rates or sensitivity to estrogen/antiestrogen treatment. However, high expression of HSPC111 mRNA was associated with adverse patient outcome in published gene expression datasets.Conclusion: These data identify HSPC111 as an estrogen and c-Myc target gene that is over-expressed in breast cancer and is associated with an adverse patient outcome

RPL-4 and RPL-9 ̶Mediated Ribosome Purifications Facilitate the Efficient Analysis of Gene Expression in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> Germ Cells

Abstract In many organisms, tissue complexity and cellular diversity create a barrier that can hinder our understanding of gene expression programs. To address this problem, methods have been developed that allow for easy isolation of translated mRNAs from genetically defined cell populations. A prominent example is the Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification method also called TRAP. Here, ribosome associated mRNAs are isolated via purification of the ribosomal protein RPL10A/uL1, which is expressed under the control of a tissue specific promoter. Originally developed to investigate gene expression in mouse neurons, it has by now been adopted to many different organisms and tissues. Interestingly, TRAP has never been used successfully to analyze mRNA translation in germ cells. Employing a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, I assessed several ribosomal proteins for their suitability for TRAP using the Caenorhabditis elegans germline as a target tissue. Surprisingly, I found that RPL10A/uL1 is not the ideal ribosomal component to perform such an analysis in germ cells. Instead other proteins such as RPL4/uL4 or RPL9/eL6 are much better suited for this task. Tagged variants of these proteins are well expressed in germ cells, integrated into translating ribosomes and do not influence germ cell functions. Furthermore, germ cell-specific mRNAs are much more efficiently co-purified with RPL4/uL4 and RPL9/uL6 compared to RPL10A/uL1. This study provides a solid basis upon which future germ cell TRAP experiments can be built, and it highlights the need for rigorous testing when adopting such methods to a new biological system.</jats:p

The role of poly(A) modifying enzymes as mRNA regulators in germ cells

RNA-modifizierende Enzyme sind ein wichtiger Teil der Genexpressionskaskade in eukaryotischen Zellen. Besonders interrassant sind hierbei die Enzymeklassen der Deadenylasen (DeAd) und zytoplasmatische poly(A) Polymerasen (cytoPAP) die direkt den poly(A) Schwanz am 3‘ Ende von mRNAs modifizieren. DeAds verkürzen und zytoPAPs verlängern diese Struktur und deren biologische Rollen wurden bisher nur unzureichend untersucht. In meiner Arbeit benutzte ich den Modellorganismus Caenorhabditis elegans, um die Bedeutung von DeAds und zytoPAPs für die Genexpressionsregulierung in sich entwickelnden Keimzellen zu studieren. Durch die Kombinierung von klassisch genetischen mit biochemischen und genomischen Herangehensweisen konnte ich die Schlüsselenzyme welche für die Regulierung von mRNAs in Keimzellen wichtig sind identifizieren und beschreiben. Meine gesammelten Daten zeigen wie RNA-modifizierende Enzyme gezielt in der Entwicklungsbiologie eingesetzt werden können.RNA modifying enzymes are an important part of the gene expression cascade in eukaryotic cells. Especially interesting are two opposing classes of enzymes that directly modify the mRNA 3’ poly(A) tail, known as deadenylases (DeAds) and cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerases (cytoPAP). DeAds shorten and cytoPAPs elongate the tail structure and their biological roles in multi-cellular organisms were only scarcely characterized. In my work, Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model to investigate the roles of deadenylases and cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerases in regulating gene expression in developing germ cells. By combining classical genetic with biochemical and genomics approaches, I identified the specific enzymes that are the keys for mRNA regulation in germ cells. My combined data suggests that the opposing activities of tail modifiers provide an enzymatic framework that is employed by various gene-specific RNA-binding proteins to guide gene expression programs in germ cells

Polyadenylation is the key aspect of GLD-2 function in <i>C. elegans</i>

The role of many enzymes extends beyond their dedicated catalytic activity by fulfilling important cellular functions in a catalysis-independent fashion. In this aspect, little is known about 3′-end RNA-modifying enzymes that belong to the class of nucleotidyl transferases. Among these are noncanonical poly(A) polymerases, a group of evolutionarily conserved enzymes that are critical for gene expression regulation, by adding adenosines to the 3′-end of RNA targets. In this study, we investigate whether the functions of the cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase (cytoPAP) GLD-2 in C. elegans germ cells exclusively depend on its catalytic activity. To this end, we analyzed a specific missense mutation affecting a conserved amino acid in the catalytic region of GLD-2 cytoPAP. Although this mutated protein is expressed to wild-type levels and incorporated into cytoPAP complexes, we found that it cannot elongate mRNA poly(A) tails efficiently or promote GLD-2 target mRNA abundance. Furthermore, germ cell defects in animals expressing this mutant protein strongly resemble those lacking the GLD-2 protein altogether, arguing that only the polyadenylation activity of GLD-2 is essential for gametogenesis. In summary, we propose that all known molecular and biological functions of GLD-2 depend on its enzymatic activity, demonstrating that polyadenylation is the key mechanism of GLD-2 functionality. Our findings highlight the enzymatic importance of noncanonical poly(A) polymerases and emphasize the pivotal role of poly(A) tail-centered cytoplasmic mRNA regulation in germ cell biology.</jats:p

Stage-specific combinations of opposing poly(A) modifying enzymes guide gene expression during early oogenesis

AbstractRNA-modifying enzymes targeting mRNA poly(A) tails are universal regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression programs. Current data suggest that an RNA-binding protein (RBP) directed tug-of-war between tail shortening and re-elongating enzymes operates in the cytoplasm to repress or activate specific mRNA targets. While this concept is widely accepted, it was primarily described in the final meiotic stages of frog oogenesis and relies molecularly on a single class of RBPs, i.e. CPEBs, the deadenylase PARN and cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase GLD-2. Using the spatial and temporal resolution of female gametogenesis in the nematode C. elegans, we determined the distinct roles of known deadenylases throughout germ cell development and discovered that the Ccr4–Not complex is the main antagonist to GLD-2-mediated mRNA regulation. We find that the Ccr4–Not/GLD-2 balance is critical for essentially all steps of oocyte production and reiteratively employed by various classes of RBPs. Interestingly, its two deadenylase subunits appear to affect mRNAs stage specifically: while a Caf1/GLD-2 antagonism regulates mRNA abundance during all stages of oocyte production, a Ccr4/GLD-2 antagonism regulates oogenesis in an mRNA abundance independent manner. Our combined data suggests that the Ccr4–Not complex represents the evolutionarily conserved molecular opponent to GLD-2 providing an antagonistic framework of gene-specific poly(A)-tail regulation.</jats:p

The role of the translational regulator p97 in mammalian cells

Members of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) family play a central role in the translation initiation process. One member of this family is p97 (also called DAP5 and NAT1), a protein that is highly homologous to the C-terminal two thirds of eIF4G. Overexpression studies suggested that p97 is a pure translational repressor that has to be cleaved into a shorter form called p86, in order to show translational activity. In this study a series of experiments indicated that full length p97 has a number elF property such as association with active translating ribosomes, stimulatory effects in the Direct Initiation Factor assay and accumulation in stress granules. Additionally the endogenous p97 complex was isolated from HeLa cells and mRNA as well as the protein components were characterized. P97 associated mRNAs were described by a custom made 5'UTR focus array, showing that the protein binds to a broad range of mRNA. The relative lack of mRNA specificity argues for a general role of p97 in translation, which does not seems to be essential in unchallenged cells, because a down regulation of p97 protein levels has no effect on the translational status of the bulk of mRNAs. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed a novel protein-protein interaction between p97 and DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), which does not rely on a nucleic acid. For this interaction the C- and N-terminus of p97 play a critical role. Further, Dnmt1 has the ability to interact with elF4G and the small ribosomal subunit, which might provide evidence for a novel function of Dnmt1 in RNA metabolism