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Premature translation of protamine 1 mRNA causes precocious nuclear condensation and arrests spermatid differentiation in mice.

Translational control is a major form of regulating gene expression during gametogenesis and early development in many organisms. We sought to determine whether the translational repression of the protamine 1 (Prm1) mRNA is necessary for normal spermatid differentiation in mice. To accomplish this we generated transgenic animals that carry a Prm1 transgene lacking its normal 3' untranslated region. Premature translation of Prm1 mRNA caused precocious condensation of spermatid nuclear DNA, abnormal head morphogenesis, and incomplete processing of Prm2 protein. Premature accumulation of Prm1 within syncytial spermatids in mice hemizygous for the transgene caused dominant male sterility, which in some cases was accompanied by a complete arrest in spermatid differentiation. These results demonstrate that correct temporal synthesis of Prm1 is necessary for the transition from nucleohistones to nucleoprotamines.

Animals↗

RNA CUG-binding protein 1 increases translation of 20-kDa isoform of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta by interacting with the alpha and beta subunits of eukaryotic initiation translation factor 2.

Expression of a dominant negative 20-kDa isoform of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPbeta), LIP, is increased in proliferating livers and in tumor cells. Two RNA-binding proteins, CUGBP1 and calreticulin, have been implicated in the translational regulation of C/EBPbeta. In this paper, we present evidence showing several critical steps by which liver increases translation of LIP after partial hepatectomy. At early stages after partial hepatectomy, liver activates CUGBP1 by a hyperphosphorylation. The activated CUGBP1 binds to the 5' region of C/EBPbeta mRNA and replaces calreticulin, which partially represses translation of C/EBPbeta in quiescent livers. The hyperphosphorylated CUGBP1 also interacts with the alpha and beta subunits of initiation factor eIF2. Our data demonstrate that the interaction of CUGBP1 with the eIF2alpha enhances the association of CUGBP1 with ribosomes and correlates with increased translation of LIP in the liver after partial hepatectomy. Our data support the hypothesis that CUGBP1 increases translation of LIP by the interaction with the eIF2alpha subunit. This facilitates subsequent recruitment of larger numbers of ribosomes to initiate translation of LIP.

Animals↗

Dendritic BC1 RNA in translational control mechanisms.

Translational control at the synapse is thought to be a key determinant of neuronal plasticity. How is such control implemented? We report that small untranslated BC1 RNA is a specific effector of translational control both in vitro and in vivo. BC1 RNA, expressed in neurons and germ cells, inhibits a rate-limiting step in the assembly of translation initiation complexes. A translational repression element is contained within the unique 3' domain of BC1 RNA. Interactions of this domain with eukaryotic initiation factor 4A and poly(A) binding protein mediate repression, indicating that the 3' BC1 domain targets a functional interaction between these factors. In contrast, interactions of BC1 RNA with the fragile X mental retardation protein could not be documented. Thus, BC1 RNA modulates translation-dependent processes in neurons and germs cells by directly interacting with translation initiation factors.

3' Flanking Region↗

Conservation of the C.elegans tra-2 3'UTR translational control.

The Caenorhabditis elegans sex-determination gene, tra-2, is translationally regulated by two 28 nt elements (DREs) located in the 3'UTR that bind a factor called DRF. This regulation requires the laf-1 gene activity. We demonstrate that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae tra-2 gene and the human oncogene GLI are translationally regulated by elements that are functionally equivalent to DREs. Here, we rename the DREs to TGEs (tra-2 and GLI elements). Similarly to the C.elegans tra-2 TGEs, the C.briggsae tra-2 and GLI TGEs repress translation of a reporter transgene in a laf-1 dependent manner. Furthermore, they regulate poly(A) tail length and bind DRF. We also find that the C.elegans TGEs control translation and poly(A) tail length in C.briggsae and rodent cells. Moreover, these same organisms contain a factor that specifically associates with the C.elegans TGEs. These findings are consistent with the TGE control being present in C.briggsae and rodent cells. Three lines of evidence indicate that C.briggsae tra-2 and GLI are translationally controlled in vivo by TGEs. First, like C.elegans tra-2 TGEs, the C.briggsae tra-2 and GLI TGEs control translation and poly(A) tail lengths in C.briggsae and rodent cells, respectively. Second, the same factor in C.briggsae and mammalian cells that binds to the C.elegans tra-2 TGEs binds the C.briggsae tra-2 and GLI TGEs. Third, deletion of the GLI TGE increases GLI's ability to transform cells. These findings suggest that TGE control is conserved and regulates the expression of other mRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Delayed translational silencing of ceruloplasmin transcript in gamma interferon-activated U937 monocytic cells: role of the 3' untranslated region.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is an acute-phase protein with ferroxidase, amine oxidase, and pro- and antioxidant activities. The primary site of Cp synthesis in human adults is the liver, but it is also synthesized by cells of monocytic origin. We have shown that gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induces the synthesis of Cp mRNA and protein in monocytic cells. We now report that the induced synthesis of Cp is terminated by a mechanism involving transcript-specific translational repression. Cp protein synthesis in U937 cells ceased after 16 h even in the presence of abundant Cp mRNA. RNA isolated from cells treated with IFN-gamma for 24 h exhibited a high in vitro translation rate, suggesting that the transcript was not defective. Ribosomal association of Cp mRNA was examined by sucrose centrifugation. When Cp synthesis was high, i.e., after 8 h of IFN-gamma treatment, Cp mRNA was primarily associated with polyribosomes. However, after 24 h, when Cp synthesis was low, Cp mRNA was primarily in the nonpolyribosomal fraction. Cytosolic extracts from cells treated with IFN-gamma for 24 h, but not for 8 h, contained a factor which blocked in vitro Cp translation. Inhibitor expression was cell type specific and present in extracts of human cells of myeloid origin, but not in several nonmyeloid cells. The inhibitory factor bound to the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of Cp mRNA, as shown by restoration of in vitro translation by synthetic 3'-UTR added as a "decoy" and detection of a binding complex by RNA gel shift analysis. Deletion mapping of the Cp 3'-UTR indicated an internal 100-nucleotide region of the Cp 3'-UTR that was required for complex formation as well as for silencing of translation. Although transcript-specific translational control is common during development and differentiation and global translational control occurs during responses to cytokines and stress, to our knowledge, this is the first report of translational silencing of a specific transcript following cytokine activation.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

A hypothesis to explain why translation inhibitors stabilize mRNAs in mammalian cells: mRNA stability and mitosis.

Protein synthesis inhibitors prolong the half-lives of most mRNAs at least fourfold in the somatic cells of higher eukaryotes and in yeast cells. Some mRNAs are stabilized because the inhibitors affect mRNA-specific regulatory factors; however, hundreds or thousands of other mRNAs are probably stabilized by a common mechanism. We propose that mRNA stabilization in cells treated with a translation inhibitor reflects a physiological process that occurs during each mitosis and is important for cell survival. Transcription and translation rates decline drastically during a 1-2 hour interval of mitosis. We hypothesize that translational repression during this interval somehow inactivates a critical component of the mRNA degradation machinery. As a result, mRNA half-lives are prolonged during the interval when transcription is repressed. If labile mRNAs were not stabilized during mitosis they, and perhaps also the labile proteins they encode, would be depleted as the cell entered G1 phase, with deleterious consequences. Stabilization during mitosis, or in response to translation inhibitors, thus preserves the capacity of the cell to synthesize essential proteins as it enters G1 or recovers from inhibitor treatment. mRNA stabilization might serve a similar purpose during starvation or any stress negatively affecting translation.

Animals↗

Negative control of the poly(A)-binding protein mRNA translation is mediated by the adenine-rich region of its 5'-untranslated region.

Translation of the mRNA for the poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) may be autoregulated by the binding of PABP to the A-rich segment of its 5'-untranslated region (UTR). To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of different fragments of the 5'-UTR from human PABP cDNA on the translation of the beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) reporter gene. Presence of the A-rich sequence from the 5'-UTR of PABP mRNA inhibited expression of the chimeric beta-Gal gene in transfected HeLa cells. The differences in expression of beta-Gal polypeptide was due to the translational repression of beta-Gal mRNA containing the A-rich 5'-UTR of PABP mRNA. The A-rich region of the 5'-UTR located within nucleotides 58-146 of PABP mRNA was sufficient to mediate translational control of this mRNA expression. We also examined the effect of overexpression of PABP mRNA in HeLa cells. The ectopic PABP mRNA without the A-rich 5'-UTR region was translated efficiently, whereas the translation of the endogenous PABP mRNA was substantially inhibited in the transfected cells. In contrast, the ectopic PABP mRNA containing the A-rich 5'-UTR region did not show similar effect on the translation of the endogenous PABP mRNA in these cells. These results suggest that feedback control of mRNA translation is involved in regulating PABP expression in HeLa cells.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

A co-repressor assembly nucleated by Sex-lethal in the 3'UTR mediates translational control of Drosophila msl-2 mRNA.

Drosophila Sex-lethal (dSXL)-mediated translational repression of male-specific lethal 2 (msl-2) mRNA is essential for X-chromosome dosage compensation. Binding of dSXL to specific sites in both untranslated regions of msl-2 mRNA is necessary for inhibition of translation initiation. We describe the organization of dSXL as a translational regulator and show that the RNA binding and translational repressor functions are contained within the two RRM domains and a C-terminal heptapeptide extension. The repressor function is dormant unless dSXL binds to msl-2 mRNA with its own RRMs, because dSXL tethering via a heterologous RNA-binding peptide does not elicit translational inhibition. We reveal proteins that crosslink to the msl-2 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) and co-immunoprecipitate with dSXL in a fashion that requires its intact repressor domain and correlates with translational regulation. Translation competition and UV-crosslink experiments show that the 3'UTR msl-2 sequences adjacent to dSXL-binding sites are necessary to recruit titratable co-repressors. Our data support a model where dSXL binding to the 3'UTR of msl-2 mRNA activates the translational repressor domain, thereby enabling it to recruit co-repressors in a specific fashion.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

P bodies: at the crossroads of post-transcriptional pathways.

Post-transcriptional processes have a central role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Although it has been known for a long time that these processes are functionally linked, often by the use of common protein factors, it has only recently become apparent that many of these processes are also physically connected. Indeed, proteins that are involved in mRNA degradation, translational repression, mRNA surveillance and RNA-mediated gene silencing, together with their mRNA targets, colocalize within discrete cytoplasmic domains known as P bodies. The available evidence indicates that P bodies are sites where mRNAs that are not being translated accumulate, the information carried by associated proteins and regulatory RNAs is integrated, and their fate - either translation, silencing or decay - is decided.

Animals↗

Gene V protein-mediated translational regulation of the synthesis of gene II protein of the filamentous bacteriophage M13: a dispensable function of the filamentous-phage genome.

Introduction of a deletion in the genome of wild-type M13 bacteriophage that eliminates translational repression of M13 gene II by its cognate gene V protein had no effect on phage viability. Furthermore, it was noted that gene V protein of phage IKe, a distant relative of M13, does not function as a translational repressor of its cognate gene II protein. The data strongly indicate that the gene V protein-mediated control of gene II expression in bacteriophage M13 is an evolutionary relic of the ancestral filamentous-phage genome and thus dispensable for proper filamentous-phage replication.

Base Sequence↗

P-bodies react to stress and nonsense.

P-bodies are specialized cytoplasmic compartments where translational repression and mRNA turnover may occur. Findings in this issue of Cell provide evidence that P-bodies are sites of "mRNA purgatory." Bhattacharyya et al. (2006) reveal that normal mRNA can be released from P-bodies and translated into protein in response to stress. Meanwhile, Sheth and Parker (2006) report that aberrant mRNAs are targeted to P-bodies to undergo rapid decay.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Controlling mRNA stability and translation with small, noncoding RNAs.

Recent studies have led to the identification of more than 50 small regulatory RNAs in Escherichia coli. Only a subset of these RNAs has been characterized. However, it is clear that many of the RNAs, such as the MicF, OxyS, DsrA, Spot42 and RyhB RNAs, act by basepairing to activate or repress translation or to destabilize mRNAs. Basepairing between these regulatory RNAs and their target mRNAs requires the Sm-like Hfq protein which most likely functions as an RNA chaperone to increase RNA unfolding or local target RNA concentration. Here we summarize the physiological roles of the basepairing RNAs, examine their prevalence in bacteria and discuss unresolved questions regarding their mechanisms of action.

Escherichia coli↗

Coordination of cellular iron metabolism by post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Maintenance of cellular iron homeostasis demands the coordination of iron uptake, intracellular storage, and utilization. Recent investigations suggest that a single genetic regulatory system orchestrates the expression of proteins with central importance for all three aspects of cellular iron metabolism at the level of mRNA stability and translation. Two components of this regulatory system have been defined: a cis-acting mRNA sequence/structure motif called "iron-responsive element" (IRE) and a specific trans-acting cytoplasmic binding protein, here referred to as "IRE-binding protein" (IRE-BP). As an early event in the regulatory cascade, cellular iron deprivation induces the IRE-binding activity of IRE-BP, whereas binding activity is reduced in iron-replete cells. IRE-BP is highly homologous to the iron-sulphur (Fe-S) protein aconitase which strongly suggests that IRE-BP is an Fe-S protein itself. Control over IRE-BP activity by the cellular iron status is exerted post-translationally and likely involves changes between (4Fe-4S) and (3Fe-4S) states of the postulated IRE-BP Fe-S cluster. In addition, post-translational regulation of IRE-BP activity via heme has been proposed. Subsequent to its activation, IRE-BP binds with high affinity to single IREs contained in the 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of ferritin and erythroid 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (eALAS) mRNAs. The binding represses translation of these proteins involved in iron storage and utilization, respectively. In contrast, iron uptake is largely regulated via multiple IREs in the 3' UTR of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA. TfR-IREs are required for the iron-sensitive control of TfR mRNA stability. IRE-BP binding stabilizes TfR gene transcripts against as yet undefined ribonucleases. As a result of these regulatory interactions, iron starvation induces the expression of TfR, thereby increasing iron uptake, and represses the synthesis of proteins involved in iron storage and utilization. As cellular iron levels rise, the homeostatic balance is maintained by lowering iron uptake and increasing iron storage in ferritin.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Cauliflower mosaic virus 35 S RNA leader region inhibits translation of downstream genes.

The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35 S RNA is a full-length transcript of the viral genome. It encodes the genes VII and I-V, arranged in tandem along the RNA, preceded by a long leader region (600 bases) containing many short open reading frames. We have examined the effects of the leader and the first gene (gene VII) on downstream gene I translation in vitro and in an in vivo transient expression system (carrot protoplasts). RNAs from constructs containing the intact leader, and from various deletion constructs, were translated in a rabbit reticulocyte system. Gene I was translated efficiently only when the long leader region and the upstream gene VII were deleted. Translational fusions of gene VII or I to the firefly luciferase reporter gene were also constructed, and a similar series of leader sequence deletion mutants were examined in vivo and in vitro. The 600-base leader region was found to repress translation of gene VII 8- to 30-fold as compared to the truncated gene lacking the leader region. Gene I expression as compared to that of gene VII was reduced an additional 7- to 20-fold by the presence of the upstream leader region including gene VII. This represented an overall reduction in gene I expression of greater than 100-fold as compared to expression in the absence of any leader sequence. The reduced translation of gene I in the context of the 35 S RNA leader region was not due to the action of the gene VII protein product but may result from efficient blocking of scanning 40 S ribosomes by translation of upstream open reading frames.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Catabolite repression of the lac operon. Separt epressionof two enzymes.

1. Catabolite repression of beta-galactosidase and of thiogalactoside transacetylase was studied in several strains of Escherichia coli K 12, in an attempt to show whether a single site within the structural genes of the lac operon co-ordinately controls translational repression for the two enzymes. In all experiments the rate of synthesis of the enzymes was compared in glycerol-minimal medium and in glucose-minimal medium. 2. In a wild-type strain, glucose repressed the synthesis of the two enzymes equally. 3. The possibility that repression was co-ordinate was investigated by studies of mutant strains that carry deletions in the genes for beta-galactosidase or galactoside permease or both. In all of the strains with deletions, the repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase persisted, and it is concluded that there is no part of the structural gene for beta-galactosidase that is essential for catabolite repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase. 4. Subculture of one strain through several transfers in rich medium greatly increased its susceptibility to catabolite repression by glucose. It is concluded that unknown features of the genotype can markedly affect sensitivity to catabolite repression. 5. These results make it clear that one cannot draw valid conclusions about the effect of known genotypic differences on catabolite repression from a comparison of two separate strains; to study the effect of a particular genetic change in a lac operon it is necessary to construct a partially diploid strain so that catabolite repression suffered by one lac operon can be compared with that suffered by another. 6. Four such partial diploids were constructed. In all of them catabolite repression of beta-galactosidase synthesized by one operon was equal in extent to catabolite repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase synthesized by the other. 7. Taken together, these results suggest that catabolite repression of beta-galactosidase and thiogalactoside transacetylase is separate but equal.

Acyltransferases↗

Cap-independent leaky scanning as the mechanism of translation initiation of a plant viral genomic RNA.

The genome of plum pox virus contains a single open reading frame that is translated into a large polyprotein. Although the open reading frame starts at nucleotide 36 (36AUG), it is translated from the second, 147AUG, which is in a more favourable context for translation initiation. We have carried out in vitro translation and transient expression analysis in protoplasts of a nested set of substitution and deletion mutants, and the results show that no internal structure in the 5' noncoding region of plum pox virus is necessary for efficient translation initiation. On the other hand, when the cryptic 36AUG was placed in a favourable context, it turned into an efficient initiation codon in vitro. Furthermore, AUGs that were placed in a favourable context, initiating short intraleader open reading frames, repressed translation initiation from the 147AUG in vitro and in vivo. These results point to leaky scanning as the mechanism of translation initiation of plum pox virus RNA. Nevertheless, it is a peculiar leaky scanning where the initiation of translation does not require a cap structure at the 5' end. This fact is congruent with the experimentally predicted absence of a stable secondary structure at the 5' noncoding region.

Animals↗

A PUF family portrait: 3'UTR regulation as a way of life.

In eukaryotic cells, mRNAs are exquisitely controlled, often through regulatory elements in their 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs). Proteins that bind to those sites are key players in controlling mRNA stability, translation and localization. One family of regulatory proteins--the PUF proteins--are not only structurally related, but also bind to 3'UTRs and modulate mRNA expression in a wide variety of eukaryotic species. They do so either by enhancing turnover or repressing translation, and act combinatorially with other regulatory proteins. Here, we discuss the evolution, biological function and mechanisms of action of the PUF protein family, and suggest that a primordial function of PUF proteins is to sustain mitotic proliferation of stem cells.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Localization-dependent oskar protein accumulation; control after the initiation of translation.

The appearance of Oskar protein occurs coincident with localization of oskar mRNA to the posterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte, and earlier accumulation of the protein is prevented by translational repression. We find that the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is required for correct localization of oskar mRNA. The timing of the defects suggests that, if NAC acts directly via an interaction with nascent Oskar protein, oskar mRNA should be undergoing translation prior to its localization. Polysome analysis confirms that oskar mRNA is associated with polysomes even in the absence of localization of the mRNA or accumulation of Oskar protein. Thus, the mechanisms that prevent accumulation of Oskar protein until it can be secured at the posterior pole of the oocyte include regulated degradation or inhibition of translational elongation.

Animals↗