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The control of cyclin B1 mRNA translation during mouse oocyte maturation.

In maturing mouse oocytes, protein synthesis is required for meiotic maturation subsequent to germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). While the number of different proteins that must be synthesized for this progression to occur is unknown, at least one of them appears to be cyclin B1, the regulatory subunit of M-phase-promoting factor. Here, we investigate the mechanism of cyclin B1 mRNA translational control during mouse oocyte maturation. We show that the U-rich cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE), a cis element in the 3' UTR of cyclin B1 mRNA, mediates translational repression in GV-stage oocytes. The CPE is also necessary for cytoplasmic polyadenylation, which stimulates translation during oocyte maturation. The injection of oocytes with a cyclin B1 antisense RNA, which probably precludes the binding of a factor to the CPE, delays cytoplasmic polyadenylation as well as the transition from GVBD to metaphase II. CPEB, which interacts with the cyclin B1 CPE and is present throughout meiotic maturation, becomes phosphorylated at metaphase I. These data indicate that CPEB is involved in both the repression and the stimulation of cyclin B1 mRNA and suggest that the phosphorylation of this protein could be involved in regulating its activity.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Control of mRNA stability and translation during Drosophila development.

Translational control of mRNAs regulates the spatio- temporal production of the proteins they encode. Further refinement of mRNA and protein distribution patterns is brought about by regulation of transcript stability. Genetic and molecular analyses in Drosophila can provide unparalleled insight into the developmental functions of the modulation of mRNA translation and stability. These mechanisms play a key role in regulating the production of cell fate determinants, cell cycle regulators and molecular chaperones.Copyright 1997 Academic Press

Journal Article↗

mRNA structure, in situ, as assessed by microscopic techniques.

The secondary and tertiary structure of RNA, in situ, is thought to be involved in distinct functions such as directing association of the RNA with the cytoskeleton, enzymatic activity of some RNAs, and the control of translation. In situ transcription (IST), a procedure by which cDNA is synthesized in situ, has been used to assess mRNA structure in situ using fixed cells or tissues. Distinct banding patterns were noted for mouse and rat POMC. Unique IST banding patterns were observed when an oligonucleotide complementary to a putative POMC stem-loop structure was used to prime IST. Indeed local changes in banding patterns could be elicited by pharmacological agents which modulate POMC translation. Inhibition of POMC synthesis with NaF or dexamethasone decreased the number of POMC mRNAs in the polysome fractions and increased the intensity of high molecular weight IST-derived bands. Forskolin, a stimulator of POMC synthesis, had the opposite effect. One mechanism by which translational control is thought to occur is by regulation of ribosome movement down the mRNA by specific binding of cytosolic proteins to RNA structure. Cytosolic protein fractions from AtT20 pituitary cells have been shown to specifically bind to the IST-predicted RNA structure. These findings suggest that 1) mRNA structure can be assessed in situ, 2) translation may be altered by the secondary and tertiary structure of mRNAs, and 3) a predicted stem-loop structure exists in situ in the 5'-end of POMC mRNA.

Animals↗

RNA thermometers.

Temperature is an important parameter that free-living cells monitor constantly. The expression of heat-shock, cold-shock and some virulence genes is coordinated in response to temperature changes. Apart from protein-mediated transcriptional control mechanisms, translational control by RNA thermometers is a widely used regulatory strategy. RNA thermometers are complex RNA structures that change their conformation in response to temperature. Most, but not all, RNA thermometers are located in the 5'-untranslated region and mask ribosome-binding sites by base pairing at low temperatures. Melting of the structure at increasing temperature permits ribosome access and translation initiation. Different cis-acting RNA thermometers and a trans-acting thermometer will be presented.

Animals↗

Multiple controls over the efficiency of translation of the mRNAs encoding transition proteins, protamines, and the mitochondrial capsule selenoprotein in late spermatids in mice.

The mRNAs encoding protamines 1 and 2, transition proteins 1 and 2, and the mitochondrial capsule selenoprotein are translationally repressed with long poly(A) tracts in early spermatids and translationally active with heterogenous shortened poly(A) tracts in late spermatids (Kleene, 1989). In the present study, the spacing of ribosomes on the translationally active forms of each mRNA was calculated from the length of the coding region and the polysome size determined by sucrose gradient and Northern blot analysis. In addition, the rate of initiation of these five mRNAs was compared in the reticulocyte cell-free translation lysate. Our results reveal at least four additional forms of translational control over these mRNAs: (1) The vast majority of the active forms of the transition protein 1 mRNA and both protamine mRNAs sediment with polysomes in which the ribosomes are spaced closer than is typical of mammalian mRNAs (31-38 vs 80-100 bases apart). This implies that the rate of initiation is unusually fast and/or that the rate of elongation is unusually slow. (2) The mitochondrial capsule selenoprotein mRNA also initiates efficiently in vivo and in vitro, but sediments with polysomes in which the ribosomes are spaced wider than on the protamine mRNAs. The small size of these polysomes can be explained by inefficient insertion of selenocysteine residues at UGA codons. (3) The transition protein 2 mRNA is translated on small polysomes and a relatively large fraction sediments as free mRNPs in vivo. In addition, the transition protein 2 mRNA initiates translation inefficiently at high mRNA concentration and efficiently at low mRNA concentration in vitro. These observations suggest that the transition protein 2 mRNA may be translated inefficiently because it is a weak competitor for a limiting initiation factor. (4) Since low levels of cycloheximide fail to increase the polysome loading of transition protein 2 mRNA in culture, active single ribosomes may also be limited in late spermatids.

Animals↗

Zygotic control of maternal cyclin A1 translation and mRNA stability.

Cyclin mRNAs are unstable in the adult cell cycle yet are stable during the first 12 cell divisions in Xenopus laevis. We recently reported that cyclin A1 and B2 maternal mRNAs are deadenylated upon completion of the 12th division (Audic et al. [2001] Mol. Cell Biol. 21:1662-1671). Deadenylation is mediated by the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNA and precedes the terminal disappearance of the cyclin proteins, with both processes requiring zygotic transcription. The purpose of the current study was (1) to ask whether deadenylation leads to translational repression and/or destabilization of endogenous cyclin A1 and B2 mRNAs, and (2) to further characterize the regulatory sequences required. We show that zygote-driven deadenylation leads to translational repression and mRNA destabilization. A 99-nucleotide region of the 3'UTR of the cyclin A1 mRNA mediates both deadenylation and destabilization. Surprisingly, two AU-rich consensus elements within this region are dispensable for this activity. These results suggest that zygote-dependent deadenylation, translational repression, and mRNA destabilization by means of novel 3'UTR elements contribute to the disappearance of maternal cyclins. They also suggest that translational control of cyclins may play a role in the transition to the adult cell cycle. These data concur with previous studies in Drosophila showing that zygote-mediated degradation of maternal cdc25 mRNA may be a general mechanism whereby transition to the adult cell cycle proceeds.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Biosynthesis of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex in yeast. Discoordinate synthesis of the 11-kd subunit in response to increased gene copy number.

In wild-type yeast cells, steady-state concentrations of subunits of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex (complex III) and the levels of their translatable mRNAs change coordinately in response to the need for mitochondrial function. Despite this, re-introduction of the cloned gene for one of the subunits (11 kd) into cells by transformation with a free-replicating plasmid results in the discoordinate synthesis of this subunit only, without effects on either the synthesis or degradation of the other subunits. The overproduced subunit is associated with the mitochondrial fraction, yet does not interfere with mitochondrial function, as judged by the growth of transformed cells on nonfermentable media. Quantitative analysis of both mRNA and protein levels suggests that both translational controls and elevated turnover of excess protein contribute to a partial compensation for the effects of increased gene dosage in transformed cells. These contain approximately 30 copies of the cloned gene and 15-30 times the normal level of its mRNA. Nevertheless, synthesis of the 11-kd protein is only 6- to 8-fold higher than normal, and steady-state levels are increased only 5- to 10-fold. These findings imply that synthesis of the various subunits of complex III is not tightly coupled and that for the 11-kd subunit at least, the level of mRNA is likely to be the most important means of regulating protein level. Fine-tuning may be additionally achieved by control of translation and degradation of excess protein which is not assembled in the complex.

Electron Transport Complex III↗

Stimulation of protein synthesis by internalized insulin.

Previous studies showed that microinjected insulin stimulates transcription and translation in Stage IV Xenopus oocytes by acting at nuclear and cytoplasmic sites (Miller, D.S., 1988, 1989). The present report is concerned with the question of whether hormone, internalized from an external medium, can act on those sites to alter cell function. Both intracellular accumulation of undegraded 125I-insulin and insulin-stimulated 35S-methionine incorporation into oocyte protein were measured. Anti-insulin antiserum and purified anti-insulin antibody were microinjected into the cytoplasm of insulin-exposed cells to determine if insulin derived from the medium acted through internal sites. In cells exposed for 2 h to 7 or 70 nM external insulin, methionine incorporation was stimulated, but intracellular hormone accumulation was minimal and microinjected antibody was without effect. In cells exposed for 24 h, methionine incorporation again increased, but now accumulation of undegraded, intracellular hormone was substantial (2.6 and 25.3 fmol with 7 and 70 nM, respectively), and microinjected anti-insulin antibody significantly reduced the insulin-stimulated component of incorporation; basal incorporation was not affected. For cells exposed to 70 nM insulin for 24 h, inhibition of the insulin-stimulated component was maximal at 39%. Thus under those conditions, about 40% of insulin's effects were mediated by the internal sites. Together, the data show that inhibition of insulin-stimulated protein synthesis by microinjected antibody was associated with the intracellular accumulation of insulin. They indicate that when oocytes are exposed to external insulin, hormone eventually gains access to intracellular sites of action and through these stimulates translation. Control of translation appears to be shared between the internal sites and the surface receptor.

Animals↗

Complete sequence of two tick-borne flaviviruses isolated from Siberia and the UK: analysis and significance of the 5' and 3'-UTRs.

The complete nucleotide sequence of two tick-transmitted flaviviruses, Vasilchenko (Vs) from Siberia and louping ill (LI) from the UK, have been determined. The genomes were respectively, 10928 and 10871 nucleotides (nt) in length. The coding strategy and functional protein sequence motifs of tick-borne flaviviruses are presented in both Vs and LI viruses. The phylogenies based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and distance analysis of the polyproteins, identified Vs virus as a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus subgroup within the tick-borne serocomplex, genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Comparative alignment of the 3'-untranslated regions revealed deletions of different lengths essentially at the same position downstream of the stop codon for all tick-borne viruses. Two direct 27 nucleotide repeats at the 3'-end were found only for Vs and LI virus. Immediately following the deletions a region of 332-334 nt with relatively conserved primary structure (67-94% identity) was observed at the 3'-non-coding end of the virus genome. Pairwise comparisons of the nucleotide sequence data revealed similar levels of variation between the coding region, and the 5' and 3'-termini of the genome, implying an equivalent strong selective control for translated and untranslated regions. Indeed the predicted folding of the 5' and 3'-untranslated regions revealed patterns of stem and loop structures conserved for all tick-borne flaviviruses suggesting a purifying selection for preservation of essential RNA secondary structures which could be involved in translational control and replication. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗

Alcohol myopathy: impairment of protein synthesis and translation initiation.

Alcohol consumption leads to numerous morphological, biochemical and functional changes in skeletal and cardiac muscle. One such change observed in both tissues after either acute alcohol intoxication or chronic alcohol consumption is a characteristic decrease in the rate of protein synthesis. A decrease in translation efficiency appears to be responsible for at least part of the reduction. This review highlights advances in determining the molecular mechanisms by which alcohol impairs protein synthesis and places these observations in context of earlier studies on alcoholic myopathy. Both acute and chronic alcohol administration impairs translational control by modulating various aspects of peptide-chain initiation. Moreover, this alcohol-induced impairment in initiation is associated with a decreased availability of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E in striated muscle, as evidenced by an increase in the amount of the inactive eIF4E.4E-BP1 complex and decrease in the active eIF4E.eIF4G complex. In contrast, alcohol does not produce consistent alterations in the control of translation initiation by the eIF2 system. The etiology of these changes remain unresolved. However, defects in the availability or effectiveness of various anabolic hormones, particularly insulin-like growth factor-I, are consistent with the alcohol-induced decrease in protein synthesis and translation initiation.

Animals↗

TACC1-chTOG-Aurora A protein complex in breast cancer.

The three human TACC (transforming acidic coiled-coil) genes encode a family of proteins with poorly defined functions that are suspected to play a role in oncogenesis. A Xenopus TACC homolog called Maskin is involved in translational control, while Drosophila D-TACC interacts with the microtubule-associated protein MSPS (Mini SPindleS) to ensure proper dynamics of spindle pole microtubules during cell division. We have delineated here the interactions of TACC1 with four proteins, namely the microtubule-associated chTOG (colonic and hepatic tumor-overexpressed gene) protein (ortholog of Drosophila MSPS), the adaptor protein TRAP (tudor repeat associator with PCTAIRE2), the mitotic serine/threonine kinase Aurora A and the mRNA regulator LSM7 (Like-Sm protein 7). To measure the relevance of the TACC1-associated complex in human cancer we have examined the expression of the three TACC, chTOG and Aurora A in breast cancer using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. We show that expressions of TACC1, TACC2, TACC3 and Aurora A are significantly correlated and downregulated in a subset of breast tumors. Using siRNAs, we further show that depletion of chTOG and, to a lesser extent of TACC1, perturbates cell division. We propose that TACC proteins, which we also named 'Taxins', control mRNA translation and cell division in conjunction with microtubule organization and in association with chTOG and Aurora A, and that these complexes and cell processes may be affected during mammary gland oncogenesis.

Aurora Kinase A↗

An investigation of penetration depth control using parallel opposed ultrasound arrays and a scanning reflector.

A theoretical study of penetration depth control in superficial hyperthermia utilizing parallel opposed linear ultrasound arrays and a double-faced (V-shaped) scanning reflector is presented. This is a dual array system (DAS), where one array operates at a low frequency and the other at a high frequency (1 and 5 MHz, respectively in this study). The arrays are positioned facing each other and both are aimed at a double-faced scanning reflector which distributes the energy over the scanned surface. Each reflecting surface is angled at 45 degrees with respect to the sound propagation direction so that both beams are deflected in the same direction toward the treatment volume. The system was designed to be compatible for combined operation with a medical linear accelerator for the delivery of simultaneous thermoradiotherapy. It is demonstrated that by varying the excitation magnitude of one array relative to the other, it is possible to control the magnitude of absorbed energy as a function of depth, and thus improved control of the heating pattern in all three spatial dimensions is obtained. This improvement is demonstrated with bio-heat transfer simulations which show how penetration depth control translates into control of temperature distributions. The simulations also show that the DAS is able to produce more uniform temperature distributions in highly perfused tissue.

Auditory Perception↗

Modulation of the cell growth regulator mTOR by Epstein-Barr virus-encoded LMP2A.

Control of translation initiation is one means by which cells regulate growth and proliferation, with components of the protein-synthesizing machinery having oncogenic potential. Expression of latency protein LMP2A by the human tumor virus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt located upstream of an essential mediator of growth signals, mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). We show that mTOR is activated by expression of LMP2A in carcinoma cells, leading to wortmannin- and rapamycin-sensitive inhibition of the negative regulator of translation, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1, and increased c-Myc protein translation. Intervention by this DNA tumor virus in cellular translational controls is likely to be an integral component of EBV tumorigenesis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Faithful and efficient translation of homologous and heterologous mRNAs in an mRNA-dependent cell-free system from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A cell-free protein synthesizing system from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been optimized for the translation of both homologous yeast mRNA and for a number of heterologous eukaryotic mRNAs. A significant increase in protein synthesis was observed when K(OAc) rather than KCl was used as the source of K+ in the in vitro translation system. This was due primarily to an inhibitory effect oif Cl-. The polyamine putrescine hydrochloride stimulated protein synthesis only at low Mg2+ concentrations. Protein synthesis directed by both yeast mRNA and several eukaryotic mRNAs examined in the system was sensitive to the mRNA 5'-cap analogue, 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate. One-dimensional and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel analysis of polypeptides synthesized in response to yeast polysomal RNA demonstrated faithful translation in vitro. Translational control and post-translational modifications appear to operate normally in vitro. RNA from several eukaryotic viruses (brome mosaic virus, turnip yellow mosaic virus, and tobacco mosaic virus) were found to be faithfully translated in vitro yielding discrete polypeptides. Reticulocyte polysomal RNA directed the synthesis of a single protein that co-migrated with rabbit globin. The prokaryotic RNAs of Q beta and MS2 were translated with a very low efficiency. The yeast cell-free system programmed with yeast polysomal RNA provides an excellent model for the study of translational control in a eukaryote.

Animals↗

An essential cytoplasmic function for the nuclear poly(A) binding protein, PABP2, in poly(A) tail length control and early development in Drosophila.

Translational control of maternal mRNA through regulation of poly(A) tail length is crucial during early development. The nuclear poly(A) binding protein, PABP2, was identified biochemically from its role in nuclear polyadenylation. Here, we analyze the in vivo function of PABP2 in Drosophila. PABP2 is required in vivo for polyadenylation, and Pabp2 function, including poly(A) polymerase stimulation, is essential for viability. We also demonstrate an unanticipated cytoplasmic function for PABP2 during early development. In contrast to its role in nuclear polyadenylation, cytoplasmic PABP2 acts to shorten the poly(A) tails of specific mRNAs. PABP2, together with the deadenylase CCR4, regulates the poly(A) tails of oskar and cyclin B mRNAs, both of which are also controlled by cytoplasmic polyadenylation. Both Cyclin B protein levels and embryonic development depend upon this regulation. These results identify a regulator of maternal mRNA poly(A) tail length and highlight the importance of this mode of translational control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overlapping but distinct RNA elements control repression and activation of nanos translation.

Spatially restricted synthesis of Nanos protein in the Drosophila embryo is essential for anterior-posterior patterning. Nanos translation is restricted to the posterior of the embryo by translational repression of nanos mRNA throughout the bulk cytoplasm and selective activation of posteriorly localized nanos mRNA. A 90-nucleotide translational control element (TCE) mediates translational repression. We show that TCE function requires formation of a bipartite secondary structure that is recognized by Smaug repressor and at least one additional factor. We also demonstrate that translational activation requires the interaction of localization factors with sequences that overlap TCE structural motifs. The identification of separate but overlapping recognition motifs for translational repressors and localization factors provides a molecular mechanism for the switch between translational repression and activation.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Control of translation initiation in animals.

Regulation of translation initiation is a central control point in animal cells. We review our current understanding of the mechanisms of regulation, drawing particularly on examples in which the biological consequences of the regulation are clear. Specific mRNAs can be controlled via sequences in their 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) and by alterations in the translation machinery. The 5'UTR sequence can determine which initiation pathway is used to bring the ribosome to the initiation codon, how efficiently initiation occurs, and which initiation site is selected. 5'UTR-mediated control can also be accomplished via sequence-specific mRNA-binding proteins. Sequences in the 3' untranslated region and the poly(A) tail can have dramatic effects on initiation frequency, with particularly profound effects in oogenesis and early development. The mechanism by which 3'UTRs and poly(A) regulate initiation may involve contacts between proteins bound to these regions and the basal translation apparatus. mRNA localization signals in the 3'UTR can also dramatically influence translational activation and repression. Modulations of the initiation machinery, including phosphorylation of initiation factors and their regulated association with other proteins, can regulate both specific mRNAs and overall translation rates and thereby affect cell growth and phenotype.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

mRNAs containing the unstructured 5' leader sequence of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 translate inefficiently in lysates from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells.

Poliovirus infection is accompanied by translational control that precludes translation of 5'-capped mRNAs and facilitates translation of the uncapped poliovirus RNA by an internal initiation mechanism. Previous reports have suggested that the capped alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein mRNA (AIMV CP RNA), which contains an unstructured 5' leader sequence, is unusual in being functionally active in extracts prepared from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells (PI-extracts). To identify the cis-acting nucleotide elements permitting selective AIMV CP expression, we tested capped mRNAs containing structured or unstructured 5' leader sequences in addition to an mRNA containing the poliovirus internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Translations were performed with PI-extracts and extracts prepared from mock-infected HeLa cells (MI-extracts). A number of control criteria demonstrated that the HeLa cells were infected by poliovirus and that the extracts were translationally active. The data strongly indicate that translation of RNAs lacking an internal ribosome entry site, including AIMV CP RNA, was severely compromised in PI-extracts, and we find no evidence that the unstructured AIMV CP RNA 5' leader sequence acts in cis to bypass the poliovirus translational control. Nevertheless, cotranslation assays in the MI-extracts demonstrate that mRNAs containing the unstructured AIMV CP RNA 5' untranslated region have a competitive advantage over those containing the rabbit alpha-globin 5' leader. Previous reports of AIMV CP RNA translation in PI-extracts likely describe inefficient expression that can be explained by residual cap-dependent initiation events, where AIMV CP RNA translation is competitive because of a diminished quantitative requirement for initiation factors.

Alfalfa mosaic virus↗