Translational Regulation by Upstream Open Reading Frames and Its Relevance to Human Genetic Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 408-425
Author(s):  
Rafael Fernandes ◽  
Luísa Romão
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Disease ◽  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Human Genetic Disease ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

scholarly journals Translation of ABCE1 Is Tightly Regulated by Upstream Open Reading Frames in Human Colorectal Cells

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 911
Author(s):  
Joana Silva ◽  
Pedro Nina ◽  
Luísa Romão
Keyword(s):  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Ribosome Profiling ◽  
Leader Sequence ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Coding Sequence ◽  
Abc Protein ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

ATP-binding cassette subfamily E member 1 (ABCE1) belongs to the ABC protein family of transporters; however, it does not behave as a drug transporter. Instead, ABCE1 actively participates in different stages of translation and is also associated with oncogenic functions. Ribosome profiling analysis in colorectal cancer cells has revealed a high ribosome occupancy in the human ABCE1 mRNA 5′-leader sequence, indicating the presence of translatable upstream open reading frames (uORFs). These cis-acting translational regulatory elements usually act as repressors of translation of the main coding sequence. In the present study, we dissect the regulatory function of the five AUG and five non-AUG uORFs identified in the human ABCE1 mRNA 5′-leader sequence. We show that the expression of the main coding sequence is tightly regulated by the ABCE1 AUG uORFs in colorectal cells. Our results are consistent with a model wherein uORF1 is efficiently translated, behaving as a barrier to downstream uORF translation. The few ribosomes that can bypass uORF1 (and/or uORF2) must probably initiate at the inhibitory uORF3 or uORF5 that efficiently repress translation of the main ORF. This inhibitory property is slightly overcome in conditions of endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, we observed that these potent translation-inhibitory AUG uORFs function equally in cancer and in non-tumorigenic colorectal cells, which is consistent with a lack of oncogenic function. In conclusion, we establish human ABCE1 as an additional example of uORF-mediated translational regulation and that this tight regulation contributes to control ABCE1 protein levels in different cell environments.

scholarly journals Translational Control of Protein Kinase Cη by Two Upstream Open Reading Frames

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (22) ◽  
pp. 6140-6148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadas Raveh-Amit ◽  
Adva Maissel ◽  
Jonathan Poller ◽  
Liraz Marom ◽  
Orna Elroy-Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Pkc Isoforms ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT Protein kinase C (PKC) represents a family of serine/threonine kinases that play a central role in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and transformation. Posttranslational control of the PKC isoforms and their activation have been extensively studied; however, not much is known about their translational regulation. Here we report that the expression of one of the PKC isoforms, PKCη, is regulated at the translational level both under normal growth conditions and during stress imposed by amino acid starvation, the latter causing a marked increase in its protein levels. The 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of PKCη is unusually long and GC rich, characteristic of many oncogenes and growth regulatory genes. We have identified two conserved upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in its 5′ UTR and show their effect in suppressing the expression of PKCη in MCF-7 growing cells. While the two uORFs function as repressive elements that maintain low basal levels of PKCη in growing cells, they are required for its enhanced expression upon amino acid starvation. We show that the translational regulation during stress involves leaky scanning and is dependent on eIF-2α phosphorylation by GCN2. Our work further suggests that translational regulation could provide an additional level for controlling the expression of PKC family members, being more common than currently recognized.

scholarly journals Variation in upstream open reading frames contributes to allelic diversity in protein abundance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph L Gage ◽  
Sujina Mali ◽  
Fionn McLoughlin ◽  
Merritt Khaipho-Burch ◽  
Brandon Monier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Rare Variants ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Allelic Diversity ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Common Variants ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

The 5' untranslated region (UTR) sequence of eukaryotic mRNAs may contain upstream open reading frames (uORFs), which can regulate translation of the main open reading frame (mORF). The current model of translational regulation by uORFs posits that when a ribosome scans an mRNA and encounters a uORF, translation of that uORF can prevent ribosomes from reaching the mORF and cause decreased mORF translation. In this study, we first observed that rare variants in the 5' UTR dysregulate protein abundance. Upon further investigation, we found that rare variants near the start codon of uORFs can repress or derepress mORF translation, causing allelic changes in protein abundance. This finding holds for common variants as well, and common variants that modify uORF start codons also contribute disproportionately to metabolic and whole-plant phenotypes, suggesting that translational regulation by uORFs serves an adaptive function. These results provide evidence for the mechanisms by which natural sequence variation modulates gene expression, and ultimately, phenotype.

scholarly journals Upstream Open Reading Frames (uORFs) in the Apicomplexan Parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii: Small yet Powerful Regulators of Translation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chhaminder Kaur ◽  
Swati Patankar
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Ribosome Profiling ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Apicomplexan Parasites ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

During their complex life cycles, the Apicomplexan parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii employ several genetic switches to regulate their gene expression. One such switch is mediated at the level of translation through upstream Open Reading Frames (uORFs). As uORFs are found in the upstream regions of a majority of genes in both the parasites, it is essential that their roles in translational regulation be appreciated to a greater extent. This review provides a comprehensive summary of studies that show uORF-mediated gene regulation in these parasites and highlights examples of clinically and physiologically relevant proteins that exhibit uORF-mediated regulation. In addition to these examples, several studies that use bioinformatics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and ribosome profiling also indicate the possibility of widespread translational regulation by uORFs. Further analysis of genome-wide datasets will reveal novel genes involved in key biological pathways such as cell-cycle progression, stress-response, and pathogenicity. The cumulative evidence from studies presented in this review suggests that uORFs will play crucial roles in regulating gene expression during clinical disease caused by these important human pathogens.

Translational regulation of the plant S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 424-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hanfrey ◽  
M. Franceschetti ◽  
M.J. Mayer ◽  
C. Illingworth ◽  
K. Elliott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Rna Secondary Structure ◽  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Polyamine Biosynthesis ◽  
Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase ◽  
Key Enzyme ◽  
Upstream Open Reading Frames ◽  
Reading Frames

It is becoming apparent that control of protein synthesis by metabolites is more common than previously thought. Much of that control is exerted at the level of initiation of mRNA translation, orchestrated by upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and RNA secondary structure. S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) is a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis and both mammalian and plant AdoMetDCs are translationally regulated by uORFs in response to polyamine levels by distinct mechanisms.

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