scholarly journals A potential role for a novel ZC3H5 complex in regulating mRNA translation in Trypanosoma brucei

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (42) ◽  
pp. 14291-14304
Author(s):  
Kathrin Bajak ◽  
Kevin Leiss ◽  
Christine Clayton ◽  
Esteban Erben

In Trypanosoma brucei and related kinetoplastids, gene expression regulation occurs mostly posttranscriptionally. Consequently, RNA-binding proteins play a critical role in the regulation of mRNA and protein abundance. Yet, the roles of many RNA-binding proteins are not understood. Our previous research identified the RNA-binding protein ZC3H5 as possibly involved in gene repression, but its role in controlling gene expression was unknown. We here show that ZC3H5 is an essential cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein. RNAi targeting ZC3H5 causes accumulation of precytokinetic cells followed by rapid cell death. Affinity purification and pairwise yeast two-hybrid analysis suggest that ZC3H5 forms a complex with three other proteins, encoded by genes Tb927.11.4900, Tb927.8.1500, and Tb927.7.3040. RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that ZC3H5 is preferentially associated with poorly translated, low-stability mRNAs, the 5′-untranslated regions and coding regions of which are enriched in the motif (U/A)UAG(U/A). As previously found in high-throughput analyses, artificial tethering of ZC3H5 to a reporter mRNA or other complex components repressed reporter expression. However, depletion of ZC3H5 in vivo caused only very minor decreases in a few targets, marked increases in the abundances of very stable mRNAs, an increase in monosomes at the expense of large polysomes, and appearance of “halfmer” disomes containing two 80S subunits and one 40S subunit. We speculate that the ZC3H5 complex might be implicated in quality control during the translation of suboptimal open reading frames.

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 552
Author(s):  
Jasmine Harley ◽  
Benjamin E. Clarke ◽  
Rickie Patani

RNA binding proteins fulfil a wide number of roles in gene expression. Multiple mechanisms of RNA binding protein dysregulation have been implicated in the pathomechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction also play important roles in these diseases. In this review, we highlight the mechanistic interplay between RNA binding protein dysregulation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. We also discuss different potential therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Celona ◽  
John von Dollen ◽  
Sarat C Vatsavayai ◽  
Risa Kashima ◽  
Jeffrey R Johnson ◽  
...  

Expanded GGGGCC repeats in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene represent the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the mechanisms underlying repeat-induced disease remain incompletely resolved. One proposed gain-of-function mechanism is that repeat-containing RNA forms aggregates that sequester RNA binding proteins, leading to altered RNA metabolism in motor neurons. Here, we identify the zinc finger protein Zfp106 as a specific GGGGCC RNA repeat-binding protein, and using affinity purification-mass spectrometry, we show that Zfp106 interacts with multiple other RNA binding proteins, including the ALS-associated factors TDP-43 and FUS. We also show that Zfp106 knockout mice develop severe motor neuron degeneration, which can be suppressed by transgenic restoration of Zfp106 specifically in motor neurons. Finally, we show that Zfp106 potently suppresses neurotoxicity in a Drosophila model of C9orf72 ALS. Thus, these studies identify Zfp106 as an RNA binding protein with important implications for ALS.


mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Westermann ◽  
Elisa Venturini ◽  
Mikael E. Sellin ◽  
Konrad U. Förstner ◽  
Wolf-Dietrich Hardt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTFinO domain proteins such as ProQ of the model pathogenSalmonella entericahave emerged as a new class of major RNA-binding proteins in bacteria. ProQ has been shown to target hundreds of transcripts, including mRNAs from many virulence regions, but its role, if any, in bacterial pathogenesis has not been studied. Here, using a Dual RNA-seq approach to profile ProQ-dependent gene expression changes asSalmonellainfects human cells, we reveal dysregulation of bacterial motility, chemotaxis, and virulence genes which is accompanied by altered MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling in the host. Comparison with the other major RNA chaperone inSalmonella, Hfq, reinforces the notion that these two global RNA-binding proteins work in parallel to ensure full virulence. Of newly discovered infection-associated ProQ-bound small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs), we show that the 3′UTR-derived sRNA STnc540 is capable of repressing an infection-induced magnesium transporter mRNA in a ProQ-dependent manner. Together, this comprehensive study uncovers the relevance of ProQ forSalmonellapathogenesis and highlights the importance of RNA-binding proteins in regulating bacterial virulence programs.IMPORTANCEThe protein ProQ has recently been discovered as the centerpiece of a previously overlooked “third domain” of small RNA-mediated control of gene expression in bacteria. Asin vitrowork continues to reveal molecular mechanisms, it is also important to understand how ProQ affects the life cycle of bacterial pathogens as these pathogens infect eukaryotic cells. Here, we have determined how ProQ shapesSalmonellavirulence and how the activities of this RNA-binding protein compare with those of Hfq, another central protein in RNA-based gene regulation in this and other bacteria. To this end, we apply global transcriptomics of pathogen and host cells during infection. In doing so, we reveal ProQ-dependent transcript changes in key virulence and host immune pathways. Moreover, we differentiate the roles of ProQ from those of Hfq during infection, for both coding and noncoding transcripts, and provide an important resource for those interested in ProQ-dependent small RNAs in enteric bacteria.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 6102-6113
Author(s):  
J T Anderson ◽  
M R Paddy ◽  
M S Swanson

Proteins that directly associate with nuclear polyadenylated RNAs, or heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding proteins (hnRNPs), and those that associate with cytoplasmic mRNAs, or mRNA-binding proteins (mRNPs), play important roles in regulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Previous work with a variety of eukaryotic cells has demonstrated that hnRNPs are localized predominantly within the nucleus whereas mRNPs are cytoplasmic. While studying proteins associated with polyadenylated RNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we discovered an abundant polyuridylate-binding protein, PUB1, which appears to be both an hnRNP and an mRNP. PUB1 and PAB1, the polyadenylate tail-binding protein, are the two major proteins cross-linked by UV light to polyadenylated RNAs in vivo. The deduced primary structure of PUB1 indicates that it is a member of the ribonucleoprotein consensus sequence family of RNA-binding proteins and is structurally related to the human hnRNP M proteins. Even though the PUB1 protein is a major cellular polyadenylated RNA-binding protein, it is nonessential for cell growth. Indirect cellular immunofluorescence combined with digital image processing allowed a detailed comparison of the intracellular distributions of PUB1 and PAB1. While PAB1 is predominantly, and relatively uniformly, distributed within the cytoplasm, PUB1 is localized in a nonuniform pattern throughout both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic distribution of PUB1 is considerably more discontinuous than that of PAB1. Furthermore, sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis demonstrates that PAB1 cofractionates with polyribosomes whereas PUB1 does not. These results suggest that PUB1 is both an hnRNP and an mRNP and that it may be stably bound to a translationally inactive subpopulation of mRNAs within the cytoplasm.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (16) ◽  
pp. 1766-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuya Masuda ◽  
Tadamitsu Kishimoto

Background: Infection, tissue damage and aging can cause inflammation with high levels of inflammatory cytokines. Overproduction of inflammatory cytokines often leads to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), severe sepsis, and septic shock. However, prominent therapeutic targets have not been found, although the incidence of sepsis is likely to increase annually. Our recent studies indicate that some RNA-binding proteins, which control gene expression of inflammatory cytokines at the post-transcriptional level, may play a critical role in inflammatory diseases such as sepsis. Results: 1) One of the RNA-binding proteins, AT-rich interactive domain-containing 5a (Arid5a) promotes cytokine production through control of mRNA half-lives of pro-inflammatory molecules such as IL-6, STAT3, T-bet, and OX40 in activated macrophages and T cells. Arid5a KO mice are refractory to endotoxin shock, bleomycininduced lung injury, and inflammatory autoimmune disease. 2) Chlorpromazine (CPZ), which is recognized as a psychotic drug, impairs post-transcriptional gene expression of Il6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages: CPZ inhibits the binding activity of Arid5a to the 3’UTR of Il6 mRNA, thereby destabilizing Il6 mRNA possibly through suppression of Arid5a expression. 3) CPZ has strong suppressive effects on cytokine production such as TNF-α in vivo. Mice with treatment of CPZ are resistant to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock. Conclusion: Thus, Arid5a contributes to the activation of macrophages and T cells through positive control of mRNA half-lives of inflammatory cytokines and its related molecules, which might lead to cytokine storm. Interestingly, Arid5a was identified from an inhibitory effect of CPZ on IL-6 production in macrophages activated by LPS. Therefore, CPZ derivatives or Arid5a inhibitors may have a potential to suppress severe sepsis through control of post-transcriptional gene expression.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 532-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pritha Ghosh ◽  
R. Sowdhamini

We have classified the existing RNA-binding protein (RBP) structures into different structural families. Here, we report ∼2600 proteins with RBP signatures in humans.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Schneider ◽  
Lee-Hsueh Hung ◽  
Masood Aziz ◽  
Anna Wilmen ◽  
Stephanie Thaum ◽  
...  

AbstractHow multidomain RNA-binding proteins recognize their specific target sequences, based on a combinatorial code, represents a fundamental unsolved question and has not been studied systematically so far. Here we focus on a prototypical multidomain RNA-binding protein, IMP3 (also called IGF2BP3), which contains six RNA-binding domains (RBDs): four KH and two RRM domains. We have established an integrative systematic strategy, combining single-domain-resolved SELEX-seq, motif-spacing analyses, in vivo iCLIP, functional validation assays, and structural biology. This approach identifies the RNA-binding specificity and RNP topology of IMP3, involving all six RBDs and a cluster of up to five distinct and appropriately spaced CA-rich and GGC-core RNA elements, covering a >100 nucleotide-long target RNA region. Our generally applicable approach explains both specificity and flexibility of IMP3-RNA recognition, providing a paradigm for the function of multivalent interactions with multidomain RNA-binding proteins in gene regulation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1365-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kouki Shinoda ◽  
Akiyo Suda ◽  
Kenko Otonari ◽  
Shiroh Futaki ◽  
Miki Imanishi

A new method manipulating local RNA methylation was developed by fusing the programmable RNA binding protein and the m6A demethylase or methyltransferase.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (22) ◽  
pp. 5732-5740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Baou ◽  
John D. Norton ◽  
John J. Murphy

Abstract Posttranscriptional mechanisms are now widely acknowledged to play a central role in orchestrating gene-regulatory networks in hematopoietic cell growth, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Although much attention has focused on microRNAs as regulators of mRNA stability/translation, recent data have highlighted the role of several diverse classes of AU-rich RNA-binding protein in the regulation of mRNA decay/stabilization. AU-rich elements are found in the 3′-untranslated region of many mRNAs that encode regulators of cell growth and survival, such as cytokines and onco/tumor-suppressor proteins. These are targeted by a burgeoning number of different RNA-binding proteins. Three distinct types of AU-rich RNA binding protein (ARE poly-U–binding degradation factor-1/AUF1, Hu antigen/HuR/HuA/ELAVL1, and the tristetraprolin/ZFP36 family of proteins) are essential for normal hematopoiesis. Together with 2 further AU-rich RNA-binding proteins, nucleolin and KHSRP/KSRP, the functions of these proteins are intimately associated with pathways that are dysregulated in various hematopoietic malignancies. Significantly, all of these AU-rich RNA-binding proteins function via an interconnected network that is integrated with microRNA functions. Studies of these diverse types of RNA binding protein are providing novel insight into gene-regulatory mechanisms in hematopoiesis in addition to offering new opportunities for developing mechanism-based targeted therapeutics in leukemia and lymphoma.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (38) ◽  
pp. 10720-10725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohito Yamasaki ◽  
Masayuki Onishi ◽  
Eun-Jeong Kim ◽  
Heriberto Cerutti ◽  
Takeshi Ohama

Canonical microRNAs (miRNAs) are embedded in duplexed stem–loops in long precursor transcripts and are excised by sequential cleavage by DICER nuclease(s). In this miRNA biogenesis pathway, dsRNA-binding proteins play important roles in animals and plants by assisting DICER. However, these RNA-binding proteins are poorly characterized in unicellular organisms. Here we report that a unique RNA-binding protein, Dull slicer-16 (DUS16), plays an essential role in processing of primary-miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In animals and plants, dsRNA-binding proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis harbor two or three dsRNA-binding domains (dsRBDs), whereas DUS16 contains one dsRBD and also an ssRNA-binding domain (RRM). The null mutant of DUS16 showed a drastic reduction in most miRNA species. Production of these miRNAs was complemented by expression of full-length DUS16, but the expression of RRM- or dsRBD-truncated DUS16 did not restore miRNA production. Furthermore, DUS16 is predominantly localized to the nucleus and associated with nascent (unspliced form) pri-miRNAs and the DICER-LIKE 3 protein. These results suggest that DUS16 recognizes pri-miRNA transcripts cotranscriptionally and promotes their processing into mature miRNAs as a component of a microprocessor complex. We propose that DUS16 is an essential factor for miRNA production in Chlamydomonas and, because DUS16 is functionally similar to the dsRNA-binding proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis in animals and land plants, our report provides insight into this mechanism in unicellular eukaryotes.


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