scholarly journals Neuronal BC RNAs cooperate with eIF4B to mediate activity-dependent translational control

2014 ◽  
Vol 207 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taesun Eom ◽  
Ilham A. Muslimov ◽  
Panayiotis Tsokas ◽  
Valerio Berardi ◽  
Jun Zhong ◽  
...  

In neurons, translational regulation of gene expression has been implicated in the activity-dependent management of synapto-dendritic protein repertoires. However, the fundamentals of stimulus-modulated translational control in neurons remain poorly understood. Here we describe a mechanism in which regulatory brain cytoplasmic (BC) RNAs cooperate with eukaryotic initiation factor 4B (eIF4B) to control translation in a manner that is responsive to neuronal activity. eIF4B is required for the translation of mRNAs with structured 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs), exemplified here by neuronal protein kinase Mζ (PKMζ) mRNA. Upon neuronal stimulation, synapto-dendritic eIF4B is dephosphorylated at serine 406 in a rapid process that is mediated by protein phosphatase 2A. Such dephosphorylation causes a significant decrease in the binding affinity between eIF4B and BC RNA translational repressors, enabling the factor to engage the 40S small ribosomal subunit for translation initiation. BC RNA translational control, mediated via eIF4B phosphorylation status, couples neuronal activity to translational output, and thus provides a mechanistic basis for long-term plastic changes in nerve cells.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1592
Author(s):  
Han Kyoung Choe ◽  
Jun Cho

Activity-dependent regulation of gene expression is critical in experience-mediated changes in the brain. Although less appreciated than transcriptional control, translational control is a crucial regulatory step of activity-mediated gene expression in physiological and pathological conditions. In the first part of this review, we overview evidence demonstrating the importance of translational controls under the context of synaptic plasticity as well as learning and memory. Then, molecular mechanisms underlying the translational control, including post-translational modifications of translation factors, mTOR signaling pathway, and local translation, are explored. We also summarize how activity-dependent translational regulation is associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and depression. In the second part, we highlight how recent application of high-throughput sequencing techniques has added insight into genome-wide studies on translational regulation of neuronal genes. Sequencing-based strategies to identify molecular signatures of the active neuronal population responding to a specific stimulus are discussed. Overall, this review aims to highlight the implication of translational control for neuronal gene regulation and functions of the brain and to suggest prospects provided by the leading-edge techniques to study yet-unappreciated translational regulation in the nervous system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 763-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadeem Siddiqui ◽  
Nahum Sonenberg

Translational control plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes and affects many essential cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Under most circumstances, translational control occurs at the initiation step at which the ribosome is recruited to the mRNA. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), as part of the eIF4F complex, interacts first with the mRNA and facilitates the recruitment of the 40S ribosomal subunit. The activity of eIF4E is regulated at many levels, most profoundly by two major signalling pathways: PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt (also known and Protein Kinase B, PKB)/mTOR (mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin) and Ras (rat sarcoma)/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/Mnk (MAPK-interacting kinases). mTOR directly phosphorylates the 4E-BPs (eIF4E-binding proteins), which are inhibitors of eIF4E, to relieve translational suppression, whereas Mnk phosphorylates eIF4E to stimulate translation. Hyperactivation of these pathways occurs in the majority of cancers, which results in increased eIF4E activity. Thus, translational control via eIF4E acts as a convergence point for hyperactive signalling pathways to promote tumorigenesis. Consequently, recent works have aimed to target these pathways and ultimately the translational machinery for cancer therapy.


Reproduction ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Brook ◽  
Joel W S Smith ◽  
Nicola K Gray

Gametogenesis is a highly complex process that requires the exquisite temporal, spatial and amplitudinal regulation of gene expression at multiple levels. Translational regulation is important in a wide variety of cell types but may be even more prevalent in germ cells, where periods of transcriptional quiescence necessitate the use of post-transcriptional mechanisms to effect changes in gene expression. Consistent with this, studies in multiple animal models have revealed an essential role for mRNA translation in the establishment and maintenance of reproductive competence. While studies in humans are less advanced, emerging evidence suggests that translational regulation plays a similarly important role in human germ cells and fertility. This review highlights specific mechanisms of translational regulation that play critical roles in oogenesis by activating subsets of mRNAs. These mRNAs are activated in a strictly determined temporal manner via elements located within their 3′UTR, which serve as binding sites fortrans-acting factors. While we concentrate on oogenesis, these regulatory events also play important roles during spermatogenesis. In particular, we focus on the deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) family of proteins, recently implicated in the translational control of specific mRNAs in germ cells; their relationship with the general translation initiation factor poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) and the process of cytoplasmic mRNA polyadenylation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2054
Author(s):  
Anton A. Komar ◽  
William C. Merrick

Initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotes is a complex process requiring more than 12 different initiation factors, comprising over 30 polypeptide chains. The functions of many of these factors have been established in great detail; however, the precise role of some of them and their mechanism of action is still not well understood. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2A (eIF2A) is a single chain 65 kDa protein that was initially believed to serve as the functional homologue of prokaryotic IF2, since eIF2A and IF2 catalyze biochemically similar reactions, i.e., they stimulate initiator Met-tRNAi binding to the small ribosomal subunit. However, subsequent identification of a heterotrimeric 126 kDa factor, eIF2 (α,β,γ) showed that this factor, and not eIF2A, was primarily responsible for the binding of Met-tRNAi to 40S subunit in eukaryotes. It was found however, that eIF2A can promote recruitment of Met-tRNAi to 40S/mRNA complexes under conditions of inhibition of eIF2 activity (eIF2α-phosphorylation), or its absence. eIF2A does not function in major steps in the initiation process, but is suggested to act at some minor/alternative initiation events such as re-initiation, internal initiation, or non-AUG initiation, important for translational control of specific mRNAs. This review summarizes our current understanding of the eIF2A structure and function.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (52) ◽  
pp. 15874-15879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarence Ling ◽  
Dmitri N. Ermolenko

Intersubunit rotation and movement of the L1 stalk, a mobile domain of the large ribosomal subunit, have been shown to accompany the elongation cycle of translation. The initiation phase of protein synthesis is crucial for translational control of gene expression; however, in contrast to elongation, little is known about the conformational rearrangements of the ribosome during initiation. Bacterial initiation factors (IFs) 1, 2, and 3 mediate the binding of initiator tRNA and mRNA to the small ribosomal subunit to form the initiation complex, which subsequently associates with the large subunit by a poorly understood mechanism. Here, we use single-molecule FRET to monitor intersubunit rotation and the inward/outward movement of the L1 stalk of the large ribosomal subunit during the subunit-joining step of translation initiation. We show that, on subunit association, the ribosome adopts a distinct conformation in which the ribosomal subunits are in a semirotated orientation and the L1 stalk is positioned in a half-closed state. The formation of the semirotated intermediate requires the presence of an aminoacylated initiator, fMet-tRNAfMet, and IF2 in the GTP-bound state. GTP hydrolysis by IF2 induces opening of the L1 stalk and the transition to the nonrotated conformation of the ribosome. Our results suggest that positioning subunits in a semirotated orientation facilitates subunit association and support a model in which L1 stalk movement is coupled to intersubunit rotation and/or IF2 binding.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1544-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Lasko ◽  
P. Cho ◽  
F. Poulin ◽  
N. Sonenberg

Translational control is a key genetic regulatory mechanism underlying the initial establishment of the major spatial axes of the Drosophila embryo. Many translational control mechanisms target eIF4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E), an initiation factor that recognizes the 5′-cap structure of the mRNA. Cap recognition by eIF4E, in complex with eIF4G, is essential for recruitment of the mRNA to the small ribosomal subunit. One established mechanism for repressing translation involves eIF4E-binding proteins, which competitively inhibit the eIF4E–eIF4G interaction. Our group has uncovered a novel mechanism for repression in which an eIF4E cognate protein called d4EHP, which cannot bind eIF4G, binds to the 5′-cap structure of cad mRNA thus rendering it translationally inactive. These two related, but distinct, mechanisms are discussed and contrasted in this review.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Amruth Raj Chukka ◽  
Stacey D. Wetmore ◽  
Nehal Thakor

Translational control (TC) is one the crucial steps that dictate gene expression and alter the outcome of physiological process like programmed cell death, metabolism, and proliferation in a eukaryotic cell. TC occurs mainly at the translation initiation stage. The initiation factor eIF5B tightly regulates global translation initiation and facilitates the expression of a subset of proteins involved in proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and immunosuppression under stress conditions. eIF5B enhances the expression of these survival proteins to allow cancer cells to metastasize and resist chemotherapy. Using eIF5B as a biomarker or drug target could help with diagnosis and improved prognosis, respectively. To achieve these goals, it is crucial to understand the role of eIF5B in translational regulation. This review recapitulates eIF5B’s regulatory roles in the translation initiation of viral mRNA as well as the cellular mRNAs in cancer and stressed eukaryotic cells.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Wagner ◽  
Anna Herrmannová ◽  
Vladislava Hronová ◽  
Neelam Sen ◽  
Ross D. Hannan ◽  
...  

SUMMARYTranslational control targeting mainly the initiation phase is central to the regulation of gene expression. Understanding all of its aspects requires substantial technological advancements. Here we modified yeast Translational Complex Profile sequencing (TCP-seq), related to ribosome profiling, and adopted it for mammalian cells. Human TCP-seq, capable of capturing footprints of 40S subunits (40Ses) in addition to 80S ribosomes (80Ses), revealed that mammalian and yeast 40Ses distribute similarly across 5’UTRs indicating considerable evolutionary conservation. We further developed a variation called Selective TCP-seq (Sel-TCP-seq) enabling selection for 40Ses and 80Ses associated with an immuno-targeted factor in yeast and human. Sel-TCP-seq demonstrated that eIF2 and eIF3 travel along 5’UTRs with scanning 40Ses to successively dissociate upon start codon recognition. Manifesting the Sel-TCP-seq versatility for gene expression studies, we also identified four initiating 48S conformational intermediates, provided novel insights into ATF4 and GCN4 mRNA translational control, and demonstrated co-translational assembly of initiation factor complexes.


Author(s):  
F.J. Martinez Alonso ◽  
M.V. Toledo Lobo ◽  
S. Rodriguez Martínez ◽  
F.M. Muñoz Postigo ◽  
J.J. López-Fando Castro

The dominant mechanism that controls protein synthesis is the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of initiation and elongation factors, with a translational control function. Each phase of protein synthesis is promoted by some of these factors that transiently interact with ribosomes, mRNAs and aminoacyltRNAs. Eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2, 130 kD) is one of these proteins and it is composed of three subunits: alpha, beta and gamma. eIF2 forms a ternary complex (GTP-eIF2-Met tRNAi) that can then interact with the 40S ribosomal subunit which in turn binds mRNA and the 60S ribosomal subunit to form the 80S initiation complex. The relation between eIF2 and the ribosomes is then a well established aspect of protein synthesis, but there are no previous studies about the distribution of eIF2 within the cell.Using immunocytochemical techniques, we show the distribution of eIF2 within the cell found in primary cultures of rat embryo brain neurons, in which eIF2 and eIF2-kinases have been identified. Primary culture neuron cells were grown in D15 and N2 mediums for 8 days.


2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (16) ◽  
pp. 16427-16436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padmanabhan Anand ◽  
Philip A. Gruppuso

We have studied translational control in the model of 48 h of fasting in the rat. Our initial observations showed a paradoxical increase in ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) phosphorylation and a decrease in eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) phosphorylation. These effects, which would favor an increase in protein synthesis, could be attributed to increased circulating concentrations of branched-chain amino acids in fasting. To determine what mechanisms might account for decreased hepatic translation in fasting, we examined the cap binding complex. eIF4E-bound 4E-BP1 did not increase. However, eIF4E-bound eIF4G and total cellular eIF4G were profoundly decreased in fasted liver. eIF4G mRNA levels were not lower after fasting. Based on the hypothesis that decreased eIF4G translation might account for the reduced eIF4G content, we fractionated ribosomes by sucrose density centrifugation. Immunoblotting for rpS6 showed modest polysomal disaggregation upon fasting. PCR analysis of polysome profiles revealed that a spectrum of mRNAs undergo different translational regulation in the fasted state. In particular, eIF4G was minimally affected by fasting. This indicated that reduced eIF4G abundance in fasting may be a function of its stability, whereas its recovery upon refeeding is necessarily independent of its own involvement in the cap binding complex. Western immunoblotting of polysome fractions showed that phosphorylated rpS6 was disproportionately present in translating polysomes in fed and fasted animals, consistent with a role in translational control. However, the translation of rpS8, an mRNA with a 5′-oligopyrimidine tract, did not coincide with rpS6 phosphorylation, thus dissociating rpS6 phosphorylation from the translational control of this subset of mRNAs.


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