scholarly journals C9orf72-associated arginine-rich dipeptide repeats induce RNA-dependent nuclear accumulation of Staufen in neurons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Seon Kim ◽  
Chang Geon Chung ◽  
Jeong Hyang Park ◽  
Byung Su Ko ◽  
Sung Soon Park ◽  
...  

Abstract RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play essential roles in diverse cellular processes through post-transcriptional regulation of RNAs. The subcellular localization of RBPs is thus under tight control, the breakdown of which is associated with aberrant cytoplasmic accumulation of nuclear RBPs such as TDP-43 and FUS, well-known pathological markers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). Here, we report in Drosophila model for ALS/FTD that nuclear accumulation of a cytoplasmic RBP, Staufen, may be a new pathological feature. We found that in Drosophila C4da neurons expressing PR36, one of the arginine-rich dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), Staufen accumulated in the nucleus in Importin- and RNA-dependent manner. Notably, expressing Staufen with exogenous NLS—but not with mutated endogenous NLS—potentiated PR-induced dendritic defect, suggesting that nuclear-accumulated Staufen can enhance PR toxicity. PR36 expression increased Fibrillarin staining in the nucleolus, which was enhanced by heterozygous mutation of stau (stau+/−), a gene that codes Staufen. Furthermore, knockdown of fib, which codes Fibrillarin, exacerbated retinal degeneration mediated by PR toxicity, suggesting that increased amount of Fibrillarin by stau+/− is protective. Stau+/− also reduced the amount of PR-induced nuclear-accumulated Staufen and mitigated retinal degeneration and rescued viability of flies expressing PR36. Taken together, our data show that nuclear accumulation of Staufen in neurons may be an important pathological feature contributing to the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Seon Kim ◽  
Chang Geon Chung ◽  
Yoon Ha Kim ◽  
In Jun Cha ◽  
Jeong Hyang Park ◽  
...  

AbstractAccumulation of RNA in the nucleus is one of the pathological features of C9orf72-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD), yet its potential toxic cellular consequences remain largely undefined. RNA accumulated in the nucleus may interact with and increase nuclear localization of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Here, we show in C9-ALS/FTD Drosophila melanogaster model that Staufen, a double-stranded RBP normally localized in cytoplasm, accumulates in the nucleus, which is in contrast to many nuclear-localized RBPs, such as TDP-43 and FUS, whose cytoplasmic accumulation is thought to be a pathological hallmark of ALS/FTD. We found that in Drosophila neurons expressing arginine-rich dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), Staufen accumulated in the nucleus in an RNA-dependent manner. In the nucleus, Staufen localized closely to, and potentially interacts with, heterochromatin and nucleolus in Drosophila C4 da neurons expressing poly(PR), a proline-arginine (PR) DPR. PR toxicity in C4 da neurons increased Fibrillarin staining in the nucleolus, which was enhanced by stau heterozygous mutation. Furthermore, knockdown of fib exacerbated retinal degeneration mediated by PR toxicity, which suggests that increased amount of Fibrillarin by stau heterozygous mutation is protective. Heterozygotic mutation of stau could also mitigate retinal degeneration and rescue viability of flies exhibiting PR toxicity. Taken together, our data show that nuclear accumulation of cytoplasmic protein, such as Staufen, may also be an important pathological feature of C9-ALS/FTD.Author summaryCytoplasmic accumulation of nuclear RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is one of the common pathological features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In C9orf72-associated ALS/FTD fly model, we found that Staufen, a double-stranded (ds) RBP normally localized mostly in cytoplasm, accumulates in the nucleus in an RNA-dependent manner. Next, we checked wherein the nucleus Staufen accumulates and found that Staufen partially co-localizes with heterochromatin and nucleolus. Interestingly, the expression of Fibrillarin, a nucleolar protein, was significantly increased by C9orf72-derived PR toxicity and further augmented by reduction in stau dosage, the gene encoding Staufen. When we knocked down fib, the gene encoding Fibrillarin, PR-induced retinal degeneration was exacerbated. This indicates that increased Fibrillarin expression by stau dosage reduction is protective. Furthermore, when we reduced stau dosage in flies presenting PR toxicity, their retinal degeneration and viability were largely rescued. Based on these data, we suggest that nuclear accumulation of Staufen is an important feature of C9-ALS/FTD and suggest that reducing stau dosage is a promising therapeutic target.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11963
Author(s):  
Noof Aloufi ◽  
Aeshah Alluli ◽  
David H. Eidelman ◽  
Carolyn J. Baglole

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable and prevalent respiratory disorder that is characterized by chronic inflammation and emphysema. COPD is primarily caused by cigarette smoke (CS). CS alters numerous cellular processes, including the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs. The identification of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as main factors engaged in the regulation of RNA biology opens the door to understanding their role in coordinating physiological cellular processes. Dysregulation of post-transcriptional regulation by foreign particles in CS may lead to the development of diseases such as COPD. Here we review current knowledge about post-transcriptional events that may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6835
Author(s):  
Jonas Weiße ◽  
Julia Rosemann ◽  
Vanessa Krauspe ◽  
Matthias Kappler ◽  
Alexander W. Eckert ◽  
...  

Nearly 7.5% of all human protein-coding genes have been assigned to the class of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and over the past decade, RBPs have been increasingly recognized as important regulators of molecular and cellular homeostasis. RBPs regulate the post-transcriptional processing of their target RNAs, i.e., alternative splicing, polyadenylation, stability and turnover, localization, or translation as well as editing and chemical modification, thereby tuning gene expression programs of diverse cellular processes such as cell survival and malignant spread. Importantly, metastases are the major cause of cancer-associated deaths in general, and particularly in oral cancers, which account for 2% of the global cancer mortality. However, the roles and architecture of RBPs and RBP-controlled expression networks during the diverse steps of the metastatic cascade are only incompletely understood. In this review, we will offer a brief overview about RBPs and their general contribution to post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Subsequently, we will highlight selected examples of RBPs that have been shown to play a role in oral cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Last but not least, we will present targeting strategies that have been developed to interfere with the function of some of these RBPs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.E. MacNeil ◽  
P. Lambert-Lanteigne ◽  
J. Qin ◽  
F. McManus ◽  
E. Bonneil ◽  
...  

SummaryDyskerin, a telomerase-associated protein and H/ACA ribonucleoprotein complex component plays an essential role in human telomerase assembly and activity. The nuclear and subnuclear compartmentalization of dyskerin and the H/ACA complex is an important though incompletely understood aspect of H/ACA ribonucleoprotein function. The posttranslational modification, SUMOylation, targets a wide variety of proteins, including numerous RNA-binding proteins, and most identified targets reported to date localize to the nucleus. Four SUMOylation sites were previously identified in the C-terminal Nuclear/Nucleolar Localization Signal (N/NoLS) of dyskerin, each located within one of two lysine-rich clusters. We found that a cytoplasmic localized C-terminal truncation variant of dyskerin lacking most of the C-terminal N/NoLS and both lysine-rich clusters represents an under-SUMOylated variant of dyskerin compared to wildtype dyskerin. We demonstrate that mimicking constitutive SUMOylation of dyskerin using a SUMO3-fusion construct can drive nuclear accumulation of this variant, and that the SUMO site K467 in this N/NoLS is particularly important for the subnuclear localization of dyskerin to the nucleolus in a mature H/ACA complex assembly- and SUMO-dependent manner. We also characterize a novel SUMO-interacting motif in the mature H/ACA complex component GAR1 that mediates the interaction between dyskerin and GAR1. Mislocalization of dyskerin, either in the cytoplasm or excluded from the nucleolus, disrupts dyskerin function and leads to reduced interaction of dyskerin with the telomerase RNA. These data indicate a role for dyskerin C-terminal N/NoLS SUMOylation in regulating the nuclear and subnuclear localization of dyskerin, which is essential for dyskerin function as both a telomerase-associated protein and as an H/ACA ribonucleoprotein involved in rRNA and snRNA biogenesis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 6608-6619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Chen ◽  
Amy M. Brownawell ◽  
Ian G. Macara

ABSTRACT Exportin-5 is a nuclear export receptor for certain classes of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), including pre-micro-RNAs, viral hairpin RNAs, and some tRNAs. It can also export the RNA binding proteins ILF3 and elongation factor EF1A. However, the rules that determine which RNA binding proteins are exportin-5 cargoes remain unclear. JAZ possesses an unusual dsRNA binding domain consisting of multiple C2H2 zinc fingers. We found that JAZ binds to exportin-5 in a Ran-GTP- and dsRNA-dependent manner. Exportin-5 stimulates JAZ shuttling, and gene silencing of exportin-5 reduces shuttling. Recombinant exportin-5 also stimulates nuclear export of JAZ in permeabilized cells. JAZ also binds to ILF3, and surprisingly, this interaction is RNA independent, even though it requires the dsRNA binding domains of ILF3. Exportin-5, JAZ, and ILF3 can form a heteromeric complex with Ran-GTP and dsRNA, and JAZ increases ILF3 binding to exportin-5. JAZ does not contain a classical nuclear localization signal, and in digitonin-permeabilized cells, nuclear accumulation of JAZ does not require energy or cytosol. Nonetheless, low temperatures prevent JAZ import, suggesting that nuclear entry does not occur via simple diffusion. Together, these data suggest that JAZ is exported by exportin-5 but translocates back into nuclei by a facilitated diffusion mechanism.


eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-Yu Liu ◽  
Xi Long ◽  
Ching-Po Yang ◽  
Rosa L Miyares ◽  
Ken Sugino ◽  
...  

Temporal patterning is a seminal method of expanding neuronal diversity. Here we unravel a mechanism decoding neural stem cell temporal gene expression and transforming it into discrete neuronal fates. This mechanism is characterized by hierarchical gene expression. First, Drosophila neuroblasts express opposing temporal gradients of RNA-binding proteins, Imp and Syp. These proteins promote or inhibit chinmo translation, yielding a descending neuronal gradient. Together, first and second-layer temporal factors define a temporal expression window of BTB-zinc finger nuclear protein, Mamo. The precise temporal induction of Mamo is achieved via both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Finally, Mamo is essential for the temporally defined, terminal identity of α’/β’ mushroom body neurons and identity maintenance. We describe a straightforward paradigm of temporal fate specification where diverse neuronal fates are defined via integrating multiple layers of gene regulation. The neurodevelopmental roles of orthologous/related mammalian genes suggest a fundamental conservation of this mechanism in brain development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura P.M.H. de Rooij ◽  
Derek C.H. Chan ◽  
Ava Keyvani Chahi ◽  
Kristin J. Hope

Normal hematopoiesis is sustained through a carefully orchestrated balance between hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and differentiation. The functional importance of this axis is underscored by the severity of disease phenotypes initiated by abnormal HSC function, including myelodysplastic syndromes and hematopoietic malignancies. Major advances in the understanding of transcriptional regulation of primitive hematopoietic cells have been achieved; however, the post-transcriptional regulatory layer that may impinge on their behavior remains underexplored by comparison. Key players at this level include RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which execute precise and highly coordinated control of gene expression through modulation of RNA properties that include its splicing, polyadenylation, localization, degradation, or translation. With the recent identification of RBPs having essential roles in regulating proliferation and cell fate decisions in other systems, there has been an increasing appreciation of the importance of post-transcriptional control at the stem cell level. Here we discuss our current understanding of RBP-driven post-transcriptional regulation in HSCs, its implications for normal, perturbed, and malignant hematopoiesis, and the most recent technological innovations aimed at RBP–RNA network characterization at the systems level. Emerging evidence highlights RBP-driven control as an underappreciated feature of primitive hematopoiesis, the greater understanding of which has important clinical implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junnan Fang

Centrosomes, functioning as microtubule organizing centers, are composed of a proteinaceous matrix of pericentriolar material (PCM) that surrounds a pair of centrioles. Drosophila Pericentrin (Pcnt)-like protein (PLP) is a key component of the centrosome that serves as a scaffold for PCM assembly. The disruption of plp in Drosophila results in embryonic lethality, while the deregulation of Pcnt in humans is associated with MOPD II and Trisomy 21.We recently found plp mRNA localizes to Drosophila embryonic centrosomes. While RNA is known to associate with centrosomes in diverse cell types, the elements required for plp mRNA localization to centrosomes remains completely unknown. Additionally, how plp translation is regulated to accommodate rapid cell divisions during early embryogenesis is unclear. RNA localization coupled with translational control is a conserved mechanism that functions in diverse cellular processes. Control of mRNA localization and translation is mediated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). We find PLP protein expression is specifically promoted by an RNA-binding protein, Orb, during embryogenesis; moreover, plp mRNA interacts with Orb. Importantly, we find overexpression of full-length PLP can rescue cell division defects and embryonic lethality caused by orb depletion. We aim to uncover the mechanisms underlying embryonic plp mRNA localization and function and how Orb regulates plp translation.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4505
Author(s):  
Hilde Sundvold

An increased understanding of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and its regulation may facilitate drug development for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Triciribine (TCN), which is a highly selective AKT inhibitor, increases the stability of LDLR mRNA downstream of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in human hepatoma cells (HepG2). Here, a candidate approach was used in order to determine whether the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) ZFP36 ring finger protein like 1 (ZFP36L1) and Hu antigen R (HuR) play a role in TCN-mediated stabilization of LDLR mRNA. The depletion of HuR led to a reduction of LDLR mRNA stability, an event that was more pronounced in TCN-treated cells. TCN was found to induce the translocation of nuclear HuR to cytoplasm in an ERK-dependent manner. ZFP36L1 depletion increased the stability of LDLR mRNA consistent with its destabilizing role. However, in contrast to HuR, TCN had no effect on LDLR mRNA turnover in ZFP36L1-depleted cells. TCN induced the phosphorylation of ZFP36L1 in an ERK/RSK-dependent manner and promoted its dissociation from the CCR4-NOT complex. In sum, these data suggest that TCN utilizes ERK signaling to increase the activity of HuR and inhibit ZFP36L1 to stabilize LDLR mRNA in HepG2 cells.


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