scholarly journals Identification and characterization of mutations in the UPF1 gene that affect nonsense suppression and the formation of the Upf protein complex but not mRNA turnover.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 5491-5506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Weng ◽  
K Czaplinski ◽  
S W Peltz

To understand the relationship between translation and mRNA decay, we have been studying how premature translation termination accelerates the degradation of mRNAs. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Upf1 protein (Upf1p), which contains a cysteine- and histidine-rich region and nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis and helicase motifs, was shown to be a trans-acting factor in this decay pathway. A UPF1 gene disruption results in the stabilization of nonsense-containing mRNAs and leads to a nonsense suppression phenotype. Biochemical analysis of the wild-type Upf1p demonstrated that it has RNA-dependent ATPase, RNA helicase, and RNA binding activities. In the work described in the accompanying paper (Y. Weng, K. Czaplinski, and S. W. Peltz, Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:5477-5490, 1996) mutations in the helicase region of Upf1p that inactivated its mRNA decay function but prevented suppression of leu2-2 and tyr7-1 nonsense alleles are identified. On the basis of these results, we suggested that Upf1p is a multifunctional protein involved in modulating mRNA decay and translation termination at nonsense codons. If this is true, we predict that UPF1 mutations with the converse phenotype should be identified. In this report, we describe the identification and biochemical characterization of mutations in the amino-terminal cysteine- and histidine-rich region of Upf1p that have normal nonsense-mediated mRNA decay activities but are able to suppress leu2-2 and tyr7-1 nonsense alleles. Biochemical characterization of these mutant proteins demonstrated that they have altered RNA binding properties. Furthermore, using the two-hybrid system, we characterized the Upf1p-Upf2p interactions and demonstrated that Upf2p interacts with Upf3p. Mutations in the cysteine- and histidine-rich region of Upf1p abolish Upf1p-Upf2p interaction. On the basis of these results, the role of the Upf complex in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and nonsense suppression is discussed.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 5477-5490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Weng ◽  
K Czaplinski ◽  
S W Peltz

mRNA degradation is an important control point in the regulation of gene expression and has been linked to the process of translation. One clear example of this linkage is the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway, in which nonsense mutations in a gene can reduce the abundance of the mRNA transcribed from that gene. For the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Upf1 protein (Upf1p), which contains a cysteine- and histidine-rich region and nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis and helicase motifs, was shown to be a trans-acting factor in this decay pathway. Biochemical analysis of the wild-type Upf1p demonstrates that it has RNA-dependent ATPase, RNA helicase, and RNA binding activities. A UPF1 gene disruption results in stabilization of nonsense-containing mRNAs, leading to the production of enough functional product to overcome an auxotrophy resulting from a nonsense mutation. A genetic and biochemical study of the UPF1 gene was undertaken in order to understand the mechanism of Upf1p function in the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. Our analysis suggests that Upf1p is a multifunctional protein with separable activities that can affect mRNA turnover and nonsense suppression. Mutations in the conserved helicase motifs of Upf1p that inactivate its mRNA decay function while not allowing suppression of leu2-2 and tyr7-1 nonsense alleles have been identified. In particular, one mutation located in the ATP binding and hydrolysis motif of Upf1p that changed the aspartic and glutamic acid residues to alanine residues (DE572AA) lacked ATPase and helicase activities, and the mutant formed a Upf1p:RNA complex in the absence of ATP; surprisingly, however, the Upf1p:RNA complex dissociated as a consequence of ATP binding. This result suggests that ATP binding, independent of its hydrolysis, can modulate Upf1p:RNA complex formation for this mutant protein. The role of the RNA binding activity of Upf1p in modulating nonsense suppression is discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (6) ◽  
pp. E1184-E1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moonil Son ◽  
Reed B. Wickner

The yeast prion [PSI+] is a self-propagating amyloid of Sup35p with a folded in-register parallel β-sheet architecture. In a genetic screen for antiprion genes, using the yeast knockout collection,UPF1/NAM7andUPF3, encoding nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) factors, were frequently detected. Almost all [PSI+] variants arising in the absence of Upf proteins were eliminated by restored normal levels of these proteins, and [PSI+] arises more frequently inupfmutants. Upf1p, complexed with Upf2p and Upf3p, is a multifunctional protein with helicase, ATP-binding, and RNA-binding activities promoting efficient translation termination and degradation of mRNAs with premature nonsense codons. We find that the curing ability of Upf proteins is uncorrelated with these previously reported functions but does depend on their interaction with Sup35p and formation of the Upf1p–Upf2p–Upf3p complex (i.e., the Upf complex). Indeed, Sup35p amyloid formation in vitro is inhibited by substoichiometric Upf1p. Inhibition of [PSI+] prion generation and propagation by Upf proteins may be due to the monomeric Upf proteins and the Upf complex competing with Sup35p amyloid fibers for available Sup35p monomers. Alternatively, the association of the Upf complex with amyloid filaments may block the addition of new monomers. Our results suggest that maintenance of normal protein–protein interactions prevents prion formation and can even reverse the process.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 2231-2244 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Zhang ◽  
M J Ruiz-Echevarria ◽  
Y Quan ◽  
S W Peltz

In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, nonsense mutations in a gene can enhance the decay rate or reduce the abundance of the mRNA transcribed from that gene, and we call this process nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. We have been investigating the cis-acting sequences involved in this decay pathway. Previous experiments have demonstrated that, in addition to a nonsense codon, specific sequences 3' of a nonsense mutation, which have been defined as downstream elements, are required for mRNA destabilization. The results presented here identify a sequence motif (TGYYGATGYYYYY, where Y stands for either T or C) that can predict regions in genes that, when positioned 3' of a nonsense codon, promote rapid decay of its mRNA. Sequences harboring two copies of the motif from five regions in the PGK1, ADE3, and HIS4 genes were able to function as downstream elements. In addition, four copies of this motif can function as an independent downstream element. The sequences flanking the motif played a more significant role in modulating its activity when fewer copies of the sequence motif were present. Our results indicate the sequences 5' of the motif can modulate its activity by maintaining a certain distance between the sequence motif and the termination codon. We also suggest that the sequences 3' of the motif modulate the activity of the downstream element by forming RNA secondary structures. Consistent with this view, a stem-loop structure positioned 3' of the sequence motif can enhance the activity of the downstream element. This sequence motif is one of the few elements that have been identified that can predict regions in genes that can be involved in mRNA turnover. The role of these sequences in mRNA decay is discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachery R. Belak ◽  
Andrew Ficzycz ◽  
Nick Ovsenek

YY1 (Yin Yang 1) is present in the Xenopus oocyte cytoplasm as a constituent of messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs). Association of YY1 with mRNPs requires direct RNA-binding activity. Previously, we have shown YY1 has a high affinity for U-rich RNA; however, potential interactions with plausible in vivo targets have not been investigated. Here we report a biochemical characterization of the YY1–RNA interaction including an investigation of the stability, potential 5′-methylguanosine affinity, and specificity for target RNAs. The formation of YY1–RNA complexes in vitro was highly resistant to thermal, ionic, and detergent disruption. The endogenous oocyte YY1–mRNA interactions were also found to be highly stable. Specific YY1–RNA interactions were observed with selected mRNA and 5S RNA probes. The affinity of YY1 for these substrates was within an order of magnitude of that for its cognate DNA element. Experiments aimed at determining the potential role of the 7-methylguanosine cap on RNA-binding reveal no significant difference in the affinity of YY1 for capped or uncapped mRNA. Taken together, the results show that the YY1–RNA interaction is highly stable, and that YY1 possesses the ability to interact with structurally divergent RNA substrates. These data are the first to specifically document the interaction between YY1 and potential in vivo targets.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Fritz ◽  
Soumya Ranganathan ◽  
J. Robert Hogg

AbstractThe nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway monitors translation termination to degrade transcripts with premature stop codons and regulate thousands of human genes. Due to the major role of NMD in RNA quality control and gene expression regulation, it is important to understand how the pathway responds to changing cellular conditions. Here we show that an alternative mammalian-specific isoform of the core NMD factor UPF1, termed UPF1LL, enables condition-dependent remodeling of NMD specificity. UPF1LL associates more stably with potential NMD target mRNAs than the major UPF1SL isoform, expanding the scope of NMD to include many transcripts normally immune to the pathway. Unexpectedly, the enhanced persistence of UPF1LL on mRNAs supports induction of NMD in response to rare translation termination events. Thus, while canonical NMD is abolished by translational repression, UPF1LL activity is enhanced, providing a mechanism to rapidly rewire NMD specificity in response to cellular stress.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1760-1768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misa Iwatani-Yoshihara ◽  
Masahiro Ito ◽  
Yoshihiro Ishibashi ◽  
Hideyuki Oki ◽  
Toshio Tanaka ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Borgatti ◽  
Emiliano Altamura ◽  
Francesca Salvatori ◽  
Elisabetta D’Aversa ◽  
Nicola Altamura

Several types of thalassemia (including β039-thalassemia) are caused by nonsense mutations in genes controlling globin production, leading to premature translation termination and mRNA destabilization mediated by the nonsense mediated mRNA decay. Drugs (for instance, aminoglycosides) can be designed to suppress premature translation termination by inducing readthrough (or nonsense suppression) at the premature termination codon. These findings have introduced new hopes for the development of a pharmacologic approach to cure this genetic disease. In the present review, we first summarize the principle and current status of the chemical relief for the expression of functional proteins from genes otherwise unfruitful for the presence of nonsense mutations. Second, we compare data available on readthrough molecules for β0-thalassemia. The examples reported in the review strongly suggest that ribosomal readthrough should be considered as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of β0-thalassemia caused by nonsense mutations. Concluding, the discovery of molecules, exhibiting the property of inducing β-globin, such as readthrough compounds, is of great interest and represents a hope for several patients, whose survival will depend on the possible use of drugs rendering blood transfusion and chelation therapy unnecessary.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (5) ◽  
pp. G579-G586
Author(s):  
B. Schjoldager ◽  
S. P. Powers ◽  
L. J. Miller

Although the gallbladder was the first recognized target of the peptide hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) and is a physiologically important target, only one preliminary report of the biochemical characterization of this receptor exists. Recently, a series of molecular probes for the affinity labeling of different domains of the pancreatic CCK receptor have been developed. In this work we report the application of several of those probes toward the biochemical characterization of the bovine gallbladder muscularis receptor. These include "long" (125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-33) and "short" (125I-D-Tyr-Gly-[Nle28,31)CCK-(26-33)]) probes chemically cross-linkable through their amino-terminal amino groups and monofunctional probes with their photolabile moieties at their amino terminus (2-diazo-3,3,3-trifluoropropionyl-125I-D-Tyr-Gly-[(Nle28,31) CCK-(26-33)]) and carboxyl terminus (125I-D-Tyr-Gly-[(Nle28,31,pNO2-Phe33)CCK-(26-33)]), that span the receptor-binding region. Each of these bound specifically and saturably to a preparation enriched in plasma membranes from bovine gallbladder muscularis (mean inhibitor constants: 5.2, 1.1, 0.8, and 1.8 nM, respectively). A major relative molecular weight (Mr) 70,000-85,000 band was specifically and reproducibly labeled with the appropriate apparent affinity by each of the probes, whereas labeling of minor bands of Mr 40,000-50,000, Mr 92,000, Mr 120,000, and Mr 200,000 was dependent on cross-linker type or concentration. These observations support the identification of the Mr 70,000-85,000 protein as the bovine gallbladder CCK-binding subunit and, since this is a different size from the pancreatic CCK-binding subunit, provide biochemical evidence for molecular heterogeneity of peripheral CCK receptors.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e60478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim M. Keeling ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Yanying Dai ◽  
Srinivasan Murugesan ◽  
Balachandra Chenna ◽  
...  

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