Processing body dynamics drive non-genetic MEK inhibitors tolerance by fine-tuning KRAS and NRAS translation

BackgroundOveractivation of the Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a critical driver of many human cancers. However, therapies that target this pathway have only been effective in a few cancers, as cancers inevitably end up developing resistance. Puzzling observations have suggested that MAPK targeting in tumor fails because of an early compensatory RAS overexpression, but through unexplained mechanisms.MethodsLung, breast, and melanoma cancer cells were incubated with MEK inhibitors (MEKi). Kinetics of expression of KRAS, NRAS mRNA and proteins and processing bodies (PBs) proteins were followed overtime by immunoblot and confocal studies.ResultsHere, we identified a novel mechanism of drug tolerance for MEKi involving PBs essential proteins like DDX6 or LSM14A. MEKi promoted the translation of KRAS and NRAS oncogenes, which in turn triggered BRAF phosphorylation. This overexpression, which occurred in the absence of neo-transcription, depended on PBs dissolution as a source of RAS mRNA reservoir. In addition, in response to MEKi removal, we showed that the process was dynamic since the PBs quickly reformed, reducing MAPK signaling. These results underline a dynamic spatiotemporal negative feedback loop of MAPK signaling via RAS mRNA sequestration. Furthermore, in long-tolerant cells, we observed a LSM14A loss of expression that promoted a low PBs number phenotype together with strong KRAS and NRAS induction capacities.ConclusionsAltogether we describe here a new intricate mechanism involving PB, DDX6 and LSM14A in the translation regulation of essential cellular pathways that pave the way for future therapies altering PBs dissolution to improve cancer targeted-drug therapies.

Gain-of-function cardiomyopathic mutations in RBM20 rewire splicing regulation and re-distribute ribonucleoprotein granules within processing bodies

Mutations in the cardiac splicing factor RBM20 lead to malignant dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To understand the mechanism of RBM20-associated DCM, we engineered isogenic iPSCs with DCM-associated missense mutations in RBM20 as well as RBM20 knockout (KO) iPSCs. iPSC-derived engineered heart tissues made from these cell lines recapitulate contractile dysfunction of RBM20-associated DCM and reveal greater dysfunction with missense mutations than KO. Analysis of RBM20 RNA binding by eCLIP reveals a gain-of-function preference of mutant RBM20 for 3′ UTR sequences that are shared with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and processing-body associated RNA binding proteins (FUS, DDX6). Deep RNA sequencing reveals that the RBM20 R636S mutant has unique gene, splicing, polyadenylation and circular RNA defects that differ from RBM20 KO. Super-resolution microscopy verifies that mutant RBM20 maintains very limited nuclear localization potential; rather, the mutant protein associates with cytoplasmic processing bodies (DDX6) under basal conditions, and with stress granules (G3BP1) following acute stress. Taken together, our results highlight a pathogenic mechanism in cardiac disease through splicing-dependent and -independent pathways.

Yeast Nst1 is a Novel Component of P-bodies and is a Specific Suppressor of Proteasome Base Assembly Defects

Proteasome assembly utilizes multiple dedicated assembly chaperones and is regulated by signaling pathways that respond to diverse stress conditions. To discover new factors influencing proteasome base assembly, we screened a tiled high-copy yeast genomic library to identify dosage suppressors of a temperature-sensitive proteasome regulatory particle (RP) base mutant. The screen identified Nst1, a protein that when overexpressed, specifically suppressed the temperature sensitivity and proteasome-assembly defects of multiple base mutants. Nst1 overexpression reduced cytosolic RP ATPase (Rpt) aggregates in nas6Δ rpn14Δ cells, which lack two RP assembly chaperones. Nst1 is highly polar and predicted to have numerous intrinsically disordered regions, characteristics commonly found in proteins that can segregate into membraneless condensates. In agreement with this, both endogenous and overexpressed Nst1 could form cytosolic puncta that co-localized with processing body (P-body) components. Consistent with the accumulation of translationally inactive mRNAs in P-bodies, Nst1 overexpression inhibited global protein translation in nas6Δ rpn14Δ cells. Translational inhibition is known to suppress aggregation and proteasome assembly defects in base mutants under heat stress . Our data indicate that Nst1 is a previously overlooked P-body component that when expressed at elevated levels inhibits translation, prevents Rpt subunit aggregation, and rescues proteasome assembly under stress conditions.

Amyloid Beta oligomers prevents Lysosomal targeting of miRNP to stop its recycling and target repression in glial cells

On exposure to Amyloid Beta Oligomers (Aβ1-42), glial cells start expressing proinflammatory cytokines although there has been increase in repressive miRNAs levels as well. Exploring the mechanism of this potential immunity of target cytokine mRNAs against repressive miRNAs in amyloid beta exposed glial cells, we have identified differential compartmentalization of repressive miRNAs in glial cells to explain this aberrant miRNA function. While the target mRNAs were found to be associated with polysomes attached to endoplasmic reticulum, the miRNPs found to be present predominantly with endosomes that failed to recycle to endoplasmic reticulum attached polysomes to repress mRNA targets in Aβ1-42 treated cells. Aβ1-42 oligomers, by masking the Rab7 proteins on endosomal surface, affects Rab7 interaction with Rab Interacting Lysosomal Protein (RILP) to restrict lysosomal targeting and recycling of miRNPs. RNA processing body or P-body localization of the miRNPs also get enhanced in amyloid beta treated cells as a consequence of enhanced endosomal retention of miRNPs. Interestingly, depletion of P-body components partly rescues the miRNA function in glial cells exposed to amyloid beta and restricts the excess cytokine expression there.

RGG-motif protein Sbp1 is required for Processing body (P-body) disassembly

RNA granules are conserved mRNP complexes that play an important role in determining mRNA fate by affecting translation repression and mRNA decay. Processing bodies (P-bodies) harbor enzymes responsible for mRNA decay and proteins involved in modulating translation. Although many proteins have been identified to play a role in P-body assembly, a bonafide disassembly factor remains unknown. In this report, we identify RGG-motif translation repressor protein Sbp1 as a disassembly factor of P-bodies. Disassembly of Edc3 granules but not the Pab1 granules (a conserved stress granule marker) that arise upon sodium azide and glucose deprivation stress are defective in Δsbp1. Disassembly of other P-body proteins such as Dhh1 and Scd6 is also defective in Δsbp1. Complementation experiments suggest that the wild type Sbp1 but not an RGG-motif deletion mutant rescues the Edc3 granule disassembly defect in Δsbp1. We observe that purified Edc3 forms assemblies, which is promoted by the presence of RNA and NADH. Strikingly, addition of purified Sbp1 leads to significantly decreased Edc3 assemblies. Although low complexity sequences have been in general implicated in assembly, our results reveal the role of RGG-motif (a low-complexity sequence) in the disassembly of P-bodies.

Amyloid Beta Oligomers Prevents Lysosomal Targeting of miRNP to Stop Its Recycling and Target Cytokine Repression in Glial Cells

AbstractmRNAs encoding inflammatory cytokines are targeted by miRNAs and remain repressed in neuroglial cells. On exposure to amyloid beta 1-42 oligomers, glial cells start expressing proinflammatory cytokines although there has been increase in repressive miRNAs levels as well. Exploring the mechanism of this potential immunity of target cytokine mRNAs against repressive miRNAs in amyloid beta exposed glial cells, we have identified differential compartmentalization of repressive miRNAs in glial cells to explain this aberrant miRNA function. While the target mRNAs were found to be associated with polysomes attached to endoplasmic reticulum, the miRNPs found to be present predominantly with endosomes that failed to recycle to endoplasmic reticulum attached polysomes to repress mRNA targets in treated cells. Amyloid beta oligomers, by masking the Rab7 proteins on endosomal surface, affects Rab7 interaction with Rab Interacting Lysosomal Protein (RILP) on lysosomes to restrict endosomal maturation and its lysosomal targeting. This causes retarded miRNP targeting to lysosomes and recycling. Similar defects in miRNP retrieval has been observed in endosome maturation defective cells depleted for RILP or treated with Bafilomycin. RNA processing body localization of the miRNPs was also noted in treated cells that happens as a consequence of enhanced endosomal retention of miRNPs. Interestingly, depletion of P-body partly rescues the miRNA function in glial cells exposed to amyloid beta and restricts the excess cytokine expression there.Graphical AbstractKey PointsAmyloid beta exposure causes accumulation of inactive miR-146 miRNP to cause elevated proinflammatory cytokine production in glial cells.Amyloid beta masks Rab7-RILP interaction to reduce endosome lysosome interaction.Accumulated miRNPs failed to get targeted to lysosomes in amyloid exposed cells due to loss of endosome lysosome interactionLysosomal compartmentalization of miRNPs is required for its recycling and repression of de novo targetsAccumulated miRNPs are stored in P-Bodies and depletion of P-Bodies rescues miRNA function in amyloid exposed glial cells.

Two- and Three-Dimensional Tracking of MFA2 mRNA Molecules in Mating Yeast

Intracellular mRNA transport contributes to the spatio-temporal regulation of mRNA function and localized translation. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, asymmetric mRNA transport localizes ~30 specific mRNAs including those encoding polarity and secretion factors, to the bud tip. The underlying process involves RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), molecular motors, processing bodies (PBs), and the actin cytoskeleton. Recently, pheromone a-factor expression in mating yeast was discovered to depend on proper localization of its mRNA, MFA2 mRNAs in conjunction with PBs cluster at the shmoo tip to form “mating bodies”, from which a-factor is locally expressed. The mechanism ensuring the correct targeting of mRNA to the shmoo tip is poorly understood. Here we analyzed the kinetics and trajectories of MFA2 mRNA transport in living, alpha-factor treated yeast. Two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) analyses allowed us to reconstruct the granule tracks and estimate granule velocities. Tracking analysis of single MFA2 mRNA granules, labeled using a fluorescent aptamer system, demonstrated three types movement: vibrational, oscillatory and translocational. The mRNA granule transport was complex; a granule could change its movement behavior and composition during its journey to the shmoo. Processing body assembly and the actin-based motor, Myo4p, were involved in movement of MFA2 mRNA to the shmoo, but neither was required, indicating that multiple mechanisms for translocation were at play. Our visualization studies present a dynamic view of the localization mechanism in shmoo-bearing cells.

InsP7is a small-molecule regulator of NUDT3-mediated mRNA decapping and processing-body dynamics

Regulation of enzymatic 5′ decapping of messenger RNA (mRNA), which normally commits transcripts to their destruction, has the capacity to dynamically reshape the transcriptome. For example, protection from 5′ decapping promotes accumulation of mRNAs into processing (P) bodies—membraneless, biomolecular condensates. Such compartmentalization of mRNAs temporarily removes them from the translatable pool; these repressed transcripts are stabilized and stored until P-body dissolution permits transcript reentry into the cytosol. Here, we describe regulation of mRNA stability and P-body dynamics by the inositol pyrophosphate signaling molecule 5-InsP7(5-diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate). First, we demonstrate 5-InsP7inhibits decapping by recombinant NUDT3 (Nudix [nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X]-type hydrolase 3) in vitro. Next, in intact HEK293 and HCT116 cells, we monitored the stability of a cadre of NUDT3 mRNA substrates following CRISPR-Cas9 knockout ofPPIP5Ks(diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate 5-kinases type 1 and 2, i.e.,PPIP5KKO), which elevates cellular 5-InsP7levels by two- to threefold (i.e., within the physiological rheostatic range). ThePPIP5KKO cells exhibited elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and increased P-body abundance. Pharmacological and genetic attenuation of 5-InsP7synthesis in the KO background reverted both NUDT3 mRNA substrate levels and P-body counts to those of wild-type cells. Furthermore, liposomal delivery of a metabolically resistant 5-InsP7analog into wild-type cells elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and raised P-body abundance. In the context that cellular 5-InsP7levels normally fluctuate in response to changes in the bioenergetic environment, regulation of mRNA structure by this inositol pyrophosphate represents an epitranscriptomic control process. The associated impact on P-body dynamics has relevance to regulation of stem cell differentiation, stress responses, and, potentially, amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

Two- and three-dimensional tracking of MFA2 mRNA molecules in mating yeast

Intracellular mRNA transport contributes to the spatio-temporal regulation of mRNA function and localized translation. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, asymmetric mRNA transport localizes ∼30 specific mRNAs including those encoding polarity and secretion factors, to the bud tip. The underlying process involves RNA binding proteins (RBPs), molecular motors, processing bodies (PBs), and the actin cytoskeleton. Recently, pheromone a-factor expression in mating yeast was discovered to depend upon proper localization of its mRNA, MFA2. MFA2 mRNAs in conjunction with PBs cluster at the shmoo tip to form “mating bodies”, from which a-factor is locally expressed. The mechanism ensuring the correct targeting of mRNA to the shmoo tip is poorly understood.Here we analyzed the kinetics and trajectories of MFA2 mRNA transport in living, alpha-factor treated yeast. Two-(2D) and three-dimensional (3D) analyses allowed us to reconstruct the granule tracks and estimate granule velocities. Tracking analysis of single MFA2 mRNA granules, labeled using a fluorescent aptamer system, demonstrated three types movement: vibrational, oscillatory and translocational. The mRNA granule transport was complex; a granule could change its movement behavior and composition during its journey to the shmoo. Processing body assembly and the actin-based motor, Myo4p, were involved in movement of MFA2 mRNA to the shmoo, but neither was required, indicating that multiple mechanisms for translocation were at play. Our visualization studies present a dynamic view of the localization mechanism in shmoo-bearing cells.