Project description:The development and regulation of malignant self-renewal remain unresolved issues. Here, we provide biochemical, genetic, and functional evidence that dynamics in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 2'-O-methylation regulate leukemia stem cell (LSC) activity in vivo. A comprehensive analysis of the rRNA 2'-O-methylation landscape of 94 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) revealed dynamic 2'-O-methylation specifically at exterior sites of ribosomes. The rRNA 2'-O-methylation pattern is closely associated with AML development stage and LSC gene expression signature. Forced expression of the 2'-O-methyltransferase fibrillarin (FBL) induced an AML stem cell phenotype and enabled engraftment of non-LSC leukemia cells in NSG mice. Enhanced 2'-O-methylation redirected the ribosome translation program toward amino acid transporter mRNAs enriched in optimal codons and subsequently increased intracellular amino acid levels. Methylation at the single site 18S-guanosine 1447 was instrumental for LSC activity. Collectively, our work demonstrates that dynamic 2'-O-methylation at specific sites on rRNAs shifts translational preferences and controls AML LSC self-renewal.SignificanceWe establish the complete rRNA 2'-O-methylation landscape in human AML. Plasticity of rRNA 2'-O-methylation shifts protein translation toward an LSC phenotype. This dynamic process constitutes a novel concept of how cancers reprogram cell fate and function. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247.
Project description:Eukaryotic ribosomal RNA carries diverse posttranscriptional modifications, among which the evolutionarily conserved 2’-O-methylation (2’-O-Me) occurs at more than 100 sites and is essential for ribosome biogenesis. Plasticity of 2´-O-Me in ribosomes and its functional consequences in human disease are not yet known. Here, we present the full rRNA 2’-O-Me landscape (ribomethylome) of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through profiling 94 patient samples as well as 21 normal hematopoietic samples of 5 different lineages. While interior modification sites in functional centers are persistently fully 2’-O-methylated in human AMLs, methylation on ribosome exterior sites is unprecedentedly dynamic. Higher 2’-O-methylation on exterior dynamic sites is associated with leukemia stem cell (LSC) signatures. Forced expression of enzymatically active but not of the catalytic defect 2’-O-methyltransferase FBL induces AML stemness and accelerates leukemogenesis in patient-derived xenografts. Mechanistically, ribomethylome dynamics shifted mRNA ribosome translation preferences. High rRNA 2’-O-Me enhances translation of amino acid transporters enriched in optimal codons and subsequently increases intra-cellular amino acid levels. Methylation on a single exterior modification site affects leukemia stem cell activity. The Guanosine 1447 on the small subunit ribosomal RNA is the most variable site in primary AMLs. Gm1447 is increased in leukemia stem cell populations compared to non-leukemogenic blast cells and AML specimens with higher Gm1447 are enriched for leukemia stem cell genes. Comparison of Gm1447high and Gm1447low ribosome structure solved by cryo-electron microscopy demonstrated disassociation of LYAR from Gm1447low ribosomes. Suppression of Gm1447 alone is sufficient to suppress translation of amino acid transporters, resulting in decreased cellular amino acid levels and leukemia stem cell activity. Taken together, our data reveal the dynamic FBL-mediated rRNA 2'-O-Me landscape as a novel epitranscriptomic level of control employed by leukemic stem cells and may enable new strategies to target human AML.
Project description:Eukaryotic ribosomal RNA carries diverse posttranscriptional modifications, the function of which are mostly unexplored. The evolutionarily conserved 2’-O-methylation (2’-O-Me) occurs at more than 100 sites and is essential for ribosome biogenesis. Plasticity of 2´-O-Me in ribosomes and its functional consequences in human disease remain to be elucidated. The effect of rRNA 2’-O-Me on protein translation was investigated by nascent proteomcis analysis coupled with RNA-Seq in human leukemia cell line Kasumi-1 with and without knockdown of 2´-O-methyltransferase FBL.
Project description:Eukaryotic ribosomal RNA carries diverse posttranscriptional modifications, the function of which are mostly unexplored. The evolutionarily conserved 2’-O-methylation (2’-O-Me) occurs at more than 100 sites and is essential for ribosome biogenesis. Plasticity of 2´-O-Me in ribosomes and its functional consequences in human disease remain to be elucidated. We performed RiboMethSeq to estabolish the full rRNA 2’-O-Me landscape (ribomethylome) in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through profiling 94 patient samples as well as 21 normal hematopoietic samples of 5 different lineages. The gene expression in the same samples was determined by RNA-Seq. We found that higher 2’-O-methylation on exterior dynamic sites associated with leukemia stem cell (LSC) signatures.
Project description:Eukaryotic ribosomal RNA carries diverse posttranscriptional modifications, the function of which are mostly unexplored. The evolutionarily conserved 2’-O-methylation (2’-O-Me) occurs at more than 100 sites and is essential for ribosome biogenesis. Plasticity of 2´-O-Me in ribosomes and its functional consequences in human disease remain to be elucidated. We performed RiboMethSeq to estabolish the full rRNA 2’-O-Me landscape (ribomethylome) in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through profiling 94 patient samples as well as 21 normal hematopoietic samples of 5 different lineages. The gene expression in the same samples was determined by RNA-Seq. We found that higher 2’-O-methylation on exterior dynamic sites associated with leukemia stem cell (LSC) signatures.
