MTORC1 and CK2 coordinate ternary and eIF4F complex assembly
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: mRNA translation plays a major role in homeostasis, whereas its dysregulation underpins a variety of pathological states including cancer, metabolic syndrome and neurological disorders. Ternary complex (TC) and eIF4F complex assembly are two major rate-limiting steps in translation initiation that are thought to be regulated by eIF2α phosphorylation, and the mTOR/4E-BP pathway, respectively2. However, how TC and eIF4F assembly are coordinated remains largely unknown. Using polysome-profiling, we show that on a genome-wide scale mTOR suppresses translation of mRNAs, which are translationally activated under short-term ER stress when TC recycling is attenuated by eIF2α phosphorylation. During acute nutrient or growth factor stimulation, mTORC1 induces eIF2β phosphorylation, which increases recruitment of NCK1 to eIF2, decreases eIF2α phosphorylation and bolsters TC recycling. Accordingly, eIF2β appears to act as a previously unidentified mediator of mTORC1 on protein synthesis and proliferation. In addition, we demonstrate a formerly undocumented role for CK2 in regulation of translation initiation, whereby CK2 stimulates phosphorylation of eIF2β and simultaneously bolsters eIF4F complex assembly via the mTORC1/4E-BP pathway. These findings imply a previously unrecognized mode of translation regulation whereby mTORC1 and CK2 coordinate TC and eIF4F complex assembly to stimulate cell proliferation.
Project description:The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master regulator of cell growth that is commonly deregulated in human diseases. Here we find that mTORC1 controls a transcriptional program encoding amino acid transporters and metabolic enzymes through a mechanism also used to regulate protein synthesis. Bioinformatic analysis of mTORC1-responsive mRNAs identified a promoter element recognized by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a key effector of the integrated stress response. ATF4 translation is normally induced by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) through a mechanism that requires upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the ATF4 5' UTR. mTORC1 also controls ATF4 translation through uORFs, but independent of changes in eIF2α phosphorylation. mTORC1 instead employs the 4E-binding protein (4E-BP) family of translation repressors. These results link mTORC1-regulated demand for protein synthesis with an ATF4-regulated transcriptional program that controls the supply of amino acids to the translation machinery.
Project description:Activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) contributes to the development of chronic pain. However, the specific mechanisms by which mTORC1 causes hypersensitivity remain elusive. The eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) is a key mTORC1 downstream effector that represses translation initiation. Here we show that nociceptor-specific deletion of 4E-BP1, mimicking activation of mTORC1-dependent translation, is sufficient to cause mechanical hypersensitivity.
Project description:All cells and organisms exhibit stress-coping mechanisms to ensure survival. Cytoplasmic protein-RNA assemblies termed stress granules are increasingly recognized to promote cellular survival under stress. Thus, they might represent tumor vulnerabilities that are currently poorly explored. The translation-inhibitory eIF2α kinases are established as main drivers of stress granule assembly. Using a systems approach, we identify the translation enhancers PI3K and MAPK/p38 as pro-stress-granule-kinases. They act through the metabolic master regulator mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) to promote stress granule assembly. When highly active, PI3K is the main driver of stress granules; however, the impact of p38 becomes apparent as PI3K activity declines. PI3K and p38 thus act in a hierarchical manner to drive mTORC1 activity and stress granule assembly. Of note, this signaling hierarchy is also present in human breast cancer tissue. Importantly, only the recognition of the PI3K-p38 hierarchy under stress enabled the discovery of p38’s role in stress granule formation. In summary, we assign a new pro-survival function to the key oncogenic kinases PI3K and p38, as they hierarchically promote stress granule formation.
Project description:We recently identified ISRIB as a potent inhibitor of the integrated stress response (ISR). ISRIB renders cells resistant to the effects of eIF2α phosphorylation and enhances long-term memory in rodents (10.7554/eLife.00498). Here we show by genome-wide in vivo ribosome profiling that translation of a restricted subset of mRNAs is induced upon ISR activation. ISRIB substantially reversed the translational effects elicited by phosphorylation of eIF2α and induced no major changes in translation or mRNA levels in unstressed cells. eIF2α phosphorylation-induced stress granule (SG) formation was blocked by ISRIB. Strikingly, ISRIB addition to stressed cells with pre-formed SGs induced their rapid disassembly, liberating mRNAs into the actively translating pool. Restoration of mRNA translation and modulation of SG dynamics may be an effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by eIF2α phosphorylation, SG formation and cognitive loss. Ribosome profiling with paired RNA-seq
Project description:One of the most regulated steps of translation initiation is the recruitment of an mRNA by the translation machinery. In eukaryotes, this step is mediated by the 5M-BM-4end cap-binding factor eIF4E bound to the bridge protein eIF4G and forming the eIF4F complex. In plants, different isoforms of eIF4E and eIF4G form the antigenically distinct eIF4F and eIF(iso)4F complexes proposed to mediate selective translation. Using a microarray analysis of polyribosome- and non-polyribosome-purified mRNAs from 15 day-old Arabidopsis thaliana wild type [WT] and eIF(iso)4E knockout mutant [AteIF(iso)4E-1] seedlings we found 79 transcripts shifted from polyribosomes toward non-polyribosomes, and 47 mRNAs with the opposite behavior in the mutant. The translationally decreased mRNAs were overrepresented in root-preferentially expressed genes and proteins from the endomembrane system, including several transporters such as the phosphate transporter PHOSPHATE1 (PHO1), Sucrose transporter 3 (SUC3), the ABC transporter-like with ATPase activity (MRP11) and five electron transporters, as well as signal transduction-, protein modification- and transcription-related proteins. For transcriptional analysis used total RNA of AteIF(iso)4E-1 seedlings of 15 days old to known the changes on transcripts leves by the eIF(iso)4E absence, using as control Wt seedlings. The experiments were performed in duplicate, and swap analysis were done. For translational analysis, used non-polysomal and polysomal RNA of AteIF(iso)4E-1 seedlings of 15 days old in order to known the transcripts that are modified in their translational levels by the eIF(iso)4E absence, using as control non polysomal and polysomal RNA of Wt seddlings.
Project description:Cyclin-dependent kinases 13 (CDK13) has been suggested to phosphorylate RNA polymerase II and is involved in transcriptional activation. However, whether CDK13 catalyzes other protein substrates and how CDK13 contributes to tumorigenesis remain largely unclear. Herein, we identify key translation machinery components 4E-BP1 and eIF4B as novel CDK13 substrates. CDK13 directly phosphorylates 4E-BP1 at Thr46 and eIF4B at Ser422 such that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of CDK13 perturbs RNA translation. Polysome profiling analysis shows that MYC oncoprotein synthesis depends on the CDK13-regulated translation in colorectal cancer (CRC), and CDK13 is required for CRC cell proliferation. As mTORC1 has been shown to phosphorylate the 4E-BP1 and eIF4B, knockdown or inhibition of CDK13 in combination with mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin further dephosphorylates 4E-BP1 and eIF4B and blocks protein synthesis. As a result, dual inhibition of CDK13 and mTORC1 accelerated CRC cell death and again MYC were significantly downregulated upon combination treatment. These findings demonstrate a pro-tumorigenic role of CDK13 in CRC and shed light on the role of CDK13 in protein synthesis by direct phosphorylation of translation initiation factors. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of CDK13 alone or in combination with rapamycin may pave a new way for CRC treatment.
Project description:In response to stress, eukaryotes activate the integrated stress response (ISR) via phosphorylation of eIF2α to promote the translation of pro-survival effector genes, such as GCN4 in yeast. Complementing the ISR is the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway, which regulates eIF4E function. Here we probe translational control in the absence of eIF4E in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intriguingly, we find that loss of eIF4E leads to de-repression of GCN4 translation. In addition, we find that de-repression of GCN4 translation is neither accompanied by eIF2α phosphorylation nor reduction in initiator ternary complex. Our data suggest that when eIF4E levels are depleted, GCN4 translation is de-repressed via a unique mechanism that may involve faster scanning by the small ribosome subunit due to increased local concentration of eIF4A. Overall, our findings suggest that relative levels of eIF4F components are key to ribosome dynamics and may play important roles in translational control of gene expression.
Project description:Amino acid availability regulates translation through the action of the GCN2 and mTORC1 pathways. Low amino acids activate the eIF2α kinase GCN2 through binding of uncharged tRNAs to a histidyl-tRNA synthetase−related regulatory domain. Once activated GCN2 phosphorylates eIF2α, inhibiting ternary complex formation and translation initiation. Recent studies show that mTORC1 is particularly sensitive to arginine and leucine status, with a deprivation of these amino acids leading to a strong inhibition of mTORC1 that prevents the phosphorylation and inactivation of the translational repressor 4EBP1. Though amino acids are known regulators of translation, the effects that deficiencies of specific amino acids have on translation have yet to be determined. We demonstrate that deprivation of leucine or methionine results in large inhibitory effects on translation initiation and on polysome formation that are not replicated by overexpressing non-phosphorylatable 4EBP1 or a phosphomimetic eIF2α. Our results demonstrate that a lack of either leucine or methionine has a major impact on mRNA translation, though they act by quite different mechanisms. Leucine deprivation appears to primarily inhibit ribosome loading, whereas methionine deprivation appears to primarily impair start site recognition. These data point to a unique regulatory effect that methionine status has on translation initiation.
Project description:Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited neurodevelopmental (ND) disorder with frequent manifestations of epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes. TSC1 and TSC2 form a complex inhibiting mechanistic target of rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1) signaling, leading to hyperactive mTORC1 signaling upon TSC1/2 loss of function. Although rapalogs, which are FDA-approved allosteric mTORC1-selective inhibitors, are used to treat TSC-associated hamartomas, they are not effective for treating ND manifestations. mTORC1 signaling controls protein synthesis by regulating formation of the eIF4F complex, whose activity is further modulated by the MNK1/2 kinases via phosphorylation of the eIF4F subunit eIF4E. While both these pathways modulate translation in transcript-selective fashion depending on features in target mRNAs’ 5’ untranslated regions (5’UTRs), their effect on transcriptome-wide patterns of mRNA translation has not been compared. Here, employing CRISPR-modified, isogenic TSC2 patient-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs), we examined how loss of TSC2 affects gene expression via changes in mRNA abundance and translation at a transcriptome-wide scale. This revealed abundant mRNA translation alterations in TSC2-Null NPCs overlapping with those we previously observed in TSC1-Null NPCs. Surprisingly, numerous non-monogenic ASD- and NDD-associated genes, identified in patients harboring putative loss-of-function mutations, were selectively translationally suppressed in TSC2-Null NPCs consistent with their distinct repertoire of 5’UTR features. Importantly, translation of these ASD- and NDD-associated genes was reversed upon inhibition of either mTORC1 or MNK1/2 signaling using RMC-6272 or eFT-508, respectively. This study thereby establishes mTORC1-eIF4F and MNK-eIF4E-sensitive mRNA translation as key components in TSC, ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders; and lay the groundwork for evaluating drugs in clinical development that target these pathways as a treatment strategy for TSC as well as ASD/NDD.