Project description:Upf1, Upf2, and Upf3 are the central regulators of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), the eukaryotic mRNA quality control pathway generally triggered when a premature termination codon is recognized by the ribosome. The NMD-related functions of the Upf proteins likely commence while these factors are ribosome-associated, but little is known of the timing of their ribosome binding, their specificity for ribosomes translating NMD substrates, or the nature and role of any ribosome:Upf complexes. Here, we have elucidated details of the ribosome-associated steps of NMD. By combining yeast genetics with selective ribosome profiling and co-sedimentation analyses of polysomes with wild-type and mutant Upf proteins, our approaches have identified distinct states of ribosome:Upf association. All three Upf factors manifest progressive polysome association as mRNA translation proceeds, but these events appear to be preceded by formation of a Upf1:80S complex as mRNAs initiate translation. This complex is likely executing an early mRNA surveillance function.
Project description:Upf1, Upf2, and Upf3 are the central regulators of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), the eukaryotic mRNA quality control pathway generally triggered when a premature termination codon is recognized by the ribosome. The NMD-related functions of the Upf proteins likely commence while these factors are ribosome-associated, but little is known of the timing of their ribosome binding, their specificity for ribosomes translating NMD substrates, or the nature and role of any ribosome:Upf complexes. Here, we have elucidated details of the ribosome-associated steps of NMD. By combining yeast genetics with selective ribosome profiling and co-sedimentation analyses of polysomes with wild-type and mutant Upf proteins, our approaches have identified distinct states of ribosome:Upf association. All three Upf factors manifest progressive polysome association as mRNA translation proceeds, but these events appear to be preceded by formation of a Upf1:80S complex as mRNAs initiate translation. This complex is likely executing an early mRNA surveillance function.
Project description:Upf1, Upf2, and Upf3, the central regulators of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), appear to exercise their NMD functions while bound to elongating ribosomes, and evidence for this conclusion is particularly compelling for Upf1. Hence, we used selective profiling of yeast Upf1:ribosome association to define that step in greater detail, understand whether the nature of the mRNA being translated influences Upf1:80S interaction, and elucidate the functions of ribosome-associated Upf1. Our approach has allowed us to clarify the timing and specificity of Upf1 association with translating ribosomes, obtain evidence for a Upf1 mRNA surveillance function that precedes the activation of NMD, identify a unique ribosome state that generates 37-43 nt ribosome footprints whose accumulation is dependent on Upf1's ATPase activity, and demonstrate that a mutated form of Upf1 can interfere with normal translation termination and ribosome release. In addition, our results strongly support the existence of at least two distinct functional Upf1 complexes in the NMD pathway.
Project description:Two RNA binding proteins, UPF1 and LIN28A, have well-known functions in posttranscriptional regulations and stem cell differentiation. Most studies on UPF1 and LIN28A have focused on the molecular mechanism in differentiated cells and stem cell differentiation, respectively. We revealed that LIN28A directly interacts with UPF1, which happens before UPF1 forms a complex with UPF2, thereby resulting in the reduction of UPF1 phosphorylation and inhibition of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Our studies reveal that cell fate is determined by transcriptome regulation through UPF1-LIN28A interaction in hPSCs.
Project description:RNA quality control pathways serve to get rid of faulty RNAs and therefore must be able to discriminate these RNAs from those that are normal. Here we present evidence that the ATPase cycle of SF1 Helicase Upf1 is required for mRNA discrimination during Nonsense-Mediated Decay (NMD). Mutations affecting the Upf1 ATPase cycle disrupt the mRNA selectivity of Upf1, leading to indiscriminate accumulation of NMD complexes on both NMD target and non-target mRNAs. In addition, two modulators of NMD - translation and termination codon-proximal poly(A) binding protein - depend on Upf1 ATPase to limit Upf1-non-target association. Preferential ATPase-dependent dissociation of Upf1 from non-target mRNAs in vitro suggests that selective release of Upf1 contributes to the ATPase-dependence of Upf1 target discrimination. Given the prevalence of helicases in RNA regulation, ATP hydrolysis may be an underappreciated, yet widely employed, activity in target RNA discrimination. CLIP and RIP-seq against Wild Type and Mutant Upf1 in HEK293-T cell lines
Project description:RNA quality control pathways serve to get rid of faulty RNAs and therefore must be able to discriminate these RNAs from those that are normal. Here we present evidence that the ATPase cycle of SF1 Helicase Upf1 is required for mRNA discrimination during Nonsense-Mediated Decay (NMD). Mutations affecting the Upf1 ATPase cycle disrupt the mRNA selectivity of Upf1, leading to indiscriminate accumulation of NMD complexes on both NMD target and non-target mRNAs. In addition, two modulators of NMD - translation and termination codon-proximal poly(A) binding protein - depend on Upf1 ATPase to limit Upf1-non-target association. Preferential ATPase-dependent dissociation of Upf1 from non-target mRNAs in vitro suggests that selective release of Upf1 contributes to the ATPase-dependence of Upf1 target discrimination. Given the prevalence of helicases in RNA regulation, ATP hydrolysis may be an underappreciated, yet widely employed, activity in target RNA discrimination. CLIP and RIP-seq against Wild Type and Mutant Upf1 in HEK293-T cell lines
Project description:RNA quality control pathways serve to get rid of faulty RNAs and therefore must be able to discriminate these RNAs from those that are normal. Here we present evidence that the ATPase cycle of SF1 Helicase Upf1 is required for mRNA discrimination during Nonsense-Mediated Decay (NMD). Mutations affecting the Upf1 ATPase cycle disrupt the mRNA selectivity of Upf1, leading to indiscriminate accumulation of NMD complexes on both NMD target and non-target mRNAs. In addition, two modulators of NMD - translation and termination codon-proximal poly(A) binding protein - depend on Upf1 ATPase to limit Upf1-non-target association. Preferential ATPase-dependent dissociation of Upf1 from non-target mRNAs in vitro suggests that selective release of Upf1 contributes to the ATPase-dependence of Upf1 target discrimination. Given the prevalence of helicases in RNA regulation, ATP hydrolysis may be an underappreciated, yet widely employed, activity in target RNA discrimination.
Project description:RNA quality control pathways serve to get rid of faulty RNAs and therefore must be able to discriminate these RNAs from those that are normal. Here we present evidence that the ATPase cycle of SF1 Helicase Upf1 is required for mRNA discrimination during Nonsense-Mediated Decay (NMD). Mutations affecting the Upf1 ATPase cycle disrupt the mRNA selectivity of Upf1, leading to indiscriminate accumulation of NMD complexes on both NMD target and non-target mRNAs. In addition, two modulators of NMD - translation and termination codon-proximal poly(A) binding protein - depend on Upf1 ATPase to limit Upf1-non-target association. Preferential ATPase-dependent dissociation of Upf1 from non-target mRNAs in vitro suggests that selective release of Upf1 contributes to the ATPase-dependence of Upf1 target discrimination. Given the prevalence of helicases in RNA regulation, ATP hydrolysis may be an underappreciated, yet widely employed, activity in target RNA discrimination.