Project description:Recent findings indicate that the translation elongation rate influences mRNA stability. One of the factors that has been implicated in this link between mRNA decay and translation speed is the yeast DEAD-box helicase Dhh1p. Here, we demonstrate that the human ortholog of Dhh1p, DDX6, triggers deadenylation-dependent decay of inefficiently translated mRNAs in human cells. DDX6 interacts with the ribosome through the Phe-Asp-Phe (FDF) motif in its RecA2 domain. Furthermore, RecA2-mediated interactions and ATPase activity are both required for DDX6 to destabilize inefficiently translated mRNAs. Using ribosome profiling and RNA sequencing, we identified two classes of endogenous mRNAs that are regulated in a DDX6-dependent manner. The identified targets are either translationally regulated or regulated at the steady-state-level and either exhibit signatures of poor overall translation or of locally reduced ribosome translocation rates. Transferring the identified sequence stretches into a reporter mRNA caused translation- and DDX6-dependent degradation of the reporter mRNA. In summary, these results identify DDX6 as a crucial regulator of mRNA translation and decay triggered by slow ribosome movement and provide insights into the mechanism by which DDX6 destabilizes inefficiently translated mRNAs.
Project description:Gene transcription is counterbalanced by mRNA decay processes that regulate transcript quality and quantity. We show here that the evolutionarily conserved DHH1/DDX6-like RNA HELICASEs of Arabidopsis thaliana control the ephemerality of a subset of cellular mRNAs. These RNA helicases co-localize with key markers of processing bodies and stress granules and contribute to their subcellular dynamics. They function to limit the precocious accumulation and translation of stress-responsive mRNAs associated with autoimmunity and growth inhibition under non-stress conditions. Given the conservation of this RH subfamily, they may control basal levels of conditionally-regulated mRNAs in diverse eukaryotes, accelerating responses without penalty.
Project description:Identification of eukaryotic mRNAs that are translated at reduced cap binding complex eIF4F concentrations using a cDNA microarray. Although most eukaryotic mRNAs need a functional cap binding complex eIF4F for efficient 5' end-dependent scanning to initiate translation, picornaviral, hepatitis C viral, and a few cellular RNAs have been shown to be translated by internal ribosome entry, a mechanism that can operate in the presence of low levels of functional eIF4F. To identify cellular mRNAs that can be translated when eIF4F is depleted or in low abundance and that, therefore, may contain internal ribosome entry sites, mRNAs that remained associated with polysomes were isolated from human cells after infection with poliovirus and were identified by using a cDNA microarray. Approximately 200 of the 7000 mRNAs analyzed remained associated with polysomes under these conditions. Among the gene products encoded by these polysome-associated mRNAs were immediate-early transcription factors, kinases, and phosphatases of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and several protooncogenes, including c-myc and Pim-1. In addition, the mRNA encoding Cyr61, a secreted factor that can promote angiogenesis and tumor growth, was selectively mobilized into polysomes when eIF4F concentrations were reduced, although its overall abundance changed only slightly. Subsequent tests confirmed the presence of internal ribosome entry sites in the 5' noncoding regions of both Cyr61 and Pim-1 mRNAs. Overall, this study suggests that diverse mRNAs whose gene products have been implicated in a variety of stress responses, including inflammation, angiogenesis, and the response to serum, can use translational initiation mechanisms that require little or no intact cap binding protein complex eIF4F. This study is described more fully in Johannes G et al.(1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96:13118-23.
Project description:Although canonical mRNA degradation is generally recognized to be translation dependent, our understanding of the molecular events that coordinate ribosome movement with the decay machinery is still limited. Here, we show that the 4EHP–GIGYF1/2 complex triggers co-translational mRNA decay as a result of altered ribosome activity during elongation. Human cells lacking 4EHP and GIGYF1 and 2 proteins accumulate transcripts known to be degraded in a translation dependent manner or with prominent ribosome pausing. These include mRNAs encoding secretory and membrane-bound proteins or specific tubulin isotypes, among others. 4EHP–GIGYF1/2 fails to reduce target mRNA levels in the absence of ribosome stalling or upon disruption of its interaction with the cap structure, DDX6 and a GYF domain-associated protein. Our studies reveal how a repressor complex linked to neurological disorders minimizes the protein output of a subset of mRNAs.
Project description:Although canonical mRNA degradation is generally recognized to be translation dependent, our understanding of the molecular events that coordinate ribosome movement with the decay machinery is still limited. Here, we show that the 4EHP–GIGYF1/2 complex triggers co-translational mRNA decay as a result of altered ribosome activity during elongation. Human cells lacking 4EHP and GIGYF1 and 2 proteins accumulate transcripts known to be degraded in a translation dependent manner or with prominent ribosome pausing. These include mRNAs encoding secretory and membrane-bound proteins or specific tubulin isotypes, among others. 4EHP–GIGYF1/2 fails to reduce target mRNA levels in the absence of ribosome stalling or upon disruption of its interaction with the cap structure, DDX6 and a GYF domain-associated protein. Our studies reveal how a repressor complex linked to neurological disorders minimizes the protein output of a subset of mRNAs.
Project description:Identification of eukaryotic mRNAs that are translated at reduced cap binding complex eIF4F concentrations using a cDNA microarray. Although most eukaryotic mRNAs need a functional cap binding complex eIF4F for efficient 5' end-dependent scanning to initiate translation, picornaviral, hepatitis C viral, and a few cellular RNAs have been shown to be translated by internal ribosome entry, a mechanism that can operate in the presence of low levels of functional eIF4F. To identify cellular mRNAs that can be translated when eIF4F is depleted or in low abundance and that, therefore, may contain internal ribosome entry sites, mRNAs that remained associated with polysomes were isolated from human cells after infection with poliovirus and were identified by using a cDNA microarray. Approximately 200 of the 7000 mRNAs analyzed remained associated with polysomes under these conditions. Among the gene products encoded by these polysome-associated mRNAs were immediate-early transcription factors, kinases, and phosphatases of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and several protooncogenes, including c-myc and Pim-1. In addition, the mRNA encoding Cyr61, a secreted factor that can promote angiogenesis and tumor growth, was selectively mobilized into polysomes when eIF4F concentrations were reduced, although its overall abundance changed only slightly. Subsequent tests confirmed the presence of internal ribosome entry sites in the 5' noncoding regions of both Cyr61 and Pim-1 mRNAs. Overall, this study suggests that diverse mRNAs whose gene products have been implicated in a variety of stress responses, including inflammation, angiogenesis, and the response to serum, can use translational initiation mechanisms that require little or no intact cap binding protein complex eIF4F. This study is described more fully in Johannes G et al.(1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96:13118-23. Keywords: other
Project description:Transcript leaders (TLs) can have profound effects on mRNA translation and stability. To map TL boundaries genome-wide, we developed TL-Sequencing (TL-Seq), a technique combining enzymatic capture of m7G-capped mRNA 5'-ends with high-throughput sequencing. TL-Seq identified mRNA start sites for the majority of yeast genes and revealed many examples of intragenic TL heterogeneity. Transcription initiation sites occur in at least 5% of protein-coding regions and are concentrated near the 5'ends of ORFs. These truncated mRNAs are translated, based on ribosome density analysis. Translation Associated TL-Seq (TATL-Seq), which combines TL-Seq with polysome fractionation, revealed substantial differences in translation of alternative TL isoforms. Globally, while some TL features are associated with poor translation and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (uAUGs, very short length), others (secondary structure, long length) have much less impact than predicted from analyses of individual genes. TL-Seq and TATL-Seq can be applied to any eukaryote to investigate TL-mediated regulation of gene expression. TL-Seq (+/- pyrophosphatase), TATL-Seq (TL-Seq libraries from polysome gradient)
Project description:DDX6 is an abundant cytoplasmic DEAD-box RNA helicase which is involved in disparate aspects of mRNA stability and translation, leading to a confused understanding of its global function. We carried out a large-scale study of total and polysomial mRNA after DDX6 depletion to get an accurate picture of its roles in human cells.