ADAR1 limits stress granule formation through both translation-dependent and translation-independent mechanisms.

Abstract

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic assemblies of RNA and protein that form when translation is repressed during the integrated stress response (ISR). SGs assemble from the combination of RNA-RNA, RNA-protein, and protein-protein interactions between mRNPs. The protein Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) recognizes and modifies dsRNAs within cells to prevent an aberrant innate immune response. ADAR1 localizes to SGs, and since RNA-RNA interactions contribute to SG assembly and dsRNA induces SGs, we examined how ADAR1 affects SG formation. First, we demonstrate that ADAR1 depletion triggers SGs by allowing endogenous dsRNA to activate the ISR through PKR activation and translation repression. However, we also show that ADAR1 limits SG formation independently of translation inhibition. ADAR1 repression of SGs is independent of deaminase activity, but dependent on dsRNA-binding activity, suggesting a model where ADAR1 binding limits RNA-RNA and/or RNA-protein interactions necessary for recruitment to SGs. Given that ADAR1 expression is induced during viral infection, these findings have implications for ADAR1 s role in the antiviral response.