Rudolf Pullmann

p16INK4a translation suppressed by miR-24

Background Expression of the tumor suppressor p16INK4a increases during aging and replicative senescence. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we report that the microRNA miR-24 suppresses p16 expression in human diploid fibroblasts and cervical carcinoma cells. Increased p16 expression with replicative senescence was associated with decreased levels of miR-24, a microRNA that was predicted to associate with the p16 mRNA coding and 3′-untranslated regions. Ectopic miR-24 overexpression reduced p16 protein but not p16 mRNA levels. Conversely, introduction of antisense (AS)-miR-24 blocked miR-24 expression and markedly enhanced p16 protein levels, p16 translation, and the production of EGFP-p16 reporter bearing the miR-24 target recognition sites. Conclusions/Significance Together, our results suggest that miR-24 represses the initiation and elongation phases of p16 translation.

RNA-Binding Proteins HuR and PTB Promote the Translation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α

ABSTRACT The levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) are tightly controlled. Here, we investigated the posttranscriptional regulation of HIF-1α expression in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells responding to the hypoxia mimetic CoCl2. Undetectable in untreated cells, HIF-1α levels increased dramatically in CoCl2-treated cells, while HIF-1α mRNA levels were unchanged. HIF-1α translation was potently elevated by CoCl2 treatment, as determined by de novo translation analysis and by monitoring the polysomal association of HIF-1α mRNA. An internal ribosome entry site in the HIF-1α 5′ untranslated region (UTR) was found to enhance translation constitutively, but it did not further induce translation in response to CoCl2 treatment. Instead, we postulated that RNA-binding proteins HuR and PTB, previously shown to bind HIF-1α mRNA, participated in its translational upregulation after CoCl2 treatment. Indeed, both RNA-binding proteins were found to bind HIF-1α mRNA in a CoCl2-inducible manner as assessed by immunoprecipitation of endogenous ribonucleoprotein complexes. Using a chimeric reporter, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) was found to bind the HIF-1α 3′UTR, while HuR associated principally with the 5′UTR. Lowering PTB expression or HuR expression using RNA interference reduced HIF-1α translation and expression levels but not HIF-1α mRNA abundance. Conversely, HIF-1α expression and translation in response to CoCl2 were markedly elevated after HuR overexpression. We propose that HuR and PTB jointly upregulate HIF-1α translation in response to CoCl2.

MKP-1 mRNA Stabilization and Translational Control by RNA-Binding Proteins HuR and NF90†

ABSTRACT The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) plays a major role in dephosphorylating and thereby inactivating the MAP kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Here, we examine the posttranscriptional events underlying the robust MKP-1 induction by oxidants in HeLa cells. H2O2 treatment potently stabilized the MKP-1 mRNA and increased the association of MKP-1 mRNA with the translation machinery. Four RNA-binding proteins (RNA-BPs) that influence mRNA turnover and/or translation (HuR, NF90, TIAR, and TIA-1) were found to bind to biotinylated transcripts spanning the MKP-1 AU-rich 3′ untranslated region. By using ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation analysis, we showed that H2O2 treatment increased the association of MKP-1 mRNA with HuR and NF90 and decreased its association with the translational repressors TIAR and TIA-1. HuR or NF90 silencing significantly diminished the H2O2-stimulated MKP-1 mRNA stability; HuR silencing also markedly decreased MKP-1 translation. In turn, lowering MKP-1 expression in HuR-silenced cultures resulted in substantially elevated phosphorylation of JNK and p38 after H2O2 treatment. Collectively, MKP-1 upregulation by oxidative stress is potently influenced by increased mRNA stability and translation, mediated at least in part by the RNA-BPs HuR and NF90.

Analysis of Turnover and Translation Regulatory RNA-Binding Protein Expression through Binding to Cognate mRNAs

ABSTRACT RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that associate with specific mRNA sequences and function as mRNA turnover and translation regulatory (TTR) RBPs are emerging as pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. However, little is known about the mechanisms that govern the expression of TTR-RBPs. Here, we employed human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells to test the hypothesis that TTR-RBP expression is influenced posttranscriptionally by TTR-RBPs themselves. Systematic testing of the TTR-RBPs AUF1, HuR, KSRP, NF90, TIA-1, and TIAR led to three key discoveries. First, each TTR-RBP was found to associate with its cognate mRNA and with several other TTR-RBP-encoding mRNAs, as determined by testing both endogenous and biotinylated transcripts. Second, silencing of individual TTR-RBPs influenced the expression of other TTR-RBPs at the mRNA and/or protein level. Third, further analysis of two specific ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes revealed that TIA-1 expression was controlled via HuR-enhanced mRNA stabilization and TIAR-repressed translation. Together, our findings underscore the notion that TTR-RBP expression is controlled, at least in part, at the posttranscriptional level through a complex circuitry of self- and cross-regulatory RNP interactions.

Nuclear HuR accumulation through phosphorylation by Cdk1

A predominantly nuclear RNA-binding protein, HuR translocates to the cytoplasm in response to stress and proliferative signals, where it stabilizes or modulates the translation of target mRNAs. Here, we present evidence that HuR phosphorylation at S202 by the G2-phase kinase Cdk1 influences its subcellular distribution. HuR was specifically phosphorylated in synchronous G2-phase cultures; its cytoplasmic levels increased by Cdk1-inhibitory interventions and declined in response to Cdk1-activating interventions. In keeping with the prominently cytoplasmic location of the nonphosphorylatable point mutant HuR(S202A), phospho-HuR(S202) was shown to be predominantly nuclear using a novel anti-phospho-HuR(S202) antibody. The enhanced cytoplasmic presence of unphosphorylated HuR was linked to its decreased association with 14-3-3 and to its heightened binding to target mRNAs. Our findings suggest that Cdk1 phosphorylates HuR during G2, thereby helping to retain it in the nucleus in association with 14-3-3 and hindering its post-transcriptional function and anti-apoptotic influence.

Polyamine Depletion Increases Cytoplasmic Levels of RNA-binding Protein HuR Leading to Stabilization of Nucleophosmin and p53 mRNAs

Polyamines are essential for maintaining normal intestinal epithelial integrity, an effect that relies, at least in part, on their ability to keep low levels of nucleophosmin (NPM) and p53 mRNAs. The RNA-binding protein HuR associates with the p53 mRNA, as reported previously, and with the NPM mRNA, computationally predicted to be a target of HuR. Here, we show that HuR binds the NPM and p53 3′-untranslated regions and stabilizes these mRNAs in polyamine-depleted intestinal epithelial cells. Depletion of cellular polyamines by inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase with α-difluoromethylornithine dramatically enhanced the cytoplasmic abundance of HuR, whereas ectopic ornithine decarboxylase overexpression decreased cytoplasmic HuR; neither intervention changed whole-cell HuR levels. HuR was found to specifically bind the 3′-untranslated regions of NPN and p53 mRNAs. HuR silencing rendered the NPM and p53 mRNAs unstable and prevented increases in NPM and p53 mRNA and protein in polyamine-deficient cells. These results indicate that polyamines modulate cytoplasmic HuR levels in intestinal epithelial cells, in turn controlling the stability of the NPM and p53 mRNAs and influencing NPM and p53 protein levels.

Replication of recently identified systemic lupus erythematosus genetic associations: a case–control study

IntroductionWe aimed to replicate association of newly identified systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) loci.MethodsWe selected the most associated SNP in 10 SLE loci. These 10 SNPs were analysed in 1,579 patients with SLE and 1,726 controls of European origin by single-base extension. Comparison of allele frequencies between cases and controls was done with the Mantel–Haenszel approach to account for heterogeneity between sample collections.ResultsA previously controversial association with a SNP in the TYK2 gene was replicated (odds ratio (OR) = 0.79, P = 2.5 × 10-5), as well as association with the X chromosome MECP2 gene (OR = 1.26, P = 0.00085 in women), which had only been reported in a single study, and association with four other loci, 1q25.1 (OR = 0.81, P = 0.0001), PXK (OR = 1.19, P = 0.0038), BANK1 (OR = 0.83, P = 0.006) and KIAA1542 (OR = 0.84, P = 0.001), which have been identified in a genome-wide association study, but not found in any other study. All these replications showed the same disease-associated allele as originally reported. No association was found with the LY9 SNP, which had been reported in a single study.ConclusionsOur results confirm nine SLE loci. For six of them, TYK2, MECP2, 1q25.1, PXK, BANK1 and KIAA1542, this replication is important. The other three loci, ITGAM, STAT4 and C8orf13-BLK, were already clearly confirmed. Our results also suggest that MECP2 association has no influence in the sex bias of SLE, contrary to what has been proposed. In addition, none of the other associations seems important in this respect.

NF90 selectively represses the translation of target mRNAs bearing an AU-rich signature motif

The RNA-binding protein nuclear factor 90 (NF90) has been implicated in the stabilization, transport and translational control of several target mRNAs. However, a systematic analysis of NF90 target mRNAs has not been performed. Here, we use ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation analysis to identify a large subset of NF90-associated mRNAs. Comparison of the 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) of these mRNAs led to the elucidation of a 25- to 30-nucleotide, RNA signature motif rich in adenines and uracils. Insertion of the AU-rich NF90 motif (‘NF90m’) in the 3′UTR of an EGFP heterologous reporter did not affect the steady-state level of the chimeric EGFP-NF90m mRNA or its cytosolic abundance. Instead, the translation of EGFP-NF90m mRNA was specifically repressed in an NF90-dependent manner, as determined by analysing nascent EGFP translation, the distribution of chimeric mRNAs on polysome gradients and the steady-state levels of expressed EGFP protein. The interaction of endogenous NF90 with target mRNAs was validated after testing both endogenous mRNAs and recombinant biotinylated transcripts containing NF90 motif hits. Further analysis showed that the stability of endogenous NF90 target mRNAs was not significantly influenced by NF90 abundance, while their translation increased when NF90 levels were reduced. In summary, we have identified an AU-rich RNA motif present in NF90 target mRNAs and have obtained evidence that NF90 represses the translation of this subset of mRNAs.

Elucidation of a C-Rich Signature Motif in Target mRNAs of RNA-Binding Protein TIAR

ABSTRACT The RNA-binding protein TIAR (related to TIA-1 [T-cell-restricted intracellular antigen 1]) was shown to associate with subsets of mRNAs bearing U-rich sequences in their 3′ untranslated regions. TIAR can function as a translational repressor, particularly in response to cytotoxic agents. Using unstressed colon cancer cells, collections of mRNAs associated with TIAR were isolated by immunoprecipitation (IP) of (TIAR-RNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, identified by microarray analysis, and used to elucidate a common signature motif present among TIAR target transcripts. The predicted TIAR motif was an unexpectedly cytosine-rich, 28- to 32-nucleotide-long element forming a stem and a loop of variable size with an additional side loop. The ability of TIAR to bind an RNA oligonucleotide with a representative C-rich TIAR motif sequence was verified in vitro using surface plasmon resonance. By this analysis, TIAR containing two or three RNA recognition domains (TIAR12 and TIAR123) showed low but significant binding to the C-rich sequence. In vivo, insertion of the C-rich motif into a heterologous reporter strongly suppressed its translation in cultured cells. Using this signature motif, an additional ∼2,209 UniGene targets were identified (2.0% of the total UniGene database). A subset of specific mRNAs were validated by RNP IP analysis. Interestingly, in response to treatment with short-wavelength UV light (UVC), a stress agent causing DNA damage, each of these target mRNAs bearing C-rich motifs dissociated from TIAR. In turn, expression of the encoded proteins was elevated in a TIAR-dependent manner. In sum, we report the identification of a C-rich signature motif present in TIAR target mRNAs whose association with TIAR decreases following exposure to a stress-causing agent.

Opposed independent effects and epistasis in the complex association of IRF5 to SLE

Genetic variation in the interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene affects systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility. However, association is complex and incompletely defined. We obtained fourteen European sample collections with a total of 1383 SLE patients and 1614 controls to better define the role of the different IRF5 variants. Eleven polymorphisms were studied, including nine tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two extra functional polymorphisms. Two tag SNPs showed independent and opposed associations: susceptibility (rs10488631, P<10−17) and protection (rs729302, P<10−6). Haplotype analyses showed that the susceptibility haplotype, identified by the minor allele of rs10488631, can be due to epistasis between three IRF5 functional polymorphisms. These polymorphisms determine increased mRNA expression, a splice variant with a different exon 1 and a longer proline-rich region in exon 6. This result is striking as none of the three polymorphisms had an independent effect on their own. Protection was independent of these polymorphisms and seemed to reside in the 5′ side of the gene. In conclusion, our results help to understand the role of the IRF5 locus in SLE susceptibility by clearly separating protection from susceptibility as caused by independent polymorphisms. In addition, we have found evidence for epistasis between known functional polymorphisms for the susceptibility effect.