CCR4-NOT deadenylates mRNA associated with RNA-induced silencing complexes in human cells

Divergence of the expression and subcellular localization of CCR4-associated factor 1 (CAF1) deadenylase proteins in Oryza sativa

Deadenylation, also called poly(A) tail shortening, is the first, rate-limiting step in the general cytoplasmic mRNA degradation in eukaryotic cells. The CCR4-NOT complex, containing the two key components carbon catabolite repressor 4 (CCR4) and CCR4-associated factor 1 (CAF1), is a major player in deadenylation. CAF1 belongs to the RNase D group in the DEDD superfamily, and is a protein conserved through evolution from yeast to humans and plants. Every higher plant, including Arabidopsis and rice, contains a CAF1 multigene family. In this study, we identified and cloned four OsCAF1 genes (OsCAF1A, OsCAF1B, OsCAF1G, and OsCAF1H) from rice. Four recombinant OsCAF1 proteins, rOsCAF1A, rOsCAF1B, rOsCAF1G, and rOsCAF1H, all exhibited 3'-5' exonuclease activity in vitro. Point mutations in the catalytic residues of each analyzed recombinant OsCAF1 proteins were shown to disrupt deadenylase activity. OsCAF1A and OsCAF1G mRNA were found to be abundant in the leaves of mature plants. Two types of OsCAF1B mRNA transcript were detected in an inverse expression pattern in various tissues. OsCAF1B was transient, induced by drought, cold, abscisic acid, and wounding treatments. OsCAF1H mRNA was not detected either under normal conditions or during most stress treatments, but only accumulated during heat stress. Four OsCAF1-reporter fusion proteins were localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In addition, when green fluorescent protein fused with OsCAF1B, OsCAF1G, and OsCAF1H, respectively, fluorescent spots were observed in the nucleolus. OsCAF1B fluorescent fusion proteins were located in discrete cytoplasmic foci and fibers. We present evidences that OsCAF1B colocalizes with AtXRN4, a processing body marker, and AtKSS12, a microtubules maker, indicating that OsCAF1B is a component of the plant P-body and associate with microtubules. Our findings provide biochemical evidence that OsCAF1 proteins may be involved in the deadenylation in rice. The unique expression patterns of each OsCAF1 were observed in various tissues when undergoing abiotic stress treatments, implying that each CAF1 gene in rice plays a specific role in the development and stress response of a plant.

Novel roles of the multi-functional CCR4-NOT complex in post-transcriptional regulation

The CCR4-NOT complex is a highly conserved specific gene silencer that also serves more general post-transcriptional functions. Specific regulatory proteins including the miRNA-induced silencing complex and its associated proteins, bind to 3’-UTR elements of mRNA and recruit the CCR4-NOT complex thereby promoting poly(A) shortening and repressing translation and/or mRNA degradation. Recent studies have shown that the CCR4-NOT complex that is tethered to mRNA by such regulator(s) represses translation and facilitates mRNA decay independent of a poly(A) tail and its shortening. In addition to deadenylase activity, the CCR4-NOT complex also has an E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and is involved in a novel protein quality control system, i.e., co-translational proteasomal-degradation of aberrant proteins. In this review, we describe recent progress in elucidation of novel roles of the multi-functional complex CCR4-NOT in post-transcriptional regulation.

Pachytene piRNAs instruct massive mRNA elimination during late spermiogenesis

Spermatogenesis in mammals is characterized by two waves of piRNA expression: one corresponds to classic piRNAs responsible for silencing retrotransponsons and the second wave is predominantly derived from nontransposon intergenic regions in pachytene spermatocytes, but the function of these pachytene piRNAs is largely unknown. Here, we report the involvement of pachytene piRNAs in instructing massive mRNA elimination in mouse elongating spermatids (ES). We demonstrate that a piRNA-induced silencing complex (pi-RISC) containing murine PIWI (MIWI) and deadenylase CAF1 is selectively assembled in ES, which is responsible for inducing mRNA deadenylation and decay via a mechanism that resembles the action of miRNAs in somatic cells. Such a highly orchestrated program appears to take full advantage of the enormous repertoire of diversified targeting capacity of pachytene piRNAs derived from nontransposon intergenic regions. These findings suggest that pachytene piRNAs are responsible for inactivating vast cellular programs in preparation for sperm production from ES.

Structural and biochemical insights to the role of the CCR4-NOT complex and DDX6 ATPase in microRNA repression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control gene expression by regulating mRNA translation and stability. The CCR4-NOT complex is a key effector of miRNA function acting downstream of GW182/TNRC6 proteins. We show that miRNA-mediated repression requires the central region of CNOT1, the scaffold protein of CCR4-NOT. A CNOT1 domain interacts with CNOT9, which in turn interacts with the silencing domain of TNRC6 in a tryptophan motif-dependent manner. These interactions are direct, as shown by the structure of a CNOT9-CNOT1 complex with bound tryptophan. Another domain of CNOT1 with an MIF4G fold recruits the DEAD-box ATPase DDX6, a known translational inhibitor. Structural and biochemical approaches revealed that CNOT1 modulates the conformation of DDX6 and stimulates ATPase activity. Structure-based mutations showed that the CNOT1 MIF4G-DDX6 interaction is important for miRNA-mediated repression. These findings provide insights into the repressive steps downstream of the GW182/TNRC6 proteins and the role of the CCR4-NOT complex in posttranscriptional regulation in general.

Deadenylation and its regulation in eukaryotic cells

Messenger RNA deadenylation is a process that allows rapid regulation of gene expression in response to different cellular conditions. The change of the mRNA poly(A) tail length by the activation of deadenylation might regulate gene expression by affecting mRNA stability, mRNA transport, or translation initiation. Activation of deadenylation processes are highly regulated and associated with different cellular conditions such as cancer, development, mRNA surveillance, DNA damage response, and cell differentiation. In the last few years, new technologies for studying deadenylation have been developed. Here we overview concepts related to deadenylation and its regulation in eukaryotic cells. We also describe some of the most commonly used protocols to study deadenylation in eukaryotic cells.

RNA viruses and microRNAs: challenging discoveries for the 21st century

RNA viruses represent the predominant cause of many clinically relevant viral diseases in humans. Among several evolutionary advantages acquired by RNA viruses, the ability to usurp host cellular machinery and evade antiviral immune responses is imperative. During the past decade, RNA interference mechanisms, especially microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of cellular protein expression, have revolutionized our understanding of host-viral interactions. Although it is well established that several DNA viruses express miRNAs that play crucial roles in their pathogenesis, expression of miRNAs by RNA viruses remains controversial. However, modulation of the miRNA machinery by RNA viruses may confer multiple benefits for enhanced viral replication and survival in host cells. In this review, we discuss the current literature on RNA viruses that may encode miRNAs and the varied advantages of engineering RNA viruses to express miRNAs as potential vectors for gene therapy. In addition, we review how different families of RNA viruses can alter miRNA machinery for productive replication, evasion of antiviral immune responses, and prolonged survival. We underscore the need to further explore the complex interactions of RNA viruses with host miRNAs to augment our understanding of host-virus interplay.

Antisense gene silencing: therapy for neurodegenerative disorders?

Since the first reports that double-stranded RNAs can efficiently silence gene expression in C. elegans, the technology of RNA interference (RNAi) has been intensively exploited as an experimental tool to study gene function. With the subsequent discovery that RNAi could also be applied to mammalian cells, the technology of RNAi expanded from being a valuable experimental tool to being an applicable method for gene-specific therapeutic regulation, and much effort has been put into further refinement of the technique. This review will focus on how RNAi has developed over the years and how the technique is exploited in a pre-clinical and clinical perspective in relation to neurodegenerative disorders.

Trip to ER: MicroRNA-mediated translational repression in plants

miRNAs elicit gene silencing at the post-transcriptional level by several modes of action: translational repression, mRNA decay, and mRNA cleavage. Studies in animals have suggested that translational repression occurs at early steps of translation initiation, which can be followed by deadenylation and mRNA decay. Plant miRNAs were originally thought to solely participate in mRNA cleavage, but increasing evidence has indicated that they are also commonly involved in translational inhibition. Here we discuss recent findings on miRNA-mediated translational repression in plants. The identification of AMP1 in Arabidopsis as a protein required for the translational repression but not the mRNA cleavage activity of miRNAs links miRNA-based translational repression to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Future work is required to further elucidate the miRNA machinery on the ER.

HPat a decapping activator interacting with the miRNA effector complex

Animal miRNAs commonly mediate mRNA degradation and/or translational repression by binding to their target mRNAs. Key factors for miRNA-mediated mRNA degradation are the components of the miRNA effector complex (AGO1 and GW182) and the general mRNA degradation machinery (deadenylation and decapping enzymes). The CCR4-NOT1 complex required for the deadenylation of target mRNAs is directly recruited to the miRNA effector complex. However, it is unclear whether the following decapping step is only a consequence of deadenylation occurring independent of the miRNA effector complex or e.g. decapping activators can get recruited to the miRNA effector complex. In this study we performed split-affinity purifications in Drosophila cells and provide evidence for the interaction of the decapping activator HPat with the miRNA effector complex. Furthermore, in knockdown analysis of various mRNA degradation factors we demonstrate the importance of NOT1 for this interaction. This suggests that deadenylation and/or the recruitment of NOT1 protein precedes the association of HPat with the miRNA effector complex. Since HPat couples deadenylation and decapping, the recruitment of HPat to the miRNA effector complex provides a mechanism to commit the mRNA target for degradation.

miRISC recruits decapping factors to miRNA targets to enhance their degradation

MicroRNA (miRNA)-induced silencing complexes (miRISCs) repress translation and promote degradation of miRNA targets. Target degradation occurs through the 5′-to-3′ messenger RNA (mRNA) decay pathway, wherein, after shortening of the mRNA poly(A) tail, the removal of the 5′ cap structure by decapping triggers irreversible decay of the mRNA body. Here, we demonstrate that miRISC enhances the association of the decapping activators DCP1, Me31B and HPat with deadenylated miRNA targets that accumulate when decapping is blocked. DCP1 and Me31B recruitment by miRISC occurs before the completion of deadenylation. Remarkably, miRISC recruits DCP1, Me31B and HPat to engineered miRNA targets transcribed by RNA polymerase III, which lack a cap structure, a protein-coding region and a poly(A) tail. Furthermore, miRISC can trigger decapping and the subsequent degradation of mRNA targets independently of ongoing deadenylation. Thus, miRISC increases the local concentration of the decapping machinery on miRNA targets to facilitate decapping and irreversibly shut down their translation.

Learning the local Bayesian network structure around the ZNF217 oncogene in breast tumours

In this study, we discuss and apply a novel and efficient algorithm for learning a local Bayesian network model in the vicinity of the ZNF217 oncogene from breast cancer microarray data without having to decide in advance which genes have to be included in the learning process. ZNF217 is a candidate oncogene located at 20q13, a chromosomal region frequently amplified in breast and ovarian cancer, and correlated with shorter patient survival in these cancers. To properly address the difficulties in managing complex gene interactions given our limited sample, statistical significance of edge strengths was evaluated using bootstrapping and the less reliable edges were pruned to increase the network robustness. We found that 13 out of the 35 genes associated with deregulated ZNF217 expression in breast tumours have been previously associated with survival and/or prognosis in cancers. Identifying genes involved in lipid metabolism opens new fields of investigation to decipher the molecular mechanisms driven by the ZNF217 oncogene. Moreover, nine of the 13 genes have already been identified as putative ZNF217 targets by independent biological studies. We therefore suggest that the algorithms for inferring local BNs are valuable data mining tools for unraveling complex mechanisms of biological pathways from expression data. The source code is available at http://www710.univ-lyon1.fr/∼aaussem/Software.html.

Eukaryotic mRNA decay: methodologies, pathways, and links to other stages of gene expression

mRNA concentration depends on the balance between transcription and degradation rates. On both sides of the equilibrium, synthesis and degradation show, however, interesting differences that have conditioned the evolution of gene regulatory mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent genome-wide methods for determining mRNA half-lives in eukaryotes. We also review pre- and posttranscriptional regulons that coordinate the fate of functionally related mRNAs by using protein- or RNA-based trans factors. Some of these factors can regulate both transcription and decay rates, thereby maintaining proper mRNA homeostasis during eukaryotic cell life.

RNA decay machines: deadenylation by the Ccr4-not and Pan2-Pan3 complexes

Shortening and removal of the 3' poly(A) tail of mature mRNA by poly(A)-specific 3' exonucleases (deadenylases) is the initial and often rate-limiting step in mRNA degradation. The majority of cytoplasmic deadenylase activity is associated with the Ccr4-Not and Pan2-Pan3 complexes. Two distinct catalytic subunits, Caf1/Pop2 and Ccr4, are associated with the Ccr4-Not complex, whereas the Pan2 enzymatic subunit forms a stable complex with Pan3. In this review, we discuss the composition and activity of these two deadenylases. In addition, we comment on generic and specific mechanisms of recruitment of Ccr4-Not and Pan2-Pan3 to mRNAs. Finally, we discuss specialised and redundant functions of the deadenylases and review the importance of Ccr4-Not subunits in the regulation of physiological processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA Decay mechanisms.

Combinatorial mRNA binding by AUF1 and Argonaute 2 controls decay of selected target mRNAs

The RNA-binding protein AUF1 binds AU-rich elements in 3′-untranslated regions to regulate mRNA degradation and/or translation. Many of these mRNAs are predicted microRNA targets as well. An emerging theme in post-transcriptional control of gene expression is that RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs co-regulate mRNAs. Recent experiments and bioinformatic analyses suggest this type of co-regulation may be widespread across the transcriptome. Here, we identified mRNA targets of AUF1 from a complex pool of cellular mRNAs and examined a subset of these mRNAs to explore the links between RNA binding and mRNA degradation for both AUF1 and Argonaute 2 (AGO2), which is an essential effector of microRNA-induced gene silencing. Depending on the specific mRNA examined, AUF1 and AGO2 binding is proportional/cooperative, reciprocal/competitive or independent. For most mRNAs in which AUF1 affects their decay rates, mRNA degradation requires AGO2. Thus, AUF1 and AGO2 present mRNA-specific allosteric binding relationships for co-regulation of mRNA degradation.

Deadenylation and P-bodies

Deadenylation is the major step in triggering mRNA decay and results in mRNA translation inhibition in eukaryotic cells. Therefore, it is plausible that deadenylation also induces the mRNP remodeling required for formation of GW bodies or RNA processing bodies (P-bodies), which harbor translationally silenced mRNPs. In this chapter, we discuss several examples to illustrate the roles of deadenylation in regulating gene expression. We highlight several lines of evidence indicating that even though non-translatable mRNPs may be prepared and/or assembled into P-bodies in different ways, deadenylation is always a necessary, and perhaps the earliest, step in mRNA decay pathways that enable mRNP remodeling required for P-body formation. Thus, deadenylation and the participating deadenylases are not simply required for preparing mRNA substrates; they play an indispensable role both structurally and functionally in P-body formation and regulation.

The role of GW182 proteins in miRNA-mediated gene silencing

GW182 family proteins are essential for microRNA-mediated gene silencing in animal cells. They are recruited to miRNA targets through direct interactions with Argonaute proteins and promote target silencing. They do so by repressing translation and enhancing mRNA turnover. Although the precise mechanism of action of GW182 proteins is not fully understood, these proteins have been shown to interact with the cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) and with the PAN2-PAN3 and CCR4-NOT deadenylase complexes. These findings suggest that GW182 proteins function as scaffold proteins for the assembly of the multiprotein complex that silences miRNA targets.

Poly(A) binding proteins: are they all created equal?

The PABP family of proteins were originally thought of as a simple shield for the mRNA poly(A) tail. Years of research have shown that PABPs interact not only with the poly(A) tail, but also with specific sequences in the mRNA, having a general and specific role on the metabolism of different mRNAs. The complexity of PABPs function is increased by the interactions of PABPs with factors involved in different cellular functions. PABPs participate in all the metabolic pathways of the mRNA: polyadenylation/deadenylation, mRNA export, mRNA surveillance, translation, mRNA degradation, microRNA-associated regulation, and regulation of expression during development. In this review, we update information on the roles of PABPs and emerging data on the specific interactions of PABP homologs. Specific functions of individual members of PABPC family in development and viral infection are beginning to be elucidated. However, the interactions are complex and recent evidence for exchange of nuclear and cytoplasmic forms of the proteins, as well as post-translational modifications, emphasize the possibilities for fine-tuning the PABP metabolic network.

A functional polymorphism at miR-491-5p binding site in the 3'-UTR of MMP-9 gene confers increased risk for atherosclerotic cerebral infarction in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND

and purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) has been reported to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). Here we assessed association of MMP-9 polymorphisms with ACI susceptibility and the function of SNPs through microRNA mediated regulation.

METHODS

Genotyping was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Reporter gene plasmids with the MMP-9 3'UTR carrying either the mutant or the wild-type MMP-9 allele were constructed. Also, we constructed pcDNA-3.1-miR-491-5p recombinant plasmid, which transiently co-transfected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with the reporter plasmids. Reporter plasmids, miR-491-5p mimics and inhibitor were transfected into HUVE cells line by lipofectamine. MMP-9 mRNA expression in HUVEC was detected by RT-PCR and protein level by ELISA.

RESULTS

The rs1802908 and rs2664517 polymorphisms were not observed in all subjects from Hunan Han Chinese. No significant difference in genotype distribution of rs20544 and rs9509 between cases and controls were observed (p＞0.05). The rs1056628CC genotype had a significantly increased risk for ACI as compared with carries of the rs1056628 A allele (total χ(2) = 12.041, P = 0.002). Reporter gene assay revealed that the rs1056628 A allele showed lower reporter activity than the rs1056628C allele. Hsa-miR-491-5p had effect on modulation of MMP-9 gene in vitro. The rs1056628 A→C variant in the 3'-UTR of the MMP-9 increased MMP-9 protein expression in cultured HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that the rs1056629A→C variation contributes to an increased risk of ACI by increasing MMP-9 expression through affecting binding of miR-491 to the polymorphic site in the 3'-UTR of MMP-9.

A molecular link between miRISCs and deadenylases provides new insight into the mechanism of gene silencing by microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of endogenous noncoding RNAs that, together with the Argonaute family of proteins (AGOs), silence the expression of complementary mRNA targets posttranscriptionally. Perfectly complementary targets are cleaved within the base-paired region by catalytically active AGOs. In the case of partially complementary targets, however, AGOs are insufficient for silencing and need to recruit a protein of the GW182 family. GW182 proteins induce translational repression, mRNA deadenylation and exonucleolytic target degradation. Recent work has revealed a direct molecular link between GW182 proteins and cellular deadenylase complexes. These findings shed light on how miRNAs bring about target mRNA degradation and promise to further our understanding of the mechanism of miRNA-mediated repression.

The interactions of GW182 proteins with PABP and deadenylases are required for both translational repression and degradation of miRNA targets

Animal miRNAs silence the expression of mRNA targets through translational repression, deadenylation and subsequent mRNA degradation. Silencing requires association of miRNAs with an Argonaute protein and a GW182 family protein. In turn, GW182 proteins interact with poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) and the PAN2–PAN3 and CCR4–NOT deadenylase complexes. These interactions are required for the deadenylation and decay of miRNA targets. Recent studies have indicated that miRNAs repress translation before inducing target deadenylation and decay; however, whether translational repression and deadenylation are coupled or represent independent repressive mechanisms is unclear. Another remaining question is whether translational repression also requires GW182 proteins to interact with both PABP and deadenylases. To address these questions, we characterized the interaction of Drosophila melanogaster GW182 with deadenylases and defined the minimal requirements for a functional GW182 protein. Functional assays in D. melanogaster and human cells indicate that miRNA-mediated translational repression and degradation are mechanistically linked and are triggered through the interactions of GW182 proteins with PABP and deadenylases.

MicroRNAs mediate gene silencing via multiple different pathways in drosophila

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) guide RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that contains an Argonaute family protein to complementary target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Via RISC, miRNAs silence the expression of target mRNAs by shortening the poly(A) tail-which leads to mRNA decay-and by repressing translation. It has been suggested that GW182, an Argonaute-associating protein, plays the central role in such microRNA actions. Here we show that, although GW182 is obligatory for poly(A) shortening, translational repression by microRNAs occurs even in the absence of GW182. Yet, GW182 is also capable of inducing translational repression independently. Both of these translational repression mechanisms block formation of 48S and 80S ribosomal complexes. Thus microRNAs utilize at least three distinct silencing pathways: GW182-mediated deadenylation and GW182-dependent and -independent repression of early translation initiation. Differential contribution from these multiple pathways may explain previous, apparently contradictory observations of how microRNAs inhibit protein synthesis.

Human Pumilio proteins recruit multiple deadenylases to efficiently repress messenger RNAs

PUF proteins are a conserved family of eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins that regulate specific mRNAs: they control many processes including stem cell proliferation, fertility, and memory formation. PUFs repress protein expression from their target mRNAs but the mechanism by which they do so remains unclear, especially for humans. Humans possess two PUF proteins, PUM1 and PUM2, which exhibit similar RNA binding specificities. Here we report new insights into their regulatory activities and mechanisms of action. We developed functional assays to measure sequence-specific repression by PUM1 and PUM2. Both robustly inhibit translation and promote mRNA degradation. Purified PUM complexes were found to contain subunits of the CCR4-NOT (CNOT) complex, which contains multiple enzymes that catalyze mRNA deadenylation. PUMs interact with the CNOT deadenylase subunits in vitro. We used three approaches to determine the importance of deadenylases for PUM repression. First, dominant-negative mutants of CNOT7 and CNOT8 reduced PUM repression. Second, RNA interference depletion of the deadenylases alleviated PUM repression. Third, the poly(A) tail was necessary for maximal PUM repression. These findings demonstrate a conserved mechanism of PUF-mediated repression via direct recruitment of the CCR4-POP2-NOT deadenylase leading to translational inhibition and mRNA degradation. A second, deadenylation independent mechanism was revealed by the finding that PUMs repress an mRNA that lacks a poly(A) tail. Thus, human PUMs are repressors capable of deadenylation-dependent and -independent modes of repression.

Activity and Function of Deadenylases

Shortening of the poly(A) tail is the first and often rate-limiting step in mRNA degradation. Three poly(A)-specific 3' exonucleases have been described that can carry out this reaction: PAN, composed of two subunits; PARN, a homodimer; and the CCR4-NOT complex, a heterooligomer that contains two catalytic subunits and may have additional functions in the cell. Current evidence indicates that all three enzymes use a two-metal ion mechanism to release nucleoside monophosphates in a hydrolytic reaction. The CCR4-NOT is the main deadenylase in all organisms examined, and mutations affecting the complex can be lethal. The contribution of PAN, apparently an initial deadenylation preceding the activity of CCR4-NOT, is less important, whereas the activity of PARN seems to be restricted to specific substrates or circumstances, for example, stress conditions. Rapid deadenylation and decay of specific mRNAs can be caused by recruitment of both PAN and the CCR4-NOT complex. This function can be carried out by RNA-binding proteins, for example, members of the PUF family. Alternatively, miRNAs can recruit the deadenylase complexes with the help of their associated GW182 proteins.

The structural basis for the interaction between the CAF1 nuclease and the NOT1 scaffold of the human CCR4-NOT deadenylase complex

The CCR4–NOT complex plays a crucial role in post-transcriptional mRNA regulation in eukaryotic cells. It catalyzes the removal of mRNA poly(A) tails, thereby repressing translation and committing mRNAs to decay. The conserved core of the complex consists of a catalytic module comprising two deadenylases (CAF1/POP2 and CCR4a/b) and the NOT module, which contains at least NOT1, NOT2 and NOT3. NOT1 bridges the interaction between the two modules and therefore, acts as a scaffold protein for the assembly of the complex. Here, we present the crystal structures of the CAF1-binding domain of human NOT1 alone and in complex with CAF1. The NOT1 domain comprises five helical hairpins that adopt an MIF4G (middle portion of eIF4G) fold. This NOT1 MIF4G domain binds CAF1 through a pre-formed interface and leaves the CAF1 catalytic site fully accessible to RNA substrates. The conservation of critical structural and interface residues suggests that the NOT1 MIF4G domain adopts a similar fold and interacts with CAF1 in a similar manner in all eukaryotes. Our findings shed light on the assembly of the CCR4–NOT complex and provide the basis for dissecting the role of the NOT module in mRNA deadenylation.

Biogenesis and mechanism of action of small non-coding RNAs: insights from the point of view of structural biology

Non-coding RNAs are dominant in the genomic output of the higher organisms being not simply occasional transcripts with idiosyncratic functions, but constituting an extensive regulatory network. Among all the species of non-coding RNAs, small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, siRNAs and piRNAs) have been shown to be in the core of the regulatory machinery of all the genomic output in eukaryotic cells. Small non-coding RNAs are produced by several pathways containing specialized enzymes that process RNA transcripts. The mechanism of action of these molecules is also ensured by a group of effector proteins that are commonly engaged within high molecular weight protein-RNA complexes. In the last decade, the contribution of structural biology has been essential to the dissection of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and function of small non-coding RNAs.

Mammalian GW220/TNGW1 is essential for the formation of GW/P bodies containing miRISC

The microRNA (miRNA)-induced silencing complex (miRISC) controls gene expression by a posttranscriptional mechanism involving translational repression and/or promoting messenger RNA (mRNA) deadenylation and degradation. The GW182/TNRC6 (GW) family proteins are core components of the miRISC and are essential for miRNA function. We show that mammalian GW proteins have distinctive functions in the miRNA pathway, with GW220/TNGW1 being essential for the formation of GW/P bodies containing the miRISC. miRISC aggregation and formation of GW/P bodies sequestered and stabilized translationally repressed target mRNA. Depletion of GW220 led to the loss of GW/P bodies and destabilization of miRNA-targeted mRNA. These findings support a model in which the cellular localization of the miRISC regulates the fate of the target mRNA.

Deadenylation of cytoplasmic mRNA by the mammalian Ccr4–Not complex

The Ccr4–Not complex is one of the major deadenylase factors present in eukaryotic cells. This multi-subunit protein complex is composed of at least seven stably associated subunits in mammalian cells including two enzymatic deadenylase subunits: one DEDD (Asp-Glu-Asp-Asp)-type deadenylase (either CNOT7/human Caf1/Caf1a or CNOT8/human Pop2/Caf1b/Calif) and one EEP (endonuclease–exonuclease–phosphatase)-type enzyme (either CNOT6/human Ccr4/Ccr4a or CNOT6L/human Ccr4-like/Ccr4b). Here, the role of the human Ccr4–Not complex in cytoplasmic deadenylation of mRNA is discussed, including the mechanism of its recruitment to mRNA and the role of the BTG/Tob proteins.

The mechanics of miRNA-mediated gene silencing: a look under the hood of miRISC

Since their discovery almost two decades ago, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to function by post-transcriptionally regulating protein accumulation. Understanding how miRNAs silence targeted mRNAs has been the focus of intensive research. Multiple models have been proposed, with few mechanistic details having been worked out. However, the past few years have witnessed a quantum leap forward in our understanding of the molecular mechanics of miRNA-mediated gene silencing. In this review we describe recent discoveries, with an emphasis on how miRISC post-transcriptionally controls gene expression by inhibiting translation and/or initiating mRNA decay, and how trans-acting factors control miRNA action.

Histology-specific microRNA alterations in melanoma

We examined the microRNA signature that distinguishes the most common melanoma histological subtypes, superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) and nodular melanoma (NM). We also investigated the mechanisms underlying the differential expression of histology-specific microRNAs. MicroRNA array performed on a training cohort of 82 primary melanoma tumors (26 SSM, 56 NM), and nine congenital nevi (CN) revealed 134 microRNAs differentially expressed between SSM and NM (P<0.05). Out of 134 microRNAs, 126 remained significant after controlling for thickness and 31 were expressed at a lower level in SSM compared with both NM and CN. For seven microRNAs (let-7g, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-138, miR-181a, miR-191, and miR-933), the downregulation was associated with selective genomic loss in SSM cell lines and primary tumors, but not in NM cell lines and primary tumors. The lower expression level of six out of seven microRNAs in SSM compared with NM was confirmed by real-time PCR on a subset of cases in the training cohort and validated in an independent cohort of 97 melanoma cases (38 SSM, 59 NM). Our data support a molecular classification in which SSM and NM are two molecularly distinct phenotypes. Therapeutic strategies that take into account subtype-specific alterations might improve the outcome of melanoma patients.

The regulation of mRNA stability in mammalian cells: 2.0

Messenger RNA decay is an essential step in gene expression to set mRNA abundance in the cytoplasm. The binding of proteins and/or noncoding RNAs to specific recognition sequences or secondary structures within mRNAs dictates mRNA decay rates by recruiting specific enzyme complexes that perform the destruction processes. Often, the cell coordinates the degradation or stabilization of functional subsets of mRNAs encoding proteins collectively required for a biological process. As well, extrinsic or intrinsic stimuli activate signal transduction pathways that modify the mRNA decay machinery with consequent effects on decay rates and mRNA abundance. This review is an update to our 2001 Gene review on mRNA stability in mammalian cells, and we survey the enormous progress made over the past decade.

Translational inhibition by deadenylation-independent mechanisms is central to microRNA-mediated silencing in zebrafish

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of small noncoding RNA approximately 22 nt in length. Animal miRNA silences complementary mRNAs via translational inhibition, deadenylation, and mRNA degradation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. A key question is whether these three outputs are independently induced by miRNA through distinct mechanisms or sequentially induced within a single molecular pathway. Here, we successfully dissected these intricate outputs of miRNA-mediated repression using zebrafish embryos as a model system. Our results indicate that translational inhibition and deadenylation are independent outputs mediated by distinct domains of TNRC6A, which is an effector protein in the miRNA pathway. Translational inhibition by TNRC6A is divided into two mechanisms: PAM2 motif-mediated interference of poly(A)-binding protein (PABP), and inhibition of 5' cap- and poly(A) tail-independent step(s) by a previously undescribed P-GL motif. Consistent with these observations, we show that, in zebrafish embryos, miRNA inhibits translation of the target mRNA in a deadenylation- and PABP-independent manner at early time points. These results indicate that miRNA exerts multiple posttranscriptional outputs via physically and functionally independent mechanisms and that direct translational inhibition is central to miRNA-mediated repression.

GW182 proteins directly recruit cytoplasmic deadenylase complexes to miRNA targets

miRNAs are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression that associate with Argonaute and GW182 proteins to repress translation and/or promote mRNA degradation. miRNA-mediated mRNA degradation is initiated by deadenylation, although it is not known whether deadenylases are recruited to the mRNA target directly or by default, as a consequence of a translational block. To answer this question, we performed a screen for potential interactions between the Argonaute and GW182 proteins and subunits of the two cytoplasmic deadenylase complexes. We found that human GW182 proteins recruit the PAN2-PAN3 and CCR4-CAF1-NOT deadenylase complexes through direct interactions with PAN3 and NOT1, respectively. These interactions are critical for silencing and are conserved in D. melanogaster. Our findings reveal that GW182 proteins provide a docking platform through which deadenylase complexes gain access to the poly(A) tail of miRNA targets to promote their deadenylation, and they further indicate that deadenylation is a direct effect of miRNA regulation.

PABP is not essential for microRNA-mediated translational repression and deadenylation in vitro

MicroRNAs silence their complementary target genes via formation of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that contains an Argonaute (Ago) protein at its core. It was previously proposed that GW182, an Ago-associating protein, directly binds to poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) and interferes with its function, leading to silencing of the target mRNAs. Here we show that Drosophila Ago1-RISC induces silencing via two independent pathways: shortening of the poly(A) tail and pure repression of translation. Our data suggest that although PABP generally modulates poly(A) length and translation efficiency, neither PABP function nor GW182-PABP interaction is a prerequisite for these two silencing pathways. Instead, we propose that each of the multiple functional domains within GW182 has a potential for silencing, and yet they need to act together in the context of full-length GW182 to exert maximal silencing.

miRNA repression involves GW182-mediated recruitment of CCR4-NOT through conserved W-containing motifs

miRNA-mediated repression in animals is dependent on the GW182 protein family. GW182 proteins are recruited to the miRNA repression complex through direct interaction with Argonaute proteins, and they function downstream to repress target mRNA. Here we demonstrate that in human and Drosophila melanogaster cells, the critical repressive features of both the N-terminal and C-terminal effector domains of GW182 proteins are Gly/Ser/Thr-Trp (G/S/TW) or Trp-Gly/Ser/Thr (WG/S/T) motifs. These motifs, which are dispersed across both domains and act in an additive manner, function by recruiting components of the CCR4-NOT deadenylation complex. A heterologous yeast polypeptide with engineered WG/S/T motifs acquired the ability to repress tethered mRNA and to interact with the CCR4-NOT complex. These results identify previously unknown effector motifs functioning as important mediators of miRNA-induced silencing in both species, and they reveal that recruitment of the CCR4-NOT complex by tryptophan-containing motifs acts downstream of GW182 to repress mRNAs, including inhibiting translation independently of deadenylation.

miRNA-mediated deadenylation is orchestrated by GW182 through two conserved motifs that interact with CCR4-NOT

miRNAs recruit the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), which includes Argonaute and GW182 as core proteins. GW182 proteins effect translational repression and deadenylation of target mRNAs. However, the molecular mechanisms of GW182-mediated repression remain obscure. We show here that human GW182 independently interacts with the PAN2-PAN3 and CCR4-NOT deadenylase complexes. Interaction of GW182 with CCR4-NOT is mediated by two newly discovered phylogenetically conserved motifs. Although either motif is sufficient to bind CCR4-NOT, only one of them can promote processive deadenylation of target mRNAs. Thus, GW182 serves as both a platform that recruits deadenylases and as a deadenylase coactivator that facilitates the removal of the poly(A) tail by CCR4-NOT.

Mammalian hyperplastic discs homolog EDD regulates miRNA-mediated gene silencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression through translation repression and mRNA destabilization. However, the molecular mechanisms of miRNA silencing are still not well defined. Using a genetic screen in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, we identify mammalian hyperplastic discs protein EDD, a known E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a key component of the miRNA silencing pathway. ES cells deficient for EDD are defective in miRNA function and exhibit growth defects. We demonstrate that E3 ubiquitin ligase activity is dispensable for EDD function in miRNA silencing. Instead, EDD interacts with GW182 family proteins in the Argonaute-miRNA complexes. The PABC domain of EDD is essential for its silencing function. Through the PABC domain, EDD participates in miRNA silencing by recruiting downstream effectors. Among the PABC-interactors, DDX6 and Tob1/2 are both required and sufficient for silencing mRNA targets. Taken together, these data demonstrate a critical function for EDD in miRNA silencing.

Developmental functions of piRNAs and transposable elements: a Drosophila point-of-view

The primary function of the piRNA pathway is to repress the expression and transposition of transposable elements. However, the piRNA pathway has additional biological and developmental functions. These functions are either a consequence of transposon regulation, or they result from direct roles of transposable elements in chromosome structure and gene regulation through piRNAs. Recent data have extended the functions of transposable elements in gene regulation, revealing a trans-acting role of transposable element piRNAs in the control of gene expression. Over the last few years, extensive studies on the piRNA pathway have rapidly increased our understanding of the relationships between transposable elements and the host genome, and of the essential role of transposable elements in biological and developmental processes.

Current prospects for RNA interference-based therapies

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful approach for reducing expression of endogenously expressed proteins. It is widely used for biological applications and is being harnessed to silence mRNAs encoding pathogenic proteins for therapy. Various methods - including delivering RNA oligonucleotides and expressing RNAi triggers from viral vectors - have been developed for successful RNAi in cell culture and in vivo. Recently, RNAi-based gene silencing approaches have been demonstrated in humans, and ongoing clinical trials hold promise for treating fatal disorders or providing alternatives to traditional small molecule therapies. Here we describe the broad range of approaches to achieve targeted gene silencing for therapy, discuss important considerations when developing RNAi triggers for use in humans, and review the current status of clinical trials.

Limiting Ago protein restricts RNAi and microRNA biogenesis during early development in Xenopus laevis

We show that, in Xenopus laevis oocytes and early embryos, double-stranded exogenous siRNAs cannot function as microRNA (miRNA) mimics in either deadenylation or guided mRNA cleavage (RNAi). Instead, siRNAs saturate and inactivate maternal Argonaute (Ago) proteins, which are present in low amounts but are needed for Dicer processing of pre-miRNAs at the midblastula transition (MBT). Consequently, siRNAs impair accumulation of newly made miRNAs, such as the abundant embryonic pre-miR-427, but inhibition dissipates upon synthesis of zygotic Ago proteins after MBT. These effects of siRNAs, which are independent of sequence, result in morphological defects at later stages of development. The expression of any of several exogenous human Ago proteins, including catalytically inactive Ago2 (Ago2mut), can overcome the siRNA-mediated inhibition of miR-427 biogenesis and function. However, expression of wild-type, catalytically active hAgo2 is required to elicit RNAi in both early embryos and oocytes using either siRNA or endogenous miRNAs as guides. The lack of endogenous Ago2 endonuclease activity explains why these cells normally are unable to support RNAi. Expression of catalytically active exogenous Ago2, which appears not to perturb normal Xenopus embryonic development, can now be exploited for RNAi in this vertebrate model organism.

RNA-binding E3 ubiquitin ligases: novel players in nucleic acid regulation

Non-coding RNAs and their interaction with RNA-binding proteins regulate mRNA levels in key cellular processes. This has intensified interest in post-transcriptional regulation. Recent studies on the turnover of AU-rich cytokine mRNAs have linked mRNA metabolism with ubiquitination. Ubiquitin is well recognized for its role in protein regulation/degradation. In the present paper, we describe a new group of RNA-binding E3 ubiquitin ligases which are predicted to bind and regulate RNA stability. Although much effort has been focused on understanding the role of these proteins as key regulators of mRNA turnover, the requirement for E3 ligase activity in mRNA decay remains unclear. It is remarkable that the ubiquitin system is involved, either directly or indirectly, in both the degradation of nucleic acids as well as proteins. These new RNA-binding E3 ligases are potential candidates which link two important cellular regulatory pathways: the regulation of both protein and mRNA stability.

Cytoplasmic deadenylation: regulation of mRNA fate

The poly(A) tail of mRNA has an important influence on the dynamics of gene expression. On one hand, it promotes enhanced mRNA stability to allow production of the protein, even after inactivation of transcription. On the other hand, shortening of the poly(A) tail (deadenylation) slows down translation of the mRNA, or prevents it entirely, by inducing mRNA decay. Thus deadenylation plays a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, deciding the fate of individual mRNAs. It acts both in basal mRNA turnover, as well as in temporally and spatially regulated translation and decay of specific mRNAs. In the present paper, we discuss mRNA deadenylation in eukaryotes, focusing on the main deadenylase, the Ccr4-Not complex, including its composition, regulation and functional roles.

Activation of a microRNA response in trans reveals a new role for poly(A) in translational repression

Here, we report that the untreated rabbit reticulocyte lysate contains over 300 different endogenous microRNAs together with the major components of the RNA-induced silencing complex and thus can be used as a model in vitro system to study the effects of microRNAs on gene expression. By using this system, we were able to show that microRNA hybridization to its target resulted in a very rapid and strong inhibition of expression that was exerted exclusively at the level of translation initiation with no involvement of transcript degradation or deadenylation. Moreover, we demonstrate that the magnitude of microRNA-induced repression can only be recapitulated in the context of a competitive translating environment. By using a wide spectrum of competitor cellular and viral RNAs, we could further show that competition was not exerted at the level of general components of the translational machinery, but relied exclusively on the presence of the poly(A) tail with virtually no involvement of the cap structure.

Gene silencing by microRNAs: contributions of translational repression and mRNA decay

Despite their widespread roles as regulators of gene expression, important questions remain about target regulation by microRNAs. Animal microRNAs were originally thought to repress target translation, with little or no influence on mRNA abundance, whereas the reverse was thought to be true in plants. Now, however, it is clear that microRNAs can induce mRNA degradation in animals and, conversely, translational repression in plants. Recent studies have made important advances in elucidating the relative contributions of these two different modes of target regulation by microRNAs. They have also shed light on the specific mechanisms of target silencing, which, although it differs fundamentally between plants and animals, shares some common features between the two kingdoms.

The Ccr4a (CNOT6) and Ccr4b (CNOT6L) deadenylase subunits of the human Ccr4-Not complex contribute to the prevention of cell death and senescence

The human Ccr4-Not complex has two types of deadenylase subunits that shorten the polyadenylate tail of cytoplasmic mRNA. The authors present evidence for novel roles of the highly related Ccr4a/Ccr4b deadenylases in preventing cell death and senescence and show that they have distinct roles as compared with the Caf1a/Caf1b deadenylases.

A key step in cytoplasmic mRNA degradation is the shortening of the poly(A) tail, which involves several deadenylase enzymes. Relatively little is known about the importance of these enzymes for the cellular physiology. Here we focused on the role of the highly similar Ccr4a (CNOT6) and Ccr4b (CNOT6L) deadenylase subunits of the Ccr4–Not complex. In addition to a role in cell proliferation, Ccr4a and Ccr4b play a role in cell survival, in contrast to the Caf1a (CNOT7) and Caf1b (CNOT8) deadenylase subunits or the CNOT1 and CNOT3 noncatalytic subunits of the Ccr4–Not complex. Underscoring the differential contributions of the deadenylase subunits, we found that knockdown of Caf1a/Caf1b or Ccr4a/Ccr4b differentially affects the formation of cytoplasmic foci by processing-body components. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the amino-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of Ccr4b influenced its subcellular localization but was not required for the deadenylase activity of Ccr4b. Moreover, overexpression of Ccr4b lacking the LRR domain interfered with cell cycle progression but not with cell viability. Finally, gene expression profiling indicated that distinct gene sets are regulated by Caf1a/Caf1b and Ccr4a/Ccr4b and identified Ccr4a/Ccr4b as a key regulator of insulin-like growth factor–binding protein 5, which mediates cell cycle arrest and senescence via a p53-dependent pathway.

To polyadenylate or to deadenylate: that is the question

mRNA polyadenylation and deadenylation are important processes that allow rapid regulation of gene expression in response to different cellular conditions. Almost all eukaryotic mRNA precursors undergo a co-transcriptional cleavage followed by polyadenylation at the 3' end. After the signals are selected, polyadenylation occurs to full extent, suggesting that this first round of polyadenylation is a default modification for most mRNAs. However, the length of these poly(A) tails changes by the activation of deadenylation, which might regulate gene expression by affecting mRNA stability, mRNA transport, or translation initiation. The mechanisms behind deadenylation activation are highly regulated and associated with cellular conditions such as development, mRNA surveillance, DNA damage response, cell differentiation and cancer. After deadenylation, depending on the cellular response, some mRNAs might undergo an extension of the poly(A) tail or degradation. The polyadenylation/deadenylation machinery itself, miRNAs, or RNA binding factors are involved in the regulation of polyadenylation/deadenylation. Here, we review the mechanistic connections between polyadenylation and deadenylation and how the two processes are regulated in different cellular conditions. It is our conviction that further studies of the interplay between polyadenylation and deadenylation will provide critical information required for a mechanistic understanding of several diseases, including cancer development.

[Molecular evolution and regulatory mechanism of microRNAs]

MicroRNAs, a type of small non-coding RNA specialized in regulation of gene expression, extensively participate in biological development, cell differentiation, apoptosis, and other cellular processes. MiRNAs evolved independently in different strains and generally conserved in the process of evolution. This review summarized the origin, regulation of methylation, and evolutionary conservation of miRNAs. In addition, application of miRNAs in diseases, animals and plants was discussed.

Nocturnin suppresses igf1 expression in bone by targeting the 3' untranslated region of igf1 mRNA

IGF-I is an anabolic factor that mediates GH and PTH actions in bone. Expression of skeletal Igf1 differs for inbred strains of mice, and Igf expression levels correlate directly with bone mass. Previously we reported that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 activation in bone marrow suppressed Igf1 expression and that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 activation-induced Nocturnin (Noc) expression, a circadian gene with peak expression at light offset, which functions as a deadenylase. In 24-h studies we found that Igf1 mRNA exhibited a circadian rhythm in femur with the lowest Igf1 transcript levels at night when Noc transcripts were highest. Immunoprecipitation/RT-PCR analysis revealed a physical interaction between Noc protein and Igf1 transcripts. To clarify which portions of the Igf1 3' untranslated region (UTR) were necessary for regulation by Noc, we generated luciferase constructs containing various lengths of the Igf1 3'UTR. Noc did not affect the 170-bp short-form 3'UTR, but suppressed luciferase activity in constructs bearing the longer-form 3'UTR, which contains a number of potential regulatory motifs involved in mRNA degradation. C57BL/6J mice have low skeletal Igf1 mRNA compared with C3H/HeJ mice, and the Igf1 3' UTR is polymorphic between these strains. Interestingly, the activity of luciferase constructs bearing the long-form 3'UTR from C57BL/6J mice were repressed by Noc overexpression, whereas those bearing the corresponding region from C3H/HeJ were not. In summary, Noc interacts with Igf1 in a strain- and tissue-specific manner and reduces Igf1 expression by targeting the longer form of the Igf1 3'UTR. Posttranscriptional regulation of Igf1 may be critically important during skeletal acquisition and maintenance.

Translational repression by deadenylases

The CCR4-CAF1-NOT complex is a major cytoplasmic deadenylation complex in yeast and mammals. This complex associates with RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs to repress translation of target mRNAs. We sought to determine how CCR4 and CAF1 participate in repression and control of maternal mRNAs using Xenopus laevis oocytes. We show that Xenopus CCR4 and CAF1 enzymes are active deadenylases and repress translation of an adenylated mRNA. CAF1 also represses translation independent of deadenylation. The deadenylation-independent repression requires a 5' cap structure on the mRNA; however, deadenylation does not. We suggest that mere recruitment of CAF1 is sufficient for repression, independent of deadenylation.

The decapping activator HPat a novel factor co-purifying with GW182 from Drosophila cells

miRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in many eukaryotes and thereby affect a wide range of biological processes. GW182 is a key factor in translation repression and mRNA degradation by miRNAs. In this study we investigate the potential interaction of GW182 and translation or mRNA degradation factors in Drosophila S2 cells. We have identified the decapping activator HP at as a novel factor co-purifying with GW182. Furthermore, we show that the C-terminal domain of GW182, important for gene silencing, is sufficient to form a complex with HP at. Our findings implicate a potential interaction of the miRNA effector component GW182 with the decapping machinery.