Potentiation of hemoglobin messenger ribonucleic acid. A step in protein synthesis initiation involving interaction of messenger with 18 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid

Importance of polysomal mRNA-associated polypeptides for protein synthesis initiation in yeast

The polysomal mRNA from the cell-free system of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in the absence of exogenous energy, binds to the 40S ribosomal subunit thus forming a 48S preinitiation complex which, with energy added, is converted into 80S initiation complex. By using ribosomes with a high affinity to polysomal mRNA (pmRNA) from an edeine-resistant mutant of S. cerevisiae in place of wild-type ribosomes, increased quantities of the 48S preinitiation complex are obtained. The pmRNA is found associated with several polypeptides having molecular masses of 115-98 kDa, 72 kDa, 60 kDa and 51 kDa. These polypeptides, labelled with 125I, interact with 40S and 80S ribosomes and are essential for the formation of the 48S and 80S initiation complexes inasmuch as deproteinized pmRNA alone cannot initiate the process. In addition, other polypeptides present in the cytosol are required to carry out the above-mentioned steps of protein synthesis.

Eukaryotic mRNA 5'-leader sequences have dual regions of complementarity to the 3'-terminus of 18s rRNA

We have used a microcomputer program to test eukaryotic mRNA 5'-leader sequences for complementarity to the 3'-terminus of 18S rRNA. No mismatched bases, bulge loops, or viral mRNA's were utilized. At least one-fourth of the more than 200 mRNA's studied were found to have two distinct regions of complementarity which resulted in an ability to bind to two separate rRNA regions (GAAGG and UUUGG). The analysis of 60 mRNAs with these dual sites resulted in a consensus structure that was a mean distance of 11.75 bases 5' from the initiator AUG and had an average predicted interstrand binding strength of delta G = -13.40 kcal. These characteristics compare favorably to those observed for the prokaryotic 16S rRNA-mRNA Shine and Dalgarno bond.

Influence of the xyloadenosine analogue of 2',5'-oligoriboadenylate on poly(A)-specific, 2',5'-oligoriboadenylate degrading 2',3'-exoribonuclease and further enzymes involved in poly(A)(+)mRNA metabolism

The homogeneous poly(A)-specific 2',3'-exoribonuclease from calf thymus gland, which cleaves both 3',5'- and 2',5'-linked oligoriboadenylates, does not degrade (xyloA2'p)2 xyloA, the xylofuranosyladenosine analogue of the 2-5A core. This oligonucleotide, which is supposed to enter intact cells rapidly, was found to possess an increased stability and an enhanced antiherpesvirus activity compared to the natural (A2'p)2A (Eppstein, D.A., Barnett, J.W., Marsh, Y.V., Gosselin, G. and Imbach, J.-L. (1983) Nature 302, 723-724). The poly(A) anabolic enzyme, poly(A) polymerase (Mn2+-dependent), from the same source, which is initiated by (A3'p)2A and its higher oligomers, does not accept 2-5A core and its xyloadenosine analogue as primer. Both oligonucleotides exert no influence on endoribonuclease IV and on the integrity of the poly(A)-ribonucleoprotein complex.

Induction of metallothionein and metallothionein mRNA in rainbow-trout liver following cadmium treatment

A low-molecular-weight cadmium-binding protein was induced in the livers of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) following a series of intraperitoneal injections of cadmium chloride. The subsequent purification and amino acid analysis of this protein showed it to be a true metallothionein. As in higher organisms, two major forms of metallothionein appeared to be present in the liver following cadmium treatment. Following a similar induction procedure total RNA was also isolated and shown to contain high levels of metallothionein-mRNA activity when assayed in a wheat-germ cell-free translation system. This activity was present in the Poly-A+-containing fraction of the total RNA. The bulk of this mRNA activity was shown to be in the 8-10S region of a sucrose gradient.

Binding of polyribonucleotides and polydeoxyribonucleotides to bovine brain microtubule protein: age-dependent modulation via phosphorylation of high-molecular-weight microtubule-associated proteins and tau proteins

Binding of both synthetic poly(A) and naturally occurring poly(A) (+)mRNA as well as DNA to microtubule protein is mediated by microtubule-associated proteins; tubulin itself is not capable of binding these polymers. Bovine brain microtubule protein from immature animals was found to have a significantly lower capacity to bind poly(A) than microtubule protein from old animals. On the other hand, "old" microtubule protein binds DNA more efficiently than "immature" microtubule protein. Microtubule-associated protein 2 [preferred binding site for DNA] and tau proteins [preferred binding site for poly (A)] are specifically phosphorylated by a microtubule-associated, cAMP-dependent protein kinase. It was found that the affinity of microtubule protein for poly(A) is markedly decreased by autophosphorylation of the protein; in the case of DNA, the decrease in affinity was less. Autophosphorylation of "immature" microtubule proteins diminished the binding capacity for poly(A) to a greater extent than do "old" proteins. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that microtubule-protein possesses two different binding sites for poly(A). The corresponding dissociation constants were found to be increased in the phosphorylated system, but phosphorylation does not appear to alter the total number of binding sites. Compared to immature animals, microtubule protein from "old" bovine brains was found to have a reduced number of binding sites for poly(A), whereas the values of the dissociation constants remain unchanged. In contrast to total microtubule protein and homogeneous microtubule-associated protein 2, only one kind of binding site for poly(A) could be detected in homogeneous tau protein. No influence of different RNA or DNA species on microtubule protein-associated cAMP-dependent protein kinase, adenosine triphosphatase and guanosine triphosphatase activities could be detected.

Molecular cloning of the rat metallothionein 1 (MT-1) mRNA sequence

Starting with liver mRNA from cadmium chloride-treated rats, we constructed a cDNA library. A mouse metallothionein 1 (MT-1) cDNA restriction fragment (Durnam et al. 1980) was used as a hybridization probe to isolate from this library a cDNA (p2A10) which is a nearly complete copy of the rat MT-1 mRNA sequence. Southern analysis of rat DNA, using p2A10 as a probe, together with the screening of a rat genomic library, reveal that the rat MT-1 gene belongs to a family of related sequences. The rat MT-1 gene is inducible both by glucocorticoids and by metals.

Age-dependence of polyadenylate stimulation of nuclear-envelope nucleoside triphosphatase

Nuclear envelopes of mammalian cells contain a nucleoside triphosphatase which is probably involved in mRNA transport through the nuclear membrane. The activity of the enzyme, studied in RNA-depleted nuclear ghosts, can be stimulated by poly(A) or by poly(A) (+)mRNA. Using nuclear ghost preparations from mature (8-10 months' old) and old (40-42 months' old) Wistar rats, it was shown that in "old" preparations the basal activity of the enzyme is significantly reduced (by 15%). In addition, the enzyme from old animals responds only very little to poly(A) or poly(A) (+)mRNA, compared to preparations from mature animals. Using a concentration of 6.8 X 10(11) poly(A) (+) mRNA molecules per microgram of enzyme preparation, the nucleoside triphosphatase from mature animals is stimulated by 77% and the enzyme from old animals by only 26%. Binding studies of poly(A) to pore laminae revealed that the number of binding sites in unphosphorylated preparations from old animals is significantly reduced (by 24%) compared to "mature" preparations. As a consequence of in vitro phosphorylation, no difference is observable in the number of binding sites between the two age groups. The values for half-maximal saturation binding constants for poly(A) are identical in unphosphorylated and phosphorylated pore-laminae preparations, irrespective of the age group studied. The results presented indicate that in old animals the pathway from the phosphorylated to the dephosphorylated nuclear-envelope protein which is controlled by poly(A) is impaired in the proposed cycle for mRNA efflux from nuclei.

Effects of cap analogue or cap removal on the translation of rat brain mRNA in vitro

The role of cap structures in the translation of brain mRNA was examined by measuring protein biosynthesis in vitro in wheat germ and reticulocyte systems programmed by mRNA that was either untreated or oxidized by periodate or from which 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine (m7G) was removed by oxidation and beta-elimination. In another series of reactions, amino acid incorporation into polypeptides was measured in the absence and in the presence of varying concentrations of the cap analogue 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate (pppm7G). The results indicated that any of the above treatments interfered with brain mRNA translation, the degree of inhibition depending on the translation system used, the concentration of mRNA, and the source of initiation factors. Homologous brain initiation factors were superior to reticulocyte factors in providing a partial relief from inhibition of translation caused by these treatments. It was also found that synthesis of the brain-specific protein S-100 was inhibited by beta-elimination of mRNA, by pppm7G, or by the presence of capped globin mRNA, indicating that the mRNA for this protein was probably capped.

The regulation of protein synthesis in heart muscle under normal conditions and in the adriamycin-cardiomyopathy

The regulation of cardiac protein synthesis, in particular messenger-RNA (mRNA) and polyribosome metabolism, has been investigated in normal rat heart muscle and in the adriamycin-cardiomyopathy by using newly developed methods for the isolation, characterization and in-vitro translation of cardiac polyribosomes and mRNA. The obtained data allow the following conclusions: 1. Normal heart muscle has a high content of polyribosomes (865 micrograms/g) and of mRNA (20-60 micrograms/g), and thus a high rate of protein synthesis. 2. The level of cardiac polyribosomes and mRNA is strictly age-dependent and much higher in young animals (2-3 x). This corresponds to a higher cardiac protein synthesis rate in young animals with a growing heart muscle, and shows that the protein-synthetic reserves of heart muscle decrease sharply with age. 3. Withdrawal of food for 1-3 days results in a pronounced decrease (-50% to -70%) of cardiac polyribosomes and mRNA, demonstrating that the cardiac protein synthesis reacts very sensitively to conditions of starving. 4. The cardiac polyribosomes and mRNA are unevenly distributed in the myocyte. The bulk of these substances is present in the cardiac microsomes, and much less is found in nuclei, myofibrils, mitochondria and in the post-microsomal fraction (=cell-sap) of the cardiac muscle. This shows that the major intracellular site of cardiac protein synthesis is the microsomal fraction of the myocyte. 5. A pool of untranslated mRNA was demonstrated to be present in the cell-sap of the myocyte. This mRNA is to some extent translatable in-vitro and appears to represent mRNA sub-pools with two functions: a) mRNA which is partially broken down or in the process of being broken down, and b) intact mRNA which could have a "reserve-function", e.g., by being utilized to increase cardiac protein synthesis under certain conditions. 6. A method of quantitating small amounts of cardiac mRNA (25-50 ng) has been developed which makes it possible to estimate the mRNA content of cardiac biopsies. 7. These methods were utilized to study the relevance of changes in RNA- and protein synthesis in the development of the adriamycin-cardiomyopathy. It appears that severe decreases in cardiac mRNA and polyribosome levels are a key factor in the pathogenesis of the adriamycin-cardiomyopathy. These decreases are probably caused by the direct binding of adriamycin to cardiac DNA and lead themselves to a persisting decrease in cardiac protein synthesis which in view of the short half-lives of the cardiac contractile proteins (5-12 days) causes a gradual loss of cardiac structure and function.

The influence of rRNA and tRNA on the translation of avian globin mRNA in cell-free systems of protein synthesis

Cell-free synthesis of globin chains in the presence of globin mRNA in an Ehrlich ascites-cell-free system is further stimulated by addition of 18- and 28-S rRNA but not of 4-S tRNA and 5-S rRNA. This stimulation can not be observed in the wheat germ cell-free system. When 125I-labelled globin mRNA was incubated in the two systems we have found after 60 min a 75% decrease of trichloroacetic acid precipitable polynucleotides in the ascites but only a 20% decrease in the wheat germ system. The RNAase action on mRNA can be reduced by the addition of 18- and 28-S rRNA but not by 5-S rRNA and 4-S tRNA. We suggest that the stimulating effect of the two rRNA species in the ascites cell-free system is due to a higher activity of a specific RNAase in this system and a competitive protection of mRNA from RNAase action.

Isolation and characterization of poly(adenylic acid)-containing messenger ribonucleic acid from rat liver polysomes

Undegraded rat liver polysomes were obtained after homogenizing the tissue in a medium containing NH4Cl, heparine, and yeast tRNA. Purification of poly(A)-containing RNA from polysomal RNA was accomplished by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns. Poly(A)-containing RNA molecules were monitored by the formation of ribonuclease-resistant hybrids with [3H]poly(U). To improve the separation of messenger RNA and ribosomal RNA by oligo(dT)-cellulose it was found essential to dissociate the aggregates formed between both molecular species by heat treatment in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) prior to chromatography. Sucrose gradient analysis under denaturing conditions showed that the preparations obtained were virtually free of ribosomal RNA. Poly(A)-containing RNA constituted approx. 2.2% of the total polysomal RNA and the number average size was 1500--1800 nucleotides, as judged by sedimentation analysis on sucrose density gradients containing Me2SO. Approximately 8.2% of the purified preparation obtained was able to anneal with [3H]poly(U); the number average nucleotide length of the poly(A) segment of the RNA population was calculated to be 133 adenylate residues. Based on these values, our preparations appear to be greater than 90% pure. The RNA fractions obtained after oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography were used to direct the synthesis of liver polypeptides in a heterologous cell-free system derived from wheat-germ. The system was optimized with respect to monovalent and divalent cations, and presence of polyamines (spermine). More than 65% of the translational activity present in the unfractionated polysomal RNA was recovered in the final poly(A)-containing RNA fraction. However, about 25% of the activity was found to be associated with the unbound fraction which was essentially free of poly(A)-containing RNA. Immunoprecipitation analysis with a specific antiserum to rat serum albumin demonstrated that about 6--8% of the labeled synthetic products translated from the poly(A)-containing RNA sample corresponded to serum albumin. Analysis of the translation products by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a heterogeneous distribution of molecular sizes ranging from 15 000 to greater than 70 000 daltons. Spermine not only increased the overall yield and extent of protein synthesis, but also resulted in higher yields of large protein products. Under optimal translation conditions a discrete peak representing about 7% of the total radioactivity was observed to migrate with rat serum albumin.

Interaction between membrane functions and protein synthesis in reticulocytes: specific cleavage of 28-S ribosomal RNA by a membrane constituent

A factor isolated from rabbit reticulocyte white ghosts by Triton X-100 treatment blocks protein synthesis at the elongation-termination stage. Factor-treated ribosomes were found to have an identical buoyant density to that of control ribosomes. When incubated with either reticulocyte ribosomes or ribosomal RNA, the factor products specific cuts in the 28-S ribosomal RNA compenent without damaging the 18-S RNA. Incubations of pancreatic or T1 RNase, with ribosomal RNA, at similar protein-synthesis inhibitory concentrations effected a complete breakdown to oligo and mononucleotides. When challenged with isolated 28-S or 18-S reticulocyte ribosomal RNA, the highly purified factor only attacked the 28-S RNA species. There was no accumulation of nucleotides or oligonucleotides and we concluded that the membrane factor causes inhibition of protein synthesis by having a specific endonucleolytic cleavage activity.

Interferon-mediated effect on ribosomal RNA metabolism

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) has been shown to be involved in the binding of bacterial messenger RNA (mRNA) and an analogous 18 S rRNA.mRNA complex has been reported in eukaryotic systems. Thus, qualitative changes in host rRNA may be involved in the development of the interferon mediated antiviral state, a process thought to involve the inability of host ribosomes to bind and recognize viral mRNA. Data are reported which suggest that trisomy 21 human fibroblasts respond to human interferon with a marked reduction in cytoplasmic rRNA. [3H]Uridine was used to radioactively label the polysomal RNAs for 24 h beginning 12 h after interferon addition. Subsequent sucrose gradient analysis of the phenol or SDS-extracted RNA revealed that the reduction in radioactive rRNA was nearly complete for the 28 S rRNA. In contrast, considerable residual uridine incorporation was found in the 18 S rRNA species. Corollary data suggesting a net increase in mRNA synthesis and a net decrease in protein synthesis are reported.

Electron microscopic studies of purified eukaryote messenger RNA

Rat liver mRNA, hen and rabbit globin messenger RNA (mRNA) were investigated by electron microscopy. No secondary structures were visible in the molecules of these mRNAs under conditions where short secondary structures of other types of RNA, i.e. MS2 phage RNA and 28 S rRNA, were clearly demonstrated. The contour lengths of these mRNAs were also determined by electron microscopy and compared with the sizes estimated by other techniques. The contour lengths of rabbit short and long globin mRNA are 0.1498 +/- 0.0019 and 0.1908 +/- 0.0021 micrometer, respectively. The former is assumed to be globin mRNA for alpha chain and the latter for beta chain. Similarly, hen "alpha" and "beta" globin mRNA have mean lengths of 0.1449 +/- 0.0011 and 0.1891 +/- 0.0017 micrometer, respectively. Hen and rabbit reticulocytes contain 1.8-2.0 times as much mRNA for alpha globin chains as for beta.

Increased messenger RNA from protein synthesis inhibited human fibroblasts

Numerous reports have demonstrated that specific protein synthesis in response to specific inducers is markedly stimulated by a simultaneous brief exposure to protein synthesis inhibitors such as cycloheximide. This phenomenon is known as "superinduction" and is most often attributed to the accumulation of cytoplasmic messenger RNA during the inhibition period. Messenger RNA, as defined by rapid labeling, oligo (dt)-cellulose binding, and cell free protein synthesis stimulation was measured in cycloheximide treated human fibroblasts. In spite of a consistent 40% decrease in total polysomal 3H-uridine labeled RNA, a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in extractable mRNA was observed. These data provide direct evidence that protein synthesis inhibition stimulates the appearance of cytoplasmic mRNA and/or completely blocks its degradation and, are consistent with the hypothesis that mRNA accumulation partly underlies the superinduction phenomena.

Quantitation and characterisation of poly(A)-containing messenger RNAs from mouse neuroblastoma cells

Comparison of several isolation procedures for neuroblastoma poly(A)-containing mRNAs shows that the highest percentage recovery of undegraded and biologically active messenger RNAs is obtained using proteinase K prior to phenol extraction. The messenger RNAs thus isolated comprise approximately 1.5% of the total ribosomal RNAs and have negligible contamination with 18 and 28 S RNAs. On denaturing polyacrylamide gels they have an average molecular weight of 6.5-10(5) with a range from 2.2-10(5) to 1.53-10(6). The messenger RNAs have an average poly(A) content of 154 nucleotides. They are highly active in wheat germ in vitro protein synthesizing systems, giving as much as 4.3 pmol [35S]methionine incorporation into total protein per mol of mRNA. This is almost as active as a control globin mRNA preparation.

Isolation and translation of non-crystallin messenger RNA from calf lens

Affinith chromatography of lens polyribosomal RNA on oligo(dT)-cellulose yields three fractions. As arule the second fraction has been neglected in other studies reported in the literature. According to our investigations this fraction in particular contains the messengers for the non-crystallin lens proteins.

Modified nucleosides and 5'-end groups in purified mouse immunoglobulin light chain mRNA and rabbit globin mRNA detected by borohydride labelling

The borohydride reaction has been used to investigate modified nucleosides and end groups in purified immunoglobulin light chain mRNA and rabbit globin mRNA. 1. The light chain mRNA was isolated from the microsomal fraction of MOPC 41A mouse myelomas, which secrete kappa chains, by two cycles of oligo(dT) cellulose chromatography and glycerol gradient centrifugation. The 12 S mRNA was active in a Krebs II ascites cell-free system and appeared to be homogenous as judged by gradient centrifugation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 98% formamide and fingerprint analysis of 125I-labelled mRNA. 2. End group labelling of the light chain and globin mRNAs by oxidation with periodate and reduction with boro[3H]hydride showed that the RNAs have a 5'-terminal 7-methyl guanosine in 5'-pyrophosphate linkage with the next nucleoside. 3. To detect any modified residues in the interior of chains, nucleosides in complete digests of the mRNAs were converted by the borohydride reaction to 3H-labelled nucleoside trialcohols, which were fractionated by two dimensional chromatography (the Randerath technique). The light chain mRNA was found to contain N6-methyl adenosine (1 mole) but the rabbit globin mRNAs lacked this nucleoside. Deficiencies in this technique for analysis of minor constituents in large RNAs were noted.

Stimulation of 3H-uridine incorporation into ribosomal ribonucleic acids by insulin

Ribosomal RNA was extracted from hepatic ribosomal subunits of rats treated with alloxan or with alloxan and insulin and additionally injected with 3H-uridine. Sedimentation of the extracted RNA through sucrose, gradients with registration of the optical density and with measurement of the radioactivity of rRNA reveals reduction of uridine incorporation after the induction of diabetes of diabetes mellitus. If alloxan-diabetic animals are substituted with insulin, this decrease in uridine incorporation is reversed to incorporation rates which even exceed uridine incorporation of control animals. With regard to the reduction of protein synthesis in diabetes mellitus this finding of reduced rRNA synthesis is suggested to be an additional factor in the reduction of ribosomal aggregation.