Antisense masking reveals contributions of mRNA-rRNA base pairing to translation of Gtx and FGF2 mRNAs

The story of rRNA expansion segments: Finding functionality amidst diversity

Expansion segments (ESs) are multinucleotide insertions present across phyla at specific conserved positions in eukaryotic rRNAs. ESs are generally absent in bacterial rRNAs with some exceptions, while the archaeal rRNAs have microexpansions at regions that coincide with those of eukaryotic ESs. Although there is an increasing prominence of ribosomes, especially the ribosomal proteins, in fine-tuning gene expression through translation regulation, the role of rRNA ESs is relatively underexplored. While rRNAs have been established as the major catalytic hub in ribosome function, the presence of ESs widens their scope as a species-specific regulatory hub of protein synthesis. In this comprehensive review, we have elaborately discussed the current understanding of the functional aspects of rRNA ESs of cytoplasmic eukaryotic ribosomes and discuss their past, present, and future. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems Translation > Ribosome Structure/Function Translation > Regulation.

Promising Assays for Examining a Putative Role of Ribosomal Heterogeneity in COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity

The heterogeneity of ribosomes, characterized by structural variations, arises from differences in types, numbers, and/or post-translational modifications of participating ribosomal proteins (RPs), ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) sequence variants plus post-transcriptional modifications, and additional molecules essential for forming a translational machinery. The ribosomal heterogeneity within an individual organism or a single cell leads to preferential translations of selected messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts over others, especially in response to environmental cues. The role of ribosomal heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, propagation, related symptoms, or vaccine responses is not known, and a technique to examine these has not yet been developed. Tools to detect ribosomal heterogeneity or to profile translating mRNAs independently cannot identify unique or specialized ribosome(s) along with corresponding mRNA substrate(s). Concurrent characterizations of RPs and/or rRNAs with mRNA substrate from a single ribosome would be critical to decipher the putative role of ribosomal heterogeneity in the COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, which hijacks the host ribosome to preferentially translate its RNA genome. Such a protocol should be able to provide a high-throughput screening of clinical samples in a large population that would reach a statistical power for determining the impact of a specialized ribosome to specific characteristics of the disease. These characteristics may include host susceptibility, viral infectivity and transmissibility, severity of symptoms, antiviral treatment responses, and vaccine immunogenicity including its side effect and efficacy. In this study, several state-of-the-art techniques, in particular, chemical probing of ribosomal components or rRNA structures, proximity ligation to generate rRNA-mRNA chimeras for sequencing, nanopore gating of individual ribosomes, nanopore RNA sequencing and/or structural analyses, single-ribosome mass spectrometry, and microfluidic droplets for separating ribosomes or indexing rRNAs/mRNAs, are discussed. The key elements for further improvement and proper integration of the above techniques to potentially arrive at a high-throughput protocol for examining individual ribosomes and their mRNA substrates in a clinical setting are also presented.

Gene- and Species-Specific Hox mRNA Translation by Ribosome Expansion Segments

Ribosomes have been suggested to directly control gene regulation, but regulatory roles for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) remain largely unexplored. Expansion segments (ESs) consist of multitudes of tentacle-like rRNA structures extending from the core ribosome in eukaryotes. ESs are remarkably variable in sequence and size across eukaryotic evolution with largely unknown functions. In characterizing ribosome binding to a regulatory element within a Homeobox (Hox) 5' UTR, we identify a modular stem-loop within this element that binds to a single ES, ES9S. Engineering chimeric, "humanized" yeast ribosomes for ES9S reveals that an evolutionary change in the sequence of ES9S endows species-specific binding of Hoxa9 mRNA to the ribosome. Genome editing to site-specifically disrupt the Hoxa9-ES9S interaction demonstrates the functional importance for such selective mRNA-rRNA binding in translation control. Together, these studies unravel unexpected gene regulation directly mediated by rRNA and how ribosome evolution drives translation of critical developmental regulators.

Noncanonical Translation Initiation in Eukaryotes

The vast majority of eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) initiate translation through a canonical, cap-dependent mechanism requiring a free 5' end and 5' cap and several initiation factors to form a translationally active ribosome. Stresses such as hypoxia, apoptosis, starvation, and viral infection down-regulate cap-dependent translation during which alternative mechanisms of translation initiation prevail to express proteins required to cope with the stress, or to produce viral proteins. The diversity of noncanonical initiation mechanisms encompasses a broad range of strategies and cellular cofactors. Herein, we provide an overview and, whenever possible, a mechanistic understanding of the various noncanonical mechanisms of initiation used by cells and viruses. Despite many unanswered questions, recent advances have propelled our understanding of the scope, diversity, and mechanisms of alternative initiation.

Interaction of rRNA with mRNA and tRNA in Translating Mammalian Ribosome: Functional Implications in Health and Disease

RNA-RNA interaction slowly emerges as a critical component for the smooth functioning of gene expression processes, in particular in translation where the central actor is an RNA powered molecular machine. Overall, ribosome dynamic results from sequential interactions between three main RNA species: ribosomal, transfer and messenger RNA (rRNA, tRNA and mRNA). In recent decades, special attention has been paid to the physical principles governing codon-anticodon pairing, whereas individual RNA positioning mostly relies on ribosomal RNA framework. Here, we provide a brief overview on the actual knowledge of RNA infrastructure throughout the process of translation in mammalian cells: where and how do these physical contacts occur? What are their potential roles and functions? Are they involved in disease development? What will be the main challenges ahead?

Translation acrobatics: how cancer cells exploit alternate modes of translational initiation

Recent work has brought to light many different mechanisms of translation initiation that function in cells in parallel to canonical cap-dependent initiation. This has important implications for cancer. Canonical cap-dependent translation initiation is inhibited by many stresses such as hypoxia, nutrient limitation, proteotoxic stress, or genotoxic stress. Since cancer cells are often exposed to these stresses, they rely on alternate modes of translation initiation for protein synthesis and cell growth. Cancer mutations are now being identified in components of the translation machinery and in cis-regulatory elements of mRNAs, which both control translation of cancer-relevant genes. In this review, we provide an overview on the various modes of non-canonical translation initiation, such as leaky scanning, translation re-initiation, ribosome shunting, IRES-dependent translation, and m⁶A-dependent translation, and then discuss the influence of stress on these different modes of translation. Finally, we present examples of how these modes of translation are dysregulated in cancer cells, allowing them to grow, to proliferate, and to survive, thereby highlighting the importance of translational control in cancer.

A researcher's guide to the galaxy of IRESs

The idea of internal initiation is frequently exploited to explain the peculiar translation properties or unusual features of some eukaryotic mRNAs. In this review, we summarize the methods and arguments most commonly used to address cases of translation governed by internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). Frequent mistakes are revealed. We explain why "cap-independent" does not readily mean "IRES-dependent" and why the presence of a long and highly structured 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) or translation under stress conditions cannot be regarded as an argument for appealing to internal initiation. We carefully describe the known pitfalls and limitations of the bicistronic assay and artefacts of some commercially available in vitro translation systems. We explain why plasmid DNA transfection should not be used in IRES studies and which control experiments are unavoidable if someone decides to use it anyway. Finally, we propose a workflow for the validation of IRES activity, including fast and simple experiments based on a single genetic construct with a sequence of interest.

Translational dysregulation in cancer: eIF4A isoforms and sequence determinants of eIF4A dependence

The malignant phenotype is largely the consequence of dysregulated gene expression. Transformed cells depend upon not just a global increase in protein synthesis but an altered translational landscape in which pro-oncogenic mRNAs are translationally up-regulated. Such mRNAs have been shown to possess longer and more structured 5'-UTRs requiring high levels of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) helicase activity for efficient translation. As such there is a developing focus on targeting eIF4A as a cancer therapy. In order for such treatments to be successful, we must develop a detailed understanding of the mechanisms which make specific mRNAs more dependent on eIF4A activity than others. It is also crucial to fully characterize the potentially distinct roles of eIF4A1 and eIF4A2, which until recently were thought to be functionally interchangeable. This review will highlight the recent advances made in this field that address these issues.

Ribosomal 18S rRNA base pairs with mRNA during eukaryotic translation initiation

Eukaryotic mRNAs often contain a Kozak sequence that helps tether the ribosome to the AUG start codon. The mRNA of histone H4 (h4) does not undergo classical ribosome scanning but has evolved a specific tethering mechanism. The cryo-EM structure of the rabbit ribosome complex with mouse h4 shows that the mRNA forms a folded, repressive structure at the mRNA entry site on the 40S subunit next to the tip of helix 16 of 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Toe-printing and mutational assays reveal that an interaction exists between a purine-rich sequence in h4 mRNA and a complementary UUUC sequence of helix h16. Together the present data establish that the h4 mRNA harbours a sequence complementary to an 18S rRNA sequence which tethers the mRNA to the ribosome to promote proper start codon positioning, complementing the interactions of the 40S subunit with the Kozak sequence that flanks the AUG start codon.

Prokaryotic translation initiation involves mRNA-ribosomal RNA base pairing interactions. Here, the authors provide evidence for a similar base pairing interactions occurring between the human h4 mRNA and helix 16 of the small subunit rRNA to position the correct AUG codon in the decoding site.

Sounds of silence: synonymous nucleotides as a key to biological regulation and complexity

Messenger RNA is a key component of an intricate regulatory network of its own. It accommodates numerous nucleotide signals that overlap protein coding sequences and are responsible for multiple levels of regulation and generation of biological complexity. A wealth of structural and regulatory information, which mRNA carries in addition to the encoded amino acid sequence, raises the question of how these signals and overlapping codes are delineated along non-synonymous and synonymous positions in protein coding regions, especially in eukaryotes. Silent or synonymous codon positions, which do not determine amino acid sequences of the encoded proteins, define mRNA secondary structure and stability and affect the rate of translation, folding and post-translational modifications of nascent polypeptides. The RNA level selection is acting on synonymous sites in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and is more common than previously thought. Selection pressure on the coding gene regions follows three-nucleotide periodic pattern of nucleotide base-pairing in mRNA, which is imposed by the genetic code. Synonymous positions of the coding regions have a higher level of hybridization potential relative to non-synonymous positions, and are multifunctional in their regulatory and structural roles. Recent experimental evidence and analysis of mRNA structure and interspecies conservation suggest that there is an evolutionary tradeoff between selective pressure acting at the RNA and protein levels. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the studies that define the role of silent positions in regulating RNA structure and processing that exert downstream effects on proteins and their functions.

Further characterisation of the translational termination-reinitiation signal of the influenza B virus segment 7 RNA

Termination-dependent reinitiation is used to co-ordinately regulate expression of the M1 and BM2 open-reading frames (ORFs) of the dicistronic influenza B segment 7 RNA. The start codon of the BM2 ORF overlaps the stop codon of the M1 ORF in the pentanucleotide UAAUG and ∼10% of ribosomes terminating at the M1 stop codon reinitiate translation at the overlapping AUG. BM2 synthesis requires the presence of, and translation through, 45 nt of RNA immediately upstream of the UAAUG, known as the ‘termination upstream ribosome binding site’ (TURBS). This region may tether ribosomal 40S subunits to the mRNA following termination and a short region of the TURBS, motif 1, with complementarity to helix 26 of 18S rRNA has been implicated in this process. Here, we provide further evidence for a direct interaction between mRNA and rRNA using antisense oligonucleotide targeting and functional analysis in yeast cells. The TURBS also binds initiation factor eIF3 and we show here that this protein stimulates reinitiation from both wild-type and defective TURBS when added exogenously, perhaps by stabilising ribosome-mRNA interactions. Further, we show that the position of the TURBS with respect to the UAAUG overlap is crucial, and that termination too far downstream of the 18S complementary sequence inhibits the process, probably due to reduced 40S tethering. However, in reporter mRNAs where the restart codon alone is moved downstream, termination-reinitiation is inhibited but not abolished, thus the site of reinitiation is somewhat flexible. Reinitiation on distant AUGs is not inhibited in eIF4G-depleted RRL, suggesting that the tethered 40S subunit can move some distance without a requirement for linear scanning.

Determinants of initiation codon selection during translation in mammalian cells

Factors affecting translation of mRNA contribute to the complexity of eukaryotic proteomes. In some cases, translation of a particular mRNA can generate multiple proteins. However, the factors that determine whether ribosomes initiate translation from the first AUG codon in the transcript, from a downstream codon, or from multiple sites are not completely understood. Various mRNA properties, including AUG codon-accessibility and 5′ leader length have been proposed as potential determinants that affect where ribosomes initiate translation. To explore this issue, we performed studies using synthetic mRNAs with two in-frame AUG codons−both in excellent context. Open reading frames initiating at AUG1 and AUG2 encode large and small isoforms of a reporter protein, respectively. Translation of such an mRNA in COS-7 cells was shown to be 5′ cap-dependent and to occur efficiently from both AUG codons. AUG codon-accessibility was modified by using two different elements: an antisense locked nucleic acid oligonucleotide and an exon-junction complex. When either element was used to mask AUG1, the ratio of the proteins synthesized changed, favoring the smaller (AUG2-initiated) protein. In addition, we observed that increased leader length by itself changed the ratio of the proteins and favored initiation at AUG1. These observations demonstrate that initiation codon selection is affected by various factors, including AUG codon-accessibility and 5′ leader length, and is not necessarily determined by the order of AUG codons (5′→3′). The modulation of AUG codon accessibility may provide a powerful means of translation regulation in eukaryotic cells.

Facilitated leaky scanning and atypical ribosome shunting direct downstream translation initiation on the tricistronic S1 mRNA of avian reovirus

The S1 mRNA of avian reovirus is functionally tricistronic, encoding three unrelated proteins, p10, p17 and σC, from three sequential, partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The mechanism of translation initiation at the 3'-proximal σC ORF is currently unknown. Transient RNA transfections using Renilla luciferase reporter constructs revealed only a modest reduction in reporter expression upon optimization of either the p10 or p17 start sites. Insertion of multiple upstream AUG (uAUG) codons in a preferred start codon sequence context resulted in a substantial retention of downstream translation initiation on the S1 mRNA, but not on a heterologous mRNA. The S1 mRNA therefore facilitates leaky scanning to promote ribosome access to the σC start codon. Evidence also indicates that σC translation is mediated by a second scanning-independent mechanism capable of bypassing upstream ORFs. This alternate mechanism is cap-dependent and requires a sequence-dependent translation enhancer element that is complementary to 18S rRNA. Downstream translation initiation of the tricistronic S1 mRNA is therefore made possible by two alternate mechanisms, facilitated leaky scanning and an atypical form of ribosome shunting. This dual mechanism of downstream translation initiation ensures sufficient expression of the σC cell attachment protein that is essential for infectious progeny virus production.