Translation control can shape TP53-dependent cell fate

Poly(C)-binding Protein 2 Regulates the p53 Expression via Interactions with the 5'-Terminal Region of p53 mRNA

The p53 protein is one of the major transcriptional factors which guards cell homeostasis. Here, we showed that poly(C)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2) can bind directly to the 5′ terminus of p53 mRNA by means of electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Binding sites of PCBP2 within this region of p53 mRNA were mapped using Pb2+-induced cleavage and SAXS methods. Strikingly, the downregulation of PCBP2 in HCT116 cells resulted in a lower level of p53 protein under normal and stress conditions. Quantitative analysis of p53 mRNA in PCBP2-downregulated cells revealed a lower level of p53 mRNA under normal conditions suggesting the involvement of PCBP2 in p53 mRNA stabilisation. However, no significant change in p53 mRNA level was observed upon PCBP2 depletion under genotoxic stress. Moreover, a higher level of p53 protein in the presence of rapamycin or doxorubicin and the combination of both antibiotics was noticed in PCBP2-overexpressed cells compared to control cells. These observations indicate the potential involvement of PCBP2 in cap-independent translation of p53 mRNA especially occurring under stress conditions. It has been postulated that the PCBP2 protein is engaged in the enhancement of p53 mRNA stability, probably via interacting with its 3′ end. Our data show that under stress conditions PCBP2 also modulates p53 translation through binding to the 5′ terminus of p53 mRNA. Thus PCBP2 emerges as a double-function factor in the p53 expression.

DHX30 Coordinates Cytoplasmic Translation and Mitochondrial Function Contributing to Cancer Cell Survival

Simple Summary

Translation occurs in the cell both through cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomes, respectively translating mRNAs encoded by the nuclear and the mitochondrial genome. Here we found that the silencing of DHX30, an RNA-binding protein that we previously studied for its role in p53-dependent apoptosis, enhances the translation of mRNAs coding for cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins while reducing that of the mRNAs encoding for mitoribosomal proteins. This coordination of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial translation machineries affected both cell proliferation and energy metabolism, suggesting an important role for this mechanism in determining the fitness of cancer cells. By integrating multiple datasets, we identified a gene signature that will represent a starting point to assess the prognostic value of this mechanism in cancer. We thus propose DHX30 as a potential vulnerability in cancer cells that could be exploited to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Abstract

DHX30 was recently implicated in the translation control of mRNAs involved in p53-dependent apoptosis. Here, we show that DHX30 exhibits a more general function by integrating the activities of its cytoplasmic isoform and of the more abundant mitochondrial one. The depletion of both DHX30 isoforms in HCT116 cells leads to constitutive changes in polysome-associated mRNAs, enhancing the translation of mRNAs coding for cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins while reducing the translational efficiency of the nuclear-encoded mitoribosome mRNAs. Furthermore, the depletion of both DHX30 isoforms leads to higher global translation but slower proliferation and lower mitochondrial energy metabolism. Isoform-specific silencing supports a role for cytoplasmic DHX30 in modulating global translation. The impact on translation and proliferation was confirmed in U2OS and MCF7 cells. Exploiting RIP, eCLIP, and gene expression data, we identified fourteen mitoribosome transcripts we propose as direct DHX30 targets that can be used to explore the prognostic value of this mechanism in cancer. We propose that DHX30 contributes to cell homeostasis by coordinating ribosome biogenesis, global translation, and mitochondrial metabolism. Targeting DHX30 could, thus, expose a vulnerability in cancer cells.