1
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Collart MA, Audebert L, Bushell M. Roles of the CCR4-Not complex in translation and dynamics of co-translation events. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1827. [PMID: 38009591 PMCID: PMC10909573 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The Ccr4-Not complex is a global regulator of mRNA metabolism in eukaryotic cells that is most well-known to repress gene expression. Delivery of the complex to mRNAs through a multitude of distinct mechanisms accelerates their decay, yet Ccr4-Not also plays an important role in co-translational processes, such as co-translational association of proteins and delivery of translating mRNAs to organelles. The recent structure of Not5 interacting with the translated ribosome has brought to light that embedded information within the codon sequence can be monitored by recruitment of the Ccr4-Not complex to elongating ribosomes. Thereby, the Ccr4-Not complex is empowered with regulatory decisions determining the fate of proteins being synthesized and their encoding mRNAs. This review will focus on the roles of the complex in translation and dynamics of co-translation events. This article is categorized under: Translation > Mechanisms Translation > Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine A. Collart
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Genomics Geneva, University of Geneva, Faculty of MedicineGenèveSwitzerland
| | - Léna Audebert
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular MedicineInstitute of Genetics and Genomics Geneva, University of Geneva, Faculty of MedicineGenèveSwitzerland
| | - Martin Bushell
- Cancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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2
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Meng Q, Schatten H, Zhou Q, Chen J. Crosstalk between m6A and coding/non-coding RNA in cancer and detection methods of m6A modification residues. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:6577-6619. [PMID: 37437245 PMCID: PMC10373953 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common and well-known internal RNA modifications that occur on mRNAs or ncRNAs. It affects various aspects of RNA metabolism, including splicing, stability, translocation, and translation. An abundance of evidence demonstrates that m6A plays a crucial role in various pathological and biological processes, especially in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. In this article, we introduce the potential functions of m6A regulators, including "writers" that install m6A marks, "erasers" that demethylate m6A, and "readers" that determine the fate of m6A-modified targets. We have conducted a review on the molecular functions of m6A, focusing on both coding and noncoding RNAs. Additionally, we have compiled an overview of the effects noncoding RNAs have on m6A regulators and explored the dual roles of m6A in the development and advancement of cancer. Our review also includes a detailed summary of the most advanced databases for m6A, state-of-the-art experimental and sequencing detection methods, and machine learning-based computational predictors for identifying m6A sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingren Meng
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, The Second Hospital Affiliated with the Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Heide Schatten
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qian Zhou
- International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jun Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, The Second Hospital Affiliated with the Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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3
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Cassani M, Seydoux G. Specialized germline P-bodies are required to specify germ cell fate in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Development 2022; 149:dev200920. [PMID: 36196602 PMCID: PMC9686995 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
In animals with germ plasm, specification of the germline involves 'germ granules', cytoplasmic condensates that enrich maternal transcripts in the germline founder cells. In Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, P granules enrich maternal transcripts, but surprisingly P granules are not essential for germ cell fate specification. Here, we describe a second condensate in the C. elegans germ plasm. Like canonical P-bodies found in somatic cells, 'germline P-bodies' contain regulators of mRNA decapping and deadenylation and, in addition, the intrinsically-disordered proteins MEG-1 and MEG-2 and the TIS11-family RNA-binding protein POS-1. Embryos lacking meg-1 and meg-2 do not stabilize P-body components, misregulate POS-1 targets, mis-specify the germline founder cell and do not develop a germline. Our findings suggest that specification of the germ line involves at least two distinct condensates that independently enrich and regulate maternal mRNAs in the germline founder cells. This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Cassani
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Geraldine Seydoux
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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4
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Hebbar S, Panzade G, Vashisht AA, Wohlschlegel JA, Veksler-Lublinsky I, Zinovyeva AY. Functional identification of microRNA-centered complexes in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7133. [PMID: 35504914 PMCID: PMC9065084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10771-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for normal development and physiology. To identify factors that might coordinate with miRNAs to regulate gene expression, we used 2'O-methylated oligonucleotides to precipitate Caenorhabditis elegans let-7, miR-58, and miR-2 miRNAs and the associated proteins. A total of 211 proteins were identified through mass-spectrometry analysis of miRNA co-precipitates, which included previously identified interactors of key miRNA pathway components. Gene ontology analysis of the identified interactors revealed an enrichment for RNA binding proteins, suggesting that we captured proteins that may be involved in mRNA lifecycle. To determine which miRNA interactors are important for miRNA activity, we used RNAi to deplete putative miRNA co-factors in animals with compromised miRNA activity and looked for alterations of the miRNA mutant phenotypes. Depletion of 25 of 39 tested genes modified the miRNA mutant phenotypes in three sensitized backgrounds. Modulators of miRNA phenotypes ranged from RNA binding proteins RBD-1 and CEY-1 to metabolic factors such as DLST-1 and ECH-5, among others. The observed functional interactions suggest widespread coordination of these proteins with miRNAs to ultimately regulate gene expression. This study provides a foundation for future investigations aimed at deciphering the molecular mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Hebbar
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506, USA
| | - Ganesh Panzade
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506, USA
| | - Ajay A Vashisht
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, 92121, USA
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
| | - Isana Veksler-Lublinsky
- Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Anna Y Zinovyeva
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506, USA.
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5
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Frédérick PM, Simard MJ. Regulation and different functions of the animal microRNA-induced silencing complex. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 13:e1701. [PMID: 34725940 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Among the different types of small RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in controlling gene expression at the mRNA level. To be active, they must associate with an Argonaute protein to form the miRNA induced silencing complex (miRISC) and binds to specific mRNA through complementarity sequences. The miRISC binding to an mRNA can lead to multiple outcomes, the most frequent being inhibition of the translation and/or deadenylation followed by decapping and mRNA decay. In the last years, several studies described different mechanisms modulating miRISC functions in animals. For instance, the regulation of the Argonaute protein through post-translational modifications can change the miRISC gene regulatory activity as well as modulate its binding to proteins, mRNA targets and miRISC stability. Furthermore, the presence of RNA binding proteins and multiple miRISCs at the targeted mRNA 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) can also affect its function through cooperation or competition mechanisms, underlying the importance of the 3'UTR environment in miRNA-mediated repression. Another way to regulate the miRISC function is by modulation of its interactors, forming different types of miRNA silencing complexes that affect gene regulation differently. It is also reported that the subcellular localization of several components of the miRNA pathway can modulate miRISC function, suggesting an important role for vesicular trafficking in the regulation of this essential silencing complex. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marc Frédérick
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada.,Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin J Simard
- Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada.,Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada
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6
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Mayya VK, Flamand MN, Lambert AM, Jafarnejad SM, Wohlschlegel JA, Sonenberg N, Duchaine TF. microRNA-mediated translation repression through GYF-1 and IFE-4 in C. elegans development. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:4803-4815. [PMID: 33758928 PMCID: PMC8136787 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNA (miRNA)-mediated gene silencing is enacted through the recruitment of effector proteins that direct translational repression or degradation of mRNA targets, but the relative importance of their activities for animal development remains unknown. Our concerted proteomic surveys identified the uncharacterized GYF-domain encoding protein GYF-1 and its direct interaction with IFE-4, the ortholog of the mammalian translation repressor 4EHP, as key miRNA effector proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recruitment of GYF-1 protein to mRNA reporters in vitro or in vivo leads to potent translation repression without affecting the poly(A) tail or impinging on mRNA stability. Loss of gyf-1 is synthetic lethal with hypomorphic alleles of embryonic miR-35-42 and larval (L4) let-7 miRNAs, which is phenocopied through engineered mutations in gyf-1 that abolish interaction with IFE-4. GYF-1/4EHP function is cascade-specific, as loss of gyf-1 had no noticeable impact on the functions of other miRNAs, including lin-4 and lsy-6. Overall, our findings reveal the first direct effector of miRNA-mediated translational repression in C. elegans and its physiological importance for the function of several, but likely not all miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay K Mayya
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Mathieu N Flamand
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Alice M Lambert
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE UK
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Thomas F Duchaine
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal H3G 1Y6, Canada
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7
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Haskell D, Zinovyeva A. KH domain containing RNA-binding proteins coordinate with microRNAs to regulate Caenorhabditis elegans development. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6114466. [PMID: 33585875 PMCID: PMC8022929 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, but the extent to which these key regulators of gene expression coordinate their activities and the precise mechanisms of this coordination are not well understood. RBPs often have recognizable RNA binding domains that correlate with specific protein function. Recently, several RBPs containing K homology (KH) RNA binding domains were shown to work with miRNAs to regulate gene expression, raising the possibility that KH domains may be important for coordinating with miRNA pathways in gene expression regulation. To ascertain whether additional KH domain proteins functionally interact with miRNAs during Caenorhabditis elegans development, we knocked down twenty-four genes encoding KH-domain proteins in several miRNA sensitized genetic backgrounds. Here, we report that a majority of the KH domain-containing genes genetically interact with multiple miRNAs and Argonaute alg-1. Interestingly, two KH domain genes, predicted splicing factors sfa-1 and asd-2, genetically interacted with all of the miRNA mutants tested, whereas other KH domain genes showed genetic interactions only with specific miRNAs. Our domain architecture and phylogenetic relationship analyses of the C. elegans KH domain-containing proteins revealed potential groups that may share both structure and function. Collectively, we show that many C. elegans KH domain RBPs functionally interact with miRNAs, suggesting direct or indirect coordination between these two classes of post-transcriptional gene expression regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Haskell
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Anna Zinovyeva
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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8
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Duchaine TF, Fabian MR. Mechanistic Insights into MicroRNA-Mediated Gene Silencing. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:cshperspect.a032771. [PMID: 29959194 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression by repressing protein synthesis and exert a broad influence over development, physiology, adaptation, and disease. Over the past two decades, great strides have been made toward elucidating how miRNAs go about shutting down messenger RNA (mRNA) translation and promoting mRNA decay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Duchaine
- Department of Biochemistry & Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Marc R Fabian
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
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9
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Mayya VK, Duchaine TF. Ciphers and Executioners: How 3'-Untranslated Regions Determine the Fate of Messenger RNAs. Front Genet 2019; 10:6. [PMID: 30740123 PMCID: PMC6357968 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequences and structures of 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs govern their stability, localization, and expression. 3'UTR regulatory elements are recognized by a wide variety of trans-acting factors that include microRNAs (miRNAs), their associated machinery, and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In turn, these factors instigate common mechanistic strategies to execute the regulatory programs encoded by 3'UTRs. Here, we review classes of factors that recognize 3'UTR regulatory elements and the effector machineries they guide toward mRNAs to dictate their expression and fate. We outline illustrative examples of competitive, cooperative, and coordinated interplay such as mRNA localization and localized translation. We further review the recent advances in the study of mRNP granules and phase transition, and their possible significance for the functions of 3'UTRs. Finally, we highlight some of the most recent strategies aimed at deciphering the complexity of the regulatory codes of 3'UTRs, and identify some of the important remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas F. Duchaine
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre and Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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10
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Akgül B, Erdoğan İ. Intracytoplasmic Re-localization of miRISC Complexes. Front Genet 2018; 9:403. [PMID: 30298086 PMCID: PMC6160738 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a conserved class of non-coding RNAs of 22 nucleotides that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression through translational repression and/or mRNA degradation. A great progress has been made regarding miRNA biogenesis and miRNA-mediated gene regulation. Additionally, an ample amount of information exists with respect to the regulation of miRNAs. However, the cytoplasmic localization of miRNAs and its effect on gene regulatory output is still in progress. We provide a current review of the cytoplasmic miRNA localization in metazoans. We then discuss the dynamic changes in the intracytoplasmic localization of miRNAs as a means to regulate their silencing activity. We then conclude our discussion with the potential molecules that could modulate miRNA localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bünyamin Akgül
- Non-coding RNA Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, İzmir Institute of Technology, Urla, Turkey
| | - İpek Erdoğan
- Non-coding RNA Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, İzmir Institute of Technology, Urla, Turkey
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11
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Omar I, Guterman-Ram G, Rahat D, Tabach Y, Berger M, Levaot N. Schlafen2 mutation in mice causes an osteopetrotic phenotype due to a decrease in the number of osteoclast progenitors. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13005. [PMID: 30158544 PMCID: PMC6115409 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31428-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoclasts are the bone resorbing cells that derive from myeloid progenitor cells. Although there have been recent advancements in the ability to identify osteoclast progenitors, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms governing their homeostasis. Here, by analyzing the normalized phylogenetic profiles of the Schlafen (Slfn) gene family, we found that it co-evolved with osteoclast-related genes. Following these findings, we used a Slfn2 loss-of-function mutant mouse, elektra, to study the direct role of Slfn2 in osteoclast development and function. Slfn2eka/eka mice exhibited a profound increase in their cancellous bone mass and a significant reduction in osteoclast numbers. In addition, monocyte cultures from the bone marrow of Slfn2eka/eka mice showed a reduction in osteoclast number and total resorption area. Finally, we show that the bone marrow of Slfn2eka/eka mice have significantly less CD11b-Ly6Chi osteoclast precursors. Overall, our data suggest that Slfn2 is required for normal osteoclast differentiation and that loss of its function in mice results in an osteopetrotic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Omar
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, The Biomedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gali Guterman-Ram
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Dolev Rahat
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, The Biomedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yuval Tabach
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, The Biomedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michael Berger
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, The Biomedical Research Institute Israel Canada of the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Noam Levaot
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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12
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Kucherenko MM, Shcherbata HR. miRNA targeting and alternative splicing in the stress response - events hosted by membrane-less compartments. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:131/4/jcs202002. [PMID: 29444950 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.202002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress can be temporary or chronic, and mild or acute. Depending on its extent and severity, cells either alter their metabolism, and adopt a new state, or die. Fluctuations in environmental conditions occur frequently, and such stress disturbs cellular homeostasis, but in general, stresses are reversible and last only a short time. There is increasing evidence that regulation of gene expression in response to temporal stress happens post-transcriptionally in specialized subcellular membrane-less compartments called ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules. RNP granules assemble through a concentration-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation of RNA-binding proteins that contain low-complexity sequence domains (LCDs). Interestingly, many factors that regulate microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and alternative splicing are RNA-binding proteins that contain LCDs and localize to stress-induced liquid-like compartments. Consequently, gene silencing through miRNAs and alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs are emerging as crucial post-transcriptional mechanisms that function on a genome-wide scale to regulate the cellular stress response. In this Review, we describe the interplay between these two post-transcriptional processes that occur in liquid-like compartments as an adaptive cellular response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya M Kucherenko
- Max Planck Research Group of Gene Expression and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Halyna R Shcherbata
- Max Planck Research Group of Gene Expression and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
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13
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Flamand MN, Gan HH, Mayya VK, Gunsalus KC, Duchaine TF. A non-canonical site reveals the cooperative mechanisms of microRNA-mediated silencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:7212-7225. [PMID: 28482037 PMCID: PMC5499589 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although strong evidence supports the importance of their cooperative interactions, microRNA (miRNA)-binding sites are still largely investigated as functionally independent regulatory units. Here, a survey of alternative 3΄UTR isoforms implicates a non-canonical seedless site in cooperative miRNA-mediated silencing. While required for target mRNA deadenylation and silencing, this site is not sufficient on its own to physically recruit miRISC. Instead, it relies on facilitating interactions with a nearby canonical seed-pairing site to recruit the Argonaute complexes. We further show that cooperation between miRNA target sites is necessary for silencing in vivo in the C. elegans embryo, and for the recruitment of the Ccr4-Not effector complex. Using a structural model of cooperating miRISCs, we identified allosteric determinants of cooperative miRNA-mediated silencing that are required for both embryonic and larval miRNA functions. Our results delineate multiple cooperative mechanisms in miRNA-mediated silencing and further support the consideration of target site cooperation as a fundamental characteristic of miRNA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu N Flamand
- Department of Biochemistry & Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6 Canada
| | - Hin Hark Gan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Vinay K Mayya
- Department of Biochemistry & Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6 Canada
| | - Kristin C Gunsalus
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.,Division of Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Thomas F Duchaine
- Department of Biochemistry & Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6 Canada
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14
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Brown KC, Svendsen JM, Tucci RM, Montgomery BE, Montgomery TA. ALG-5 is a miRNA-associated Argonaute required for proper developmental timing in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Nucleic Acids Res 2017. [PMID: 28645154 PMCID: PMC5587817 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans contains 25 Argonautes, of which, ALG-1 and ALG-2 are known to primarily interact with miRNAs. ALG-5 belongs to the AGO subfamily of Argonautes that includes ALG-1 and ALG-2, but its role in small RNA pathways is unknown. We analyzed by high-throughput sequencing the small RNAs associated with ALG-5, ALG-1 and ALG-2, as well as changes in mRNA expression in alg-5, alg-1 and alg-2 mutants. We show that ALG-5 defines a distinct branch of the miRNA pathway affecting the expression of genes involved in immunity, defense, and development. In contrast to ALG-1 and ALG-2, which associate with most miRNAs and have general roles throughout development, ALG-5 interacts with only a small subset of miRNAs and is specifically expressed in the germline where it localizes alongside the piRNA and siRNA machinery at P granules. alg-5 is required for optimal fertility and mutations in alg-5 lead to a precocious transition from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. Our results provide a near-comprehensive analysis of miRNA-Argonaute interactions in C. elegans and reveal a new role for miRNAs in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen C Brown
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Joshua M Svendsen
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.,Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Rachel M Tucci
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Brooke E Montgomery
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Taiowa A Montgomery
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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