An efficient procedure for the isolation of polyribosomes from tissue culture

Girolline interferes with cell-cycle progression, but not with translation

Girolline is a 2-aminoimidazole derivative with cytotoxic activity. It affects the survival of exponentially growing leukaemic cultured cells and has a significant antitumour activity on grafted murine tumours in vivo. In vitro studies showed that girolline affected protein synthesis by interfering with the translation termination process. Here, we investigate the effect of girolline on translation termination in human cultured cells. We show that girolline neither induces an increase in translational readthrough of stop codons nor affects the polysome profile in treated cells. This suggests that girolline does not act on translation in vivo. Then, we examine the effect of girolline on cell-cycle progression and we show that girolline induces an arrest of the cell cycle at the G2 stage.

Human eukaryotic release factor 3a depletion causes cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through inhibition of the mTOR pathway

Eukaryotic release factor 3 (eRF3) is a GTPase associated with eRF1 in a complex that mediates translation termination in eukaryotes. Studies have related eRF3 with cell cycle regulation, cytoskeleton organization, and tumorigenesis. In mammals, two genes encode two distinct forms of eRF3, eRF3a and eRF3b, which differ in their N-terminal domains. eRF3a is the major factor acting in translation termination, and its expression level controls termination complex formation. Here, we investigate the role of eRF3a in cell cycle progression using short interfering RNAs and flow cytometry. We show that eRF3a depletion induces a G1 arrest and that eRF3a GTP-binding activity, but not the eRF3a N-terminal domain, is required to restore G1-to-S-phase progression. We also show that eRF3a depletion decreases the global translation rate and reduces the polysome charge of mRNA. Finally, we show that two substrates of the mammalian TOR (mTOR) kinase, 4E-BP1 and protein kinase S6K1, are hypophosphorylated in eRF3a-depleted cells. These results strongly suggest that the G1 arrest and the decrease in translation induced by eRF3a depletion are due to the inhibition of mTOR activity and hence that eRF3a belongs to the regulatory pathway of mTOR activity.

Two transcripts of the same ecdysterone-controlled gene are differentially associated with ribosomes

The ecdysterone-controlled gene I-18C of Chironomus tentans produces two transcripts by differential splicing: a 1.8-kb RNA, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 417 nucleotides (nt) and a 4.6-kb RNA, with no ORF longer than 270 nt. Centrifugation of cytoplasmic extracts in velocity sedimentation sucrose gradients and CsCl-buoyant-density gradients demonstrates that the 1.8-kb RNA is incorporated into polysomes. The 4.6-kb RNA, however, exhibits characteristics of free ribonucleic acid-protein complexes and monosomes.

In vivo and in vitro models of demyelinating diseases. XII. Persistence and expression of corona JHM virus functions in RN2-2 Schwannoma cells during latency

The coronavirus JHMV persistently infects rat Schwannoma cells RN2-2 at 32.5 degrees C and enters a host-imposed reversible, latent state at 39.5 degrees C. JHMV can remain up to 20 days in the latent state and about 14 days before the cultures lose the capacity to resume virus production upon return to 32.5 degrees C. Although persistently and latently infected RN2-2 cells display resistance to superinfection by a heterologous agent VSV, these cells do not release detectable soluble mediators (e.g., interferon) of the antiviral state. Nevertheless, RN2-2 cells are competent to synthesize and release interferon when treated with the appropriate inducers. These observations suggest that interferon does not play any role or may not be the major factor in the control of latency in the Schwannoma cell. Hybridization with virus-specific cDNAs shows that all viral mRNAs are present during latency and that viral mRNAs are present in the polysomes of infected cells at 39.5 degrees C. Western immunoblotting with hybridoma antibodies demonstrates that viral specific proteins are produced at the restrictive temperature. These results suggest that despite the absence of production of infectious virus at 39.5 degrees C, there is active transcription and translation into virus-specified products.

Differentiation of mouse leukemic M1 cells induced by polyprenoids

We screened several synthetic polyprenoids about their capacity of cell differentiation using mouse myeloid leukemic M1 cells, and found that 3, 7, 11, 15, 19,-pentamethyleicosa-2, 6, 10, 14, 18-pentaenol (Geranyl Farnesol) could induce the differentiation of M1 cells into macrophage-like cells. The optimal concentration of this compound for its induction capacity was approximately 2 X 10(-5) M. The induced differentiation related markers were morphological change in M1 cells, Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma), and non-specific esterase activity. However, phagocytic activity was poorly induced. This suggests that most of Geranyl Farnesol treated cells may be retained functionally incomplete macrophages. The presence of cycloheximide at 1 X 10(-7)M or the incubation of M1 cells at 4 degrees C completely blocked the induction of Fc gamma, suggesting the induction of Fc gamma required protein synthesis. The treatment of M1 cells with Geranyl Farnesol resulted in suppression of DNA and RNA synthesis. Further analysis of RNA metabolism suggested that the suppression of RNA synthesis was mainly due to the decrease of rRNA. On the other hand the synthesis and turnover of polyA-containing RNA (mRNA) rather increased.

Polyacrylamide gel mapping of chicken tRNA: comparison of polysome-bound and whole-cell tRNA from normal and avian sarcoma virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts

Analysis of the tRNA population from chicken cells was performed by means of polyacrylamide gel mapping. About 60 species were detected; most of these were positively identified by their acceptor specificity. The comparison of polysome-bound and overall cellular tRNA gel patterns from normal and Rous sarcoma virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts led us to the following observations: some tRNA species were present in the same relative proportions in all the preparations, and within isoaccepting groups the same species was preponderant; however, although about 8% of whole-cell tRNA was recovered in polysomal preparations, amounts ranging from 3 to 30% were found for individual tRNA species. This points to the absence of a direct correlation between the amount of each mature tRNA species produced and the frequency with which it is used in this case of embryonic cells. No significant difference was observed between the whole-cell tRNA patterns from normal and infected cells. Thus, tRNA transcription appears unaltered when cells are transformed and virus producing. No change was observed in the extent of a post-transcriptional modification of tRNAPhe (the base Y). However, viral infection led to some changes in the relative proportions of individual species from polysomal preparations.

Polyacrylamide gel mapping of chicken tRNA: comparison of polysome-bound and whole-cell tRNA from normal and avian sarcoma virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts

Analysis of the tRNA population from chicken cells was performed by means of polyacrylamide gel mapping. About 60 species were detected; most of these were positively identified by their acceptor specificity. The comparison of polysome-bound and overall cellular tRNA gel patterns from normal and Rous sarcoma virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts led us to the following observations: some tRNA species were present in the same relative proportions in all the preparations, and within isoaccepting groups the same species was preponderant; however, although about 8% of whole-cell tRNA was recovered in polysomal preparations, amounts ranging from 3 to 30% were found for individual tRNA species. This points to the absence of a direct correlation between the amount of each mature tRNA species produced and the frequency with which it is used in this case of embryonic cells. No significant difference was observed between the whole-cell tRNA patterns from normal and infected cells. Thus, tRNA transcription appears unaltered when cells are transformed and virus producing. No change was observed in the extent of a post-transcriptional modification of tRNAPhe (the base Y). However, viral infection led to some changes in the relative proportions of individual species from polysomal preparations.

Glucocorticoids inhibit precursor incorporation into protein in splenic lymphocytes by stimulating protein degradation and expanding intracellular amino acid pools

In the presence of tracer concentrations of extracellular leucine (5 microM), treatment of rat splenic lymphocyte suspensions in vitro with 1 microM dexamethasone for 2.5-4 h caused a 30-35% inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein. As the extracellular leucine concentration was raised to 5mM, this inhibition was progressively reduced to 0-12%. This phenomenon correlated with a marked dependence on extracellular leucine concentration of the dexamethasone-dependent enlargement of free intracellular leucine pools in splenic lymphocytes: a 123% increase in pool size with tracer extracellular leucine; a 10% increase with 5 mM leucine. Varying extracellular leucine had no effect on: (1) nuclear [3H]dexamethasone binding by the cells; (2) the concentration of dexamethasone needed for half-maximal inhibiton of [3H]leucine incorporation; (3) the time course of onset and maximal expression of the hormonal inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation; or (4) the magnitude of dexamethasone-dependent inhibition of [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA by these cells. There was no detectable effect of dexamethasone on uptake and retention of [3H]leucine by the cells regardless of the extracellular leucine concentration. Treatment of splenic lymphocytes for 4 h in vitro with 1 microM dexamethasone caused a small shift of ribosomes from larger aggregate polysomes to smaller forms. Thus, glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of amino aicd incorporation in splenic lymphocytes is a multicomponent response, of which an actual decrease in protein synthesis is only a small part. Enlargement of free intracellular amino acid pools, probably resulting from increased protein degradation, is the major contributing factor to the hormonal inhibition of amino acid incorporation.

Modification of the cytotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 in rat liver cells by steroids

The addition of steroids with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to rat liver cells in culture has been shown to increase the toxin's inhibitory action on growth and protein synthesis. In contrast the inhibition of RNA synthesis by AFB1 was unaffected. The steroid potentiates the direct action of AFB1 at initiation of translation.

The effect of aflatoxin B1 on translation in cells in culture

The effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) upon translation has been studied in two cell lines in culture, which differ markedly in their sensitivity to the toxin. It was found that AFB1 predominantly inhibits initiation of translation in both cell lines.

Isolation and characterization of polysomes and polyadenylated polysomal RNA from Vicia faba meristematic root cells

Undegraded Vicia faba polysomes from meristematic root cells were obtained after homogenization in a medium of low ionic strength provided that the pH was equal to 9.0. By minimizing the shearing forces during the homogenization step, polysomes were obtained free of mitochondrial and nuclear contaminants, measured by differential spectrophotometry and CsCl gradient centrifugation respectively. Poly(A)-containing RNA was obtained by poly(U)-Sepharose chromatography and shown to be virtually free of rRNA and its average size was 13-15 S. Approximately 9% of the purified preparation was annealed by [3H]-poly(U). Sucrose gradient analysis under denaturing conditions showed that the poly(A)-CONtaining RNA were non-degraded. This RNA was used to direct the synthesis of proteins in a heterologous cell-free system from wheat germ.

Estradiol-induced synthesis of vitellogenin. I. The isolation of large polysomes from estrogenized rooster liver

Conventional procedures for the isolation of polysomes, applied to estrogenized rooster liver, fail to yield polysomes containing 30 or more ribosomes, the size expected for polysomes synthesizing the estradiol-induced protein vitellogenin. A new procedure characterized by early and selective removal of cell components ribonucleases allowed the isolation of polysomes with up to 55 ribosomes. Electron microscopy was used for the determination of polysome size and showed that the large polysomes were not aggregates.

Polyribosome profiles and ribonuclease activity in spleens of normal and anaemic mice

The extent to which the polyribosome content in splenic extracts is affected by the level of endogenous ribonuclease activity was investigated. Ribonuclease activity, free and inhibited, was determined under ionic conditions optimal for preservation of polyribosomes. The results show that ribonuclease activity in control spleens varies mainly with the amount of ribonuclease inhibitor, indicating that free ribonuclease activity is stable. In rapidly proliferating splenic tissue the enzymatic activity is regulated by changes in both the amount of inhibitor and enzyme available. The ribonuclease versus ribonuclease-inhibitor balance was found to parallel the proportion of polyribosomes in a polysome profile.

Elevated dihydrofolate reductase messenger RNA levels in methotrexate-resistant BHK cells

Polysomal RNA from cultured sublines of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells directed protein synthesis in an in vitro system derived from wheat germ extract. One product of the in vitro synthesis was dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), as confirmed by methotrexate-substituted Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of the proteins labeled with 35S-methionine. The DHFR synthesized in vitro comigrates in the gel with authentic BHK DHFR, indicating that the molecular weights and structures of the in vivo and in vitro enzymes are probably the same. Polysomal RNA obtained from the methotrexate-resistant BHK subline (A5), which possesses some 140 times higher DHFR levels than the methotrexate-sensitive parents subline (B1), directed the synthesis of approximately 70 times more DHFR per unit of total in vitro synthesized protein than did B1 polysomal RNA. Assuming then that the rates of translation of A5 and B1 DHFR mRNAs in the wheat germ cell-free system are the same, our results show that a major part of the high DHFR levels observed in A5 cells is due to the presence of elevated quantities of DHFR mRNA.

The half-life of polyadenylated polysomal RNA from normal and transformed cells in monolayer culture

The small genotypic differences between normal and transformed cells are insufficient to account directly for all their wide phenotypic differences, which probably in some cases at least involve alterations in control of gene expression. To ascertain whether such alterations involved changes in mRNA stability, RNA half-lives were estimated in five monolayer cell lines, including two pairs of normal cells and their transformed counterparts. The results for the polyadenylated fractions in all cases fit with those expected from a model in which the whole fraction has a single half-life, of less than one generation time. From both the transformed/untransformed cell pairs, there is evidence that a relationship exists between cell generation time and the half-life of the polyadenylated polysomal RNA fraction, which persists even through the process of transformation. Considerable alteration in the pattern of RNA stability is therefore unlikely to be obligatory in in vitro transformation.

The ribosomes of the simian malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi. I. Isolation and characterization

Monomeric ribosomes, isolated from the monkey malaria Plasmodium knowlesi by the combined use of low concentrations of Triton X-100 and differential centrifugation, sedimented in the 80S range and could be dissociated into 60 and 40S subparticles. The base composition of the rRNA was typically protozoan; that is, low in guanine and cytosine residues.

Heterogeneous nuclear rna from lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: adenylate-rich and double-stranded regions

Rapidly labelled high molecular weight nuclear RNA from lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was analysed for ribonuclease-stable adenylate-rich and double-stranded regions. The polyadenylate content corresponds to 0.4-0.5 percent and the content of double-stranded sequences to 2-4 percent of the total nucleotides. Partial association of polyadenylate segments with double-stranded regions was found by comparative analysis of (3H)-adenosine and (3H)-uridine labelled ribonuclease-stable RNA before and after thermal denaturation. Comparison with normal lymphocytes shows lower proportions of polyadenylate-containing RNA binding to poly(U)-Sepharose in leukaemia cells than in normals. Partial degradation of rapidly labelled high molecular weight RNA was found in leukaemia cases with low white cell counts.

Protein synthesis of the sponge Geodia cydonium: characterization of the system

The ribosomal population of the sponge Geodia cydonium has been examined. The monosomes have a sedimentation constant of 80 S, the sizes of the subunits are approximately 60 S and 45 S respectively. The polyribosomes contain up to 40 ribosomal units. Cell free protein synthesizing systems (cell homogenate as well as reconstituted system) have been prepared and characterized with respect to Mg(2+), KCI and ATP concentrations, temperature, pH and time course of the reaction. In the cell-free system and in the cellular system the protein biosynthesis is inhibited by chloramphenicol. It is not affected by cycloheximide.

Virus-specific messenger RNA on free and membrane-bound polyribosomes from cells infected with Rauscher leukemia virus

Cells infected by Rauscher leukemia virus synthesize virus-specific RNA which can be detected by hybridization to the single-stranded DNA copy of the viral RNA. Evidence is provided that virus-specific RNA is present in free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of these cells. The relative content of virus-specific RNA, as measured by hybridization, is 6-10 times less on free polyribosomes than on membrane-bound polyribosomes. The messenger RNA associated with both classes of polyribosomes was characterized by density gradient centrifugation. In addition to a major RNA species identified as 36S RNA, at least 2 minor components in the 14S and 21S region have also been found. There is a striking difference in the distribution of these RNA species between free and membrane-bound polyribosomes.

Virus-specific messenger RNA and nascent polypeptides in polyribosomes of cells replicating murine sarcoma-leukemia viruses

We present evidence that virus-specific RNA is present in polyribosomes of transformed cells replicating the murine sarcoma-leukemia virus complex and that it serves as messenger RNA for the synthesis of viral-coded proteins. Both virus-specific RNA (detected by hybridization with the [(3)H]DNA product of the viral RNA-directed DNA polymerase) and nascent viral polypeptides (measured by precipitation with antiserum to purified virus) were found in membrane-bound and free polyribosomes. Membrane-bound polyribosomes contained a higher content of both virus-specific RNA and nascent viral polypeptides. From 60 to 70% of viral RNA sequences were released from polyribosomes with EDTA, consistent with a function as messenger RNA. Maximum amounts of both virus-specific RNA and nascent viral polypeptides were found in the polyribosome region sedimenting at about 350 S.