Newly formed mRNA lacking polyadenylic acid enters the cytoplasm and the polyribosomes but has a shorter half-life in the absence of polyadenylic acid

The effects of aging on biosynthetic processes in the rat hypothalamic osmoregulatory neuroendocrine system

Elderly people exhibit a diminished capacity to cope with osmotic challenges such as dehydration. We have undertaken a detailed molecular analysis of arginine vasopressin (AVP) biosynthetic processes in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus and secretory activity in the posterior pituitary of adult (3 months) and aged (18 months) rats, to provide a comprehensive analysis of age-associated changes to the AVP system. By matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, we identified differences in pituitary peptides, including AVP, in adult and aged rats under both basal and dehydrated states. In the SON, increased Avp gene transcription, coincided with reduced Avp promoter methylation in aged rats. Based on transcriptome data, we have previously characterized a number of novel dehydration-induced regulatory factors involved in the response of the SON to osmotic cues. We found that some of these increase in expression with age, while dehydration-induced expression of these genes in the SON was attenuated in aged rats. In summary, we show that aging alters the rat AVP system at the genome, transcriptome, and peptidome levels. These alterations however did not affect circulating levels of AVP in basal or dehydrated states.

Inhibition of polyadenylation reduces inflammatory gene induction

Cordycepin (3' deoxyadenosine) has long been used in the study of in vitro assembled polyadenylation complexes, because it terminates the poly(A) tail and arrests the cleavage complex. It is derived from caterpillar fungi, which are highly prized in Chinese traditional medicine. Here we show that cordycepin specifically inhibits the induction of inflammatory mRNAs by cytokines in human airway smooth muscle cells without affecting the expression of control mRNAs. Cordycepin treatment results in shorter poly(A) tails, and a reduction in the efficiency of mRNA cleavage and transcription termination is observed, indicating that the effects of cordycepin on 3' processing in cells are similar to those described in in vitro reactions. For the CCL2 and CXCL1 mRNAs, the effects of cordycepin are post-transcriptional, with the mRNA disappearing during or immediately after nuclear export. In contrast, although the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the IL8 promoter is also unaffected, the levels of nascent transcript are reduced, indicating a defect in transcription elongation. We show that a reporter construct with 3' sequences from a histone gene is unaffected by cordycepin, while CXCL1 sequences confer cordycepin sensitivity to the reporter, demonstrating that polyadenylation is indeed required for the effect of cordycepin on gene expression. In addition, treatment with another polyadenyation inhibitor and knockdown of poly(A) polymerase α also specifically reduced the induction of inflammatory mRNAs. These data demonstrate that there are differences in the 3' processing of inflammatory and housekeeping genes and identify polyadenylation as a novel target for anti-inflammatory drugs.

Plant simple sequence repeats: distribution, variation, and effects on gene expression

Genome-wide simple sequence repeat (SSR) information was analyzed together with functional annotations of Arabidopsis genes and public gene expression data for Arabidopsis and rice. Analysis of more than 15,000 Arabidopsis and more than 16,000 rice SSRs indicated that SSRs may affect the expression of hundreds of genes. Data from experiments on DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and transcript turnover suggest that SSRs may affect gene expression at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Members of some functional groups were shown to be enriched with SSRs and often contained similar but non-homologous repeats within the same gene regions. In addition, the distribution of perfect and imperfect SSRs in some Arabidopsis, maize, and rice genes was used to demonstrate how two-level control of SSR variation may contribute to protein evolution.

Laminar Shear Stress and 3′ Polyadenylation of eNOS mRNA

The 3′ poly(A) tail is important in messenger RNA stability and translational efficiency. In somatic tissues, 3′ polyadenylation of mRNAs has been thought to largely be a constitutively active process. We have reported that laminar shear stress causes a brief increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) transcription, followed by a prolonged increase in eNOS mRNA stability. We sought to determine whether shear stress and other stimuli affected eNOS 3′ polyadenylation in endothelial cells. Under basal (static) conditions, eNOS mRNA possessed short 3′ poly(A) tails of <25 nt. In contrast, laminar shear stress increased expression of eNOS transcripts with long poly(A) tails. ENOS transcripts with longer poly(A) tails had prolonged half-lives (6 hours in static cells versus 18 hours in sheared cells). Polysome analysis revealed that eNOS mRNA from sheared cells was shifted into more translationally active polysome fractions compared with eNOS mRNA from static cells. Shear-induced lengthening of the eNOS 3′ poly(A) tail was the result of increased nuclear polyadenylation. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide and HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, other stimuli known to modulate eNOS expression posttranscriptionally, also induced eNOS 3′ poly(A) tail lengthening. These results support the concept that shear stress modulates eNOS mRNA stability and translation via increased 3′ polyadenylation. We suggest that mRNA 3′ polyadenylation is a posttranscriptional mechanism used by endothelial cells to regulate gene expression.

Evidence that poly(A) binding protein has an evolutionarily conserved function in facilitating mRNA biogenesis and export

Eukaryotic poly(A) binding protein (PABP) is a ubiquitous, essential cellular factor with well-characterized roles in translational initiation and mRNA turnover. In addition, there exists genetic and biochemical evidence that PABP has an important nuclear function. Expression of PABP from Arabidopsis thaliana, PAB3, rescues an otherwise lethal phenotype of the yeast pab1Delta mutant, but it neither restores the poly(A) dependent stimulation of translation, nor protects the mRNA 5' cap from premature removal. In contrast, the plant PABP partially corrects the temporal lag that occurs prior to the entry of mRNA into the decay pathway in the yeast strains lacking Pab1p. Here, we examine the nature of this lag-correction function. We show that PABP (both PAB3 and the endogenous yeast Pab1p) act on the target mRNA via physically binding to it, to effect the lag correction. Furthermore, substituting PAB3 for the yeast Pab1p caused synthetic lethality with rna15-2 and gle2-1, alleles of the genes that encode a component of the nuclear pre-mRNA cleavage factor I, and a factor associated with the nuclear pore complex, respectively. PAB3 was present physically in the nucleus in the complemented yeast strain and was able to partially restore the poly(A) tail length control during polyadenylation in vitro, in a poly(A) nuclease (PAN)-dependent manner. Importantly, PAB3 in yeast also promoted the rate of entry of mRNA into the translated pool, rescued the conditional lethality, and alleviated the mRNA export defect of the nab2-1 mutant when overexpressed. We propose that eukaryotic PABPs have an evolutionarily conserved function in facilitating mRNA biogenesis and export.

Release of snRNP and RNA from transcription sites in adenovirus-infected cells

Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) splicing factors colocalize with nascent RNA in the nucleus of adenovirus-infected cells in a pattern that appears as a series of rings surrounding viral replication centers. We have studied the release of snRNP and RNA from transcription sites following transcription inhibition by actinomycin D. SnRNP, poly(A) RNA, and viral RNA were no longer detected in the ring pattern following transcription inhibition and were instead detected in nuclear clusters. Release of snRNP from transcription sites was blocked when transcription was inhibited at 4 degrees C, suggesting that release requires temperature-dependent processes. Release of snRNP was also inhibited when transcription was blocked in the presence of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine, to inhibit 3'-end cleavage and polyadenylation, or staurosporine, to inhibit kinases. By contrast, release of snRNP was not inhibited when transcription was blocked in the presence of cordycepin, to inhibit RNA polyadenylation without affecting 3'-end cleavage, or okadaic acid, to inhibit phosphatase activity. Our results suggest that temperature-dependent processes involved in the release of splicing factors from transcription sites could include 3'-end cleavage of pre-mRNA and phosphorylation events inhibited by stauropsorine.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus and the circadian time-keeping system revisited

Many physiological and behavioral processes show circadian rhythms which are generated by an internal time-keeping system, the biological clock. In rodents, evidence from a variety of studies has shown the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) to be the site of the master pacemaker controlling circadian rhythms. The clock of the SCN oscillates with a near 24-h period but is entrained to solar day/night rhythm by light. Much progress has been made recently in understanding the mechanisms of the circadian system of the SCN, its inputs for entrainment and its outputs for transfer of the rhythm to the rest of the brain. The present review summarizes these new developments concerning the properties of the SCN and the mechanisms of circadian time-keeping. First, we will summarize data concerning the anatomical and physiological organization of the SCN, including the roles of SCN neuropeptide/neurotransmitter systems, and our current knowledge of SCN input and output pathways. Second, we will discuss SCN transplantation studies and how they have contributed to knowledge of the intrinsic properties of the SCN, communication between the SCN and its targets, and age-related changes in the circadian system. Third, recent findings concerning the genes and molecules involved in the intrinsic pacemaker mechanisms of insect and mammalian clocks will be reviewed. Finally, we will discuss exciting new possibilities concerning the use of viral vector-mediated gene transfer as an approach to investigate mechanisms of circadian time-keeping.

The polyadenylation inhibitor cordycepin (3'dA) causes a decline in c-MYC mRNA levels without affecting c-MYC protein levels

Study of the distribution of the poly(A) tail length of c-myc mRNA in several cell lines revealed a distinct, prevailing population with short poly(A) tails, derived through sequential deadenylation. To elucidate the possible in vivo function of this distinct short tailed c-myc mRNA population, the polyadenylation inhibitor cordycepin was used. This resulted in a decline in steady state c-myc mRNA levels with the remaining messenger mostly oligoadenylated. However, c-MYC proteins did not follow the reduction of the c-myc mRNA. On the other hand, in cells exposed to physiological agents known to downregulate c-myc expression, the reduction of mRNA steady state levels, was reflected upon c-MYC protein levels. The dissociation between c-myc mRNA and protein levels caused by cordycepin was not due to the stabilization of the c-MYC proteins and was not an indiscriminate effect since in the presence of cordycepin, c-fos mRNA and protein levels concomitantly declined. Our data indicate that under these conditions, a long poly(A) tail is not instrumental for c-myc mRNA translation and furthermore, the discrepancy in the steady state of c-myc mRNA level: c-MYC protein ratio between control cells and cells treated with cordycepin indicates that c-myc mRNA is subjected to translational control.

Posttranscriptional Lipopolysaccharide Regulation of the Lysozyme Gene at Processing of the Primary Transcript in Myelomonocytic HD11 Cells

Lysozyme is increasingly expressed in macrophages in inflammatory response to bacterial LPS. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms that control expression of the lysozyme gene in myelomonocytic HD11 cells activated by LPS. Nuclear run-on transcription assays showed that LPS caused a 15-fold increase in the transcription rate of the lysozyme gene. However, Northern analyses with lysozyme cDNA and intron sequences revealed that the LPS-induced increase in nuclear lysozyme transcripts greatly exceeded the increase in transcription rate. Furthermore, nuclear lysozyme transcripts in untreated cells with a t1/2 of &lt;10 min were more unstable than those accumulated in LPS-activated cells. We suggested, therefore, that the increased lysozyme expression following LPS treatment was largely due to a nuclear stabilization of the primary transcript. Interestingly, the increase in stability of the lysozyme primary transcript was accompanied by changes in nuclear processing including an increase in poly(A) tail length, which gradually shortened after entering the cytoplasm. The long lysozyme poly(A) tail, however, did not result in any increase in polysomal recruitment for translation or in stability of the cytoplasmic lysozyme mRNA.

Inactivation of SSM4, a new Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, suppresses mRNA instability due to rna14 mutations

Decay rates of mRNAs depend on many elements and among these, the role of the poly(A) tail is now well established. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, thermosensitive mutations in two genes, RNA14 and RNA15, result in mRNAs having shorter poly(A) tails and reduced half-life. To identify other components interacting in the same process, we have used a genetic approach to isolate mutations that suppress the thermosensitivity of an rna14 mutant strain. Mutations in a single locus, named SSM4, not only suppress the cell growth phenotype but also the mRNA instability and extend the short mRNA poly(A) tails. The frequency of appearance and the recessive nature of these mutations suggested that the suppressor effect was probably due to a loss of function. We failed to clone the SSM4 gene directly by complementation, owing to its absence from gene banks; it later emerged that the gene is toxic to Escherichia coli, but we have nevertheless been able to clone the SSM4 sequence by Ty element transposition tagging. Disruption of the SSM4 gene does not affect cell viability and suppresses the rna14 mutant phenotypes. The protein encoded by the SSM4 gene has a calculated molecular mass of 151 kDa and does not contain any known motif or show homology with known proteins. The toxicity of the SSM4 gene in E. coli suggests that a direct biochemical activity is associated with the corresponding protein.

Mechanisms of mRNA degradation in eukaryotes

Recent experiments have identified distinct mechanisms of eukaryotic RNA turnover. In one mechanism, deadenylation triggers decapping, exposing the messenger RNA to 5' to 3' degradation. This pathway may act at different rates on the majority of messenger RNAs. There are also degradation mechanisms, such as endonucleolytic cleavage, limited to messenger RNAs containing specific sequence elements.

Dehydration induces Fos, but not increased vasopressin mRNA in the supraoptic nucleus of aged rats

Dehydration induces Fos expression and increases the length of the vasopressin (VP) mRNA poly-A tail and the content of VP mRNA in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus. The current studies were performed to evaluate the effect of aging on these responses. Fischer 344 rats of 4, 14, and 28-30 months of age were either water deprived for 72 h or allowed ad libitum access to water. Fos induction in the SON and PVN was examined by immunocytochemistry in order to provide an index of cellular activation. VP mRNA content and size was examined in SON by Northern analysis as an index of VP synthetic capacity. Dehydration induced the expected increase in plasma osmolality in all three ages, however, serum VP was only increased in the 4- and 14-month-old rats. The increase in serum VP was accompanied by a decrease in VP content of the posterior pituitary (PP) in the dehydrated 4- and 14-month-old rats. PP VP content was reduced in both the hydrated and dehydrated old rats relative to the other ages (P = 0.0007). Fos was induced in both SON and PVN of all water deprived rats regardless of age. The density of Fos staining was increased in both nuclei following dehydration (SON, P = 0.002; PVN, P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Fos in both nuclei in the dehydrated animals (SON, P = 0.002; PVN, P = 0.0056). There was no significant effect of age on the density of Fos staining. In contrast, dehydration failed to elicit the expected increase in VP mRNA size and content in the SON of the aged dehydrated rats although both of these parameters were increased in the 4- and 14-month-old rats (P < 0.05). Thus, the inability of old Fischer rats to increase serum VP during chronic dehydration is not caused by decreased activation of the neurons (as indicated by Fos induction), but apparently reflects depletion of PP stores of VP due to an inability to increase the amount of VP mRNA available for translation.

Regulated expression of vasopressin gene by cAMP and phorbol ester in primary rat fetal hypothalamic cultures

Using dispersed cultures of fetal rat hypothalami, we studied the effects of forskolin and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), activators of protein kinase A and C, respectively, upon vasopressin (VP) secretion, VP mRNA expression and VP mRNA poly(A) tail length. Forskolin stimulated the VP mRNA content and peptide secretion 2.6-fold and induced an increase in the poly(A) tail length of approximately 90 nucleotides. TPA induced an increase in VP mRNA size and stimulated 1.9-fold the secretion of VP without an increase in VP mRNA content. Depolarization with potassium induced an increase in the VP peptide secreted of 2.2-fold, with no effect on the VP mRNA content or size. Increased osmolality had no effect on either VP peptide or VP mRNA. We conclude that VP expression in cultured fetal rat hypothalamic cells is regulated via both protein kinase A and protein kinase C pathways.

Cloning and sequence analyses of cDNAs encoding vasotocin and isotocin precursors of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta: evolutionary relationships of neurohypophysial hormone precursors

The nucleotide sequences of cloned cDNAs were used to determine the primary structures of the precursors of vasotocin (sVT) and isotocin (sIT) from the hypothalamus of the chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. Two different cDNAs were obtained for each of sVT and sIT precursors (sVT-I and sVT-II; sIT-I and sIT-II). Both sVT and sIT precursors were found to contain a signal peptide and hormone that is connected to a neurophysin by a Gly-Lys-Arg sequence. Northern and Southern blot analyses showed that the sVT and sIT genes are expressed by the same chum salmon hypothalamus, but not by the liver and kidney. Microheterogeneity was found in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of sVT precursors between our results and the previously reported data (Heierhorst et al. 1990). The conspicuous difference is the occurrence of a stop codon in the middle of sVT-II cDNA. The carboxyl termini of both sVT and sIT neurophysins are about 30 amino acids longer than neurophysins of toad and mammalian neurohypophysial hormone precursors. Although these extended regions do not contain a glycosylation site, they show striking similarity with the glycopeptide moiety (copeptin) of toad vasotocin and mammalian vasopressin precursors. The central portion of the neurophysins shows highest homology among corresponding regions of sVT and sIT precursors. Moreover, calculation of nucleotide substitution rates suggests that a recent gene conversion may have occurred which encompasses the exon that encodes the central segment of the sVT and sIT precursors. A possible pathway for the evolution of precursor molecules of neurohypophysial hormones is discussed.

Dexamethasone selectively regulates LPS-inducible gene expression in murine peritoneal macrophages

Our laboratory has recently described the characterization of three distinct cDNAs (designated C7, D3 and D8) encoding genes whose expression is induced in murine peritoneal macrophages by treatment with inflammatory stimuli such as IFNs and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sequence analysis of full-length cDNA for C7 suggests that this encodes the murine homologue of the human IFN gamma-inducible protein IP-10. Partial sequence analysis of D3 and D8 cDNAs has revealed no significant homology with known sequences. Treatment of macrophages with the corticosteroid hormone dexamethasone (Dex) suppressed LPS-induced gene expression in a selective manner, having little or no effect on induced D3 mRNA levels, but markedly inhibiting the accumulation of both C7 and D8 mRNAs. The suppression of LPS-induced C7 and D8 mRNAs was dose-dependent in the range 0.01-10 microM Dex. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect was corticosteroid-specific because testosterone, beta-estradiol and progesterone had no effect on gene expression when used at comparable doses. Inhibition of protein synthesis did not abolish the suppressive activity of Dex, indicating that no intermediate Dex-inducible protein was necessary to suppress the expression of LPS-inducible genes. When macrophages were treated with Dex after initiation of LPS treatment, the suppressive effects were diminished in a time-dependent fashion. However, even when the hormone was added as much as 2 h after LPS, sensitive gene expression was still markedly inhibited. Finally, Dex inhibited the transcription of genes encoding C7 and D8 mRNAs when administered 15 min before LPS but had little effect when added 1 h after LPS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The molecular mode of brain mRNA processing damage followed by the suppression of post-transcriptional poly(A) synthesis with cordycepin

Complete suppression of polyadenylation of nuclear precursors of rat brain mRNA by cordycepin leads to degradation of some translatable sequences of both poly(A)(+)- and poly(A)- pre-mRNA localized in 80S hnRNP-particles. This fact has been established by comparative analysis of the data of two-dimensional gel-electrophoretic mapping of translation products synthesized in reticulocytic cell-free system using the exogenous purified templates of rapidly labelling translatable 9-17S hn RNA (pre-mRNA) isolated from brain 80S hn RNP particles of experimental (4 hrs after cordycepin injection) and control (injection of physiological solution) adult healthy male rats. Long contact of brain cells with cordycepin (4 or more hrs) creates conditions for formation of hnRNP-particles devoid of poly(A)+ RNA and poly(A)-binding proteins. These particles differ from "normal" ones by the value of the RNA/protein ratio, and by considerably lower resistance to the action of exogenous ribonucleases and endogenous RNase. Cordycepin does not have a direct effect on biosynthesis of nuclear poly(A)-binding proteins within the duration of the experiment (8 hrs). The phenomena described are discussed.

The poly(A) binding protein is required for poly(A) shortening and 60S ribosomal subunit-dependent translation initiation

Depletion of the essential poly(A) binding protein (PAB) in S. cerevisiae by promoter inactivation or by the utilization of a temperature-sensitive mutation (pab1-F364L) results in the inhibition of translation initiation and poly(A) tail shortening. Reversion analysis of pab1-F364L yielded seven independent, extragenic cold-sensitive mutations (spb1-spb7) that also suppress a PAB1 deletion. These mutations allow translation initiation without significantly changing poly(A) tail lengths in the absence of PAB, and they affect the amount of 60S ribosomal subunit. Consistent with this, SPB2 encodes the ribosomal protein L46. These data suggest that the 60S subunit mediates the PAB requirement of translation initiation, thereby ensuring that only intact poly(A)+ mRNA will be translated efficiently in vivo.

Oxytocin mRNA: increase of polyadenylate tail size during pregnancy and lactation

Earlier studies indicate that rat hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) mRNA accumulation rises gradually during pregnancy and remains elevated throughout the lactation period. Here we show that, in addition, hypothalamic OT mRNA undergoes a structural change during this period. On gel electrophoresis, the size of rat OT mRNA increased from 750 bases (control) to a maximum of 820 bases (7th day of lactation). Removal of the poly(A) tail by the RNase H methods revealed that this size increase can be fully accounted for by a prolongation of the polyadenylate tail. There is considerable evidence for a role of the poly(A) tail segment in augmenting mRNA stability and, possibly, translational efficiency. It is thus conceivable that the demonstrated regulation of OT mRNA poly(A) tail length represents an additional level of OT gene control during pregnancy and lactation.

Accelerated poly(A) loss on alpha-tubulin mRNAs during protein synthesis inhibition in Chlamydomonas

Detachment of flagella in Chlamydomonas reinhardii stimulates a rapid accumulation of tubulin mRNAs. The induced tubulin mRNAs are normally rapidly degraded following flagellar regeneration, but inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide prevents their degradation. alpha-Tubulin poly(A) tail lengths were measured during normal accumulation and degradation, and in cycloheximide-treated cells. To measure alpha-tubulin mRNA poly(A) chain lengths with high resolution, specific 3' fragments of alpha 1- and alpha 2-tubulin mRNAs, generated by RNase H digestion of mRNA-oligonucleotide hybrids, were sized by Northern analysis. Both alpha-tubulin mRNAs have a newly synthesized poly(A) chain of about 110 adenylate residues. The poly(A) tails shorten with time, and show an average length of 40 to 60 adenylate residues by 90 minutes after deflagellation, at which time induced alpha-tubulin mRNA is being rapidly degraded. Poly(A) loss is significantly accelerated in cycloheximide-treated cells, and this loss is not attributible simply to the longer time the stabilized molecules spend in the cytoplasm. A large fraction of alpha-tubulin mRNA accumulates as mRNA with very short poly(A) tails (less than 10 residues) in the presence of cycloheximide, indicating that deadenylated alpha-tubulin mRNAs can be stable in vivo, at least in the absence of protein synthesis. The rate and extent of poly(A) loss in cycloheximide are greater for alpha 2-tubulin mRNA than for alpha 1-tubulin mRNA. This difference cannot be attributed to differential ribosome loading. This finding is interesting in that the two mRNAs are very similar in sequence with the exception of their 3' untranslated regions.

Growth factor regulated expression of poly(A)+ binding protein messenger RNA

A 72,000 mol wt protein designated PABP binds to the poly(A)+ track of messenger RNAs with high affinity and has been suggested to play an important role in mRNA metabolism in eucaryotic cells. We have employed a human PABP cDNA probe to study the expression of this gene at the mRNA level in BALB/c3T3 mouse cells under different growth conditions and in exponentially growing HeLa cells throughout the cell division cycle. We describe experiments which establish that in BALB/c3T3 cells the expression of this gene is growth factor regulated. Moreover, the gene behaves like a primary response gene in that its induction in quiescent cells does not require the prior synthesis of other growth factor-regulated proteins. In exponentially growing HeLa cells PABP mRNA is expressed throughout the cell division cycle indicating that the expression of this gene is not limited to a specific phase of the cell cycle.

Androgen receptors: structures, mutations, antibodies and cellular dynamics

An overview of recent studies from this and other laboratories on the structures and intracellular dynamics of androgen receptors is presented. Human and rat androgen receptors are unique in that, aside from their DNA and androgen binding domains, they have amino terminal regions rich in oligo- and poly(amino acids) motifs as in some regulatory and homeotic genes. Point mutations that cause sequence changes or deletion of regions of androgen receptors appear to be responsible for some cases of androgen-insensitivity. Monoclonal antibodies produced against specific regions of the androgen receptor bind to androgen receptors but not other major steroid receptors. Androgen receptors in the human and rat prostate, and monkey seminal vesicle were localized to the nucleus of target cells in these tissues with these antibodies; androgen receptors also were found in the cytoplasm of some target cells. Actinomycin D and 3'-deoxyadenosine, inhibitors of transcription, RNA processing and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of RNA, interfere with the intracellular dynamics of androgen receptors, suggesting as we have proposed previously that androgen receptors may function not only at the site of transcription but also are involved in posttranscriptional regulation of mRNA stability and utilization.

Removal of poly(A) and consequent degradation of c-fos mRNA facilitated by 3' AU-rich sequences

The c-fos proto-oncogene provides a good system to study the processes underlying messenger RNA degradation. After growth factor stimulation of susceptible cells, the c-fos transcription rate transiently increases from a low basal level by as much as 50-fold, producing a large amount of exceedingly unstable c-fos mRNA that is rapidly degraded. Here, we investigate the c-fos mRNA degradation process, and find that: (1) ongoing translation of the c-fos mRNA itself is required for its degradation; (2) after synthesis, the mRNA poly(A) tail is rapidly removed, in a translation-dependent manner, leading to accumulation of apparently deadenylated RNA; (3) deletion or replacement of an AU-rich sequence at the mRNA 3' end significantly stabilizes the mRNA; (4) deletion of the 3' AU-rich sequences dramatically slows the poly(A) shortening rate. These results suggest that the 3' AU-rich sequences act to destabilize the mRNA by directing rapid removal of the mRNA poly(A) tract.

Growth-related expression of a 72,000 molecular weight poly(A)+ mRNA binding protein

In this communication, we have studied a 72,000 mol w (p72) host protein which reacts with a mouse monoclonal antibody (PAb6) directed against antigenic determinants on the Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen protein that map 5' of 0.42 map units on the viral genome. The p72 protein is an abundant basic (pI greater than 7) cytoplasmic protein found in both SV40-transformed and untransformed parental cells and in cell lines derived from normal human and tumor tissue. By two-dimensional gel analysis and Western blot analysis the p72 protein identified by PAb6 is indistinguishable from the 72,000 mol w protein PABP associated with the poly(A)+ tract of cytoplasmic messenger RNA molecules. In normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated to proliferate with the T-cell-specific mitogenic lectin phytohemagglutinin the synthesis and cytoplasmic accumulation of p72 occurs very early during the G0----G1-phase transition. The p72 protein is also expressed in proliferating and differentiated human promyelocytic HL60 cells indicating that the expression of this protein is not strictly limited to cycling cells.

Cytoplasmic poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase associated with free messenger ribonucleoprotein particles in rat brain

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase associated with free cytoplasmic messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (free mRNP particles) carrying messenger RNA has been characterized in rat brain. There were first-order kinetics for NAD with an apparent Km for NAD of 90.5 +/- 0.70 microM and Vmax of 19.7 +/- 2.8 pmol ADP-ribose incorporated min-1 mg protein-1. Five poly(ADP-ribose) protein acceptors were identified in the Mr 37,000-120,000 range. It is hypothesized that ADP-ribosylation of specific free mRNP proteins might play a role in the derepression and translation of the silent mRNAs of free mRNP particles.

Regulation of mRNA stability and the poly(A) problem in Dictyostelium discoideum

This paper reviews our studies of three aspects of post-transcriptional regulation in Dictyostelium discoideum: 1) the determinants of mRNA stability in vegetative amoebae; 2) the effects of disaggregation and cyclic AMP on the decay rates of cell-type-specific mRNAs in late developing cells; and 3) the cytoplasmic function of the 3' poly(A) tracts present on most mRNAs. We find that: 1) mRNA stability in vegetative amoebae is not dependent on mRNA size, ribosome loading, or poly(A) tract length, but may be determined by specific 3'-untranslated sequences within a given mRNA; 2) mRNA decay rates in late developing cells are heterogeneous, and cyclic AMP does not act directly to stabilize cell-type-specific mRNAs; and 3) poly(A) is most likely involved in the initiation of protein synthesis via an interaction with cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding proteins.

Changes in polyadenylation of lactate dehydrogenase-X mRNA during spermatogenesis in mice

The expression of the mRNA for mouse testicular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-X) was examined by RNA:cDNA hybridization in situ in the testis and by Northern analyses of meiotic and postmeiotic spermatogenic cell populations. Silver grains accumulated in cells inside the second layer from the periphery of the seminiferous tubule, confirming previous findings that LDH-X mRNA first appears in the spermatocyte and continues to accumulate until the late spermatid stage. Northern analyses showed that meiotic and postmeiotic cells contained 1.2 and 1.3 kb classes of hybridizing mRNA, respectively. RNase H digestion of oligo (dT)-hybridized RNA and poly(U)-Sepharose column chromatography with differential elution by formamide revealed that the difference in size of the two classes of mRNAs was due to the poly(A) tail length of the LDH-X mRNA. When the distribution of the LDH-X mRNA was examined across polysome gradients, both mRNAs were partially associated with polysomes. These results suggest that the changes in the polyadenylation of LDH-X mRNA were associated with the meiotic division during spermatogenesis in the mouse. They raise the possibility that the stable accumulation of the LDH-X mRNAs in the postmeiotic cells is enhanced by poly(A) tails of increased length.

A direct evidence for the involvement of poly(A) in protein synthesis

A radioactive polyadenylated globin mRNA was translated in either rabbit reticulocyte lysate or wheat germ extract under various conditions. When globin mRNA was translated, globin synthesis was directly proportional to the rate of loss in A units from the poly(A) tail. On the other hand, when globin poly(A) mRNA was incubated under non-translated conditions, no loss of A units was detected. The presence of ribonuclease inhibitor in the reaction mixture did not alter either the rate of globin synthesis or the loss in A units from the poly(A) tail. The present data suggests a correlation between protein synthesis and loss in A units from the poly(A) tail.

A single gene from yeast for both nuclear and cytoplasmic polyadenylate-binding proteins: domain structure and expression

Nuclear and cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding proteins have been purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and antisera have been used to isolate a gene that encodes them. The gene occurs in a single copy on chromosome 5 and gives rise to a unique, unspliced 2.1 kb transcript. The nuclear protein appears to be derived from the cytoplasmic one by proteolytic cleavage into 53 and 17 kd polypeptides that remain associated during isolation. DNA sequence determination reveals four tandemly arrayed 90 amino acid regions of homology that probably represent poly(A)-binding domains. A 55 residue A-rich region upstream of the initiator methionine codon in the mRNA shows an affinity for poly(A)-binding protein comparable to that of poly(A)180-220, raising the possibility of feedback regulation of translation.

Isolation and characterization of milk protein nuclear RNAs in rat mammary gland

Methods have been developed to isolate high-molecular-weight pre-mRNAs from lactating mammary gland, a tissue high in RNase levels. These methods involved isolation of nuclei at -20 degrees C in 50% glycerol, and nucleic acid extraction using a guanidine thiocyanate-CsCl protocol. Specific RNAs were detected using alpha-, beta-, and gamma-casein and whey acidic protein nick-translated cDNA and genomic DNA probes by hybridization in situ to pre-mRNAs fractionated on agarose gels containing 10 mM methylmercuric hydroxide. Using these techniques it was possible to isolate poly(A)-containing gene-sized primary transcripts in the case of the two smaller genes, beta-casein and whey acidic protein. A very complex pattern of pre-mRNAs was observed for the beta-casein transcripts, including detection of a species which may represent an excised intron. Probes for the alpha- and gamma-casein genes revealed much lower abundance and complexity of RNA precursors. These methods have proven useful in the initial analysis of RNA processing of these hormonally regulated milk protein gene transcripts.

Transcript length heterogeneity at the small heat shock protein genes of Drosophila

Expression of the small heat shock protein (hsp) genes can be induced in cultured Drosophila cells by high temperature shock and by exposure to physiological doses of the insect molting hormone ecdysterone. Northern blot analysis was performed in order to compare the size of small hsp transcripts synthesized in response to these two stimuli. Transcripts from several other genes were also examined. Two types of length heterogeneity were observed for the small hsp gene transcripts. One involved the synthesis of what are designated as long form transcripts during heat shock; small hsp messenger RNAs extended at the 3' end by some 1.5 X 10(3) base-pairs. The second type of size heterogeneity observed is based on differences in the length of the poly(A) tail. The results of S1 nuclease protection analysis provided evidence that different initiation sites are not used for hsp 22 mRNA transcription in response to the two stimuli.

Dissociation of cells from sea urchin embryos alters the synthesis of actins and other proteins

The effects of altered cellular microenvironments on patterns of protein synthesis at various periods during sea urchin development were quantitated by comparing the relative incorporation of [35S]methionine into selected polypeptides of intact embryos and cells dissociated from them. The effects of increasing times of reassociation were also determined. Quantitative, but not qualitative, differences in incorporation were noted. Actins, as well as heterogeneous acidic polypeptides with an Mr of about 80 kDa, showed increased incorporation in dissociated cells labeled at the time control embryos were recently hatched blastulae. Labeling of another acidic group of polypeptides with an Mr of about 100 kDa was decreased. Possible mechanisms regulating these shifts in incorporation were investigated by the use of inhibitors. The dissociation-triggered changes were insensitive to actinomycin D, cordycepin, dibutyryl cAMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and trifluoperazine; however, the latter two stimulated incorporation into some polypeptides in intact blastulae. Age-dependent shifts in incorporation were also detected in both intact embryos and dissociated/reassociating cells.

Early effects of triidothyronine on the complexity of rat heart messenger RNAs

Triiodothyronine (T3), injected daily into rats, induces heart hypertrophy. In a recent work we have shown that a single T3 injection stimulates RNA synthesis and modifies the translational products of myocardial mRNAs in reticulocyte lysates, quantitatively and qualitatively. In this work we show that T3 induces small but significant changes in mRNA size distribution after 4 h and much more important changes after 18 h. It also modifies the size distribution of their poly(A) tails. We studied the early effects of this compound on mRNA complexity, using the nucleic acid hybridization technique with DNA complementary to poly(A)+ RNAs. T3, 4 h after injection, suppresses approximately 15% of the sequences, mostly among rare sequences, and increases the frequency of the abundant sequences and of the sequences of intermediary abundance. A large part of this effect disappears 18 h after the injection. It may be concluded that T3 presents an early effect on gene expression, involving changes either at the gene level or and at some post transcriptional level.

Translational regulation and deadenylation of a protamine mRNA during spermiogenesis in the mouse

The distribution of the mRNA for one of the two mouse protamines, the cysteine-rich, tyrosine-containing protamine (MP1), was examined in the polysomal and nonpolysomal compartments of total testis and purified populations of round and elongating spermatids using Northern blots. In postmitochondrial supernatants prepared from total testis, about 10-15% of MP1-mRNA sediments with the small polysomes. The nonpolysomal molecules of MP1-mRNA are homogeneous in size, about 580 bases, while the polysomal molecules are heterogeneous with a mode of about 450 bases. Digestion with RNase H and thermal chromatography on poly(U) Sepharose reveals that the difference in size of polysomal and nonpolysomal MP1-mRNA is due to a shortening of the poly(A) from about 160 to 30 bases. In round spermatids, essentially all of MP1-mRNA is 580 bases long and is in the nonpolysomal fraction. Elongating spermatids contain roughly equal proportions of the homogeneous, 580 base form in the nonpolysomal compartment, and the heterogeneous 450 base form solely in the polysomal compartment. These results indicate that mRNA for one of the mouse protamines is stored as an untranslated RNP in round spermatids, and that it is partially deadenylated when it is translated in elongating spermatids.

Translational control during early Dictyostelium development: possible involvement of poly(A) sequences

A rapid decrease in the translational efficiency of mRNA synthesized during vegetative growth is associated with the initiation of development in Dictyostelium discoideum. In contrast, newly synthesized mRNA associates with polysomes with high efficiency. Discrimination between these two mRNA populations correlates with a rapid shortening of the poly(A) tract on the preexisting mRNA. A model is proposed in which a critical poly(A) length regulates the pattern of protein synthesis by affecting the efficiency with which mRNAs can interact with the translational machinery. The model suggests that transcriptional and translational controls can be coupled by altering the state of adenylation of the preexisting mRNA population. The model allows radical changes in the pattern of protein synthesis without wholesale destruction of preexisting mRNA.

Inhibition of RNA cleavage but not polyadenylation by a point mutation in mRNA 3' consensus sequence AAUAAA

A single U leads to G transversion in the 3' consensus sequence AAUAAA of the adenovirus early region 1A gene was constructed and the effect of this mutation on processing of the 3' end of the nuclear early region 1A RNAs was analysed. The results demonstrate that the intact AAUAAA is not required for RNA polyadenylation but is required for the cleavage step preceding polyadenylation to occur efficiently.

Estrogen stabilizes vitellogenin mRNA against cytoplasmic degradation

We have demonstrated, by DNA excess filter hybridizations to pulse-labeled cell RNA, that estrogen selectively stabilizes Xenopus liver vitellogenin mRNA against cytoplasmic degradation. The half-life of vitellogenin mRNA is approximately 3 weeks in the presence of estrogen and 16 hr after estrogen is withdrawn from the culture medium. Total poly(A) mRNA exhibits the same half-life (16 hr) in the presence or absence of estrogen. The rapid cytoplasmic degradation of vitellogenin mRNA in the absence of estrogen is fully reversible upon restimulation with estrogen, indicating that nuclear modification of vitellogenin RNA transcripts is not responsible for their stability. Intermediate levels of vitellogenin mRNA stability and changes in the relative rate of vitellogenin gene transcription are not observed late in estrogen induction, when vitellogenin mRNA levels plateau. Instead, Xenopus liver cells achieve fine control over the level of vitellogenin mRNA through down-regulation of the overall rate of total nuclear RNA synthesis.