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Maf1, a new player in the regulation of human RNA polymerase III transcription.

BACKGROUND: Human RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcription is regulated by several factors, including the tumor suppressors P53 and Rb, and the proto-oncogene c-Myc. In yeast, which lacks these proteins, a central regulator of pol III transcription, called Maf1, has been described. Maf1 is required for repression of pol III transcription in response to several signal transduction pathways and is broadly conserved in eukaryotes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We show that human endogenous Maf1 can be co-immunoprecipitated with pol III and associates in vitro with two pol III subunits, the largest subunit RPC1 and the alpha-like subunit RPAC2. Maf1 represses pol III transcription in vitro and in vivo and is required for maximal pol III repression after exposure to MMS or rapamycin, treatments that both lead to Maf1 dephosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data suggest that Maf1 is a major regulator of pol III transcription in human cells.

Base Sequence↗

The Drosophila melanogaster gene brain tumor negatively regulates cell growth and ribosomal RNA synthesis.

The regulation of ribosome synthesis is likely to play an important role in the regulation of cell growth. Previously, we have shown that the ncl-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans functions as an inhibitor of cell growth and ribosome synthesis. We now indicate that the Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor brain tumor (brat) is an inhibitor of cell growth and is a functional homolog of the C. elegans gene ncl-1. The brat gene is able to rescue the large nucleolus phenotype of ncl-1 mutants. We also show that brat mutant cells are larger, have larger nucleoli, and have more ribosomal RNA than wild-type cells. Furthermore, brat overexpressing cells contain less ribosomal RNA than control cells. These results suggest that the tumorous phenotype of brat mutants may be due to excess cell growth and ribosome synthesis.

Animals↗

RNA commutes to work: regulation of plant gene expression by systemically transported RNA molecules.

Although long-distance movement of endogenous mRNAs in plants is well established, the functional contributions of these transported RNA molecules has remained unclear. In a recent report, Kim et al.2001 showed that systemically transported mRNA is capable of causing phenotypic change in developing tissue. Here, this finding and its significance are reviewed and discussed in detail. In addition, in order to give proper perspective, long-distance transport of other types of RNAs, e.g., RNA elicitors of post-transcriptional gene silencing and RNA genomes of plant viruses, and its possible regulation are discussed.

Biological Transport↗

Regulation of Sindbis virus RNA replication: uncleaved P123 and nsP4 function in minus-strand RNA synthesis, whereas cleaved products from P123 are required for efficient plus-strand RNA synthesis.

Nonstructural proteins of Sindbis virus, nsP1, nsP2, nsP3, and nsP4, as well as intermediate polyproteins, are produced from two precursor polyproteins, P123 and P1234, by a proteolytic enzyme encoded in the C-terminal half of nsP2. We studied the requirements for and the functions of the intermediate and mature processing products for Sindbis virus RNA synthesis by using site-directed mutants which have a defect(s) in processing the 1/2, 2/3, or 3/4 cleavage sites either singly or in various combinations. A mutant defective in cleaving both the 1/2 and 2/3 sites, which makes only uncleavable P123 and mature nsP4 as final products, produced 10(-3) as much virus as did the wild-type virus after 10 h at 30 degrees C and was nonviable at 40 degrees C. A mutant defective in processing the 2/3 site, which makes nsP1, nsP4, and P23 as well as precursor P123, grew 10(-1) as efficiently as wild-type virus at 30 degrees C and 10(-3) as efficiently at 40 degrees C. Early minus-strand RNA synthesis by these mutants was as efficient as that by wild-type virus, whereas plus-strand RNA synthesis was substantially decreased compared with that by wild-type virus. A mutant defective in processing the 3/4 site was nonviable at either 30 or 40 degrees C. The 3/4 site mutant could be complemented by the mutant unable to cleave either the 1/2 or 2/3 site, which can provide mature nsP4. We interpret these results to signify that (i) mature nsP4 is required for RNA replication, (ii) nsP4 and uncleaved P123 function in minus-strand RNA synthesis, and (iii) cleavage of P123 is required for efficient plus-strand RNA synthesis. We propose that Sindbis virus RNA replication is regulated by differential proteolysis of P123. Early in infection, nsP4 and uncleaved P123 form transient minus-strand RNA replication complexes which vanish upon cleavage of P123. Later in infection, an elevated level of viral proteinase activity eliminates de novo synthesis of P123, and no further synthesis of minus-strand RNA is possible. In contrast, nsP4 and cleavage products from P123 form plus-strand RNA replication complexes which are stable and remain active throughout the infection cycle.

Animals↗

Tumour specific regulation of telomerase RNA gene expression visualized by in situ hybridization.

Maintenance of telomere structure by the ribonucleoprotein enzyme telomerase is considered central to the development of most human cancers. However, regulatory mechanisms governing telomerase expression during oncogenesis are largely unknown. We address potential tumour-specific regulation of telomerase RNA gene expression by RNA in situ hybridization to over 300 tumour samples of germ cell and epithelial origin. Twenty-six per cent of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), expressed detectable levels of the telomerase RNA gene (hTR), and interestingly expression was almost confined to squamous carcinomas (41%), being rare in pulmonary adenocarcinomas and large-cell anaplastic carcinomas (P=0.006). Low frequency hTR expression was also associated with adenocarcinoma of the breast (13%), and ovary (17%). In comparison, hTR expression was detected in 43% of cervical cancers with no significant differences in frequency between squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma or in transitions between intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma. In contrast to the common epithelial cancers, the malignant cells in 73% of testicular germ-cell tumours (seminomas and teratomas), expressed hTR consistent with hTR expression in normal testicular germ cells. Differentiated tissues within ovarian germ cell tumours and in testicular teratomas lacked detectable hTR expression. These studies show that different tumour types have distinct patterns of hTR expression, which has implications for our understanding of mechanisms regulating telomerase activity and for targeting the telomerase RNA component as an anti-cancer therapy.

Female↗

Regulation of telomerase RNA template expression in human T lymphocyte development and activation.

Telomeres are unique DNA-protein complexes at the terminals of chromosomes that appear to play a critical role in protecting chromosomal integrity and in maintaining cellular replicative potential. Telomerase is a ribonuclear protein that is capable of elongating telomeres by the addition of telomeric hexanucleotide repeats and therefore contributing to the capacity for cell replication. Telomerase activity is expressed in human germline cells and malignant cells, and it has recently been demonstrated that telomerase activity is highly regulated in normal lymphocytes at specific stages of development and activation. However, these studies have not elucidated whether telomerase activity is regulated at the level of specific gene expression or whether the regulation of telomerase RNA template (hTR) and/or protein components contributes to the regulation of telomerase activity in normal somatic cells. To characterize at a molecular level the regulation of telomerase expression in human T lymphocytes, we analyzed the expression of hTR during lineage development and after in vitro activation. It was found that hTR is expressed in subsets of thymocytes with strong telomerase activity at levels that are consistently higher (1.5 times; p < 0.01) than those found in peripheral blood resting T cells. In addition, hTR is up-regulated two- to fivefold in peripheral blood naive and memory CD4+ T cells after in vitro activation with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28. These results establish that hTR expression is regulated in normal human T cells during lineage development and after activation, and indicate that regulation of hTR expression may contribute to the regulation of telomerase activity in normal lymphoid cells.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis during the final phases of porcine oocyte growth.

In porcine oocytes, acquisition of meiotic competence coincides with a decrease of general transcriptional activity at the end of the oocyte growth phase and, specifically, of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis in the nucleolus. The present study investigated the regulation of rRNA synthesis during porcine oocyte growth. Localization and expression of components involved in regulation of the rRNA synthesis (the RNA polymerase I-associated factor PAF53, upstream binding factor [UBF], and the pocket proteins p130 and pRb) were assessed by immunocytochemistry and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and correlated with ultrastructural analysis and autoradiography following [3H]uridine incubation in growing and fully grown porcine oocytes. In addition, meiotic resumption, ultrastructure, and expression of p130, UBF, and PAF53 were analyzed in growing and fully grown porcine oocytes cultured with 100 microM butyrolactone I (BL-I), a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, to gain insight concerning the regulation of rRNA transcription during meiotic arrest. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that p130 became colocalized with UBF and PAF53 and that the intensity of the PAF53 labeling decreased toward the end of the oocyte growth phase. These data suggest that the decrease in rRNA synthesis is regulated through inhibition of UBF by p130 as well as by decreased availability of PAF53. Moreover, expression of mRNA encoding PAF53 was decreased at the end of the oocyte growth phase. At the morphological level, these events coincided with inactivation of the nucleolus, as visualized by the transformation of the fibrillogranular nucleolus to an electron-dense fibrillar sphere with remnants of the fibrillar centers at the surface. Meiotic inhibition with 100 microM BL-I had a detrimental effect on the ability of porcine oocytes to resume meiosis and on nucleolus morphology, resulting in a lack of RNA synthetic capability as the fibrillar components, where rRNA transcription and initial processing occur, condensed or even disintegrated.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Protein kinase C-related kinase 2 regulates hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase function by phosphorylation.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B protein is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase required for replication of the HCV RNA genome. We have identified a peptide that most closely resembles a short region of the protein kinase C-related kinase 2 (PRK2) by screening of a random 12-mer peptide library displayed on the surface of the M13 bacteriophage with NS5B proteins immobilized on microwell plates. Competitive phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a synthetic peptide showed that the phage clone displaying this peptide could bind HCV RNA polymerase with a high affinity. Coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization studies demonstrated in vivo interaction of NS5B with PRK2. In vitro kinase assays demonstrated that PRK2 specifically phosphorylates NS5B by interaction with the N-terminal finger domain of NS5B (amino acids 1-187). Consistent with the in vitro NS5B-phosphorylating activity of PRK2, we detected the phosphorylated form of NS5B by metabolic cell labeling. Furthermore, HCV NS5B immunoprecipitated from HCV subgenomic replicon cells was specifically recognized by an antiphosphoserine antibody. Knock-down of the endogenous PRK2 expression using a PRK2-specific small interfering RNA inhibited HCV RNA replication. In contrast, PRK2 overexpression, which was accompanied by an increase of in the level of its active form, dramatically enhanced HCV RNA replication. Altogether, our results indicate that HCV RNA replication is regulated by NS5B phosphorylation by PRK2.

Hepacivirus↗

Disruption of I kappa B alpha regulation by antisense RNA expression leads to malignant transformation.

NF-kappa B transcription factors regulate the expression of a variety of genes involved in immune regulation and cell growth. In most cell types NF-kappa B proteins are localized in an inactive form in the cytoplasm coupled to the inhibitory I kappa B proteins. Viruses, cytokines, lipopolysaccharides and other stimulating agents promote the dissociation of the cytosolic NF-kappa B/I kappa B complexes, via phosphorylation and degradation of I kappa B, resulting in the translocation of DNA binding, NF-kappa B complexes to the nucleus. To further understand the association of I kappa B with cell growth regulation, the effect of ectopic expression of sense and antisense I kappa B genes was examined in NIH3T3 cells. Overexpression of I kappa B alpha antisense RNA but not I kappa B gamma antisense RNA decreased the steady state levels of I kappa B alpha protein, altered NF-kappa B DNA binding and gene activity and, most importantly, induced malignant transformation as measured by saturation density, growth in soft agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice. In contrast, overexpression of I kappa B alpha resulted in decreased saturation density, a flattened cellular morphology and decreased NF-kappa B dependent reporter gene activity. These results indicate that overexpression of an I kappa B alpha antisense RNA may disrupt the NF-kappa B/I kappa B autoregulatory loop, leading to cellular transformation. Our results raise the interesting possibility that I kappa B alpha represents a potential tumor suppressor activity.

3T3 Cells↗

Transcriptional regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis during growth of cardiac myocytes in culture.

The mechanism(s) by which rRNA accumulates during the growth of cardiac myocytes was investigated. The rates of rDNA transcription were measured in contracting myocytes and compared with nonbeating myocytes depolarized with 50 mM KCl. After 3 days of contraction the absolute rate of rDNA transcription was accelerated by 2-fold as measured by incorporation of [3H]UTP into the external transcribed spacer of preribosomal RNA. Corresponding increases in transcription were observed in isolated nuclei of contracting myocytes as measured by either hybridization of run-on transcripts of preribosomal RNA or activity of RNA polymerase I. The extent to which transcription was stimulated in contracting myocytes accounted for the previously observed acceleration of rRNA synthesis rates. The steady-state levels of preribosomal RNA relative to rRNA were unchanged in contracting myocytes, but the total amount of preribosomal RNA was 1.3-fold greater as a result of increased rRNA content. The increase of preribosomal RNA in proportion to rRNA in contracting myocytes demonstrated that the rate of preribosomal RNA processing was unchanged and that rRNA synthesis is regulated by an accelerated rate of rDNA transcription.

Animals↗

RNA interference pinpoints regulators of cell size and the cell cycle.

Cell-based genome-wide RNA interference screens are being used to address an increasingly broad spectrum of biological questions. In one recent screen, Drosophila cell cultures treated with double-stranded RNA were analyzed by flow cytometry, providing a wealth of new information and identifying 488 regulators of the cell cycle, cell size, and cell death.

Animals↗

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase gene expression in the pineal gland of chicken embryo: development of messenger RNA levels and regulation by serum.

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), the enzyme which catalyzes the final step of melatonin biosynthesis, constitutes a marker of the functional differentiation of pineal cells. In addition, a day/night rhythm of HIOMT mRNA concentration, previously described in the chicken pineal gland [6], would suggest that HIOMT gene transcription is one output of the circadian system that controls pineal function. The study sought to monitor the developmental expression of HIOMT mRNA in the chick pineal gland and to investigate a possible role of instructive signals in this differentiation process. RT-PCR analysis indicated that HIOMT mRNA is expressed at embryonic day 8 (E8). At E12, HIOMT mRNA became detectable on northern blots and traces of HIOMT activity could be measured. HIOMT mRNA concentration increased 100-fold between E14 and day 10 post-hatch, then levelled off. A day/night rhythm of HIOMT mRNA concentration was readily observed in the pineal gland of 2-day-old chicks. Pineal glands isolated on minimum culture medium at E11 stopped developing HIOMT gene expression. However, the addition of serum to the culture medium restored HIOMT mRNA concentration to the levels observed in vivo. The data suggest that the functional differentiation of melatoninergic cells observed during the second week of embryonic life may be controlled [correction of controled] by serum factors.

Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase↗

Sequential assignments and secondary structure of the RNA-binding transcriptional regulator NusB.

The NusB protein is involved in transcriptional regulation in bacteriophage lambda. NusB binds to the RNA form of the nut site and along with N, NusA, NusE and NusG, stabilizes the RNA polymerase transcription complex and allows stable, persistent antitermination. NusB contains a 10 residue Arg-rich RNA-binding motif (ARM) at the N-terminus but is not sequentially homologous to any other proteins. In contrast to other known ARM-containing proteins, NusB forms a stable structure in solution in the absence of RNA. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine that NusB contains six alpha-helices: R10-Q21, 127-F34, V45-L65, Q79-S93, Y100-F114 and D118-L127. The structure of NusB makes it a member of a newly emerging class of alpha-helical RNA-binding proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overlapping transcripts, double-stranded RNA and antisense regulation: a genomic perspective.

Bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptomes of diverse eukaryotes has demonstrated the ubiquity and structural diversity of complementary antisense RNAs. These include both trans-encoded microRNAs and a large population of cis-encoded antisense RNAs that encompasses both coding and non-coding RNAs. Antisense regulation has previously been characterized primarily as a post-transcriptional response affecting RNA stability, nuclear processing, export, or translation. However, the formation of double-stranded (ds) RNAs by base-pairing between complementary RNAs may elicit regulatory responses at the transcriptional level as well. Analysis of antisense transcription at several imprinted loci has suggested a number of other mechanisms that may not require formation of dsRNA. Understanding the integration of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms represents a major challenge for understanding antisense regulation in eukaryotes. Such insight is also essential for understanding general principles of genetic regulation within the complex genomes characteristic of mouse and man as well as those of other eukaryotes.

Animals↗

Inhibition of nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase-regulated nucleocytoplasmic messenger RNA translocation by 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate in rodent cells.

Nucleocytoplasmic translocation of polyadenylated messenger RNA is an energy-dependent process which is regulated by a nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase; this enzyme was found to be stimulated by the 3'-terminal polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] tail of messenger RNA (Bernd, A., Schröder, H. C., Zahn, R. K., and Müller, W. E. G. Eur. J. Biochem., 129: 43-49, 1982). RNA efflux from isolated mouse lymphoma (L5178Y) cell nuclei is strongly reduced if 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate (ara-ATP) is present in the transport medium. Half-maximal inhibition of RNA efflux occurs with 120 microM ara-ATP. Most likely, the inhibitory effect of ara-ATP is caused by inhibition of nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase; this enzyme was found to be highly sensitive to inhibition by this antibiotic. The inhibition type of the nucleoside triphosphatase of rat liver nuclear ghosts is competitive with respect to ATP; the Ki:Km ratio was determined to be 0.27. Besides nucleoside triphosphatase, nuclear envelopes contain a protein phosphokinase modulating the affinity of pore complex laminae to poly(A). This enzyme was also found to be strongly inhibited by ara-ATP in a competitive way with respect to ATP (Ki:Km, 0.056) and could therefore also contribute to the overall inhibition of RNA transport. The polyadenylation of endogenous RNA by poly(A) polymerase(s) in intact rat liver nuclei as well as in nuclear matrices isolated from the same source was found to be markedly suppressed in the presence of ara-ATP. The inhibitions of both poly(A) polymerase activities (contained in whole nuclei or nuclear matrix bound) are of the competitive type with respect to ATP. In in vitro assays, nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase is inhibited by microtubule protein. Of the 2 ATP-dependent enzyme activities associated with microtubule protein (cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase and adenosine triphosphatase), only the kinase was slightly affected by ara-ATP. Cellular uptake of adenosine 5'-monophosphate and perhaps 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-monophosphate (ara-AMP) is facilitated by a cellular membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase. Our studies revealed that neither cleavage of ara-AMP nor inhibition of the enzyme activity by ara-AMP occurs. 9-beta-D-Arabinofuranosyladenine and ara-AMP represent neither direct mutagens nor premutagens as determined by the Salmonella-mammalian microsome mutagenicity test.

Animals↗

A viral suppressor of RNA silencing differentially regulates the accumulation of short interfering RNAs and micro-RNAs in tobacco.

Two major classes of small noncoding RNAs have emerged as important regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes, the short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) associated with RNA silencing and endogenous micro-RNAs (miRNAs) implicated in regulation of gene expression. Helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) is a viral protein that blocks RNA silencing in plants. Here we examine the effect of HC-Pro on the accumulation of siRNAs and endogenous miRNAs. siRNAs were analyzed in transgenic tobacco plants silenced in response to three different classes of transgenes: sense-transgenes, inverted-repeat transgenes, and amplicon-transgenes. HC-Pro suppressed silencing in each line, blocking accumulation of the associated siRNAs and allowing accumulation of transcripts from the previously silenced loci. HC-Pro-suppression of silencing in the inverted-repeat- and amplicon-transgenic lines was accompanied by the apparent accumulation of long double-stranded RNAs and proportional amounts of small RNAs that are larger than the siRNAs that accumulate during silencing. Analysis of these results suggests that HC-Pro interferes with silencing either by inhibiting siRNA processing from double-stranded RNA precursors or by destabilizing siRNAs. In contrast to siRNAs, the accumulation of endogenous miRNAs was greatly enhanced in all of the HC-Pro-expressing lines. Thus, our results demonstrate that accumulation of siRNAs and miRNAs in plants can be differentially regulated by a viral protein. The fact that HC-Pro affects the miRNA pathway raises the possibility that this pathway is targeted by plant viruses as a means to control gene expression in the host.

Glucuronidase↗

RNA 3' processing regulates histone mRNA levels in a mammalian cell cycle mutant. A processing factor becomes limiting in G1-arrested cells.

Post-transcriptional regulation of histone gene expression in a mouse mastocytoma cell cycle mutant (21-Tb) depends largely on conserved DNA sequences that are essential for RNA 3' processing. We have analyzed whether this regulation occurs at the level of RNA 3' processing. We show, by RNase mapping, that nuclear H4 mRNA precursors, which are hardly detectable in total RNA from exponentially dividing cells, accumulate in G1-arrested cells, i.e. when mature mRNAs are drastically reduced. Furthermore, we show that a heat-labile component of the processing apparatus, recently identified in HeLa cell nuclear extracts, is limiting in extracts from G1-arrested 21-Tb cells. In contrast, this activity is in excess in extracts from exponentially dividing cells, whereas both extracts contain similar amounts of snRNPs of the Sm serotype. These fluctuations in the heat-labile activity may generally contribute to proliferation or cell cycle dependent histone gene regulation.

Animals↗