Differentiation-induced internal translation of c-sis mRNA: analysis of the cis elements and their differentiation-linked binding to the hnRNP C protein.
In previous reports we showed that the long 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of c-sis, the gene encoding the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor, has translational modulating activity due to its differentiation-activated internal ribosomal entry site (D-IRES). Here we show that the 5' UTR contains three regions with a computer-predicted Y-shaped structure upstream of an AUG codon, each of which can confer some degree of internal translation by itself. In nondifferentiated cells, the entire 5' UTR is required for maximal basal IRES activity. The elements required for the differentiation-sensing ability (i.e., D-IRES) were mapped to a 630-nucleotide fragment within the central portion of the 5' UTR. Even though the region responsible for IRES activation is smaller, the full-length 5' UTR is capable of mediating the maximal translation efficiency in differentiated cells, since only the entire 5' UTR is able to confer the maximal basal IRES activity. Interestingly, a 43-kDa protein, identified as hnRNP C, binds in a differentiation-induced manner to the differentiation-sensing region. Using UV cross-linking experiments, we show that while hnRNP C is mainly a nuclear protein, its binding activity to the D-IRES is mostly nuclear in nondifferentiated cells, whereas in differentiated cells such binding activity is associated with the ribosomal fraction. Since the c-sis 5' UTR is a translational modulator in response to cellular changes, it seems that the large number of cross-talking structural entities and the interactions with regulated trans-acting factors are important for the strength of modulation in response to cellular changes. These characteristics may constitute the major difference between strong IRESs, such as those seen in some viruses, and IRESs that serve as translational modulators in response to developmental signals, such as that of c-sis.
Sella
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Department of Cell Research and Immunology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Gerlitz
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Elroy-Stein
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D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate