Arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein (AIRAP) protects cells from arsenite toxicity.
Exposure of cells to arsenicals activates multiple stress pathways resulting in the induction of specific genes whose identity and role in the adaptation to arsenical-induced cellular stress are poorly understood. We report here the identification of a novel gene encoding an arsenite-inducible, cysteine- and histidine-rich RNA-associated protein, AIRAP, that is conserved among mammals, Drosophila and C elegans. Immunochemistry and cell fractionation experiments indicate that, when induced, AIRAP is present in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and cross-linking experiments indicate that it associates with RNA in vivo. The expression of a C elegans homologue of AIRAP, aip-1, is also induced by exposure to arsenite, and expression of an aip-1::gfp transgene is most pronounced in hypodermal cells. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) of aip-1 lowers the resistance of nematodes to arsenite yet does not appear to affect viability under standard growth conditions. These experiments suggest a role for AIRAP/AIP-1 in protecting cells from the toxic effects of arsenite.
Sok
J
J
Department of Medicine, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, and the Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016, USA.
Calfon
M
M
Lu
J
J
Lichtlen
P
P
Clark
S G
SG
Ron
D
D
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D018053:Arsenites / Q000633:toxicity*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018053:Arsenites; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C436043:Zfand2a protein, mouse