Free poly(A) stimulates capped mRNA translation in vitro through the eIF4G-poly(A)-binding protein interaction.
The 5' cap and 3' poly(A) tail of classical eukaryotic mRNAs functionally communicate to synergistically enhance translation initiation. Synergy has been proposed to result in part from facilitated ribosome recapture on circularized mRNAs. Here, we demonstrate that this is not the case. In poly(A)-dependent, ribosome-depleted rabbit reticulocyte lysates, the addition of exogenous poly(A) chains of physiological length dramatically stimulated translation of a capped, nonpolyadenylated mRNA. When the poly(A):RNA ratio approached 1, exogenous poly(A) stimulated translation to the same extent as the presence of a poly(A) tail at the mRNA 3' end. In addition, exogenous poly(A) significantly improved translation of capped mRNAs carrying short poly(A(50)) tails. Trans stimulation of translation by poly(A) required the eIF4G-poly(A)-binding protein interaction and resulted in increased affinity of eIF4E for the mRNA cap, exactly as we recently described for cap-poly(A) synergy. These results formally demonstrate that mRNA circularization per se is not the cause of cap-poly(A) synergy at least in vitro.
Borman
Andrew M
AM
Unité Postulante de Régulation de la Traduction Eucaryote et Virale, CNRS URA 1966, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Michel
Yanne M
YM
Malnou
Cecile E
CE
Kean
Katherine M
KM
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D039603:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism*; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D026723:Polyadenylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
D039603:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A