Crosslinking of ribosomal proteins to RNA in maize ribosomes by UV-B and its effects on translation.
Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) photons can cause substantial cellular damage in biomolecules, as is well established for DNA. Because RNA has the same absorption spectrum for UV as DNA, we have investigated damage to this cellular constituent. In maize (Zea mays) leaves, UV-B radiation damages ribosomes by crosslinking cytosolic ribosomal proteins S14, L23a, and L32, and chloroplast ribosomal protein L29 to RNA. Ribosomal damage accumulated during a day of UV-B exposure correlated with a progressive decrease in new protein production; however, de novo synthesis of some ribosomal proteins is increased after 6 h of UV-B exposure. After 16 h without UV-B, damaged ribosomes were eliminated and translation was restored to normal levels. Ribosomal protein S6 and an S6 kinase are phosphorylated during UV-B exposure; these modifications are associated with selective translation of some ribosomal proteins after ribosome damage in mammalian fibroblast cells and may be an adaptation in maize. Neither photosynthesis nor pigment levels were affected significantly by UV-B, demonstrating that the treatment applied is not lethal and that maize leaf physiology readily recovers.
Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020, USA. pcasati@stanford.edu
Paula
P
Casati
Virginia
V
Walbot
D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000528:radiation effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins