title: Regulated Formation of an Amyloid-like Translational Repressor Governs Gametogenesis.
abstract: Message-specific translational control is required for gametogenesis. In yeast, the RNA-binding protein Rim4 mediates translational repression of numerous mRNAs, including the B-type cyclin CLB3, which is essential for establishing the meiotic chromosome segregation pattern. Here, we show that Rim4 forms amyloid-like aggregates and that it is the amyloid-like form of Rim4 that is the active, translationally repressive form of the protein. Our data further show that Rim4 aggregation is a developmentally regulated process. Starvation induces the conversion of monomeric Rim4 into amyloid-like aggregates, thereby activating the protein to bring about repression of translation. At the onset of meiosis II, Rim4 aggregates are abruptly degraded allowing translation to commence. Although amyloids are best known for their role in the etiology of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes by forming toxic protein aggregates, our findings show that cells can utilize amyloid-like protein aggregates to function as central regulators of gametogenesis.
authors.affiliation: David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Luke E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Berchowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kabachinski
authors.affiliation: David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Carlile
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
authors.forename: Wendy V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
authors.forename: Thomas U
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA. Electronic address: angelika@mit.edu.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amon
mesh_terms: D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019926:Cyclin B / Q000235:genetics; D005718:Gametogenesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D066329:Protein Aggregates / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins; C491083:CLB3 protein, S cerevisiae; D019926:Cyclin B; C508515:DAZL protein, mouse; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C000604348:Rim4 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate