• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.186-193
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• 2017

In mammals, cap-dependent translation of mRNAs is initiated by two distinct mechanisms: cap-binding complex (CBC; a heterodimer of CBP80 and 20)-dependent translation (CT) and eIF4E-dependent translation (ET). Both translation initiation mechanisms share common features in driving cap- dependent translation; nevertheless, they can be distinguished from each other based on their molecular features and biological roles. CT is largely associated with mRNA surveillance such as nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), whereas ET is predominantly involved in the bulk of protein synthesis. However, several recent studies have demonstrated that CT and ET have similar roles in protein synthesis and mRNA surveillance. In a subset of mRNAs, CT preferentially drives the cap-dependent translation, as ET does, and ET is responsible for mRNA surveillance, as CT does. In this review, we summarize and compare the molecular features of CT and ET with a focus on the emerging roles of CT in translation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2021

Eukaryotic translation is initiated by either cap-dependent or cap-independent way, and the cap-independent translation can be initiated by the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). In this study, to know whether the 5'UTR leader sequence of marine birnavirus (MABV) segment A and segment B can act as IRES, bicistronic vectors harboring a CMV promoter-driven red fluorescent gene (mCherry) and poliovirus IRES- or MABV's leader sequence-driven green fluorescent gene (eGFP) were constructed, then, transfected into a mammalian cell line (BHK-21 cells) and a fish cell line (CHSE-214 cells). The results showed that the poliovirus IRES worked well in BHK-21 cells, but did not work in CHSE-214 cells. In the evaluation of MABV's leader sequences, the reporter eGFP gene under the 5'UTR leader sequence of MABV's segment A was well-translated in CHSE-214 cells, indicating 5'UTR of MABV's segment A initiates translation in the cap-independent way and can be used as a fish-specific IRES system. However, the 5'UTR leader sequence of MABV's segment B did not initiate translation in CHSE-214 cells. As the precise mechanism of birnavirid IRES-mediated translation is not known, more elaborate investigations are needed to uncover why the leader sequence of segment B could not initiate translation in the present study. In addition, further studies on the host species range of MABV's segment A IRES and on the screening of other fish-specific IRESs are needed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.125-135
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• 2022

Continuously renewing the proteome, translation is exquisitely controlled by a number of dedicated factors that interact with the ribosome. The RNA helicase DDX3 belonging to the DEAD box family has emerged as one of the critical regulators of translation, the failure of which is frequently observed in a wide range of proliferative, degenerative, and infectious diseases in humans. DDX3 unwinds double-stranded RNA molecules with coupled ATP hydrolysis and thereby remodels complex RNA structures present in various protein-coding and noncoding RNAs. By interacting with specific features on messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), DDX3 facilitates translation, while repressing it under certain conditions. We review recent findings underlying these properties of DDX3 in diverse modes of translation, such as cap-dependent and cap-independent translation initiation, usage of upstream open reading frames, and stress-induced ribonucleoprotein granule formation. We further discuss how disease-associated DDX3 variants alter the translation landscape in the cell.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.445-451
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• 2007

Translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is a key regulator of protein synthesis. Abnormal regulation of eIF4E is closely linked to oncogenic transformation. Several regulatory mechanisms affecting eIF4E are discussed, including transcriptional regulation, phosphorylation and binding of an inhibitor protein. However it is not clear how the level of eIF4E protein is regulated under basal conditions. Here we demonstrate that Diap1 (Drosophila Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein), a cell death inhibitor, binds directly to eIF4E and poly-ubiquitinates it via its E3 ligase activity, promoting its proteasome-dependent degradation. Expression of Diap1 caused a reduction of Cyclin D1 protein level and inhibited the growth stimulation induced by overexpression of eIF4E. Taken together, our results suggest that the level of eIF4E protein is regulated by Diap1, and that IAPs may play a role in cap-dependent translation by regulating the level of eIF4E protein.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2005

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (elF4E) is a key element for cap-dependent protein translation controlled by affinity between elF4E and 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Rapamycin can also affect protein translation by regulating 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. Tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino )-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a strong lung carcinogen, but its precise lung cancer induction mechanism remains unknown. Relative roles of cap-dependent and -independent protein translation in terms of NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis were elucidated using normal human bronchial epithelial cells. NNK concentrations applied in this study did not decrease cell viability. Addition of NNK restored rapamycin-induced decrease of protein synthesis and rapamycin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, and increased expression levels of mTOR, ERK1/2, p70S6K, and Raf-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. NNK also caused perturbation of normal cell cycle progression. Taken together, NNK might cause toxicity through the combination of restoration of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and increase of elF4E as well as mTOR protein expression, interruption of Raf1/ERK as well as the cyclin G-associated p53 network. Our data could be applied towards elucidation of the molecular basis for lung cancer treatment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.539-545
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• 2017

The Integrated Stress Response (ISR) refers to a signaling pathway initiated by stress-activated $eIF2{\alpha}$ kinases. Once activated, the pathway causes attenuation of global mRNA translation while also paradoxically inducing stress response gene expression. A detailed analysis of this pathway has helped us better understand how stressed cells coordinate gene expression at translational and transcriptional levels. The translational attenuation associated with this pathway has been largely attributed to the phosphorylation of the translational initiation factor $eIF2{\alpha}$. However, independent studies are now pointing to a second translational regulation step involving a downstream ISR target, 4E-BP, in the inhibition of eIF4E and specifically cap-dependent translation. The activation of 4E-BP is consistent with previous reports implicating the roles of 4E-BP resistant, Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) dependent translation in ISR active cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the translation inhibition mechanisms engaged by the ISR and how they impact the translation of stress response genes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2020

Brain cytoplasmic 200 RNA (BC200 RNA) is proposed to act as a local translational modulator by inhibiting translation after being targeted to neuronal dendrites. However, the mechanism by which BC200 RNA inhibits translation is not fully understood. Although a detailed functional analysis of RNA motifs is essential for understanding the BC200 RNA-mediated translation-inhibition mechanism, there is little relevant research on the subject. Here, we performed a systematic domain-dissection analysis of BC200 RNA to identify functional RNA motifs responsible for its translational-inhibition activity. Various RNA variants were assayed for their ability to inhibit translation of luciferase mRNA in vitro. We found that the 111-200-nucleotide region consisting of part of the Alu domain as well as the A/C-rich domain (consisting of both the A-rich and C-rich domains) is most effective for translation inhibition. Surprisingly, we also found that individual A-rich, A/C-rich, and Alu domains can enhance translation but at different levels for each domain, and that these enhancing effects manifest as cap-dependent translation.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.127-132
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• 2019

Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a novel tumor suppressor that function in the nucleus and the cytoplasm and appears to be involved in the regulation of transcription and translation. Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic foci at which untranslated mRNAs accumulate when cells exposed to environmental stresses. Since PDCD4 has implicated in translation repression through direct interaction with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A), we here investigated if PDCD4 has a functional role in the process of SG assembly under oxidative stresses. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that PDCD4 is localized to SGs under oxidative stresses. Next, we tested if knockdown of PDCD4 has an effect on the assembly of SG using PDCD4-specific siRNA. Interestingly, SG assembly was accelerated and this effect was caused by sensitization of phosphorylation of eIF2α and dephosphorylation of eIF4E binding protein (4E-BP). These results suggest that PDCD4 has an effect on SG dynamics and possibly involved in cap-dependent translation repression under stress conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.127-140
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• 2019

Since 1990, many nucleic acid expression platforms consisting of DNA or RNA have been developed. However, although RNA expression platforms have been relatively neglected, several such platforms capped at the 5' end of RNA by an anti-reverse cap analog have now been developed. At the same time, the capping reaction is a bottleneck in the production of such platforms, with high cost and low efficiency. Here, we investigated several viral and eukaryotic internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) to develop an optimal RNA expression platform, because IRES-dependent translation does not require a capping step. RNA expression platforms constructed with IRESs from the 5' untranslated regions of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and the intergenic region of the cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) showed sufficient expression efficiency compared with cap-dependent RNA expression platforms. However, eukaryotic IRESs exhibited a lower viral IRES expression efficiency. Interestingly, the addition of a poly(A) sequence to the 5' end of the coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) IRES (pMA-CVB3) increased the expression level compared with the CVB3 IRES without poly(A) (pCVB3). Therefore, we developed two multiexpression platforms (termed pMA-CVB3-EMCV and pCrPV-EMCV) by combining the IRESs of CVB3, CrPV, and EMCV in a single-RNA backbone. The pMA-CVB3-EMCV-derived RNA platform showed the highest expression level. Moreover, it clearly exhibited expression in mouse muscles in vivo. These RNA expression platforms prepared using viral IRESs will be useful in developing potential RNA-based prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines, because they have better expression efficiency and do not need a capping step.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.392-401
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• 1997

The poliovirus is a small, and non-enveloped virus. The RNA genome of poliovirus is continuous, linear, and has a single open reading frame. This polyprotein precursor is cleaved proteolytically to yield mature products. Most of the cleavages occur by viral protease. The mature proteins derived from the P1 polyprotein precursor are the structural components of the viral capsid. The initial cleavage by 2A protease is indirectly involved in the cleavage of a cellular protein p220, a subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F. This cleavage leads to the shut-off of cap-dependent host cell translation, and allows poliovirus to utilize the host cell machinery exclusively for translation its own RNA, which is initiated by internal ribosome entry via a cap-independent mechanism. The functional role of the 2B, 2C and 2BC proteins are not much known. 2B, 2C, 2BC and 3CD proteins are involved in the replication complex of virus induced vesicles. All newly synthesized viral RNAs are linked with VPg. VPg is a 22 amino acid polypeptide which is derived from 3AB. The 3C and 3CD are protease and process most of the cleavage sites of the polyprotein precursor. The 3C protein is also involved in inhibition of RNA polymerase II and III mediated transcription by converting host transcription factor to an inactive form. The 3D is the RNA dependent RNA polymerase. It is known that poliovirus replication follows the general pattern of positive strand RNA virus. Plus strand RNA is transcribed into complementary minus strand RNA that, in turn, is transcribed for the synthesis of plus strand RNA is transcribed into complementary minus strand RNA that, in turn, is transcribed for the synthesis of plus strand RNA strands. Poliovirus RNA synthesis occurs in a membranous environment but how the template RNA and proteins required for RNA replication assemble in the membrane is not much known. The RNA requirements for the encapsidation of the poliovirus genome (packaging signal) are totally unknown. The poliovirus infection cycle lasts approximately 6 hours.