• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.301-312
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• 2019

Post-transcriptional regulation underlies the circadian control of gene expression and animal behaviors. However, the role of mRNA surveillance via the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway in circadian rhythms remains elusive. Here, we report that Drosophila NMD pathway acts in a subset of circadian pacemaker neurons to maintain robust 24 h rhythms of free-running locomotor activity. RNA interference-mediated depletion of key NMD factors in timeless-expressing clock cells decreased the amplitude of circadian locomotor behaviors. Transgenic manipulation of the NMD pathway in clock neurons expressing a neuropeptide PIGMENT-DISPERSING FACTOR (PDF) was sufficient to dampen or lengthen free-running locomotor rhythms. Confocal imaging of a transgenic NMD reporter revealed that arrhythmic Clock mutants exhibited stronger NMD activity in PDF-expressing neurons than wild-type. We further found that hypomorphic mutations in Suppressor with morphogenetic effect on genitalia 5 (Smg5) or Smg6 impaired circadian behaviors. These NMD mutants normally developed PDF-expressing clock neurons and displayed daily oscillations in the transcript levels of core clock genes. By contrast, the loss of Smg5 or Smg6 function affected the relative transcript levels of cAMP response element-binding protein B (CrebB) in an isoform-specific manner. Moreover, the overexpression of a transcriptional repressor form of CrebB rescued free-running locomotor rhythms in Smg5-depleted flies. These data demonstrate that CrebB is a rate-limiting substrate of the genetic NMD pathway important for the behavioral output of circadian clocks in Drosophila.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

Eukaryotic gene expression is precisely regulated at all points between transcription and translation. In this review, we focus on translational control mediated by the 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs. mRNA 3'-UTRs contain cis-acting elements that function in the regulation of protein translation or mRNA decay. Each RNA binding protein that binds to these cis-acting elements regulates mRNA translation via various mechanisms targeting the mRNA cap structure, the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-eIF4G complex, ribosomes, and the poly (A) tail. We also discuss translation-mediated regulation of mRNA fate.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권12호
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• pp.671-678
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• 2019

The random V(D)J recombination process ensures the diversity of the primary immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoire. In two thirds of cases, imprecise recombination between variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) segments induces a frameshift in the open reading frame that leads to the appearance of premature termination codons (PTCs). Thus, many B lineage cells harbour biallelic V(D)J-rearrangements of Ig heavy or light chain genes, with a productively-recombined allele encoding the functional Ig chain and a nonproductive allele potentially encoding truncated Ig polypeptides. Since the pattern of Ig gene expression is mostly biallelic, transcription initiated from nonproductive Ig alleles generates considerable amounts of primary transcripts with out-of-frame V(D)J junctions. How RNA surveillance pathways cooperate to control the noise from nonproductive Ig genes will be discussed in this review, focusing on the benefits of nonsense- mediated mRNA decay (NMD) activation during B-cell development and detrimental effects of nonsense-associated altered splicing (NAS) in terminally differentiated plasma cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권4호
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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.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.39.1-39.18
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• 2022

RNA metabolism plays a central role in regulating of T cell-mediated immunity. RNA processing, modifications, and regulations of RNA decay influence the tight and rapid regulation of gene expression during T cell phase transition. Thymic selection, quiescence maintenance, activation, differentiation, and effector functions of T cells are dependent on selective RNA modulations. Recent technical improvements have unveiled the complex crosstalk between RNAs and T cells. Moreover, resting T cells contain large amounts of untranslated mRNAs, implying that the regulation of RNA metabolism might be a key step in controlling gene expression. Considering the immunological significance of T cells for disease treatment, an understanding of RNA metabolism in T cells could provide new directions in harnessing T cells for therapeutic implications.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

In mammalian cells, aberrant transcripts harboring a premature termination codon (PTC) can be generated by abnormal or inefficient biogenesis of mRNAs or by somatic mutation. Truncated polypeptides synthesized from these aberrant transcripts could be toxic to normal cellular functions. However, mammalian cells have evolved sophisticated mechanisms for monitoring the quality of mRNAs. The faulty transcripts harboring PTC are subject to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), nonsense-mediated translational repression (NMTR), nonsense-associated alternative splicing (NAS), or nonsense-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (NMTGS). In this review, we briefly outline the molecular characteristics of each pathway and suggest mRNA quality control mechanisms as a means to regulate normal gene expression.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.583-595
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• 2015

DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases catalyze the folding and remodeling of RNA molecules in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as in many viruses. They are characterized by the presence of the helicase domain with conserved motifs that are essential for ATP binding and hydrolysis, RNA interaction, and unwinding activities. Large families of DEAD/DExH-box proteins have been described in different organisms, and their role in all molecular processes involving RNA, from transcriptional regulation to mRNA decay, have been described. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about DEAD/DExH-box proteins in selected protozoan and nematode parasites of medical importance worldwide, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Brugia malayi. We discuss the functional characterization of several proteins in an attempt to understand better the molecular mechanisms involving RNA in these pathogens. The current data also highlight that DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases might represent feasible drug targets due to their vital role in parasite growth and development.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권11호
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• pp.551-564
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• 2020

Proper development of the nervous system is critical for its function, and deficits in neural development have been implicated in many brain disorders. A precise and predictable developmental schedule requires highly coordinated gene expression programs that orchestrate the dynamics of the developing brain. Especially, recent discoveries have been showing that various mRNA chemical modifications can affect RNA metabolism including decay, transport, splicing, and translation in cell type- and tissue-specific manner, leading to the emergence of the field of epitranscriptomics. Moreover, accumulating evidences showed that certain types of RNA modifications are predominantly found in the developing brain and their dysregulation disrupts not only the developmental processes, but also neuronal activities, suggesting that epitranscriptomic mechanisms play critical post-transcriptional regulatory roles in development of the brain and etiology of brain disorders. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of molecular regulation on transcriptome plasticity by RNA modifications in neurodevelopment and how alterations in these RNA regulatory programs lead to human brain disorders.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.522-534
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• 1995

연구배경: 내독소에 의한 급성 폐손상의 발병기전에서 산소기가 중요한 역할을 한다는 사실은 잘 알려져 있다. 세포내에는 이러한 산소기에 의한 세포의 손상을 방지하는 정상 방어기전으로 여러 항산화효소가 존재하는데, 이중 SOD는 세포대사과정이나 외부 자극에 의해 생성된 superoxide로부터 세포의 손상을 방지하는 역할을 한다. 세포내 SOD는 주로 이중체의 구조로 세포질에 존재하는 CuZnSOD와 사중체의 구조로 미토콘드리아에 존재하는 MnSOD의 두 종류가 알려져 있으나, 폐포대식세포에서의 SOD mRNA 발현 및 그 조절기전에 대해서는 확실히 규명되어 있지 않다. 본 연구의 목적은 백서의 폐포대식세포에서 내독소 자극에 의한 MnSOD와 CuZnSOD mRNA 발현양상을 관찰하고 내독소 자극시 니타나는 SOD mRNA 발현의 조절기전을 규명하는데 있다. 방법: 백서의 기관지폐포세척액에서 얻은 세포를 plastic plate에 부착시켜 폐포대식세포를 분리한 후 내독소를 자극하여 내독소 용량($0.01{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$)과 자극시간(0, 2, 4, 8, 24 hrs)에 따른 MnSOD와 CuZnSOD MnSOD 발현양상을 Northern blot analysis를 시행하여 관찰하였다. 다음 단계로 MsSOD와 CuZnSOD mRNA 발현의 조절기전을 밝히고자 폐포대식세포를 각각 AD($5{\mu}g/ml$) 또는 CHX($5{\mu}g/ml$)로 전처치한 후 내독소로 자극하여 MnSOD와 CuZnSOD mRNA의 발현양상을 관찰하였다. 한편 내독소 투여가 SOD mRNA의 안정성을 변화시키는지 여부를 평가하기 위해 폐포대식세포를 대조군과 투여군으로 나누어 SOD mRNA의 분해속도를 비교하였다. 총 세포내 RNA는 guanidinium thiocyanate/phenol/chloroform법을 이용하여 추출하였고, Northern blot analysis는 $^{32}P$로 표지된 백서의 MnSOD와 CuZnSOD cDNAs를 이용하여 시행하였다. 결과: 백서의 폐포대식세포에서 MnSOD mRNA의 발현은 내독소 투여량의 증가세 따라 증가되었고 내독소를 투여하고 8시간후에 정점을 이루었으나, CuZnSOD mRNA의 발현은 내독소의 용량 및 투여후 반응시간에 따라 변화하지 않았다. 내독소 투여후 MnSOD mRNA의 발현증가는 AD 또는 CHX 각각의 전처치에 의해 모두 억제되었다. MnSOD mRNA의 안정성은 내독소 투여에 의해 변화하지 않았다. 결론: 이상의 결과로 백서의 폐포대식세포는 내독소 자극에 반응하여 SOD를 생성하는 중요세포이고, 내독소에 의한 MnSOD mRNA의 발현은 전사단계에서 조정되며 mRNA의 안정성을 변화시키지 않고 새로운 단백의 합성이 필요한 것으로 사료된다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.289-294
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• 2011

Bacillus subtilis에 존재하는 DEAD-box RNA helicase 유전자의 결손이 저온 충격에 민감성을 보이는지를 조사하였다. 저온 충격에 민감한지를 알아 보기 위하여 대수기에($O.D_{600}$=0.5-0.6) 있는 세포를 $15^{\circ}C$도 낮추어 저온충격을 가하여 생장하는 정도를 조사하였다. DEAD-box RNA helicase 유전자 ydbR, yfmL, yqfR, deaD의 결손 균주들이 저온충격을 가하였을 때 ydbR 결손 균주의 생장이 야생형 균주에 비해 5배 정도 현저히 감소하였으나, 다른 DEAD-box RNA helicase 유전자의 (yfmL, yqfR, deaD) 결손은 야생형 균주와 비슷한 생장을 보였다. 저온에서의 유전자 발현을 알아보기 위하여 Northern blot으로 mRNA 양을 알아본 결과 $37^{\circ}C$에 비해 $15^{\circ}C$에서 ydbR과 yqfR의 mRNA전사물 증가를 확인할 수 있었고, 반면에 yfmL과 deaD의 전사 증가는 관찰되지 않았다. $37^{\circ}C$에서 $15^{\circ}C$로 저온 충격을 가하면 ydbR mRNA 양의 뚜렷한 증가를 확인하였고, 전사 억제제인 rifampicin를 처리하여 ydbR mRNA의 양을 조사하였을 때 $15^{\circ}C$ 조건에서는 mRNA 양이 거의 유지하는 반면에 $37^{\circ}C$ 조건에서는 급격한 mRNA의 감소가 일어나 전사과정에서 유도되기 보다는 전사 후 전사물의 안정에 기인하는 것으로 보인다. 이와 관련하여 ydbR 유전자의 5' UTR (untranaslated region) 부근에서 csp (cold shock protein) 유전자에서 관찰되는 cold box element를 확인하였고, ydbR이 저온 충격 조건에서 발현되는 과정이 csp와 유사하게 전사물의 안정성에 기인함을 알 수 있었다.