eIF4A alleviates the translational repression mediated by classical secondary structures more than by G-quadruplexes

Waldron, J. A., Raza, F. and Le Quesne, J. (2018) eIF4A alleviates the translational repression mediated by classical secondary structures more than by G-quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Research, 46(6), pp. 3075-3087. (doi: 10.1093/nar/gky108) (PMID:29471358) (PMCID:PMC5888628)

[img]
Preview
Text
218795.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

4MB

Abstract

Increased activity of the mRNA helicase eIF4A drives cellular malignancy by reprogramming cellular translation, and eIF4A activity is the direct or indirect target of many emerging cancer therapeutics. The enriched presence of (GGC)4 motifs, which have the potential to fold into two-layered G-quadruplexes, within the 5′UTRs of eIF4A-dependent mRNAs suggests that eIF4A is required for the unwinding of these structures within these eIF4A-controlled mRNAs. However, the existence of folded G-quadruplexes within cells remains controversial, and G-quadruplex folding is in direct competition with classical Watson–Crick based secondary structures. Using a combination of reverse transcription stalling assays and 7-deazaguanine incorporation experiments we find that (GGC)4 motifs preferentially form classical secondary structures rather than G-quadruplexes in full-length mRNAs. Furthermore, using translation assays with the eIF4A inhibitor hippuristanol, both in vitro and in cells, we find that eIF4A activity alleviates translational repression of mRNAs with 5′UTR classical secondary structures significantly more than those with folded G-quadruplexes. This was particularly evident in experiments using a G-quadruplex stabilizing ligand, where shifting the structural equilibrium in favour of G-quadruplex formation diminishes eIF4A-dependency. This suggests that enrichment of (GGC)4 motifs in the 5′UTRs of eIF4A-dependent mRNAs is due to the formation of stable hairpin structures rather than G-quadruplexes.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Le Quesne, Professor John
Authors: Waldron, J. A., Raza, F., and Le Quesne, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Nucleic Acids Research
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0305-1048
ISSN (Online):1362-4962
Published Online:19 February 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2018
First Published:First published in Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 46, Issue 6, 6 April 2018, Pages 3075–3087
Publisher Policy:This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record