Poster abstracts
Poster number 61 submitted by Kenzie Scarpitti
A non-canonical RNA-binding domain of the fragile X protein, FMRP, elicits translational repression independent of mRNA G-quadruplexes
MaKenzie R. Scarpitti (1,2), Julia E. Warrick (1,2), Evelyn L. Yoder (1,2), Michael G. Kearse (1. Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, 2. Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210)
Abstract:
Loss of functional fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) causes fragile X syndrome, the leading form of inherited intellectual disability and the most common monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorders. FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that controls neuronal mRNA localization and translation. FMRP is thought to inhibit translation elongation after being recruited to target transcripts via binding RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) within the coding sequence. Here, we directly test this model and report that FMRP inhibits translation independent of mRNA G4s. Furthermore, we found that the RGG box motif together with its natural C-terminal domain forms a non-canonical RNA-binding domain (ncRBD) that is essential for translational repression. The ncRBD elicits broad RNA binding ability and binds to multiple reporter mRNAs and all four homopolymeric RNAs. Serial deletion analysis of the ncRBD identified that the regions required for mRNA-binding and translational repression overlap but are not identical. Consistent with FMRP stalling elongating ribosomes and causing the accumulation of slowed 80S ribosomes, transcripts bound by FMRP via the ncRBD co-sediment with heavier polysomes and were present in puromycin-resistant ribosome complexes. Using RNA-seq to probe steady state mRNA levels, we also found that FMRP-mediated ribosome stalling controls mRNA stability by triggering the No-Go Decay (NGD) pathway. Using RNA-seq and stringent statistical cut-offs, we identified that 16 direct FMRP targets are putative NGD substrates caused by FMRP-mediated stalling. Biochemical analysis of FMRP-stalled ribosomes to validate interaction with NGD pathway factors is currently ongoing. Nevertheless, these data are among the first to demonstrate FMRP directly regulates target mRNA levels post-transcriptionally. Together, this work identifies a ncRBD and translational repression domain that shifts our understanding of how FMRP inhibits translation independent of mRNA G4s.
Keywords: RNA binding protein, Translation elongation, G-quadruplexes