Poster abstracts
Poster number 61 submitted by Audrey Hoelscher
The role of YHR020W 5’ UTR isoforms in stress tolerance
Audrey Hoelscher (University of Michigan, Department of Biological Chemistry), Dr. Rachel Niederer (University of Michigan, Department of Biological Chemistry)
Abstract:
MRNA translation plays an important role in gene expression, which influences cellular diversity, stress response, and disease. While the characteristics of mRNA which control protein output are not well understood evidence suggests that mRNA 5’ UTR sequences contain potent features which regulate protein output and control gene expression. Here, we were interested in whether expression of 5′-UTR isoforms known to differentially recruit ribosomes can drive phenotypic differences in yeast. Plasmids containing the long or short 5′-UTR isoform of the gene YHR0202W sequence were generated and transformed into yeast cells with the endogenous gene knocked out. The effects of each isoform on protein output were then measured with a luciferase reporter. Next, we will determine if preferential expression of one isoform mediates differential tolerance to stress. Finally, to determine the exact location of the functionally relevant features we are generating scanning mutations in the unshared sequence of the long isoform. Luciferase output of the mutants will be measured and compared to the original isoform protein output. The insights found on 5’UTR regulatory features will provide a better understanding of the role of translational control elements in human diseases.
References:
Niederer et al. (2022). Direct analysis of ribosome targeting illuminates thousand-fold regulation of translation initiation.
Keywords: translational control, 5UTR