Project description:For all but a few mRNAs, the dynamics of metabolism are unknown. Here, we developed an experimental and analytical framework for examining these dynamics for mRNAs from thousands of genes. mRNAs of mouse fibroblasts exit the nucleus with diverse intragenic and intergenic poly(A)-tail lengths. Once in the cytoplasm, they have a broad (1000-fold) range of deadenylation rates, which correspond to cytoplasmic lifetimes. Indeed, degradation appears to occur primarily through deadenylation-linked mechanisms, with little contribution from endonucleolytic cleavage or deadenylation-independent decapping. Most mRNA molecules degrade only after their tail lengths fall below 25 nt. Decay rates of short-tailed mRNAs vary broadly (1000-fold) and are more rapid for short-tailed mRNAs that had previously undergone more rapid deadenylation. This coupling helps clear rapidly deadenylated mRNAs, enabling the large range in deadenylation rates to impart a similarly large range in stabilities.
Project description:During vertebrate embryogenesis, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) production through endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition requires suitable developmental signals, but how these signals are accurately regulated remains incompletely understood. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation, which is one of the posttranscriptional regulations, plays a crucial role in RNA metabolism. Here, we report that Cpeb1b-mediated cytoplasmic polyadenylation is important for HSPC specification by translational control of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling during zebrafish early development. Cpeb1b is highly expressed in notochord and its deficiency results in defective HSPC production. Mechanistically, Cpeb1b regulates hemogenic endothelium specification by the Hedgehog–Vegf–Notch axis. We demonstrate that the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element motif-dependent interaction between Cpeb1b and shha messenger RNA (mRNA) in the liquid-like condensates, which are induced by Pabpc1b phase separation, is required for cytoplasmic polyadenylation of shha mRNA. Intriguingly, the cytoplasmic polyadenylation regulates translation but not stability of shha mRNA, which further enhances the Shha protein level and Hh signal transduction. Taken together, our findings uncover the role of Cpeb1b-mediated cytoplasmic polyadenylation in HSPC development and provide insights into how posttranscriptional regulation can direct developmental signals with high fidelity to translate them into cell fate transition.
Project description:SYNCRIP, a member of the cellular heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family of RNA binding proteins, regulates various aspects of neuronal development and plasticity. Although SYNCRIP has been identified as a component of cytoplasmic RNA granules in dendrites of mammalian neurons, only little is known about the specific SYNCRIP target mRNAs that mediate its effect on neuronal morphogenesis and function. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of the cytoplasmic SYNCRIP mRNA interactome using iCLIP in primary rat cortical neurons. We identify hundreds of bona fide SYNCRIP target mRNAs, many of which encode for proteins involved in neurogenesis, neuronal migration and neurite outgrowth. From our analysis, the stabilization of mRNAs encoding for components of the microtubule network, such as doublecortin (Dcx), emerges as a novel mechanism of SYNCRIP function in addition to the previously reported control of actin dynamics. Furthermore, we found that SYNCRIP interacts with miRISC and synergizes with pro-neural miRNAs, such as miR-9. Based on our findings, we propose a model whereby SYNCRIP promotes early neuronal differentiation by a two-tier mechanism involving the stabilization of pro-neural mRNAs by direct 3’UTR interaction and the repression of anti-neural mRNAs in a complex with neuronal miRISC. Together, our findings provide a rationale for future studies investigating the function of SYNCRIP in mammalian brain development and disease.
Project description:Eukaryotic mRNAs undergo a cycle of transcription, nuclear export, and degradation. A major challenge is to obtain a global, quantitative view of these processes. Here we measured the genome-wide nucleocytoplasmic dynamics of mRNA in Drosophila cells by metabolic labeling in combination with cellular fractionation. By mathematical modeling of these data we determined rates of transcription, export and cytoplasmic decay for >5,000 genes. We characterized these kinetic rates and investigated links with mRNA features, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and chromatin states. We found prominent correlations between mRNA decay rate and transcript size, while nuclear export rates are linked to the size of the 3'UTR. Transcription, export and decay rates are each associated with distinct spectra of RBPs. Specific classes of genes, such as those encoding cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins, exhibit characteristic combinations of rate constants, suggesting modular control. Overall, transcription and decay rates have a major impact on transcript abundance, while nuclear export is of minor importance. Finally, correlations between rate constants suggest global coordination between the three processes. Our approach should be generally applicable to other cell systems and provides insights into the genome-wide nucleocytoplasmic kinetics of mRNA.