Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) relies on hyper-activated protein synthesis. Consistently, human and mouse PDAC lose expression of the translational repressor and mTOR target 4E-BP1. Using genome-wide polysome-profiling, we here explore mRNAs whose translational efficiencies depend on the mTOR/4E-BP1 axis in Miapaca-2 cells. This was performed by isolating cytoplasmic and efficiently translated (heavy polysome-associated) mRNAs from MiaPaca-2 cells upon PP242-mediated mTOR inhibition
Project description:Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)–binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) inhibits cap-dependent translation in eukaryotes by competing with eIF4G for an interaction with eIF4E. Phos-phorylation at Ser-83 of 4E-BP1 occurs during mitosis through the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1)/cyclin B rather than through canonical mTOR kinase activity. Here, we investi-gated the interaction of eIF4E with 4E-BP1 or eIF4G during interphase and mitosis. We observed that 4E-BP1 and eIF4G bind eIF4E at similar levels during interphase and mitosis. The most highly phosphorylated mitotic 4E-BP1 isoform (δ) did not interact with eIF4E, whereas a distinct 4E-BP1 phospho-isoform, EB-γ—phosphorylated at Thr-70, Ser-83, and Ser-101—bound to eIF4E during mitosis. Two-dimensional gel electropho-retic analysis corroborated the identity of the phosphorylation marks on the eIF4E-bound 4E-BP1 isoforms and uncovered a population of phosphorylated 4E-BP1 molecules lacking Thr-37/Thr-46–priming phosphorylation. Moreover, proximity ligation assays for phospho–4E-BP1 and eIF4E revealed different in situ interactions during interphase and mitosis. The eIF4E:eIF4G interaction was not inhibited, but rather increased in mitotic cells, consistent with active translation initiation during mitosis. Phospho-defective substitution of 4E-BP1 at Ser-83 did not change global translation or individual mRNA translation profiles as measured by single-cell nascent protein synthesis and eIF4G RNA-immunoprecipitation sequencing. Mitotic 5’-terminal oligopyrimidine RNA translation was active and, unlike interphase translation, resistant to mTOR inhibition. Our findings reveal the phosphorylation profiles of 4E-BP1 isoforms and their interactions with eIF4E throughout the cell cycle and indicate that 4E-BP1 does not specifically inhibit translation initiation during mitosis.
Project description:Spinal microglia play a pivotal role in the development of neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve injury induces changes in the transcriptional profile of microglia, including increased expression of components of translational machinery. Whether microglial protein synthesis is stimulated following nerve injury and has a functional role in mediating pain hypersensitivity is unknown. Here, we show that nascent protein synthesis is upregulated in spinal microglia following peripheral nerve injury. Stimulating mRNA translation in microglia, via selective ablation of the translational repressor, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), promoted the transition of microglia to a reactive state and induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Conversely, inhibiting microglial translation by expressing mutant 4E-BP1 in microglia attenuated their peripheral nerve injury-induced activation and alleviated neuropathic pain. Thus, the stimulation of 4E-BP1-dependent translation promotes microglia reactivity and mechanical hypersensitivity, whereas its inhibition alleviates neuropathic pain.
Project description:Although the mTOR-4E-BP1 signaling pathway is implicated in aging and aging-related disorders, the role of 4E-BP1 in regulating human stem cell homeostasis remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the expression of 4E-BP1 decreases along with the senescence of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Genetic inactivation of 4E-BP1 in hMSCs accelerates cellular senescence, compromises mitochondrial respiration and increases mitochondrial ROS production. Mechanistically, the absence of 4E-BP1 destabilizes proteins in mitochondrial respiration complexes, especially several key subunits of the complex III including UQCRC2. Ectopic expression of 4E-BP1 attenuates mitochondrial abnormalities and alleviates cellular senescence in 4E-BP1-deficient hMSCs as well as in physiologically aged hMSCs. These findings together demonstrate that 4E-BP1 functions as a geroprotector to alleviate human stem cell senescence and maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, particularly for the mitochondrial respiration complex III and provide a new potential target to counteract human stem cell senescence.
Project description:Spinal microglia play a pivotal role in the development of neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve injury induces changes in the transcriptional profile of microglia, including increased expression of components of translational machinery. Whether microglial protein synthesis is stimulated following nerve injury and has a functional role in mediating pain hypersensitivity is unknown. Here, we show that nascent protein synthesis is upregulated in spinal microglia following peripheral nerve injury in both male and female mice. Stimulating mRNA translation in microglia, by selectively ablating the translational repressor eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), promoted the transition of microglia to a reactive state and induced mechanical hypersensitivity in both sexes, whereas spontaneous pain was increased only in males. Conversely, inhibiting microglial translation by expressing a mutant form of 4E-BP1 in microglia attenuated their activation following peripheral nerve injury and alleviated neuropathic pain in both sexes. Thus, stimulating 4E-BP1-dependent translation promotes microglial reactivity and mechanical hypersensitivity, whereas inhibiting it alleviates neuropathic pain.
Project description:We report that chr8 gain-driven gene expression patterns correlate with poor overall survival of EwS patients. This effect is predominantly mediated by increased expression of the translation initiation factor binding protein 4E-BP1 encoded by EIF4EBP1 on chr8. Integrated multi-omics profiling uncovered that 4E-BP1 orchestrates a pro-proliferative proteomic network. Consistently, silencing of 4E-BP1 in the EwS model reduced cell proliferation, clonogenicity, spheroidal growth in vitro, and tumorigenesis in vivo. Drug screens and functional assays revealed that high 4E-BP1 expression sensitizes for pharmacological CDK4/6-inhibition in preclinical models
Project description:Activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) contributes to the development of chronic pain. However, the specific mechanisms by which mTORC1 causes hypersensitivity remain elusive. The eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) is a key mTORC1 downstream effector that represses translation initiation. Here we show that nociceptor-specific deletion of 4E-BP1, mimicking activation of mTORC1-dependent translation, is sufficient to cause mechanical hypersensitivity.
Project description:We report that chr8 gain-driven gene expression patterns correlate with poor overall survival of EwS patients. This effect is predominantly mediated by increased expression of the translation initiation factor binding protein 4E-BP1 encoded by EIF4EBP1 on chr8. Integrated multi-omics profiling uncovered that 4E-BP1 orchestrates a pro-proliferative proteomic network. Consistently, silencing of 4E-BP1 in the EwS model reduced cell proliferation, clonogenicity, spheroidal growth in vitro, and tumorigenesis in vivo. Drug screens and functional assays revealed that high 4E-BP1 expression sensitizes for pharmacological CDK4/6-inhibition in preclinical models
Project description:Chromosome 8 (chr8) gains are common in cancer. However, their potential contribution to tumor heterogeneity is largely unexplored. Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is characterized by pathognomonic FET::ETS fusions but a general paucity of other recurrent somatic mutations that could explain the observed clinical diversity. In EwS, chr8 gains are the second most common genetic alteration rendering EwS an ideal model to investigate the relevance of chr8 gains in an otherwise silent genomic context. Here, we report that chr8 gain-driven gene expression patterns correlate with poor overall survival of EwS patients. This effect is predominantly mediated by increased expression of the translation initiation factor binding protein 4E-BP1 encoded by EIF4EBP1 on chr8. High EIF4EBP1 expression showed the strongest association with poor patient survival among all chr8-encoded genes and correlated with chr8 gains in EwS tumors. Similar findings were made in numerous entities of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Integrated multi-omics profiling uncovered that 4E-BP1 orchestrates a pro-proliferative proteomic network. Consistently, silencing of 4E-BP1 in the EwS model reduced cell proliferation, clonogenicity, spheroidal growth in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo. Drug screens and functional assays revealed that high 4E-BP1 expression sensitizes for pharmacological CDK4/6-inhibition in preclinical models. Collectively, we establish chr8 gains and high 4E-BP1 expression as prognostic biomarkers in EwS and demonstrate that their association with patient outcome is primarily mediated by 4E-BP1 orchestrating a pro-proliferative proteomic network sensitizing EwS for CDK4/6-inhibitors. Our data suggest that testing for chr8 gains may improve risk-stratification and therapeutic management in EwS and other cancers.