Overexpression of miR-519d in lung adenocarcinoma inhibits cell proliferation and invasion via the association of eIF4H.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer worldwide due to its high mortality rate. Adenocarcinoma constitutes 20%-30% of all lung cancers. In recent years, studies on the mechanisms of lung tumorigenesis and development have in part focused on the microRNAs for their crucial role in the progress of different cancers. As for our study, we demonstrated that miR-519d was differently downregulated and eIF4H was significantly overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma via the detection of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction compared with the adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, xenograft tumor experiment, Ki67 immunohistochemistry assay and transwell assay were performed to explain that the upregulated miR-519d could inhibit the proliferation and invasion of A549 and H1299 cells. To further advance our understanding of the mechanisms of miR-519d, we performed the bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase report assay. The results from these procedures revealed eIF4H to be one of the targets of miR-519d. Downregulated eIF4H was analogous to the overexpressed miR-519d obtained from miR-519d agomir and si-eIF4H transfection. In summary, it can be concluded that miR-519d targets eIF4H in lung adenocarcinoma to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion. This mechanism may offer new insights into the tumorigenesis and development of lung adenocarcinoma.

Enhanced translation initiation factor 4G levels correlate with production levels of monoclonal antibodies in recombinant CHO cell lines.

Using cells to manufacture protein-based therapeutics or biopharmaceuticals is a rapidly expanding industrial activity. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most frequently used mammalian host-expression system for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. Over the past ∼30 years academic and industrial researchers have studied cell expression characteristics with aims to improve product yield, quality, scalability and reproducibility. Although many steps in the gene expression and secretion pathways have been optimized, little attention has been paid to optimizing protein synthesis factors and regulators during this process. A new study in Biochemical Journal by Mead et al., provides a first systematic study of several protein synthesis factors and finds that the expression level of eIF4G1 correlates with the level of recombinant protein expressed in cultures. Optimizing levels and activities of protein synthesis factors may help to enhance recombinant protein expression of biopharmaceuticals.

The circadian clock coordinates ribosome biogenesis.

Biological rhythms play a fundamental role in the physiology and behavior of most living organisms. Rhythmic circadian expression of clock-controlled genes is orchestrated by a molecular clock that relies on interconnected negative feedback loops of transcription regulators. Here we show that the circadian clock exerts its function also through the regulation of mRNA translation. Namely, the circadian clock influences the temporal translation of a subset of mRNAs involved in ribosome biogenesis by controlling the transcription of translation initiation factors as well as the clock-dependent rhythmic activation of signaling pathways involved in their regulation. Moreover, the circadian oscillator directly regulates the transcription of ribosomal protein mRNAs and ribosomal RNAs. Thus the circadian clock exerts a major role in coordinating transcription and translation steps underlying ribosome biogenesis.

Pathogenic LRRK2 negatively regulates microRNA-mediated translational repression.

Gain-of-function mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause familial as well as sporadic Parkinson's disease characterized by age-dependent degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The molecular mechanism of LRRK2 action is not known. Here we show that LRRK2 interacts with the microRNA (miRNA) pathway to regulate protein synthesis. Drosophila e2f1 and dp messenger RNAs are translationally repressed by let-7 and miR-184*, respectively. Pathogenic LRRK2 antagonizes these miRNAs, leading to the overproduction of E2F1/DP, previously implicated in cell cycle and survival control and shown here to be critical for LRRK2 pathogenesis. Genetic deletion of let-7, antagomir-mediated blockage of let-7 and miR-184* action, transgenic expression of dp target protector, or replacement of endogenous dp with a dp transgene non-responsive to let-7 each had toxic effects similar to those of pathogenic LRRK2. Conversely, increasing the level of let-7 or miR-184* attenuated pathogenic LRRK2 effects. LRRK2 associated with Drosophila Argonaute-1 (dAgo1) or human Argonaute-2 (hAgo2) of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). In aged fly brain, dAgo1 protein level was negatively regulated by LRRK2. Further, pathogenic LRRK2 promoted the association of phospho-4E-BP1 with hAgo2. Our results implicate deregulated synthesis of E2F1/DP caused by the miRNA pathway impairment as a key event in LRRK2 pathogenesis and suggest novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies.

Biological insights into the expression of translation initiation factors from recombinant CHOK1SV cell lines and their relationship to enhanced productivity.

Translation initiation is on the critical pathway for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by mammalian cells. Formation of a closed loop structure comprised of mRNA, a number of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) and ribosomal proteins has been proposed to aid re-initiation of translation and therefore increase global translational efficiency. We have determined mRNA and protein levels of the key components of the closed loop, eIFs (eIF3a, eIF3b, eIF3c, eIF3h, eIF3i and eIF4G1), poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) 1 and PABP-interacting protein 1 (PAIP1), across a panel of 30 recombinant mAb-producing GS-CHOK1SV cell lines with a broad range of growth characteristics and production levels of a model recombinant mAb. We have used a multi-level statistical approach to investigate the relationship between key performance indicators (cell growth and recombinant antibody productivity) and the intracellular amounts of target translation initiation factor proteins and the mRNAs encoding them. We show that high-producing cell lines maintain amounts of the translation initiation factors involved in the formation of the closed loop mRNA, maintaining these proteins at appropriate levels to deliver enhanced recombinant protein production. We then utilize knowledge of the amounts of these factors to build predictive models for and use cluster analysis to identify, high-producing cell lines. The present study therefore defines the translation initiation factor amounts that are associated with highly productive recombinant GS-CHOK1SV cell lines that may be targets for screening highly productive cell lines or to engineer new host cell lines with the potential for enhanced recombinant antibody productivity.

EIF2C, Dicer, and Drosha are up-regulated along tumor progression and associated with poor prognosis in bladder carcinoma.

EIF2C, Dicer, and Drosha are microRNA-regulating machinery components, which participate in microRNA intracellular process and transfer. Our research demonstrated the expression and clinical role of the microRNA-regulating machinery in bladder cancer. EIF2C1, EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha mRNA and protein levels were analyzed in 100 bladder carcinomas and 50 normal bladder tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha mRNAs and proteins were overexpressed in carcinoma compared with normal tissues, whereas EIF2C1 mRNA and protein were not obviously different. Moreover, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha in 100 bladder carcinomas. There were higher EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha expressions in carcinomas than in the adjacent normal tissues, positive correlations being noted with clinical stage, histopathologic grade, and recurrence. Higher EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha expressions were related to shorter cancer-specific survival and shorter recurrence-free survival. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that EIF2C2 was an important risk factor in bladder cancer. In conclusion, EIF2C2, Dicer, and Drosha are more highly expressed in bladder carcinoma, promote the development of bladder cancer, and suggested a poor prognosis. Their clinical role in bladder carcinoma merits further research.

EIF6 over-expression increases the motility and invasiveness of cancer cells by modulating the expression of a critical subset of membrane-bound proteins.

BACKGROUND: Eukaryotic Initiation factor 6 (eIF6) is a peculiar translation initiation factor that binds to the large 60S ribosomal subunits, controlling translation initiation and participating in ribosome biogenesis. In the past, knowledge about the mechanisms adopted by the cells for controlling protein synthesis by extracellular stimuli has focused on two translation initiation factors (eIF4E and eIF2), however, recent data suggest eIF6 as a newcomer in the control of downstream of signal transduction pathways. eIF6 is over-expressed in tumors and its decreased expression renders cells less prone to tumor growth. A previous work from our laboratory has disclosed that over-expression of eIF6 in transformed cell lines markedly increased cell migration and invasion. METHODS: Here, we performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of membrane-associated proteins in A2780 ovarian cancer cells over-expressing eIF6. Differentially expressed proteins upon eIF6 overproduction were further investigated in silico by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed in order to validate the proteomic data. Furthermore, the effects of a potent and selective inhibitor ML-141 in A2780 cells were evaluated using transwell migration assay. Finally, we explored the effects of eIF6 over-expression on WM793 primary melanoma cell lines. RESULTS: We demonstrated that: (i) the genes up-regulated upon eIF6 overproduction mapped to a functional network corresponding to cellular movements in a highly significant way; (ii) cdc42 plays a pivotal role as an effector of enhanced migratory phenotype induced upon eIF6 over-expression; (iii) the variations in abundance observed for cdc42 protein occur at a post-transcriptional level; (iv) the increased cell migration/invasion upon eIF6 over-expression was generalizable to other cell line models. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data confirm and further extend the role of eIF6 in enhancing cell migration/invasion. We show that a number of membrane-associated proteins indeed vary in abundance upon eIF6 over-expression, and that the up-regulated proteins can be located within a functional network controlling cell motility and tumor metastasis. Full understanding of the role eIF6 plays in the metastatic process is important, also in view of the fact that this factor is a potentially druggable target to be exploited for new anti-cancer therapies.

Upregulation of eIF4E, but not other translation initiation factors, in dendritic spines during memory formation.

Local translation can provide a rapid, spatially targeted supply of new proteins in distal dendrites to support synaptic changes that underlie learning. Learning and memory are especially sensitive to manipulations of translational control mechanisms, particularly those that target the initiation step, and translation initiation at synapses could be a means of maintaining synapse specificity during plasticity. Initiation predominantly occurs via recruitment of ribosomes to the 5' mRNA cap by complexes of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs), and the interaction between eIF4E and eIF4G1 is a particularly important target of translational control pathways. Pharmacological inhibition of eIF4E-eIF4G1 binding impairs formation of memory for aversive Pavlovian conditioning as well as the accompanying increase in polyribosomes in the heads of dendritic spines in the lateral amygdala (LA). This is consistent with a role for initiation at synapses in memory formation, but whether eIFs are even present near synapses is unknown. To determine whether dendritic spines contain eIFs and whether eIF distribution is affected by learning, we combined immunolabeling with serial section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) volume reconstructions of LA dendrites after Pavlovian conditioning. Labeling for eIF4E, eIF4G1, and eIF2α-another key target of regulation-occurred in roughly half of dendritic spines, but learning effects were only found for eIF4E, which was upregulated in the heads of dendritic spines. Our results support the possibility of regulated translation initiation as a means of synapse-specific protein targeting during learning and are consistent with the model of eIF4E availability as a central point of control.

New Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers eIF1, eIF2D, eIF3C and eIF6 Play a Major Role in Translational Control in Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer and ranks among the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The most common histological type is ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), accounting for approximately 95% of cases. Deregulation of protein synthesis has been found to be closely related to cancer. The rate-limiting step of translation is initiation, which is regulated by a broad range of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Human PDAC samples were biochemically analyzed for the expression of various eIF subunits on the protein level (immunohistochemistry, immunoblot analyses) in 174 cases of PDAC in comparison with non-neoplastic pancreatic tissue (n=10). RESULTS: Our investigation revealed a significant down-regulation of four specific eIF subunits, namely eIF1, eIF2D, eIF3C and eIF6. Concomitantly, the protein (immunoblot) levels of eIF1, eIF2D, eIF3C and eIF6 were reduced in PDAC samples as compared with non-neoplastic pancreatic tissue. CONCLUSION: Members of the eIF family are of relevance in pancreatic tumor biology and may play a major role in translational control in PDAC. Consequently, they might be useful as potential new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in PDAC.

Distributed control for recruitment, scanning and subunit joining steps of translation initiation.

Protein synthesis utilizes a large proportion of the available free energy in the eukaryotic cell and must be precisely controlled, yet up to now there has been no systematic rate control analysis of the in vivo process. We now present a novel study of rate control by eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) using yeast strains in which chromosomal eIF genes have been placed under the control of the tetO7 promoter system. The results reveal that, contrary to previously published reports, control of the initiation pathway is distributed over all of the eIFs, whereby rate control (the magnitude of their respective component control coefficients) follows the order: eIF4G > eIF1A > eIF4E > eIF5B. The apparent rate control effects of eIFs observed in standard cell-free extract experiments, on the other hand, do not accurately reflect the steady state in vivo data. Overall, this work establishes the first quantitative control framework for the study of in vivo eukaryotic translation.