eIF5 stimulates the CUG initiation of RAN translation of poly-GA dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) in C9orf72 FTLD/ALS.

Tandem GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9orf72 is a genetic cause of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Transcribed repeats are translated into dipeptide repeat proteins via repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation. However, the regulatory mechanism of RAN translation remains unclear. Here, we reveal a GTPase-activating protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 5 (eIF5), which allosterically facilitates the conversion of eIF2-bound GTP into GDP upon start codon recognition, as a novel modifier of C9orf72 RAN translation. Compared to global translation, eIF5, but not its inactive mutants, preferentially stimulates poly-GA RAN translation. RAN translation is increased during integrated stress response, but the stimulatory effect of eIF5 on poly-GA RAN translation was additive to the increase of RAN translation during integrated stress response, with no further increase in phosphorylated eIF2α. Moreover, an alteration of the CUG near cognate codon to CCG or AUG in the poly-GA reading frame abolished the stimulatory effects, indicating that eIF5 primarily acts through the CUG-dependent initiation. Lastly, in a Drosophila model of C9orf72 FTLD/ALS that expresses GGGGCC repeats in the eye, knockdown of endogenous eIF5 by two independent RNAi strains significantly reduced poly-GA expressions, confirming in vivo effect of eIF5 on poly-GA RAN translation. Together, eIF5 stimulates the CUG initiation of poly-GA RAN translation in cellular and Drosophila disease models of C9orf72 FTLD/ALS.

The RNA exosome complex degrades expanded hexanucleotide repeat RNA in C9orf72 FTLD/ALS.

Nucleotide repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Transcribed repeat RNA accumulates within RNA foci and is also translated into toxic dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR). The mechanism of repeat RNA accumulation, however, remains unclear. The RNA exosome complex is a multimeric ribonuclease involved in degradation of defective RNA. Here, we uncover the RNA exosome as a major degradation complex for pathogenic C9orf72-derived repeat RNA. Knockdown of EXOSC10, the catalytic subunit of the complex, enhanced repeat RNA and DPR protein expression levels. RNA degradation assays confirmed that EXOSC10 can degrade both sense and antisense repeats. Furthermore, EXOSC10 reduction increased RNA foci and repeat transcripts in patient-derived cells. Cells expressing toxic poly-GR or poly-PR proteins accumulate a subset of small nucleolar RNA precursors, which are physiological substrates of EXOSC10, as well as excessive repeat RNA, indicating that arginine-rich DPR proteins impair the intrinsic activity of EXOSC10. Collectively, arginine-rich DPR-mediated impairment of EXOSC10 and the RNA exosome complex compromises repeat RNA metabolism and may thus exacerbate C9orf72-FTLD/ALS pathologies in a vicious cycle.

The porphyrin TMPyP4 inhibits elongation during the noncanonical translation of the FTLD/ALS-associated GGGGCC repeat in the C9orf72 gene.

GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene has been shown to cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dipeptide repeat proteins produced through repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation are recognized as potential drivers for neurodegeneration. Therefore, selective inhibition of RAN translation could be a therapeutic avenue to treat these neurodegenerative diseases. It was previously known that the porphyrin TMPyP4 binds to G4C2 repeat RNA. However, the consequences of this interaction have not been well characterized. Here, we confirmed that TMPyP4 inhibits C9orf72 G4C2 repeat translation in cellular and in in vitro translation systems. An artificial insertion of an AUG codon failed to cancel the translation inhibition, suggesting that TMPyP4 acts downstream of non-AUG translation initiation. Polysome profiling assays also revealed polysome retention on G4C2 repeat RNA, along with inhibition of translation, indicating that elongating ribosomes stall on G4C2 repeat RNA. Urea-resistant interaction between G4C2 repeat RNA and TMPyP4 likely contributes to this ribosome stalling and thus to selective inhibition of RAN translation. Taken together, our data reveal a novel mode of action of TMPyP4 as an inhibitor of G4C2 repeat translation elongation.

Oct-3/4 modulates the drug-resistant phenotype of glioblastoma cells through expression of ATP binding cassette transporter G2.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance is a major obstacle for the efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatment of tumors. Oct-3/4, a self-renewal regulator in stem cells, is expressed in various kinds of solid tumors including glioblastoma. Although Oct-3/4 expression has been implicated in the malignancy and prognosis of glioblastomas, little is known of its involvement in drug resistances of glioblastoma. METHODS: The involvement of Oct-3/4 in drug resistance of glioblastoma cells was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase assay, efflux assay of an anticancer drug, poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage, and in vivo xenograft experiments. Involvement of a drug efflux pump ATP binding cassette transporter G2 in Oct-3/4-induced drug resistance was evaluated by quantitative PCR analysis and knockdown by shRNA. RESULTS: Oct-3/4 decreased the susceptibility to chemotherapeutic drugs by enhancing excretion of drugs through a drug efflux pump gene, ATP binding cassette transporter G2. Moreover, the expression of Oct-3/4 was well correlated to ATP binding cassette transporter G2 expression in clinical GB tissues. CONCLUSION: Oct-3/4 elevated the ATP binding cassette transporter G2 expression, leading to acquisition of a drug-resistant phenotype by glioblastoma cells. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: If the drug-resistance of glioblastoma cells could be suppressed, it should be a highly ameliorative treatment for glioblastoma patients. Therefore, signaling pathways from Oct-3/4 to ATP binding cassette transporter G2 should be intensively elucidated to develop new therapeutic interventions for better efficacy of anti-cancer drugs.

PABPC1 mediates degradation of C9orf72-FTLD/ALS GGGGCC repeat RNA.

GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72 causes frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expanded GGGGCC repeat RNA accumulates within RNA foci and is translated into toxic dipeptide repeat proteins; thus, efficient repeat RNA degradation may alleviate diseases. hnRNPA3, one of the repeat RNA-binding proteins, has been implicated in the destabilization of repeat RNA. Using APEX2-mediated proximity biotinylation, here, we demonstrate PABPC1, a cytoplasmic poly (A)-binding protein, interacts with hnRNPA3. Knockdown of PABPC1 increased the accumulation of repeat RNA and RNA foci to the same extent as the knockdown of hnRNPA3. Proximity ligation assays indicated PABPC1-hnRNPA3 and PABPC1-RNA exosomes, a complex that degrades repeat RNA, preferentially co-localized when repeat RNA was present. Our results suggest that PABPC1 functions as a mediator of polyadenylated GGGGCC repeat RNA degradation through interactions with hnRNPA3 and RNA exosome complex.

RNA Dysmetabolism and Repeat-Associated Non-AUG Translation in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis due to C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion.

Neuropathological features of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to C9orf72 GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion include early dipeptide repeats, repeat RNA foci, and subsequent TDP-43 pathologies. Since the discovery of the repeat expansion, extensive studies have elucidated the disease mechanism of how the repeat causes neurodegeneration. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of abnormal repeat RNA metabolism and repeat-associated non-AUG translation in C9orf72 frontotemporal lobar degeneration/ALS. For repeat RNA metabolism, we specifically focus on the role of hnRNPA3, the repeat RNA-binding protein, and the EXOSC10/RNA exosome complex, an intracellular RNA-degrading enzyme. In addition, the mechanism of repeat-associated non-AUG translation inhibition via TMPyP4, a repeat RNA-binding compound, is discussed.

FUS regulates RAN translation through modulating the G-quadruplex structure of GGGGCC repeat RNA in C9orf72-linked ALS/FTD.

Abnormal expansions of GGGGCC repeat sequence in the noncoding region of the C9orf72 gene is the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). The expanded repeat sequence is translated into dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) by noncanonical repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation. Since DPRs play central roles in the pathogenesis of C9-ALS/FTD, we here investigate the regulatory mechanisms of RAN translation, focusing on the effects of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) targeting GGGGCC repeat RNAs. Using C9-ALS/FTD model flies, we demonstrated that the ALS/FTD-linked RBP FUS suppresses RAN translation and neurodegeneration in an RNA-binding activity-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that FUS directly binds to and modulates the G-quadruplex structure of GGGGCC repeat RNA as an RNA chaperone, resulting in the suppression of RAN translation in vitro. These results reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism of RAN translation by G-quadruplex-targeting RBPs, providing therapeutic insights for C9-ALS/FTD and other repeat expansion diseases.

Oct-3/4 promotes tumor angiogenesis through VEGF production in glioblastoma.

Accumulating evidence shows that the expression level of Oct-3/4, a self-renewal regulator in stem cells, is positively correlated with the progression of various solid tumors. However, little is known regarding the influence of Oct-3/4 in the tumor angiogenesis of glioblastomas. In the present study, we subcutaneously transplanted Oct-3/4-overexpressing human glioblastoma U251 (U251/EGFP-Oct-3/4) cells into the right thighs of nude mice to evaluate the roles of Oct-3/4 in the tumor angiogenesis. Both tumor size and the number of large vessels growing in the tumor were markedly increased. In an in vitro model of angiogenesis, the conditioned media from U251/EGFP-Oct-3/4 cells significantly accelerated capillary-like tube formation compared with that of U251/EGFP cells. In comparison with U251/EGFP cells, U251/EGFP-Oct-3/4 cells had markedly elevated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA under the control of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α. In U251/EGFP-Oct-3/4 cells, enhanced protein expression and nuclear translocation of HIF1α were observed. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the involvement of AKT, an oncogenic signaling molecule, in the Oct-3/4 induced upregulation of HIF1α protein. Our findings suggest that Oct-3/4-expressing glioblastoma cells have the ability to adapt to low-oxygen environments within tumor masses by promoting tumor angiogenesis through AKT-HIF1 pathway.