Despite our understanding of the role of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN) in cytoplasmic small ribonucleoproteins (snRNP) assembly, it is unclear how loss of this protein causes motor neuron degeneration in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). It could be explained by defects in functions that are specific to tissues most affected in SMA. In neurons, SMN localizes to neuronal RNA granules, RNA-containing foci in axons. They regulate many aspects of mRNA fate which include transport along neurites, mRNA stability, and mRNA translation. Most recently, our work provided evidence for SMN’s role in mRNA translation. Specifically, we demonstrated that SMN associates with polyribosomes and may repress translation of specific mRNA targets. Our group demonstrated that SMA-causing mutations within the Tudor domain of SMN completely abolished this activity. This indicates the potential significance of this novel SMN function in the SMA pathology. To further investigate SMN’s function in regulating translation, our group performed a proteomic screen on polysome-containing sucrose gradient fractions. We identified and validated novel interacting partners for SMN that may act as co-factors to regulate translation. DDX5 (an RNA helicase) is an unexpected novel interacting partner as it is known for its role in micro-RNA processing. Moreover, we observe that FMRP, a recognized protein in translational complexes, is required for the presence of SMN and DDX5 in polysomal fractions. With these latest findings, we updated our model of the molecular mechanism by which SMN regulates translation. This work provides more insights on how SMN regulates translation, a newly uncovered role for SMN in motor neurons. Identification of the molecular targets that are misregulated due to loss of this function may reveal new information on the pathogenesis of SMA.

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) contributes to multiple physiological processes by catalysing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. However, regulation of CA activity in response to homeostatic challenges remains poorly understood. The objectives of this thesis were to investigate whether CA is transcriptionally regulated by cortisol in fish and whether post-translational modification (PTM) of CA occurs in fish. The results of an in vivo reporter assay used to investigate potential transcriptional regulation of zebrafish, Danio rerio, cytoplasmic CA (CAc) were inconsistent, and it remains unclear whether zebrafish CAc is regulated transcriptionally by cortisol. Phosphorylation of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, CAc was predicted from in silico analysis of the putative amino acid sequence and confirmed by Western analysis of phosphoprotein levels following in vitro incubation of CA, purified from trout gill, under conditions designed to potentiate endogenous kinases. Again using in vitro incubations designed to potentiate endogenous kinases and phosphatases, changes to the phosphorylation state of CAc were found to modulate its enzymatic properties. These findings suggest that CA activity may be regulated by signalling pathways that activate cellular protein kinases, and future work should focus on identifying these pathways.

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) contributes to multiple physiological processes by catalysing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. However, regulation of CA activity in response to homeostatic challenges remains poorly understood. The objectives of this thesis were to investigate whether CA is transcriptionally regulated by cortisol in fish and whether post-translational modification (PTM) of CA occurs in fish. The results of an in vivo reporter assay used to investigate potential transcriptional regulation of zebrafish, Danio rerio, cytoplasmic CA (CAc) were inconsistent, and it remains unclear whether zebrafish CAc is regulated transcriptionally by cortisol. Phosphorylation of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, CAc was predicted from in silico analysis of the putative amino acid sequence and confirmed by Western analysis of phosphoprotein levels following in vitro incubation of CA, purified from trout gill, under conditions designed to potentiate endogenous kinases. Again using in vitro incubations designed to potentiate endogenous kinases and phosphatases, changes to the phosphorylation state of CAc were found to modulate its enzymatic properties. These findings suggest that CA activity may be regulated by signalling pathways that activate cellular protein kinases, and future work should focus on identifying these pathways.

Phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) is a conserved eukaryotic mechanism to limit protein synthesis under stress conditions. Baculovirus PK2, which resembles the C-terminal half of a protein kinase domain, inhibits eIF2α family kinases in vivo, thereby increasing viral fitness in the face of host immunological and stress responses. The mechanism by which PK2 modulates eIF2α stress response signaling remains unknown. To address this issue, a combination of biochemical, biophysical and in vivo approaches were employed to probe the mechanism of PK2 inhibition on a prototypical human eIF2α kinase, the RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). We discovered that PK2 inhibits PKR catalytic activity by directly binding its kinase domain. This direct interaction requires both the kinase-like C-lobe fold of PK2 and a critical 22 residue N-terminal extension that precedes it. We further show that the PK2 N-terminal extension is required but not sufficient for the ability of PK2 function.

Phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) is a conserved eukaryotic mechanism to limit protein synthesis under stress conditions. Baculovirus PK2, which resembles the C-terminal half of a protein kinase domain, inhibits eIF2α family kinases in vivo, thereby increasing viral fitness in the face of host immunological and stress responses. The mechanism by which PK2 modulates eIF2α stress response signaling remains unknown. To address this issue, a combination of biochemical, biophysical and in vivo approaches were employed to probe the mechanism of PK2 inhibition on a prototypical human eIF2α kinase, the RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). We discovered that PK2 inhibits PKR catalytic activity by directly binding its kinase domain. This direct interaction requires both the kinase-like C-lobe fold of PK2 and a critical 22 residue N-terminal extension that precedes it. We further show that the PK2 N-terminal extension is required but not sufficient for the ability of PK2 function.

The eIF4E is an important eukaryotic translation initiation factor, because of its ability to bind cap at 5'end of mRNA. There are three members of this protein family found in humans: eIF4E1, eIF4E2 and eIF4E3. eIF4E1 also plays role in in export of some mRNA from nucleus to cytoplasm. This protein is mostly regulated by mTOR signaling pathway and malfunctions in regulation leads to increased cell proliferation and thus tumorogenesis. eIF4E2 plays a role in regulating of translation during embryogenesis and it is known to mediate translation in terms of hypoxia. Role of eIF4E3 is so far shrouded in mystery. Some studies suggest it might be able to suppress tumor growth, but no studies have been done on human eIF4E3. Big potential of our work is, that all proteins we work with, are human. Based on our results, the endogenous amount of eIF4E3 protein is higher than it was thought. This is one of the reasons, why this protein should not escape our attention. In my diploma thesis, I have studied physiological characteristics of cell cultures overexpressing eIF4E proteins after mTOR inhibition treatment. I have realized that the most efficient inhibitor in all tested cell cultures is PP-242, which binds directly into active site of mTOR kinase. I have cloned 3xC FLAG tagged eIF4Es constructs and used...

In plants, translation regulation plays an important role during progamic phase, fertilization and seed development. The process of translation is mostly regulated in its initiation phase, where Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) is the largest and most complex initiation factor, consisting of 12 different subunits. In plants, single eIF3 subunit mutants caused various growth and development defects, depending on the particular subunit that was mutated. However, not all the plant eIF3 subunits were characterized to this date. The objective of this work was to functionally characterize the eIF3 subunit A using Arabidopsis thaliana as the main model plant. We described in this work that plant eIF3A proteins share high levels of homology and domain organization with eIF3A subunits from non-plant eukaryotic species but contain regions specific only to plants. Next we described that Arabidopsis thaliana AteIF3A gene is transcribed in highly proliferating tissues, its protein product localizes to cytoplasm and around pollen vegetative cell nucleus and observed an increased frequency of defective pollen grains and defects in seed formation in plants with T-DNA insertion localized to the AteIF3A gene. We also produced stable transgenic Nicotiana tabacum lines expressing heterologous AteIF3A...

RACK1 (Receptor for activated C kinase 1) is an evolutionary conserved protein which has essential role in most studied eukaryotic organisms, except for yeast. Although RACK1 was originally described as a binding partner of protein kinase C, later studies re- vealed its significant role in other cellular signalizations such as MAPK, Src or FAK. Thanks to this, RACK1 participates in the regulation of key cellular processes including migration, apoptosis or translation. As a binding partner of a small ribosomal subunit, RACK1 contributes to transla- tion regulation by integrating signals from different cellular pathways and several transla- tional components such as PKC and eIF6. Moreover, RACK1 has a role in translation regu- lation during stress. Under stress conditions there is a global reduction of translation, in- creased expression of specific mRNAs important for cellular stress response and formation of cytosolic foci called stress granules (SGs). SGs play an important role in protection of mRNAs and translation components against degradation. SGs also function in prevention of apoptosis. RACK1 has been identified as one of many components of SGs and its localization into SGs leads to inhibition of RACK1-mediated pro-apoptotic pathways. Aim of this diploma thesis was to elucidate the role of...

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第21654号 / 医博第4460号 / 新制||医||1035(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 朝長 啓造, 教授 妹尾 浩, 教授 萩原 正敏 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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