The nucleolus is the site for rRNA synthesis, a process requiring the recruitment of many proteins involved in ribosomal biogenesis. Nrap is a novel nucleolar protein found to be present in all eukaryotes. Preliminary characterisation of Nrap suggested it was likely to participate in ribosome biogenesis but as with many other nucleolar proteins, the functional role of Nrap is largely unknown. In this study, the role of mammalian Nrap in the nucleolus and in ribosome biogenesis was explored. Initially, a number of tools were generated to investigate Nrap function. This involved raising and purifying a polyclonal antibody against the N-terminal region of Nrap. The anti-Nrap antibody was found to detect two Nrap bands in mouse fibroblast cells, possibly corresponding to the two mouse Nrap isoforms, and . In addition, mammalian expression vectors containing the full Nrap sequence as well as deletion constructs were created. The subcellular localisation of each construct was observed by fluorescent microscopy. It was revealed that recombinant Nrap did not localise to the nucleolus, possibly because it was exported to undergo degradation by the 26S proteasome. Two putative NLSs were found to be responsible for directing Nrap to the nucleus but a region accountable for nucleolar localisation was not identified. The data indicated that multiple domains working together are likely to direct Nrap to the nucleolus. Nrap was also observed to co-localise with nucleolar proteins B23 and p19ARF. Moreover, it was shown by reciprocal immunoprecipitation that these three nucleolar proteins existed in a complex in unsynchronised mouse fibroblast cells. Recent reports demonstrated a complex relationship between B23 and p19ARF although the functional significance remained unclear. Nrap's in vivo association with B23 and p19ARF indicated a specific functional role in the nucleolus. Nrap knockdown using siRNA significantly increased B23 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner and down-regulated p19ARF protein levels at higher siRNA concentration. Preliminary studies also implicated Nrap in cell proliferation through these novel interactions. Both endogenous and recombinant Nrap were found to be highly unstable suggesting that Nrap might regulate B23 and p19ARF through its own tightly regulated stability. Finally, the role of Nrap in rRNA processing was investigated by northern blot analysis. Nrap knockdown was found to affect the levels of 45S, 32S and 28S rRNAs. The changes found may be a consequence of the concurrent perturbation in the levels of B23 and p19ARF caused by Nrap knockdown. As the results were not consistent with previous reports, it was likely that changes to rRNA processing could be contributed to Nrap loss of function. This study demonstrated for the first time a functional role of Nrap in rRNA processing possibly through its association with B23 and p19ARF.

Skeletal muscle possesses remarkable plasticity in responses to altered mechanical load. An established murine model used to increase mechanical load on a muscle is the surgical removal of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, thereby placing a functional overload on the plantaris muscle. As a consequence, there is hypertrophic growth of the plantaris muscle. We used this model to study the molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Aged skeletal muscle demonstrates blunted hypertrophic growth in response to functional overload. We hypothesized that an alteration in gene expression would contribute to the blunted hypertrophic response observed with aging. However, the difference in gene expression was modest, with cluster analysis showing a similar pattern of expression between the two groups. Despite ribosomal protein gene expression being higher in the aged group, ribosome biogenesis was significantly lower in aged compared with young skeletal muscle in response to the hypertrophic stimulus (50% versus 2.5-fold, respectively). The failure to fully up-regulate pre-47S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) expression in old skeletal muscle undergoing hypertrophy indicated ribosomal DNA transcription by RNA polymerase I was impaired. Contrary to our hypothesis, the findings of the study suggest that impaired ribosome biogenesis was a primary factor underlying the blunted hypertrophic response observed in old skeletal muscle rather than dramatic differences in gene expression. As it appears ribosomal biogenesis may limit muscle hypertrophy, we assessed the dynamic changes in global transcriptional output during muscle hypertrophy, as the majority of global transcription is dedicated to ribosome biogenesis during periods of rapid growth. Metabolic labeling of nascent RNA using 5-ethynyl uridine permitted the assessment of cell type specific changes in global transcription and how this transcription is distributed within the myofiber. Using this approach, we demonstrate that myofibers are the most transcriptionally active cell-type in skeletal muscle, and furthermore, myonuclei are able to dramatically upregulate global transcription during muscle hypertrophy. Interestingly, the myonuclear accretion that occurs with hypertrophy actually results in lower transcriptional output across nuclei within the muscle fiber relative to sham conditions. These findings argue against the notion that nuclear accretion in skeletal muscle is necessary to increase the transcriptional capacity of the cell in order to support a growth response.

<p>The six-layered neuron structure in the cerebral cortex is the foundation for human mental abilities. In the developing cerebral cortex, neural stem cells undergo proliferation and differentiate into intermediate progenitors and neurons, a process known as embryonic neurogenesis. Disrupted embryonic neurogenesis is the root cause of a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including microcephaly and intellectual disabilities. Multiple layers of regulatory networks have been identified and extensively studied over the past decades to understand this complex but extremely crucial process of brain development. In recent years, post-transcriptional RNA regulation through RNA binding proteins has emerged as a critical regulatory nexus in embryonic neurogenesis. The exon junction complex (EJC) is a highly conserved RNA binding complex composed of four core proteins, Magoh, Rbm8a, Eif4a3, and Casc3. The EJC plays a major role in regulating RNA splicing, nuclear export, subcellular localization, translation, and nonsense mediated RNA decay. Human genetic studies have associated individual EJC components with various developmental disorders. We showed previously that haploinsufficiency of Magoh causes microcephaly and disrupted neural stem cell differentiation in mouse. However, it is unclear if other EJC core components are also required for embryonic neurogenesis. More importantly, the molecular mechanism through which the EJC regulates embryonic neurogenesis remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated with genetically modified mouse models that both Rbm8a and Eif4a3 are required for proper embryonic neurogenesis and the formation of a normal brain. Using transcriptome and proteomic analysis, we showed that the EJC posttranscriptionally regulates genes involved in the p53 pathway, splicing and translation regulation, as well as ribosomal biogenesis. This is the first in vivo evidence suggesting that the etiology of EJC associated neurodevelopmental diseases can be ribosomopathies. We also showed that, different from other EJC core components, depletion of Casc3 only led to mild neurogenesis defects in the mouse model. However, our data suggested that Casc3 is required for embryo viability, development progression, and is potentially a regulator of cardiac development. Together, data presented in this thesis suggests that the EJC is crucial for embryonic neurogenesis and that the EJC and its peripheral factors may regulate development in a tissue-specific manner.</p> / Dissertation

No description available.

A protein, B0238.11, was identified in a yeast one-hybrid screen to bind to the ribosomal intergenic spacer region (IGS) of Caenorhabditis elegans. Proteins interacting with this region of the DNA have been implicated in ribosome biogenesis in other model organisms, so it is also possible that B0238.11 plays a role in RNA transcription by interacting with RNA polymerase I or other transcription machinery. Thus, the goal of this study was to further characterize the structure and function of B0238.11. I used yeast two-hybrid experiments to identify proteins that interact with B0238.11 within the nucleus. RPS-0, K04G2.2, DPY-4, EFT-3, PAL-1, and B0238.11, itself, were found to bind to B0238.11. Additionally, I analysed the amino acid sequence of B0238.11 using in silico bioinformatics methods to determine its structure and putative function and also to identify and characterize the other interacting proteins. I found that B0238.11 contains a high-mobility group box domain, which is also found in HMO1P in yeast and UBF in vertebrates. These other proteins also bind to the IGS, are known to form homodimers and have been implicated in the initiation of ribosomal RNA transcription. Here I scrutinize the validity of the interaction between each protein and B0238.11. I conclude that B0238.11 is likely to be a C. elegans homolog of UBF and present an updated interactome map for B0238.11. / Synopsis: I carried out yeast two-hybrid assay to find proteins interacting with B0238.11 (O16487_CAEEL). I found that this protein's DNA-binding profile and protein interaction profile mimic other HMG-box containing proteins UBF and HMO1P which are involved in ribosomal RNA transcription initiation. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Teresa J. Crease, for not only giving me the opportunity to investigate an interesting topic in Molecular Biology, but also for her patient guidance, encouragement and sound advice. I feel extremely lucky to have a supervisor who cared so much about my work, who responded to my questions and queries so promptly, and was always available to discuss project and career related matters. I would also like to thank Dr. Todd Gillis and Dr. Terry Van Raay for their careful consideration of this project and timely constructive criticisms that helped shape my project. I would like to thank all the members of my committee for helping me see things from different perspectives and helping me develop and critical and mature understanding of the scientific process. I must also express my gratitude to Dr. Robin Floyd for allowing me to build upon his work and Dr. Marian Walhout, at the University of Massachusetts, for providing the Caenorhabditis elegans complimentary DNA library. A large part of this project would not have been possible without the people at the genomics facility in the Department of Integrative Biology, I commend their professionalism and punctuality in delivering results. Completing this work would have been all the more difficult were it not for the support and friendship provided by my peers Shannon Eagle, Tyler Elliott, Nick Jeffery, Joao Lima, Sabina Stanescu, Fatima Mitterboeck and Paola Pierossi. And finally, I would like to thank my parents and siblings Sara Omar and Ali Omar for their continued support through good times and bad, and letting me use their laptops when mine broke down.

[ES] La biogénesis ribosomal es uno de los procesos más complejos, esenciales y costosos energéticamente de la célula eucariota. La formación de las subunidades ribosomales en levaduras comienza en el nucléolo con la transcripción del ARNr. En este proceso se requiere la participación de más de doscientos factores de ensamblaje y ARNs pequeños nucleolares (snoARNs) que no formarán parte del ribosoma maduro aunque son necesarios para un apropiado procesamiento del ARNr y organización estructural de las subunidades ribosomales. Los estudios estructurales de los estadios de maduración de la subunidad 60S han permitido la identificación de algunas interacciones funcionales entre los distintos factores de ensamblaje. Entre ellos se encuentran las proteínas Nop7, Erb1 e Ytm1 que forman un heterotrímero discreto denominado subcomplejo Nop7 en levaduras, o complejo PeBoW en mamíferos, compuesto por los ortólogos Pes1, Bop1 y WDR12, respectivamente. Este complejo puede detectarse de forma aislada de las partículas prerribosomales. La formación de este heterotrímero es esencial para el ensamblaje de la subunidad 60S ya que garantizan la correcta maduración del extremo 5' del ARNr 5,8S facilitando así su asociación con el ARNr 25S, aunque se desconoce en detalle el papel exacto en la biogénesis ribosomal. En este trabajo se ha realizado un análisis de las interacciones entre los componentes del PeBoW así como una aproximación a la resolución estructural del complejo en solución. Usando una combinación de técnicas biofísicas, nuestros resultados indican que la conformación estructural que adopta el complejo PeBoW en el nucleoplasma es diferente a la descrita en el contexto prerribosomal. Además, se han identificado posibles funciones que podría estar ejerciendo el complejo PeBoW o bien las distintas proteínas del complejo de forma aislada fuera del prerribosoma. Asimismo se conoce que la biogénesis ribosomal es un mecanismo altamente regulado y estrechamente relacionado con crecimiento y proliferación celular. La imperiosa necesidad de síntesis de ribosomas y proteínas que tiene una célula tumoral convierte a este proceso en un punto débil de la misma. Por esta razón, hay un gran interés para estudiar la biogénesis ribosomal como diana terapéutica contra el cáncer. Se ha observado que la paralización de esta vía es capaz de promover la activación no genotóxica del supresor tumoral p53, a diferencia de los efectos indeseados que provocan las terapias convencionales contra el cáncer. Como primer paso hacia el desarrollo de herramientas inhibidoras de la biogénesis del ribosoma, hemos utilizado la información cristalográfica que poseíamos del complejo de Chaetomium thermophilum entre los factores de ensamblaje Erb1 e Ytm1 para realizar una selección guiada por la estructura de péptidos de interferencia. Los péptidos de interferencia han sido analizados in vitro para determinar su capacidad de interacción utilizando técnicas biofísicas. Además, se han generado péptidos de interferencia con la secuencia humana de Erb1/Ytm1 para evaluar sus efectos en cultivo de células de cáncer de colon HCT-116. Nuestros resultados indican que el estrés ribosómico se puede inducir en diferentes etapas del proceso de maduración al dirigirse a las interacciones proteína-proteína, elevándolas como una alternativa al uso de inhibidores de la ARN pol I. / [CA] La biogènesi ribosomal és un dels processos més complexos, essencials i costosos energèticament de la cèl·lula eucariota. La formació de les subunitats ribosomals en llevats comença en el nuclèol amb la transcripció de l'ARNr. En aquest procés es requereix la participació de més de dos-cents factors d'assemblatge i ARNs xicotets nucleolars (snoARNs) que no formaran part del ribosoma madur encara que són necessaris per a un apropiat processament de l'ARNr i organització estructural de les subunitats ribosomals. Els estudis estructurals dels estadis de maduració de la subunitat 60S han permès la identificació d'algunes interaccions funcionals entre els diferents factors d'assemblatge. Entre ells es troben les proteïnes Nop7, Erb1 i Ytm1 que formen un heterotrímer discret denominat subcomplex Nop7 en llevats, o complex PeBoW en mamífers, compost pels ortòlegs Pes1, Bop1 i WDR12, respectivament. Aquest complex pot detectar-se de forma aïllada de les partícules prerribosomals. La formació d'aquest heterotrímer és essencial per a l'assemblatge de la subunitat 60S ja que garanteix la correcta maduració de l'extrem 5' de l'ARNr 5,8S facilitant així la seua associació amb l'ARNr 25S, encara que es desconeix detalladament el paper exacte en la biogènesi ribosomal. En aquest treball s'ha realitzat una anàlisi de les interaccions entre els components del PeBoW així com una aproximació a la resolució estructural del complex en solució. Utilitzant una combinació de tècniques biofísiques, els nostres resultats indiquen que la conformació estructural que adopta el complex PeBoW en el nucleoplasma és diferent a la descrita en el context prerribosomal. A més, s'han identificat possibles funcions que podria estar exercint el complex PeBoW o bé les diferents proteïnes del complex de forma aïllada fora del prerribosoma. Així mateix es coneix que la biogènesi ribosomal és un mecanisme altament regulat i estretament relacionat amb creixement i proliferació cel·lular. La imperiosa necessitat de síntesi de ribosomes i proteïnes que té una cèl·lula tumoral converteix a aquest procés és un punt feble d'aquesta. Per aquesta raó, hi ha un gran interès per a estudiar la biogènesi ribosomal com a diana terapèutica contra el càncer. S'ha observat que la paralització d'aquesta via és capaç de promoure l'activació no genotòxica del supressor tumoral p53, a diferència dels efectes indesitjats que provoquen les teràpies convencionals contra el càncer. Com a primer pas cap al desenvolupament d'eines inhibidores de la biogènesi del ribosoma, hem utilitzat la informació cristal·logràfica que posseíem del complex de Chaetomium thermophilum entre els factors d'assemblatge Erb1 i Ytm1 per a realitzar una selecció guiada per l'estructura de pèptids d'interferència. Els pèptids d'interferència han sigut analitzats in vitro per a determinar la seua capacitat d'interacció utilitzant tècniques biofísiques. Així mateix, s'han generat pèptids d'interferència amb la seqüència humana de Erb1/Ytm1 per a avaluar els seus efectes en cultiu de cèl·lules de càncer de còlon HCT-116. Els nostres resultats indiquen que l'estrès ribosòmic es pot induir en diferents etapes del procés de maduració en dirigir-se a les interaccions proteïna-proteïna, elevant-les com una alternativa a l'ús d'inhibidors de l'ARN pol I. / [EN] Ribosomal biogenesis is a complex, essential and one of the most energy-costing process in eukaryotic cells. The assembling of the ribosomal subunits, in yeast, starts with the RNA transcription inside the nucleolus. This process requires the participation of more than two hundred assembly factors and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that will not be part of the mature ribosome, however, they are still necessary to perform the appropriate rRNA processing and structural management. The structural studies on the maturation stages of the 60S subunit have shown functional interactions between different assembling factors. In this group, we find Nop7, Erb1 and Ytm1, that both form a discrete heterotrimer called Nop7 subcomplex in yeast, or PeBoW in mammalian, composed by the respective orthologues Pes1, Bop1 and WDR12. This complex can be found isolated from the pre-ribosomal particles. The presence of this complex is crucial to the 60S subunit assembling, once it ensures the correct maturation of the 5' tip of the rRNA 5,8S, supporting the association with the 25S rRNA. Yet, the details of the PeBoW complex roll in ribosomal biogenesis remain unknown. Hereafter, there are some analysis of interaction assays between the PeBoW component proteins, as well as an approach to structural of the complex in solution. Using different biophysical techniques, the results suggest that PeBoW complex adopts a different conformation in the nucleoplasm than the described in the pre-ribosomal context. Furthermore, it hints some other functions of the PeBoW complex, or the isolated component proteins out of the pre-ribosome path. Besides that, the ribosomal biogenesis is a highly regulated process and strictly related with cellular growth and proliferation. The mandatory demand of ribosome and protein synthesis of tumoral cells make this process a weak point of it. This is the reason why ribosomal biogenesis as cancer treatment target is a point of great interest. According to some studies, it is expected that the interruption of this pathway can lead the non-genotoxic activation of the tumor suppressor p53, unlike other conventional cancer therapies. As a first step to development of ribosomal biogenesis inhibiting tools, the structural information of Erb1 and Ytm1 in Chaetomium thermophilum complex, was taken to design structure-guided interfering peptides. Using biophysical techniques, the interfering peptides were evaluated in vitro to determine their interaction ability. Then, human-sequenced Erb1/Ytm1 interfering peptides were designed to look over the effects on colon cancer cells HCT-116. The results indicate that the ribosomal stress can be induced in different stages of the maturation process, by approaching protein-protein interactions, planting it as an alternative to RNA pol I inhibitors. / Este trabajo ha sido realizado con el apoyo económico de los proyectos de investigación enumerados a continuación: SAF2015-67077-R, SAF2017-89901-R y PROMETEO/2018/0 Durante el periodo de realización de esta tesis, la autora, Lidia Orea Ordóñez, ha sido beneficiaria de una subvención para la contratación de personal investigador de carácter predoctoral denominada “Ayudas para la contratación de personal investigador de carácter predoctoral”, (ACIF) (ACIF/2016/103), otorgada por la Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, concedida en la convocatoria 2016. / Orea Ordóñez, L. (2022). Estructura y función del complejo PeBoW como modelo en el desarrollo de posibles herramientas terapéuticas [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/182347 / TESIS