The majority of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are translated by a cap-dependent mechanism of initiation. However, about 5% to 10% of mRNAs use an alternative mechanism of initiating protein synthesis, utilizing an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to recruit the ribosomes to the message. IRESs are found in mRNAs that encode proteins involved in cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, hypoxia, and angiogenesis. Because many cellular mRNAs that are involved in tumorigenesis contain IRESs, we anticipate that IRES-mediated translation is a good target for the development of anti-cancer therapies that will be broadly applicable to several types of cancer. Since the mechanism is not understood we are interested in how IRESs recruit ribosomes. Several studies have suggested that the cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) intergenic region IRES (IGR-IRES) and cellular IRESs share some mechanisms for binding ribosomes suggesting that the IGR-IRES is a good model IRES. Because translation is highly conserved between yeast and mammalian cells we have developed a genetic system in yeast to answer the following questions: 1) Which IGR-IRES structures or sequences are important for IRES function? 2) What components of the ribosome are required for IGR-IRES mediated translation? 3) How do these contacts facilitate ribosome binding? 4) What is the contribution of rRNA modifications for IRES activity? 5) How do these findings apply to cellular IRESs in mammalian cells? This system provides us with genetics, biochemistry, and will allow us to manipulate components of the translational machinery in ways that are not possible in mammalian cells. We chose to use an innovative genetic approach to understand IRES-mediated translation because the mechanism of initiation by cellular IRESs has been elusive despite many years of effort by multiple laboratories.

Public Health Relevance

Some viral and cellular mRNAs utilize an alternative mechanism of translation initiation that recruits ribosomes internally to the message using a highly structured internal ribosome entry site (IRES). IRES-mediated translation of cellular mRNAs is involved in regulating cancer, cell death, cell growth, and angiogenesis, as well as translation of viral RNAs. We are using yeast genetics to understand the mechanism of IRES-mediated translation initiation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM084547-01A1
Application #
7729437
Study Section
Molecular Genetics C Study Section (MGC)
Program Officer
Bender, Michael T
Project Start
2009-08-10
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2009-08-10
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$263,550
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Carvajal, Felipe; Vallejos, Maricarmen; Walters, Beth et al. (2016) Structural domains within the HIV-1 mRNA and the ribosomal protein S25 influence cap-independent translation initiation. FEBS J 283:2508-27
Olivares, Eduardo; Landry, Dori M; Cáceres, C Joaquín et al. (2014) The 5' untranslated region of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 mRNA enables cap-independent translation initiation. J Virol 88:5936-55
Lenarcic, Erik M; Landry, Dori M; Greco, Todd M et al. (2013) Thiouracil cross-linking mass spectrometry: a cell-based method to identify host factors involved in viral amplification. J Virol 87:8697-712
Hertz, Marla I; Landry, Dori M; Willis, Anne E et al. (2013) Ribosomal protein S25 dependency reveals a common mechanism for diverse internal ribosome entry sites and ribosome shunting. Mol Cell Biol 33:1016-26
Thompson, Sunnie R (2012) Tricks an IRES uses to enslave ribosomes. Trends Microbiol 20:558-66
Thompson, Sunnie R (2012) So you want to know if your message has an IRES? Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 3:697-705
Jack, Karen; Bellodi, Cristian; Landry, Dori M et al. (2011) rRNA pseudouridylation defects affect ribosomal ligand binding and translational fidelity from yeast to human cells. Mol Cell 44:660-6
Hertz, Marla I; Thompson, Sunnie R (2011) In vivo functional analysis of the Dicistroviridae intergenic region internal ribosome entry sites. Nucleic Acids Res 39:7276-88
Hertz, Marla I; Thompson, Sunnie R (2011) Mechanism of translation initiation by Dicistroviridae IGR IRESs. Virology 411:355-61
Landry, Dori M; Hertz, Marla I; Thompson, Sunnie R (2009) RPS25 is essential for translation initiation by the Dicistroviridae and hepatitis C viral IRESs. Genes Dev 23:2753-64