P21 and a family of transcription factors, CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Proteins (C/EBP), play a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. C/EBPalpha and p21 are strong inhibitors of cell proliferation, since both are capable of binding to cdk2 and cdk4 and inhibiting their activities. Although the expression of C/EBP proteins and p21 are primarily regulated at the level of transcription, recent observations showed that the inhibition of translation of C/EBPalpha by RNA binding proteins is a key event in development of tumors such as leukemias. We have recently found that a specific group of cytoplasmic RNA binding proteins interact with GC-rich regions within C/EBPalpha, C/EBPbeta and p21 mRNAs and are able to regulate translation of these mRNAs. Two of these RNA binding proteins were isolated and characterized in detail. Calreticulin (CRT) interacts with stem-loop structures within C/EBPalpha, C/EBPbeta and p21 mRNAs and inhibits their translation. We also found that an RNA binding protein, CUGBP1, binds to 5' regions of C/EBPbeta and p21 mRNAs and that this interaction increases translation of C/EBPbeta and p21. The major hypothesis of this application is that RNA binding proteins regulate cell growth and differentiation by controlling translation of C/EBP proteins and p21.
Three Specific Aims are designed to use a variety of biological models including a cell-free system, cultured cells and animal models address this hypothesis.
Specific Aim I examines the role of CRT-dependent inhibition of C/EBPalpha in the regulation of cell growth.
Specific Aim II investigates the role of CRT-mediated regulation of p21 in cellular senescence. Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that release of CRT-dependent inhibition of p21 translation is required for the elevation of p21 in senescent fibroblasts.
In Specific Aim III, we will test the hypothesis that competition of RNA binding proteins for regulation of p21 and C/EBPbeta translation determines cell fate. This hypothesis is based on our observations showing that CRT and CUGBP1 bind to the same sequences within p21 and C/EBPbeta mRNAs, but the results of these interactions are different. Together, these studies will provide important insight into how particular RNA binding proteins function through newly discovered pathways to control cell division.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA100070-05
Application #
7215676
Study Section
Metabolic Pathology Study Section (MEP)
Program Officer
Ault, Grace S
Project Start
2003-04-01
Project End
2008-08-03
Budget Start
2007-04-01
Budget End
2008-08-03
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$254,009
Indirect Cost
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
051113330
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Jin, Jingling; Iakova, Polina; Jiang, Yanjun et al. (2013) Transcriptional and translational regulation of C/EBP?-HDAC1 protein complexes controls different levels of p53, SIRT1, and PGC1? proteins at the early and late stages of liver cancer. J Biol Chem 288:14451-62
Jin, Jingling; Iakova, Polina; Breaux, Meghan et al. (2013) Increased expression of enzymes of triglyceride synthesis is essential for the development of hepatic steatosis. Cell Rep 3:831-43
Jiang, Yanjun; Jin, Jingling; Iakova, Polina et al. (2013) Farnesoid X receptor directly regulates xenobiotic detoxification genes in the long-lived Little mice. Mech Ageing Dev 134:407-15
Jiang, Yanjun; Iakova, Polina; Jin, Jingling et al. (2013) Farnesoid X receptor inhibits gankyrin in mouse livers and prevents development of liver cancer. Hepatology 57:1098-106
Jones, Karlie; Wei, Christina; Iakova, Polina et al. (2012) GSK3? mediates muscle pathology in myotonic dystrophy. J Clin Invest 122:4461-72
Jones, Karlie; Timchenko, Lubov; Timchenko, Nikolai A (2012) The role of CUGBP1 in age-dependent changes of liver functions. Ageing Res Rev 11:442-9
Jin, Jingling; Iakova, Polina; Jiang, Yanjun et al. (2011) The reduction of SIRT1 in livers of old mice leads to impaired body homeostasis and to inhibition of liver proliferation. Hepatology 54:989-98
Jones, Karlie; Jin, Bingwen; Iakova, Polina et al. (2011) RNA Foci, CUGBP1, and ZNF9 are the primary targets of the mutant CUG and CCUG repeats expanded in myotonic dystrophies type 1 and type 2. Am J Pathol 179:2475-89
Haefliger, Simon; Klebig, Christiane; Schaubitzer, Kerstin et al. (2011) Protein disulfide isomerase blocks CEBPA translation and is up-regulated during the unfolded protein response in AML. Blood 117:5931-40
Iakova, Polina; Timchenko, Lubov; Timchenko, Nikolai A (2011) Intracellular signaling and hepatocellular carcinoma. Semin Cancer Biol 21:28-34

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