Igreja, C. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

Molecular basis for GIGYF-TNRC6 complex assembly in miRNA-mediated translational repression

The GIGYF proteins associate with 4EHP and RNA-associated proteins to elicit transcript-specific translational repression. However, the mechanism by which the GIGYF1/2-4EHP complex is recruited to its target transcripts remain unclear. Here we report the crystal structures of the GYF domains from GIGYF1 and GIGYF2 in complex with proline-rich sequences from miRISC-binding proteins TNRC6C and TNRC6A, respectively. The TNRC6 proline-rich motifs bind to a conserved array of aromatic residues on the surface of the GIGYF1/2 GYF domain, bridging 4EHP to Argonaute-miRNA mRNA targets. Our structures also reveal a phenylalanine residue conserved from yeast to human GYF domains that contributes to GIGYF2 thermostability. The molecular details we outline here are likely to be conserved between GIGYF1/2 and other RNA-binding proteins to elicit 4EHP-mediated repression in different biological contexts.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2021

DAP5 enables translation re-initiation on structured messenger RNAs

Half of mammalian transcripts contain short upstream open reading frames (uORFs) that potentially regulate translation of the downstream coding sequence (CDS). The molecular mechanisms governing these events remain poorly understood. Here we find that the non-canonical initiation factor Death-associated protein 5 (DAP5 or eIF4G2) is selectively required for re-initiation at the main CDS following uORF translation. Using ribosome profiling and luciferase-based reporters coupled with mutational analysis we show that DAP5-mediated re-initiation occurs on messenger RNAs (mRNAs) with long, structure-prone 5' leader sequences and persistent uORF translation. These mRNAs preferentially code for signalling factors such as kinases and phosphatases. We also report that cap/eIF4F- and eIF4A-dependent recruitment of DAP5 to the mRNA facilitates re-initiation by unrecycled post-termination 40S subunits. Our study reveals important mechanistic insights into how a non-canonical translation initiation factor involved in stem cell fate shapes the synthesis of specific signalling factors.

molecular biology↗