Molecular dynamics and in vitro analysis of Connexin43: A new 14-3-3 mode-1 interacting protein

The interaction of cellular proteins with the gap junction protein Connexin43 (Cx43) is thought to form a dynamic scaffolding complex that functions as a platform for the assembly of signaling, structural, and cytoskeletal proteins. A high stringency Scansite search of rat Cx43 identified the motif containing Ser373 (S373) as a 14-3-3 binding site. The S373 motif and the second best mode-1 motif, containing Ser244 (S244), are conserved in rat, mouse, human, chicken, and bovine, but not in Xenopus or zebrafish Cx43. Docking studies of a mouse/rat 14-3-3 homology model with the modeled phosphorylated S373 or S244 peptide ligands or their serine-to-alanine mutants, S373A or S244A, revealed that the pS373 motif facilitated a greater number of intermolecular contacts than the pS244 motif, thus supporting a stronger 14-3-3 binding interaction with the pS373 motif. The alanine substitution also reduced more than half the number of intermolecular contacts between 14-3-3 and the S373 motif, emphasizing the phosphorylation dependence of this interaction. Furthermore, the ability of the wild-type or the S244A GST-Cx43 C-terminal fusion protein, but not the S373A fusion protein, to interact with either 14-3-3 or 14-3-3zeta in GST pull-down experiments clearly demonstrated that the S373 motif mediates the direct interaction between Cx43 and 14-3-3 proteins. Blocking growth factor-induced Akt activation and presumably any Akt-mediated phosphorylation of the S373 motif in ROSE 199 cells did not prevent the down-regulation of Cx43-mediated cell-cell communication, suggesting that an Akt-mediated interaction with 14-3-3 was not involved in the disruption of Cx43 function.     

应用蛋白组方法筛选血浆中乙肝病毒PreS1结合蛋白

目的筛选血浆中乙型肝炎病毒PreS1结合蛋白。方法表达纯化了PreS1-谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶（glutathione—S-transferase,GST）融合蛋白,利用该蛋白与血浆进行Pull—down实验,并设立GST与血浆Pull—down,GST、PreS1-GST与PBS Pull—down对照,Pull-down产物进行双向电泳分离（2-DE）,差异蛋白点通过质谱鉴定。结果成功表达纯化出PreS1-GST融合蛋白,通过双向电泳分析发现一个PreS1特异结合蛋白,经质谱鉴定为含锚蛋白重复序列的蛋白57（ANKRD57）。结论锚蛋白重复序列的主要功能是介导蛋白质与蛋白质之间的相互作用,ANKRD57与PreS1特异结合后的生理功能值得深入研究。     

重组人死亡受体6胞外结构域的制备及与淀粉样前体蛋白N端片段相互作用鉴定

人淀粉样前体蛋白氨基端切割片段(a cleaved amino-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein,N-APP)结合死亡受体6(Death receptor-6,DR6),会触发神经元和轴突依赖天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶的自我毁灭过程,从而导致阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)的发生。为了在分子水平上研究N-APP-DR6诱导神经元退化途径,制备大量纯化的重组DR6胞外结构域以及鉴定NAPP和DR6胞外结构域的结合位点是关键。从甲醇毕赤酵母中成功表达并纯化了重组DR6胞外域(aa42-349),得率高达90 mg/L。为了验证DR6和NAPP的相互作用关系,构建谷胱甘肽转移酶-死亡受体6(GST-DR6)(aa42-349)融合蛋白原核表达质粒,转化大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli,E.coli)BL21,表达融合蛋白GST-DR6(aa42-349),同时纯化得到DR6的配体NAPP,GST pull-down结果显示DR6与NAPP能够在细胞外发生相互作用。     

Connexin 43 interacts with zona occludens-1 and -2 proteins in a cell cycle stage-specific manner

Gap junction channels play an important role in cell growth control, secretion and embryonic development. Gap junctional communication and channel assembly can be regulated by protein-protein interaction with kinases and phosphatases. We have utilized tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequence analysis as a screen to identify proteins from cell lysates that interact with the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of connexin 43 (Cx43). MS/MS analysis of tryptic fragments yielded several proteins including zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), a structural protein previously identified to interact with Cx43, and ZO-2, a potential novel interacting partner. We confirmed the interaction of ZO-2 with Cx43 by using a combination of fusion protein "pull down," co-immunoprecipitation, and co-localization experiments. We show that the C-terminal region of Cx43 is necessary for interaction with the PDZ2 domain of ZO-2. Far Western analysis revealed that ZO-2 can directly bind to Cx43 independent of other interacting partners. Immunofluorescence studies indicate that both ZO-1 and ZO-2 can co-localize with Cx43 within the plasma membrane at apparent gap junctional structures. We examined Cx43 interaction with ZO-1 and ZO-2 at different stages of the cell cycle and found that Cx43 had a strong preference for interaction with ZO-1 during G0, whereas ZO-2 interaction occurred approximately equally during G0 and S phases. Since essentially all of the Cx43 in G0 cells is assembled into Triton X-100-resistant junctions, Cx43-ZO-1 interaction may contribute to their stability.     

CCN3 (NOV) interacts with connexin43 in C6 glioma cells: possible mechanism of connexin-mediated growth suppression

Many tumor cells exhibit aberrant gap junctional intercellular communication, which can be restored by transfection with connexin genes. We have previously discovered that overexpression of connexin43 (Cx43) in C6 glioma cells not only reduces proliferation but also leads to production of soluble growth-inhibitory factors. We identified that several members of the CCN (Cyr61/connective tissue growth factor/nephroblastoma-overexpressed) family are up-regulated following Cx43 expression, including CCN3 (NOV). We now report evidence for an association between CCN3 and Cx43. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the 48-kDa full-length CCN3 protein was present in the lysate and conditioned medium of growth-suppressed C6-Cx43 cells, as well as primary astrocytes, but not in C6 parental and human glioma cells. Immunocytochemical examination of CCN3 revealed diffuse localization in parental C6 cells, whereas transfection of C6 cells with Cx43 (C6-Cx43) or with a modified Cx43 tagged to green fluorescent protein on its C terminus (Cx43-GFP) resulted in punctate staining, suggesting that CCN3 co-localizes with Cx43 in plaques at the plasma membrane. In cells expressing a C-terminal truncation of Cx43 (Cx43Delta244-382), this co-localization was lost. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that CCN3 was able to physically interact with Cx43. In contrast, CCN3 was not found to associate with Cx43Delta244-382. Similar experiments revealed that CCN3 did not co-localize or associate with other connexins, including Cx40 or Cx32. Taken together, these data support an interaction of CCN3 with the C terminus of Cx43, which could play an important role in mediating growth control induced by specific gap junction proteins.     

Septin 8 is an interaction partner and in vitro substrate of MK5

AIM:To identify novel substrates for the mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 5(MK5).METHODS:Yeast two-hybrid screening with MK5 as bait was used to identify novel possible interaction partners.The binding of putative partner was further examined by glutathione S-transferase(GST) pull-down,co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET) analysis.In vitro kinase and peptide array assays were used to map MK5 phosphoacceptor sites on the new partner.Confocal microscopy was performed to study the subcellular localization of MK5 and its partners.RESULTS:Septin 8 was identified as a novel interaction partner for MK5 by yeast two-hybrid screening.This interaction was confirmed by GST pull-down,coimmunoprecipitation and FRET analysis.Septin 5,which can form a complex with septin 8,did not interact with MK5.Serine residues 242 and 271 on septin 8 were identified as in vitro MK5 phosphorylation sites.MK5 and septin 8 co-localized in the perinuclear area and in cell protrusions.Moreover,both proteins co-localized with vesicle marker synaptophysin.     

Recombinant neural protein PrP can bind with both recombinant and native apolipoprotein E in vitro

The most essential and crucial step during the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiformencephalopathy is the conformational change of cellular prion protein (PrP~C) to pathologic isoform (PrP~(Sc)).Alot of data revealed that caveolae-like domains (CLDs) in the cell surface were the probable place where theconversion of PrP proteins happened.Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is an apolipoprotein which is considered toplay an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases byforming protein complex through binding to the receptor located in the clathrin-coated pits of the cell surface.In this study,a 914-bp cDNA sequence encoding human ApoE3 was amplified from neuroblastoma cell lineSH-SY5Y.Three human ApoE isomers were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli.ApoE-specificantiserum was prepared by immunizing rabbits with the purified ApoE3.GST/His pull-down assay,immunoprecipitation and ELISA revealed that three full-length ApoE isomers interact with the recombinantfull-length PrP protein in vitro.The regions corresponding to protein binding were mapped in the N-terminalsegment of ApoE (amino acid 1-194) and the N-terminal of PrP (amino acid 23-90).Moreover,the recombinantPrP showed the ability to form a complex with the native ApoE from liver tissues.Our data provided directevidence of molecular interaction between ApoE and PrP.It also supplied scientific clues for assessing thesignificance of CLDs on the surface of cellular membrane in the process of conformational conversion fromPrP~C to PrP~(Sc) and probing into the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.     

小鼠RHOX5蛋白两种截短型突变体的原核表达及其与MDFIC互作的鉴定

目的：表达和纯化两种小鼠RHOX5蛋白的截短型突变体,确定完整的RHOX5蛋白及其两种截短型突变体与MDFIC蛋白结合的能力。方法：生物信息学分析小鼠同源异型框蛋白RHOX5的cDNA序列,分别对RHOX5的两种截短型片段RHOX5 N和RHOX5 C进行PCR、分别扩增RHOX5的两种截短型片段RHOX5 N和RHOX5 C并将其克隆至pGEX4T3原核表达载体,构建重组表达质粒。用重组表达质粒分别转化大肠杆菌RosettaTM2(DE3)菌株,经IPTG诱导后,使用Glutathione-Sepherase 4B颗粒对融合蛋白进行小批量亲和纯化,通过SDS-PAGE电泳分离目标蛋白,确定融合蛋白的表达。进行GST-pull down实验,检测完整的RHOX5蛋白及其两种截短型突变体与MDFIC蛋白结合的能力。 结果：在大肠杆菌RosettaTM2(DE3)中有效地实现了GST-RHOX5、GST-RHOX5 N和GST-RHOX5-C-3种融合蛋白的可溶性表达;经Glutathione Sepherase 4B颗粒亲和纯化后,获得了纯化后GST融合蛋白;GST-pull down实验证实,含有homeodomain的RHOX5蛋白和RHOX5C截短型突变体可以与MDFIC蛋白相结合,而RHOX5N截短型突变体则丧失了与MDFIC蛋白结合的能力。 结论：实现了RHOX5及其两种截短型突变体的原核表达和纯化,证实RHOX5蛋白的homeodomain结构域是其与MDFIC结合的关键部位。     

Purification and characterization of protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP-MEG2

PTP-MEG2 is an intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatase with a putative lipid-binding domain at the N-terminus. The present study reports expression, purification, and characterization of the full-length form of the enzyme plus a truncated form containing the catalytic domain alone. Full-length PTP-MEG2 was expressed with an adenovirus system and purified from cytosolic extracts of human 293 cells infected with the recombinant adenovirus. The purification scheme included chromatographic separation of cytosolic extracts on fast flow Q-Sepharose, heparin-agarose, l-histidyldiazobenzylphosphonic acid agarose, and hydroxylapatite. The enrichment of PTP-MEG2 from the cytosol was about 120-fold. The truncated form of PTP-MEG2 was expressed in E. coli cells as a non-fusion protein and purified by using a chromatographic procedure similar to that used for the full-length enzyme. The purified full-length and truncated enzymes showed single polypeptide bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and behaved as monomers on gel exclusion chromatography. With para-nitrophenylphosphate and phosphotyrosine as substrates, both forms of the enzyme exhibited classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Their responses to pH, ionic strength, metal ions, and protein phosphatase inhibitors are similar to those observed with other characterized tyrosine phosphatases. Compared with full-length PTP-MEG2, the truncated DeltaPTP-MEG2 displayed significantly higher V(max) and lower K(m) values, suggesting that the N-terminal putative lipid-binding domain may have an inhibitory role. The full-length and truncated forms of PTP-MEG2 were also expressed as GST fusion proteins in E. coli cells and purified to near homogeneity through affinity columns. However, the specific phosphatase activities of the GST fusion proteins were 10-25-fold below those obtained with the correspondent non-fusion proteins.     

应用蛋白组学方法筛选和鉴定乙型肝炎病毒PreS1结合蛋白

前S1蛋白（PreS1）在乙型肝炎病毒与宿主的相互作用中起至关重要的作用．为筛选乙型肝炎病毒PreS1结合蛋白,进一步探讨其在病毒感染过程中的作用,原核表达、纯化了PreS1-谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶（glutathione-S-transferase,GST）融合蛋白,利用此蛋白与HepG2细胞裂解液进行Pull-down实验,其产物进行双向凝胶电泳分离. 结果发现2个PreS1特异结合蛋白,经质谱鉴定为分子伴侣蛋白——葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)和葡萄糖调节蛋白75(GRP75)．通过免疫共沉淀和Western印迹分析证实,PreS1与GRP75之间存在相互作用．实验结果表明,GRP75为新发现乙型肝炎病毒PreS1特异结合蛋白,其与PreS1结合后的生理功能以及在HBV感染过程中的作用值得深入研究．     

Recombinant expression of a galectin from the sheep gastrointestinal parasite Teladorsagia circumcincta: its use in isolating galectin-glycoconjugates.

Galectins, or beta-galactoside-binding lectins, are a family of proteins that have been described in vertebrates and, more recently, invertebrates, including nematode parasites. A tandem repeat-type galectin from the sheep gastrointestinal parasite, Teladorsagia circumcincta, has previously been isolated and the cDNA cloned. This molecule and each of its domains were expressed as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The full-length molecule and the C-terminal domain were expressed in soluble form and the purified fusion proteins demonstrated a capacity to bind beta-galactoside sugars, with the greatest preference for lactose. The full-length fusion protein was used to successfully isolate potential galectin-glycoconjugates from within the parasite and from sheep serum.     

Soluble expression,purification, and characterization of recombinant human flotillin-2 (reggie-1) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Large scale production of recombinant human flotillin-2 (reggie-1) is desirable for structural and biochemical studies. However, as the major lipid rafts specific hydrophobic protein, flotillin-2 was difficult to be expressed as soluble and functional form in prokaryotic system. In this study, we first cloned and expressed human flotillin-2 in Escherichia coli with five different fusion tags: poly-histidine, glutathione S-transferase (GST), thioredoxin (TRX), N-Utilization substance (NusA) and maltose binding protein (MBP). We screened the expression level and solubility of the five flotillin-2 fusion proteins, the best MBP tagged flotillin-2 was then large scale produced. The optimized purification procedure included two steps of chromatography: Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. The typical yield was 36.0 mg soluble and functional recombinant flotillin-2 from 1 L of culture medium with purity above 97%. The activity of recombinant flotillin-2 was verified by pull-down assay with flotillin-1, showing that the purified recombinant flotillin-2 can specifically interact with flotillin-1. The circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed that recombinant flotillin-2 had a very stable secondary structure dominated by α-helix, β-turn and random structure.     

Ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of endoplasmic reticulum-localized connexin43 mediated by CIP75

Connexin43 (Cx43) is a transmembrane protein that forms gap junction channels. Regulation of Cx43 turnover is one mechanism to control the level of intercellular communication that occurs through gap junction channels. Proteasomal degradation of Cx43 is regulated in part through CIP75, a ubiquitin-like and ubiquitin-associated domain containing protein. CIP75 interacts with endoplasmic reticulum-localized Cx43, as demonstrated through co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence microscopy experiments. CIP75 also binds to free monoubiquitin and lysine 48-linked tetraubiquitin chains in vitro and binds to ubiquitinated proteins in cellular lysates. However, analysis of Cx43 that immunoprecipitated with CIP75 demonstrated that the Cx43 associated with CIP75 was not ubiquitinated, and a mutant form of Cx43 that lacked lysines capable of ubiquitination retained the capacity to interact with CIP75. These results suggest that although CIP75 can interact with ubiquitinated cellular proteins, its interaction with Cx43 and stimulation of Cx43 proteasomal degradation does not require the ubiquitination of Cx43.     

Gap junction protein connexin-43 interacts directly with microtubules.

Gap junctions are specialized cell-cell junctions that mediate intercellular communication. They are composed of connexin proteins, which form transmembrane channels for small molecules [1, 2]. The C-terminal tail of connexin-43 (Cx43), the most widely expressed connexin member, has been implicated in the regulation of Cx43 channel gating by growth factors [3-5]. The Cx43 tail contains various protein interaction sites, but little is known about binding partners. To identify Cx43-interacting proteins, we performed pull-down experiments using the C-terminal tail of Cx43 fused to glutathione-S-transferase. We find that the Cx43 tail binds directly to tubulin and, like full-length Cx43, sediments with microtubules. Tubulin binding to Cx43 is specific in that it is not observed with three other connexins. We established that a 35-amino acid juxtamembrane region in the Cx43 tail, which contains a presumptive tubulin binding motif, is necessary and sufficient for microtubule binding. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy studies reveal that microtubules extend to Cx43-based gap junctions in contacted cells. However, intact microtubules are dispensable for the regulation of Cx43 gap-junctional communication. Our findings suggest that, in addition to its well-established role as a channel-forming protein, Cx43 can anchor microtubule distal ends to gap junctions and thereby might influence the properties of microtubules in contacted cells.     

UHRF2结构域突变体的原核表达与纯化

目的构建UHRF2各个以结构域为基础的突变体原核表达载体,在大肠埃希菌中表达并对融合蛋白进行纯化和鉴定。方法以pCMV-3xFlag—UHRF2为模板,PCR扩增UHRF2的各个结构域基因片段,各PCR产物经酶切后连接到pGEX-4T-1载体上;将重组载体转化大肠埃希菌（BL21菌株）,IPTG诱导表达各GST融合蛋白,超声波破碎细菌,离心收获蛋白并经谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶4B（glutathione sepharose 4B）亲合纯化;纯化的蛋白经SDS-PAGE电泳后用考马斯亮蓝染色或免疫印记实验鉴定各蛋白表达情况。结果成功构建了UHRF2结构域突变体的原核表达载体,各突变体蛋白表达正确。结论UHRF2各结构域突变体的成功构建便于用GST pull—down实验研究UHRF2参与与其它蛋白相互作用的结构域,为了解UHRF2功能打下了基础。     

游仆虫重组核糖体蛋白L11与肽链释放因子的体外相互作用分析

核糖体蛋白L11(ribosome protein L11)是一种高度保守的蛋白质．为研究真核生物的核糖体蛋白L11的功能,从八肋游仆虫（Euplotes octocarinatus）大核基因组中克隆到核糖体蛋白L11基因,构建了重组表达质粒pGEX-6p1-L11,通过谷胱甘肽-Sepharose 4B亲和层析,纯化了重组融合蛋白GST-L11．Pull down 分析显示,八肋游仆虫的核糖体蛋白L11与第一类肽链释放因子eRF1a可以在体外相互作用．这一结果提示,与原核生物一样,低等真核生物的核糖体蛋白L11在肽链终止过程中可能起一定的作用．     

SOX11结合p53并上调其转录活性

目的:研究SOX11对p53转录活性的影响,并检测二者的体外相互作用。方法:在H1299(p53缺失)和H460(含野生型p53)2种细胞中分别过表达SOX11和p53,用双萤光素酶方法测定p53的转录活性;用大肠杆菌DH5α表达GST和GST-p53融合蛋白并将其纯化,用GST pull-down实验检测SOX11与p53在体外是否存在相互作用。结果:萤光素酶实验结果表明,在H1299和H460细胞中,过表达SOX11分别能促进外源p53和内源p53的转录活性;GST pull-down实验表明SOX11能在体外与p53发生相互作用。结论:SOX11能在体外与p53发生相互作用并促进p53的转录活性,为进一步研究p53的功能提供了新的线索。     

An efficient expression system for the production of functionally active human LKB1

Human LKB1, also known as STK11, is a tumour-suppression protein that mediates important functions in cellular proliferation and polarization. It might constitute an important target in cancer therapy. In order to produce large amounts of recombinant protein for biochemical and functional studies, a full-length cDNA clone was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and insect cells. Although fusion proteins corresponding to LKB1 with 6xHis, GST and MBP tags could be overexpressed in E. coli, only MBP-LKB1 was recovered in a soluble, but heavily degraded form. Further studies demonstrated that this protein was not functional. Subsequent expression in insect cells of LKB1 with 6xHis and GST tags yielded insoluble products also. However, when chaperones Hsp70 and its cofactors Hsp40 and Hsdj were co-expressed with GST-LKB1, a clear increase in the solubility of the final protein was obtained. Moreover, this soluble, purified recombinant GST-LKB1 demonstrated to be a phosphoprotein, with at least residue Ser325 phosphorylated. The purified protein was functionally active as being able to demonstrate autophosphorylation in the absence of any associated kinase.     

八肋游仆虫酸性核糖体磷酸化蛋白P1有2个亚型

真核生物酸性核糖体磷酸化蛋白(P0、P1、P2)位于核糖体60S大亚基上,它们在核糖体上共同组成一个向外侧凸出的五聚体的柄状复合物［P0·(P1·P2)2］,该复合物在蛋白质合成延伸过程中起着重要作用．为了探讨单细胞真核生物核糖体柄状复合物的组成形式及在蛋白质合成中的作用,对八肋游仆虫（Euplotes octocarinatus）的P1进行了研究．通过生物信息学方法,分析八肋游仆虫基因组及转录组数据,找到2个酸性核糖体蛋白P1基因,从DNA 和cDNA中都扩增到这2个P1基因,表明八肋游仆虫酸性核糖体磷酸化蛋白P1确实存在2个亚型. 将2个基因克隆后分别构建重组表达质粒pET28a-P1A和pGEX-6P-1-P1B,在大肠杆菌BL21中获得高效表达.经镍柱和GST柱亲和层析后,获得较高纯度的八肋游仆虫酸性核糖体蛋白EoP1A和EoP1B,表达产物经Western印迹检测为阳性．Pull-down分析了EoP1A和EoP1B之间的相互作用．结果表明,游仆虫酸性核糖体磷酸化蛋白P1的2个亚型EoP1A和EoP1B之间存在相互作用.     

mRNA decay during herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections: protein-protein interactions involving the HSV virion host shutoff protein and translation factors eIF4H and eIF4A

During lytic infections, the virion host shutoff (Vhs) protein of herpes simplex virus accelerates the degradation of both host and viral mRNAs. In so doing, it helps redirect the cell from host to viral protein synthesis and facilitates the sequential expression of different viral genes. Vhs interacts with the cellular translation initiation factor eIF4H, and several point mutations that abolish its mRNA degradative activity also abrogate its ability to bind eIF4H. In addition, a complex containing bacterially expressed Vhs and a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-eIF4H fusion protein has RNase activity. eIF4H shares a region of sequence homology with eIF4B, and it appears to be functionally similar in that both stimulate the RNA helicase activity of eIF4A, a component of the mRNA cap-binding complex eIF4F. We show that eIF4H interacts physically with eIF4A in the yeast two-hybrid system and in GST pull-down assays and that the two proteins can be coimmunoprecipitated from mammalian cells. Vhs also interacts with eIF4A in GST pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Site-directed mutagenesis of Vhs and eIF4H revealed residues of each that are important for their mutual interaction, but not for their interaction with eIF4A. Thus, Vhs, eIF4H, and eIF4A comprise a group of proteins, each of which is able to interact directly with the other two. Whether they interact simultaneously as a tripartite complex or sequentially is unclear. The data suggest a mechanism for linking the degradation of an mRNA to its translation and for targeting Vhs to mRNAs and to regions of translation initiation.