The molecular mechanisms of messenger RNA nuclear export

In eukaryotic cells, the nuclear membrane creates a barrier between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Whereas RNA synthesis occurs in the nucleus, they mostly function in the cytoplasm; thus export of RNA molecules from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is indispensable for normal function of the cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in each kind of cellular RNA export is gradually understood. The focus of this review will be mRNA export. mRNAs are multiformed. In order to ensure that this variety of mRNA molecules are all exported, cells are probably equipped with multiple export pathways. A number of proteins is predicted to be involved in mRNA export. Ascertaining which proteins play crucial roles in the pathways is the key point in the study of mRNA export.     

Increased messenger RNA from protein synthesis inhibited human fibroblasts

Numerous reports have demonstrated that specific protein synthesis in response to specific inducers is markedly stimulated by a simultaneous brief exposure to protein synthesis inhibitors such as cycloheximide. This phenomenon is known as “superinduction” and is most often attributed to the accumulation of cytoplasmic messenger RNA during the inhibition period. Messenger RNA, as defined by rapid labeling, oligo (dt)-cellulose binding, and cell free protein synthesis stimulation was measured in cycloheximide treated human fibroblasts. In spite of a consistent 40% decrease in total polysomal ³H-uridine labeled RNA, a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in extractable mRNA was observed. These data provide direct evidence that protein synthesis inhibition stimulates the appearance of cytoplasmic mRNA and/or completely blocks its degradation and, are consistent with the hypothesis that mRNA accumulation partly underlies the superinduction phenomena.     

The synthesis and processing of a nuclear RNA precursor to rat pregrowth hormone messenger RNA.

A recombinant DNA plasmid, pBR322-GH1, which contains about 80% of the sequences of rat pregrowth hormone (pGH) mRNA, allowed an analysis of nuclear RNA from GH3 cells for possible precursors of cytoplasmic pGH mRNA. A single 20-22S RNA SPECIES ABOUT 2-3 TIMes larger than pGH mRNA was detected in nuclear RNA from GH3 cells labeled for 5 min. with 3H-uridine. After longer label times a 12S RNA indistinguishable in size from cytoplasmic 12S pGH mRNA became the predominant labeled RNA complementary to the plasmid pBR322-GH1. Both of these nuclear RNA species contained poly (A). Kinetic analysis of the labeling of nuclear and cytoplasmic pGH mRNA sequences showed that the 20S and 12S nuclear RNA molecules were labeled before significant labeling of cytoplasmic pGH mRNA was detected, and also indicated that there is complete conservation of nuclear pGH mRNA sequences in the production of cytoplasmic pGH mRNA. These results indicate that cytoplasmic pGH mRNA is generated by nuclear processing of a larger nuclear RNA molecule.     

Hormonal regulation of epidermis-specific protein and messenger RNA synthesis in amphibian metamorphosis

Experiments using a monospecific antibody directed against one type of epidermis-specific keratin from adult skin of the amphibian Xenopus laevis have demonstrated that polysomes synthesizing this protein first appear within larval skin during natural metamorphosis. Further experiments demonstrated that the synthesis of keratin within larval skin could be induced precociously by the thyroid hormone, 3,3′,5-triiodo-l-thyronine, both in vivo and when the isolated larval skin is cultured in vitro. The earliest developmental age responsive to such hormone induction appeared to be Stage $\text{50}\text{52}$ of larval development. This is about 20–24 days before keratin would normally make its appearance within the skin during natural metamorphosis. Hormone treatment of tadpoles at this age will also cause a precocious increase in the amount of keratin messenger RNA present within larval skin. This has been demonstrated directly by the isolation of poly(A)-containing messenger RNA from hormone-treated larvae and its translation in a wheat germ cell-free system to give immunoprecipitable keratin. Peptide analysis of the in vitro translation product indicates that the hormone-induced mRNA probably codes for an initial protein product that is slightly larger than keratin itself.     

Nuclear RNA-protein interactions and messenger RNA processing

Eucaryotic messenger RNA precursors are processed in nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNP). Here recent work on the structure of hnRNP is reviewed, with emphasis on function. Detailed analysis of a specific case, the altered assembly of hnRNP in heat-shocked Drosophila and mammalian cells, leads to a general hypothesis linking hnRNP structure and messenger RNA processing.     

Cell-specific expression of kidney androgen-regulated protein messenger RNA is under multihormonal control

Kidney androgen-regulated protein (KAP) gene expression is under androgenic control in the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule in the mouse kidney. In Tfm/Y androgen receptor-deficient mice, KAP mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization in a subpopulation of these cells only in the S3 segment of the proximal tubules in the outer medulla. Treatment of Tfm/Y animals with testosterone caused a partial induction of KAP mRNA levels, while dihydrotestosterone had no effect. These data suggested that the androgen receptor-independent induction of KAP gene expression in these animals was mediated by an estrogenic metabolite of testosterone, since dihydrotestosterone cannot be aromatized to an estrogenic form. Estrogen treatment of Tfm/Y mice caused an increase in KAP gene expression similar to that observed with testosterone. However, ovariectomy of normal female mice did not eliminate KAP gene expression in the S3 cells and, in fact, resulted in a slight increase. Adrenalectomy in combination with castration had no effect on KAP mRNA levels in S3 cells. However, hypophysectomy alone completely eliminated this cell-specific component of KAP gene expression. These results indicate that KAP gene expression is subject to cell-specific regulation in different segments of the proximal tubule and that this regulation is mediated by hormones of both gonadal and pituitary origin.     

Characterization of a messenger RNA transport protein

A cytoplasmic protein which facilitates the energy-dependent transport of mRNA from isolated nuclei to a specified medium has been further characterized, since it could have relevance to the mechanism of mRNA nucleo-cytoplasmic transport in vivo. This protein is now shown, by cDNA hybridization analysis using appropriate recombinant probes, to be obligatory for the transport of alpha 2u-globulin and albumin mRNA from male rat liver nuclei. It is concentrated in the cytoplasm. When isolated under conditions where they retain nuclear proteins, the nuclei contain less than 2% of the total mRNA transport activity. Approx. 20% is recovered in the cytosol, while the rest (80%) copurifies with the messenger ribonucleoproteins in the polyribosome fraction. The protein is eluted from the poly A-messenger ribonucleoproteins between 0.25 and 0.50 M NaCl. The activities of the cytosolic- and messenger ribonucleoprotein-derived transport proteins were mutually additive below saturation of the transport system. Further, the activities of both fractions were increased when they were fortified with the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of ATP. On the other hand, protein kinase-induced thiophosphorylation of the protein with ATP[S] decreased transport activity. The molecular weight of the transport protein from either cell compartment as judged by molecular sieving is approx. 35,000. It has now been purified 2000-fold and requires manganese ions and serum albumin for stabilization of activity. The highly purified transport factor from the cytosol is tentatively assigned a molecular weight of 32,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

The role of protein synthesis in the decay of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase messenger RNA.

The role of protein synthesis in the control of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; 4.1.1.32) mRNA turnover was studied in FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells. A previous study demonstrated that incubation of these cells with cAMP prolongs the half-life of the otherwise short-lived PEPCK mRNA. The decay rate of PEPCK mRNA was also slowed in cells incubated with cycloheximide, but not in cells incubated with other translation inhibitors, such as puromycin or pactamycin, even though protein synthesis was inhibited 85-95% by these agents. No correlation was noted between the rate of L-[3H]valine incorporation into cellular proteins and PEPCK mRNA half-life, suggesting that protein synthesis per se is not required for breakdown of the mRNA. Exposure of cells to the translation initiation inhibitor pactamycin together with cycloheximide abolished the "slowing" effect of cycloheximide, and PEPCK mRNA decayed at the same rate as in cells incubated in the presence of pactamycin alone. In contrast, pactamycin did not reverse the effect of cAMP, and the mRNA decayed at the same slow rate in cells incubated in the presence of either (Bu)2cAMP alone or (Bu)2cAMP together with pactamycin. Since pactamycin promotes polysomes dissociation, these results suggest that cAMP enhances the stability of a polysome-free PEPCK mRNA. Furthermore, these results strongly indicate that neither the rapid decay of PEPCK mRNA nor the cAMP-mediated stabilization of the mRNA requires on-going protein synthesis.     

Delayed luminescence of Prorocentrum minimum under controlled conditions

Delayed luminescence (DL), also termed delayed fluorescence or delayed light emission, is the phenomenon of long-lived light emission by plants and cyanobacteria after being illuminated with light and put into darkness. Culture growth of three Prorocentrum minimum strains was studied with DL measurements. DL decay kinetics was measured from 1–60 s after a pulse of white light. The strains used were from the Adriatic Sea (PmK), from Chesapeake Bay, USA (D5), and from the Baltic Sea (BAL), cultured at salinity of 32, 16, and 8 (practical salinity scale), respectively. The strains differed in cell size and chlorophyll a content (PmK > D5 > BAL), as well as in DL parameters. The DL results were compared to standard measurements of culture density and carbon content (calculated from biovolumes). DL decay curves had a specific peak, which changed with culture growth and showed more similarities between the strains PmK and D5. The DL intensity increased with cell density and carbon content in a two-stage process, corresponding to the lag and exponential phases of growth. DL intensity was best correlated with carbon content irrespective of strain and is proposed as an estimate of biomass and for differentiating between lag and exponential phases of growth.