Role of FXR proteins in the cell stress response

FXR 蛋白在细胞应激反应中的作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-05568
• 负责人: Mazroui, Rachid
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=707950
• 关键词: Role; FXR; proteins; cell; stress

The coordinated control of mRNA translation is fundamental for eukaryotic cell homeostasis, particularly in response to physiological and pathological stress. Alterations of this program can lead to the growth of damaged cells, a hallmark of cell transformation and cancer, or to premature cell death, such as observed in neurodegeneration and infertility. Fragile X-related proteins (FXRPs) are RNA-binding proteins that play a key role in mRNA translation and have a function that is associated with cell stress responses. However, the underlying mechanisms by which FXRPs regulate the mRNA translation that is required for a cell to cope with stress remains largely unknown. Our recent investigations identified a novel role of FXRPs in the cellular response to UVC radiation, which occurs in part by promoting the formation of cytoplasmic RNA granules (UVCGs). FXRP-induced UVCGs are reminiscent of stress granules (SG); RNA foci known to sequester untranslated mRNAs upon stress and formation of which promotes cell survival under stress. As preliminary data, we found that FXRP-derived UVCGs promote UV-induced cell cycle arrest, a phenomenon that is required for the repair of UV-induced DNA damage and survival. Our hypothesis is that UVCGs induced by FXRPs contribute to cell cycle arrest upon UVC exposure by temporarily repressing the translation of mRNAs encoding cell cycle functions. The goal of this research program is therefore to define the mechanisms by which FXRPs promote the formation of UVCGs, leading to cell cycle arrest upon UVC exposure. To achieve this goal, we will address the following objectives: I- to demonstrate the role of FXRPs in UVCG formation; II- to investigate the mechanism(s) by which FXRPs promote UVCG formation; III- to demonstrate the role of FXRPs in UVC-induced cell cycle arrest through UVCG formation. For our studies, we will use mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) as well as human HeLa and PC3 cell lines, which efficiently form UVCGs. This will ensure that our results are not cell-type specific. For drosophila studies, we will use S2 cells as well as isolated tissues. By combining immunostaining, immunoprecipitation, knockdown experiments, FISH, polysome fractionation combined with RNA-Seq, we expect to establish FXRPs as key players in the regulation of the cell cycle and the associated cellular resistance to stress, potentially by promoting RNA granule formation. Following these studies, future investigations will be designed to determine the contribution of this novel RNA granule-based mechanism in stress-related human disorders, including neurodegeneration and infertility.

mRNA翻译的协调控制是真核细胞稳态的基础，特别是对生理和病理应激的反应。这个程序的改变会导致受损细胞的生长，这是细胞转化和癌症的标志，或者导致细胞过早死亡，比如在神经变性和不孕症中观察到的。脆性x相关蛋白（fxrp）是rna结合蛋白，在mRNA翻译中起关键作用，并具有与细胞应激反应相关的功能。然而，fxrp调控细胞应对压力所需的mRNA翻译的潜在机制在很大程度上仍然未知。