MOLECULAR BASIS FOR TRANSLATIONAL REGULATION

该项目的长期目标是在翻译水平上表征基因表达的调控。 作为我们的模型系统，我们将研究二氢叶酸还原酶（DHFR）的表达调控，这是癌症化疗的关键靶点。 这种酶催化NADPH依赖性还原反应，该反应产生还原叶酸，四氢叶酸，一碳转移反应中的关键中间体。 因此，嘌呤和嘧啶的从头合成以及某些氨基酸的合成都需要DHFR。 因此，DHFR在维持细胞的代谢需求方面起着核心作用。 该实验室以前的研究表明，除了在催化和细胞代谢中的作用外，DHFR还作为RNA结合蛋白发挥作用。 该蛋白质以高亲和力（3-5 nM）结合其自身的DHFR mRNA，这种相互作用导致DHFR mRNA的翻译抑制，随后抑制新DHFR蛋白质的合成。 这些研究表明，DHFR的表达至少部分是由翻译自动调节反馈机制控制的。 这种DHFR翻译自动调节模型似乎具有生物学相关性，因为它为给定细胞内DHFR表达的严格控制提供了合理的机制。 然而，用抑制剂化合物如抗叶酸剂类似物甲氨蝶呤（MTX）处理DHFR蛋白改变了正常的DHFR蛋白-DHFR mRNA相互作用，导致DHFR mRNA的翻译效率提高，新DHFR蛋白的合成增加。 这种正常调节过程的中断可能为恶性细胞提供一种有效的机制，以保护自己，应对暴露于细胞毒性应激。为了进一步了解DHFR翻译调控的分子基础，本项目提出了两个具体目标：（1）表征DHFR mRNA上的关键顺式作用元件，这些元件是RNA-蛋白质相互作用所必需的。 在这个目标中，我们计划确定蛋白质识别所需的基本核苷酸序列和/或二级结构元件，以及（2）表征DHFR蛋白上RNA结合所必需的关键反式作用元件。 作为这一目标的一部分，我们计划确定DHFR蛋白上的结构域以及介导RNA结合过程的关键氨基酸接触点。

The long-term goal of this project is to characterize the regulation of gene expression at the translational level. As our model system, we will investigate the regulation of expression of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a critical target in cancer chemotherapy. This enzyme catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reductive reaction which gives rise to the reduced folate, tetrahydrofolate, a key intermediate in one-carbon transfer reactions. As a result, DHFR is required for the de novo synthesis of purines and pyrimidines as well as for the synthesis of certain amino acids. Thus, DHFR plays a central role in maintaining the metabolic requirements of the cell. Previous studies from this lab have shown that in addition to its role in catalysis and cellular metabolism, DHFR also functions as an RNA binding protein. This protein binds with high affinity (3-5 nM) to its own DHFR mRNA, an interaction that results in the translational repression of DHFR mRNA with subsequent inhibition of synthesis of new DHFR protein. These studies demonstrate that the expression of DHFR is controlled at least, in part, by a translational autoregulatory feedback mechanism. This model of DHFR translational autoregulation would appear to have biological relevance in that it offers a rational mechanism for the tight control of DHFR expression within a given cell. However, treatment of DHFR protein with inhibitor compounds such as the antifolate analog methotrexate (MTX) alters the normal DHFR protein-DHFR mRNA interaction resulting in an enhanced translational efficiency of DHFR mRNA with an increased synthesis of new DHFR protein. Disruption of this normal regulatory process may provide an efficient mechanism for malignant cells to protect themselves in response to exposure to cytotoxic stress. To further our understanding of the molecular elements underlying the translational regulation of DHFR, two specific aims are proposed in this project: (1) Characterize the critical cis-acting elements on the DHFR mRNA that are required for this RNA-protein interaction. In this aim, we plan to identify the essential nucleotide sequences and/or secondary structural elements required for protein recognition, and (2) Characterize the critical trans-acting elements on the DHFR protein that are necessary for RNA binding. As part of this aim, we plan to identify the domain or domains on the DHFR protein as well as the critical amino acid contact points that mediate the process of RNA binding.