SIDER2 retroposon-mediated mRNA decay in Leishmania is coupled to translation

Int J Parasitol. 2017 May;47(6):305-310. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.02.001. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Abstract

We previously reported that Short Interspersed Degenerate Retroposons of the SIDER2 subfamily predominantly located within 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of Leishmania transcripts promote rapid turnover that is initiated by endonucleolytic cleavage. Here, we investigated whether SIDER2-mediated mRNA decay is linked to translation. We show that preventing translation initiation by inserting a hairpin structure at the 5'-end of a SIDER2-containing mRNA blocks degradation. Similarly, global inhibition of translation elongation by cycloheximide or termination by puromycin causes stabilisation of SIDER2-containing transcripts. Altogether, these findings support that the mechanism of SIDER2-mediated decay is coupled to translation, possibly through the recruitment of decay factors to elongating ribosomes.

Keywords: Cycloheximide; Leishmania; MS2 hairpin; Puromycin; SIDER2 retroposon; Translation; mRNA decay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / physiology
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • Leishmania / drug effects
  • Leishmania / genetics*
  • Leishmania infantum / drug effects
  • Protein Biosynthesis / physiology*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Ribosomes / drug effects
  • Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / physiology*
  • Translocation, Genetic / drug effects

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Cycloheximide