hnRNP C promotes APP translation by competing with FMRP for APP mRNA recruitment to P bodies

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2010 Jun;17(6):732-9. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.1815. Epub 2010 May 16.

Abstract

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) regulates neuronal synapse function, and its cleavage product Abeta is linked to Alzheimer's disease. Here, we present evidence that the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) C and fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) associate with the same APP mRNA coding region element, and they influence APP translation competitively and in opposite directions. Silencing hnRNP C increased FMRP binding to APP mRNA and repressed APP translation, whereas silencing FMRP enhanced hnRNP C binding and promoted translation. Repression of APP translation was linked to colocalization of FMRP and tagged APP RNA within processing bodies; this colocalization was abrogated by hnRNP C overexpression or FMRP silencing. Our findings indicate that FMRP represses translation by recruiting APP mRNA to processing bodies, whereas hnRNP C promotes APP translation by displacing FMRP, thereby relieving the translational block.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / biosynthesis*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoplasmic Structures / metabolism
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • FMR1 protein, human
  • Fmr1 protein, mouse
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins