Dunham, C. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

Ribosomal Protein bL27 Protects Translating Ribosomes from tmRNA-SmpB

Bacterial ribosomal protein bL27 is universally conserved and its amino terminus is adjacent to the peptidyl transfer center, yet its role in translation remains unclear. Combining genetics, biochemistry and molecular dynamics, we show that bL27 has an unexpected role in preventing trans-translation, the bacterial ribosome rescue mechanism, from interfering with protein synthesis. Deletion of the bL27 gene causes a 10,000-fold decrease in viability and this defect is partially rescued by deletion of the gene encoding tmRNA, a critical molecule for trans-translation. Molecular dynamics simulations also indicate that bL27 can slow the movement of tmRNA on the ribosome. These data link trans-translation and bL27, and support a model in which the amino terminus of bL27 acts as a gatekeeper to prevent tmRNA from sterically interfering with tRNA on the ribosome.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

The EIF4EBP1 gene encoding 4EBP1 is transcriptionally upregulated by MYC and linked to shorter survival in medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood and is stratified into four molecular groups - WNT, SHH, Group 3 and Group 4. Group 3 MB patients exhibit the poorest prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival of <60%, followed by Group 4 MB patients. Apart from MYC amplification in a subset of Group 3 MBs, the molecular pathomechanisms driving aggressiveness of these tumors remain incompletely characterized. The gene encoding the mTOR substrate and mRNA translation inhibitor eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (EIF4EBP1) represents a possible MYC target gene whose corresponding protein, 4EBP1, was shown to be more active in Group 3 versus Group 4 MBs. However, the prognostic role of 4EBP1 in MB and the mechanisms supporting 4EBP1 overexpression in Group 3 MB are still elusive. We analyzed EIF4EBP1 mRNA expression in publicly available data sets and found an upregulation in MB as compared to non-neoblastic brain. EIF4EBP1 mRNA expression levels were higher in Group 3 compared to Group 4 MBs. EIF4EBP1 mRNA expression was correlated with MYC expression, most prominently in Group 3 MBs. Survival analyses highlighted that high EIF4EBP1 mRNA expression was associated with reduced overall and event-free survival across all MB patients and in Group 3/Group 4 MB patients. Immunohistochemical evaluation of 4EBP1 protein expression in MB tissues confirmed that high levels of 4EBP1 are associated with poor outcome. Functional analyses revealed that MYC directly regulates EIF4EBP1 promoter activity, providing a mechanism for increased EIF4EBP1 mRNA levels in Group 3 MBs. Finally, we observed that 4EBP1 may support colony formation of in vitro cultured MB cells. Our data highlight that transcriptional upregulation of EIF4EBP1 by MYC promotes in vitro tumorigenicity of MB cells and associates with shorter survival of MB patients.

cancer biology↗