Biology subjects

Mizrahi, O.

Publications and source records attributed to Mizrahi, O..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

KIF5A binds RNA to orchestrate synaptic mRNA localization and stress granules in ALS

Neuronal health depends on the precise transport and local translation of mRNAs to maintain synaptic function across highly polarized cellular architecture. While kinesin motor proteins are known to mediate mRNA transport, the specificity and direct involvement of individual kinesins as RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that KIF5A, a neuron-specific kinesin implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), functions as an RBP. We show that KIF5A directly binds mRNAs encoding synaptic ribosomal proteins and is required for their synaptic localization and for maintaining normal synaptic composition and function. Additionally, we show ALS-linked KIF5A mutations confer gain-of-function properties, enhancing mRNA binding, increasing synaptic ribosomal protein accumulation, inducing neuronal hyperexcitability, and impairing stress responses. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism by which mutant KIF5A disrupts synaptic homeostasis. Our work positions a kinesin motor protein as an RBP with critical roles in mRNA transport, local translation, and stress response. HighlightsO_LIKIF5A interacts with mRNA encoding synaptic ribosomal proteins C_LIO_LIKIF5A is required for normal synaptic composition and function C_LIO_LIKIF5A binds to G3BP1 and G3BP1 stress granule associated proteins C_LIO_LIKIF5A mutant ALS patient-derived motor neurons have abnormal synaptic function and stress response C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

RNA triggers chronic stress during neuronal aging

Neurodegenerative diseases are linked with dysregulation of the integrated stress response (ISR), which coordinates cellular homeostasis during and after stress events. Cellular stress can arise from several sources, but there is significant disagreement about which stress might contribute to aging and neurodegeneration. Here, we leverage directed transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts into aged neurons to determine the source of ISR activation. We demonstrate that increased accumulation of cytoplasmic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) activates the eIF2 kinase PKR, which in turn triggers the ISR in aged neurons and leads to sequestration of dsRNA in stress granules. Aged neurons accumulate endogenous mitochondria-derived dsRNA that directly binds to PKR. This mitochondrial dsRNA leaks through damaged mitochondrial membranes and forms cytoplasmic foci in aged neurons. Finally, we demonstrate that PKR inhibition leads to the cessation of stress, resumption of cellular translation, and restoration of RNA-binding protein expression. Together, our results identify a source of RNA stress that destabilizes aged neurons and may contribute to neurodegeneration.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Integrative CRISPR Screens and RNA-Omics Discover an Essential Role for PUF60-3' Splice Site Interactions in Cancer Progression

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression. Understanding which and how RBPs promote cancer progression is crucial for cancers that lack effective targeted therapies such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we employ both in vitro and in vivo pooled CRISPR/Cas9 screening to identify 50 RBP candidates that are essential for TNBC cell survival. Integrated eCLIP and RNA-sequencing analysis identify that poly(U)-binding splicing factor 60 (PUF60) drives exon inclusion within proliferation-associated transcripts that, when mis-spliced, induce cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. Furthermore, disrupting PUF60 interactions with 3 splice sites via a substitution in its RNA-binding domain causes widespread exon skipping, leading to downregulation of proliferation-associated mRNAs and inducing apoptosis in TNBC cells. We demonstrate that loss of PUF60-RNA interactions inhibits TNBC cell proliferation and shrinks tumor xenografts, revealing the molecular mechanism by which PUF60 supports cancer progression. SignificanceOur work demonstrates functional in vivo screening of RBPs as an effective strategy for identifying unexpected cancer regulators. Here, we reveal a crucial role for PUF60-mediated splicing activity in supporting oncogenic proliferation rates and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target in triple negative breast cancer.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

LARP6 regulates the mRNA translation of fibrogenic genes in liver fibrosis

Metabolic syndrome and excessive alcohol consumption result in liver injury and fibrosis, which is characterized by increased collagen production by activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs). LARP6, an RNA-binding protein, was shown to facilitate collagen production. However, LARP6 expression and functionality as a regulator of fibrosis development in a disease relevant model remains elusive. By using snRNA-sequencing, we show that LARP6 is upregulated mainly in HSCs of liver fibrosis patients. Moreover, LARP6 knockdown in human HSCs suppresses fibrogenic gene expression. By integrating eCLIP analysis and ribosome profiling in HSCs, we show that LARP6 interacts with mature mRNAs comprising over 300 genes, including RNA structural elements within COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1 to regulate mRNA expression and translation. Furthermore, LARP6 knockdown in HSC attenuates fibrosis development in human liver spheroids. Altogether, our results suggest that targeting LARP6 in human HSCs may provide new strategies for anti-fibrotic therapy. HighlightsO_LILARP6 is upregulated in liver fibrosis, mainly in HSCs. C_LIO_LILARP6 knockdown in human HSCs reduces liver fibrosis development. C_LIO_LIOf the hundreds of gene targets, LARP6 interacts most with collagen mRNAs. C_LIO_LILARP6 regulates mRNA translation via interaction with 5UTRs. C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

SARS-CoV-2 utilizes a multipronged strategy to suppress host protein synthesis

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the urgent need, we still do not fully understand the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and its ability to antagonize innate immune responses. Here, we use RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling along SARS-CoV-2 infection and comprehensively define the mechanisms that are utilized by SARS-CoV-2 to shutoff cellular protein synthesis. We show SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a global reduction in translation but that viral transcripts are not preferentially translated. Instead, we reveal that infection leads to accelerated degradation of cytosolic cellular mRNAs which facilitates viral takeover of the mRNA pool in infected cells. Moreover, we show that the translation of transcripts whose expression is induced in response to infection, including innate immune genes, is impaired, implying infection prevents newly transcribed cellular mRNAs from accessing the ribosomes. Overall, our results uncover the multipronged strategy employed by SARS-CoV-2 to commandeer the translation machinery and to suppress host defenses.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Context-dependent functional compensation between Ythdf m6A readers

The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most prevalent post-transcriptional mRNA modification, regulating mRNA decay, translation and splicing. It plays a major role during normal development, differentiation, and disease progression. The modification is dynamically regulated by a set of writer, eraser and reader proteins. The YTH-domain family of proteins: Ythdf1, Ythdf2, and Ythdf3, are three homologous m6A binding proteins, which have different cellular functions. However, their sequence similarity and their tendency to bind the same targets suggest that they may have overlapping roles. We systematically knocked out (KO) the Mettl3 writer for each of the Ythdf readers and for the three readers together (triple-KO). We then estimated the effect in-vivo, in mouse gametogenesis and viability, and in-vitro, in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We show that in gametogenesis, Mettl3-KO severity is increased as the deletion occurs earlier in the process, and Ythdf2 has a dominant role that cannot be compensated by Ythdf1 or Ythdf3, possibly due to differences in readers expression, both in quantity and in spatial location. By knocking out the three readers together and systematically testing offspring genotypes, we have revealed a redundancy in the readers role during early development, a redundancy which is dosage-dependent. Additionally, we show that in mESCs there is compensation between the three readers, since the inability to differentiate and the significant effect on mRNA decay occur only in the triple-KO cells and not in the single KOs. Thus, we suggest a novel model for the Ythdf readers function. There is a dosage-dependent redundancy when all three readers are co-expressed in the same location in the cells.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

The coding capacity of SARS-CoV-2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic 1,2. In order to understand SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity and antigenic potential, and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic tools, it is essential to portray the full repertoire of its expressed proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 coding capacity map is currently based on computational predictions and relies on homology to other coronaviruses. Since coronaviruses differ in their protein array, especially in the variety of accessory proteins, it is crucial to characterize the specific collection of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in an unbiased and open-ended manner. Utilizing a suite of ribosome profiling techniques 3-8, we present a high-resolution map of the SARS-CoV-2 coding regions, allowing us to accurately quantify the expression of canonical viral open reading frames (ORF)s and to identify 23 novel unannotated viral translated ORFs. These ORFs include upstream ORFs (uORFs) that are likely playing a regulatory role, several in-frame internal ORFs lying within existing ORFs, resulting in N-terminally truncated products, as well as internal out-of-frame ORFs, which generate novel polypeptides. We further show that viral mRNAs are not translated more efficiently than host mRNAs; rather, virus translation dominates host translation due to high levels of viral transcripts. Overall, our work reveals the full coding capacity of SARS-CoV-2 genome, providing a rich resource, which will form the basis of future functional studies and diagnostic efforts.

microbiology↗