Ribosomal protein L11 recruits miR-24/miRISC to repress c-Myc expression in response to ribosomal stress

Mol Cell Biol. 2011 Oct;31(19):4007-21. doi: 10.1128/MCB.05810-11. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

Abstract

c-Myc promotes cell growth by enhancing ribosomal biogenesis and translation. Deregulated expression of c-Myc and aberrant ribosomal biogenesis and translation contribute to tumorigenesis. Thus, a fine coordination between c-Myc and ribosomal biogenesis is vital for normal cell homeostasis. Here, we show that ribosomal protein L11 regulates c-myc mRNA turnover. L11 binds to c-myc mRNA at its 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR), the core component of microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) argonaute 2 (Ago2), as well as miR-24, leading to c-myc mRNA reduction. Knockdown of L11 drastically increases the levels and stability of c-myc mRNA. Ablation of Ago2 abrogated the L11-mediated reduction of c-myc mRNA, whereas knockdown of L11 rescued miR-24-mediated c-myc mRNA decay. Interestingly, treatment of cells with the ribosomal stress-inducing agent actinomycin D or 5-fluorouracil significantly decreased the c-myc mRNA levels in an L11- and Ago2-dependent manner. Both treatments enhanced the association of L11 with Ago2, miR-24, and c-myc mRNA. We further show that ribosome-free L11 binds to c-myc mRNA in the cytoplasm and that this binding is enhanced by actinomycin D treatment. Together, our results identify a novel regulatory paradigm wherein L11 plays a critical role in controlling c-myc mRNA turnover via recruiting miRISC in response to ribosomal stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / genetics
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • AGO2 protein, human
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • MIRN24 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • ribosomal protein L11