FMRP - G-quadruplex mRNA - miR-125a interactions: Implications for miR-125a mediated translation regulation of PSD-95 mRNA

PLoS One. 2019 May 21;14(5):e0217275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217275. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, is caused by the CGG trinucleotide expansion in the 5'-untranslated region of the Fmr1 gene on the X chromosome, which silences the expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP has been shown to bind to a G-rich region within the PSD-95 mRNA, which encodes for the postsynaptic density protein 95, and together with microRNA-125a to mediate the reversible inhibition of the PSD-95 mRNA translation in neurons. The miR-125a binding site within the PSD-95 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (UTR) is embedded in a G-rich region bound by FMRP, which we have previously demonstrated folds into two parallel G-quadruplex structures. The FMRP regulation of PSD-95 mRNA translation is complex, being mediated by its phosphorylation. While the requirement for FMRP in the regulation of PSD-95 mRNA translation is clearly established, the exact mechanism by which this is achieved is not known. In this study, we have shown that both unphosphorylated FMRP and its phosphomimic FMRP S500D bind to the PSD-95 mRNA G-quadruplexes with high affinity, whereas only FMRP S500D binds to miR-125a. These results point towards a mechanism by which, depending on its phosphorylation status, FMRP acts as a switch that potentially controls the stability of the complex formed by the miR-125a-guided RNA induced silencing complex (RISC) and PSD-95 mRNA.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / chemistry
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / genetics
  • Fragile X Syndrome / metabolism
  • G-Quadruplexes
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DLG4 protein, human
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • FMR1 protein, human
  • MIRN125 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein