Dysfunctional tRNA reprogramming and codon-biased translation in cancer

Trends Mol Med. 2022 Nov;28(11):964-978. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.09.007. Epub 2022 Oct 11.

Abstract

Many cancers hijack translation to increase the synthesis of tumor-driving proteins, the messenger mRNAs of which have specific codon usage patterns. Termed 'codon-biased translation' and originally identified in stress response regulation, this mechanism is supported by diverse studies demonstrating how the 50 RNA modifications of the epitranscriptome, specific tRNAs, and codon-biased mRNAs are used by oncogenic programs to promote proliferation and chemoresistance. The epitranscriptome writers METTL1-WDR4, Elongator complex protein (ELP)1-6, CTU1-2, and ALKBH8-TRM112 illustrate the principal mechanism of codon-biased translation, with gene amplifications, increased RNA modifications, and enhanced tRNA stability promoting cancer proliferation. Furthermore, systems-level analyses of 34 tRNA writers and 493 tRNA genes highlight the theme of tRNA epitranscriptome dysregulation in many cancers and identify candidate tRNA writers, tRNA modifications, and tRNA molecules as drivers of pathological codon-biased translation.

Keywords: cancer; codon; epitranscriptome; gene expression; systems biology; tRNA modifications; translational regulation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • AlkB Homolog 8, tRNA Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Codon / genetics
  • Codon Usage*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism

Substances

  • Codon
  • RNA, Transfer
  • RNA, Messenger
  • WDR4 protein, human
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • ALKBH8 protein, human
  • AlkB Homolog 8, tRNA Methyltransferase