| First Author | Leppek K | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Mol Cell | Volume | 80 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 980-995.e13 |
| PubMed ID | 33202249 | Mgi Jnum | J:300170 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6489727 | Doi | 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.023 |
| Citation | Leppek K, et al. (2020) Gene- and Species-Specific Hox mRNA Translation by Ribosome Expansion Segments. Mol Cell 80(6):980-995.e13 |
| abstractText | Ribosomes have been suggested to directly control gene regulation, but regulatory roles for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) remain largely unexplored. Expansion segments (ESs) consist of multitudes of tentacle-like rRNA structures extending from the core ribosome in eukaryotes. ESs are remarkably variable in sequence and size across eukaryotic evolution with largely unknown functions. In characterizing ribosome binding to a regulatory element within a Homeobox (Hox) 5' UTR, we identify a modular stem-loop within this element that binds to a single ES, ES9S. Engineering chimeric, "humanized" yeast ribosomes for ES9S reveals that an evolutionary change in the sequence of ES9S endows species-specific binding of Hoxa9 mRNA to the ribosome. Genome editing to site-specifically disrupt the Hoxa9-ES9S interaction demonstrates the functional importance for such selective mRNA-rRNA binding in translation control. Together, these studies unravel unexpected gene regulation directly mediated by rRNA and how ribosome evolution drives translation of critical developmental regulators. |
