A functional RNAi screen links O-GlcNAc modification of ribosomal proteins to stress granule and processing body assembly

Nat Cell Biol. 2008 Oct;10(10):1224-31. doi: 10.1038/ncb1783. Epub 2008 Sep 14.

Abstract

Stress granules (SGs) and processing bodies (PBs) are microscopically visible ribonucleoprotein granules that cooperatively regulate the translation and decay of messenger RNA. Using an RNA-mediated interference-based screen, we identify 101 human genes required for SG assembly, 39 genes required for PB assembly, and 31 genes required for coordinate SG and PB assembly. Although 51 genes encode proteins involved in mRNA translation, splicing and transcription, most are not obviously associated with RNA metabolism. We find that several components of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, which reversibly modifies proteins with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) in response to stress, are required for SG and PB assembly. O-GlcNAc-modified proteins are prominent components of SGs but not PBs, and include RACK1 (receptor for activated C kinase 1), prohibitin-2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and numerous ribosomal proteins. Our results suggest that O-GlcNAc modification of the translational machinery is required for aggregation of untranslated messenger ribonucleoproteins into SGs. The lack of enzymes of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway in budding yeast may contribute to differences between mammalian SGs and related yeast EGP (eIF4E, 4G and Pab1 containing) bodies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Arsenites / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / drug effects
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasmic Structures / drug effects
  • Cytoplasmic Structures / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Polyribosomes / drug effects
  • Polyribosomes / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational* / drug effects
  • RNA Interference* / drug effects
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism*
  • Ribosomal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Arsenites
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • arsenite
  • Acetylglucosamine