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Reconsidering movement of eukaryotic mRNAs between polysomes and P bodies

Joshua A Arribere1, Jennifer A Doudna, Wendy V Gilbert

  • 1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Molecular Cell
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Most mRNAs are depleted during glucose starvation, not stored for later translation. Only a small subset of transcripts can be reactivated, suggesting selective posttranscriptional regulation for energy efficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cell survival depends on regulating gene expression, including posttranscriptional mechanisms.
  • Previous studies suggested yeast mRNAs silenced during glucose starvation are stored in P bodies for later translation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent and mechanism of mRNA regulation during environmental stress in yeast.
  • To challenge the hypothesis of widespread, reversible mRNA storage in P bodies.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide measurements of mRNA abundance, translation, and ribosome occupancy.
  • Analysis of transcript reactivation upon glucose readdition without new transcription.

Main Results:

  • Most mRNAs are depleted from cells and polysomes upon glucose withdrawal.
  • Only a small subset of repressed transcripts (fewer than 400 genes) can be reactivated for translation.
  • This selective reactivation occurs independently of new transcription.

Conclusions:

  • Reversible storage of nontranslating mRNAs is not a general phenomenon in yeast.
  • Selective posttranscriptional regulation preserves a limited pool of key transcripts.
  • This mechanism may minimize energy costs during rapid environmental changes.

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