Immunoglobulin expression and the humoral immune response is regulated by the non-canonical poly(A) polymerase TENT5C

TENT5C is a non-canonical cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase highly expressed by activated B cells to suppress their proliferation. Here we measure the global distribution of poly(A) tail lengths in responsive B cells using a Nanopore direct RNA-sequencing approach, showing that TENT5C polyadenylates immunoglobulin mRNAs regulating their half-life and consequently steady-state levels. TENT5C is upregulated in differentiating plasma cells by innate signaling. Compared with wild-type, Tent5c^-/- mice produce fewer antibodies and have diminished T-cell-independent immune response despite having more CD138^high plasma cells as a consequence of accelerated differentiation. B cells from Tent5c^-/- mice also have impaired capacity of the secretory pathway, with reduced ER volume and unfolded protein response. Importantly, these functions of TENT5C are dependent on its enzymatic activity as catalytic mutation knock-in mice display the same defect as Tent5c^-/-. These findings define the role of the TENT5C enzyme in the humoral immune response.