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Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules
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Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules

Published on: May 12, 2017

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Single-Molecule Imaging Reveals Translation of mRNAs Localized to Stress Granules

Daniel Mateju1, Bastian Eichenberger2, Franka Voigt1

  • 1Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.

Cell
|December 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cellular stress forms stress granules (SGs), but contrary to assumption, mRNAs within SGs can still be translated. This study reveals translation occurs within SGs, challenging their role in inhibiting protein synthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cellular stress triggers the formation of stress granules (SGs), which are dynamic RNA-protein complexes.
  • The precise function of SGs is not fully understood, with a prevailing hypothesis suggesting they sequester non-translating messenger RNA (mRNA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the translational status of mRNA within stress granules.
  • To challenge the established notion that stress granules exclusively contain non-translating mRNA.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized single-molecule imaging techniques to observe mRNA translation in living cells.
  • Analyzed the localization and translational activity of specific mRNA transcripts within stress granules.

Main Results:

  • Observed preferential recruitment of non-translating mRNAs to stress granules.
  • Provided unequivocal evidence that mRNAs localized within SGs can actively undergo translation.
  • Demonstrated that the complete translation cycle, including initiation, elongation, and termination, can occur on SG-localized transcripts.
  • Showed translating mRNAs can move between the cytosol and SGs without altering their translational status.

Conclusions:

  • mRNA localization to stress granules is compatible with active translation.
  • Stress granules do not appear to play a direct role in the inhibition of protein synthesis.
  • Re-evaluation of stress granule function is warranted, considering their role in active mRNA translation.
Keywords:
5′ATF4SunTagTOParseniteintegrated stress responsemRNA translationmembraneless organellessingle-molecule imagingstress granules

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