Arabidopsis thaliana G3BP Ortholog Rescues Mammalian Stress Granule Phenotype across Kingdoms

Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic RNA-protein complexes localized in the cytoplasm that rapidly form under stress conditions and disperse when normal conditions are restored. The formation of SGs depends on the Ras-GAP SH3 domain-binding protein (G3BP). Formations, interactions and functions of plant and human SGs are strikingly similar, suggesting a conserved mechanism. However, functional analyses of plant G3BPs are missing. Thus, members of the Arabidopsis thaliana G3BP (AtG3BP) protein family were investigated in a complementation assay in a human G3BP knock-out cell line. It was shown that two out of seven AtG3BPs were able to complement the function of their human homolog. GFP-AtG3BP fusion proteins co-localized with human SG marker proteins Caprin-1 and eIF4G1 and restored SG formation in G3BP double KO cells. Interaction between AtG3BP-1 and -7 and known human G3BP interaction partners such as Caprin-1 and USP10 was also demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, an RG/RGG domain exchange from Arabidopsis G3BP into the human G3BP background showed the ability for complementation. In summary, our results support a conserved mechanism of SG function over the kingdoms, which will help to further elucidate the biological function of the Arabidopsis G3BP protein family.