Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
14:29
Rapid In Vivo Fixation and Isolation of Translational Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells
Published on: December 25, 2021
Diverse stresses differentially regulate rRNA biogenesis and mRNA translation
Anne Aldrich1, Rachael Thomas2, Michael Blower1,2,3
1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
Nucleic Acids Research
|May 19, 2026
Summary
Cellular stress, like heavy metals or endoplasmic reticulum stress, disrupts ribosome synthesis. Early pre-ribosomal RNA processing is sensitive, revealing new stress-specific checkpoints in human cells.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ribosome synthesis is an energy-intensive process crucial for cell growth.
- Ribosome biogenesis requires precise stoichiometry between ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNAs (rRNA).
- Cellular stress impacts energy reserves and can disrupt ribosome assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate novel regulatory mechanisms of ribosome biogenesis under stress.
- To identify stress-specific checkpoints in rRNA maturation.
- To understand how environmental exposures affect nucleolar function.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) processing under stress conditions.
- Investigating the impact of heavy metals and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
- Assessing the balance between ribosomal protein synthesis and rRNA transcription.
Main Results:
- Early pre-rRNA processing is sensitive to heavy metal-induced stress.
- 5' and 3' end processing of rRNA can occur independently in human cells.
- Endoplasmic reticulum stress suppresses ribosomal protein synthesis but not rRNA transcription, causing imbalance.
Conclusions:
- Environmental stress triggers specific checkpoints in ribosome biogenesis.
- Disrupted rRNA maturation and nucleolar function are linked to cellular stress.
- New regulatory layers in human rRNA processing are uncovered, impacting proteostasis.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Translational Regulation
Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
01:23Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...
01:53RNA Stability
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
01:53RNA Stability
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...