RNASET2 degrades mRNAs that protect against lipotoxicity

RNASET2 is a lysosomal RNase whose enzymatic function is required for early events in lipotoxicity. However, the endogenous RNA substrates of RNASET2 that modulate lipid-induced cell death are not known. The purpose of this study was to identify RNASET2 substrates that impact lipotoxic stress.

RNA sequencing was used to identify RNAs that increase in abundance in human cells upon RNASET2 knockdown, and actinomycin D assays were used to show that RNASET2 impacted decay rates of these RNAs. We tested for the presence of these RNAs in immunoisolated lysosomes and determined the contribution of the lysosomal membrane transporter SIDT2 in delivery of these RNAs to the lysosome. A role for these RNAs in lipotoxic cell death was directly tested in loss- and gain of function analysis.

RNASET2 knockdown increased steady-state abundance of UCHL3, PFN2 and PRDX3 mRNAs and prolonged their decay rate, leading to increased protein expression. These mRNAs were delivered to the lysosomal lumen by the lysosomal membrane transporter SIDT2 that mediates RNautophagy. While UCHL3 and PFN2 have not previously been implicated in lipotoxic responses, expression of these proteins protected against lipid-induced cell death.

Our study identified specific mRNA substrates of RNASET2 and uncovered a previously unexplored function for lysosomes and RNautophagy in regulation of the response to metabolic stress. Moreover, we demonstrated that RNautophagy selectively regulates turnover of specific endogenous RNAs and thereby impacts regulation of gene expression.