Search

Objectives Cell-culture studies reported that prokaryotic RNA molecules among the various microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) were uniquely present in live bacteria and were categorized as viability-associated MAMPs. They also reported that specific nucleotide modifications are instrumental in the discrimination between self and nonself RNAs. The aim of this study was to characterize the in vivo immune induction potential of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) using zebrafish embryos as novel whole animal model system. Additionally, we aimed to test the possible role of rRNA modifications in immune recognition. Results We used three immune markers to evaluate the induction potential of prokaryotic rRNA derived from Escherichia coli and eukaryotic rRNAs from chicken (nonself) and zebrafish (self). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa served as a positive control. E. coli rRNA had an induction potential equivalent to that of LPS. The zebrafish innate immune system could discriminate between self and nonself rRNAs. Between the nonself rRNAs, E. coli rRNA was more immunogenic than chicken rRNA. The in vitro transcript of zebrafish 18S rRNA gene without the nucleotide modifications was not recognized by its own immune system. Our data suggested that prokaryotic rRNA is immunostimulatory in vivo and could be useful as an adjuvant.

In this study, to investigate the secondary function of Rpl10a in zebrafish development, morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (MOs) were used to knock down the zebrafish ribosomal protein L10a (rpl10a). At 25 hpf (hours post-fertilization), embryos injected with the rpl10a MO showed an abnormal morphology, including short bodies, curved tails, and small yolk sac extensions. We observed pigment reductions, edema, larger yolk sacs, smaller eyes and smaller yolk sac extensions at 50 hpf. In addition, reductions in the expression of primordial germ cell (PGC) marker genes (nanos1 and vasa) were observed in rpl10a knockdown embryos. A rescue experiment using a rpl10a mRNA co-injection showed the recovery of the morphology and red blood cell production similar to wild-type. Moreover, the CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to edit the sequence of rpl10a exon 5, resulting in a homozygous 5-bp deletion in the zebrafish genome. The mutant embryos displayed a morphology similar to that of the knockdown animals. Furthermore, the loss of rpl10a function led to reduced expression of gata1, hbae3, and hbbe1 (erythroid synthesis) and increased tp53 expression. Overall, the results suggested that Rpl10a deficiency caused delays in embryonic development, as well as apoptosis and anemia, in zebrafish.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by red blood cell aplasia, macrocytic anemia, variable malformations, and increased risk of malignancy.[1][1]–[3][2] DBA has been associated with heterozygous mutations or large deletions in ribosomal protein

Human telomeric RNA has been identified as a key component of the telomere machinery. Recently, the growing evidence suggests that the telomeric RNA forms G-quadruplex structures to play an important role in telomere protection and regulation. In the present studies, we developed a 19F NMR spectroscopy method to investigate the telomeric RNA G-quadruplex structures in vitro and in living cells. We demonstrated that the simplicity and sensitivity of 19F NMR approach can be used to directly observe the dimeric and two-subunits stacked G-quadruplexes in vitro and in living cells and quantitatively characterize the thermodynamic properties of the G-quadruplexes. By employing the 19F NMR in living cell experiment, we confirmed for the first time that the higher-order G-quadruplex exists in cells. We further demonstrated that telomere RNA G-quadruplexes are converted to the higher-order G-quadruplex under molecular crowding condition, a cell-like environment. We also show that the higher-order G-quadruplex has high thermal stability in crowded solutions. The finding provides new insight into the structural behavior of telomere RNA G-quadruplex in living cells. These results open new avenues for the investigation of G-quadruplex structures in vitro and in living cells.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by survival motor neuron gene mutations. Variant forms of SMA accompanied by additional clinical presentations have been classified as atypical SMA and are thought to be caused by variants in as yet unidentified causative genes. Here, we presented the clinical findings of two siblings with an SMA variant followed by progressive cerebral atrophy, and the results of whole-exome sequencing analyses of the family quartet that was performed to identify potential causative variants. We identified two candidate homozygous missense variants, R942Q in the tubulin-folding cofactor D (TBCD) gene and H250Q in the bromo-adjacent homology domain and coiled-coil containing 1 (BAHCC1) gene, located on chromosome 17q25.3 with an interval of 1.4 Mbp. The in silico analysis of both variants suggested that TBCD rather than BAHCC1 was likely the pathogenic gene (TBCD sensitivity, 0.68; specificity, 0.97; BAHCC1 sensitivity, 1.00; specificity, 0.00). Thus, our results show that TBCD is a likely novel candidate gene for atypical SMA with progressive cerebral atrophy. TBCD is predicted to have important functions on tubulin integrity in motor neurons as well as in the central nervous system.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by red blood cell aplasia. Currently, mutations in 19 ribosomal protein genes have been identified in patients. However, the pathogenic mechanism of DBA remains unknown. Recently, several DBA models were generated in zebrafish (Danio rerio) to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of disease and to explore novel treatments. Zebrafish have strong advantages in drug discovery due to their rapid development and transparency during embryogenesis and their applicability to chemical screens. Together with mice, zebrafish have now become a powerful tool for studying disease mechanisms and drug discovery. In this review, we introduce recent advances in DBA drug development and discuss the usefulness of zebrafish as a disease model.

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a diverse group of non-coding RNAs that direct chemical modifications at specific residues on other RNA molecules, primarily on ribosomal RNA (rRNA). SnoRNAs are altered in several cancers; however, their role in cell homeostasis as well as in cellular transformation remains poorly explored. Here, we show that specific subsets of snoRNAs are differentially regulated during the earliest cellular response to oncogenic RASG12V expression. We describe a novel function for one H/ACA snoRNA, SNORA24, which guides two pseudouridine modifications within the small ribosomal subunit, in RAS-induced senescence in vivo. We find that in mouse models, loss of Snora24 cooperates with RASG12V to promote the development of liver cancer that closely resembles human steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From a clinical perspective, we further show that human HCCs with low SNORA24 expression display increased lipid content and are associated with poor patient survival. We next asked whether ribosomes lacking SNORA24-guided pseudouridine modifications on 18S rRNA have alterations in their biophysical properties. Single-molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) analyses revealed that these ribosomes exhibit perturbations in aminoacyl-transfer RNA (aa-tRNA) selection and altered pre-translocation ribosome complex dynamics. Furthermore, we find that HCC cells lacking SNORA24-guided pseudouridine modifications have increased translational miscoding and stop codon readthrough frequencies. These findings highlight a role for specific snoRNAs in safeguarding against oncogenic insult and demonstrate a functional link between H/ACA snoRNAs regulated by RAS and the biophysical properties of ribosomes in cancer., eLife digest Ribosomes are cellular machines responsible for translating the genetic code into proteins. Research has shown that changes in ribosome activity can contribute to healthy cells becoming cancerous. Ribosomes consist of proteins and other molecules known as ribosomal RNAs (or rRNAs for short). Before they can become part of a ribosome, another type of molecule called snoRNAs must modify new rRNAs. Indeed, many of the modifications that allow rRNAs to accurately translate genetic information into proteins are introduced by snoRNAs. As such, it is possible that changes to snoRNAs could contribute to the creation of cancerous cells by affecting how ribosomes operate. To explore this possibility, McMahon, Contreras et al. examined snoRNAs in healthy cells grown in the laboratory that have been given pro-cancer signals, in cancer from mice, and in samples from human cancer patients. The investigation revealed that the activation of growth signals – a hallmark of many cancers – affects the abundance of some snoRNAs and changes the pattern of rRNA modifications they make on ribosomes. Reducing the levels of one such snoRNA called SNORA24 led mice to develop fatty liver cancer when combined with cancer-promoting growth signals. Analyzing why reducing the levels of SNORA24 led to liver cancer, McMahon, Contreras et al. found that ribosomes lacking rRNA modifications introduced by SNORA24 made more mistakes when producing proteins coded for by certain genes. These results contribute to the view of ribosomes as a key hub for the transformation of healthy cells into cancer cells. Increasing the error rate of ribosomes could be a key driver in further changes that drive cancer development. This study also highlights the role of snoRNAs in responding to growth signals, particularly in cancer. These findings identify snoRNAs as new potential diagnostic factors and treatment targets.

Inherited bone-marrow-failure syndromes (IBMFSs) include heterogeneous genetic disorders characterized by bone-marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and an increased risk of malignancy. Many lines of evidence have suggested that p53 activation might be central to the pathogenesis of IBMFSs, including Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) and dyskeratosis congenita (DC). However, the exact role of p53 activation in each clinical feature remains unknown. Here, we report unique de novo TP53 germline variants found in two individuals with an IBMFS accompanied by hypogammaglobulinemia, growth retardation, and microcephaly mimicking DBA and DC. TP53 is a tumor-suppressor gene most frequently mutated in human cancers, and occasional germline variants occur in Li-Fraumeni cancer-predisposition syndrome. Most of these mutations affect the core DNA-binding domain, leading to compromised transcriptional activities. In contrast, the variants found in the two individuals studied here caused the same truncation of the protein, resulting in the loss of 32 residues from the C-terminal domain (CTD). Unexpectedly, the p53 mutant had augmented transcriptional activities, an observation not previously described in humans. When we expressed this mutant in zebrafish and human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we observed impaired erythrocyte production. These findings together with close similarities to published knock-in mouse models of TP53 lacking the CTD demonstrate that the CTD-truncation mutations of TP53 cause IBMFS, providing important insights into the previously postulated connection between p53 and IBMFSs.

Mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins have been identified in Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a rare genetic disorder that presents with a prominent erythroid phenotype. TP53 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of DBA with ribosomal protein (RP) L11 playing a crucial role in the TP53 response. Interestingly, RPL11 also controls the transcriptional activity of c-Myc, an oncoprotein that positively regulates ribosome biogenesis. In the present study, we analyzed the consequences of rpl11 depletion on erythropoiesis and ribosome biogenesis in zebrafish. As expected, Rpl11-deficient zebrafish exhibited defects in ribosome biogenesis and an anemia phenotype. However, co-inhibition of Tp53 did not alleviate the erythroid aplasia in these fish. Next, we explored the role of c-Myc in RPL11-deficient cellular and animal models. c-Myc and its target nucleolar proteins showed upregulation and increased localization in the head region of Rpl11-deficient zebrafish, where the morphological abnormalities and tp53 expression were more pronounced. Interestingly, in blood cells derived from DBA patients with mutations in RPL11, the biogenesis of ribosomes was defective, but the expression level of c-Myc and its target nucleolar proteins was unchanged. The results suggest a model whereby RPL11 deficiency activates the synthesis of c-Myc target nucleolar proteins, which subsequently triggers a p53 response. These results further demonstrate that the induction of Tp53 mediates the morphological, but not erythroid, defects associated with RPL11 deficiency.

Alternative splicing (AS) plays an important role in regulating mammalian heart development, but a link between misregulated splicing and congenital heart defects (CHDs) has not been shown. We reported that more than 50% of genes associated with heart development were alternatively spliced in the right ventricle (RV) of infants with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the level of 12 small cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) that direct the biochemical modification of specific nucleotides in spliceosomal RNAs. We sought to determine if scaRNA levels influence patterns of AS and heart development. We used primary cells derived from the RV of infants with TOF to show a direct link between scaRNA levels and splice isoforms of several genes that regulate heart development (e.g., GATA4, NOTCH2, DAAM1, DICER1, MBNL1 and MBNL2). In addition, we used antisense morpholinos to knock down the expression of two scaRNAs (scarna1 and snord94) in zebrafish and saw a corresponding disruption of heart development with an accompanying alteration in splice isoforms of cardiac regulatory genes. Based on these combined results, we hypothesize that scaRNA modification of spliceosomal RNAs assists in fine tuning the spliceosome for dynamic selection of mRNA splice isoforms. Our results are consistent with disruption of splicing patterns during early embryonic development leading to insufficient communication between the first and second heart fields, resulting in conotruncal misalignment and TOF. Our findings represent a new paradigm for determining the mechanisms underlying congenital cardiac malformations.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is an inherited genetic disease caused by mutations in ribosomal protein genes. The disease is characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and a severe erythroid defect. The activation of the TP53 pathway has been suggested to be critical for the pathophysiology of Diamond-Blackfan anemia. While this pathway plays a role in the morphological defects that associate with ribosomal protein loss-of-function in animal models, its role in the erythroid defects has not been clearly established. To understand the specificity of erythroid defects in Diamond-Blackfan anemia, we knocked down five RP genes (two Diamond-Blackfan anemia-associated and three non-Diamond-Blackfan anemia-associated) in zebrafish and analyzed the effects on the developmental and erythroid phenotypes in the presence and absence of Tp53. The co-inhibition of Tp53 activity rescued the morphological deformities but did not alleviate the erythroid aplasia indicating that ribosomal protein deficiency causes erythroid failure in a Tp53-independent manner. Interestingly, treatment with L-Leucine or L-Arginine, amino acids that augment mRNA translation via mTOR pathway, rescued the morphological defects and resulted in a substantial recovery of erythroid cells. Our results suggest that altered translation because of impaired ribosome function could be responsible for the morphological and erythroid defects in ribosomal protein-deficient zebrafish.

The recently identified molecule aquaporin-11 (AQP11) has a unique amino acid sequence pattern that includes an Asn-Pro-Cys (NPC) motif, corresponding to the N-terminal Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) signature motif of conventional AQPs. In this study, we examined the effect of the mutation of the NPC motif on the subcellular localization, oligomerization, and water permeability of AQP11 in transfected mammalian cells. Furthermore, the effect was also assessed using zebrafish. Site-directed mutation at the NPC motif did not affect the subcellular localization of AQP11 but reduced its oligomerization. A cell swelling assay revealed that cells expressing AQP11 with a mutated NPC motif had significantly lower osmotic water permeability than cells expressing wild-type AQP11. Zebrafish deficient in endogenous AQP11 showed a deformity in the tail region at an early stage of development. This phenotype was dramatically rescued by injection of human wild-type AQP11 mRNA, whereas the effect of mRNA for AQP11 with a mutated NPC motif was less marked. Although the NPA motif is known to be important for formation of water-permeable pores by conventional AQPs, our observations suggest that the corresponding NPC motif of AQP11 is essential for full expression of molecular function.

Ribosomes, the molecular factories that carry out protein synthesis, are essential for every living cell. Ribosome biogenesis, the process of ribosome synthesis, is highly complex and energy consuming. Over the last decade, many exciting and novel findings have linked various aspects of ribosome biogenesis to cell growth and cell cycle control. Defects in ribosome biogenesis have also been linked to human diseases. It is now clear that disruption of ribosome biogenesis causes nucleolar stress that triggers a p53 signaling pathway, thus providing cells with a surveillance mechanism for monitoring ribosomal integrity. Although the exact mechanisms of p53 induction in response to nucleolar stress are still unknown, several ribosomal proteins have been identified as key players in this ribosome-p53 signaling pathway. Recent studies of human ribosomal pathologies in a variety of animal models have also highlighted the role of this pathway in the pathophysiology of these diseases. However, it remains to be understood why the effect of ribosomal malfunction is not a universal response in all cell types but is restricted to particular tissues, causing the specific phenotypes seen in ribosomal diseases. A challenge for future studies will be to identify additional players in this signaling pathway and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that link defective ribosome synthesis to p53.

Summary Diamond–Blackfan anaemia (DBA) is a cancer-prone genetic disorder characterized by pure red-cell aplasia and associated physical deformities. The ribosomal protein S19 gene (RPS19) is the most frequently mutated gene in DBA (∼ 25%). TP53-mediated cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis in erythroid cells have been suggested to be major factors for DBA development, but it is not clear why mutations in the ubiquitously expressed RPS19 gene specifically affect erythropoiesis. Previously, we showed that RPS19 deficiency in zebrafish recapitulates the erythropoietic and developmental phenotypes of DBA, including defective erythropoiesis with severe anaemia. In this study, we analysed the simultaneous loss-of-function of RPS19 and Tp53 in zebrafish to investigate the role of Tp53 in the erythroid and morphological defects associated with RPS19 deficiency. Co-inhibition of Tp53 activity rescued the morphological abnormalities, but did not alleviate erythroid aplasia in RPS19-deficient zebrafish. In addition, knockdown of two other RP genes, rps3a and rpl36a, which result in severe morphological abnormalities but only mild erythroid defects, also elicited an activated Tp53 response. These results suggest that a Tp53-independent but RPS19-dependent pathway could be responsible for defective erythropoiesis in RPS19-deficient zebrafish.

We have identified a new class of ribosomal protein (RP) genes that appear to have been retrotransposed from X-linked RP genes. Mammalian ribosomes are composed of four RNA species and 79 different proteins. Unlike RNA constituents, each protein is typically encoded by a single intron- containing gene. Here we describe functional autosomal copies of the X-linked human RP genes, which we designated RPL10L (ribosomal protein L10-like gene), RPL36AL and RPL39L after their progenitors. Because these genes lack introns in their coding regions, they were likely retrotransposed from X-linked genes. The identities between the retrotransposed genes and the original X-linked genes are 89-95% in their nucleotide sequences and 92-99% in their amino acid sequences, respectively. Northern blot and PCR analyses revealed that RPL10L and RPL39L are expressed only in testis, whereas RPL36AL is ubiquitously expressed. Although the role of the autosomal RP genes remains unclear, they may have evolved to compensate for the reduced dosage of X-linked RP genes.

The splicing of messenger RNA plays a fundamental role in regulating vertebrate development and differentiation. Although it is well established that alternative splicing (AS) plays an important role in regulating mammalian heart development, a clear link between misregulated splicing and congenital heart defects has not been shown. We recently reported that more than 50% of genes associated with heart development had significant changes in splice forms in the right ventricle of infants with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF; 14M/7F; all less than 1 yr old). Moreover, there was a significant decrease (30-50%, p

Diamond-Blackfan anaemia is a congenital bone marrow failure syndrome that is characterized by red blood cell aplasia. The disease has been associated with mutations or large deletions in 11 ribosomal protein genes including RPS7, RPS10, RPS17, RPS19, RPS24, RPS26, RPS29, RPL5, RPL11, RPL26 and RPL35A as well as GATA1 in more than 50% of patients. However, the molecular aetiology of many Diamond-Blackfan anaemia cases remains to be uncovered. To identify new mutations responsible for Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, we performed whole-exome sequencing analysis of 48 patients with no documented mutations/deletions involving known Diamond-Blackfan anaemia genes except for RPS7, RPL26, RPS29 and GATA1. Here, we identified a de novo splicing error mutation in RPL27 and frameshift deletion in RPS27 in sporadic patients with Diamond-Blackfan anaemia. In vitro knockdown of gene expression disturbed pre-ribosomal RNA processing. Zebrafish models of rpl27 and rps27 mutations showed impairments of erythrocyte production and tail and/or brain development. Additional novel mutations were found in eight patients, including RPL3L, RPL6, RPL7L1T, RPL8, RPL13, RPL14, RPL18A and RPL31. In conclusion, we identified novel germline mutations of two ribosomal protein genes responsible for Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, further confirming the concept that mutations in ribosomal protein genes lead to Diamond-Blackfan anaemia.

Mitochondria possess their own translational machinery, which is composed of components distinct from their cytoplasmic counterparts. To investigate the possible involvement of mitochondrial ribosomal defects in human disease, we mapped nuclear genes that encode mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs). We generated sequence-tagged sites (STSs) of individual MRP genes that were able to be detected by PCR. They were placed on an STS content map of the human genome by typing of radiation hybrid panels. We located 54 MRP genes on the STS-content map and assigned these genes to cytogenetic bands of the human chromosomes. Although mitochondria are thought to have originated from bacteria, in which the genes encoding ribosomal proteins are clustered into operons, the mapped MRP genes are widely dispersed throughout the genome, suggesting that transfer of each MRP gene to the nuclear genome occurred individually. We compared the assigned positions with candidate regions for mendelian disorders and found certain genes that might be involved in particular diseases. This map provides a basis for studying possible roles of MRP defects in mitochondrial disorders.

Mapping of the human ribosomal protein (RP) genes has been completed, and all 80 different genes were placed on a cytogenetic map of the human genome. Because of the existence of processed pseudogenes, the localization of the RP genes was complicated, and five genes had remained to be mapped. Here we developed a novel strategy to identify sequence-tagged sites (STSs) at introns of the RP genes, and we localized RPL14, RPL22, RPL35, RPL36, and RPL39 within the chromosomes by radiation hybrid mapping. Unlike the case of eubacteria or archaebacteria, human RP genes are widely scattered about the genome. Together with the previous results, both sex chromosomes and 20 autosomes (all but chromosomes 7 and 21) were found to carry one or more RP genes. To explore the possible involvement of RP genes in human disorders, all 80 genes were assigned to cytogenetic bands according to a published cytogenetic BAC-STS map of the human genome. We compared the assigned positions with candidate regions for Mendelian disorders and found certain genes that might be involved in particular human disorders.

Ribosomes, the molecular factories that carry out protein synthesis, are essential for every living cell. Ribosome biogenesis, the process of ribosome synthesis, is highly complex and energy consuming. Over the last decade, many exciting and novel findings have linked various aspects of ribosome biogenesis to cell growth and cell cycle control. Defects in ribosome biogenesis have also been linked to human diseases. It is now clear that disruption of ribosome biogenesis causes nucleolar stress that triggers a p53 signaling pathway, thus providing cells with a surveillance mechanism for monitoring ribosomal integrity. Although the exact mechanisms of p53 induction in response to nucleolar stress are still unknown, several ribosomal proteins have been identified as key players in this ribosome-p53 signaling pathway. Recent studies of human ribosomal pathologies in a variety of animal models have also highlighted the role of this pathway in the pathophysiology of these diseases. However, it remains to be understood why the effect of ribosomal malfunction is not a universal response in all cell types but is restricted to particular tissues, causing the specific phenotypes seen in ribosomal diseases. A challenge for future studies will be to identify additional players in this signaling pathway and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that link defective ribosome synthesis to p53.

Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA) is a cancer-prone genetic disorder characterized by pure red-cell aplasia and associated physical deformities. The ribosomal protein S19 gene (RPS19) is the most frequently mutated gene in DBA (~25%). TP53-mediated cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis in erythroid cells have been suggested to be major factors for DBA development, but it is not clear why mutations in the ubiquitously expressed RPS19 gene specifically affect erythropoiesis. Previously, we showed that RPS19 deficiency in zebrafish recapitulates the erythropoietic and developmental phenotypes of DBA, including defective erythropoiesis with severe anaemia. In this study, we analysed the simultaneous loss-of-function of RPS19 and Tp53 in zebrafish to investigate the role of Tp53 in the erythroid and morphological defects associated with RPS19 deficiency. Co-inhibition of Tp53 activity rescued the morphological abnormalities, but did not alleviate erythroid aplasia in RPS19-deficient zebrafish. In addition, knockdown of two other RP genes, rps3a and rpl36a, which result in severe morphological abnormalities but only mild erythroid defects, also elicited an activated Tp53 response. These results suggest that a Tp53-independent but RPS19-dependent pathway could be responsible for defective erythropoiesis in RPS19-deficient zebrafish.

Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis in all cells. Ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) is one of the 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs) in vertebrates. Heterozygous mutations in RPS19 have been identified in 25% of patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), but the relationship between RPS19 mutations and the pure red-cell aplasia of DBA is unclear. In this study, we developed an RPS19-deficient zebrafish by knocking down rps19 using a Morpholino antisense oligo. The RPS19-deficient animals showed a dramatic decrease in blood cells as well as deformities in the head and tail regions at early developmental stages. These phenotypes were rescued by injection of zebrafish rps19 mRNA, but not by injection of rps19 mRNAs with mutations that have been identified in DBA patients. Our results indicate that rps19 is essential for hematopoietic differentiation during early embryogenesis. The effects were specific to rps19, but knocking down the genes for three other RPs, rpl35, rpl35a and rplp2, produced similar phenotypes, suggesting that these genes might have a common function in zebrafish erythropoiesis. The RPS19-deficient zebrafish will provide a valuable tool for investigating the molecular mechanisms of DBA development in humans.

The ribosome, as a catalyst for protein synthesis, is universal and essential for all organisms. Here we describe the structure of the genes encoding human ribosomal proteins (RPs) and compare this class of genes among several eukaryotes. Using genomic and full-length cDNA sequences, we characterized 73 RP genes and found that (1) transcription starts at a C residue within a characteristic oligopyrimidine tract; (2) the promoter region is GC rich, but often has a TATA box or similar sequence element; (3) the genes are small (4.4 kb), but have as many as 5.6 exons on average; (4) the initiator ATG is in the first or second exon and is within ± 5 bp of the first intron boundaries in about half of cases; and (5) 5′- and 3′-UTRs are significantly smaller (42 bp and 56 bp, respectively) than the genome average. Comparison of RP genes from humans,Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, andSaccharomyces cerevisiaerevealed the coding sequences to be highly conserved (63% homology on average), although gene size and the number of exons vary. The positions of the introns are also conserved among these species as follows: 44% of human introns are present at the same position in eitherD. melanogasterorC. elegans, suggesting RP genes are highly suitable for studying the evolution of introns.[The sequence data described in this paper have been submitted to the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession nos.AB055762–AB055780,AB056456,AB061820–AB061859,AB062066–AB062071, andAB070559.]

Ribosome is responsible for protein synthesis in all organisms and ribosomal proteins (RPs) play important roles in the formation of a functional ribosome. L11 was recently shown to regulate p53 activity through a direct binding with MDM2 and abrogating the MDM2-induced p53 degradation in response to ribosomal stress. However, the studies were performed in cell lines and the significance of this tumor suppressor function of L11 has yet to be explored in animal models. To investigate the effects of the deletion of L11 and its physiological relevance to p53 activity, we knocked down the rpl11 gene in zebrafish and analyzed the p53 response. Contrary to the cell line-based results, our data indicate that an L11 deficiency in a model organism activates the p53 pathway. The L11-deficient embryos (morphants) displayed developmental abnormalities primarily in the brain, leading to embryonic lethality within 6–7 days post fertilization. Extensive apoptosis was observed in the head region of the morphants, thus correlating the morphological defects with apparent cell death. A decrease in total abundance of genes involved in neural patterning of the brain was observed in the morphants, suggesting a reduction in neural progenitor cells. Upregulation of the genes involved in the p53 pathway were observed in the morphants. Simultaneous knockdown of the p53 gene rescued the developmental defects and apoptosis in the morphants. These results suggest that ribosomal dysfunction due to the loss of L11 activates a p53-dependent checkpoint response to prevent improper embryonic development.

Background The ribosome is a central player in the translation system, which in mammals consists of four RNA species and 79 ribosomal proteins (RPs). The control mechanisms of gene expression and the functions of RPs are believed to be identical. Most RP genes have common promoters and were therefore assumed to have a unified gene expression control mechanism. Results We systematically analyzed the homogeneity and heterogeneity of RP genes on the basis of their expression profiles, promoter structures, encoded amino acid compositions, and codon compositions. The results revealed that (1) most RP genes are coordinately expressed at the mRNA level, with higher signals in the spleen, lymph node dissection (LND), and fetal brain. However, 17 genes, including the P protein genes (RPLP0, RPLP1, RPLP2), are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. (2) Most promoters have GC boxes and possible binding sites for nuclear respiratory factor 2, Yin and Yang 1, and/or activator protein 1. However, they do not have canonical TATA boxes. (3) Analysis of the amino acid composition of the encoded proteins indicated a high lysine and arginine content. (4) The major RP genes exhibit a characteristic synonymous codon composition with high rates of G or C in the third-codon position and a high content of AAG, CAG, ATC, GAG, CAC, and CTG. Conclusion Eleven of the RP genes are still identified as being unique and did not exhibit at least some of the above characteristics, indicating that they may have unknown functions not present in other RP genes. Furthermore, we found sequences conserved between human and mouse genes around the transcription start sites and in the intronic regions. This study suggests certain overall trends and characteristic features of human RP genes.