An evolutionarily conserved ribosome-rescue pathway maintains epidermal homeostasis

Kifayathullah Liakath-Ali, Eric W. Mills, Inês Sequeira, Beate M. Lichtenberger, Angela Oliveira Pisco, Kalle H. Sipilä, Ajay Mishra, Harunori Yoshikawa, Colin Chih-Chien Wu, Tony Ly, Angus I. Lamond, Ibrahim M. Adham, Rachel Green, Fiona M. Watt (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

    44 Citations (Scopus)
    577 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Ribosome-associated mRNA quality control mechanisms ensure the fidelity of protein translation1,2. Although these mechanisms have been extensively studied in yeast, little is known about their role in mammalian tissues, despite emerging evidence that stem cell fate is controlled by translational mechanisms3,4. One evolutionarily conserved component of the quality control machinery, Dom34 (in higher eukaryotes known as Pelota (Pelo)), rescues stalled ribosomes 5 . Here we show that Pelo is required for mammalian epidermal homeostasis. Conditional deletion of Pelo in mouse epidermal stem cells that express Lrig1 results in hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of these cells. By contrast, deletion of Pelo in Lgr5-expressing stem cells has no effect and deletion in Lgr6-expressing stem cells induces only a mild phenotype. Loss of Pelo results in accumulation of short ribosome footprints and global upregulation of translation, rather than affecting the expression of specific genes. Translational inhibition by rapamycin-mediated downregulation of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) rescues the epidermal phenotype. Our study reveals that the ribosome-rescue machinery is important for mammalian tissue homeostasis and that it has specific effects on different stem cell populations.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)376-380
    Number of pages5
    JournalNature
    Volume556
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 11 Apr 2018

    Keywords

    • Animals
    • Biological Evolution
    • Cell Cycle Proteins/deficiency
    • Cell Differentiation
    • Cell Proliferation
    • Disease Progression
    • Epidermis/cytology
    • Female
    • Homeostasis/genetics
    • Male
    • Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
    • Mice
    • Microfilament Proteins/deficiency
    • Mutation
    • Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
    • Phenotype
    • Protein Biosynthesis
    • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
    • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
    • Ribosomes/metabolism
    • Stem Cells/cytology
    • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General

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