Original Article

Stabilization and cytoskeletal-association of LDL receptor mRNA are mediated by distinct domains in its 3' untranslated region

Correspondence to: R. G. Deeley.

The mRNA encoding the human low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is transiently stabilized after phorbol ester treatment of HepG2 cells and has been shown to associate with components of the cytoskeleton in this cell line (G. M. Wilson, E. A. Roberts, and R. G. Deeley, J. Lipid Res. 1997. 38: 437–446). Using an episomal expression system, fragments of the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of LDL receptor mRNA were transcribed in fusion with the coding region of ß-globin mRNA in HepG2 cells. Analyses of the decay kinetics of these ß-globin-LDL receptor fusion mRNA deletion mutants showed that sequences in the proximal 3'UTR of LDL receptor mRNA including several AU-rich elements (AREs) were sufficient to confer short constitutive mRNA half-life in the heterologous system. Stabilization of LDL receptor mRNA in the presence of PMA required sequences in the distal 3'UTR, at or near three Alu-like repetitive elements. Furthermore, the 3'UTR of LDL receptor mRNA conferred cytoskeletal association on the otherwise unassociated ß-globin mRNA, by a mechanism involving at least two distinct RNA elements.

Comparisons of decay kinetics and subcellular localization of endogenous LDL receptor mRNA and ß-globin-LDL receptor mRNA fusions in HepG2 cells have demonstrated that several cis-acting elements in the receptor 3'UTR contribute to post-transcriptional regulation of receptor expression, and provide further support for involvement of the cytoskeleton in the regulation of LDL receptor mRNA turnover.—Wilson, G. M., M. Z. Vasa, and R. G. Deeley. Stabilization and cytoskeletal-association of LDL receptor mRNA are mediated by distinct domains in its 3' untranslated region. J. Lipid Res. 1998. 39: 1025–1032.

Supplementary key words: hepatoblastoma, phorbol esters, polyribosomes, posttranscriptional regulation

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