The TRNA-like Small Noncoding RNA MascRNA Promotes Global Protein Translation

Overview

Journal EMBO Rep

Specialty Molecular Biology

Date 2020 Oct 19

PMID 33073493

Citations 14

Authors

Xinping Lu

Jinliang Huang

Sipeng Wu

Qian Zheng

Peipei Liu

Huimin Feng

Xiaoqing Su

Haipeng Fu

Qiaoran Xi

Geng Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

mascRNA is a small cytoplasmic RNA derived from the lncRNA MALAT1. After being processed by the tRNA processing enzymes RNase P and RNase Z, mascRNA undergoes CCA addition like tRNAs and folds into a tRNA-like cloverleaf structure. While MALAT1 functions in multiple cellular processes, the role of mascRNA was largely unknown. Here, we show that mascRNA binds directly to the multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) component glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (QARS). mascRNA promotes global protein translation and cell proliferation by positively regulating QARS protein levels. Our results uncover a role of mascRNA that is independent of MALAT1, but could be part of the molecular mechanism of MALAT1's function in cancer, and provide a paradigm for understanding tRNA-like structures in mammalian cells.

Citing Articles

Structural basis for tRNA mimicry by mascRNA and menRNA.

He Y, Deng J, Lin X, Lu Z, Wang L, Xu L Cell Discov. 2025; 10(1):128.

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Structural basis of MALAT1 RNA maturation and mascRNA biogenesis.

Skeparnias I, Bou-Nader C, Anastasakis D, Fan L, Wang Y, Hafner M Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2024; 31(11):1655-1668.

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tRNA renovatio: Rebirth through fragmentation.

Kuhle B, Chen Q, Schimmel P Mol Cell. 2023; 83(22):3953-3971.

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