The Nuclear Transcription Factor, TAF7, is a Cytoplasmic Regulator of Protein Synthesis

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2021 Dec 10

PMID 34890234

Citations 8

Authors

Dan Cheng

Kevin Semmens

Elizabeth McManus

Qingrong Chen

Daoud Meerzaman

Xiantao Wang

Markus Hafner

Brian A Lewis

Hidehisa Takahashi

Ballachanda N Devaiah

Anne Gegonne

Dinah S Singer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The TFIID component, TAF7, has been extensively characterized as essential for transcription and is critical for cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we report that TAF7 is a previously unknown RNA chaperone that contributes to the regulation of protein synthesis. Mechanistically, TAF7 binds RNAs in the nucleus and delivers them to cytoplasmic polysomes. A broad spectrum of target RNA species, including the HIV-1 transactivation response element, binds TAF7 through consensus CUG motifs within the 3′ untranslated region. Export to the cytoplasm depends on a TAF7 nuclear export signal and occurs by an exportin 1–dependent pathway. Notably, disrupting either TAF7’s RNA binding or its export from the nucleus results in retention of target messenger RNAs in the nucleus and reduced levels of the protein products of TAF7-target RNAs. Thus, TAF7, an essential transcription factor, plays a key role in the regulation of RNA translation, thereby potentially connecting these processes.

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