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Transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) by RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) is often upregulated in cancer to facilitate rapid cell growth and proliferation, and has emerged as a potential target for chemotherapeutic agents. BMH-21 and Pt(II) chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin are well documented as inhibitors of Pol I activity, however the underlying mechanisms for this inhibition are not completely understood. Here, we applied chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) techniques and immunofluorescence imaging to probe the influence of oxaliplatin and BMH-21 on Pol I machinery. We demonstrate oxaliplatin and BMH-21 induce early nucleolar stress leading to the formation of “nucleolar caps” containing Pol I and upstream binding factor (UBF) which corresponds with broad reductions in ribosomal DNA (rDNA) occupancy of Pol I. Distinct occupancy patterns for the two compounds are revealed in ChIP-seq experiments. Taken together, our findings suggest that in vivo, oxaliplatin does not induce Pol I inhibition via interrupting a specific step in Pol I transcription, while treatment with BMH-21 induced unique polymerase stalling at the promoter and terminator regions of the human ribosomal RNA gene.
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Age-dependent aggregation of ribosomal RNA-binding proteins links deterioration in chromatin stability with challenges to proteostasis
Chromatin instability and protein homeostasis (proteostasis) stress are two well-established hallmarks of aging, which have been considered largely independent of each other. Using microfluidics and single-cell imaging approaches, we observed that, during the replicative aging of S. cerevisiae , a challenge to proteostasis occurs specifically in the fraction of cells with decreased stability within the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). A screen of 170 yeast RNA-binding proteins identified ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-binding proteins as the most enriched group that aggregate upon a decrease in rDNA stability induced by inhibition of a conserved lysine deacetylase Sir2. Further, loss of rDNA stability induces age-dependent aggregation of rRNA-binding proteins through aberrant overproduction of rRNAs. These aggregates contribute to age-induced proteostasis decline and limit cellular lifespan. Our findings reveal a mechanism underlying the interconnection between chromatin instability and proteostasis stress and highlight the importance of cell-to-cell variability in aging processes.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1716841
- PAR ID:
- 10374115
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- eLife
- Volume:
- 11
- ISSN:
- 2050-084X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.75978
