Danks, G.B., Galbiati, H., Raasholm, M., Cleuren, Y.N.T., Valen, E., Navrátilová, P., Thompson, E.M.
BMC GENOMICS 20: 908, 2019

Keywords:
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In phylogenetically diverse organisms, the 5' ends of a subset of mRNAs are trans-spliced with a spliced leader (SL) RNA. The functions of SL trans-splicing, however, remain largely enigmatic. RESULTS: We quantified translation genome-wide in the marine chordate, Oikopleura dioica, under inhibition of mTOR, a central growth regulator. Translation of trans-spliced TOP mRNAs was suppressed, consistent with a role of the SL sequence in nutrient-dependent translational control of growth-related mRNAs. Under crowded, nutrient-limiting conditions, O. dioica continued to filter-feed, but arrested growth until favorable conditions returned. Upon release from unfavorable conditions, initial recovery was independent of nutrient-responsive, trans-spliced genes, suggesting animal density sensing as a first trigger for resumption of development. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with a proposed role of trans-splicing in the coordinated translational down-regulation of nutrient-responsive genes under growth-limiting conditions.
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6277-x
Fulltext: contact IEB authors
IEB authors: Pavla Navratilova